LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
OCTOBER 25, 2006

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

PUBLIC HEARING TO OVER EXPEND BUDGET

Chairman Hicks opened the Public Hearing at 6:00 pm and turned the meeting over to Karen Noyes.

Karen reminded everyone that the budget has been an issue since August when it became apparent we were in financial difficulty. She stated Department Heads have worked very hard to trim back in areas where this can be done. Karen went over a hand out showing an overview of the items needed to complete the year. She stated she is asking permission from the Selectmen to over expend the budget by $177,000. She noted high fuel costs, electrical rates, increased welfare activity and high insurance claims have contributed to the need to over expend the budget. She went over in detail areas where more funds are needed to get the Town through to the end of the year (see attached).

Eddy Moore asked for a breakdown of the legal expenses to date. Karen noted that Special town Meeting have run legal expenses at $5188.50. the Right to Know cases at $3853.50, Hadlock vs Town of Littleton $2051.01 and Citizens for Growth with common Sense vs Town of Littleton $2559.60. The legal bill sent in September alone was over $9000.

Eddy Moore also asked where the money for Cam Brown’s settlement had come from. Karen stated the settlement had come out of the Police Department Budget.

John Streeter asked if the $177,000 can be replaced into the budget at Town Meeting by warrant article. Karen stated she would check with DRA.

Selectman Ingerson moved to have Karen Noyes write a letter to DRA requested permission to over spend $177,000 from the unreserved fund balance. The motion was seconded by Selectman Farrell and carried 3-0.

Chairman Hicks closed the Public Hearing and opened the Selectmen’s Meeting.

APPOINTMENTS

Tony Ilacqua requested permission from the Selectmen to increase the cost of the Town of Littleton trash bags. He noted the price per bag has not changed in eight years. He is requesting an increase to $2.00/large bag and $1.35/small bag. Current prices on the bags are $1.50/large bag and $1.00/small bag. He added the store selling the trash bags get three cents per bag. Tony distributed several handouts for the Board’s review. He noted the Consumer index has increases 24% from 1998 to 2006.

Selectman Farrell moved to increase the cost trash bags to $2.00/large and $1.35/small to be effective December 1st. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

Bill Latulip commended Tony Ilacqua on a well run operation and expressed appreciation to him.

George Chartier spoke to the Board regarding winter trash pickup. He noted that during the winter months it is a hardship for the highway department to pick up the trash as it takes manpower away from maintaining the roads. He also noted that every time the truck is used to pick up trash the plow has to be removed and then reassembled. Currently there are nine plow routes in Town. Trash pickup requires two men and they are taken away from their duties such as plowing or salting and sanding. George estimated the cost for trash pickup service is running about $326 per week for the Highway Department. George has been in contact with Whitings Trash Removal and they can take over the winter trash pickup for $200/week. The trash would be picked up twice a week from December to April.

Selectman Farrell asked if George could get by until the end of December and he said he could.

Art Tighe asked if the Town could possibly get a better rate if Whitings provided year round trash pickup. George replied he didn’t know as he had only discussed winter trash pick up with them.

The Board will keep this in mind when working on the new budget.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Tony announced Anthony W. Raymond has been hired as Interim Police Chief. Mr. Raymond has been employed by the Town of Plymouth as Police Chief. He is in the process of retiring and will work part time for Littleton. Tony added that Mr. Raymond comes highly qualified and possesses the characteristics which can be a great asset to the town. Mr. Raymond will be sworn in at 9:30 am on Monday morning and will assume his duties immediately.

Art Tighe asked what the wages will be. Tony replied Mr. Raymond will work 32 hours a week at $250 per diem. His contract is open-ended.

Tony will be meeting with Cleve Kapala of Transcanada on Friday in Plymouth.

CITIZENS’ CONCERNS

Bernard Chase commended the Board and Town Manager on being pro-active. He thanked them for televising the Selectmen’s Meetings.

Selectmen Ingerson stated that when the people signed the petition to change the time of the Selectmen’s Meeting and televise them, he wished they had also funded this item.

Karen Noyes noted it costs the Town $25/hour to have the meeting taped. There have been additional meeting which have been presented on channel 2 which has raised the amount spent from the media services budget.

Eddy Moore stated that the money received by the Town from Time Warner for the franchise should more than cover the expense. Selectman Ingerson stated this revenue goes into the general budget and cannot be designated for a special purpose.

Bernard Chase cited several problems he considers to be hazardous or dangerous situations. He stated he had been to the board several months ago about getting a stop sign at the intersection by the stone wall at the intersection of 302 and Cottage Street. He also stated there is a rock jutting out of the road on Kelley Lane in the vicinity of his driveway. There is a water problem in this same area which causes hazardous driving during the winter when the water runs across the road and freezes.

Selectmen Ingerson stated he had spoken to Gregg Placey from the State Highway Department shortly after Mr. Chase brought it to the Board’s attention. He has never heard back from him. Cottage Street, Main Street and Meadow Street are all #302 and under the state jurisdiction. Regarding the rock in the road, George Chartier stated he believed the rock had been dug out this day. George has addresses the water problem with personnel at the Water & Light Department and they have pinpointed the source of the problem. Water and Light will need to gain access to the property in question and test the water meter.

John Streeter advised the Selectmen they have to decide what they will put on the ballot for warrant articles regarding the Opera House. Selectman Farrell stated they have not yet had time to sit down as a Board and discuss the results of last night’s informational meeting. They know they will have to decide soon.

Mr. Streeter also expressed concern over the condition of Fairview Street. He said that for three years in a row this Street has been scheduled for work and to date nothing has been done.

George Chartier stated that much of the work which was put out to bid this year was never bid on. A second request for bids also did not bring any bids in. They will try again in December to but work out to bid. This hopefully will be early enough to get on the schedule for contractors.

Vic LaRose and Bill Latulip once again brought up safety concerns with Broomstick Hill Road. It was noted that Tony Mincu and Selectman Ingerson had both driven up Broomstick the morning after Mr. LaRose first brought up the issue. The other Selectmen have since driven up the road. In their determination it is no better or worse than any other gravel road in town. Chairman Hicks stated the road is a good deal like Oregon Road on which he lives.

Faye White stated that if people are maintaining the speed limit (30 mph) they should be able to see other vehicles before hitting them. She had recently spoken with a Broomstick resident who told her the road was not as bad as everyone was making it out to be.

Mr. Larose stated his prime concerns are the hairpin curve, lack of signs, brush which obstructs vision and speeding cars.

George Chartier stated that material has been put on the road. The rocks present on the road are there to hold the gravel in place and form a matrix for the road. The road has to be driven on to pack the material down. Presently the cars are following in one set of tire tracks and not driving on the rest of the road.

Chairman Hicks stated there is no road in Littleton which could not be improved on if money was not an issue. He added he did not see any merit in Mr. Larose’s former comment that the Selectmen have forgotten about Broomstick Hill Road.

Bernard Chase asked what the liability to the Town is if after these issues have been brought to the Board, there is an accident on Broomstick Hill road.

Selectman Ingerson stated he is aware of an RSA which absolves the town from liability except in the case of gross negligence.

The Selectmen discussed the Selectmen’s Meeting time. Tony and Chairman Hicks both stated that the 6:00 meeting time presents a hardship for staff who do not live locally and must hang around for two hours waiting for the meeting to start. Tony added that the majority of the staff are women and we are heading into the busy time of year where there are many night meetings and driving weather can be unpredictable. He stated he is asking for the community to show a little consideration for the staff.

Chairman Hicks stated that the Board can move the meeting back to 4:00 or pay the staff who must be here for their time. Tony added another alternative would be to start the meeting at 4:00 and get their work taken care of and have citizens’ concerns at 5:00 or 5:30.

Bill Latulip and Bernard Chase stated this still would not give the community members who work time to get to the meetings Mr. Latulip stated that staff members could always come in at noon and work their eight hours. Tony replied this is not conducive to business when you maintain office hours from 8:00-4:30.

The consensus of the citizens present was that the meeting time should be left as is. Mr. Chase stated he would have preferred to see the meetings at 7:00 pm. as first petitioned by the voters.

Selectmen Ingerson stated they will have to put a lot of money into the administrative budget for overtime.

Art Tighe and Eddy Moore both stated that this is the only department which does not have overtime. Art added the Administrative Department had $0 for overtime last year and very little the year before that. Mr. Moore stated that if the staff is working overtime they should be getting paid for it.

Selectman Farrell stated his personal preference would be to meet at 4:00 but he realizes the purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for public input and the 6:00 meeting time is more convenient for the public. He added if staff need to be here, they should be paid.

Tony noted that the town has received timelines for the Special Town Meeting as well as the regular Town Meeting. We will be working from two different calendars.

The Board of Selectmen is in receipt of a letter from the Conservation Commission regarding ramification of Lowe’s 3-year deed restriction with the DES in lieu of an Easement Holder Agreement. The Selectmen would like a member of the conservation committee to come in to a Selectmen’s work session so this can be discussed further.

Selectman Farrell moved to have the Town borrow in anticipation of taxes in the amount of $750,000. This will be a 60-day note. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

Selectman Ingerson moved to appoint Ed Farrell and Ed Hennessey as Littleton’s representative to sit on the Tri-Town Committee.

The Tri-Town committee are asking the Town to allow them to hire an engineer to determine if the Redington Street Bridge has “historic” status. The Selectmen agreed to have the committee get quotes on how much an engineering study would cost the town.

Bernard Chase suggested that the Town contact Clinton Clough.

Selectman Farrell moved to approve the minutes of September 27, 2006 and October 11, 2006 as written. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
___________________________
Respectfully submitted, Chairman George O. Hicks
Cheryl Sargent, __________________________
Executive Assistant Selectman Burton E. Ingerson
__________________________
Selectman Edward Farrell