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.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to a request to withdraw funding in the amount of $3,073 from the PD Donation account. The items to be funded are listed below.

The Chair solicited comments from the audience. Hearing none the public hearing was adjourned at approximately 7:40pm.

Chief Consentino noted that the department was purchasing a trunk organizer as funded in the budget. He noted that he had received three bids listed in the table below.

* Does not include installation

Chief Consentino recommended using Adamson Industries because they had the lowest price that included installation. The Board agreed. Chief Consentino also noted that the department had several candidates for the full & part time positions going through the process and those recommendations to the Board would be forthcoming.

Lt. Baldwin addressed with sad news. Corporal John Lapham had been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer and members of the police department had started a fund to help raise money to see Mr. Lapham and his family through his illness. It was explained that the treatment regimen could last up to one year.

Linda Jette addressed the Board and announced her intention to resign on February 29^th.

Emergency Communications Committee Presentation – Normand Boucher

Mr. Bouchard provided a presentation on the state of public safety communications within the Town. The presentation highlighted the technical issues of communications coverage in Town. The topography of the town is characterized as hilly and the current dispatch site in Plaistow is located in a flat low lying area below Atkinson. This makes it difficult for transmissions to go over the hilly areas of town. Subsequently, communications coverage in town was spotty and left many areas without coverage. Several technical solutions and their attendant costs were presented. The solutions depicted signal strength for first responders who were in single-family residential structures (wood structures), commercial structures (steel construction), and street level (outdoors). Emergency Communications committee members present for the presentation discussed various strategies for warrant article preparation.

The TA noted that he had submitted an application to the DHHS for reimbursement costs associated with the Town’s mosquito program. The reimbursement funding for this year’s program was $6,098.

The Board agreed to take the bids under advisement until they heard from Mr. Stewart.

The Board reviewed the bids. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the bid from the Atkinson Cleaning Company in the amount of $15,605. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board reviewed insurance proposals from both Primex and the LGC. The table below highlights the cost difference between Primex and the NH Local Government Center insurance offerings.

The savings of purchasing insurance through the LGC over Primex is $17,071.55. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to accept the insurance proposal from the Local Government Center for $79,306. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA presented the language associated with the policy change as well as a signature page for official adoption of the policy. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to include Longevity Pay in the personnel policy with an implementation date for January 1^st, 2008. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA noted that Raelene McBride had tendered her resignation as a recording secretary. The Board expressed their disappointment and thanked her for a job well done. The Board directed the TA to advertise for the position.

The Board reviewed the increased wage impact at .50 raise per employee with the dollar impact of the 2.5% COLA. The table below provides the data. The Board noted that the wage increases were due to successful performance review.

The dollar amount for wage and COLA increases represent a total of $3,035.38 for the three positions and constitute a 6.06% increase above current funding levels. Wage related fringe benefit costs of $391.70, illustrated in the table below, boost the total wage and COLA amount of $3,035.38 to $3,427.08.

Mr. Sullivan spoke to Corporal Lapham’s illness expressing his and the community’s support of the Lapham family. Mr. Childs spoke of the successful recreation senior dinner. Mr. Sapia noted that the planning board had supported the adoption of the flood plain ordinance and participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. The ACO position was briefly discussed.

Mr. Sullivan noted that a leak in the oil tank line was found in the Hearse House and folks were working to correct it.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sapia made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The meeting concluded at approximately 9:40pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs