Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

January 3, 2012

Present:

Gordon Eglintine

Norman John Arrison

Dave Fuller

Dan Boyer

Others Present:

Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Slade, Recording Secretary

Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent

Edith Stillson

Darrin Spaulding

Julia Lloyd Wright

Michael A. Todd

Alan Hudson

Christopher Adams

Josh Dauphin

Peter Korbet

Amy Beth Main

Pat Daniels, Fire Commission

Carolyn Hier

Flo-Ann Dango

Marion Ballam

Phil Golding

Lorraine Shand

Stephen Brown

Colby Hodgdon

Carissa Hodgdon

Josh Compo

Shawn Brown

Edward May

Olivette May

Jeff Slade

Tracy Dauphin

Natoshya Tylar-Lynn Spaulding

Michael Barrup

Terri Cahoon

Mychael Spaulding

1.  Call to Order: Mr. Arrison called the Weathersfield Select Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.  Mr. Arrison said Mr. Fuller would arrive in a few minutes and he would take over as Chair of the meeting at that time.

2.  Comments from Citizens and Select Board: none

3.  Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 20, 2011, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion.  Mr. Arrison said he reviewed past minutes and the Select Board did not ask the Fire Commission to present them with different options on purchasing a Fire Truck it was actually discussed at a Fire Commission meeting at which Mr. Fuller was present.  Mrs. Daniels agreed that the request originated from Mr. Fuller at the October Fire Commission meeting held at West Weathersfield Fire Station.  Mr. Arrison said he just wanted it clarified where the request came from.  Approval of the minutes were tabled until Mr. Fuller arrived because Mr. Boyer was absent from the meeting so he can not vote to approve the minutes.

4.  Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Discussion

Fire Trucks: Mr. Mullen said the long term debt schedule has been revised by adding the fire truck and the Board has received revised schedules.  Mr. Arrison asked if the Fire Commission has met since the last Select Board meeting.  Mrs. Daniels said no, they meet on Thursday the 12^th and they need to know what the Board wants them to do at that meeting.  Mr. Boyer said he still feels the Town needs a tanker instead of a pumper.  Mr. Arrison said when the Fire Commission was formed, a goal was to set a unified voice and he would like to hear from one unified voice from the Fire Commission on what their recommendation is.  Mr. Spaulding said he understands why the Select Board may feel the Town needs a tanker but with the foam unit the fire department is looking at the 2% triples the amount of water.  Mr. May asked how much it would cost to add foam to a current truck; Mr. Spaulding said about $10,000.

Mr. Fuller arrived and apologized for being late.  He said he has a problem with draining the reserve account to purchase a new truck which was the proposal at the last meeting.  Mr. Boyer asked how much was spent on repairs of the Ascutney truck to date.  Mr. Adams said he heard a figure of $70,000 being used but he can get the amount for the next meeting.  Mr. Fuller asked if there was one reoccurring problem.  Mr. Spaulding said there is an electrical problem when the roads are wet.  Mr. Arrison said he would like the Fire Commissions recommendation at the next Select Board meeting and asked if the trade in value of $75,000 is legit.  Mr. Spaulding said he has a quote from E1 and they came and looked at the truck, took photos etc.  He said he has written information from them.

Mrs. Daniels asked if the Select Board was looking to replace a truck or looking for two cents on the tax rate to replace a truck in 2013.  Mr. Arrison said we won't make a payment this year anyway so we need to know what to have for an Article on the Warning, whether it is a replacement truck this year or not.

Mr. Dauphin asked if we are looking a replacing an Ascutney truck this year and a West Weathersfield truck in four years.  Mr. Arrison said that is up to the Fire Commission to discuss.  Mr. Korbet asked if the Board could eliminate the proposals with small cabs since the Fire Departments have said it is a problem getting personnel to the fires. Mr. Fuller said that is up to the Fire Commission to do.

Mr. Adams will forward information to the Fire Commission for their meeting on the 12^th and the Select Board will discuss again on the 17^th.

Grader:  Mr. Mullen said the warranty expires in March, 2015.  He said the Budget Committee has discussed trading it in before the warranty expires.  There was discussion that it has cost the town about $25,000 a year to operate.  Mr. Hazeltine said he agrees it is a good idea to look at trading it before the warranty expires.

Mr. Mullen said the new truck chassis has come in and the body and plow should be installed within a month.

Reserve Funds:  Mr. Mullen said as of now we will ask for one cent for highway, two cents for the fire departments, one cent for the library, $3,000 for aid to residents, $8,000 for Martin Memorial Hall and $20,000 for the reappraisal reserve fund.  He said this is an increase for the fire departments from one to two cents and for the library from $5,000 to $27,000.  Ms. Lloyd Wright asked why a large increase for the library, it was said this is due to the planned expansion.  There was discussion about combining the two Martin Memorial Hall reserve funds but after discussion the consensus of the Board was to leave the funds separate.

