TOWN OF BRADFORD
SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 7, 2013
5:30PM
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Harry Wright, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:30pm with Sonny Harris, Barry Wheeler, Cheryl Behr, Administrator, Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer and Marge Cilley, Secretary present.
Review and Consideration of December 17, 2012 minutes:
Motion was made by Sonny Harris to approve the minutes, seconded by Barry Wheeler.
Bottom of page one, the word council should be counsel.
The following statement should also be inserted as an edit per Andrew Pinard.
To be put in as an edit at the January 7th Selectmen’s meeting minutes for (December 17th meeting) Andrew stated “One of the Articles up for consideration (and which would be voted on at the Deliberation Session) relates to a law which allows districts to retain up to a 2.5% of the current fiscal year’s net assessment. This would only be enacted should the voters pass it at the deliberative session in January. This is different in that the School District does currently not have any authority to retain any surplus funds and will not until the voters elect to give them the power under the statute (RSA 198:4-b.11)”
Motion carried with edits 3-0.
Appearances:
Marlene Freyler was scheduled to speak but advised she was not prepared tonight.
Non Public with Welfare Officer – The Welfare Officer is not here at this time.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief and Chris Frey re: Generator
Chris Frey advised there are no parts available for the existing generator. A 40 KW Generator including all the wiring and switch has been looked at for a preliminary price of $37,000.00. Friday they will be sitting down with Homeland Security, and they have the impression that they are eligible for a Grant, and Homeland Security did advise they did have some money. In reply to a question, Chris reiterated this is a preliminary price and would be put out for bid at a later date.
Harry Wright, Chair stated that the town owned land that Nathan Abbott was looking at to purchase, Map 9, Lot 23 was left off the “for sale” piece intentionally as it is not a buildable lot, unsafe for fire department vehicles. Chris Frey advised the main concern is it is off Butman road which is not a road.
A Driveway permit for Steve and Jonathan Lord, County Road was signed.
Harry Wright, Chair mentioned Work Shops being held in Henniker he received via e-mail from N H Public Utilities Commission for “Sustainable Energy Series” These will be held as follows:
January 17, 2013 Micro – Hydro Power
January 24, 2013 Weatherization & Energy Efficiency
February 7, 2013 Solar Photovoltaic & Hot Water.
These meetings are all held at HennikerCommunity Center from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.
Cheryl Behr, read a letter received from Ms. Tropeano, 27 West Main Street, thanking the Bradford Highway Department, thank you Barry for snow removal. (Letter on file)
Harry Wright, Chair advised he had also received a positive comment for the Highway Crew and was asked to pass it on.
Budget Sheets were handed out to the Selectmen by Cheryl Behr.
4140 Elections – it was decided they had already voted on this.
4196 Insurances – Cheryl advised she had received a bill for Workers Compensation which had come in higher than she had estimated. She had originally budgeted $ 31,500. The bill came in at $34,339.68.
Motion was made by Harry Wright to increase 4196 to $34,339.68. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 3-0.
4240 Building Department – Much conversation concerning the dollar amount as well as the scope of the position took place. It was noted that there is $5,000 remaining in this line item from last years Building Department budget. Harry Wright, Chair advised he felt the existing budget is adequate. Question with the Budget Committee is not money, but having the job done right per Harry Wright, Chair.
4312 Highway Budget – Cheryl Behr advised she had attended a meeting and she had presented some figures to the Budget Committee that were different from what the Selectmen’s Budget were as they were not sure if there were going to be two, three for four full time employees.
Cheryl advised she and Barry Wheeler had discussed this today, when they had decided on the 4th full time person, who would not be hired until May or June if at all. Adjusting that number and the part time wages down, a couple thousand dollars, brought the Highway Budget down $200.00 lower than the $384,230.00 the Budget Committee had voted on per Cheryl Behr. (Actually the Budget Committee Tabled the Highway Budget and did not vote on it at this time)
Motion was made by Sonny Harris to approve the Highway Budget at $384,230.00. Harry Wright seconded the motion. Sonny voted yes, Harry Wright, Chair abstained, Barry Wheeler abstained. When asked from the floor as to why Harry Wright, Chair abstained, he advised he did not have an understanding if this was an adequate budget.
Motion carried 1-0 to forward to Budget Committee. Two abstained.
Much discussion ensued regarding the Highway Budget, including number of employees, salaries etc. full and part time.
Harry Wright, Chair advised this should be discussed further in non public.
4520 Parks & Rec – $2,000.00
Motion was made by Harry Wright, Chair to approve the Parks and Rec Budget at $2000.00. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 3-0.
4583 Patriotic Purposes – $14,500.00
Motion to approve Patriotic Purposes made by Harry Wright, Chair. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 3-0.
Cheryl Behr advised the Budget Committee has requested the Selectmen look at the anticipated Warrant Articles. Cheryl went on to state it was discussed at the Budget Committee meeting to see if the Selectmen wanted to change the format.
Discussion was to see if they wanted to vote the total reserve then go down the list individually as is now done with the operating budget. Some discussion took place.
Cheryl Behr advised that Andrew Pinard has all the Town Reports back to 1860 now on the Town Web Site.
Article________To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Six Hundred and Seven Thousand Dollars ($607,000.00) (gross budget) to repair and rebuild asphalt roads in Bradford and to authorize the issuance of not more than $607,000.00 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term and other details. The roads to be repaired include Old Warner Road, Rowe Mountain Road, Sunset Hill Road, West Road, Greenhouse Lane, Pleasant View and Fairgrounds Road.
Cheryl advised this number can be modified up or down on the floor at town meeting.
A Bond Hearing does need to be done.
Harry Wright, Chair suggested they look at this in detail and vote on it next week.
The Community Center Building roof was discussed and estimated at $14,000.00
Harry Wright, Chair also advised extending the eaves needs to be done, which is not included in the price.
$53,215 would take care of the Town’s match for the Bridge Design, for the covered bridge and Breezy Hill Road Bridge.
Fairgrounds Road has a total of $70,000.00 amount to pave it, and there is $34,000 remaining unused from last years asphalt shimming budget, leaving a $35,000.00 balance.
Clearing the Title on The Community Center was estimated at $3,000.00 per Cheryl.
It was stated that Petition Articles are due by the first Tuesday in February by 5:00pm.
The Mylar was signed for the Knapton property on East Main Street.
Repurchase deed was signed.
A quit claim covenant was signed for Map 9, Lot 33.
PAR signed for part time plow driver.
The Selectmen will review looking at doing the School Census.
Intent to Cut was signed for Summer Green, Map 6, Lot 1-01 and for Estate of
Louise Hall, Map 3, Lot 8 and Map 17, Lot 18.
Motion was made by Harry Wright, Chair to go into non public session per RSA 91-A311(a) with Welfare Officer. Seconded by Sonny Harris.
Harry Wright, Chair Yes Sonny Harris Yes Barry Wheeler yes
Vote in the affirmative 3-0.
Meeting adjourned 6:50pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary