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

The Board presented the Business Recognition Award to George Barcelona proprietor of the Village Store for his many contributions to the Atkinson Community.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to the Outside Detail account in the operating budget noting that ‘Town Details’ needed to be expensed from the operating budget. The auditors recommended not expensing ‘Town Details’ through the revolving account because where no revenue went into the revolving account to pay for the detail no money should be paid out. Chief Consentino noted that he had over-expended the operating budget’s detail account because the revolving account was approved in March.

Chief Consentino next addressed the issue of public safety communications. He explained that he had been in touch with several wireless companies and that Cellular One noted that a 180-foot tower would cost approximately 220k-250k to construct, but that should the Town allow a company to erect a cell tower on Town owned land, then the Town would receive approximately $15,000 a year. Chief Consentino explained that a 100-foot by 100-foot plot of land would be necessary. Several pros and cons were discussed. Sue Killam, Planning Board Chair, explained that if the tower were cited by the fire station it would be considered a commercial use and a variance would be necessary, or a change in the zoning ordinance would be required unless it was solely for public safety communications.

Finally, Chief Consentino noted that his department had several air conditioners available for seniors to tide them over during the current heat wave. The TA noted that cooling stations could be set-up in the Community Center, or Fire Station if necessary. Mr. Sapia read a heat advisory bulletin from the Red Cross.

Ms. Jordan addressed the Board relative to the cable equipment issue noting the difficulty of high definition (HD) versus standard definition (SD). The TA explained that the Board had asked Great Northern Video to prepare an engineering design based on the original SD specification and one using HD. The design was in and the vendor was scheduled to meet with the Board on Wednesday morning. Ms. Jordan noted that Crimson Univision had not had time to respond to the quote for HD cameras. The TA explained that the Board had asked the vendor to supply a quote for HD cameras on June 16^th and that they had responded on July 20^th asking when the deadline was. The TA expressed concern that the process had been a messy one because of Ms. Jordan’s use of an engineer to craft the specifications who later bid on the installation and who also was used by a vendor as the equipment installer. Mr. Sapia explained that Ms. Jordan reported to the TA and that during the period leading up to the warrant article equipment costs went from 30k to 60k and finally to 90k in the warrant article. Mr. Childs noted that the process has been slow and that it should have been ready to go after the March meeting rather than waiting until after the meeting to draw up the specifications. The Board directed Ms. Jordan to contact Crimson Univisions and get their quote for HD cameras and schedule them for a Thursday interview. Ms. Jordan agreed to do so.

Mike Morrison addressed the Board with respect to the Mosquito Control Program. Mr. Morrison provided a map of the identifying the habitat areas of the mosquito species that are carriers of the West Nile and EEE virus. Mr. Morrison explained that the early spring flooding actually washed away most of the larvae. The ensuing drought also dried up most of the habitat, but with cooler temperatures and wetter conditions on the way the amount of mosquitoes making it to hatch would increase. Recent reports of trapped mosquitoes identified in Kingston, as carriers of EEE were troublesome. Therefore, Mr. Morrison recommended increasing the number of hours of mosquito control from 30 to 50 hours and also initiating a trapping program. A portion of the extra hours would be used to monitor the traps. It was noted that Rockingham County had been declared a public health risk and therefore funding was available to offset mosquito program costs. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to increase the number of hours from 30 to 50 hours and to initiate the trapping program. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Stewart briefed the Board on the status of several projects. He noted that it was time to provide line stripping of the roads, particularly the newly paved roads. He wished to place the stripping out to bid. The cost was anticipated to be $7,000 and there was $9,070 in the budget for the work. Mr. Stewart noted that the recreation equipment had been installed and that Greenworld would be working on ridding the fields of various weeds by using round-up. Mr. Stewart also noted that the Hovey Meadow drainage project. Brief discussion ensued.

The Board reviewed KNA’s recommendation for bond reduction of $22,021.63 relative to the above captioned. Mr. Sapia made the motion to approve KNA’s recommended bond reduction amount of $22,021.63 for Little River Lane project. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Ta briefed the Board relative to the above captioned LUCT for the properties 0016-0001-0000 & 0016-0001-002. A brief summarized table of activity appears below.

Please note that the actual size of the two lots is 9.59 and 3.01 respectively, but only .92 acres is taken out of current use. Mr. Childs made the motion to approve the LUCT in the amount of $38,000. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA explained that he had sent a letter to Waste Management indicating the Town’s intent to renegotiate the contract. He also noted that the RFP for curbside MSW and Recycling would be sent out the following morning.

The Chair recognized Carol Grant. Ms. Grant noted that she had a prepared statement, but first Ms. Grant inquired into the disposition of Mr. Kaye’s complaint against Chief Consentino. Mr. Sapia indicated that the Board had met with the Town’s Attorney and the contents of that meeting were privileged under the attorney client relationship. Ms. Grant began reading the text of RSA 91:A3 noting under what conditions non-public sessions could be held. Ms. Grant also noted that minutes of those meetings had to be provided within 72 hours. The TA noted that all minutes of non-public meetings were available. More debate ensued. Ms. Grant explained that she had received two "thug letters" threatening her and her family and that she believed that Chief Consentino sent the letters to intimidate her. The Board agreed that any threatening letters received by anyone in Town was repugnant, but the proper authorities best suited to address and investigate Ms. Grant’s concerns were the local, county, or state police agencies and not the Board of Selectmen. The Board was also concerned that Ms. Grant would allege misconduct by the Police Chief without any proof other than a copy of an envelope with an address on it. Mr. Sapia made the motion to move the meeting, but it failed for lack of a second. Ms. Grant complained that the police were trying to intimidate her by driving down her street and that the department refused to send the officer she requested to her house to receive her complaint. More acrimonious debate ensued and Ms. Gant left the meeting. Mr. Sullivan noted that Ms. Grant had good intentions but gets carried away between what is fact and what are allegations. Mr. Childs noted that she did not want to speak with the officer on duty and that you could not pick and choose which officer you wanted. Mr. Sapia noted that it was inappropriate to respond to a threat by maligning another individual.

Mr. Sapia read from an email sent by Mark Acciard regarding the legitimacy of the Police Chief’s appointment. It was noted that all officers were once re-appointed annually and that Mr. Consentino’s appointment expired in 1999. The question raised was whether or not a non-employee could run a department and expend money. Frank Polito addressed the Board and related his time as a Selectman when the practice of annual appointments was called into question. Mr. Polito noted that the Board had a discussion with Town Counsel regarding the issue. He explained that Chef Consentino was an employee and to not reappoint him meant that he was fired, and if he were fired, then what was the reason behind his termination? Therefore, his appointment as Police Chief was for an indefinite term. Mr. Polito did not understand why Mark Acciard got involved with the issue, as he was only a member of the budget committee. Brief debate ensued with respect to the issue.

Mr. Childs made the motion to enter into non-public session at approximately 9:30 under RSA 91-A:3, II (a) to discuss personnel issues. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board resumed the public session of the meeting at approximately 10:40pm. There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sullivan made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:45pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

_______________________

Fred Childs, Chair

_______________________

Jack Sapia

_______________________

Paul Sullivan