February 2, 2008
The meeting was brought to order at 10.00 a.m. by the moderator, Walter Fries. There were about 44 residents present. Mr. Fries asked for the Pledge of Allegiance. He then asked the Board of Selectmen to introduce themselves. They are Shawn O’Neil, Robert Moore, Russell Pouliot, Joseph Luna and John Russo. Next were Town Clerk Doreen Moore, Budget Committee Tom Billbrough- Chairman, Elisabeth Sanders, Patricia Sarcione, Marion Current, Andy Ward, Debra Meigs and Jeff Steenson. The moderator had the Dept. Heads in the audience introduce themselves. The moderator explained that the meeting would be run by the Roberts Rules of Order.
Moderator Walter Fries read Article #8
“Shall the town raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote for the first session, for the purpose set forth therein, totaling Two Million Four Hundred Twenty-six Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-two Thousand Dollars ($2,426,942). Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be Two Million Three Hundred Thirty-seven Thousand Sixty-eight Dollars ($2,337,068) which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.”
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Shawn O’Neil moved to bring the article forward for discussion, Joe Luna seconded. Discussion followed. Mr. O’Neil made a motion to reduce the Library budget from $158,128 to $130,000, Andy Ward seconded. Much discussion followed. Elizabeth Cameron, Library Trustee, spoke in favor of leaving the budget the way it was presented. Finally, Robert Moore moved the question, David Knight seconded. Moderator Fries stated that a paper ballot would be used to vote on the motion. The vote was taken .The vote was 20 yes votes and 22 no votes. The Library budget will remain as presented.
Doreen Moore made a motion to increase the operating budget by $1,202 dollars in the Government Buildings Account #4194.10, sub account gb-430, to replace the window in the Police Dept Admin office with a bullet proof window with access ports to conduct police business in relative safety. Sheila Johannesen seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken and the motion passed. The operating budget will now increase to $2,428,144.
A typographical error was noted in line five of the article: “Thousand” needs to be deleted
Article 8 will appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) for the culvert construction on Long Pond Road at Pow Wow Brook and authorize the withdrawal of Ten Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($10,600) from the Long Pond Road Culvert Capital Reserve Fund created for that purpose. The balance of Twenty-four Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($24,400) is to come from general taxation.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore moved to discuss, Bruce Caillouette seconded. Mr. Cailloutte, Road Agent, explained the article and the need to repair. Article # 9 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 10.
If Warrant Article 2008-9 fails, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be added to the Long Pond Road Culvert Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
No motion to discuss. Article # 10 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 11.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) to be added to the Highway Sand/Salt Storage Building Capital Reserve Fund established to build a Highway Sand/Salt Storage Building to fulfill a future EPA requirement for stormwater management.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore made a motion to discuss, Shawn O ‘Neil seconded. The road agent was asked to explain the article. No changes were made. Article # 11 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 12
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-four Thousand Dollars ($34,000) to purchase and equip a new four wheel drive police vehicle.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moved made a motion to discuss, Russell Pouliot seconded. Police Chief Wade Parsons was asked a number of questions. No changes were made. Article # 12 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 13
To see if the Town will vote to allow the Selectmen/Police Chief to sell, by competitive sealed bid, the existing 1988 police truck and to appropriate the estimated sale sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) to be placed in the New Police Station Capital Reserve Fund.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Sheila Johannesen made a motion to insert the word “decommissioned 4 wheel drive” after the words “the existing 1988”. Doreen Moore seconded. The motion passed. Article # 13 will now appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 14
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) to be added to the Police Station Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Chris Giordano made a motion to discuss, Shawn O’Neil seconded. Tom Billbrough asked about the word “New Police Station Capital Reserve Fund” in Article # 13 as compared to “Police Station Capital Reserve Fund” in Article 14. Shouldn’t the wording be the same? Chip Current made a motion to add the word “New” in the title and to insert the word “New” in the article before the word police station. Shawn O’Neil seconded, motion passed. Article # 14 will appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 15
To see if the town will vote to create a revolving fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, for the purpose of purchasing a rescue vehicle and/or medical equipment for the Fire Department. All revenues received from billable ambulance services provided by the Danville Fire Department will be deposited into the fund, and the money in the fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered part of the town's general fund unreserved fund balance. The fund shall be used to purchase a replacement rescue vehicle and/or medical equipment for the Fire Department. The town treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon order of the governing body and no further approval is required by the legislative body to expend. Such funds may be expended only for the purpose for which the fund was created. NO TAX IMPACT
David Knight made a motion to discuss, Shawn O’Neil seconded. Fire Chief Steve Woitkun explained the article. Many questions followed, but no changes were made to Article 15. The article will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 16
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-three Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($33,200) to purchase and completely outfit a 2008 F-350 for use by the Fire Department and authorize the withdrawal of Thirty-three Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($33,200) from The Fire Department Vehicle Capital reserve Fund previously established. NO TAX IMPACT.
Not recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore made a motion to discuss, John Russo seconded. Fire Chief Steve Woitkun made a motion to amend the article to delete the wording “F350” and to insert “1- Ton 4 Wheel Drive pick- up truck”. A voice vote on the amendment was taken, the motion passed. Mr. O’Neil asked the Budget Committee if they would reconsider their “not to recommended” vote. Chairman Billbrough stated that the committee will not reconsider. Article # 16 will appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 17.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to be added to the Protection of Personnel Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
No motion was made to discuss. Article # 17 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries read Article # 18.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to be added to the Fire Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
No Motion made to discuss. Article # 18 will appear as written and read.
