MINUTES OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING

Monday, April 13, 2009

 

Board Members Present:  Roderick Ladd, Peter Conrad, David Joslin,  and

Bob Maccini.   Peter Heilemann was excused.

 

Town Manager:  Glenn English                                                        

 

Administrative Assistant/Finance Officer:  Jo Lacaillade, excused

 

Members of the Public Present:  Doug Henson

 

Call Meeting to Order:

Chairman Ladd called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.

 

Approval of Agenda: 

Dave Joslin made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Peter Conrad 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 Hearing - None

 

Scheduled Public Appearances:  

Ø     Haverhill Police Dept. – JAG Grant Application

Sgt. Cecil Smith and Corporals Wallace Trott and Byron Charles made a presentation to the Board describing their application for a Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to bring $32,637.00 to the Department to upgrade radio communications, particularly in the Woodsville Area.   Cpl. Charles explained that there are numerous dead spots for the portable radios particularly inside the Hospital, and the schools.   It is an officer safety issue to improve these communication deficiencies.   Bob Maccini questioned whether the problems had to do with building interference issues.   Cpl. Charles said testing will be done before deploying the new equipment to see if it will solve the problems.   The grants for the Grafton County towns are being administered by the Grafton County Sheriff’s Dept for a 10% fee.  On a motion by Bob Maccini, seconded by Dave Joslin the Board unanimously voted to authorize the town manager to apply for the Grant. 

 

 

 

Town Manager’s Report:   

        TM English presented a directive from the Selectboard  authorizing  Sgt.

        Smith and Cpls. Trott and Charles to issue Pistol permits in the absence of the

        Chief.   Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the directive, seconded by

        Dave Joslin and all approved.     

 

        TM English reported that Dale Kendall had submitted his resignation from the

        Town Library Trustees.  Dave Joslin made a motion to accept the resignation,

        with thanks, seconded by Bob Macini and all approved.

 

        There was a long discussion of the Federal Stimulus Program and the

        frustrations local towns have had in applying for the funds.

 

Pending (Old) Business:  

Ø     Agreement re:  Life Safety Code/Fire Code 3rd  Party Inspections

        TM English reported that there has been no information received from any                                                                                                                                   

        of the precincts on this issue.   Rick Ladd stated that the Haverhill Corner

        Precinct  Commissioners and North Haverhill Water & Light Commissioners

        would be having a joint meeting to discuss this and other common issues.

 

New Business:  

Ø     Town By-laws, Ordinances

TM English had presented copies of the current Town By-laws and Ordinances to the Board members.   He stated that they were out of date, unorganized and he questioned their validity in some cases.   The Board decided to review the information and begin to discuss possible revisions at their next meeting. 

 

Ø     Center Haverhill Armory Property

TM English reported that there was no Stimulus money available through the State Adjutant General’s Office to fix the leaking roof.   The State Stimulus Czar, Bud Fitch, had responded that all the National Guard money has been allocated.   TM English said he had sent an e-mail to Ray Burton to press this issue with the State to get some State funding to fix the roof which they had neglected for years.   He said a patch job might cost up to $5,000 and a complete new roof would be much higher.   We need some help from the State on this.   He asked for the Board’s support to pressure the State on this.

 

Bob Maccini said the roof must be fixed to make the building useable if we wished to lease it or sell it.   TM English reported that we do have a use for the building which would be for cold storage for Highway Equipment and also records storage.   Rick Ladd said that was a good idea as much of our Highway Equipment sits outside.   The Board felt strongly that we should proceed quickly with developing a gravel pit on the site hopefully to get some winter sand off-site for next winter.   TM English said the road agent is ready to go on the pit and we will have a restoration plan and other requirements ready for the Planning Board even though the Town would be exempt from a regular permit requirement.   Bob Maccini said he hoped that winter sand for next year could be taken from the pit to save the budget expenditure.

 

Ø     Public Hearing – Bob Maccini made a motion, seconded by Dave Joslin that the Board hold a Public Hearing at next meeting regarding amending the budget to accept the JAG Grant.   All approved.

 

Ø     There was discussion of the water pressure issue at the Business Park.   The Board directed the Town Manager to put this issue on the next meeting agenda and invite the North Haverhill Water & Light Commissioners and their engineer to the meeting.

 

Commission/Committee Reports:   

       Bob Maccini reported that the Airport Commission has updated and amended     

       the Airport Master Plan and a copy is available in the town office.   The update

       includes a possible re-routing of Airport Rd and a land acquisition.  The

       Commission will be contacting the Board in the future to get on the agenda to

       discuss the NPIAS program again.   Bob Maccini advised the Board members   

       to review the material so that when the Commission comes to the Board they

       can get a vote on NPIAS.   Rick Ladd said he was still troubled by possibly

       joining this Federal program and wondered what additional requirements it

       would bring.   Bob Maccini said he thought that merely joining NPIAS did not

       subject the Airport to any additional requirements unless a project was actually

       done.

 

Correspondence:   none

 

Comments of the Public:  

    Doug Henson stated the town garage needs a paint job and the T-111 siding

    might start de-laminating.   TM English said there was no money in the 2009    

    budget for this.

 

Comments of the Town Manager:   None

 

Comments of Selectboard Members:   None

 

Adjourn Meeting:   Peter Conrad made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dave Joslin and all approved.   The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Ladd at

7:22 pm.

 

Minutes transcribed by Glenn English