TOWN OF BRADFORD
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JUNE 11, 2012
5:30PM
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Harry Wright, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:31pm with Sonny Harris, Barry Wheeler, Cheryl Behr, Administrator, Marge Cilley, Secretary. Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer arrived at 5:50pm.
Review and Consideration of the June 4, 2012 minutes:
Mention was made that Perry Teele and Will Hurley mowed the lawn at the Center Meeting House. Perry was asked if he would be willing to do it on a permanent basis, and if so, let the Selectmen know what the charge would be. Perry advised he may be interested and it would probably take between an hour and an hour and a half.
Marlene Freyler advised she is buying hangers for the flags, but not more flags.
Motion was made by Sonny Harris to approve the June 4, 2012 minutes as presented. Motion seconded by Barry Wheeler.
Harry Wright, Chair advised there was a response to the minutes from Chet Mitchell who wanted it added as an addendum. Harry Wright, Chair also recalled that they were going to try to find a way that the public can view the public records without the secretary attending and without added expense for the public. (Please see the last pages of these minutes for the request from Mr. Mitchell.)
Motion carried 3-0.
APPEARANCES:
Marlene Freyler handed out 14 pages of information regarding Nonpublic Sessions to all the Selectmen and proceeded to discuss the way they are being handled here in Bradford at the Selectmen’s Meetings. Marlene stated that the town’s people are not being told what is happening in town. There is so much innuendo around because nothing is discussed. Marlene questioned is Jeff Remillard on Administrative leave? Is Barry running the highway department and is Barry getting paid? And, where is that coming from? That has never been discussed. Trudy Willett is out on sick leave, is she coming back, and what is happening there?
Harry Wright, Chair advised these were good points, however, a lot of things of personnel nature cannot be discussed. Harry Wright, Chair advised Jeff Remillard is on leave. In response to questions from Marlene regarding the Highway Department and Barry Wheeler doing the overseeing, Harry Wright, Chair responded that there has been more detail of what has been done regarding the Highway Department in the past couple of weeks. Discussion ensued. Harry Wright did advise that promotion from within does not have to be posted according to the manual.
Discussion ensued regarding the posting and hiring of part time help if the Selectmen deem it necessary regarding the Highway Department. In response to a question from Harry Wright, Chair, Barry Wheeler advised another full time person for the Highway Department will undoubtedly be needed before winter.
Barry Wheeler advised a verbal estimate came in today to grind Fairgrounds Road, for ten thousand four hundred dollars ($10,400.) but a written estimate has not been received at this time. Barry also suggested they will work on just one road at a time.
Jon Marden questioned if regarding the Non-Public meetings there could be at least a generic explanation-somewhat descriptive solution, (with no names), such as personnel, could it be pay raise, discipline, and when the meeting is over, some resolution?
Marlene reiterated that the Selectmen need to meet, go into non-public, and when finished, state the time, come back to the main meeting and adjourn from the original meeting. Harry Wright, Chair advised they have been too casual regarding the process of non-public meetings. Marlene advised they do have Selectmen’s meetings every week and there is one or two things, but we do not really do a lot of work at a selectmen’s meeting, at six o’clock, they are in non-public. Chris Frey advised both sides have to be looked at and by not giving out information they are basically protecting the town. Perry Teele advised for what is happening; the Selectmen are handling things just about as good as they can. Perry stated he would not change a thing.
Barry Wheeler advised the grader probably needs nothing more than tires and tune-up with a cost estimate of around ten thousand ($10,000.) dollars, leaving twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.) and after town meeting, these remaining funds could be taken out and used for roads, and that would probably get Fairgrounds Road done.
Discussion ensued.
Harry Wright, Chair replied in response to a question about the Road Management Survey, the data that is in it has not gotten any practical use at this time. The past maintenance data has not been put into the program which is hoped to be done. This program was not done by the State, but by Central N H Regional Planning per Marcia Keller.
