BOS Minutes 03-28-2006

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

March 28, 2006

APPROVED – April 4, 2006

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Victor Danevich, Mr. Harold Lynde, Mr. Jean-Guy Bergeron, Mr. Edmund Gleason, Mr. Tom Domenico, Mr. Tom Gaydos – To= wn Administrator

Also present:

ABSENT:

Members of the press and general public.

None.

EL= ECTION OF OFFICERS

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Domenico) To elect Mr. Victor Danevich as Chairman.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

MOTION:=

(Domenico/Lynde) To elect Mr. Edmund Gleason as Vice Chairman.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

MI= NUTES REVIEW

March 7, 2006

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Bergeron) To approve the March 7, 2006 meeting minute= s as amended.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

Amendments to the minutes were as follows: page 2- und= er Bond Agreement – the following sentence was added ‘Mr. Gleason = also confirmed that the basis for the award to Citizen’s was the low bidder.’; page 3 – under Selectmen Reports – the word ‘extended’ was added to the following: ‘Mr. Bergeron exte= nded congratulations to Mr. Harris…’.

March 11, 2006 – public meeting at Raymond Pa= rk.

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Lynde) To approve the March 11, 2006 meeting minu= tes as written.

VOTE:

(4-0-1) The motion carried. Mr. Bergeron abstained because h= e was absent for the meeting.

March 23, 2006 – follow up public meeting reg= arding Raymond Park.

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Lynde) To approve the March 23, 2006 meeting minu= tes as written.

VOTE:

(4-0-1) The motion carried. Mr. Bergeron abstained because h= e was absent for the meeting.

OPEN FORUM=

No input.

APPOINTMEN= TS

Police Chi= ef – Introduction of New Officers

To begin with, Police Chief Evan Haglund read aloud a Commendation for a number of Police Officers who assisted in detaining appr= oximately seventy youths who had either consumed or were in the presence of alcohol.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The Officers were: Detective Anne Perriello, K-9 Officer Eugene Stahl III, Sergeant Michael Pickles, Sergeant Michael Ogiba and Sergeant Brian McCarthy.= Chief Haglund discussed the incident and informed that six individua= ls were formally charged and because the case was still pending there may be additional charges.

Chief Haglund introduced two new Police Officers. Officer Matthew Morrison and Offic= er Suzanne Scott. These Patrol Officers will bring the department up to full staffing.

Supervisor= ’s Agreement Signing

The Selectmen signed the Supervisor’s Agreement (3-year contract).

OTHER BUSI= NESS

Fire Chief Fisher’s Retirement Announcement

Mr. Danevich read aloud the formal letter submitted by= Fire Chief E. David Fisher announcing his retirement effective June 30, 2006. Each of the Selectmen commended and thanked Chief Fisher for his many years of service to the Town. He will be missed.

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Lynde) To accept, with regret, the retireme= nt of Fire Chief E. David Fisher.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

APPOINTMEN= TS CON’T….

Darren McC= arthy, Recreation Director

Online Regist= ration Software – Mr. McCarthy said he contacted and received a quote fr= om a company that sells an on-line system for registration (and other recreation management). The system will = help offset labor costs in the department. Mr. McCarthy said the company would be available to meet with the Selectmen to discuss the system further.&n= bsp; The company will tailor the program to the current and future needs = of the Town. It will help with acceptance of payment via credit card as well as information regarding available programs (through link to Pelham web).

Mr. Gleason asked if the (approx.) $18,000 for implementation was contained in the budget for this year, or if it was anticipated to have the program implemented next year. Mr. McCarthy said the funds were n= ot in this year’s budget. He = said he was reviewing different sources for the funds. Mr. Gleason asked what efficiencie= s the system would have and if a cost (payback) analysis had been done. Mr. McCarthy said it hadn’t = been done yet, but would work on it. Mr. Danevich noted the paybacks from the Assessing computer system and was hope= ful that the proposed system (for Park & Rec.) would offer similar results. He believed there wo= uld be a direct labor benefit as well as a direct benefit to residents.

