MINUTES OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING

Monday August 3, 2009

 

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

 

Town Manager:  Glenn English                                                                   

 

Administrative Assistant/Finance Officer:  Jo Lacaillade

 

Members of the Public Present: Joel Godston, Annemarie Godston, Bernie Marvin from the Bridge Weekly Shocase, and Ed Ballam from the Journal Opinion.

 

Call Meeting to Order:

 

Chairman Ladd called the meeting to order at 6:07.

 

Approval of Agenda: 

 

David Joslin made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Peter Conrad. Chairman Ladd asked that the Whole Hog BBQ and Music Festival be added under new business. David Joslin amended his motion to include this item under new business; Peter Conrad seconded and carried unanimously.

 

Approval of Consent Agenda:

 

David Joslin made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; seconded by Peter Conrad and carried unanimously.

 

Scheduled Public Appearances: None

 

Public Hearing(s): None

 

Town Manager’s Report:

 

TM English announced that he had received a written resignation from Chief Jeffery Williams today and has accepted that resignation. Health benefits will be extended for 3 months.

 

D & V Landscaping is about ½ done on the Railroad Park project and there is a payment in the manifest for part of that contract. He reviewed a change order that will include the installation of the playground equipment; seeding, leveling and some other items. There is money in the overall project to accomplish these. The grant does allow for change orders. Peter Conrad asked about a more permanent sign on the band stand to which TM English responded that there is money in the grant for signage. David Joslin would like a plaque listing the people who worked to make the park a reality.

 

TM English said that the 3rd Party Inspector advertisement will be running. He reviewed 2 minor wording changes to the job description.

 

TM English reviewed the guidelines provided by the NH Department of Revenue regarding how to conduct the special meeting to address the budget. The Special Town Meeting will be held September 15th and the public hearing regarding that will be held at the August 17th meeting. He went through the sample warrant for the Special Town Meeting but stated that it appears that welfare is going to be significantly over and that shortfall will have to be addressed also so the overall reduction to the budget may have to be looked at. If the shortfall from revenue sharing was not adjusted out of the budget the result would be approximately a 21¢ increase in the Town tax rate; on a $200,000 property that would be approximately $42 in additional taxes. It appears that the welfare budget is going to be overspent and there is no option as to whether to pay that money out if an applicant is qualified so additional money will need to be moved into that budget to cover that shortfall. That number will be reviewed at the budget hearing. It was asked by Joel Godston if the resignation of the Chief would result in some savings in the budget. TM English stated that the overtime may use up any of that savings. Further discussion ensued as to what further cuts may be necessary to offset the increase to the welfare budget, the County budget and payments made to outside entities.

 

Pending (Old) Business:  None

 

New Business: 

Ø  Business Park Covenants: TM English gave an overview of the proposed changes to the covenants that clearly state that there is a $25,000 sewer hook-up fee. Bob Maccini made a motion to accept the changes as proposed; seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously.

Ø  Welfare Guideline Change: AA Lacaillade reviewed the purpose of the change to the welfare guidelines as they relate to RSA 165:4-a and :4-b which allows the Town to pay rental payments directly to the Town for delinquent taxes if the landlord is in arrears. On a motion by Bob Maccini, seconded by David Joslin the Board unanimously approved adoption of the language of RSA 165:4-a and 4-b into the Town of Haverhill Welfare Guidelines effective  immediately.

