This document is for informational purposes only.
The original document may be obtained at the Town Hall.
Town of Danville
Board of Selectmen
December 3, 2007
7:00 PM
Selectmen Present: Russ Pouliot, Shawn O’Neil, John Russo and Bob Moore
Joe Luna arrived at 7:30 (at the conclusion of the discussion of the Fire Truck CRF WA).
Others present: Steve Woitkun-Fire Chief, Chris Giordano-Conservation Commission, Sheila Johannesen-Conservation Commission and Curt Springer-Forestry Committee
I Warrant Article Review
“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 __________________________________________Dollars ($_________)? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be _________________________Dollars ($_________) 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.”
The Operating Budget warrant article was tabled until all figures submitted.
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. This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 2008- the operating budget.
The Board discussed the sentence “This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 2008- the operating budget”. The Board stated that this statement was not necessary as previously discussed with Jeannie Samms/DRA. It was agreed to delete this sentence from all the proposed warrant articles.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen and approve Long Pond Road Culvert warrant article as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
If Warrant Article 2008-__ 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.
Selectman Russo moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen and approve Addition to Long Pond Road culvert CRF warrant article as amended.. The motion passed unanimously.
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 storm water management.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectmen O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen and approve Highway Sand/Salt Storage Building Capital Reserve Fund warrant article as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
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.
The article was read and Selectman O’Neil questioned whether “to replace a 1988 police truck which is now taken out of service due to mechanical and safety issues” could be added?
Selectman Pouliot responded “no, if there was truly a need for a 4-wheel drive truck it could be put into the operating budget as it would be replacing something that already existed. This warrant article is for a new SUV type vehicle”.
Selectman Moore stated that he was uneasy with this warrant article because a new police cruiser was put in the operating budget and this would not be a good year to purchase a second police vehicle. In addition, we have seen double digit increases in department operating budgets and we may need to trim some items from the budget. He recommended holding off on this warrant article until the bottom line of the entire operating budget was known.
Selectman O’Neil stated that at this point in time there was an approximate 10% increase over last year’s budget which was the default budget. He stated he believed that replacement of the police cruiser should have been part of the 2007 default budget but it was not. Although this vehicle has been made part of the operating budget next year it does not preclude the Board from purchasing the vehicle this year if the funds are available and then amending the proposed 2008 budget.
Selectman Moore agreed this was a good approach and recommended tabling this warrant. The Board will revisit.
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.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Disposal of Police Department Vehicle warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) to be added to the New Police Station Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
The Board deleted “Department” from the title of the warrant article and replaced with the word “Station”. In addition, they deleted the word “New” before Police Station CRF.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen and approve Police Station Capital Reserve Fund warrant article as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Rescue Vehicle and Equipment Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing a vehicle and medical equipment for the Fire Department and to name the Selectmen as agents to expend from this fund. Funds to be added to the Rescue Vehicle and Equipment Capital Reserve Fund will come from billable ambulance service provided by the Danville Fire Department. NO TAX IMPACT.
Chief Woitkun explained although the Fire Department has not billed yet, in foreseeing a need for a new rescue vehicle/ambulance in the next 10 years, the billing process and rate schedule are being developed.
Selectman Moore suggested rewording “for the purpose of purchasing vehicle” to “a rescue vehicle and/or medical equipment….”
Selectman Russo moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Rescue Vehicle and Equipment CRF warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
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.
Steve Woitkun stated this warrant article is to replace the 1977 Dodge that the Fire Department has which is currently out of service due to the mechanical condition. Last year the Fire Department ran into some resistance with the Budget Committee as they did not consider a pickup truck a fire truck and so they would not recommend. Research by the FD has shown that the original title of the CRF was “Future Fire Truck Purchases”. In 1996 the title was changed to “Future Fire Department Capital Expenditures” In 1998, the title was changed again to “Future Fire Department Vehicle Purchases”. This is the same warrant article submitted last year which was defeated.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Fire Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to be added to the Protection of Personnel Equipment Fund previously established.
Steve Woitkun stated that his fund was created in 2003 when the Fire Department received a FEMA grant for new air packs to match the Town’s portion. The department is trying to prepare for the future as the life span of air packs is now 15 years. Previously the air packs cost $110,000 and trying to put aside money now will help defray the total cost in 12 years when new air packs are needed. The current balance in this account is $5,462.55.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Personnel Equipment Capital Reserve Fund warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to be added to the Fire Truck Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
Steve Woitkun stated the title should read Fire Department Vehicle. Presently $103,973.00 is in the fund. The amount of this warrant article is in accordance with the Capital Improvements Program as discussed with the Planning Board and included in the Master Plan.. A new truck at an estimated cost of $350,000 will be necessary within the next 5-years.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Fire Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund as amended. The motion passed 3/1. Selectman Moore opposed, Selectman Luna abstained.
