MINUTES OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING

Monday August 17, 2009

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

Excused: Roderick Ladd

Town Manager: Glenn English

Administrative Assistant/Finance Officer: Jo Lacaillade

Members of the Public Present: Joel Godston, Annemarie Godston, Wayne Fortier, Gary Scruton, Janice Scruton, Susan Brown, Ron Willoughby, Pam Miller, and Robert Blechl-Caledonian Record.

Call Meeting to Order:

Acting Chairman Joslin called the meeting to order at 6:02.

Approval of Agenda:

Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment that the chair be allowed to deviate from the listed order; the motion was seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously.

Approval of Consent Agenda:

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

Scheduled Public Appearances: None

Town Manager’s Report:

TM English stated that the contractor has completed the work at Railroad Park. The next big project at the park is the entrance way and that is designed and ready to go for bid, we are just waiting on the driveway permit from the State. There was a brief discussion regarding how nice the park looks with the improvements in. TM English said that some rules need to be established for use of the park and signage reflecting those rules posted. A first reading of the proposed ordinance was introduced.

Pending (Old) Business: None

New Business:

Ø Haverhill Historical Society: The Haverhill Historical Society has made application for funds from the Mildred Page Fund. The first request is for $2,500 towards the roofing project at Ladd Street School. The second request is for up to $10,000 for renovations being done at Pearson Hall, with an initial request of $2,500 which is available presently. Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the $2,500 for Ladd Street School and $10,000 for Pearson Hall with $2,500 of that request being disbursed immediately and the balance being disbursed as funds become available; the motion was seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously.

Presentations and Awards: None

Commission/Committee Reports: None

Correspondence: None

Comments of the Public: None

Comments of the Town Manager/Administrative Assistant-Finance Officer: None

Comments of Selectboard Members: Peter Heilemann said that he had a conversation with a gentleman that lives in Town that is getting very frustrated with mowing and getting covered with dog feces. The rules for Railroad Park that were introduced included a rule that addresses cleaning up after your dog and he felt that it should be a town wide ordinance. He referred to a NH Statute that talks about dogs and includes language regarding nuisance dogs that says “If it digs, scratches, or excretes, or causes waste or garbage to be scattered on property other than its owner's”. There was a brief discussion regarding jurisdiction, signage and possible adoption of a Town wide ordinance to deal with the dog issue.

Public Hearing(s): 6:15 Revised 2009 Budget: Peter Conrad made a motion to go into public hearing to discuss the revisions to the budget; seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously. Acting Chairman David Joslin called the Public Hearing to order at 6:18. TM English stated that towns were given permission by special legislation this year to hold Special Town Meetings to revisit their 2009 budgets due specifically to the cutback of State Aid. No other business can be conducted at this meeting and no increases to the amounts of cuts can be made. The voters could vote to cut less money. An overview of the proposed reductions was given which is not equal to the total amount being reduced by the State due to the fact that the welfare budget will be overspent by a significant amount this year that amount must be covered by other areas in the budget. The amount being proposed would save about 17¢ on the tax rate. Article one will address proposed cuts to the operating budget of $43,068 which is from the Highway Department and the Ambulance Contract. Susan Brown felt that the cuts listed were fair; she had a concern that the outside agencies such as the libraries were going to get cut. She said the harder the economy gets the more people there are that use the libraries. TM English said that in the next budget year, everything will be on the table. Ron Willoughby asked if there were any other areas that could be cut to reach the full amount being reduced by the State. Bob Maccini said that they have cut everything that they feel would be palatable to the public and doesn’t result in a reduction of services or reduction in staff. David Joslin said that welfare is a driver in the decision of the amounts of cuts because they do not have the ability to not pay that if the applicant is qualified so they cannot reduce the full amount to cover that revenue shortfall. Bob Maccini said that they went through the budget line for line to bring forth the amounts they have tonight. Susan Brown said that there have been huge cuts to the Department of Human Services and the judicial system and many of those cuts trickle down to the Town. TM English said that the biggest discussion that has to happen is that the Town gives a lot of its budget away to other agencies that it doesn’t control and is the Town’s obligation to its own department’s first or outside agencies? Susan Brown feels that the economy is improving. Bob Maccini stated that it would be nothing for the County to come up with the money from their budget that would offset this; same with the school but they aren’t making cuts. Wayne Fortier said that he had spoken with TM English and made a proposal regarding the Police Department. He proposed a part time Police Chief if the Town is willing to entertain that idea for a short period of time, 2-3 years, it could save the Town up to $210,000. It not only saves the Town some money but it would also be a mentoring opportunity to the department. The Town could hire a person that is retired, like himself; the Town wouldn’t have to pay a benefits package so that is a $25,000 savings right there; if you then had that person do the local prosecution you could save the $40,000 to $45,000 currently being spent. Susan Brown asked if Wayne felt that a part time Police Chief could do the job the way it should be done to which he responded that he felt it could. He thinks an assessment has to be made of management skills and the skills of the overall department. He was also asked if he really felt that a part time Chief could also handle the prosecution end. He stated that he hadn’t looked at the case load but it has been done in the past. It would not do away with the need for a prosecutor altogether but the violation misdemeanors could be handled by the Chief. David Joslin thought that there would probably be more overtime involved because of less people available to cover the shifts and arrests but it is a proposal that they can look at. Peter Conrad felt that the case load would have to be looked at too. It was the consensus of the Board that this issue would not affect the Special Town Meeting because there is not enough time to review the Police Chief proposal and case load. The next warrant articles will reduce the money put into the following Capital Reserve funds: Vehicle from $20,000 to zero; Parks and Recreation from $2,000 to zero; and Municipal Building from $2,000 to zero. There was a brief discussion as to what those funds are used for and what the balances in those funds currently are. Also discussed was the fact that not setting money aside a little at a time can come back and effect the Town in a much larger way at a later time. With no further comment from the public, Peter Heilemann made a motion to come out of Public Hearing; seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously. Acting Chairman Joslin closed the public hearing at 6:45 pm.

Non Public Session-Personnel Issue: Bob Maccini made a motion to go into non-public session to discuss a personnel issue pursuant to RSA 91:A:3 (a), the motion was seconded by Peter Heilemann. The Board was polled and all agreed. The Board went into non public session at 6:46 pm.

Bob Maccini made a motion to come out of non-public session at 7:14 pm seconded by Peter Heilemann. No motions were made, no action taken and the minutes are to be sealed. All approved.

Adjourn Meeting: Bob Maccini made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously. Acting Chairman Joslin adjourned the meeting at 7:15 pm.

Minutes transcribed by Jo Lacaillade