Mr. Gleason questioned how computer-illiterate people = would be handled since they may still require services. Mr. McCarthy said they would proba= bly be handled the way they currently were; paying by check through registration in person or by mail.

Mr. Gleason asked if there were any other companies th= at had a similar system so the proposed costs could be validated. Mr. McCarthy said he was in the pr= ocess of reviewing other companies but found that they didn’t offer the specific services/modules as the company being proposed. Mr. Gleason wanted to ensure that = the costs were compatible and they have a proven track record. Mr. McCarthy said he would be atte= nding a conference (with regional recreation directors) and would request seek feedback. Mr. Gleason said he= was in favor of the program and felt it would provide a significant service to = the Town.

Mr. Gaydos said the plan the Auditor suggested, for th= ose who didn’t want to use their credit card or who didn’t have a computer, was to make payment at the Town Clerk office and take a receipt to the Park & Recreational office.

Mr. Bergeron asked if the company would provide a refe= rence list. Mr. McCarthy said he wo= uld ask for a list.

Mr. Danevich said Muni-Soft was looking into releasing= a park & recreation module, but would not be ready until June/July and mo= st of the features being reviewed, would not be included in the first release. Mr. Gleason asked if= there was any need for an interface with the proposed system and Muni-Soft. Mr. Gaydos said the interface woul= d be through the Town Clerk department in connection with acceptance of payment. There was a brief discussion regarding centralizing the process for accepting payments.

There was a consensus by the Selectmen that Mr. McCart= hy was going in the right direction; there was no authorization for expenditure of= money. The Selectmen will set an agenda i= tem to meet with the company.

Lyons= Park Update – Mr. McCarthy informed t= he Selectmen that the privilege of Lyons Park was being abused. Trash is being thrown= on the ground and individuals are not abiding by safety rules (e.g. wearing helmets in the skate/bike park). Mr. McCarthy’s recommended closing the park if certain rules weren’t met. He read al= oud a memo posted on the Town website asking park patrons to adhere to posted rul= es and dispose of trash properly. Mr. Danevich asked if the problem was limited to the skate park. Mr. McCarthy answered no; trash is= also being left around the basketball courts.&n= bsp; He noted that it took five hours to have ten people clean the park.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

Mr. McCarthy circulated three quotes for fencing (arou= nd entire park, around skate park and between the Police Station and the library). He said the top two problems occurring were the trash and the lack of helmet use.

The Selectmen discussed if they would consider closing= the park. Mr. Gleason was in favo= r of closing the park in thirty days if the conduct and care at the park hadn’t improved. Mr. Do= menico believed the park should be closed now.&nb= sp; He felt a clear message should be sent that certain abuses would not= be tolerated. Mr. Lynde question= ed how the park could be closed and people prevented from using it. He suggested dismantling the skate= park equipment. He said the park couldn’t be closed because there were other programs that used it and took care of it. Mr. McCarthy= said if the park was closed it would be closed to all non-organized activities (e.g. Little League, Tot Soccer, St. Patrick’s softball). Mr. Lynde questioned how the closu= re would be enforced. Mr. Domeni= co said the advantage was the proximity of the park to the Police Department.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mr. Lynde asked if the use of the = park (which accepted grant money) could be restricted. Mr. Danevich answered yes.

Mr. Bergeron supported closing the park. He asked if there was a sign infor= ming that helmets had to be worn. = Mr. McCarthy answered yes.

Mr. Gleason suggested closing the park at night until = the conditions improved; a second step was to close the park completely. He believed if the park was closed= by order of the Selectmen then the Police would have the authority to enforce such. Mr. Gaydos said if the Selectmen gave Mr. McCarthy the authority to close the park, the Police wou= ld be able to do something about trespassing.= He said they couldn’t do anything about people not wearing helmets. He said the focus wa= s to try and make the park self-policing.

Mr. Danevich supported closing the park as soon as pos= sible if the behavior didn’t change. He said he tried to go to the park each day after-school to observe. He said if corrective action was not taken by the children using the park it would be closed. He noted there were seventy-two ch= ildren using the park earlier in the evening and he had the opportunity to speak w= ith them regarding the possibility of closure.= He said all of the children said they wanted to try and fix the problem. He trusted that they= would take corrective action; if not the park will be closed.

