TOWN OF BRADFORD
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2010
5:00PM
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Peter Fenton, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:40pm with Jack Meaney, Harry Wright, Cheryl Behr, Administrator, Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer and Marge Cilley, Secretary present.
Peter Fenton, Chair apologized for the lateness for the beginning of this meeting, but the Selectmen had just held a meeting with the BACC and Parks and Rec.
Margaret Raymond, Parks and Rec advised they would like to meet with the Selectmen next Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 5:00pm. Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised a non-public meeting can be considered only if a legal, personnel, contract negotiations.
Appearances:
Laura Hall from CAP
Laura Hall, CAP Director was present to advise the Selectmen what she does. She has an office in Warner and does outreach to eight towns out of that office which includes Bradford. Money is requested from each town that is served to help support that office.
Laura advised she is different than CAP, but operates under an umbrella from Belknap- Merrimack Counties, Inc. They cover two counties with area centers: one in Meredith, Laconia, Concord, Suncook/Pembroke, Franklin and Warner. Under that umbrella, they have Headstart, Community Service, Elderly Nutrition Services – including meals that come to Bradford, – Weatherization Program, Senior Employment Program, Senior Companion, Rural Transportation and Food Pantries, WIC. USDA surplus foods for Food Pantries that participate. Family Planning which is part of WIC Family Planning. Meals on Wheels is the Elderly Nutrition Service which comes out of the other office. My extent of Meals on Wheels is the signing up of a new client, then an annual certification. CAP pays the drivers. The nine thousand dollars ($9,000) paid from Bradford goes to the Warner CAP which is for Weatherization, Electric or Fuel, which pays for the Director there. If Warner was not available, then clients would have to go to Concord. Laura advised she does come into Bradford every other week to assist people who do not have cars and cannot get to her office.
Harry Wright questioned how the funding from the various towns is proportioned? Laura advised she does not know if it was set up on a percentage basis or how it was calculated, it has been on going for years. Fuel Assistance for 2008/2009 for Bradford was $79,631.15. This is Federal Funds as pointed out by Cheryl Behr, Administrator. The service/payment ratio is looked at every five years per Laura Hall. The 8 town’s share of the cost of running the CAP office was $51,110 as calculated in November 2009. Peter Fenton asked if the information could be obtained as to how the figure is arrived at that the town pays. The electric assistance program was in the amount of $13,043.78 in 2008 just for the Town of Bradford. These payments are based on income, type of fuel, size of dwelling, whether multi family, duplex, mobile home etc. Laura advised they also pay rent.
Laura Hall was thanked by the Selectmen for coming in.
Rescue Squad, Mark Goldberg and Rich Branch:
Rich Branch advised the Selectmen that the Rescue Squad is loosing their day time coverage starting soon. This is Monday through Friday 6:00am to 6:00pm. The two people who have been covering that, John Callaghan and Elliot Brown have taken better jobs, which leaves no coverage here. It was stated that it is unlikely that New London or Henniker will help us as they are suffering from the same issues Bradford is. Mark Goldberg advised he has contacted Tom French via e-mail but has not heard back from him for a while. It was stated that New London has been very helpful with mutual aid.
Rich Branch advised that to become an EMT it involves 130 hours plus 24 hours of training every year to be certified. The Squad pays for that, and in return they are requested to cover one shift per week, which is a twelve hour shift.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief suggested using Per Diem Rescue Squad affiliates. He also advised it will cost a lot of money at about $17.00 per hour for a medic. Thought was perhaps 3 days of Per Diem incremental to their budget would cost $35,000 to $50,000.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised it could cost around one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) over what is being done now.
Jack Meaney questioned Americorp and was advised it would not work as a couple did apply, but the $10,000 did not include room and board. It was suggested that the Town Attorney be contacted regarding liabilities for Workman’s Comp. etc.
