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Minutes of 6/30/2014 DRAFT

July 2nd, 2014

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
June 30, 2014

DRAFT

“These minutes of the Town of Carroll Select board have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions, deletions and corrections by the Select Board at its next meeting when the Board votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 91-A:2.”

Minutes recorded by Maryclare Quigley, Secretary

Board members present: Bonnie Moroney, Paul Bussiere, David Scalley

The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Chairman Moroney.

Members of the public present: Greg Hogan, Kathy Saffian, Karen Saffian, Nancy Mitiguy, David Monahan, Cheryl Monahan, Evan Karpf, Richard Gould, Leslie Bergum, Joan Buddington, Donna Foster, Mike Gooden, Dianne Hogan, Michael Hogan, Gary Lavigne, Mike Casella, Brenda Schloss, Judy Cookson, Scott Sonia, Robert Hunt, Jeremy Oleson, Justin Washburn, Stephen Hilliard

Pledge of Allegiance

The meeting was filmed by Nancy Mitiguy.

The Board announced the approval of bills and signing of manifests.

Selectman Scalley made a Motion to accept the minutes of 6/2/2014 as written and Selectman Bussiere seconded. The Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Moroney introduced Mike Casella and Gary Lavigne from Casella Waste Management. Mr. Casella proceeded to speak about single stream, also known as “zero sort” recycling as compared with sorting everything, i.e. glass, newspapers, cardboard, aluminum, steel, etc. He said often times the Town will sit on the product while looking for higher value commodities and they are more able to sell it quickly due to their volume. They have also found that recycling increases when it does not all have to be sorted which would then show as a savings on the cost of disposal of trash. He said there will still be the large container for trash and there will be a large container for the recycled items. This also carries the advantage of being able to recycle everything including all numbers for plastic such as laundry baskets and buckets, which take up quite a lot of space. He said this is a way to get rid of the items and know costs. He was asked if costs of recycling trickle-down to residents, too and he said yes. He also said there is a savings in labor for getting ready to market. It was stated the Town will pay a fee to haul away something they can sell. Mr. Casella said that is correct, however, with certain commodities such as metal, depending on the value, there would be a split with the Town in the revenue.

Mr. Casella said the cost would be $52 per ton with an annual cost of $19,000. This includes everything; trucking, dumping, all that is required. (It was noted that this is without any metal reimbursements.) It was also reiterated that this discussion is strictly recycling, and has nothing to do with waste, which we are already paying for. However, it was again pointed out that waste tonnage and hauling fee would be reduced with increased recycling. That being said, Mr. Casella said it is common for costs to go up if recycling increases, though it tends not to be as heavy as waste weight, which has a higher tipping fee.

Chairman Moroney said the labor was up to 80 hours per week for the 19 hours that they are open and the Select Board felt they should do a comparison in costs. She noted they are down to two employees and were told by the acting manager at a previous meeting that hours are reduced to 54 and they are running more efficiently. She said the helper was originally hired for around seven or eight hours a week.

The question was asked what happens if the recycled items get contaminated and Mr. Casella said we would be charged. Another question asked was about other towns that do single sort and though he couldn’t remember all, Mr. Casella said Wentworth, Monroe and Bethlehem are among them. He said he will get a list of towns and send it to us. It was also asked if in his experience, if any towns invested in their own recycling center and collection, as we are, have reverted to single sort. Mr. Casella apologized that he has not been to see ours though he intends to do so soon, and that he couldn’t say at this time. He did say that the volumes here don’t dictate the costs which we have. However, if we continue as we are he offered that they would be happy to come in and broker for us.

Reference was made that they will take all the products which we already recycle here as well as others which we don’t, such as the laundry baskets, and questioned the reason for charging to take. Mr. Casella said it’s because they do accept undesirable items as well. It was noted the contract would be renewed annually with renegotiated pricing.

Mr. Casella said there is still a need for employees, and suggested anticipated manpower for our facility would be one employee with a helper. Further discussion included where trucks are weighed and this is done on state-certified scales as their location. It was asked if there was a way to track a trend here as it seemed, at least to the speaker, that more people are recycling. He also suggested that maybe this could change over the years if people get lazy because of the single sort and stop doing even that. Another resident suggested if pay-per-bag were instituted, people might do more recycling, as this would be a big incentive. The question arose because this is such a big tourist area, about contaminated loads. It was also questioned if they could tell from figures the town is paying and by the amount of trash they are receiving from us if recycling has increased. As these figures were not available, this could not be answered at this time, however, Chairman Moroney and Mr. Casella these could be looked at. Chairman Moroney thanked the gentlemen for coming and they departed the meeting.

