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DRAFT Minutes of 8/29/2011

August 31st, 2011

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
August 29, 2011
DRAFT COPY
"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: Mark Catalano, Bonnie Moroney, Bill Dowling.

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

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Dan Tucker, Edith Tucker, Frank Maturo, Ike Ikasalo, Mike Gooden, Carmine Fabrizio, Scott Sonia, John Trammell, Tadd Bailey, Jeremy Oleson, Karen Moran, Joyce Charrette, Dave Scalley, Dan Walker, Ed Martin, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf

Pledge of Allegiance

Frank Maturo filmed the meeting.

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

Selectman Dowling made a Motion To: Accept the minutes of August 22, 2011, as written and Chairman Catalano seconded. The Motion was approved unanimously.

The meeting began with a public hearing to accept unanticipated funds. These were proceeds from property insurance for $13,454.62 for the Highway Department’s Salt Shed which collapsed last winter and insurance reimbursement for $6,626.03 for an accident on Route 115 in May, 2010. This caused damage to Water Department parts in the pump house when electric wires were snagged and broken. There was brief discussion of the money which is deposited to the General Fund and noted the funds may be encumbered for the Highway Department to use for replacement of the Salt Shed. It was also noted the Selectmen have the authority to transfer the money to the Water Department and would have to vote on that. Selectman Dowling made a Motion To: Accept the funds and Chairman Catalano seconded. The Motion passed unanimously. Selectman Moroney made a Motion to: Transfer $6,626.03 back to the water fund. Selectman Dowling seconded and it passed unanimously. As there was no further discussion, Chairman Catalano made a Motion to: Close the public hearing. Selectman Dowling seconded and it passed unanimously.

Selectman Dowling said he had asked that Chief Trammell attend as he wondered about the car that was traded in when the new cruiser was purchased, as he had heard nothing about it. He asked who signed the title and Chief Trammell said he didn’t know for sure, but believed it was Sgt. Smalley. Selectman Dowling said he had no authority to sign and Chief Trammell said this was how it had been done for the past twenty five years—if it is wrong, they won’t do it again. It was noted that the Chief had said the keys of the cruiser were going to be handed to the Board. Chief Trammell said he came back when they settled on a dealership and an offer was made for money for the Charger. Evan Karpf said this should show on the invoice and Chairman Catalano said that was not the point, it was that they were not aware of the change. Selectman Moroney stated the police had come in and told of the trade in for the Charger. Chairman Catalano said they would look at past minutes.

The following item was approved and signed:

Water Warrant – Gilman

Ed Martin, Chairman of the Cemetery Trustees, presented the Cemetery Budget for 2012. He noted their budget is down from $5,401 in 2011 to $4,651, an 8.6% reduction this year and a 25% reduction over the last five years. Mr. Martin said the Trustees have completed a lot of the projects they want to do, but they are still working on mapping and documentation and believe they can do the headstone maintenance in-house now, but need to try it first. They are also looking into a new sign at Rosebrook Cemetery. The mowing and maintenance are done by the Rouillards who were commended for their work and their very fair price, which is being held at the same rate as the past two years. It was clarified that the Town takes care of three cemeteries: Straw, Rosebrook and Crawford. Any revenue comes from the sale of lots and goes to the Town and there is a trust available if anything catastrophic were to happen. Mike Gooden said it was very nice to have the new sign at the Crawford Cemetery when the National Trust for Historic Preservation tour took place earlier in the month. Roberta McGee said they are still looking for any old deeds that people may have so they can be checked and used in their mapping. The Board thanked Mr. Martin for coming.

The Moderator and Building Inspector presentations have been rescheduled

Selectman Moroney said she wanted to make a correction to a statement that had been made at last week’s meeting and that is that the Water Department is a department of the Town, just like any other, and as such falls under the jurisdiction of the Town. It is not a true enterprise, though it does produce income and we are trying to make it self-sustaining. Ike Ikasalo asked about being billed quarterly. He questioned the extra expense of reading and sending bills four times and feels it would be better to go back to one or two times a year. He also asked when the Department planned to upgrade the readers, etc. Scott Sonia said part of the reason for the increased reading is to fine tune it and stay on top of leaks – they are trying to keep on it so it doesn’t get away from them again. There was also discussion of the way the meters are read and the “rounding the numbers.” Mr. Sonia said this is the way the system is set up and they have no control over it. Selectman Moroney concurred that this is the original software from years ago when the system was installed and went on to say Becki had looked into costs of upgrading it a few years ago and it was decided that it was too expensive. They couldn’t remember the actual cost, though Mr. Sonia thought it was around $12,000, but he will find out. There was further discussion of the “rounding off” and how it is done and in whose favor, the user or the Town. It was noted the cost is $5.85 per thousand and Mr. Sonia assured people they are only being charged for what they use. He said he will get together with Kelly Trammell and they will determine the rounding as well as at which number the subsequent bill begins. Dan Walker pointed out it evens itself out anyway if the new bill begins where the old left off.

