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Minutes of 1/20/2021

January 25th, 2021

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2021

“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.”

Due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis and in accordance with Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this Board is authorized to meet electronically and did so through Zoom.

Minutes recorded by Kelly Trammell, Secretary
Board Members: Robert Gauthier Jr., David A. Scalley, Bonnie Moroney

Members of the Public: Jeremy Oleson, Tadd Bailey, Imre Szauter

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairperson Gauthier.

Pledge of Allegiance.

The Chair announced the approval and signing of manifests.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve the minutes of the Public Budget Hearing on 1/12/2021 as written. Selectperson Scalley said he’d like to make a motion to correct the part of the minutes that state “Selectperson Scalley advised that employee salaries are being brought in line where they need to be across the board in all departments.” He said it should read “Selectperson Scalley advised that employee pay rates will be going up across the board in all departments.” Selectperson Moroney seconded this motion and it passed unanimously.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve the minutes of the Select Board meeting from 1/12/2021. Chairperson Gauthier said he disagreed with listing “Nothing new” under Sick time follow-up. He said he stated the night of 1/12 meeting that “There is a continuing discussion of changing the sick time calculation and the policy. He has been working with legal on the topic and he feels the PTO calculation has been done wrong for the last four years.” Chairperson Gauthier made a motion to add the statement into the minutes. Selectperson Scalley seconded the addition to the minutes and the motion passed unanimously.

The Chair said it has been difficult to manage a 2.5-million-dollar budget on a part-time basis. He said it can be difficult to manage the Town and stay on top of all the policies and procedures. He said he has continued to be in communication with legal and there isn’t a safe way to be done with the PTO policy without causing some pain. The Chair suggested a buy-out of what employees have for time on the books as of March 1, 2021. He anticipates proposing a change to increase the budget at Deliberative Session by $73,000 for the buy-out. He said the Board could discuss it further in non-public later in the evening. He said as of March 1 of this year, the employees would get a pro-rated amount of vacation time on the books, sick time would stand on its own and also two personal days would be allotted. Selectperson Scalley questioned the $73,000 amount and asked if it includes all the expenses. It was determined that it did not included FICA, MEDI or NH Retirement. The amount would have to increase. Selectperson Moroney said this has been spoken about for the last year. She doesn’t think it’s right to wait to do this at the last minute. She said she also doesn’t agree on making changes when there hasn’t been a meeting with the employees. Selectperson Moroney suggested taking sick time out of the current calculation and paying holidays on the holiday. She said let the employees reduce their PTO amounts over time. Chairperson Gauthier said the Department Heads had been notified. Selectperson Scalley said he thinks there are holes in the Employee Manual and thinks the Board needs to discuss a game plan on what to present to the employees. Chairman Gauthier said the best way he came up with is to buy it out and start fresh. He asked the Board for their support in moving forward with that idea. Selectperson Scalley said a buy-out would work best to do in March versus December because it would be at today’s pay rates. Chairman Gauthier asked the Board for support in speaking with legal to move forward in the manner he proposed. Selectperson Scalley said he supports the Chair working with legal to draw something up but doesn’t want to approve it until he sees it. Selectperson Scalley made a motion to continue discussing the matter in non-public of what to bring forward to legal. Chairman Gauthier seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Gauthier said he watched the video of the School Study Committee presentation to the School Board. He said he takes issue with the way the School Board called it an ultimatum. Chairman Gauthier said he doesn’t see where it was presented that way and he commends the School Study Committee on the job they did.

Follow Up:

Tax Deeded Property – Rte. 3 North – Nothing new.

Sound Panels – Selectperson Scalley said they had held off on ordering sound panel until he and Imre Szauter were able to cross their “t’s” and dot their “i’s”. He said sound panels are now on order and anticipated in a couple of weeks.


Other:

Fire Chief Oleson says he receives a lot of phone calls for emergencies where people are calling him personally. He would like to remind people to call 911 as he fears time is being wasted by calling him first when 911 can already be handling the emergency. He said he is not always around or available and time is important. He said he’d also like to address the requests that people make when they ask that they not respond with lights and sirens. The Chief said lights and sirens are used when appropriate and they do not go overboard.

Police Chief Tadd Bailey asked for clarification of what vacation time would look like after a buy-out. He asked what would be available for vacation time as he has several employees that have already put in for time off. Chairman Gauthier said vacation time would be given but pro-rated after March 1.

Chairman Gauthier announced the next meeting would be Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 6 p.m.

At 6:53 p.m., Chairperson Gauthier made a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II (l) legal. The motion was seconded by Selectman Scalley and polled; Gauthier – yes, Scalley – yes, Moroney – yes.

At 8:40 p.m. Chairperson Gauthier made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes. Selectperson Scalley seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The Board made an adjustment to the next scheduled meeting and will meet on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Chairperson Gauthier made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectperson Scalley seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chairman Gauthier declared the meeting ended at 8:42 p.m.