Bill Martin advised he has looked at the budget after the first quarter and it showed that the budget is in the hole for the Highway Department. He questioned if any catch up has been done at this time? Cheryl Behr advised she and Barry have gone over the Highway Budget and without hiring someone, we will make it. Cheryl also allowed that the overtime budget is going to be used mainly for plowing this year, hopefully with part timers.
Bill Martin asked a second question regarding salt, and advised he has talked with the vende
r where it was purchased from and the town is in the hole there also from the first quarter. Not looking for an answer, but want you to be aware of the situation. Barry Wheeler suggested there are some areas where money can be made up, and he is not sure there needs to be quite so much salt used. Cheryl Behr advised there is money in Capital Reserve for over expenditures, for fuel and salt that can be accessed. Also with only two people working, it cuts down on the amount of gas used.
Bill Martin applauded the Road Department for their recent accomplishments.
Barry Wheeler advised he would like to get started on Fairgrounds Road to which Harry Wright, Chair advised the prep work could be started while waiting for the written proposal from Pike Construction for the $10,400 that was verbally discussed.
Harry Wright, Chair stated that getting back to Non-Public, they do need to get more religious about the process and will look into what minimal report to the town is suggested.
The fire works will be set off from the land fill area this year per Marlene Freyler.
REGULAR BUSINESS
Accounts payable and payroll manifest were reviewed and signed.
Cheryl Behr advised she has been approached requesting a change in the Selectmen’s meeting format with the Selectmen taking more of an active role rather than her pushing the Agenda through.
Cheryl gave the Selectmen a copy of the Transfer Station position Job Description which is an addendum to the one previously done, which was requested by Lois Kilnapp. This included roadside clean-up responsibility. Lois Kilnapp has volunteered as coordinator for N H The Beautiful and cleans the roadside between the lights for pick-up. The BBA does it after the lights per Marilyn Gordon. Harry Wright, Chair advised that N H The Beautiful has a program for “litter free N H” Lois hands out bags for people to use when picking up the sides of the road, resulting in receiving 400 daffodil bulbs a year that have been planted around town. Harry also stated that they are not doing that this year, but are providing composters to elementary schools so they can see how much waste there is.
CAP lease renewal is due in August and the dollar amount is calculated by the Square Footage used. What areas they may have access to needs to show on the lease agreement. Harry Wright, Chair will follow up on this.
Cheryl Behr advised the Bids will be going out before the end of June for the Sidewalks.
Cheryl also brought up the Griggs property on East Main Street regarding if the town wants to look at it to access the Highway Garage property, sell it or what and perhaps it should be looked at prior to the new sidewalks for where the curb cut should be.
A road list was brought in by Mr. Mitchell which showed some roads listed at Class V and they are not. Discussion ensued regarding roads that GPS are showing as a through road when they are not. An e-mail from Jane Lucas was received stating people are coming on Old Mountain Road and decision was to put a sign on the road stating “Not a Thru Road”.
Cheryl Behr advised an estimate of Eighteen hundred eighty two dollars ($1882.) was received to install the Police generator at the Police Station on Route 114.
Motion was made by Barry Wheeler to accept the estimate or $1882.00 to move the police generator to the Police Station with the highway department digging the required ditch and doing the transporting of it. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried. 3-0.
The weekly Highway activity sheet prepared by Barry Wheeler and Cheryl Behr was perused.
Question arose whether the town desires to return to doing the Inventory Sheets as was done years ago? The Selectmen felt the existing system is working fine and will not do it again. The paper was signed to not start it up again.
A letter was prepared by Town Counsel regarding the issues Mr. Belanger has with drainage on his property. Harry Wright, Chair advised he has been out and looked at the property during a storm, and it appeared fine. It was suggested that the problem occurs when it is frozen.
The stop sign at the west end of West Main Street, at the bridge was discussed.
This sign was not there for many years, and not only is it taking its toll on the bridge itself, it is extremely difficult to get started to get up over the hill from a complete stop.