Mr. Danevich said he asked Mr. McCarthy to draft a sign (which was circulated to the Selectmen) in the event the Selectmen allowed 30-days for corrective action. He asked if the Selectmen were receptive to allowing 30-days. There was further discussion; Mr. McCarthy said his original recommendation was to revisit the issue April 18, 2006.= The Selectmen were receptive to de= fer closing the park and re-evaluating the situation on April 18, 2006; there was no = objection to posting the signs as presented. Twelve signs would be ordered; a minimum of three will be posted.

Mr. Domenico stepped out of the room to accept a busin= ess call.

Mr. McCarthy wanted the Town to consider fencing in the Police area because of its sensitivity.&nb= sp; The Selectmen discussed the fencing options. Police Evan Haglund discussed whic= h area fencing was being recommended for and where it should be installed. He said the fencing would be ident= ical to that being used in the parking area.&nb= sp; The cost for fencing the area would be $3400. Mr. Lynde didn’t want access= (from the Library to the skate park) impeded.&nb= sp; Chief Haglund said the pathway from the Library to the skate park wouldn’t be restricted; the restriction would be individuals walking = into the area where the cruisers were located.&= nbsp; He said there was a major concern with children coming from the fron= t of the building into the parking lot as well as coming from the park down the driveway ramp into the parking lot because there were blind areas where cruisers access.

Mr. Gleason questioned where the expenditure would com= e from (Park & Recreation or Police). Mr. Gaydos said the budget would have to be reviewed; generally the first place to look would be in the Town Budget for repairs and improvement. The Selectmen discussed the situation further and made the following motion.

Mr. Gleason made a motion to authorize the expenditure= of $3400 for fencing; Mr. Bergeron seconded, but wanted to make sure that the funds were available. Mr. Gay= dos said the funds were available; it was just a question of what would be deferred. He asked that the P= olice Chief oversee the work to make sure that his criteria was met. Mr. Lynde said he would vote again= st the motion because Town property would be fenced off. Mr. Gleason felt it was incumbent = on the Selectmen to take action because the Police Chief had identified a safety situation.

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Bergeron) To authorize the expenditure of $= 3400 to affect a gate and fence between the Police Department and the parking = area to impede foot traffic.

VOTE:

(3-1-0) The motion carried. Mr. Lyn= de voted no. (Mr. Domenico was= still out of the room)

* see additional discussion below regarding Lyons Park.

Mr. Domenico returned to the Board.

PUBLIC HEA= RING – 7 Year Plan for Park & Recreation

Park & Recreation Director Darren McCarthy and Nas= hua Regional Planning Commission (‘NRPC’) Regional Planner Danielle Fillis met with the Selectmen to review the Park & Recreation Master Pl= an. A power point presentation was giv= en that outlined plan. The plan contained the following: community description, recreational facilities inventory, recreational program inventory, budget, needs assessment and an action plan. Ms. Fillis outli= ned the process taken to compose the plan.

Mr. Lynde said the plan appeared to address the Town&#= 8217;s needs.

Mr. Gleason questioned who would implement impact fees= . Mr. McCarthy said he was working w= ith Planning Director Jeff Gowan for the specific implementation of the impact fees. Mr. Gleason asked if th= e Town had received any impact fees. Mr. McCarthy answered no. Mr. Dan= evich said the plan had to be accepted as an official document then it needed to = go through the public hearing process. After the plan is accepted, impact fees could then be collected.

Mr. Lynde asked if amending/updating the plan would be= an easy process. Ms. Fillis said= the plan could be revisited periodically through a public hearing process.

PUBLIC INPUT

Ms. Roseanne Puddister questioned how many people took= part in the survey and how it was implemented/distributed. Ms. Fillis said the adult survey w= as available on the Park & Recreation website and could be filled out and handed back in. At the moment= , she didn’t know how many people participated. She said the NRPC survey had fewer responses due to the short time it was available.