To see if the Town will accept a SAFER Grant. Per Chief Woitkun - more information to follow.
The application was filed towards the end of October and the Peer Review Committee met in Maryland. He has not heard from any of the surrounding towns that have applied whether they have received or been rejected. Selectman Moore reminded the Board that the Chief had previously come before the Board regarding this grant to add 2 full time people to the Fire Department.
Selectman Luna questioned if this grant starts when approved or on a calendar year. If approved 3/08 already lost 3 months. Would reimbursement run from April 2008 until April 2009 at the higher rate and then April 2009 to April 2010? Do we lose the funding for the months prior to approval?
The Board TABLED this warrant article and requested further information from Steve Woitkun who will reword the warrant article, submit a total dollar figure and research how the actual grant works for the next meeting.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500) to be added to the Municipal Mosquito Control Expendable Trust Fund established for the purpose of management and spraying for mosquito control.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Municipal Mosquito Control Expendable Trust Fund warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
Article 2008-__ Public Educational and Government Access Budget
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Thousand Six Hundred Eighty-three Dollars ($6,683) from the Cable Access Special Revenue Fund for Public Education Government Access (PEG), such funds to come from fees returned to the Town from Comcast or its successor company, under the Franchise Agreement.
The Board agreed to add No Tax Impact to the end of this warrant article.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Public Education and Government Access Budget warrant article and approve as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
Article 2008-__ Webster Stagecoach Stop & Store
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Sixteen Thousand Forty Dollars ($16,040) to be used in connection with the relocation of the donated Webster Stagecoach Stop/Store to Town-owned property at the corner of Sandown Road and Main Street (Map 1 Lot 39). The total cost of the relocation is Twenty-six Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($26,100): to be paid as follows: Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) from the Heritage Fund, Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) from a LCHIP Grant, Sixteen Thousand Forty Dollars ($16,040) from general fund. This will allow the Town to accept the donated structure and obtain a 2/3 reimbursement of Seventeen Thousand One Hundred Eighty-six Dollars and Forty Cents from DOT. The balance of unexpended DOT reimbursement Funds will be deposited to the Heritage Fund. NO TAX IMPACT
The Board agreed to add “Historic” to the title of this warrant article and insert after ($16,040) the word raised through and change Fund to taxation.
The Board agreed to TABLE this warrant until the Town receives input from LGC for the exact wording of the article.
The Board discussed the fact that there is no Recreational Director and this article would be adding a considerable structure at some point in time. Selectman Luna stated that this structure has been in the Master Plan for quite some time, but no one has ever put aside money for it and as this would take several years to accumulate funds and wanted to move the warrant article forward. Selectman Moore stated that putting money aside for recreational facilities without someone to have oversight of them was putting the cart before the horse. Selectman O’Neil agreed and would rather see monies go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the fields at this time. Selectman Pouliot questioned whether the warrant should be for a pavilion specifically for Colby Pond field or should it be more universal so that it could be built at the best overall location that would be determined by future boards.
This warrant article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen and will be removed from the warrant articles.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to “not” recommend Recreation Pavillion/Building Capital Reserve Fund Warrant Article. The motion passed 4/1. Selectman Pouliot, O’Neil, Russo & Moore vote yea, Selectman Luna voted nay.
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.
The Board agreed with this warrant article but questioned who had submitted it. This warrant article was TABLED until final review.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Mailing Town Reports warrant article. The motion passed unanimously.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred Five Dollars ($1205) to purchase library shelving and authorize the use of that amount of interest income from 2007 and any accumulated interest on that amount, from the library’s TD Bank north checking account and the checking account portion of the NHDPIP (New Hampshire Public Deposit Investment Pool) account. NO TAX IMPACT.
Selectman Russo moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to add recommended by the Board of Selectmen to Colby Memorial Library Expend Interest warrant article. The motion passed 3/2. Selectman O’Neil and Selectman Luna opposed.
