BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
January 26, 2007
9:40am Mr. Parker wants to bring up the issue of his abatement. He felt his assessment was wrong. He filed an abatement exactly as any other citizen. Only one small piece is not in current use. The assessment has to do with the value of the property. The piece not in current use is not a building lot – not large enough, no access to a town road. The lot as subdivided is not an issue. Additional property would have to be taken out of current use. Mr. Parker feels that because he is a selectmen, he won’t get fair treatment on this. He feels that people would be critical of this and say that he got an abatement because he is a selectmen. He would not expect this to happen to any other taxpayer in Fitzwilliam. Mr. Yon said the error was in the computer not intentionally done – it should have been looked at by the
board of selectmen. Mr. Methe said that there has to be faith that the decision will be made fairly in this office. Mr. Yon said that as it’s subdivided it’s assessed for more than it was before. Mr. Parker would like this to end right here.
Another issue has troubled him greatly and he wants to be on the record. It’s about the Fire Department and a company running a training course at the public safety building. He brought this to the board when he saw it advertised in the newsletter. The selectmen agreed to send a letter to the firewards. Paula called Tom about confirming the location and he gave her permission to call Nancy Carney to make sure. The selectmen handed the letter to Wendy who then said they had changed the location. Win Wright said that at the fire meeting it was stated that the Board of Selectmen had not allowed them to have the program there. He will speak to Mr. Prigge and ask who made the statement to the Fire Department. This happened before with the Police Department when the officers were told they weren’t getting raises because of the
Board of Selectmen. The selectmen asked all the officers to come in for a meeting and told them it was because the chief had not submitted evaluations for them.
Mr. Parker said that he would like to be relieved as chairman. He stated that he has spent a lot of years as a selectmen and tried to do the best for the town. He would like someone else to chair the board. Mr. Methe would like to wait until after town meeting to make the change, if that is agreeable. Mr. Parker said he would agree with that.
Mr. Parker feels the selectmen need to discuss the Fitzwilliam Water District. Paula has put the information we have from two attorneys in the primary folder. Some of the information that Mr. Parker has gotten concerns him. After the selectmen discuss this, they would like to meet with the commissioners.
Cindy Brown from BTLA called and wants to meet with selectmen on Thursday Feb 1 at 10am to pick up the cards that had the view adjustment removed. This time works for the board.
Road Projects – Mr. Parker said that the condition of Fullam Hill Rd is horrendous and he wishes that we had the money to deal with this one as well this year. He does agree with the schedule of roads Gene wants to do this year. Mr. Parker agrees with $215,500 for road projects. He is very satisfied with the work that Gene does and said that Gene is doing the best he can with what he is given for a budget. Mr. Parker would like to see that if we had the money we could put more in to repair Fullam Hill Rd.
Water District – Mr. Parker said that his opinion is that the selectmen should put things on the warrant to give the voters the ability to vote on it. Mr. Methe feels that we shouldn’t recommend it. Mr. Parker agrees. Mr. Yon said that the Water District Commissioners have two budgets – one with the town supporting it and the other without. Mr. Parker said that the people who will benefit can pay for it. Mr. Methe said that right now the town doesn’t have, or he believes wants, ownership and this could lead to that. The selectmen will not recommend this.
Backhoe – The selectmen will recommend this. We will write the article to raise and appropriate $90,000, enter into a lease or short term loan.
Transfer Station Improvements - The selectmen recommend this.
Forestry Vehicle – Mr. Methe doesn’t think we should purchase this. There are vehicles like this in surrounding towns and they’ve only used it one time in many years. Mr. Parker said that if there is a brush fire they can run a Class A engine right into the person’s backyard. They only need a special truck if the fire is on the powerlines. Mr. Parker said that the other night when this was presented by the CIP Committee he felt that the CIP Committee was looking at what the departments wanted. Mr. Parker looked at what we have for fire equipment and what it would cost every year to have a schedule to replace all of the trucks.
2 Front end engines - $280,000
Tanker – $190,000
Brush Truck - $40,000
The average lifespan of these vehicles is 20 years – this would cost about $40,000 per year. If we buy a forestry truck this year, that would be the allocated amount for the fire department according to this schedule. If we buy the vehicle he would recommend that no money be added to capital reserve. If a vehicle is not purchased this year, he would recommend that $40,000 be added to capital reserve.
Mr. Yon suggested that we put $40,000 into capital reserve. This is an expendable fund. Mr. Parker agreed. Mr. Methe agrees. He doesn’t see the true need for this truck.
The Board will not recommend the forestry truck and instead recommend $40,000 into capital reserve.
Cold Storage Building - Mr. Methe feels that the cold storage building needs to be done this year because of the condition of the existing old power building. The board will recommend that an expendable trust be established and $35,000 be added.
Pine Grove Fencing – The selectmen recommended $5,000.
Reassessment – Mr. Methe thinks we need to be looking at $200,000 as a worst case scenerio. Mr. Parker agrees but it is an unknown and he doesn’t think this amount would be approved at town meeting. Mr. Parker suggests $40,000 to be put into the Reassessment Capital Reserve and appoint the selectmen as agents to expend. Mr. Methe would also like to see that if we decide to change software there should be something there. We need to work on the wording of the article. Mr. Methe would like to see $100,000. Mr. Yon feels we need more – he would like to enough to go with Avatar and do all the projects they need to do to clean up. The selectmen will recommend $75,000.
Police Station – The selectmen recommended establishing a new expendable trust fund funded with money from the one that is being dissolved.
Ambulance – The budget committee recommended $10,000. Mr. Parker agrees with that. The board will recommend $10,000.
Conservation Land Trust – Mr. Parker feels that because there is so much on the docket this year and that they already have almost $70,000 between the conservation fund that we should not do this. The selectmen will recommend $15,000 to go into the expendable trust fund.
Town Hall Painting – Mr. Methe would go with $10,000
Master Plan – Recommend $10,000
Fork Lift - $2,000
Police Vehicle - $10,000
Painting Library - $5,000
Highway Dept Cold Storage Bldg – Mr. Methe feels that we should do this this year. Mr. Parker would like to get a price to tear down. Bldg at Nick’s was very inexpensive – with site work – 60 X 50 he has less than $40,000 into it. Mr. Parker would like it to be big enough to not be cramped for space. He has 40 X 60 now. He is looking at a metal building. $35,000
Mike – the snow shoveling at town hall – Would Mark Brokelman be willing to do this? Maybe he would be willing to do the town agent job. Mr. Parker will call and talk to him about this.
Meet with Firewards and review what is required by current law. Letter from BOS
Mr. Parker is thinking that instead of modifying the wind, solar and wood heat exemptions, we should rescind them.
At 10:23am Mr. Parker made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Carmen – voted 3-0
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