At 12:20 p.m., the moderator was asked to have a 5 minute recess.
Walter Fries Read Article # 19
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-seven Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars ($37,950) to provide partial funding for two (2) full-time weekday firefighter/EMT staff for the Fire Department beginning in July 2008 and to accept a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of Thirty-seven Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars ($37,950) to partially fund this staffing. The remaining funding for the full-time staff of Ten Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Dollars ($10,660) will be provided from the Fire Department’s existing operating budget. The SAFER Grant is a five year plan that will provide a total grant amount over the five year period of Two Hundred Ten Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($210,850) to provide two (2) full-time/weekday Firefighter/EMT staff for the town. Danville’s portion would be paid from the Fire Department’s existing operating budget for the first three years.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore made a motion to discuss, Shawn O’Neil seconded. Steve Woitkun was called upon to explain this article, no changes were made. Article # 19 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 20
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Chip Current made a motion to discuss, Shawn O’Neil seconded. Discussion followed. No changes were made to the article. Article # 20 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article #21
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
No motion to discuss. Article # 21 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 22
Article 2008-22 Historic Webster Stagecoach Stop & Store
To see if the Town will vote to accept title to the building known as the Webster Stagecoach Stop/Store and to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-four Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-two ($34,782) to relocate the building to Town-owned property at the corner of Sandown Road and Main Street (Map 1 Lot 39). This appropriation to be entirely offset by DOT grants, LCHIP
grants, Heritage Fund and donated services. Upon completion of the project, any residual funds will be placed into the existing Heritage Fund. NO TAX IMPACT.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Curt Springer made a motion to discuss, Joe Luna seconded. Bill Gard, Heritage Commission, gave an update on how this all came about, many question and answers followed. It was suggested that a cosmetic change be made to the second line to put an ampersand sign between the words Stop/Store and take out the slash sign. Article # 22 will appear as written (with the typographical change) and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 23
To see if the Town will vote to allow the Selectmen to sell by competitive bid, trade, or otherwise dispose of town owned equipment or vehicles which are no longer used in the Town’s normal operations, and authorize indefinitely, until specific rescission of such authority, the Selectmen to dispose of the aforementioned town owned property. Any revenue received will be added to the general fund.
Curt Springer made a motion to discuss, seconded by Chris Giordano. No changes were made. Article 23 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article # 24
Manny Fardella made a motion to discuss, Charles Coffin seconded. Jane Sigilman read a statement expressing why she was against this article. Elisabeth Sanders suggested that the Town Clerk put this in the minutes. The Town Clerk said she would make sure that the letter would be included as an attachment to the minutes along with other reports from the meeting.
Mr. Coffin made a motion to change the wording of the article to change “discontinue” to “continue” and deleting “thereby reducing the cost of printing and the cost of mailing”. The motion failed.
The article will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries Read Article #25
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred Five Dollars ($1,205) to purchase library shelving and authorize the use of that amount from interest income earned from the library’s TD Banknorth checking account and the checking account portion of the NHPDIP (New Hampshire Public Deposit Investment Pool) account. NO TAX IMPACT.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Elizabeth Cameron made a motion to discuss, Tom Billbrough seconded. Elizabeth asked to change the money amount in the article to read $1,333. The motion passed.
Article # 25 will appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 26
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-seven Dollars ($12,577) to extend the library hours from 35 hours to 43 hours per week.
Recommended by the Budget Committee
Not recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore made a motion to discuss, David Knight seconded. Elizabeth Cameron made a motion to amend the article as follows: “ To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Forty-eight Dollars ($10,048) to extend the library hours from 35 hours to 43 hours per week beginning March 17, 2008. This figure includes salaries, Social Security and Medicare costs for forty-two weeks of 2008.”
The motion was seconded and a voice vote taken. The amendment passed. The article will appear as amended.
Walter Fries Read Article # 27
To see if the Town will vote to add the Town owned ‘West Parcel’, so-called, tax map 1 lot 69, acquired by deed recorded in the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds, Book 2879, Page 37, to the lots authorized for a conservation easement on the town forest by Warrant Article 33, passed by the town meeting on March 11, 2003, under the same terms and conditions. This lot is the location of the parking lot for the town forest.
Curt Springer moved to discuss, Chris Giordano seconded. No changes made, Article # 27 will appear as written and read.
Walter Fries read Article # 28
To see if the town will vote to replace the culvert with necessary materials and repave the Sandown Road Bridge to allow weight limit restrictive passage, and to raise and appropriate $30,000 for this purpose. The sum of $30,000 to be raised by taxation. This appropriation is to repair the bridge culvert only and not to repair the bridge structural damage or flooding problems that exist with the current roadway.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
Robert Moore made a motion to discuss, Joe Luna seconded. The Road Agent or the lead petitioner was asked to explain what was meant by the statement “not to repair the bridge structural damage”. The petitioner, Manny Fardella, made a motion to amend the article by putting a period after the words “bridge culvert only” and deleting the rest of the sentence following. The motion was seconded. A voice vote was taken and the amendment passed. Article #28 will appear as amended.
There being no further business, Moderator Fries adjourned the meeting at 1.45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Doreen Moore
Town Clerk