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

The Chair opened the public hearing at approximately 7:30pm. Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to withdrawing $540 from the PD Donation account for the DARE graduation ceremony. The Board solicited comments from those in attendance. Hearing none Mr. Childs made the motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board noting that the Lion’s Club had nominated Mr. Childs as Citizen of the Year. A round of applause greeted the announcement.

Chief Consentino addressed the lease agreements for the new cruiser’s. He explained that funding from the police detail revolving account was paying for the leases. He also noted that it was necessary to have someone sign the lease agreement. Mr. Childs made the motion to authorize Mr. Sapia to sign the lease agreement. Mr. Sullivan seconded the vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Stewart addressed the Board relative to the hiring of an assistant road agent. Mr. Stewart spoke to the qualities of the recommended candidate. The TA explained that discussion concerning the hiring, or a quality of a particular candidate was a personnel issue better discussed in non-public session. A discussion ensued relative to chipping versus burning between Board members and Mr. Stewart. Mr. Sapia explained the desire of the Board to decrease the environmental footprint of the transfer station. Mr. Stewart addressed the cost issue explaining the costs of both labor and chipper rental. More discussion ensued with Mr. Childs explaining that the $5,000 may not be enough money to do the amount of the chipping the Board had envisioned during the year, but it was a start. It was a lot like taking baby steps. Mr. Sapia suggested closing the transfer station on Wednesdays. Mr. Sullivan was not in favor of doing so. Mr. Stewart handed out a configuration map of the transfer station and a discussion ensued with the Board determining to take a site visit. The Board briefly discussed signage with Mr. Stewart who asked to return later for a non-public session. The Board agreed.

Dave Walker began his presentation explaining that the re-designation resolution his presentation addresses authorizes the RPC to form two distinct MPO’s, one serving the Seacoast and the other serving the Salem-Plaistow-Windham area. The Seacoast MPO is comprised of 36 communities with a population of 231,000. The Salem-Plaistow-Windham MPO is comprised of 9 communities, including Atkinson with a population of 80,500. The current transportation MPO was delineated by Census data and resided in both the Strafford and Rockingham Planning Commission boundaries. This resulted in duplication of efforts, plans, votes, and staff. While the planning commissions had their separate boundaries defined by counties, the transportation portion of commission responsibilities transcended county boundaries and that involved extensive duplication of work. Therefore, the current resolution before the Atkinson Board was to allow the transportation portion, the MPO, to be re-designated the Salem-Plaistow-Windham MPO. The process to date involved approval by the Planning Commissions, the NHDOT, the central city (Rochester), and several other Towns as well. If a majority of Town’s approved the Governor would sign-off, too. The Board asked many questions and further discussed the issue. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the resolution to re-designate Atkinson as part of the Salem-Plaistow-Windham MPO. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Katie McDonough, Library Director, addressed the Board relative to appointment of two (2) alternate members for the Trustees. The Library Trustees recommended Eleanor Fuerer and James Halchak to serve as alternate Trustees. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to appoint Ms. Fuerer and Mr. Halchak as alternates for a one-year term. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 30^th meeting. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA noted that the PC’s from Dell had been delivered. The total cost of 4 PC’s was $3,310.32. The TA explained that he had extracted the ADP budget and presented it in the agenda packet along with the breakout of costs. It was explained that a fourth PC was purchased for the recreation department because that PC had an unstable OS, and it was over 5 years old. Total budgeted costs for 3 PC’s was $4,200. The current expenditure of $3,310.32 for 4PC’s represents a savings of $889.68.

The Board reviewed abatement requests as recommended by the Assessor. Mr. Sullivan had a concern with respect to one of the requests and asked that Attorney Kalman review it. Other Board members agreed. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the abatements as listed in the table below. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA noted that one of the requests concerned a home that burned in April 2006. The TA noted that the assessor recommended pro-rating the assessed value at 117,700 which equated to an abatement amount of 1,624.26. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to grant the abatement on a pro-rated basis in the amount of 1,624.26 (also listed in the table above). Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board reviewed a veterans and solar exemption. Mr. Childs made the motion to approve the two exemptions listed in the table below. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA reported that the proposed lease agreement with modifications as suggested by Primex included the increased coverage as recommended and Sumner’s changes that included the tenant paying the $1,000 security deposit to the Town and not the Atkinson Fire Association. Also the lease length now corresponded to the length of the contract for services with AMR. The TA reported that AMR had added some environmental provisions within the agreement. The memo included comments from Primex with respect to AMR’s environmental language. The TA had yet to hear from Sumner.

The Board reviewed the appointment list and entertained a brief discussion. Mr. Sullivan spoke to his belief that the composition of the Recreation Commission should include representatives from Little League, Soccer and so on. The Board also urged folks to volunteer for available positions to get more involved in the community. Mr. Sullivan spoke to the need of having two people represent Atkinson on the Rockingham Planning Commission.

Mr. Sullivan noted that the Maintenance Position was due to close on Friday the 13^th. The Board discussed implementation of Article 22 (Telecommunication Tower Committee). A representative from the recreation committee was mentioned for membership. Mr. Sullivan noted that the language in the warrant article specified committee representation. The Board discussed the issue with Mr. Sapia suggesting that additional membership might be possible. Mr. Sullivan disagreed. The Board directed the TA to contact town counsel concerning the issue. The TA agreed to do so.

Mr. Sullivan noted his disappointment with Comcast in expeditiously providing the bundled package (phone, internet, cable). He had been without phone service for several days as Comcast worked to resolve the issue.

Jim Blackadar from the Budget Committee noted that the Committee was meeting the next day and that the committee had an opening. He urged folks to come forward.

Mr. Sapia made the motion to convene a 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 non-public session began at approximately 9:55pm.

The Board re-entered public session and there being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Childs made the motion adjourn the meeting. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:55pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs