Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Minutes of 11/2/2021

November 8th, 2021

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
November 2, 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.”

Minutes recorded by Kelly Trammell, Secretary Pro Tem
Board Members: David Scalley, Robert Gauthier, Ken Mills

Members of the Public: Erin Oleson, Chris Pappas, Imre Szauter, Carol Carlson-Cunningham, Becki Pederson, Greg Hogan

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Scalley.

Pledge of Allegiance.

The Chair announced the approval and signing of manifests.

Selectperson Mills made a motion to approve the minutes of 10/26/2021. Selectperson Gauthier seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Mills made a motion to approve the minutes of 10/29/2021. Selectperson Gauthier seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Carol Carlson Cunningham presented the budget on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. Budget as presented:

01-4589.10-301 Beautification $1,000
01-4589.10-303 Information Booth $10,400
Total $11,400

Carol said the Chamber is working in conjunction with the 250th Anniversary Celebration group in getting banners put up in the Spring when the weather is nicer. She said they are working on pricing to put a Port-a-Potty back up at the information booth next season.

Erin Oleson presented the budget on behalf of the Recreation Committee.

01-4520.10-100 Counselors $15,000
01-4520.10-101 Director $2,000
01-4520.10-200 Telephone $425
01-4520.10-201 Equipment & Supplies $1,000
01-4520.10-310 Ski Program $1650
01-4520.10-320 Field/Court Repair $1
01-4520.10-321 Building repair $1
01-4520.10-501 Transportation $1
01-4520.10-806 Staff Training $300
01-4520.10-807 Town Entertainment $2,000
01-4520.10-808 250th Anniversary $0
01-4520.10-809 Advertising $1
01-4520.10-900 Grants $1

Erin said they would like to try to start the summer recreation program again. She anticipates they will need two to three counselors and a head counselor. She said the ski program is being offered at Bretton Woods but the children will not be allowed in the building except to use the bathroom. This means the kids will have to gear up on the bus. This is due to Covid. The kids will also be issued their ski equipment for the season and will have to be brought to the mountain each week. The mountain is not offering lessons. Volunteers will only get a day pass and not a season pass. She said the school will be putting out notification to see how many people are still interested with the new limitations. Erin said they are going to put a call in to Cannon to see what they offer.

Becki Pederson presented her budget as Town Clerk/Tax Collector. Her budget as presented:

01-4130.10-136 Town Clerk/Tax Collector $49,208.12
01-4130.10-137 Deputy Town Clerk $26,350.00

Becki said as submitted is a 5.4% raise as the anticipated 2022 cost of living adjustment. Selectperson Gauthier asked when she anticipated Friday hours starting. Becki said she is not sure yet.

Chairperson Scalley said the County bill has been received in the amount of $1,790,000 to be paid on or before December 17, 2021 or there is an interest rate of 10%/year. Scalley said there had been talk of requesting a tax anticipated note however, our 2020 audit is not complete. Scalley questioned if the Board would consider having to pay the interest instead of the expenses of the T.A.N. The Board discussed timelines of tax rate setting, tax billing and expenses. The Board agreed to continue the spending freeze and would continue to monitor the situation. Chairperson Scalley said he wanted it known that it’s not the budget or default budget that’s putting us in this predicament. He said waiting for the School Board vote is holding up the tax rate setting process.

Imre Szauter asked what budget fire station garage door panel repair would come from. Chairperson Scalley said general building. Imre provided a $3662.50 quote for repair. He said this also includes parts and labor from October 19. The Board asked the Secretary to put in a claim with Primex insurance.

Greg Hogan advised the Board that he needs to order road salt. He said it’s $1,860 for a load. The Chair asked what it’s for as we don’t use salt on the roads. Greg said for maintaining winter sidewalks. The Board agreed that it’s a necessity and told Greg to place the order.

The Secretary advised that there was a request by the Recreation Department to use the Community Room on Dec. 18th for a Christmas event. They would potentially like to reserve it sooner in order to decorate. The Board said the Snowmobile Club has their meetings on Thursday night. Recreation can reserve it beginning Friday morning.