Advertising and word of mouth will be used to help fill the positions.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised the Budget Committee has been talking about regionalization and the Board of Selectmen have also approached other towns, if New London went with another paid company, would it be possible for us to contract with them? Yes, it could work, but again it will be considerable money.
Peter Fenton questioned if Mark & Rich could get two people per diem, to which they replied yes. Cheryl Behr, Administrator questioned if there is enough money in the ambulance fund to carry through to the end of this year? They estimated a cost of around $35,000 and advised yes there are enough funds available. Much discussion ensued.
Motion was made by Jack Meaney for Mark Goldberg, Chief Fire Department and Rich Branch, Rescue Squad to start to fill the vacant shifts on the Rescue Squad Per Diem. Seconded by Harry Wright. Motion carried 3-0.
Mark and Rich were Thanked by the Selectmen for all they do.
Kate Dobrowski, Director Community Center/Parks & Rec:
Kate Dobrowski met with the Selectmen to advise them of what the Parks and Rec Department does for activities during the year, and listed the following:
1. Fun Day 2. French’s Park 3. Halloween 4. Beef Roast
5. Blood Mobile 6. Soup Sale (Upcoming) 7. Contra Dances (last one a 8. Archery & Baton year ago)
9. Swim Lessons
Peter Fenton, Chair reiterated that there is no intention to eliminate Parks & Rec, we are trying to see if it can go in a different direction. Peter also mentioned that Parks & Rec will be coming into the Selectmen’s Meeting on October 26, 2010 at 5:30 if Kate would like to join them. Peter Fenton, Chair asked Kate to obtain and present the number of attendees to each of the above activities to the Selectmen.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised the bridge on Breezy Hill road, off Route 114 was closed last spring, and will not be repaired for a very long time, with 2019 being the scheduled date. The Bridge on Breezy Hill Road off Route 103 has a terminal crack in the abutment. Both of these bridges are red listed bridges, we have applied for their regularly scheduled replacements, but we’ve also applied to begin the studies and design on the 103 end. We can begin the work now, but we need to approach the Budget Committee and public now about accessing Fund Balance for an emergency expenditure. If the Selectmen vote to do this, they will be approaching the Budget Committee in few weeks to expend between $34,000 and $44,000 from Fund Balance in addition to the Emergency Bridge Repair money we have in Capital Reserve which is another $26,000. We do have waivers on engineers, and we would like to get this bridge design ready. Cheryl Behr, Administrator also advised that if we start now, we will not have to wait until the bridge actually washes out, but can start the replacement as we will already have the design. The State has put in a new series of stream crossing requirements which adds significantly to the cost of designing a bridge. The original estimate for the cost of the bridge was 1.2 million and will be significantly more than that now. Right now the scheduled repair or replacement for the bridge off 103 on Breezy Hill Road is 2017. A temporary bridge from the State of NH has been requested and that is pending upon availability. If that bridge is impassable, there are 40 households on Breezy Hill Road that could not be reached for emergency services, fire or rescue.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised that even if we did not get FEMA funds, we would be able to get 80% of the total cost of rebuilding the bridge through the Municipal Bridge Project Program, which would not be paid until 2017. Anything done now would be paid at 80/20 %.
Motion was made by Harry Wright to meet with the Budget Committee for authorization for an emergency expenditure from surplus for the Breezy Hill Bridge off 103, and the amount will be between thirty four to forty four thousand ($34,000/$44,000) dollars. Seconded by Jack Meaney. Motion carried 3-0.
Police Chief, James Valiquet presented three appointments for part time officers: Timothy Therrien, Kristofer Dupuis and Brian Eaton.
Accounts Payable Manifest and Payroll Manifests were reviewed and signed.
Trudy Willett announced that Laura Hallahan has been named Real Estate Agent of the Year for the State of New Hampshire.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised the COPS Grant has been signed and gone back.
Safe Routes to School paperwork has been received and will be starting up again.
Motion was made seconded and carried to adjourn at 6:45pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie R. Cilley,
Secretary