Littleton Board of Selectmen-Meeting
Minutes-March 8, 2005
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 8, 2006
Present: Vice Chairman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Town Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Excused: Selectman Bill Hight
Vice Chairman George Hicks opened the meeting at 4:00 pm explaining that Chairman Hight was unable to be there due to illness.
Littleton Water & Light Commissioners were invited to the Selectmen’s Meeting. Eddy Moore was present representing Water & Light. He stated he would be taping this portion of the Selectmen’s Meeting and proceeded to read a prepared statement. He noted that on Friday the Commissioners were invited to a Selectmen’s Meeting but were not given a reason for the invitation.
Selectman Ingerson stated that he had been in contact with Ralph Ross as well as Tom Considine and both were aware of his displeasure to find out that the Water & Light Department had given $42,000 to Town building for the purpose of upgrading the service to the Town Building. The Selectmen were dismayed to find that this Water & Light reserve was used in this way rather than returned to the Town to reduce taxes as specified in the Charter. Burt added he also felt that since two of the Commissioners were clearly in favor of the amendment to renovate the town building, this action was a conflict of interest and a clear attempt to sway the vote on the renovation article. Selectman Ingerson handed out a copy of the Charter.
Mr. Moore stated the Water & Light Department did a similar thing for the school when the addition was built. Selectman Ingerson stated he understood this but that Water & Light had waited until after the vote before doing it. In this case, the offer has been made before the vote and appears to have been planned that way to influence the vote. Mr. Moore stated that this was not the intent and he is sorry that it was taken that way.
Bruce Hadlock asked how much money has ever been returned to the Town from Water & Light to reduce taxes. Selectman Ingerson stated he had talked with Don Craigie about this and was told that in 1995 $89,000 was returned to the Town.
Mr. Moore stated that if the article does not pass, the vote of the Commissioners will be rescinded.
Dick Smith asked who appoints the Commissioners and whom they report to.
It was noted the Commissioners are appointed by the Board of Selectmen and the Water & Light Department provides courtesy copies of their minutes as well as their monthly financial statements.
Mr. Smith stated that if the computers used by the Town Office and the Water & Light Department do not talk to each other, the Water and Light Department should have used the money to upgrade their computer system rather give it to the Town Building.
Eddy Moore noted the Water & Light Department will put in a transfer switch and generator at the Town Building.
Bruce Hadlock asked why it was necessary to have a generator at the Town Office. In the case of a power failure, the Town Office should just shut down as every other business in Town would.
Jason stated that to be fair, the location here at the Laconia Bank does not have a source of back up power.
Eddy Moore, pointed out to the Selectmen that regarding Burt’s statement about a conflict of interest, he (Eddy) was on the School Building Committee as well as being a Water Commissioner when the Water & Light Department gave money to the school. Selectman Ingerson pointed out that the funds were given to the school after the vote and not before. Eddy Moore conceded that this was true.
Bruce Hadlock stated that the article in the newspaper regarding the Public hearing the Selectmen hosted on March 1, 2006 was a way for the Selectmen to try to sway the vote.
Bernard Chase stated he was also concerned to learn from the paper that the Selectmen had publicly endorsed Ed Farrell for Selectmen. He stated that because of this Mr. Farrell had lost at least two votes.
Bruce Hadlock stated he has been working on getting his property assessment corrected since last July. To date, he has not received any satisfaction from the town. A month ago he and his attorney met with assessor Joey Smith. He has not heard anything back as a result from this meeting in over a month. To his knowledge, he was the only resident asked to fill out a form for owning property in a Commercial Zone. He asked if the Assessors have furnished the Town a list of property owners who own residential property within the Commercial Zone. Jason stated he will check into this. He does not recall ever seeing a list. Mr. Hadlock would like his situation taken care of as he is getting dun letters because the taxes have gone unpaid. Jason will also check to see the status of his abatement request.
Dick Smith stated the warrant article to create a committee to study the Moore Dam Assessment is of concern to him. He does not feel that there are regular citizens who are capable of assessing the Dam. The Town has already had two professional companies assess the property and the reports have come back in the same ballpark In other matters, he complimented Jason and the Selectmen for the deal they made with the lease at Mt. Eustis Commons. He stated he felt that they had received a good price.
Don Merrill asked Jason to try to calculate how much of the TCSP funding has been spent in the Town of Littleton only. Jason stated he would try to come with a figure as close as he could.
Jason stated he had been working on making cuts to the budget in case the amended budget passes on Election Day. He stated that some of the cuts as specified at the deliberative session cannot be done. For instance, he said that the level funding as requested by the voters did not take into account that the Police Department is working under a union contract which cannot be violated. Jason handed out a list of areas where possible cuts can be made to the budget. (See copy attached).
Selectman Hicks asked Jason if this budget revision assures that no personnel will be cut or terminated. Jason stated this has been his goal to make sure that no personnel will be cut. He added that the current personnel are already stretched thin.
Dick Smith asked Jason to make sure that when making the cuts that no safety issues are compromised.
Jason noted the Town Report is up on the town web page. A limited amount of paper copies will be made and there will be CD’s available as well.
Selectman Hicks moved to raise the cemetery lot fee at the Wheeler Hill Cemetery to be in line with the fees at the Glenwood Cemetery. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 2-0.
Jason asked the Selectmen to meet for a work session on Thursday, March 16th to go over the results of the ballot. The next regular meeting of the Selectmen will take place on March 29th.
Selectman Ingerson moved to approve the minutes of February 22, 2006 as amended. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 2-0.
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent
Executive Assistant
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Selectman William R. Hight
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Selectman George O. Hicks
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Selectman Burton E. Ingerson