MINUTES OF
MEETING
Present: Chuck
Graybill, Chairman
John R. Swindlehurst, II
Steve Kennedy
Chuck Graybill called the
meeting to order at
It was noted for the record
that the Vaals have advertised an open house for the public to tour their
property on Saturday February 28th and on Saturday March 6th
from 1pm to 3pm.
The Board reviewed the fee
schedules as proposed for the hearing next Thursday. The fee schedules are for Planning, Zoning,
Building permits, Cemetery lot fees and the fees for copies, address list, etc.
obtained at the town office. Patrick
“Woody” Bowne was present and was asked about the small barrel at the transfer
station for small amounts of C&D.
Woody stated that this would no longer be used and small loads would be
charged a minimum of $5.00 under the new fee schedule. Chuck stated that he would like to have each
department give the Selectmen a list of what the fees are at present so that
the Selectmen can give an accurate presentation.
Chief Nelson was in to publicly recognize Officer Christopher Connelly and Officer
Joseph Milioto.
Chief Nelson extended his appreciation for the excellent job performed by Officer Joe Milioto recently in response to a call of a sudden death. The Chief stated that he handled the situation with compassion and consideration for the family and he was to be commended for his performance. The Chief presented Officer Milioto with a written commendation.
Chief Nelson extended his
gratitude to Officer Chris Connelly for his performance involving a fatal
accident on Twist Hill Road on Christmas Day.
The Chief commended him for his demonstration of compassion and for the
professional manner in which he handled this very difficult situation.
The Chief presented Officer Connelly with a written commendation.
Chief Nelson also recognized
the departments Chaplain, Cindy Bagley who was not present for her assistance
with these two calls. She assisted the
families in both incidents, going to the hospital and staying with the families
for a number of hours to comfort them and give them support. The Chief commended her for a job well done
and appreciated.
Chuck Graybill expressed the
board’s sincere appreciation to both police
officers and to Ms. Bagley for an excellent job.
Chief Nelson invited the
board to attend the swearing in ceremony for two part time officers, Eric Blow
and Shayne Durant, which will take place next Thursday, March 4th at
the Police Station at 6:15 pm.
Margaret Venator: Welfare Director: Margaret
was in to discuss welfare items.
Chuck Williamson: Mr. Williamson stated that he
had heard talk regarding comments made here at the office regarding he and
others costing the town legal fees for recent requests for copies of town
records. JR stated that whenever copies,
especially those of personnel records,
are requested the Selectmen need to get a ruling from the town attorney
because of confidentiality. JR stated
that he was the one who made the comment but he alone had said it, to one person in that person’s home, not at a
Selectmen’s meeting. Chuck Williamson
stated he took offense to this. Steve
Kennedy stated that whenever any citizen asks for information under 91-A the board goes to town council and we use his
recommendation. If the Board makes a
mistake by exposing information that should not be made public then the town is
in trouble. Mr. Williamson did not feel
that there was very much information that was confidential. Steve came back to say that we have learned a
lot about what should not be given out.
JR Swindlehurst stated that
we have to protect the personnel of the town and the items that Chuck
Williamson requested were sent to the town attorney so that we did not give
away information that was confidential such as payroll deductions, etc.
Chuck Williamson stated that
this was considered to be the cost of doing business and that the costs should
not be brought out into public. Steve
Kennedy said he considered that having legal council review requests is to be
prudent practice and is a normal practice for handling the right to know and
should not have any reflection on who asked for the information. JR Swindlehurst again stated that he had
made the statement to one person in their home.
Chuck Graybill reiterated that this comment did not come from the Board
of Selectmen. He also said that the
Board understood Chuck Williamson’s view.
John Trottier, Chairman
Zoning Board. John asked the Board of Selectmen to appoint
Dan DalPra and Leo Martel as alternate members to the Zoning Board of
Adjustment.
