MINUTES OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING

Monday, February 2, 2009

Board Members Present: Roderick Ladd, Peter Conrad, David Joslin, Robert Maccini and Peter Heilemann.

Town Manager: Glenn English

Administrative Assistant/Finance Officer: Jo Lacaillade

Members of the Public Present: Harold Brown, Joel Godston, Annemarie Godston, Mike Bonano and Ed Ballam from the Journal Opinion.

Call Meeting to Order:

Chairman Ladd called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.

Approval of Agenda:

Dave Joslin made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously.

Approval of Consent Agenda:

Dave Joslin made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously.

Scheduled Public Appearances: None

Public Hearing(s): None

Town Manager’s Report:

TM English presented a proposed grant agreement with the State Dept. of Safety, Homeland Security, Emergency Management to provide $5,000 to the Town to update our Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is a State and FEMA requirement. TM English asked for a motion to authorize him to sign the grant agreement, Bob Maccini made the motion, seconded by Dave Joslin and all approved. TM English reported that an inspector from the State Department of Labor stopped in today and noted that the Town was required to provide a safe working place for their employees and improvements should be made. Mr. Maccini asked if the State was willing to fund these improvements. TM English reported that this was the first question he asked and the answer is no, they are an enforcement agency. The Dept. of Labor is suggesting that the public be completely separated from people coming into the offices by installation of physical barriers such as counters and plexi-glass. TM English said that he would be looking at this and improvements might be able to be made based on the budget. Mr. Maccini noted that we should wait for a written report or order from the Dept of Labor before we actually did anything. All agreed. TM English noted that the Town Budget hearing will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 pm.

Pending (Old) Business: None

New Business:

Ø Appointment to Planning Board: Mike Bonano was present and was interviewed by Rick
Ladd using the standard questions for appointments. Bob Maccini asked if the Planning
Board has endorsed this appointment and Chairman Ladd reported that it had. Bob
Maccini made a motion to appoint Mr. Bonano as a regular member of the Planning Board,
seconded by Peter Heilemann and all approved.

Ø Agreement re: Life Safety/Fire Code 3rd Party Inspections: TM English reported that
at about 3:45pm today a counter proposal to the Board’s draft agreement to the fire chiefs
and precinct commissioners was received from two of the fire chiefs, Don Hammond and
Mike Lavoie. TM English distributed copies of the Board’s draft agreement and the
counter-proposal. The Board discussed the proposal and decided that they needed input
from the precinct commissioners before responding to the two chiefs. TM English was
directed to send copies of the counter-proposal to all three sets of precinct commissioners
with a letter of transmittal asking for their input. Chairman Ladd reiterated that without the
agreement of all commissioners and all three chiefs the Town could not accept the
responsibility of third party inspections and that time was of the essence because the town
budget is affected.

Ø TAN Authorization: Jo Lacaillade presented a Tax Anticipation Note of $1.5 million at a
2.5% interest rate to cover cash flow needs for 2009. It was explained that the Town must
have sufficient cash on hand to pay over the taxes to the school district, the county and
precincts and that there is a very tight cash situation before each semi-annual tax billing.
This would be the total amount authorized for the year and the Treasurer would draw it
down as needed sort of like a Letter of Credit. Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the
TAN with Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, seconded by Dave Joslin and all approved.

Ø Review of 2009 Budget as Presented by Advisory Budget Committee: TM English
reported that the Advisory Budget Committee has endorsed the town manager’s budget
and that there were only two agreed upon changes. $1,900 was added to Selectboard
professional services line for the new copier lease and under Economic Development the
appropriation for the Chamber of Commerce was reduced by half at the Chamber’s
request. The Board reviewed the revenues and expenditures line by line and the following
changes were made: Planning Board salaries was reduced by $1,000 and the amount
moved to PB Training. On the recommendation of TM English the Business Park Hook-up
fees and the revenues will be adjusted based on the two actual hook ups which are
anticipated this year. The Board deleted the Town Library Trustees budget of $400 and
moved the money to the Selectboard budget to cover Trustees expenses of advertising,
supplies and postage. The Board felt that having a separate budget for the Library
Trustees was not in the best interest of the Town.

Ø Review of Warrant Articles: The Board reviewed the proposed 2009 warrant and made
no changes.

Ø Business Park Water Line: The Board reviewed the agreement between the North
Haverhill Water & Light District and the Town dealing with the water line on the Business
Park road. TM English reported that the Commissioners have acknowledged that the
pressure problem is their responsibility and he was told that engineering plans were done
and they had some money set aside for the project. This would involve increasing the size
of the main on Cold Spring Drive and connecting the line in the Business Park to the
Airport Road main. The Board requested that TM English invite the Commissioners to the
next Board meeting so that this could be discussed and that a date could be determined
when the work would be done.

Presentations and Awards: None

Commission/Committee Reports: None

Correspondence: None

Comments of the Public:

Harold Brown commented that the only benefit of installing a plexi-glass barrier between the public and the employees would be to prevent the spread of germs.

Comments of the Town Manager/Administrative Assistant-Finance Officer:

Jo Lacaillade suggested that the Board approve the list of deputy fire wardens as presented by fire warden Brad Kennedy and signed by the town manager. Mr. Maccini asked if these were re-appointments and she said they were. Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the list of deputy wardens, seconded by Dave Joslin and all approved.

Comments of Selectboard Members: None

Adjourn Meeting: Bob Maccini made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously. Chairman Ladd adjourned the meeting at 8:21 pm.

Minutes transcribed by Glenn English