Chairman Moroney then read a letter from Edward Butkus on behalf of his family who owns property off Route 115 near the Town’s Cherry Mountain water tank. They are having trouble accessing their property through the right-of-way from their neighbor and are petitioning for temporary access through the Select Board based on RSA 231:40, for a logging job they want to do. Scott Sonia, Water Superintendent, said driving the heaving log trucks on that access could carry the risk of breaking the water line which runs under it. Selectman Bussiere said it is not legal in this state to land lock property, but they also must be made aware of the issue of damage. The Board said this is really a private matter between neighbors, but they need to know that it would be their responsibility if the water line is damaged. Chairman Moroney stated we had a similar situation with Pleasant North, LLC, the owner of the land through which the right-of-way goes, and suggested that the information sent to them should be sent to Mr. Butkus. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: reply to Mr. Butkus that this is a civil matter and that the letter is clear regarding responsibility for any and all damage which may be done by heavy loads to the Town’s water line under that road. Selectman Scalley seconded and it passed unanimously.

Chairman Moroney said at the last Budget Committee meeting they had asked to have the Select Board look into health insurance options and she suggested we invite Peter Chapel, our insurance representative to come and talk about options that may be available and less costly. She said they also received information on bio-fuels and the Committee would like to get more.

The next item was opening the bids for the blue temporary water line as advertised in the newspaper. As Selectman Scalley’s company submitted a bid, he recused himself from this agenda item and left the room. Chairman Moroney and Selectman Bussiere proceeded to open the envelopes. There were three bids as follows: Mr. Lauze, Jefferson, $1,000; GS Securities, Tewksbury, MA, $1,200; and DS Contractors, Inc., Whitefield, $1,505.

Discussion took place regarding the bids and it was stated the ad said they reserved the right to accept or reject any and all bids and also that they had put a reserve of $3,000, though the ad did not state that. Mr. Sonia said he can’t use it again but that the line and connections had cost in excess of $6,000, so he would like at least $3,000. It was decided to put a more detailed ad in the paper to sell it for $3,000. This ad will be placed for publication next week as it’s too late to get in this week’s editions.

Selectman Scalley returned to the meeting at this point.

The following items were approved and signed:

Water Warrant – Second Issue, 2014; $23,953.88
Water Warrant – Various
Water Warrant – Corrigan, Kratman
Town Hall Use Permit Application – Coos/Grafton Police Chiefs’ Assoc.
Mount Washington Hotel/Bretton Woods Ski Area Liquor License -- Robert Hunt, Food and
Beverage Manager

Mr. Hunt explained their request is because they have special events scheduled for July 5, and multi-days, July 19, 20, 21. These will be similar to those held last year at the Ski Area and will be outside in a cordoned-off area. Because Mr. Hunt had telephoned ahead with his request, the Secretary had been able to prepare a letter to the Liquor Commission, in order to expedite the process should the Select Board approve the request. Therefore, Selectman Scalley made a Motion to: Sign the letter and Selectman Bussiere seconded. The Motion passed unanimously.
Messrs. Hunt and Hilliard thanked the Board for their approval.

Other:

Selectman Scalley said as the matter with the Transfer Station has been going on since April 1, he felt it was not fair to keep Eric Schloss waiting any longer and wants to appoint him as temporary manager at the same rate of pay and evaluate him after a year. Discussion took place regarding this and Selectman Scalley said he thought the same rate should be kept as it is only 5 cents an hour less than the previous manager was receiving. It was asked if we should check to find out if we have to advertise the position, but it was pointed out that the Town had previously promoted from within.

Dianne Hogan suggested the time should maybe be more like three to six months as at least regarding things with the Office, he had learned some things before but is now learning more and the right way to do things. Selectman Scalley said he had only suggested a year because Mr. Schloss had received two raises in the year before. Michael Hogan said he agreed with a 90 day review. He also said, as he has stated before on the Budget Committee that the Town needs to set a pay scale so then raises would be based on merit and not just trying to catch up. It was recommended that the budget keep the line for the third employee at $1 in case the position is needed. Thus, Selectman Scalley made a Motion to: Promote Eric Schloss to Transfer Station Supervisor at his present rate of pay with a 90-day review. Selectman Bussiere seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. It was decided that Selectman Bussiere would go to see Mr. Schloss the next day to make him the offer.

Chairman Moroney wished all a Happy Fourth of July Holiday.

As there was no further business, the Board was polled and went into non-public session, per RSA 91-A-3 for legal, personnel and town aid matters at 8:20 pm.

At the close of non-public session at 9:10 p.m., Chairman Moroney moved to return to public session and seal the minutes from non-public session. Selectman Bussiere seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

Selectman Bussiere made a Motion to: Authorize the Secretary to sign a letter regarding a 91A, Right to Know request. Chairman Moroney seconded and it passed unanimously.

Chairman Moroney noted she had sent the application to DES for possible future acceptance for the Ammonoosuc River crossing project for the Water Department.

There being no further discussion, Selectman Bussiere made a Motion to adjourn the meeting. Chairman Moroney seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 9:14 pm. The next meeting will be Monday, July 14, 2014.