Select Board Meeting called to order at 11:03 am
Roll Call – Andrew Pinard (Chair), Marlene Freyler, Mel Pfeifle and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
Andrew stated the purpose of this meeting was to discuss the proposed Warrant Articles.
Housekeeping:
Karen said the amount that was approved by the Select Board for the line item for Elections and Vital Statistics was $8,139 but this did not include the $3,100 for new computers for the Supervisors of the Checklist. The number should actually be $11,239. This amount has already been approved by the Budget Committee.
Motion: Andrew Pinard motioned to approve the line item for Elections and Vital Statistics to be $11,239.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
Karen asked if they had discussed discontinuing of the highway fund, ambulance fund and changing the purpose of the cemetery fund. Andrew said they will revisit this.
Article 1 – Choose Town officials – All set.
Article 2 – Adjourn the meeting – All set.
Article 3 – Town Hall Bond – Andrew explained that the rationale is to keep the same proposal with regard to construction, but that the money factor has changed. Currently interest rates are very favorable and we have an opportunity to borrow money at a low interest rate. Karen said the language will say it will be no more than $2.2 million in bonds and notes, however that could further be reduced by donations and grants. Andrew said this will need to pass with a 2/3 vote.
Article 4 – Operating Budget $2,473,579.78. – Approved
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to approve $2,473,579.78 for the operating budget.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Article 5 – Purchase a new pumper – All set.
Karen said this has already been done. She wanted to discuss the order of the articles.
Article 6 – To replenish what will be taken out of the Fire Dept Heavy Equipment Fund – All set.
Article 7 – SCBA Bottle replacement – All set.
Article 8 – Purchase Dump Truck – All set.
Article 9 – Road Maintenance and Paving – All set.
Article 10 – Brush Chipper – All set.
Article 11 – Miscellaneous Road projects. – All set.
Article 12 – Sports Utility Vehicle for Police Department – All set.
Article 13 – Repurposing of the Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust fund to use to repair and purchase. This will require a 2/3 vote. – All set.
Article 14 – Fund the Town Equipment Repair Fund. – All set.
Article 15 – Discontinue Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund contingent on failure of Article 13. – Andrew suggested taking this out. – Eliminated.
Article 16 – Renaming of Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund contingent on failure of Article 13 – Andrew suggested taking this out. – Eliminated.
Article 17 – Deposit to Town Hall Restoration Trust Fund – Contingent of failure of Article 3, eliminated if the bond passes.
Article 18 – Deposit to Road and Bridge Expendable Trust Fund – All set.
Article 19 – Deposit to Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund – All set.
Article 20 – Deposit to Police Vehicle Capital Reserve – All set.
Article 21 – Deposit to Revaluation Capital Reserve – All set.
Article 22 – Deposit to Capital Reserve for Communication (Emergency Services) – All set.
Article 23 – Deposit to Capital Reserve for Communication (Emergency Services) – Duplicate – Removed.
Article 24 – Deposit to Conservation Fund – All set.
Article 25 – Deposit to Fire Equipment Trust Fund – All set.
Article 26 – Deposit to Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust Fund – All set.
Article 27 – Establish Long-Term Planning for Expendable Trust Fund – All set.
Article 28 – Establish Matching Funds for Grants Expendable Trust Fund – All set.
Article 29 – Discontinue 1960 Highway Department Capital Reserve Trust Fund – All set.
Article 30 – Discontinue 1994 Ambulance Capital Reserve Trust Fund – All set.
Article 31 – Repurpose the Cemetery Maintenance Capital Reserve – All set.
Article 32 – CASA – All set.
Article 33 – Energy savings in highway garage – All set.
Article 34 – Energy Committee goal – All set.
From Article 19 on, the monies to be voted exceed the 10% rule. It was decided that Marlene will try to convince the members of the Budget Committee to approve and recommend the warrant article for the fire truck. If they continue to not approve it, there will be 10 articles that will be killed due to the 10% rule.
Mel suggested changing the warrant article for funding the Fire Dept Heavy Equipment Fund to request $100,000 rather than $200,000. Marlene said she agreed because it is only a CIP recommendation.
Andrew recommends that they move the article to the end of the warrant articles for the last appropriation.
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to change the amount of warrant article 6 (Fire Dept Heavy Equipment Fund) to $100,000.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-1
By consensus, the Board agreed to move Article 14 ahead of Article 13.
The appointed moderator, Bruce Storm, introduced himself to the Board members. Andrew suggested he reach out to past moderator Brackett Scheffy or assistant moderator Fred Hubley if he has any questions.
Karen said there will be two presentations (road plan and Town Hall) and her suggestion is to have both these presentations at the beginning of Town Meeting.
Upcoming Meetings:
- February 14, 2022
- February 21, 2022
Motion: Marlene Freylermotioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (c) at 12:38 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
The Board recessed until 12:55, then resumed their non-public session.
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to return to public session at 1:34 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to adjourn the meeting at 1:34 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.