BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE December 17, 2012

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1 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE December 17, 2012 ATTENDANCE Chairman Karen Falcone, Vice-Chairman Dianne Gilbert (arrived at 7:05 p.m.), James P. McGeough, Tom Gauthier; Town Administrator Greg Dodge. Selectman Bob Jordan and Administrative Assistant Joyce Blanchard were excused. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Falcone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Epping Town Hall. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Immediately following the salute to our flag, Chairman Falcone asked that all remain standing in a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Newtown, CT Elementary School shootings on Friday December 14, MINUTES Minutes from the December 10, 2012 meeting were submitted for approval. Motion by Selectman Tom Gauthier and a second by Selectman Jim McGeough to approve the minutes as submitted, MOTION CARRIED, 3:0:0 (Selectman Gilbert had not yet arrived for this vote). POLICE DEPARTMENT PURCHASE ORDER Chief Michael Wallace and Captain Jason Newman recommended the approval of a purchase order to purchase ammunition from Eagle Point Gun/TJ Morris & Sons in the amount of $2,664. Selectman McGeough questioned if this ammunition could be purchased from SigArms and possibly eliminating the $100 shipping costs. Chief Wallace wasn t sure that was a possibility. His experience is that Eagle Point has the best prices anywhere. Chairman Falcone asked the Chief if he wanted to hold off until Friday to give him time to research the idea of purchasing from SigArms. Town Administrator Dodge stated that when he served as Police Chief, Eagle Point always had the best prices by far and recommended that the purchase order be signed this evening. Selectman McGeough noted that the purchase of.380 ammunition was crossed out of the purchase order. Chief Wallace explained that Cpt. Newman, the two detectives, and himself now carry a.380 but all will be going back to the.357 weapon. Motion by Selectman McGeough to approve the purchase order for ammunition from Eagle Point in the amount of $2,664.00, seconded by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRRIED, 4:0:0. WARRANT ARTICLE REVIEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER This proposed warrant was presented by the Police Department and received on today s date. Chief Michael Wallace and Captain Jason Newman came forward to defend the need of having a School Resource Officer at a cost of $35,570 for the second half of 2013 and BOS December 17, 2012

2 an annual cost in 2014 of $76,350, which includes salary and all benefits. Town Administrator Dodge told the Board that he and Captain Newman talked about this school officer position last Thursday prior to the Connecticut Elementary School shooting and said that the proposed article is not connected with what happened in Connecticut. Chairman Falcone felt that there was just too much being considered this year and with a possible $2.00 or more increase on the tax rate she could not support the article. Chief Wallace said that he has had recent discussions with the Deans at the School and they think that having this position is critical. Captain Newman said that the Police Department used to have this position at the school but because of manpower issues the program was suspended. Selectman Gilbert asked if truancy was the only reason to have this position and Chief Wallace said that was only a very small part of it. The officer in the school will build rapport with the students and act as a mentor to them. Currently officers are called off patrol to deal with issues at the school. He said with an SRO (School Resource Officer) in place, school related calls could be handled more efficiently and timely. Selectman McGeough, who works in the Manchester School District, said that they have an officer in every school and that having that officer is a deterrent and actually helps solve crimes. Selectman Gauthier felt that despite this article not being related to the CT shootings, he thought it was related and could not support the article. Selectman Gilbert stressed that we needed a cultural change in this country not a police officer in the school. Captain Newman said that having an officer at the school is a deterrent. It was suggested by Selectman Gauthier that perhaps this position be part-time, maybe a retired officer could work there. Discussion continued with the point being made that most schools in the region have SRO s. Captain Newman said that when the officer was not at the school, he/she would be used in patrol. Administrator Dodge sensing there wasn t support for this article asked if the Board would at least consider having it on the warrant for the people to decide. The Board, minus the Chairman seemed to want to at least have it on the warrant. Selectmen McGeough made a motion to have the School Resource Officer article placed on the warrant, with a second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 3:1:0, with Chairman Falcone voting nay. Selectman McGeough motioned that the article be recommended by the Selectmen with a second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION FAILED, 1:3:0 with Selectmen Falcone, Gilbert, and Gauthier voting nay. LAND PURCHASE Selectman Gauthier made a motion to have the Land Purchase question on the ballot. This will be a bond and there will be no bond payment the first year. A second was made by Selectmen McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman Gauthier made a motion that this article be recommended by the Board of Selectmen with a second by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman Gilbert stated that the tax impact should be noted on the warrant articles. ROAD BOND This too will be a bond and so there will be no payment on this new bond in The existing bond will be paid off in 2013 and so there will be a recurring cost if this is passed. Selectman McGeough made a motion to accept the road bond question on the warrant with a second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman McGeough made a motion that the Board of Selectman recommend this article, with a second from Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. NEW LIBRARY Motion by Selectman McGeough to table this article until the Library Trustees have a chance to discuss whether or not they will be going forward with this plan. Second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. BOS December 17,

