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

Presentation – Vollmer Engineering Associates

Gerry Fortin and Bill Rollins, engineers from Vollmer Engineering, provided an overview of services offered by the firm with an emphasis on those services currently provided to the Atkinson Planning Board. The service offerings included site review, storm water management, traffic analysis, construction observation and inspection review. After the presentation Mr. Sapia welcomed Vollmer to the Atkinson team and Mr. Childs opened the meeting up for a question and answer period. Sue Killam, Planning Board Chair, asked several questions pertinent to how review fees were determined and how road bond estimates were derived. Mr. Fortin noted that they had reviewed many plans and that depending on the size and scope of the plan; fees were determined by the number of hours necessary to review the submission. Bond estimates were derived several ways, but the most used procedure was to have the developer’s engineer provide an estimate based on the amount of work necessary to complete the project. Vollmer next reviewed the estimate for accuracy and made a recommendation from there. Questions concerning the method of payment were discussed. It was noted that currently developers paid KNA directly for all review and inspection fees. Vollmer representatives explained that they worked for the town and preferred that the Town collect fees from the developer and pay invoices submitted by Vollmer. Having the developer pay Vollmer directly represented a conflict of interest because Vollmer worked for the Town and not the developer. Costs associated with Vollmer attending planning board meetings were paid for by the developer. It was explained that all construction status and inspection reports were submitted at the same time as the invoice so that the Town remained well informed about the project status. Mr. Sullivan noted that communication was important particularly during the transition from KNA to Vollmer. The TA was queried as to whether the financial system could track the escrow funds from developer by project. The TA explained that he had touched base with the auditor and was arranging a meeting. Glenn Greenwood, Circuit Rider for the Rockingham Planning Commission, explained that as the planner he wanted to develop a work flow with Vollmer to insure that applicants were not being double charged and that the planner planned and the engineers engineered. It was agreed that the planner would be tasked with determining that the applications were complete. The Board thanked everyone for their time and presentation.

The TA noted that Mariner Tower wanted to attend a meeting to address the Board relative to their request to remove three antennas and to replace them with three new antennas. The Board agreed to schedule them for November 6^th.

The TA noted that the auditing services contract was up for final renewal and that the cost was down from $10,050 to $9,975. Mr. Sapia made the motion to renew the contract in the amount of $9,975. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The Board agreed to put the contract out to bid next year.

Chief Consentino made several announcements concerning the date and time for Halloween, Senior Flu Clinic, and homeowner’s gun safety course. Chief Consentino spoke to the recent spate of mailbox vandals noting that those caught would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Chief Consentino next addressed a request to place a streetlight at the corner of Rose Lane. Some discussion ensued with respect to the merits of doing so. Mr. Sapia made the motion to authorize the placement of a streetlight at such location. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Erica Jordan reviewed the bids relative to the monitors including size, plasma versus LCD and speaker options. Some debate ensued with respect to the merits of each type of monitor offered. The Board asked that more information relative to the options offered by each be researched. Ms. Jordan agreed to do so. Ms. Jordan noted that the difference between the scan converters offered was minimal. Mr. Sapia made the motion to approve the bid from Great Northern Video for an Extron scan converter in the amount of $1,353. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board decided to take the bids under advisement.

The Board noted that Elaine Woodbury had tendered her resignation effective November 15^th. It was noted that she was moving to Florida. The Board wished her well and noted that she would be missed.

The TA noted that he had estimated health cost increases at 10% for the preparation of the budgets now before the Board. The TA also explained that the increase in retirement costs were also calculated as a blended rate noting that the NHRS was on a fiscal year versus the calendar year budget cycle for the town. The blended contribution rate was 7.775%. Mr. Sullivan spoke to his philosophical leanings with respect to full time versus part time particularly from the benefit costs associated with additional full time employees. Mr. Sapia explained his view that some return on investment (ROI) for investment outlay. The TA reviewed the various budgets with Board members noting that costs were not up significantly and that they were slightly below current rates of inflation. The Board preliminarily approved the following funding levels in the budgets listed in the table below.

Mr. Childs noted that a regional BoS meeting was scheduled for October 25^th at the Chester Town Hall at 7:00pm. Board members agreed to try to attend.

Mr. Sapia expressed his condolences to the family and the community of Manchester over the recent shooting death of a Police Officer.

Mr. Sapia made the motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (e) to discuss personnel & legal issues. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The meeting started at approximately 10:10pm.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sapia made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Fred Childs, Chair

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Jack Sapia

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Paul Sullivan