SELECTMEN’S MEETING MEETING MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 5, 2011
The Board of Selectmen met for their weekly meeting at 6:30 p. m. at the Campton Town Office. Present were, Selectmen, Charles Wheeler, Sharon Davis, Charles Cheney, Craig Keeney, and Marsh Morgan. The Board signed the manifest and reviewed the bills.  They signed 1 Purchase Order for the Police Department, 2 Warrants for Collection of Real Estate Taxes, 1 General Assessing Contract, 3 Pole Permits, 1 Notice of Intent to Cut, 1 Intergovernmental Agreement for Disposal of Solid Waste and 1 Campton-Thornton-Ellsworth Intergovernmental Fire/Rescue Service Agreement and 1 Tax Anticipation Note.
At 6:50 p.m. Chair Davis called the meeting to order, while waiting for some other people to arrive, Chair Davis called for a Motion to approve the Minutes and Non Public Minutes of the previous meeting. After one revision made by Selectman Morgan a Motion to approve the Minutes as revised and approve the Non Public Minutes as written was made by Selectman Morgan. The Motion was seconded by Selectman Wheeler and the revised Minutes and Non Public Minutes as written were unanimously approved.
Chair Davis, on behalf of the Board, thanked the Campton Thornton Fire Commissioners and Fire Chief David Tobine for coming this evening to review the 2012 Campton Thornton Fire Department Budget. Present at this meeting representing the Fire Commissioners were: Jim Demeritt, Kelly Bolger, Niles Downing, Ian Helm, Lou Kotz and Dick Giehl. Fire Chief Tobine explained that he would like to begin by presenting a floor plan to renovate areas of the fire station. Chief Tobine distributed to the Board the proposed plan which included a bunk area for the staff, expanded storage area, securing the office area, a garage door being replaced, a shower installed (that has already been purchased) and a stairway. Chief Tobine explained in detail to the Board the necessity of these improvements. Chief Tobine explained that he received price quotes from Stuart Pitts and Roberts and Gooch and all materials for the renovation totaling $11,783 (plus a 3% increase for any changes). Chief Tobine explained that the Town has a lot of public talent who has offered their assistance in this project and he will approach the school for student assistance. Chief Tobine stated that he was asking the Board this evening for support in the funding of this project. The Board unanimously agreed to support the funding; however there was concern about where the funding would come from. Selectman Davis was particularly impressed with the fact that the renovation plan did not expand the footprint of the fire station. Ann Marie will contact the auditors regarding the possibility of funding coming out of the contingency fund. Selectman Cheney (after reviewing the 2011 Budget) pointed out that there might possibly be funds available from the 2011 budget to fund 50% of the project. The Fire Commissioners and Chief Tobine thanked the Board for their support on this project.
Chief Tobine then proceeded to distribute to the Board the Campton Thornton Fire Department preview of the 2012 Budget. Chief Tobine proceeded to go down the budget pointing out that there is a payroll increase, which is a reflection of the wage study done and was previously presented to the Board. Chief Tobine also pointed out that overtime had increased and this figure is driven by the amount of calls and getting multiple calls that they obviously have no control over. Some other increases were fuel, retirement and
health insurance. Chief Tobine explained that 7% of the health insurance would be paid by employees, and Ann Marie informed Chief Tobine that there was concern by the Thornton Board (brought to her attention by Thornton Town Administrator, Tammie Beauleiu and also mentioned at last year’s Budget Hearing) that the Fire Department’s health insurance and Town of Thornton’s plan have lower deductions than Campton’s employees who put 7% and Thornton employees put 15%.
An additional item that Chief Tobine wanted to discuss is the possibility of the Board agreeing to a percentage from the ambulance revenues being put into the capital reserve account for another ambulance. Chief Tobine acknowledged that a warrant article would have to be written and he would be glad to prepare the article. After discussion of the pros and cons and the possible percentage to be determined to be set aside, the Board (while acknowledging the pros) was not ready to make a decision on this issue until they were further into the budget process.
Selectman Wheeler (on another issue) wanted to express to the Fire Department and Chief Tobine that a friend of his had to call 911 recently, and his friend commended the Fire Department for their professionalism. Chief Tobine expressed his appreciation.
The Fire Commissioners and the Fire Chief then thanked the Board for their time and the Board expressed appreciation for the opportunity to review Campton Thornton Fire Department budget at this time.
