Present: Jack Sapia, Chair, Paul Sullivan, Fred Childs (Selectmen) and Russell McAllister (Town Administrator).

The Board observed a moment of silence.

7:30 pm – Meeting called to order.

The public hearing was opened at approximately 7:30pm. Chief Consentino asked to withdraw $2,000 from the PD Donation Account to help with Corporal Lapham’s medical bills. Mr. Acciard addressed the hearing asking that $10,000 be withdrawn for the same purpose. Chief Consentino noted that he would triple every dollar donated on behalf of Corporal Lapham. Mr. Sapia noted that everyone needed to pull together in order to make a difference and he asked if Mr. Acciard would be willing to help out by making phone calls to solicit donations on behalf of Corporal Lapham and his family. It was noted Mr. Sapia along with other interested individuals had purchased ball caps with Corporal Lapham’s badge number on them. They were for sale for $25 a piece with all proceeds going to Corporal Lapham and his family. Similar discussion ensued with the public hearing adjourned at approximately 7:50pm.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to non-union personnel receiving the same COLA increases as union officers. The Board previously approved 2.5% COLA increase for non-union personnel while the union contract provided an annual increase of 3%. Mr. Sullivan explained that the Board had approved a 2.5% COLA increase for non-union personnel. He explained that the union contract covered union employees and not non-union employees. Mr. Sullivan was against providing non-union police department employees with a greater COLA increase than other non-union department employees. Mr. Childs agreed with Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sapia expressed the view that non-union police employees should receive the same COLA increase as the union employees. Mr. Sapia made the motion to approve a 3% COLA increase for non-union police department employees. The motion failed for a lack of a second. Mr. Consentino addressed other benefits and it was noted that police officers, union and non-union received the same health and disability insurances. The Board next took up the issue of providing police for the Tuesday primary election. Chief Consentino noted that he was able to provide a police officer in the community center, but he did not have the manpower to provide traffic control. The Board agreed that members of the Fire Department could provide traffic control. Mr. Consentino next took up the issue of his longevity pay. Brief discussion ensued. Mr. Sullivasn made the motion to award Mr. Consentino a 1.2% increase to his base pay for his 40 years as a Town employee. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board took up the issue of hiring a full and part-time officer. Mr. Sullivan raised concerns about the process. Lt. Baldwin described the process by explaining that the department issued a vacancy announcement, interviewed and tested candidates followed by a department review and Chief’s review and then a background check. The department next made their recommendations to the Board. Lt. Baldwin stressed that it was the Board who did the hiring. The Board agreed to take the hiring issue up at the next meeting.

Jody Consentino addressed the Board and extended her thanks to the many individuals who brought food to the department over the holidays.

Paul Dimaggio addressed the Board and provided a synopsis of the work the committee had completed and provided a recommendation to the Board. Mr. Dimaggio explained that the committee had looked at emergency communications coverage throughout the Town and noted that two options had emerged involving the same location for the placement of a public communications tower. The difference between the options was the height of the tower, 180’ ($484,000) versus 120’ ($683,000), and construction and ownership of the tower. One option involved the Town paying for the construction, maintenance, and provisioning the communications equipment solely through taxation. The alternative option involved leasing the land to a tower company that would pay the costs of construction, lease out space to commercial customers (verizon, t-mobile etc.) and pay rent to the Town. In this option the town would pay for the purchase and installation of the emergency communications equipment. The topography that made coverage difficult was compounded by the construction differences between commercial and residential buildings. Brick and mortar and steel buildings made it difficult for signals to pass into the buildings. Board members thanked Mr. Dimaggio and the other members of the committee for their hard work.

A short recess was called at 9:50pm. The meeting resumed at 9:55pm.

Warrant Articles

The Board began a review of warrant articles for the coming deliberative session. The warrant article and vote to approve for placement on the Town Warrant is found in the table below.

The Board discussed including a warrant article for the development of a new cemetery section. Cemetery Trustee Dale Childs explained that the costs to do so were between 20-25k and the sale of burial lots would amount to 95k. The Board directed the TA to craft appropriate language for the warrant article.

The Tax Collector, Debbi DeSimone addressed the Board regarding her request to increase the number of hours in her office from 20 to 30 hours explaining that this would enable the office to be open Monday mornings. The Board discussed the issue but were reluctant to approve the warrant article because there wasn’t sufficient customer activity in the morning to justify the additional expense of increasing the number of hours. The Board decided to not include the additional hours on the warrant.

The Road Agent, Ted Stewart, provided input on road issues being placed on the Town Warrant.

The Board discussed the issue of adding a 6^th full-time police officer in light of the medical leave time taken by Corporal Lapham. It was noted that the sworn strength of the department was 5-full time officers. Chief Consentino explained that the hiring of an officer for Corporal Lapham’s currently vacant position would preclude Corporal Lapham’s ability to return. The TA disagreed noting that the hire would be a temporary not to exceed period, thus preserving Corporal Lapham’s position until his return. The Board did not support a 6^th full-time officer’s position.

The Ta noted that the completed default budget form was available for signature by the Board.

The TA explained that the statute has been in effect since 01/01/2006, but that the definition of employee as described under RSA 275-4 was updated and became effective on 01/01/2008. The statute allows an employee who is the victim of a crime, or the immediate family of a crime victim, to take time off w/out pay or to use PTO to attend court proceedings associated with the prosecution of the crime. Whether or not the Board wishes to adopt a policy to address the statute remains a Board option. Either way the Town will comply with the statute. The applicable statute is listed below and following is a sample policy for your review.

The Board took up the issue of the vacant Animal Control Officer position. Don Murphy, who has served as the assistant for 25 years, spoke about scheduling issues, the responsibilities of the position and service expectation. Dale Childs also spoke to the legal responsibilities of the position while noting that in the larger surrounding towns dog officers did not work on weekends or after five in the afternoon. The Board discussed service levels and scheduling issues noting that interviews with prospect candidates were scheduled for later in the week.

The Board also discussed the need for a recording secretary for the planning board.

Mr. Sullivan made the motion to enter non public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) to discuss personnel issues. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The Board convened into non-public session at approximately 10:55pm.

The Board reconvened the public session of the meeting at approximately 11:40pm. There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sullivan made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The meeting concluded at approximately 11:40pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs