Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Monday, March 3, 2009

Chairman Cook opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

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 West Joppa Road projects from 2005 until December 31, 2009 .  Mr. Mical also expects to have another contract in front of the Selectmen within the next month regarding the stone culvert on Joppa Road .   Chairman Cook called for a motion that will authorize him to sign for the Board of Selectmen.  Selectman Hartman moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the extension of performance period amendments to contract CE#211876 and CE#212175.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion.  All were in favor, the motion passed.  

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. 

Selectman Cook asked what would be the next step. Ms. Annis said filing an application to the State, she did not know if the Town would need to have the 1/3rd portion on hand.   

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 Hampton , NH .  Mr. Berry lives in Newport and our Transfer Station is a convenient place to dispose of these items and according to Mr. Berry , he did this when the TS Supervisor was working for the Town however, he was never required to purchase a permit.  Mr. Berry is now requesting to bring these containers to our Transfer Station under the price of a residential permit ($180/year).  A copy of Mr. Berry �s request letter was provided to the Selectmen for approval or denial.   

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 NH in the amount of $212,540.80 for a portion of the States share of the Connors Mill project.  Selectman Hartman asked if a resolution has been met with one of the abutting property owners.  Ms. Buono explained the Director of Public Works is waiting for the snow to melt, once the snow is melted the Director of Public Works will continue discussions with the property owner.   

Community Development Block Grant Feasibility Grant � The Town has received official approval from Governor and Council for the CDBG Feasibility Study Grant for the Odd Fellows Building .  Jim McLaughlin worked with Mary Whalen to send out RFP�s for the Grant Administration with the proposals due by March 13, 2009 .    

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 Lot 48.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

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 Lot 18-1 from $153,480 to $149,800.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

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 Mill Street to be able to use a portion of Depot Street in order to pick up the trail.  Because it is nearing the end of the season the Selectmen recommend checking out the access from Riverside Park and try to resolve it prior to next winter.

 

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 7:31 p.m. per RSA 91A:3 II (b) hiring. The motion was seconded by Selectman Karrick.  A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Cook � yes; Selectman Hartman � yes; Selectman Karrick � yes.  Motion passed unanimously.   

In Attendance:  Chairman Cook; Selectman Hartman; Selectman Karrick; Allan Brown, Public Works Director; Varick Proper.

9a.  Nonpublic Session

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 7:58 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Selectman Karrick. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Cook � yes; Selectman Hartman � yes; Selectman Karrick � yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

10. Adjournment

Selectman Hartman moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m.   Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.

Board of Selectmen    

Richard A. Cook � Chairman
David E. Hartman
David Karrick, Jr.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording Secretary