Date: December 15, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM
Place: Town Office
Present: Selectmen Richard Rockwood, Daniel Donovan, III and William
Condra and Recording Secretary Peggy Arn
1) Maurice Guay attended the meeting to discuss the issue of replacing the present oil tank as required by DES. He informed the Board of a couple of options. After the discussion, Chairman Rockwood agreed to visit Maurice at the Recycling Center to see what could be done.
2) The Board discussed his budget and decided that it was ok to present to the Budget Committee.
3) Steve Elliott then informed the Board of what he is doing to clean up after the ice storm. He presently has his 5 man crew, cutting trees and limbs, chipping and the taking the cut trees out of the way. He stated that he is planning to hire a couple of men to help so he and Brian Adams can try to at least clear the roads so they can be plowed when it snows. Mr. Elliott then asked if there is money so he can hire outside contractors to speed up process. He is concerned because snow is forecast for this week. The Board suggested he just push the down trees and branches back from the road so that he can plow without destroying the plows. Steve expressed his concern of how the cleanup is going to be paid for because his budget for this year has been expended. He estimates that it will take at lease 1,000 crew hours to clean up from the storm. Chairman Rockwood stated that he has to do what it takes to make the roads passable.
4) Ted Finan, Selectman from the Town of Milford, attended the meeting to give an update from Milford. Selectman Donovan informed the Board of the meeting on Thursday evening at Mont Vernon. The meeting was to discuss the proposed amendment to the Intermunicipal Agreement that was proposed by Milford. Mr. Finan stated that the Milford Board met after the three Board’s meeting and further discussed the proposed amendment. He stated that Milford’s objectives is to get the costs of the operation of MACC Base down and to try to make it a more efficient operation. The bottom line was that they would give up the added clauses that do not belong in the contract. Selectman Donovan stated that the member towns still have the right to look at alternative dispatching services. Milford also would like to have proportionate votes which would be Milford, 2 votes, Wilton and Mont Vernon, one each. The Wilton Selectmen would agree to Milford having two votes. Mr. Finan stated that Milford will be contact with a revised amendment proposal the to Agreement with MACC Base.
5) Fire Chief Ray Dick stopped by the meeting to inform the Board of the status of the operations at the fire station. He stated that he had purchased a couple of chain saws, a tire had been punctured but repaired and using a lot of gas. The Board stated that they realized that this has been an emergency and that they realized that he was doing what needed to be done.
6) The issue of the addition to the Fire Station was discussed. Ray told the Board of an idea he had for bonding and for the payments being made from the money that is presently in capital reserves. The need for the addition was discussed and Selectman Donovan stated that he could see the need for more space when he was at the fire station during the storm. Chairman Rockwood stated that his idea should certainly be discussed further with the Emergency Service Committee Members.
7) The following Ambulance Personnel then attended the meeting:
Toni Bachand, Sandra Powers, Michele Donovan, Simon Hutchings, Kathy
Beland and Scott Powers. Selectman Donovan explained the difference
between a non public and a public meeting with the Board. He then
asked what type of meeting they wanted and they stated that they did not
feel a non public session was necessary. Chairman Rockwood then stated
that he did not want to have “hear say” information but what each person
wanted to state would be their experience.
Simon Hutchings stated that they were at the meeting to refute the
allegation that Carylyn is not filling the shifts with people that want
the hours but taking them herself. He further stated that the Wilton/Lyndeborough/Temple
Ambulance has been run efficiently and would disagree with anyone saying
it is not. When asked why there is a lack of volunteers, Simon stated
that it is more difficult because of certification requirements.
Discussion ensued as to the issue of working two shifts, which the Board
is concerned with the safety of being over-tired. They explained
that it is part of being Paramedic or EMT and most of them work and then
have on-call hours. Chairman Rockwood asked if they had any ideas
on how to recruit new people and a couple of suggestions were discussed.
Mr. Rockwood stated that there is no question that this service is superb
but there are administrative problems that need to be addressed.
Mr. Rockwood thanked them for their concerns and their service to the ambulance.
8) The Board reviewed a letter from Helen Egan requesting that the town pay for her car being washed as result of burning at the Recycling Center. After a discussion, Selectman Condra made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Selectman Donovan, the motion carried with all in favor.
9) Selectman Rockwood stated that he would not sign a contract with Todd Hayward for a three year period. Discussion ensued as to passing a policy that the town not enter into contracts for more than one year. Selectman Donovan made a motion that the Board of Selectmen enter into contracts for a one year period only. The motion was seconded by Selectman Condra. The vote was two aye and one Selectman recused himself from voting.
10) The Comcast bill currently has a note on it that states if a person has a problem with their cable, they should call their Board of Selectmen. The Board was asked if they wanted to consider it removing it but they decided they wanted to remain on the bill to see how many complaints were made on Comcast.
11) The Board signed a revision to Walter Zuber’s revised property tax for the Tax Collector.
12) The payroll and the bills for the week ending December 13, 2008 were reviewed and approved.
The meeting was adjourned on a motion at 9:55 with all in favor.
Respectfully submitted;
Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary