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Minutes of 02/12/2007

February 17th, 2007

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2007
"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 Susan Kraabel, Secretary.

Board members present: Bill Wright, Allen Strasser, Bonnie Moroney

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Eleanor Brauns, Evan Karpf, Billy Rines, Mike Gooden, John Trammell, Kelly Trammell, Jeff Duncan, Jim Covey, Lisa Covey, Tom Gately, Ann Fabrizio, Carmine Fabrizio

The board announced they were in the process of approving bills and signing of checks would finish at the end of the meeting.

Selectman Strasser moved to approve the minutes of 02/05/2007. Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

There was no weekly report from Stan Borkowski.

Selectman Strasser said he’d spoken to John Trammell about the policy pertaining to recording work hours for the police. They will not have to record lunch breaks on their timesheets, but will document the times they start and end their shifts. As far as other employees are concerned he asked the secretary to create a waiver document that states an employee has been offered a 30 minute meal break, and that the employee waives the right to take one, choosing to eat while working. He said the idea is to make sure the employees do not have their rights violated. Selectman Strasser made a motion to allow the police and fire department employees to not take their lunch breaks per their request, and everyone else having the opportunity to waive their right to a lunch break and eat at their station. Chairman Wright seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

The 2007 assessor’s contract from Commerford Nieder Perkins, LLC was reviewed and signed by the selectmen. Selectman Strasser said that the state routinely reviews these contracts prior to signature, and they had approved this contract. The contract included details of completing a complete revaluation of properties for a total of $64,000. Hourly charges will be made for items such as new property pick-ups, and abatement reviews. The schedule calls for new values being available in October in time to set the tax rate, even though properties are valued as of April 1.

Selectman Strasser brought up the fact that the Budget for 2007 as prepared by the Budget Committee contains no hydrant fee revenue for the Water Department. They removed the $43,500 line item expense that would pay Rosebrook Water Co. $15,500 and the Town of Carroll Water Department $28,000. That being the case, with projected revenues and expense, he anticipates the Water Department will have a $31,000 shortage in 2007, and there will have to be a 32% increase in water rates to cover the shortage. He passed out a document showing these projections. He also explained that the Default Budget, used if the proposed 2007 Budget is defeated, has the $28,000 included in a line item. He stated it was the voters’ choice as to which budget they preferred, and that the town could live with the Default Budget which is only about $60,000 less than the Budget Committee Budget. He feels we could still give the employees raises at least what the Selectmen proposed. He said at the meeting last week it was stated that the Selectmen proposed raises of 2 1/2 %. Selectman Strasser said they were higher than that, but he didn’t have time to get the numbers together for this meeting, and he would have the detail for the next meeting in 2 weeks. Selectman Strasser said he was told by Karen Moran that they’d added $5,000 to the Water Department budget, but they hadn’t added any revenue, so that made it worse. He explained that the budget article went by so quickly at the Deliberative Session, that with the hydrant fees being part of another number, he wasn’t able to sort it out quickly enough to bring it up. Roberta McGee wanted to know how people will know about this, and was told there would be a notice put up and possibly an ad in the paper. Chairman Wright suggested people talk to their neighbors. Selectman Strasser suggested we make some changes in the process by which the Budget Committee gives out information as to their proposed budget. People should be made aware of major changes to line items. Evan Karpf suggested a representative from the committee come to the next meeting to explain their elimination of this line item.

Selectman Strasser thanked Billy Rines for the requested reports he’d received.

Dr. Karpf asked the selectmen what amount of OEP tax credit the town gives to residents. This will have to be researched, as no one knew.

Jim Covey asked if it was too late to revisit the water issue without voting down the whole budget, and was told yes; there’s not time to reopen the hearing. Selectman Strasser then explained that the hydrant fees have been in place since 1994, and they pay slightly more than 50% of the bond payment for the water expansion. He also said increased hydrant fees are the method by which the town hopes to finance part of water line expansion on Lennon road next year. Lennon Road residents were promised years ago, and there is the problem of the old dump there, and people being on wells nearby. The town leased the land for dumping trash which was burned until the new dump was opened on town land. When the leased area was closed it was rototilled and covered. Mr. Rines stated he feels we shouldn’t walk away from the fact that the land had been used by the town for a dump, and Selectman Strasser agreed. The possibility of the town buying that property so that it wouldn’t be built on was brought up.

At 7:25 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended, and moved to go into executive session regarding town aid. This was seconded by Selectman Moroney. The board was polled, and prepared to go into executive session. At the last minute it was discovered there was an Intent to Cut for Bayroot to be signed by the selectmen. The selectmen announced to the public that this item was being approved and signed if anyone was interested. After the signing they went into executive session.

At the close of executive session, Chairman Wright made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes from executive session; Selectman Moroney seconded and the motion passed unanimously. At 8:10 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended.

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