Mr. Gleason urged residents to read the plan because it contained a lot of interesting information. Mr. Bergeron also supported the pl= an, given the fact that the plan was a working document.

MOTION:=

(Gleason/Domenico) To adopt the Park & Recreatio= n Plan as presented.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

Mr. Danevich read the names of the people who had contributed their support during the process of composing the plan.

Lyons Park cont….

Mr. Lynde noted that the path from the Library to the = Skate Park was approximately 135ft. from the Police cruiser area. He said the location had to be made clear. He said a plan should = be made for the impound area. He= said during the break he went outside and saw people were using the basketball c= ourts. Nobody was using the skateboard pa= rk probably because there were no lights. .&n= bsp; He questioned whether lights should be installed given the present condition. Mr. Danevich said = no action had been taken to put the lights in.

Raymond Park = Master Plan – Mr. McCarthy said different designs have been reviewed and they were moving forward to install two fields. He prepared and read aloud a memo = for the Selectmen that explained what was going on immediately with Raymond Park. He outlined what would = be done at the park and what would be done during the future phases.

Mr. Gleason asked if it was the intent to have (2 full regulation soccer) fields implemented by this fall and ready for utilization next year. Mr. McCarthy said = the goal was to have the fields ready to be played upon by spring, 2007. Mr. Gleason asked if the trails wo= uld also be ready. Mr. McCarthy s= aid the Boy Scouts would assist in creating the remaining trails; the first pha= se will be completed by the fall.

Mr. Lynde understood the process and was pleased with = the current speed. He noted that = there was no request for money; funding came from grants and donations. He discussed the different parts o= f the project (e.g. grading, drainage, fencing, irrigation system). He was pleased and encouraged by t= he fact that the Selectmen were supportive.&n= bsp;

Mr. Domenico believed Raymond Park had the potential t= o become the Town’s ‘crown jewel’. Mr. Gleason noted that Raymond Park would alleviate the burden on Muldoon Park.

Mr. Bergeron asked what the irrigation plan was. Mr. McCarthy said they were still studying the issue and looking to different sources.

Mr. Danevich asked if the Selectmen had reviewed the construction contract that had come from meetings over the past few weeks.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Three Selectmen had not yet had the opportunity to review the contract; therefore the action to sign such was deferred until the next meeting. Mr. Gaydos gave a summary of the contents from the contract. The agreement would expire April 1, 2008. Mr. Lynde questioned if the Select= men took all the necessary steps to have Mr. Gauthier proceed bringing in the f= ill and put together the bid specs. Mr. Gaydos said there was a verbal understanding. The document verifies the verbal agreement that was reached. M= r. Danevich said an agenda item would be added to the next agenda to sign the contract.

OTHER BUSI= NESS CONT….

Board of S= electmen Committee Assignments for 2006

The Selectmen discussed the committees and volunteered= as follows:

Budget Committee – Mr. Gleason

Planning Board – Mr. Domenico

Park & Recreation – Mr. Lynde

Capital Improvement Plan – Mr. Bergeron

Joint Loss – Mr. Lynde

Fire Station – Mr. Bergeron

Council on Aging – Mr. Danevich

Sherburne Hall – the Selectmen will rotate, base= d upon availability

Annette Su= tcliffe Resignation

Mr. Gaydos informed that Executive Secretary Annette S= utcliff had submitted her resignation effective as of March 24, 2006. The Selectmen thanked Ms. Sutcliff= for her eleven years working for the Town.

MOTION:<= o:p>

(Lynde/Bergeron) To accept, with regret, the resigna= tion of Executive Secretary Annette Sutcliff effective as of March 24, 2006.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carri= ed.

Town Vote = Recap

The Selectmen reviewed the results from the Town Vote = (March 14, 2006)= .

Junkyard O= rdinance Revisions

Deferred to the next meeting.

State Upda= te

Mr. Bergeron informed that he introduced two House Bil= ls earlier in the year. The Sele= ctmen were provided with a copy of the bills; Mr. Bergeron provided a status for each. The first being HB 1663= -FN-Local – this bill allows a local governing body to charge an annual licensi= ng fee of not more than $250 for automobile recycling yards; the second being = HB 1307 – this bill requires all applicants for a motor vehicle recycling yard license, a motor vehicle junk yard license, or a license renewal to include certification of compliance with best management practices establis= hed by the department of environmental services.