II Conservation Commission/Forestry Committee
Conservation Easement
Selectman Moore began by stating that the Conservation Commission had done a lot of work over the past year on the proposed easement and as such should be allowed to comment on the issues that are now being brought forward by the Forestry Committee. He was concerned that as the CC are now coming into the closing stages of a final version of the easement document, the Forestry Committee has now come forward with a litany of problems they see with the proposed easement and in essence are asking to start all over again.
Curt Springer responded by stating most of this information had already been expressed directly to the Conservation Commission and have been saying these things for the past 4 years.
Issues with easement
Curt
Chris
Selectman Luna
The ATV issue was discussed with no resolution.
After exhaustive discussion Selectman Moore questioned Curt Springer, Forestry Committee Chairman, on whether or not the Forestry Committee was going to agree to any kind of conservation easement because it is with Audubon?
Selectman O’Neil recommended that they take the easement, get it done, put it in escrow and work on the stewardship plan.
Selectman Moore - I really see a problem here. I look back at the warrant article that was approved that named specifically the Board of Selectmen, the Conservation Commission and Forestry Committee to be responsible for developing and approving an easement plan. I have a sense here that no matter what is done, unless there is more cooperation between the boards, there is going to be no agreement. Your proposal as I read through it, Curt, essentially requires them to throw everything away and start all over as though nothing has happened.
Chris Giordano - when this first started Forestry backed out of this. They were initially all on board working with us together. It took a lot of time to get to this point. The problems all stemmed from them not being involved in the Emilio issue. After that issue, Forestry came out publicly at their next meeting saying they would not work with the Conservation Commission and that they did not want an easement on the town forest and they did not want Audubon to hold that easement, all because they were not involved in the Emilio issue.
Selectman Luna-Questioned if the stewardship plan harmed what forestry wanted to do out there and Curt replied no. Then I don’t understand why we can’t have 3 months to come up with a draft plan. Selectman Luna suggested each Board prepare an outline of what their Board’s goals are, these should be done separately and then the Boards come together and identify the similar items and discuss and come to agreement on any items that are dissimilar. We don’t have a set plan written and we are fighting over it, it makes absolutely no sense, it’s unproductive and as stated its obstructionist.
Discussions were ended and Selectman Pouliot verified that everyone would be going to the upcoming Conservation Committee meeting Thursday or have representation present.
III Proposed Land Donation
a. Selectman Moore had some conversation with the owner of the proposed donated parcel of land. The resident is donating the parcel because it needs surveying and he doesn’t want to incur this expense as he cannot use the land or sell it because it has no access. In addition, the assessment has increased. The owner is uncertain of the parcel description in question as there are 10 different parcels on the original deed. He cannot identify for the board which of the deeds is the parcel he wants to donate.
b. The Board has done a site walk on the parcel that they assumed was the one to be donated.
c. The Board is requesting Rod Wood revisit the parcels in question regarding the assessed value given that they are land locked.
Selectman Pouliot moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion not to accept Map 4 Lot 253 donated by Frank V. Hekimian to the Town of Danville. The motion passed unanimously.
IV LGC – Insurance
When Danville first joined NHMA now known as LGC any elected official or town employee can, in accordance with town policies, be on the town insurance policy.
V Elderly Exemption Update/Approval
a. Several applications were reviewed/approved .
VI Other Issues
a. Perambulation was discussed and the process and/or cost to move forward.
b. Fire Association Hall – use for primary on Tuesday, January 8th has been confirmed with Brian Delahunty.
c. Meetings 12/24 & 12/31 – the Board agreed not to meet those evenings. Payroll will be done the previous Friday and the Board will tentatively meet Thursday 12/27/07.
d. Town Hall – heat circulation. Leon spoke with a heating contractor the other day. Selectman Moore stated that it did not seem to be a thermostat problem as much as the drafts coming from the vestibule. It was recommended that the first set of doors be kept closed.
e. Risk assessment – will be tabled until correspondence is received from Plodzik.
f. There is a bill in legislature relative to range ways and how they fall today versus their intent. Sponsor is an elderly farmer in Hopkinton who is forming an ad hoc committee. Public hearing January/February wants to provide Joe with information he has regarding intent of the bill and/or come and speak to the board. Before agenda, find out more in detail what is intent
Approval of Minutes
Selectman Luna moved and Selectman Russo seconded a motion to approve the minutes of 11/19/07 as edited. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectman Luna moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to approve the minutes of 11/26/07 as edited. The motion passed. Selectman Russo abstained.
At 10:15 PM Selectman Luna moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill S. Fleming
Selectmen’s Clerk