Joint Library Task Force: A presentation was made of the findings and recommendations of the 7 member task force. The task force visited local libraries and reviewed architect proposals. The major concern of the task force was the total cost for a new library. The task force is suggesting a 1-story, 11,000 sq. ft. building plan; remodel and build an extension to the current library. The first plan was for a 2-story building. The second plan is for a smaller, 1-story building which will reduce the cost.

Comparison of Plans: The task force discussed the 1-story versus the 2-story building, size and location, library function, parking, equipment and furnishings, operating expenses, cemetery access and population growth. Comparison of Proposals: The total project cost of last year’s plan was $3,211,600 ($190/sq. ft.). The total project cost of this year’s plan is $2,724,000 ($185/sq. ft.). Comparison of Building: Last year’s plan was a 2-story building consisting of 13,590 sq. ft. This year’s plan is a 1-story building consisting of 11,400 sq. ft. There was only a loss of 1,000 sq. ft. of library space. Comparison of Parking: There were 42 parking spaces last year, and there are 65 parking spaces this year.

The task force recommendation is for a 1-story building consisting of 11,400 sq. ft. with 65 parking spaces and computer equipment for a total cost of $2,724,000 ($185/sq. ft.). This total cost is down $500,000. The 1-story building is more functional and efficient, provides net library space, is two times the size of the current library and there is no immediate need for an increase in expenses. The task force feels there are no negatives to the 1-story building plan. Copies of the warrant article are to go the TA and the Budget Committee. Renderings of the new library will be displayed in the library, the Town Offices and on Channel 20 (ACTV).

Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes: The Board reviewed the 12/4/06 and 12/6/06 meeting minutes. No decisions were made with regard to the 12/4/06 nonpublic meeting. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to accept the 12/4/06 meeting minutes as read and amended with the proper date. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board reviewed the 12/6/06 meeting minutes. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to accept the 12/6/06 meeting minutes as written. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Page 1 of the 12/4/06 meeting minutes is a modification request and not an RFP. The Board will review at the next public meeting.

Roads: There is a request that roads not accepted be opened up to emergency vehicles. Mr. Childs made a motion to accept the roads be opened up to emergency vehicles. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. Granite Ridge Road was signed off by Keach & Nordstrom on 4/20/06 as complete. The Board received a note that the road was complete. The developer is no longer in business and probably will not petition to accept the road. The Board can petition to accept the bond in the amount of $83,000. All paperwork is signed off by Keach & Nordstrom. After the Board reviews the warrant, the petition will be put on a warrant article.

Recreation Committee Budget: Patty Mangini and Noriko Travers presented the Recreation budget to the Board. Electricity has increased 50%. Ms. Mangini discussed with the Board the revolving account to be used for the purchase of Red Sox tickets. She obtained the wording from Plaistow’s revolving account. This account will not be used for anything other than the purchase of tickets. As soon as the money is received from the sale of the tickets, the account is paid. The credit cards need to be paid right away, but the collection of the money to replace in the account will not be collected for 6 months. Danville, Plaistow and Salem all use revolving accounts. The TA suggests charging a handling fee on the sale of the tickets to have extra money in the account to cover price increases. The Board believes the account will require an established dollar amount and a warrant article. Ms. Mangini does not believe you need a dollar amount in order to establish the account according to the information she received from Plaistow’s. Ms. Mangini will contact DRA to find out if a dollar amount needs to be deposited in order to establish the account. Recreation has raised $15,000-$18,000 to replace the play set at Pope Field. Ms. Mangini would like to withdraw $9,000 and hopes to raise another $3,000 in fundraising. Recreation spends $1,500 every 3 years for woodchips and they rake every year. There is a need for rechipping this year. Ms. Mangini would like to add $25,000 to the capital reserve fund through separate warrant articles, which are due on January 9, 2007 for petitions. The Board and Ms. Mangini will meet on 12/18/06 to discuss the warrant articles. Recreation will create a contingent warrant article if the Conservation Commission grants an easement to Recreation for a lacrosse/field hockey field on Busby land. This is a 10-acre piece of usable land to be used strictly for open fields, not as another Pope Field. There are concerns of parking on East Road. The Conservation Committee is putting in a warrant to grant the easement. Ms. Travers would like to work 32 hours with the option of working 40 hours. Currently, she volunteers more than 32 hours and only working 24 hours. Ms. Travers assists the Sun-n-Fun Director, helps out with the parents the first couple of days and will fill in for the Director. She is budgeted for 40 hours, but can do the job in 32 hours, but some trips require extra hours which will bring her time to 40. Ms. Mangini will look into whether a warrant article is needed in order to increase the hours.

