MINUTES OF HAVERHILL SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING

Monday September 14, 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: Steve Robbins, Bernie Marvin, Cecil Smith, Suzette Smith, Lori Peterson, Byron Charles, Wallace Trott, Don Hammond, Howard Hatch, Neil Robie, Ray Burton, Heidi Lyman, Mike Lavoie, Brad Kennedy, Andy Achilles, Roy Irwin, Ben Irwin, Sgt. Todd Cohen, Martha Trott, Sgt. Bradford Sargent, Peter Blanchard, Rebecca Kimball, Joy Smith, Cecil Smith, Patty Hammond, Sherri Sargent, Stacie Carle, Ron Fournier, Don Staplefeld, Alicia Alling, Robert Martin, Brandon Alling, Lisa Langlios, Janet Surette-Mills, ETAL.

Call Meeting to Order:

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

Approval of Agenda:

Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously.

Approval of Consent Agenda:

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

Scheduled Public Appearances:

Ø Swearing in Ceremony of Police Chief Cecil Smith: Town Clerk Bette Pollock administered the Oath of Office to Chief Cecil Smith. Chairman Ladd congratulated Chief Smith. Counselor Ray Burton offered the greetings of the State of NH and the Grafton County Board of Commissioners. Chief Smith asked that all the officers on the Haverhill Police force to step forward. Cecil said that the department has been faced with some issues recently that they are working through but he felt it was important for all officers to take the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, and the public has his word that this is how the department will live. Lori Peterson administered this to the officers. Chairman Ladd thanked Chief Smith for his professional attitude and that of the officers.

Ø Neil Robie-Delinquent Tax Issue: AA Lacaillade explained to the Board that Mr. Robie has purchased through public auction the building that previously housed Kennedy Cabinet and Millwork, LLC and there are several years of delinquent taxes due on the property. He is seeking relief from paying the interest due on those delinquent taxes which is roughly $5,000. Neil explained that he didn’t go into this purchase with his eyes closed; he knew there were delinquent taxes due at the time of the auction. Last week he learned that the grand total as of last week was $19,225.56. He feels that his business, Pete’s Rubbish Removal, provides a good service to the community. He would be willing to come in with the total taxes due less the interest immediately. AA Lacaillade stated that the charges listed on the bill are costs that have already been incurred by the Town. After a brief discussion regarding the issue Bob Maccini made a motion to approve that if a business transfers ownership, and is continued as a business in the Town of Haverhill, that the Board would forgive interest and penalty, but all costs and taxes will be brought current through the current tax period within 15 days; the motion was seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously.

Ø Heidi Lyman-Business Park Listing: Heidi gave the Board copies of the new listing agreement, the business park covenants, and the disclosure statement given to clients seeking to buy a lot. She has concerns about the water system into the park and the lack of adequate water pressure to fuel sprinkler systems which every industrial building is going to need. Chairman Ladd felt that this statement was not correct. The water pressure is adequate to service most buildings in the park but Wayne Presby’s building is unique due to the height that is what caused the issue of insufficient water pressure. It was further decided that they would schedule a joint meeting with the North Haverhill Water Precinct for October 20^th where the Selectboard, Wayne Presby and Heidi could attend. Heidi said that interest in commercial property is pretty slow at the present time. Peter Conrad made a motion to have TA English review the listing agreement and disclosure sheet for any changes that may be necessary and authorize the chairman to sign the satisfactory agreement; the motion was seconded by Bob Maccini and carried unanimously.

Town Manager’s Report: TM English reported that they had received bad news regarding the grant for paving the business park road. The State Office of Historical Preservation has managed to stall the application long enough that there is no money left for the current year. During the next funding cycle, the application will be updated and the project should have a decent shot. He feels that the Rick, as a State Representative, should be looking at the Office of Historical Preservation, any attempt that they can do to stall development, they will do it. It is punitive and unfair. Rick stated that he will be discussing the issue with the governor and the governor’s council.

TM English requested that Chief Smith be present for further discussion regarding the opening that now exists on the Police Department. Their goal is to get this opening advertised so that they can get back to full staffing as soon as possible. Chief Smith reviewed some of the recent activity that has required police response and his ideas to rearrange staffing. After a brief discussion Peter Conrad stated that they have hired Cecil to do a job; if he wants to structure that department differently, he is not going to tell him how to do it. He is going to trust that Chief Smith knows the proper way for procedure to work and how many people he needs to do that within the budget. Bob Maccini stated he does not think any of them should be telling Cecil how to run his department. The Board gave full support in filling the 7^th position. Bob Maccini asked to see a spread sheet that shows charges vs. convictions at some point in time.

Pending (Old) Business:

New Business:

Ø Land Bids: After reviewing the results of the bid opening earlier in the day Bob Maccini made a motion to accept the high bid for each lot on Map 202 as follows: Lot 028 Robert Borkowski $700; lot 143 Robert Borkowski $775; and lot 196 Gary Nadeau $1,875. The motion was seconded by David Joslin and carried unanimously. Peter Conrad made a motion to accept the high bid on Map 201 Lot 308 of $1,675 by Gary Nadeau; seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously. Bob Maccini made a motion to approve the high bid of $1,675 by Gary Nadeau for Map 203 Lot 003; $2,156 by Jason Coughlin for Map 203 Lot 004; and Map 203 Lot 023 for Jason Coughlin $1,256. The motion was seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously. Peter Conrad made a motion to accept the high bid on all lots on Map 204 as follows: Lot 304 $1,175 Gary Nadeau; Lot 305 $1,875 Gary Nadeau; Lot 306 Gary Nadeau $1,875; Lot 307 $1,875 Gary Nadeau; and Lot 309 $705 Robert Borkowski. The motion was seconded by Peter Heilemann and carried unanimously. Peter Conrad wanted a status report of closing thus far for the previous auction. AA Lacaillade stated that she had tried to contact Attorney Wood that afternoon to get a status report and was unable to make contact but presently she has accounted for $11,300 for the year. Last time she spoke with Attorney Wood he had several pending but their 60 days have not ended yet.

Ø Boston Post Cane Policy Introduction: Chairman Ladd spoke about the presentation done last week to Anne Webster. In doing some research regarding the Boston Cane, he found that many towns have residency requirements for eligibility to receive the cane. An introduction of a proposed policy was made. The item will be placed on the next agenda for possible adoption.

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:

Adjourn Meeting: Peter Heilemann made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Peter Conrad and carried unanimously. Chairman Ladd adjourned the meeting at 7:42 pm.

Minutes transcribed by Jo Lacaillade