Selectmen’s Meeting
February 22, 2010
Those in attendance: John Halter, Sandra Holland, Arnold Stymest, Harry Power, Maureen Haynes, Linda Nicole, Terry McMahon, Edward Saleski, and Jim Coffey.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Halter and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Harry Power.
APPOINTMENTS:
7:05 P.M Linda Nichol along with Maureen Haynes presented the Board with a memo that contained four items relating to their concens with PJD Septic, which Maureen Haynes reviewed with the Board. These included having the January 18 minutes corrected to reflect that the Town would contact DES and obtain documentation from DES that no tanks are located on the Rice Brook Property owned by Mr. Dionne. Ms. Haynes stated that a month has passed and there has been no correspondence to them the Town or Mr. Dionne. The last two items included a statement that when Linda Nicol went to meet with DES in Concord she was informed DES would not provide the documentation being requested. The final point presented is a request that the Town contact Mr. Dionne’s attorney to see if he is will willing to provide documentation that no tanks exist on the Rice Brook property.
Chairman Halter asked what they were requesting of the Town. Maureen Haynes stated that they wanted the Town to contact Dionne’s attorney about the tanks, and for the matter to be cleared up. Chairman Halter asked the Board about sending a letter and it was unanimously agreed to do so. The tanks in question include 2, 10,000 gallon steel tanks and 1, 3,000 gallon concrete tanks. In addition to sending a letter to Mr. Dionne’s attorney, copies will be sent to Mr. Dionne, Mr. Power and Linda Nichols.
Also presented and briefly discussed were documents from 1996 showing a similiar complaint. These included a letter from the Selectmen dated January 23, 1996 to Mr. Dionne and correspondence to Mr.Dionne from the Hidden Lake Civic Association.
At 7:23 the discussion was closed.
7:30 P.M. Terry McMahon met with the Board and there was a discussion concerning the the Capital Improvement Program, its purposes, membership and meeting schedule. Selectman Stymest brought up the subject of the Newsletter and the need for approval by the Selectmen before being published. Selectman Stymest then read from a recent Local Government Center publication concerning town newsletters, and potential liabilities. At the conclusion of the discussion Selectman Stymest moved to rescind the approval for Mr. McMahon to publish a town newsletter. There was an explanation that a newsletter need to have a policy approved by the Town’s attorney. Selectman Holland seconded the motion and it was passed 3-0. This was followed by more discussion during which Mr. McMahon read a policy. At 8:02 P.M. the discussion was concluded.
8:03 P.M. Selectman Stymest read a certificate that listed six New Hampshire Historic properties, including the Gould House. Ed Saleski spoke briefly on it and Jim Coffey volunteered to pick up a frame to display the certificate. Selectman Holland asked about the Selectmen’s Institute and Antioch College. Jim Coffey will look into this.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board approved the use of tax billing software to be provided by Business Management Systems, Incorporated (BMSI). The cost is $6,400 and will be taken from the overall assessing budget. Jim Coffey explained that this software will mate with our existing Proval assessing software and will improve both Town Office and Tax Collection efficiency. The nearest alternative would be at least $15,000 and would require new assessing software and, a reworking of the update done last year.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board agreed to have the Local Government Center, who manages our risk management pool (insurance), to perform a study of town liability relative to police activities. Jim Coffey will coordinate this with Chief Vaillancourt.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
James Coffey, Interim Administrator