Motion was made by Barry Wheeler to remove the stop sign at the bridge on West Main Street. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 3-0.
Non Public Meetings:
Mr. Martin-Reputation RSA91A-3:II(c) and Personnel RSA 91A-3:II(a)
Dick Keller stated rumor has it that the scheduled Non-Public meeting may concern Marcia and himself and if that is so, they prefer to have it in public under RSA 91A-3:II(c)
Harry Wright, Chair advised this RSA reads: “Matters which if discussed in public would likely affect personally the reputation of any person, unless such person requests an open meeting. Etc. etc. etc.” Order of this exemption cannot be used to protect the reputation of persons or members of the board. Harry Wright, Chair advised they under stand Mr. Martin wanted to address a situation with the Kellers.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised she had checked with counsel, and their statement was that he did not have to inform or ask the Kellers to come, only if they were going to act. If the Selectmen just wish to listen to Mr. Martin, Cheryl advised she does not know that it is their place to say they want to be present. Marcia Keller advised the Statute is pretty clear.
Bill Martin stated that the Keller’s conversation stated rumor has it, and they do not know what he wishes to talk about. After he has talked to the board, then they can make their decision. No one knows why I want a non-public meeting. Mr. Martin also stated that he has been informed by the police that he can have no contact with these people, so in a public session, that would not be appropriate. Harry Wright, Chair advised that sounds appropriate. Marcia Keller questioned if Mr. Wright didn’t just say that he had asked for a non public session to talk about the Kellers? Cheryl Behr advised she does not know if they have an exact—-. Marcia Keller stated that if that is what he said, that whatever Mr. Martin wanted to say about her husband and herself, can be said in front of anyone in this town, and I would ask very strongly that it would be in public. Mr. Martin reiterated that she has no idea what he wishes to talk about, and she is misinformed.
Sonny Harris advised that if Mr. Martin did start to discuss the Kellers in a Non Public meeting, then the Chair has the right to shut him off.
Mr. Keller advised the Chair that if they are not to be included then they shall wait outside for the results.
The secretary questioned the town hall fire alarm system which was reported last week to be connected again, but does not go to dispatch, and if something happened to the building, would the insurance cover it? It was explained by the Fire Chief that a local alarm would take care of people but from the property standpoint, there is no outside protection, and during the winter months it would not work anyway, being cold.
Cheryl Behr advised an awful lot of people are coming in for the key to the town hall, and it is her understanding no one is supposed to enter. Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised right now it is not to be a public building. Question was asked what about the architect who will be wanting to go in, to which Mr. Goldberg advised public indicates people who are not familiar with the building. Harry Wright, Chair advised the insurance coverage should be checked out and if covered then leave as it is.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised the Lucas II has been received and a demonstration was given. It works easy and very well and a public demonstration was thought to be forthcoming.
The Building Inspector has requested a better source of information on the Web Site so people do not call him on the weekends. Cheryl and Andrew Pinard are going to re-work the Web Site to accomplish this.
Discussion regarding town roads continued and Sonny Harris advised he interviewed both of the road crew who stated they have worked way harder in the past few weeks then they worked the past several years. It was stated also more efficiently. Sonny advised the Highway Department has done a remarkable job with what they’ve had to work with.
Motion was made by Sonny Harris to go into Non-Public session per RSA 91A-3:II(a) Personnel and RSA 91A-3II(c) Reputation. Seconded by Barry Wheeler.
Harry Wright, Chair – yes, Sonny Harris – yes, Barry Wheeler – yes
Unanimous vote.
Meeting Adjourned 6:43pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie R. Cilley, Secretary
For an audio file (mp3) of the recording to this meeting, please visit http://bradfordnh.org/mp3/ where they are named according to the date and the organization. Please note that, due to space issues, any recordings may be purged from the website without notice. Files can be saved to your hard drive, by right-clicking the link to the file (from the index list) and using “Save Link As” or “Save File As”.