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

The Board observed a moment of silence.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to a withdrawal of $1,850. The request breakout is listed below.

Oil for a senior 350

Flashlights (3) 375

Wheel Chair Ramp 250

GPS for Wheelchair Van 375

Car Phone 100

Public comments were solicited. Hearing none the meeting was closed at approximately 7:35pm.

Chief Consentino provided a monthly status report for the department.

The Board welcomed David Williams as the new ACT20 Station Manager. The TA noted that Mr. Williams came to the position with a BFA in film and video production. Mr. Williams had worked as an independent producer for the City Portsmouth and the Town of Kittery prior to moving to Derry. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to hire Mr. Williams as the ACTV20 Station Manager. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board welcomed Mr. Williams aboard and looked forward to working with him.

Vietnam monument

Mr. Hurley read from a prepared statement explaining why the Atkinson Veteran’s Club was opposed to the new placement of the panels near the map stone. He noted that the original installation was meant to honor all veterans. The concern was over leaving out a name, or mis-spelling a name on the new panels. Mr. Sullivan noted that to date there was one name addition and one mis-spelling.

Vietnam Panel Installation Timeframe

Mr. Acciard asked about the status of the panel installation. Mr. Sapia explained that the Board had signed an amended stipulation agreement. The Plaintiff to the action would next need to sign the agreement as well. Then, the Plaintiff’s attorney of record needed to file a motion with the court to have the current agreement entered as an order.

Mr. Acciard next asked why an employee using official department letterhead, and therefore by extension the Town had sent a letter to him threatening to sue him. Brief discussion ensued. Mr. Childs explained that the Board did not send any letter threatening to sue Mr. Acciard. Further debate ensued regarding the issue of the letter sent to Mr. Acciard. Mr. Kaye entered the discussion by noting that he had received a similar letter from the same individual 17 months earlier. Mr. Kaye asked what action had been taken relative to his issue? Mr. Sullivan noted that he had Mr. Kaye’s letter with him from 17 months ago and said that no action had been taken. Mr. Childs asked why Mr. Sullivan had information with him that other members of the Board didn’t have. Mr. Childs also asked that if nothing had been done in 17 months, then why hadn’t Mr. Sullivan taken up the issue during that time. As tempers flared the Chair called a five-minute recess at approximately 8:00pm. The meeting resumed at approximately 8:07pm. Mr. Acciard asked what course of action the Board was going to take relevant to the issue of the letter. The Board explained that it would first review the issue prior to determining what action to take.

KNA Road Bond Review

The TA called attention to the agenda packets containing the KNA reports noting that they lacked the requisite specificity the Board was looking for. It was explained that transfer of KNA projects to Stantec was possible, but may well be difficult as well.

The TA noted that there was a request that the Board consider incorporating the 1.2% pay increase for length of service (every 5 years) as found in the old employee handbook. The Board asked that the TA incorporate the pay policy into the new personnel policy.

The Board reviewed the agreement. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the consulting services agreement with CDCG for an emergency communications study. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The Chair was authorized to sign the agreement.

The Board reviewed the Maintenance Supervisor’s request to over-expend a line item to help repair the Hearse House. The Board reviewed the proposed work and cost. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the over-expenditure of $640. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board opened and reviewed the oil and propane bids, which are listed in the table below.

* Selkirk plus .20 w/capped price. No service charge for building systems.

** Service cleaning charge is $139.95 per building.

The Board revisited the authorization to over-expend from the maintenance supervisor noting that the total cost was over $1,000, which required three quotes. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to rescind the previous authorization. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA explained that the Board needed to officially vote on the salt bid. It was noted that a metric ton was 2,200 pounds and the bid from Morton Salt was $52.36 per metric ton. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to award the salt bid to Morton Salt at $52.36 per metric ton. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Ted Stewart addressed the Board and provided a status report on various department activities. Mr. Stewart noted that additional shim work could be completed on Providence Hill from Windmill Lane on the southerly side to Bittersweet Lane with existing funds. The Board agreed to take a closer look at it. Mr. Stewart also provided an update on the current paving schedule for Newbury Drive. A discussion ensued over burning versus chipping brush at the transfer station. Several residents had complained of drifting ash falling onto their cars and boats and wafting into their homes over the weekend. The acrid smell of the burning was unpleasant to many residents whose homes abutted the transfer station. Mr. Stewart explained that he had previously chipped most of the brush leaving only the smaller pieces unfit for chipping in the brush pile. He also had to wait to burn because of the dry weather. During the wait for damper weather the brush pile got larger. As a consequence the weekend burn had more brush than originally scheduled for burning. A discussion of chipper costs and the upcoming budget ensued with Board members asking that Mr. Stewart work with the complainants to solve the ash issue.

The Board acknowledged Ellie Zaremba. Ms. Zaremba asked what needed to be done to move the process along concerning the new amended agreement for the Vietnam panels. The TA provided Ms. Zaremba with the agreement that had been signed by the Board members. Ms. Zaremba agreed to have the Plaintiff’s sign off as well and then forwarded the agreement to Charles Tucker for proper filling with the court.

The Board next acknowledged Valerie Tobin. Ms. Tobin asked the Board about the status of several projects in town. The Board explained that library construction began last week, the emergency communications study was authorized earlier during the meeting, and that budget committee meetings began their regular televised schedule in October.

The Board acknowledged Leon Artus. Mr. Artus complained about the Town’s assessing practices. The Board reminded Mr. Artus that meetings had been held to explain the process and accept questions from residents.

Brian Boyle addressed the Board with a request to have the Board meet with him out at Winslow Drive on the cul-de-sac to review a driveway permit denial issue. The Board agreed to do so.

Mr. Sullivan commented on the success of the Town-wide yard sale that was aided by the Recreation (Noriko Travers) and the Civic Club. Mr. Sapia noted that the Atkinson Kindergarten classrooms were now ready for use.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Childs made the motion to continue the meeting at 9:00am on Winslow Drive to meet with Brian Boyle to discuss a driveway permit issue. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The evening portion of the meeting concluded at approximately 9:40pm

The continued meeting from the previous evening continued at approximately 9:00am on Winslow Drive’s cul-de-sac. Those present included Jack Sapia, Chair, Paul Sullivan, Fred Childs, Russell McAllister (Town Administrator), Ted Stewart (road Agent), and Brian Boyle. Mr. Stewart explained that the construction of the driveway did not meet driveway specifications because it was elevated above the road surface. This created a condition where rainwater drained onto the road, which was not allowed under adopted road specifications. Mr. Boyle acknowledged that such a condition existed, but it would be remedied when the topcoat of pavement was applied to the road surface. Discussion ensued with respect to a change in the cul-de-sac’s design that made it super elevated so that all water drained from the center to the outer edges. The approved plan called for a crown in the road that shed water to both sides of the road. Mr. Stewart noted that the design change needed approval and notation of the change from the Town’s Engineer for the project. Mr. Boyle assured Board members that the design changed had been signed-off by Steve Keach of KNA. The Board agreed that something in writing from the engineer would be necessary and that the driveway permits approval fell under the purview of the Road Agent. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Boyle agreed to work to insure that Mr. Boyle provided written assurances that he would comply with the driveway specifications by insuring that the topcoat of pavement was a minimum of 1.5 inches, which would place the height of the road above that of the driveway. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:00am.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs