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Minutes of 9/29/2014 APPROVED

October 8th, 2014

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
September 29, 2014

APPROVED

“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 p.m. by Chairman Moroney.

Members of the public present: Michael Hogan, Donna foster, Jeremy Oleson, Joan Karpf, John D’Urso, Ed Martin

Pledge of Allegiance

The meeting was filmed by Joan Karpf.

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

Chairman Moroney asked for a Motion for the 9/15/2014 minutes. Selectman Bussiere asked if the Secretary needed to show the actual poll when the Selectmen were polled to go into non-public session. This will be researched. Selectman Bussiere then made a Motion to: Approve the minutes of 9/15/2014, with the proviso that the poll is checked on. Selectman Scalley seconded and it passed unanimously.

Selectman Bussiere made a Motion to: Approve the minutes of 9/22/2014 and Selectman Scalley seconded. The Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Moroney brought up the Selectmen’s budget. She said they should vote on it before they take it to the Budget Committee later in October. The first item under this was the Ambulance budget and Chairman Moroney said for the last few years, they have been taking $50,000 from the Special Revenue Fund to help reduce the budget. However, the Fund is decreasing as a result and when the time comes that the money is needed for a large purchase, it won’t be there. To make up for this, it will have to come from taxes and that is what they are trying to avoid. Selectman Scalley made a Motion to: Put $50,000 back into the Ambulance operating budget and Chairman Moroney seconded. This Motion passed unanimously.

The next item was Cost of Living Adjustment for the regular full time and part time employees. The rate of inflation had been asked previously and as of this date, the latest information was 1.7%. Selectman Bussiere made a Motion: To include a COLA for all regular full time and part time town employees – not to include elected officials. Selectman Scalley seconded and it passed unanimously.

There was a brief discussion on the Transfer Station budget and it was pointed out that they had changed the Tipping Fees line to $21,000 along with the Clothing line to $500 at the previous meeting.

During the discussion it was decided to hold off voting on any of the Personnel Administration and Town Insurance lines as we will not get the new numbers until later in October. It is hoped that we will have these by the time this budget goes to Budget Committee, but if not, they will be presented separately when we do get them. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the General Fund, 01, budget with the 1.7% COLA for Town Employees only with the change in Tipping Fees on the Transfer Station budget and eliminate Personnel Administration and Town Insurance until new rates come in. Selectman Scalley seconded and it passed unanimously. Doing some numbers quickly, the Chairman noted it appeared the budget was reduced by about $34,000.

The Water Department budget was reviewed and there were three lines which Scott Sonia was going to check as he originally said they were not increased when they actually were. They said as they were very small amounts, they could go forth with the budget. The Board also briefly discussed adding the 1.7% COLA and not including Personnel Administration at this point due to the lack of new rates. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the Water budget without the Personnel Administration section and including the 1.7% COLA. Selectman Bussiere seconded and it passed unanimously.

The Board moved to the 02, Ambulance, budget and which only item is the Comstar Billing Fee of $7,200. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the Ambulance budget and Selectman Bussiere seconded. This Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Moroney said they should discuss Capital Reserve Funds at the next meeting, so that will be added to the agenda.

The following items were approved and signed:

Water Warrant – Third Quarter Issue
Water Warrant – McGee, Devine
Current Use Warrant – Jacqueline A. Smith Revocable Trust

Other:

Fire Chief/EMT-A Jeremy Oleson brought up the letter from the County regarding the $5,000 fee for ambulance service to the unincorporated places. Chief Oleson said this has been the same amount since 2007 and he was not sure what it had been prior to that time. He also said this area includes the Upper Falls as well as many trails, etc., in the mountains, and that they have done many carry-outs and rescues this year. It was Chief Oleson’s recommendation that we ask for more money this year as the Department has purchased numerous items including SCBA equipment for these locations. Joan Karpf asked if they had a list of what they have purchased and/or will need to purchase for these calls that they could show. The Board decided they would request $7,000 and asked that a letter be written for the next meeting so it may be sent and received before the deadline of October 15, 2014. They also decided when we get the date of their hearing that someone would attend and bring the list to show.

Michael Hogan who is on the Budget Committee, said he was wondering if the Board has spoken with department heads about being more efficient in their departments i.e. with equipment, etc., and do they really need that gas or those supplies, etc. Chairman Moroney said most are very diligent about keeping track of equipment, their needs, etc. She said many have brought up points of what they are doing to reduce usage, cost, or what have you. She went on to say that by putting the Transfer Station, Water and Highway Departments together, they have already reduced some costs and they are already able to use and share items. Mr. Hogan said he was just hoping they could help to reduce or avoid duplication.

Donna Foster asked if the Town had decided about fixing their portion of the road at Fosters’ Crossroads and if so, they will plan to fix their portion also. The Board advised Mrs. Foster that they believed they had done so at the previous meeting, for which Mrs. Foster thanked the Board.

Joan Karpf asked the Board where the savings of $34,000 in the budget came from. The Board said one area was the Moderator’s budget as there are fewer elections next year, the change at the Transfer Station was part of it; but really it was from various places and basically was a combination over all.

As there was no further business, the Board was polled and went into non-public session, per RSA 91-A-3 for personnel at 7:50 p.m.

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

Selectman Scalley then recused himself from the Board and walked away from the table. He said some time ago he had asked the Planning Board to release any and all emails, pieces of correspondence, etc., between the Planning Board and any of its members and Town Attorney. He was advised that through current Town Counsel this request had been made and completed. He said he believes there are emails that the Town has not received because he HAS emails that the Town did not give him. Mr. Scalley said perhaps other attorneys in the Law Firm were involved and it was not understood that he was requesting from ALL sources and asked if we could look into this.

Secondly, Mr. Scalley said now the Planning Board and Evan Karpf have admitted recording the Mylar for the subdivision he is involved with before they should have. As a result of this, he has been taxed for each lot individually for the last few years and paying for them. He would like to know, as this was proven in court that it was the Planning Board’s error as it were, how he can get a refund or credit for all those years. The Planning Board has retracted the Mylar since they were found in the wrong.

Mr. Scalley returned to the table at 9:25 p.m.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Bussiere seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 9:27 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, October 6, 2014.