BOARD MEETING MINUTES
December 3, 2003
Selectmen Present: Mrs. Knight, Mr. Clukey and Mrs. Silverman
At 7:00 Mrs. Knight convened the meeting.
PRIMARY:
8:00 MEET WITH FIREWARDS
2004 Budget – The firewards have added $3,000 more for salaries in both the fire budget and ambulance budget. They discussed the need for the increase – greater number of fire calls. The firewards would like to create an expendable trust for the purchase of bunker gear and minitors. A full set of bunker gear costs $1,500. This way if they need to purchase it there will be money available and if they don’t need to purchase this equipment the money will just stay in the trust account. Mrs. Silverman said it’s probably more realistic to set it up this way since it can only be spent on those items. It’s a more straightforward way to go. The fire department has 23 active firefighters on the list right now –
some are more active than others.
CIP – The firewards have put down on their CIP that they want to purchase a new pumper in 2004. Mrs. Silverman asked if they really want a new truck this year. Mr. Prigge said that they don’t. Mrs. Silverman asked why they put it on the cip for 2004 if they didn’t intend to buy it. She feels that we should be saving money each year in capital reserve for this large expenditure. Mrs. Knight agreed that we should be saving and planning to buy a tanker. They should figure out when they would like to purchase it and then work backwards to see how much money needs to be set aside each year. Mr. Prigge said that surely if they were able to find a good used fire truck they would go that way. The capital reserve is set up
so that it can be expended by the selectmen. Mr. Mattson asked if the board is going to move ahead with the building plan for the public safety building. They went ahead and got a plan. Mrs. Silverman said the board will be working on this and will talk with the budget committee about the building plan when they meet on January 15th.
The selectmen and firewards reviewed the sprinkler plans that Hampshire Fire Protection has submitted to them. There are a couple of areas that they are questioning. Mrs. Thompson will call Hampshire Fire and get the answers to these questions. Mr. Mattson will find out who does annual testing and inspection of sprinkler systems.
*** DISCUSS CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS REQUISITION REQUESTS – Mr. Clukey voted to approve the requisition, Mrs. Silverman seconded and motion passed 3-0.
*** DISCUSS ACREAGE AND ABATEMENT QUESTIONS FOR MAP 24 LOT 03-11 – Mrs. Silverman voted to abate the property tax for the amount of land that was incorrect for 2003. Mr. Clukey seconded and motion passed 3-0. Mrs. Silverman noted that legally we cannot go back further than 2003.
*** DISCUSS OWNERSHIP AND TAX ISSUE – MAP 41 LOT 01 – We will abate the 5 months of taxes that the original owner lived here. Mrs. Silverman made a motion to issue the abatement, Mr. Clukey seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
*** SIGN AGREEMENT WITH DOTCOM PLUS – Mrs. Knight voted to sign agreement, Mr. Clukey seconded and motion passed 3-0.
*** SIGN CONTRACTS FOR HEALTH, LIFE, DISABILITY AND DENTAL INSURANCE WITH NHMA HEALTH TRUS - Mrs. Knight asked about flex plans. We will get information for this next year. Mrs. Knight made a motion to sign the contract, Mrs. Silverman seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
*** SIGN GRANT APPLICATION FOR WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT STUDY – DES – The board discussed where we are with this work. The board would like to people informed about the status of this project via the newsletter and make sure that the sewer committee writes an annual report.
*** ON-GOING TRAINING FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS REGARDING HAVA REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
*** PRELIMINARY AUDIT 12/09/03
*** DISCUSS WARRANT ARTICLE DEALING WITH AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO SET AND AMEND FEES - The board agreed that this would be a good thing to do and will put it on the warrant for 2004.
*** 2004 BUDGET - No discussion
*** NON-PUBLIC SESSION – PERSONNEL EVALUATIONS – no discussion
SECONDARY:
· Various committee/board minutes
· Newsletters
· Review Police logs/reports
SIGNED:
· Minutes
· Correspondence
· Payroll and Accounts Payable Manifests
There being no further business, at 9:50pm. Mr. Clukey made a motion to adjourn, Mrs. Silverman seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Submitted by:
Paula Thompson
Town Administrator Joan Knight, Chairman
Andrew D. Clukey
Susan S. Silverman
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