Warner Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes Monday,
Chairman Cook opened the meeting at In Attendance:
Selectman Richard A. Cook � Chairman Selectman
David E. Hartman Selectman
David Karrick, Jr.
Town Administrator � Laura Buono Absent:
None
Others present: Ed Mical
Martha Mical Jim Hand
Jeanne Hand
Deane Emery
Ron Wirth
Jan Dynment � Intertown Record
Judy Rogers
Richard Senor Barbara Annis 1. Emergency Management �
Ed Mical Mr. Mical presented Hazard Mitigation
extension paperwork that will extend the Mason Hill and Mr. Mical also reported that the paperwork
for the December 2008 ice storm is in process.
Mr. Mical will meet with FEMA on March 5. 2. Jeanne Hand � School Board Candidate Ms. Hand is a candidate as Warner�s
representative on the School Board and asked the Selectmen what they
feel her responsibilities would be to Warner and the Selectmen.
Chairman Cook explained there is no particular procedure, he went
on and explained that the Selectmen would appreciate when there is an
issue that arises between the school and the Town, that the issue is
carried to the School Board and kept in front of the School Board until
there is a resolution. Ms.
Hand asked if the Selectmen have ever received a schedule of the School
Board meetings. Chairman
Cook said the Town receives meeting agendas.
Ms. Hand feels it would be helpful to the residents if
information about the meetings was more readily available.
Ms. Hand also spoke about the list of
program studies at the High School that was published in the Intertown
Record. She also noted that
languages are not a requirement to graduate, yet there is $486K budgeted
for a language department. Ms.
Hand said the program is gearing for students who will be attending
college and feels the school is being set up for a college prep school.
Selectman Karrick asked Ms. Hand if she is suggesting the school
should not prepare students for college, students shouldn�t be
learning languages even if it is not required?
Ms. Hand feels this program could be taking away from the
electives. Chairman Cook
said the Selectmen can�t do anything about such programs.
Ms. Hand disagreed and explained that the Selectmen could ask the
School Board representative to have these programs cut down.
She also believes that the students can still receive a good
education for less money. The Selectmen encourage Ms. Hand�s idea
about bringing more feedback from the meetings to the citizens of
Warner. Jan Dyment asked how the School Board
members have communicated in the past.
Chairman Cook said it has been on an as needed basis. 3. Jim Hand � Municipal Budget Committee Mr. Hand explained to the Selectmen what
he has learned in his first year as a Municipal Budget Committee member.
Mr. Hand learned in the last three years the budget increased by
39.3%. Another thing that
became obvious to Mr. Hand was the School Board was operating alone,
unrelated to what was happening in the Towns. Mr. Hand recommends
discussion with the Selectmen prior to the next round of negotiations
with the teachers so the representatives know what the Town expects and
early discussion prior to the school budget process. 4. Barbara Annis � Exit 9 Barbara Annis reported that a
representative from Hoyle & Tanner met with Jim Marshall from the
Department of Transportation. Mr.
Marshall is the project manager of the Bureau of Planning &
Community Assistance. Hoyle
& Tanner presented three plans (for exit 9) and asked if the State
approves of the plans. Ms.
Annis said that Mr. Marshall said the State approves the three plans; it
would be up to the Town to decide what design would be the best.
Mr. Marshall is also confident that there is State funding
available for the project and recommends the State Highway Aid Fund (1/3
� 2/3 appropriation). Mr.
Marshall recommended filing for an application immediately, however Mr.
Marshall did not see any funding available until 2012-2013 from the
State. Ms. Annis said if the
funding is approved by the State the Town could move forward with the
project and be reimbursed by the State in the year it was approved for.
The reimbursement would be for the actual cost of the project, it
would not include interest on a bond if the Town chose to move forward
before the State funding was made available.
Mr. Marshall recommends State Aid, not the 10 year plan.
Mr. Marshall also explained that the Town at this time should be
requesting Requests for Quote�s (RFQ).
Barbara Annis said this cost would be reimbursed through the 2/3rd�s
cost. The average traffic count that was
completed in October 2008 was 4,460 vehicles per day going through the
exit 9 intersection. Ron Wirth asked Barbara Annis if she has
in hand a traffic study that tells how many accidents in the exit 9
area. Barbara Annis said
that the Police Department has that information.
Mr. Wirth said he has found that there is nothing significant,
it�s known to be a scary intersection and people should be careful.
Mr. Wirth recommends a low cost effort by installing �Dangerous
Intersection� signs. Selectman Hartman recommended that the
Town should receive something in writing from the State acknowledging
that the Town is eligible for State Aide for road construction.
Ms. Annis expects a letter in the very near future.
5. Administrator�s Report EnviroSystems, Inc. - Mr. Wendell Berry from EnviroSystems,
Inc. had come into the Selectmen�s office with regard to using the
Transfer Station for the purpose of recycling plastic bottles which are
generated by their business which is located in The Selectmen recommend the TS Foreman
look at what is being proposed and determine if taking the recyclables
will have a positive or negative impact on the budget.
The Selectmen will consider the request once the Foreman returns
with the impact information. Employee Training � The employee training event that was
held on Monday, February 23rd entitled Preventing Workplace
Violence went very well and was well attended.
Ms. Buono has requested a meeting with Chief Chandler so that an
emergency plan can be drafted as soon as possible for Town buildings
& facilities. Bookkeeper Position � The bookkeeper job opening has been
advertised and the Selectmen�s office has received a few resumes which
the Town Administrator will begin to review.
Currently, Mary Whalen is helping with the functions of that
office to keep the daily operations going. Connors Mill � The Selectmen�s office received a check
from the State of Community Development Block Grant Feasibility Grant � The
Town has received official approval from Governor and Council for the
CDBG Feasibility Study Grant for the 6. Exemptions & Abatement Request Martha Mical presented Veterans Exemption,
Solar Exemption and an Abatement request for the Selectmen to consider.
Selectman Hartman moved
to approve the exemption request for solar installation amounting to
$7,800 located at Map 12 The Abatement request will reduce the
value of Map 15 Lot 18-1 from $153,480 to $149,800.
The Assessor recommends this change based on a corrected acreage
from a survey. Selectman
Hartman moved to grant a revised assessment for Map 15 7. Manifest Selectman Karrick moved
to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to
sign payroll check numbers 1608 -1637 (includes 10 direct deposit stubs)
in the amount of $31,902.98 and accounts payable check numbers
42773-42835 in the amount of $81,695.60.
Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion carries. 8. Selectmen�s Other Business Selectman Hartman reported the Town
attended court today regarding two lawsuits.
One was Healy v. Cook, Hartman and Karrick dealing with a
petition article authored by John Healy, the other was Senor v. Brown
regarding a restraining order that Mr. Senor requested.
Both decisions are expected in the very near future. Selectman Karrick brought forward a
request from the Kearsarge Snail Trails.
The request is for those snowmobile users that live beyond Candidates Night will be held on March 5,
located in the lower meeting at the Town Hall. Selectman Hartman took a moment and
thanked Selectman Cook for his years of service.
9. Non Public Selectman Hartman moved to enter into
Nonpublic Session at In Attendance:
Chairman Cook; Selectman Hartman; Selectman Karrick; Allan Brown,
Public Works Director; Varick Proper. The Town Administrator discussed a
possible part-time candidate for the Bookkeeper position.
A proposed work schedule was discussed.
No decisions were made. Selectman Hartman moved to come out of
Nonpublic Session at 10. Adjournment Selectman Hartman moved to adjourn the
meeting at Board of Selectmen Richard A. Cook � Chairman Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen Recording Secretary
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