Warrant Articles: Fire Department warrant article is for $50,000 in the capital reserve and $25,000 for a vehicle exhaust fume removal system. Total change to the warrant article is $75,000. There are $303,511 in warrant articles.

Road paving recommended for Walker Road and Wood will be one warrant article. Mr. Sapia would prefer to have the paving amount on the warrant article. He would like the base coat and top coat amounts in the warrant at the same time. Mr. Sullivan is comfortable with the warrant as written, but will discuss with Ted Stewart. The warrant can be carried over to next year if the price of asphalt decreases.

Wheelchair warrant article is $6,700/year for a 4-year lease.

The cost of a studio for Atkinson Community Television and improvements to Town Hall is $658,599. Asking to use the fund balance from the capital reserve fund, and there will be no need to raise the money for an addition. Mr. Sapia is requesting that the Building Needs Committee make a presentation on the present plans.

Warrant article for a new copier is $7,500-$10,000. Purchasing and leasing costs are about the same. The TA will continue to work on the wording to send to DRA and Town Counsel for review.

General Discussion: Engineering and waste management contracts will be reviewed by Town Counsel for his recommendations for review at the next meeting.

Glenn Greenwood, Rockingham Planning, has sent a model floodplain ordinance. Mr. Sullivan states that the FEMA information was forwarded to the Planning Board, but there was not much response from the Planning Board. Mr. Sullivan sees no downside to the FEMA program and the purchase of flood insurance. Atkinson is one of the few towns without flood insurance. This issue was raised a few years ago and was voted against. Mr. Sapia is not opposed to the flood insurance, but is concerned it was rejected in the past. Mr. Sapia would like a representative from FEMA to make a presentation to the Town to inform the residents.

Building Needs Committee is requesting to carry over the unexpended balance of Planning Article 2005-7 in the amount of $7,805.47. The contractual obligations will not be met until 2007. Mr. Sapia made a motion to carry over the unexpended amount of $7,805.47 pending the TA speaking with the DRA to confirm this can be done. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote is unanimous and so moved.

Building Needs Budget: Mr. Childs presented to the Board the Building Needs budget. There was an increase of 27% in salaries, FICA, health insurance and Medicare; cleaning services increased with 3 payments left; electricity increased $1,500; heat increased $500; there are increases in heating unit parts, food and water and mileage; general maintenance increased $200. Professional services: Police Department increased $900 (insurance/alarms); Fire Department increased $600 due to the maintenance of the elevator; Library is $542 (alarms/pest control); Kimball House increased $100 for heat. Kimball House needs to be sided. The wood is too porous for painting. Kimball House has asked for an estimate for vinyl siding, but has not received one yet. This can be put off another year as the roof needs to be replaced this year.

