LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
WORK SESSION MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

Present: Chairman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Interim Town Manager, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent

Excused: Selectman Edward Farrell

Chairman George Hicks opened the work session at 2:00 pm.

Karen Noyes updated the Selectmen on the status of the budget. She noted we are very close to coming up with a final figure to present to DRA. She stated the budget currently has approximately 21.6% remaining and should be at 28% at this time of year. To date, $55,357.52 has been turned back into the general budget. She added that Department Heads have worked very hard to trim their budgets. She added once again that the areas in need of over expending will be legal expenses, fire department, light item which has been under budgeted and welfare. There is currently about $518,000 in unreserved as we used $118,000 last year to keep the taxes down.

Tony stated he estimates the tax base has risen by about $5 million plus whatever the Moore Dam assessment comes in at. Karen told the Selectmen that the request to over expend to the DRA will require a Public Hearing, a motion from the Selectmen and a letter to DRA from the Board requesting to over expend the budget.

Tony stated the Selectmen need to set a date for the informational meeting regarding the Opera House options.

Art Tighe updated the Selectmen on a recent meeting of the Main Street Reconstruction Oversight Committee. He said that the Selectmen will be advised to vote that construction will not occur in 2007. This is because VHB is not prepared to meet the 2006-2007 dates. Art will keep the Selectmen informed of the construction dates as they are scheduled. There is a meeting scheduled soon with Carol Murray of DOT.

Tony discussed the Ross Ambulance contract with the Selectmen. He noted that there have been no variations to this contract for about five years. Tony stated he has identified some area of concern to the Town. He said there is at this time one basic life support unit with a minimum of advanced life support. Tony would like to see the Town receive a flat fee per call or else negotiate with Ross ambulance for them to kick in on the cost for dispatch. Currently the average ambulance cal runs about $450 per call and $600-$800 per patient transfer. There is an issue with the lack of a second ambulance since a transfer requires the ambulance to be out of town which leaves the Town in a vulnerable position. There should be a penalty clause written into the contract is the ambulance is not available within so many minutes of the first call. There should be come assurance to the Town that there is an ambulance available and on call at all times.

Art Tighe stated that it seems that the Town needs to go into negotiations with Ross Ambulance.

Tony stated he feels that the contract needs to be rewritten with expected standards added to the language. He also added that the Town of Littleton is not prepared to run their own ambulance at this time.

Eddy Moore asked how long the contract is for. He was told that Ross Ambulance is asking for a five-year contract but that the Town would like to see the contract year to year at this time.

Faye White stated that she had watched a recent Selectmen’s Meeting at which a handicapped parking ticket had been discussed. She stated that she does not feel the Selectmen should be getting involved with appeals for parking violations as they are the once who have empowered the Police Department to issue the tickets and fines.

Carol Cullen and Fire Chief Mercieri presented amended fee schedules for the Board’s review and consideration. It is hoped that the proposed increase in fees will help offset some of the costs from the tax payer to the user. Lowe’s was used as an example where the town could have been collecting much more in fees than were actually collected.

Eddy Moore incquired as to what RSA’s are involved in passing a fee schedule and whether this has to be done at town Meeting. This will be researched further.

Tony noted that we are currently waiting for figures from Synapse regarding Moore Dam. He added he feels Sancousy did not fulfill his contract because he did not use income numbers in his assessment of Moore Dam which did not reflect an accurate evaluation.

The work session adjourned at 3:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent
Executive Assistant

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Chairman George O. Hicks

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Selectman Burton E. Ingerson

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Selectman Edward Farrell