3 OPERATING BUDGET Selectman Gauthier made a motion to have the proposed operating budget on the warrant in the amount of $6,417, (Six Million Four Hundred Seventeen Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty Six Dollars) and a default amount of $6,367,771 (Six Million Three Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy One Dollars), with a second by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman Gauthier made a motion that the Board of Selectmen recommend the operating budget and default budget as proposed, with a second by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. TOWN HALL IMPROVEMENT EXPENDABLE TRUST Selectman McGeough made a motion to place the Town Hall Improvement Trust Fund on the ballot, with a second by Selectman Gilbert, MOTION CARRIED, 3:1:0, with Selectman Gauthier voting nay. Selectman McGeough made a motion that the Board of Selectmen recommend this article, with a second by Selectman Gilbert, MOTION CARRIED, 3:1:0, with Selectmen Gauthier voting nay. LANDFILL ENGINEERING DESIGN/CLOSURE TRUST FUND Selectmen Gilbert motioned that the $5, for the Landfill Engineering design and closure Trust Fund not be placed on the warrant with a second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0 (article will not be placed on the warrant). HIGHWAY TRUCK CAPITAL RESERVE FUND Selectman Gauthier motioned that the $5, for the Highway Truck Capital Reserve Fund not be placed on the warrant, with a second by Selectman Gilbert, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0 (article will not be placed on the warrant). HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT CAPITAL RESERVE Selectman Gauthier made a motion that the $5, for the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve not be placed on the warrant, with a second by Selectman Gilbert, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0 (article will not be placed on the warrant). NEW FIRE TRUCK Selectman Gauthier made a motion to have the new fire truck placed on the warrant at a cost of $540, (Five Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars), this is a lease purchase with the first year s payment to be estimated at $60, (Sixty Thousand One Hundred Dollars), seconded by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman Gauthier made a motion that the Selectmen not recommend this article, with a second by Chairman Falcone. Discussion: Fire Ward Paul Spidle was in the audience and spoke in favor of this article. The Fire Department is seeking to get a tanker fire truck through a grant and this article will be for a combined tanker/pumper. There is also a possibility to purchase a used ladder truck from the City of Concord which will be paid for with impact fees. Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Chapman arrived to fill in some details. He provided a brief history of the fire trucks currently in service and what the Department is seeking in this budget cycle. The Tanker truck will be purchased with the help of a grant but even if the grant is approved, they will need to pay $68, towards the purchase and those funds would come from the Public Safety Facility fund and not from taxation. He did say that the chance of the grant being approved is about 2%. The truck on the warrant article is a combination tanker/pumper and will be a lease purchase. The Fire Department is also interested in a ladder truck which may become available from the City of Concord, if they have a chance to bid on that truck and are successful in winning a bid, that money would come from impact fees. Hearing no further discussion the Chairman called for a vote, MOTION FAILED, 2:2:0, Chairman Falcone and Selectman Gauthier voting nay. Thus it is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen. After the vote was taken the Board discussed whether or not they could reconsider this recommendation at BOS December 17,

4 deliberative session. That question will be explored. So the article will be placed on the warrant with no recommendation. HIGHWAY TRUCK WITH PLOW Selectman Gilbert made a motion to place the proposed article to purchase a highway truck and plow on the warrant with a second from Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Selectman Gilbert made a motion that the Selectmen recommend this article with a second from Selectman McGeough, MOTION FAILED 1:3:0, with Chairman Falcone, Selectmen McGeough, and Selectman Gauthier voting nay. Thus it is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen. ROCKINGHAM NUTRITION & MEALS ON WHEELS This is a petitioned article and therefore it will be placed on the warrant. By Board of Selectmen policy all social services must be by petition this year to be on the warrant and there is no consideration given as to whether they were funded last year or not. Selectman Gauthier made a motion that the Board of Selectmen recommend this article with a second from Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 3:1:0 with Selectman Gilbert voting nay. Selectman McGeough made a motion to accept the Revenue Budget as proposed with a second by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. ROAD NAME CHANGE The Address Conversion Submittal form from the State Division of Emergency Services was submitted for the Board s consideration. This has to do with the road name changes approved within Camp Hedding. Selectman Gauthier made a motion to accept the road name changes effective January 2, 2013 to change; Folsom Ave. to Cushman Ave., Highland Ave. to Dutton Ave., Pike Ave. to Holman Ave., Blake Ave. to Dunning Park, and Hamilton Ave. to Hartwell Ave., seconded by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. TIMBER TAX A Timber Tax Levy was submitted for Board approval in the name of Southeast Land Trust of NH for lot #020, map #008 in the amount of $ Selectman Gauthier made a motion to approve the timber tax in the amount of $695.78, with a second from Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. ASSESSING CONTRACT The Town had submitted an RFP (Request for Proposal) for providing assessing services to the Town of Epping. Vice Chairman Gilbert and Administrator Dodge interviewed three firms. Purvis & Associates, Trumbull, and our current assessor MRI. The Board was provided a brief overview of the interviews and there were concerns with Purvis and Trumbull though their bids were lower than MRI. Selectman Gilbert stated that Purvis and Trumbull include assessing the Town s utilities as well, something we now contract separately for in the amount of $6, Discussion continued and Selectman Gauthier was a bit leery of hiring Purvis since the Town of Kingston who uses them now is looking for another assessor. Administrator Dodge knew Kingston was looking for a new assessor but did not know what problems they were having with Purvis. Administrator Dodge was also concerned that both Trumbull and Purvis have a small staff and the Town of Epping may not have the assessor here as often as we do now with BOS December 17,

5 MRI. Selectman McGeough made a motion to hire MRI and to enter into a one year contract, second by Selectman Gauthier, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR OFFICE EXPANSION Bids are not complete and so no action was taken. WATSON ACADEMY The Board was provided with additional information regarding repairs to Watson Academy. It is estimated that the cost to repair the building is between $207,000 and $303,000. No action was taken by the Board and it is unlikely a warrant can be ready for this year. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT No Report. INDIVIDUAL SELECTMEN S REPORTS Selectman McGeough Selectman McGeough asked if the antique lights downtown had been repaired. Administrator Dodge said we were waiting for an electrician. Mr. McGeough also asked if the person who wanted the Pageant in the upstairs had resubmitted her request. Administrator Dodge stated that she has not. Selectman Gilbert No comments. Selectman Gauthier Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. He also reminded Administrator Dodge that the canisters at the dump need to be made ready for the after Christmas rush. Selectman Jordan Absent. Chairman Falcone No comments. COMMENTS BY VISITORS Bruce Chapman came to the lectern to announce that the Fire Department will be burning used Christmas trees on January 5, He also said that Santa Claus will be going around Town on Sunday December 23, 2012 beginning at 3:00 p.m. Motion by Selectman Gauthier to adjourn, seconded by Selectman McGeough, MOTION CARRIED, 4:0:0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. BOS December 17,

6 Respectfully Submitted, Gregory C. Dodge Town Administrator Karen Falcone, Chairman Dianne Gilbert, Vice Chairman James P. McGeough, Selectman Thomas Gauthier, Selectman Selectman Jordan was absent. Dated BOS December 17,