General Fund: Mr. Arrison asked what the revenue from the reserve fund was; Mr. Mullen said it was for mapping and the purchase of a lap top.  Mr. Arrison said he thinks we are being optimistic with the police revenue.

Highway:  Hudson asked if we have filled the open highway position.  Mr. Mullen said we have ten to twelve applications to review.

Solid Waste:  Mr. Arrison asked if 10% of Shirley's time was used for the Solid Waste Facility, Mr. Mullen said yes.  It was noted that the Board can look at revising the per bag fee and/or the per parcel fee in June, it doesn't have to be done now.  Mr. Adams confirmed with the Board that we are keeping the fees to West Windsor and Reading the same this year. Mr. Fuller said we should have information to share at the Town Meeting about the changes at the Solid Waste Facility.

5.  Board of Liquor Control Commissioners - Mr. Fuller convened the Board of Liquor Commission.

-Scott Rogers, LLC/DBA Scott Rogers, LLC

Mr. Arrison made the motion to grant Scott Rogers, LLC/DBA Scott Rogers, LLC their renewal for a second class liquor license.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Mr. Arrison made the motion to grant Scott Rogers, LLC/DBA Scott Rogers, LLC their renewal for a tobacco license.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

6.  Old Business:

A.  Proposed Personal Property Exemption, Weathersfield Listers:  Mrs. Hier said the information she has to share is based on the 2011 Grand List.  She said if we did not tax for the first $5,000 of business personal property it would be a loss of $1,661 in tax revenue, for the first $10,000 would be $2,700 and for the first $25,000 would be just under $5,000.  She noted that Claire Murray has already moved out of town so these numbers will be a little higher because we have lost one business already.

Mr. Arrison made the motion to exempt the first $10,000 in business personal property.  Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

7.  New Business

A. Town Office, personal policy/four day work week/holiday pay:  Mr. Eglintine said he doesn't agree with giving Thursday off if a holiday falls on a Saturday.  Mrs. Dango said that was a unique situation this year.  Mr. Fuller said he thinks the four day work week should be addressed separately.  Mr. Mullen revised the holiday schedule and the Town employees will not be paid for the day after Thanksgiving this year since it falls on a Friday when the Town is normally closed.  The Board was ok with the revised holiday schedule.

B.  PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Quick Start Program: Mr. Mullen gave the Board more information to review.  Mr. Fuller said he is concerned with us having to do the collecting.  Ms. Lloyd Wright said she has the email address and phone number of a contact person that can give the Board members more information. She said she has five people in Town waiting for the Town to join this program. Mr. Fuller said he still doesn't understand why the residents can't apply direct.

C. 2012 Town Meeting

-Review First Draft of Warning: Mr. Todd said he would like his complaint noted that as Chairman of the Budget Committee he doesn't have a copy of the draft Warning, Mr. Fuller gave him his copy.  It was discussed that wording would be added to the Articles how much a penny on the tax rate equals.

There was discussion on the new article to appropriate up to $10,000 for the purpose of studying more options for the Perkinsville School.  Mr. Todd said he will have information to present at the Town Meeting about what discussions have taken place recently.  Mr. Korbet asked if this information could be put in the Town Report so people can review it beforehand.  Mrs. Daniels noted the deadline for information for the Town Report was December 15^th.  Mrs. Slade said she doesn't understand why this is on the Warning, the Select Board already decided at a previous meeting not to spend this money.  Mr. Fuller said he agrees, he said it should not cost $10,000 and if money is needed there is money in the General Fund. After discussion, it was decided that this would not be included in the Warning.

-Determine Select Board Meeting Date for First Meeting in March: tabled

D.  Roll "Town Office Capital Improvement" Reserve Fund into "Martin Memorial Hall Capital Maintenance and Improvement" Reserve Fund: Already discussed

8. Appointments: none

Back to #3 - Motion passed 3 - 0 with one abstention.

11.  Sign Treasurer's Warrants:  Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer's Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll                                                           $15,811.79

General Fund Operating Expense                                       $29,590.35

Highway Fund Payroll                                                         $12,908.63

Highway Fund Operating Expense                                     $22,817.85

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll                             $  1,328.01

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense         $  5,409.46

Library                                                                                   $     353.38

Agency Monies                                                                      $       36.73

Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion.  Mr. Boyer asked what the Jarvis Construction invoice was for. Mr. Mullen said it was for re-rip rap near the Upper Falls covered bridge. Motion carried unanimously.

12.  Future Meeting's Agenda Items:

9.  Executive Session

-Personnel & Contract:  Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into Executive Session for Personnel & Contract negotiations.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

13.  Adjourn:  Mr. Eglintine made the motion to adjourn.  Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 10:07 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Slade

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 17, 2012