Follow up Items:

Town Administrator – Chairperson Scalley said events that occurred today are a demonstration of why we need a Town Administrator. Selectperson Mills agreed. Selectperson Gauthier said there needs to be a dollar amount set and a decision on whether it’s an Administrator or Manager. He said we need someone to effectively manage. Chairperson Scalley said it is mostly handling a lot of legal matters and the Town is growing. It is not getting smaller. Selectperson Mills said he’s in favor of putting a warrant article together. Mills said he knows this will come with a cost. He said the Board can only do so much. There was a discussion on what the position was worth as a full package. Imre Szauter asked if anyone did research to see if this was passed before. Chairperson Scalley said the position passed but the money failed. Scalley said they were advised by legal that it means it didn’t pass. Chairperson Scalley made a motion that Selectperson Gauthier is authorized to speak with legal on the matter. Selectperson Mills seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Gauthier advised that the Minority Report dealing with school withdrawal had been submitted to the State. It will go to the School Board meeting on Wednesday, November 10. Our attorney will be there to attend as well as Ben Jellison. Gauthier said the Select Board members are being asked to attend for support. He said this is a continuation of the process.

Certified Computers/Profile – Ken meet with Mike Labonte. Mike did an inventory of hardware and will come back to the Board with a package price.

Sale of Fire Dept. building – Chairperson Scalley recused himself from discussion on the item. Selectperson Gauthier said the sales agreement on the fire station is for $230,000. He said it was well run and very happy with the process. Selectperson Mills said he can’t say enough good about St. Jean Auctions. He wanted to note there were 7 bidders with one being from Naples, FL. He said everyone had to have brought a $10,000 check to be an authorized bidder.

Chairperson Scalley rejoined the meeting.

ARPA Funds – There is a public hearing November 16 to accept the total amount of the grant.

Grants – remove from agenda.

Other:

Chairman Scalley asked Greg Hogan about the plow truck purchase and if there was going to be any further expense. Greg said he is waiting for the bill for snow tires and that’s it. He said they got $22,000 for trade-in value on the old truck. They were originally quoted $12,000.

Selectperson Mills said the Board needs to be able to articulate at Deliberative Session what goes on and why the Board does what it does. He said otherwise we short change ourselves. Mills said he feels that every department head should give a presentation. Selectperson Gauthier said he likes the idea however, sometimes he feels that if questions aren’t being asked, he feels the people don’t want to hear things repeated.

Greg Hogan presented the Board with paving quotes for roads in Town. When asked, he said this does include shoulder work. He said some roads are quoted as total rehab and others are not. He also gave pricing on fixing the water line on Birch Rd. This is material only. Discussion of budgeting for a couple versus a warrant article for all roads. Selectperson Gauthier said we need to consider the cost to our vehicles that are plowing roads in bad disrepair. Selectperson Mills said we should try to get them all done. He said it’s not going to get any cheaper. Chairman Scalley said he’d like to put in a warrant article to pave all roads and budget for one road in case the warrant article fails. Selectperson Gauthier said he thinks if we paved all the roads, it would even out after awhile and we could just budget to maintain them.

The Chair announced the next meeting will be Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Ken Mills stated in the past with the old Fire Station there were grants awarded. He said he’s checking into the ramifications of that.

At 8:36 p.m., Selectman Mills made a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II (l) legal. The motion was seconded by Selectman Gauthier and polled; Scalley – yes, Gauthier – yes, Mills – yes.

At 9:31 p.m. Selectperson Gauthier made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes from non-public session. Selectperson Mills seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Gauthier made a motion to sign the fee agreement with Mitchell Municipal Group. Selectperson Mills seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Gauthier made a motion to sign the waiver of conflict of interest with Mitchell Municipal Group. Selectperson Mills seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Chairperson Scalley made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectperson Mills seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chairman Scalley declared the meeting ended at 9:33 p.m.