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Minutes of 02/22/2010

February 25th, 2010

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2010

"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: Chris Hancock, Bonnie Moroney. Ken Mills attended by Skype from New York City where he was on business.

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

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Bill Dowling, Linda Dowling, Tom Gately, Carmine Fabrizio, Ann Fabrizio, Mike Gooden, John Trammell, Lisa Covey, Jim Covey, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Scott Sonia, Frank Maturo, Kathy Saffian, Bill Smalley

Pledge of Allegiance

As with the meeting on February 8, Linda Dowling was in attendance with video equipment. To that end, Chairman Hancock read the following statement: “This meeting is being taped by a private citizen. It is not done under the auspices of the town and is not an official record of the town.”

The board announced the approval of bills and signing of checks.

Chairman Hancock made a Motion to: Accept the minutes for February 8, 2010 as written, and Selectman Moroney seconded. Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; and Selectman Mills, Aye. The Motion passed unanimously.

The following items were approved by roll call vote: Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; Selectman Mills, Aye. They were signed by Chairman Hancock and Selectman Moroney.

Town Hall Use Permit Application -- Recreation Committee, Thank you dinner for ski program
volunteers; Hancock; Chamber of Commerce, Meet the Candidates’ Night (Feb. 25)
Yield Tax Certificate – Pronovost
Yield Tax Warrant -- Pronovost
Veteran’s Exemption – Douglas B. Relyea

Selectman Moroney addressed the issue of wages for the Highway Helper II position, Greg Hogan and for the Transfer Station Superintendent, Bill Dowling. Mrs. Moroney said the Selectmen had asked Mr. Hogan to get his CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) and once he had it, they would increase his wages. This had been brought up at an earlier meeting and Mr. Dowling said he also had his license, thus the Select Board addressed his wages. It was asked if a CDL was required for Greg’s job, and also questioned if the job description required it. The Selectmen said they were not sure, but if Greg drives the big trucks, he needs the license. When it was asked again, Selectman Moroney said Mr. Hogan had been hired temporarily during the sick leave of another employee. When that employee had to terminate his job, Mr. Hogan was hired full time and that was when he was asked to get his CDL. It was only recently that it became known to the Selectmen that Mr. Hogan had the particular license. Chairman Hancock said he’d like to get some information from LGC regarding wages for these two positions, to be sure they consider a fair amount. Therefore, Chairman Hancock made a Motion to: Table any pay adjustments until the next meeting after receiving the requested information. Selectman Moroney seconded and the roll call of votes was taken: Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; Selectman Mills, Aye. The Motion passed unanimously.

Bill Dowling, Superintendent of the Transfer Station/Recycling Center told the Board that North Country Council did not get their grant this year for the Household Hazardous Waste day(s), so they will not be sponsoring it this year. The Superintendent from Lancaster Transfer Station called Mr. Dowling to ask if they could do a one-day collection together and split the cost. Mr. Dowling advised this would be done in Lancaster and the cost per town would be $400 plus any miscellaneous costs, i.e. advertising, printing for flyers, etc. There would be a “per family” fee of $38 and which it was suggested perhaps people could combine their materials and split this cost. Mr. Dowling said if this happens the date would be set up to be the Saturday before the Sunday that the company goes to Littleton. Mr. Dowling was looking for direction from the Selectmen if this can actually take place. Chairman Hancock made a Motion to: Move forward with possibly holding the Household Hazardous Waste collection with Lancaster. Selectman Moroney seconded and the Board was polled: Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; Selectman Mills, Aye. The Motion passed unanimously.

Chief Trammell read a letter of request for an in-house surveillance system for the Police Station. The one they have was in the old station and at ten years old is no longer in working condition, and because of its age is no longer repairable. Chief Trammell got quotes on three different systems from Capitol Alarm Systems, who has made numerous installations in town buildings and from Tom Devin, an electrician who has also done quite a lot of work for the Town, and upon being asked, stated that his Department has no complaints with either company. Prices for a four-camera system, installed, ranged from $1,599 to $2,295. It was noted that the outside cameras are operational and a different system. After brief discussion, Chairman Hancock made a Motion to: Accept the bid from Tom Devin at the price of $1,599, installed. Selectman Moroney seconded and the Board was polled: Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; Selectman Mills, Aye. The Motion passed unanimously. Chief Trammell said he would contact Mr. Devin the following day.

Selectman Moroney said it had recently come to her attention that the Trustee of Trust Funds Investment Policy does not specify who signs what. Apparently it has been the policy that only had one person was signing the trusts and investments, as well as only one to take out money. Therefore, Selectman Moroney made a Motion that: The Trustees of the Trust Funds update their Investment Policy to include the fact that all three Trustees must sign any accounts that are opened, regardless of whether they are savings accounts, CD’s, or anything else and that there should be a minimum of two to sign to be able to take any funds out. Chairman Hancock seconded and the Board was polled: Chairman Hancock, Aye; Selectman Moroney, Aye; Selectman Mills, Aye. The Motion passed unanimously. Selectman Moroney noted as well as updating the investment policy the general Policy needed to be updated as the one we have now is dated 2005, and there are new members. She asked that a copy be brought to the office when it is finished.

Evan Karpf asked why Town Counsel was at the Deliberative Session as he said he didn’t remember one being in attendance in the past. Selectman Moroney explained it was very hard to get our previous attorney here and when the Selectmen met with our current company, it was brought up then that it was not uncommon for towns to have their counsel at Deliberative Session or Town Meeting. While the Board did not request it the first year, they felt this year with all that seems to be going on, it would be beneficial to have counsel there to answer legal questions then rather than having to wait. Dr. Karpf said it seemed the only ones she answered or addressed where the “to see” changes. He was assured that was not the reason Attorney Whitelaw was in attendance. Dr. Karpf went on to ask if there had been any thought to making an amendment to the petition article for the bid policy. Selectman Moroney explained that the State, not the town, mandates what the Select Board’s responsibilities are, and most of the petition articles were reflections of those responsibilities. Dr. Karpf repeated his question about why the Board wouldn’t modify the article and keep it in tact. Chairman Hancock said that the people had the choice of voting the amendment down, at which point Dr. Karpf stated that it was suspect. When asked what he meant by that, Dr. Karpf said it was a personal opinion that he wanted to keep to himself. Discussion ensued about Deliberative Session versus Town Meeting and the importance of attending the Deliberative Session, because as with Town Meeting, it determines just what will be voted on. Chairman Hancock stated he believed the Democratic process was in place when the public was voting at the Session. Jim Covey said he hoped the Board realized that by taking away the public’s choice to vote yes or no on articles, there will be a repeat of last year when everything was voted down. He wondered that the Board could not see that and he believes the Board has caused an adversarial tone in this town.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Hancock made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Moroney seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Hancock declared the meeting ended at 7:37 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, March 1, 2010.

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