Ø  Traffic Safety Consideration/Action: cross walks Route 10 and signs (Haverhill Corner-speed/caution children): Chairman Ladd spoke of the need for a reduced speed limit and designated cross walks in Haverhill Corner. He said that there are a lot of kids, junior high age and under that walk to bus stops and there are no designated places to cross in Haverhill Corner; he further stated that the speed limit is higher in Haverhill Corner than it is in Woodsville and North Haverhill. It was further discussed that there are no designated cross walks in North Haverhill either and that has been requested in the past. There was a brief discussion as to who is responsible for what when it comes to cross walks, speed limits and signage. The State requires safe access where crosswalks are which usually means sidewalks on both sides which might be an issue. It would be a Town expense to do the markings yearly. Bob Maccini made a motion to direct the Town Manager to draft a letter to pursue permission for crosswalks with adequate safety components at locations preferred by the village districts. The motion was seconded by David Joslin. Chairman Ladd stated that he still has a speed concern which wasn’t addressed in the motion; the speed limit should be lowered. Bob Maccini withdrew his previous motion and made a motion that the Town Manager contact the State about installing crosswalks and associated safety signs and devices as necessary as designated by the Selectboard. The amended motion was seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously. There was a brief discussion regarding the safety hazard at the Forest Street junction in Woodsville.

Ø  Land Bids: AA Lacaillade provided the Selectboard with the results of the land bid opening earlier in the day. After a brief discussion and review of the bids received Peter Conrad made a motion to accept the highest bid on the following lots: Map 201 Lot 012 $4,034 Scott Horne/Chuck Farr; Map 201 Lot 076 $1,950 Stan Borkowski; Map 201 Lot 163 $1,050 Stan Borkowski; Map 201 Lot 164 $1,075 Stan Borkowski; Map 201 Lot 291 $2,613 Scott Horne/Chuck Farr; Map 202 Lot 037 $1,975 Stan Borkowski; Map 202 Lot 056 $1,825 Stan Borkowski; Map 202 Lot 090 $2,667 Paul Thomas; Map 203 Lot 144 $1,000 Christopher Oliver; Map 204 Lot 025 $4,527 Paul Thomas; Map 204 Lot 048 $2,200

Stan Borkowski; Map 204 Lot 054 $651.99 M. Williams; Map 204 Lot 102 $1,775 Stan Borkowski; Map 204 Lot 187 $1,625 Stan Borkowski; Map 204 Lot 188 $1,617 David Selent; and Map 204 Lot 219 $$1,450 Stan Borkowski. The motion was seconded by David Joslin. Peter Heilemann made a motion to amend the motion to allow Attorney Wood to go down as low as the 4th bidder to close these lots; seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously. The main motion as amended was carried unanimously. Map 201 Lot 251; Map 202 Lot 067, Map 203 Lot 037 and Map 204 Lot 186 were withdrawn from the auction.

Ø  Whole Hog Music Festival: Chairman Ladd read into record a draft resolution declaring the Whole Hog BBQ and Music Festival to be a State championship competition. If there is support for this resolution, Chairman Ladd will sponsor a bill at the State level to get this recognized as an official competition. Bernie Marvin stated that he is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lower Cohase Chamber of Commerce and the designation would add credibility to what they are trying to do. It would make it a signature event that would attract people to the area. Annemarie stated it is the only sanctioned BBQ competition north of New Jersey. Bob Maccini made a motion to endorse the event and approve the resolution, also to support the Lower Cohase Chamber of Commerce in drafting a resolution to include the Vermont Legislature to promote the Whole Hog BBQ as a sanctioned event; the motion was seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously.

Ø  Police Chief Contract: Peter Conrad made a motion to void the Police Chief employment contract based on his submission of a letter of resignation to the Town Manager; Bob Maccini seconded the motion which 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:  AA Lacaillade referred to an advertisement that had been run in the Bridge Weekly a couple weeks back soliciting information regarding the oldest citizen in Haverhill for presentation of the Boston Cane. Through information provided it has been determined that the oldest citizen is Anne Webster who is 103 years old and living at the Grafton County Nursing Home. Peter Heilemann made a motion to proclaim Anne Webster as the oldest citizen of Haverhill and eligible for the Boston Cane; the motion was seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously. A presentation of the Boston Post Cane and proclamation will be scheduled.

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 7:43 pm.

 

Minutes transcribed by Jo Lacaillade