Chairman Catalano said another reason for the quarterly billing is the viability of the Department as a stand-alone department. Receiving payments quarterly helps to equalize the revenue and expenditures and works to the goal of making it self-supporting. He said the cost for the extra billing is minimal for the benefit of regular revenues. Mr. Ikasalo commended Scott and the town on the job being done. Selectman Dowling said the infrastructure is old and if people want things, they must be willing to pay. Joan Karpf asked if the Select Board has thought about paying for things in the future, such as hydrants. Selectman Moroney said they have talked about a number of things and have chosen to delay as there are others that need to be taken care of now. They have actually started part of it by charging the town for water use in 2011, as seen in the 2011 budget.

Under Other:

The Secretary said she had just received notice today regarding the energy grants recently talked about that the one through PSNH will audit the Fire Department and the Pump House and the one through North Country Council will audit the Town Hall.

Selectman Moroney said she wanted to thank whomever it was who took the flags down before the storm--she appreciated it very much. The Secretary said it was the Highway guys who took them down.

Selectman Dowling said that Greg had received a bill from the engineer for Old Town Road and asked if it would come from the General budget or the Highway budget. Selectman Moroney said it would come from the Highway budget.

Chairman Catalano referred to the chart he had at last week’s meeting that showed property values. He said he would have information this week about drops in value which the list he brought compiled from information from the realty company in Bretton Woods on sales in Bretton Woods, mostly condos, showing the assessed value versus the sales price. (Attached) He said the number the Select Board gave for department heads to reduce their budgets was pretty much on scale as the current town value is just under four million dollars and a rough average of reduced value based on the list is about three million dollars. Chairman Catalano said what they are trying to do for the taxpayers in town and the employees, they want them to understand that if they have to go to the taxpayer with a raise, is that they have done everything they can to avoid it. The question was asked if they are trying to hold the tax rate the same or if they are trying to keep what people have to pay the same, in essence trying to lower the taxes. Chairman Catalano said it doesn’t really matter which, what he’s really concerned about is the check that someone is writing once or twice a year. He said government has to pay attention to what is being spent and they need to find ways to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. He reiterated the reduction last year being due to using a large amount from the unreserved fund balance and Selectman Moroney reminded that there were no capital reserves passed, no warrant articles passed and that the operating budget had been reduced by at least 8%. The Chairman went on to say the budget and revenues had been tracking fairly closely until last year when there was a drop in revenues. When this happens, we either have to raise rates or reduce budgets. He said personally, he’s not going to the taxpayers and say they didn’t do everything possible not to raise the rates.

John Trammell commented the list is only about sales in Bretton Woods and asked why there wasn’t anything from the other side of town on it. Chairman Catalano said because there hadn’t been any sales in the other side of town. Mr. Trammell asked who made the list and the Chairman said he and another person whom he declined to name when asked. Mr. Catalano said about 70 cents of every dollar comes from Bretton Woods and 90 to 92% of budget funding is by taxation. Dave Scalley asked what the town does for Bretton Woods and it was originally stated not much, but everyone was reminded about the police and fire coverage as well as ambulance service. It was stated the roads are all private and originally they didn’t want help with them. It was further pointed out that the majority of the roads are not up to town standards anyway.

Evan Karpf said he had been to a meeting of all health hazards for region 1 and had brought back information. He will leave one of the binders in the office as there is a lot of helpful information and contact numbers in case of a major health emergency. He recommended that the Secretary and the Select Board look through it and, of course, anyone else who might be interested in it. He said all of this basically started in response to the H1N1 epidemic and that New Hampshire is one of the best organized states in the country. Unfortunately this has now been downgraded because of the massive layoffs in the state.

Dan Walker spoke of the events of the weekend as a result of Hurricane Irene. He and Chief Duncan monitored roadways, etc. for damage in town. He said he opened an EOC briefly, but didn’t have to have it very long, fortunately. He has received forms for any town damage and asked that any be reported to him. He also said individuals should keep track of any damage received, but said there would most likely not be any money available as there has to be a huge amount of damages and thus cost, to qualify. People can contact him through the Selectmen’s Office or the Fire Department if they have questions or damage to report.

As there was no further business, the Board was polled and went into non-public session for town aid and personnel matters at 8:13 p.m.

At the close of Non-Public Session, Chairman Catalano moved to return to Public Session and seal the minutes from Non-Public Session. Selectman Dowling seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Catalano made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Dowling seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Catalano declared the meeting ended at 9:56 p.m. As Monday, September 5, is Labor Day, the next meeting will be Monday, September 12, 2011.

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