Chuck Graybill made the
motion to accept the Chairman’s recommendation to appoint as alternates
DanDalPra and Leo Martel to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for terms expiring
as applicable. JR Swindlehurst seconded
the motion, all were in favor. Motion passed.
Cemetery Trustees: Terry Jelley and Patrick :Woody” Bowne.
The Trustees were in to
discuss the bids received for the cemetery lawn care recently received. The bids were for a two year period. Terry stated that there were five bids
received, two were high, two in the middle and one low. The low bid was at $5,575, however, it only
included 24 cuts. Terry and Woody called
the bidder for clarification and were told that the 24 bids were for a period
of two years and if went over would be more cost. They felt that this bid was not following the
specs sent out and would like to throw this one out. They recommended that the two high bids of
$35,000 and $16,175 so be thrown out.
The two medium bids were $12,000 from Don Gravel and
$13,590 from D&R Waste Management.
It was noted that last years bid (1 yr) was for $6500 and had been
awarded to D & R Waste Management.
The Trustees stated that
they were at a stalemate. Terry felt
that D & R, Ron Boynton did a fantastic job last year, stating that the
lawns looked like a golf course and also that he did much more than he was
asked to do and did not charge the town for it.
He stated that there were no problems or complaints and when they needed
the lawns to look good for a funeral or Memorial Day, they were in excellent
shape. He felt that he would like to have Ron continue for the next two
years. Woody stated that he also agreed
that Ron did do a great job but felt that Don Gravel had also done an equally
good job on the town lawns and was at a quandary as to what to do. They asked the Selectmen for guidance.
JR Swindlehurst felt that
they have to look at both bids and also at the work each had performed but also
felt that they should go with the person who would get the job done for the
least amount of cost to the town.
Steve Kennedy made
recommendations regarding how to bid out these jobs in the future. He felt that they should put something in the
bid that would allow the town to renew a person’s contract if the performance
was up to the towns standards. This
could be done next time but does not help this time. Also, he stated that the Trustees should
definitely state in their contract with whomever they choose that the town
reserves the right to cancel the contract at any time if the person does not
meet the needs of the town or if they do not live up to his/her duties.
Chuck Graybill stated that
he felt that it would be advisable to go with the person who has a good history
of how the job had been done. He felt
that it may not be wise to have the same person doing the work on the town
lawns and the cemeteries as well. If
that person was suddenly unable to perform the job, the town would be out on a
limb. Maybe it would be better to have
two different people performing these duties.
The Board recommended that
the Cemetery Trustees make the decision.
It was pointed out that the trustees are short one person and it they
cannot come to a decision between the two of them they should wait until after
the March election for a new member to help make the decision.
Terry discussed the new
Cemetery fees. He stated that several
people have reserved lots based on the old fee.
The Board of Selectmen said to let those people know that if they still
want the lots they must pay for them now because after March 9th
town meeting the fees will jump.
Other business:
Alan Rockenback stated that
his wife, Ms. Lori Davis, recently was the victim of an attack from Selectmen Kennedy and would like
an apology . Steve Kennedy replied that
in the heat of the moment he may have said things that he should not have said
such as making the statement that she “rifled” through his papers on his desk. He said he was angry and spoke out of turn
and asked that she please understand his frustration. He asked that she please accept his
apology. Ms. Davis thanked him for his
apology.
Chuck Williamson also
thanked him for the apology and stated that the selectmen’s table was used in
the past for public use and he felt that it was a public area. Steve Kennedy agreed but stated that it is
the Selectmen’s recommendation that this area be partitioned off so that there
would be no question what is public and what is not.
JR Swindelhurst made a
motion to adjourn, the motion was seconded by Steve Kennedy, all in favor,
motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned at
8:20PM
__________________________________
Chuck
Graybill, Chairman
___________________________________
John
R. Swindlehurst, III
___________________________________
Steven
Kennedy
Dunbarton
Board of Selectmen
Recorded by: Janice
VandeBogart, Town Administrator