General maintenance increased by $51,000. The pond pump has not worked properly since September. $6,000 has been spent to fix the pump. The pond is filled with algae and continues to clog the pump and needs to be replaced. It costs $200-$300 to clean the pump a couple of times a year. The pump runs the heat and A/C to the Town Hall. $30,000 of the total $51,000 is to be used to have a well outside the maintenance room for the pump to run off of rather than the pond. Mr. Sapia asks whether a standardized heating and A/C system has been looked into rather than the well system. Mr. Childs explains that the way the building was built, the pump also runs the fire sprinkler system. If a standardized system is installed, it will not function the sprinkler system. The pump system also saves on heat and electricity bills because it uses recycled water. Normally, these pumps are placed in wells, not in ponds, which is why the pump continues to clog. Mr. Sapia asks whether a standard system can be installed for heating and A/C and continue to use the pump for the sprinkler system. Mr. Sullivan believes it would be sufficient to do the entire building, but an independent consultant should be brought in for his recommendations. It has been recommended to Mr. Childs to do away with the pond and use the well system. Mr. Sapia asks whether this needs to be placed in a warrant article, but Mr. Childs does not believe there is a need for a warrant article. The remaining $21,000 of the $51,000 is to be used for a new roof on Town Hall. Mr. Childs believes the roof can go another year, but if the warrant article passes for the new addition, he would like to do the roof all at once. The pump and the new roof both need to go out to bid.

Mr. Sapia would like the pavilion/restrooms at Pope Field pressure washed and painted with a high gloss concrete paint. He has asked Mr. Childs to look into the cost. Mr. Childs will obtain figures on the cost of the painting. Community Center costs are down $1,500 for professional services and general maintenance. Mr. Sullivan is concerned about the structure of the Community Center because it is a converted camp. Mr. Childs stated the structure is fine. A new roof was done last year, and some of the cinderblocks under the floor were replaced as well for more support. Building Needs total budget is $151,499 which is up 69% because of the new well system and the new roofing. Mr. Childs indicates that the Town Hall roof can be put off another year, but the Kimball House roof needs to be done this year. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to accept the Building Needs preliminary budget of $151,499. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote is unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Sapia raises the issue of planning to budget for cross-training of Shirley Galvin’s position in the July/August timeframe. The TA will look into changing the line budget to reflect monies for cross-training.

Salary Requests: Mr. Sapia is requesting the 3% increases be fine tuned. Mr. Sullivan feels the 3% increase is fair and should remain as is. Mr. Sapia feels the Board should set policies and ranges for goals and objectives of personnel with regard to salary increases. Mr. Sapia has been working on a presentation that he will present to the Board in the next couple of weeks.

Police Department Requests: Attorneys Fees: The Police Department is asking that attorneys fees for the court case be paid. Mr. Sapia feels the employee was an employee of the Town and was acting as an employee of the Town at time of this court case and that the attorneys fees should be paid. Mr. Sapia made a motion to pay the attorneys fees of $950. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote is unanimous and so moved. Stone Pond Damage: Mr. Childs is attempting to obtain a figure to fix the stone wall as a result of the accident. Wheelchair Warrant: This warrant has been previously discussed. The Police Department will raise half the cost, and the warrant article will raise the other half. Community Center Entrance: It is suggested that the back entrance be reopened or create a new entrance across from Hilldale Avenue. The State contractors do not want to install lighting at this time. A guardrail has been installed where the back entrance once was. Mr. Sullivan believes opening up a new entrance way will alleviate the problems. Mr. Sapia suggests that the Town Engineer visit the site and give his recommendations. Mr. Sapia also suggests a meeting with the State contractors. Mr. Childs informs the Board that once the loam is removed, the parking lot will be hot topped and lining and arrows will be painted which should fix the problem. Prosecution Contract: Done. Outside Detail Fund: The Chief believes he can remove town details out of the fund, but not the cruisers. The TA will check with the auditors to see if this can be done. Cruiser Purchase: The Chief would like to replace the detail cruiser and add a vehicle that has been taken out of service to the elderly affairs. The vehicle, if sold, is worth around $500-$1,000. Normally, these vehicles are sold, but the Chief would like to add it to the elderly affairs program. Need to find out if the current elderly affairs vehicle is being taken out of service or if this new vehicle is in addition to the current vehicle.

Mr. Childs gives a special thank you to the Morrellis for all the work they have done at the cemetery.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Respectfully

Raelene McBride

Recording Secretary

Fred Childs, Chair

Jack Sapia

Paul Sullivan