Chair Davis then called on Ann Marie to review correspondence. Ann Marie indicated that the 2011 tax rate has been set and calculated as follows:
Town rate                      $ 5.03
Local School rate           10.15
State School rate              2.31
County Rate                     1.50
TOTAL TAX RATEÂ Â Â Â $18.99
The 2010 tax rate was:
Town rate                        5.23
Local School rate            9.62
State School rate             2.36
County rate                     1.34
TOTAL TAX RATEÂ Â Â Â $18.55
WATERVILLE ESTATES DISTRICT:
The 2010 tax rate was:Â $12.98 (plus: Â local & state school and county rate)
The 2011 tax rate is:Â Â Â Â Â $13.34 (plus: Â local & state school and county rate)
BEEBE RIVER DISTRICT:
The 2010 tax rate was:Â $8.23 (plus:Â local & state school and county rate)
The 2011 tax rate is:Â Â Â Â Â $8.01 (plus: local & state school and county rate)Â Â :
CAMPTON VILLAGE DISTRICT:
The 2010 rate was:Â Â $.51 (plus: local & state school and county rate)
The 2011 rate is:Â Â Â Â Â Â $.57 (plus: local & state school and county rate)
The old County Jail was then discussed. It was agreed by the Board that a letter be drafted by Ann Marie to the County expressing that the Board is not in favor of preservation of the old County Jail if the preservations affect an increase in the tax
Rate.
Plymouth Regional Clinic sent a thank you letter for the Town appropriation and also a request letter for an appropriation for their 2012 budget. Â Ann Marie provided copies to the Board to put in their Budget Notebooks.
A copy of a letter was received from NH DOT responding to Lee Freeman’s inquiry about Beebe River Road. The State confirmed that Beebe River Road is a private road and is not a town or state road.
A copy of a letter from Stanley Freeman was also received which was addressed to the NH DRA expressing his concern and his inquiry regarding taxes collected for the Beebe River Village District and collected by the Town of Campton.
A letter was received from Reverend Bayard Hancock expressing his opposition to the Thornton Mall closing and he urged the Board to reconsider their vote to close the Mall. Reverend Hancock also stated that he planned on attending the meetings of the committee being formed regarding this issue and he urges other to also attend.
Dennis Mires, P. A. and the Building Committee have now scheduled interviews (for the proposed new Town Office Building) for requests for Construction Manager Proposals on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at the Campton Town Office. The companies scheduled are:Â Cobb Hill Construction, Inc., Conneston Construction, Inc., Milestone Engineering & Construction, Inc. and North Branch Construction, Inc.
Ann Marie indicated that she recently attended a class regarding accounting which she did not find as helpful as she hoped. However, she met a woman (Patricia Sarcione) who is willing to assist Ann Marie once every quarter. Patricia is a certified Quick Books instructor and Deputy Treasurer in Danville. Patricia’s fee is $45.0 0 an hour, plus mileage. Ann Marie felt Patricia would be very beneficial to her and her assistance would entail approximately 8 to 10 hours every quarter. The Board unanimously agreed to have Patricia Saricone assist Ann Marie.
DuBois & King, Inc. forwarded drawings depicting the completed repairs to the Blair Bridge, which she will forward to Sean James.
North Country Council, Inc. forwarded their invoice for 2012 dues. The Board suggested that the invoice be sent back indicating that the Town of Campton is no longer a member of North Country Council, Inc.
A letter was received from Northern Pass with an update on recent landowner outreach efforts and other ongoing project activities.
Ann Marie informed the Board that Chief Warn will be meeting at the Town Office with heads of departments on Wednesday for training pertaining to performance evaluation procedures for Town employees.
Chair Davis then proceeded with Other Business – Selectmen’s Input. Chair Davis called on Selectman Keeney who stated that there was only one change on the performance evaluation form that the HR Committee requested and it pertained to the wording, “appropriate attire†instead of “general appearanceâ€. Also, it was acknowledged that a pay range with a cap needs to be designated, and Chair Davis stated that she would work on different ranges to present to the Board. It was also acknowledged that a wage study would be beneficial and that once acquired, it needed to be followed.
Chair Davis distributed a Table of Contents for the Budget Notebooks for the Board to place in their books.
Selectman Cheney expressed concern regarding the Beebe River Village District issues and he felt the Public Utilities Commission might be helpful for assistance with the issues.
There being no further business, Chair Davis declared the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanor M. Dewey,
Office Assistant to Ann Marie Foote, Town Administrator