Mr. Gaydos thanked Mr. Bergeron for sponsoring the legislation (HB 1663-FN-Local). He also thanked Mr. Bergeron for supporting the Green Yards Program. He noted that he received a copy o= f a letter from the Department of Environmental Services stating that Jean-Guy’s Used Parts had been recognized as a certified New Hampshire Operation.

TOWN ADMIN= ISTRATOR / SELECTMEN REPORTS

Mr. Gaydos discussed the Tallant Road Bridge Construct= ion Project and informed that he had a Notice to Proceed. He said they had an open/competiti= ve bidding process (that was overseen by and engineer). There were five bidders; Bay View Construction was the low bidder. The Highway Safety Committee met with Bay View to discuss concerns.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mr. Gaydos said when the bid is aw= arded the company will (within a specified period of time) provide a construction time line. Mr. Danevich read = aloud the Notice of Award to Bay View Construction dated March 28, 2006.

Mr. Gleason asked if there were adequate funds to cove= r the $678,000. Mr. Gaydos answered= yes; there were adequate funds originally approved from the grant and $30,000 wo= uld be taken from last year’s remaining Block Grant money. There was no objection to authoriz= ing Mr. Gaydos to act on the Selectmen’s behalf.

MOTION:<= o:p>

(Gleason/Bergeron) To award the Tallant Road Bridge project bi= d to Bay View Construction; Mr. Gaydos was authorized to act on behalf of the Selectmen.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carri= ed.

Mr. Gaydos circulated information to the Selectmen reg= arding mosquito control. He was revi= ewing options. Mr. Danevich noted t= hat there was currently no funding for mosquito control or Avian Flu concerns.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He asked that the Selectmen speak = with their constituents and discuss at an upcoming meeting. Mr. Gaydos said he was trying to g= ather the state’s opinion regarding the alternatives to spraying.

Mr. Gaydos said there had been some discussions regard= ing public education funding and comments made that the Town could lose its fun= ding within a year or two. He cont= acted Senator Morse who indicated that HB 616 introduced a stop gap through fiscal year 2008-2009; the current funding kept the Town at 2.6 million through th= at period of time.

Mr. Domenico had no report.

Mr. Bergeron reported on the I93 Community Technical Assistance Program which started on December 1, 2005; Planning Director Jeff Gowan is a = member and Mr. Bergeron is the Alternate. He noted which meetings he had attended and let the Selectmen know t= hat Mr. Gowan was elected to the CTAP Steering Committee. He said he would leave Resource Bo= oks in the Selectmen’s office for review.&n= bsp; Mr. Bergeron informed that he, Mr. Tom Collins and Mr. Jeff Gowan attended a Nashua Regional Planning Commission meeting on March 15, 2006. Mr. Bergeron said he was asked by a resident regarding the areas where the assessors were working. Mr. Gleason said the information is posted. Mr. Gaydos said people shouldn’t panic if they believed data collectors had already been thr= ough their area; letters will be sent in early May, 2006 to set appointments.

Mr. Lynde said the Forestry Committee (as well as Dan = Cyr) would hold a joint meeting with the Conservation Stewardship sub-committee on March 29, 2006.= He said they would review several = Town parcels in order to update the management of such. He noted the Stewardship committee= was not in conflict with the Forestry Committee. He informed that a clean up of the= Hinds Lane = area would be held April 22= , 2006 if anyone wanted to help.

Mr. Gleason informed that there would be an organizati= onal meeting of the Budget Committee held on April 6, 2006.

Mr. Danevich discussed the dates for upcoming meetings= and discussed the possibility of holding a joint meeting with the School Board.

ADJOURNMEN= T

MOTION:<= o:p>

(Gleason/Bergeron) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carri= ed.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:15 pm.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Respe= ctfully submitted,

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Chari= ty A. L. Willis

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Recor= ding Secretary