Present: Fred Childs, Chair, Paul Sullivan, and Town Administrator Russell McAllister. Jack Sapia was absent due to previous business commitments.

Chief Consentino addressed the Board with several budget updates as well as a request to increase the rate of pay for Sergeant Farrar by $1.25 per hour. This would increase the hourly rate of pay from $22.38 to $23.63. Discussion among Board members ensued with Mr. Sullivan suggesting a $1.00 per hour increase. Mr. Sapia spoke to the need for pay matrices and position descriptions. Mr. Childs noted that the Chief was the lowest paid part-time Chief and suggested a $2,500 per year raise. More discussion ensued. Mr. Sapia made the motion to increase the rate of pay for Sergeant Farrar by $1.25 per hour, and to increase Chief Consentino’s salary $2,500 annually. Mr. Sullivan seconded. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Jim Kirsch (Code Enforcement Officer) briefed the Board about the status of an illegal apartment. He reported that he had notified the individual about the issue and directed the individual to make an application to the ZBA. The individual had failed to take the recommended action. Mr. Kirsch suggested that the Board allow him to follow-up with a letter directing the individual to apply for a building permit for the removal of the stove and sink in the illegal apartment within 21 days, or the Board would impose a $10 per day fine for every day of non-compliance. The Board directed Mr. Kirsch to proceed.

The Board briefly reviewed and discussed the alternate vacancy on the Commission with Mr. Sullivan making the motion to appoint Bruce Bishop of 71 East Road as an alternate on the Conservation Commission. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The TA noted that Town Counsel had reviewed the above contract and his recommended language changes had been incorporated into the agreement. The TA noted that Waste Management had already executed the agreement and that Board signatures were now necessary.

The TA noted that the agreement was ready for Board signatures as well.

The TA briefly went over the packet materials concerning the timeline for public notice, public hearing timelines and so on. The Board directed the TA to get the notice in the newspaper. The TA agreed to do so.

Mr. Stewart briefed the Board relative to the associated engineering work for the slated reconstruction work on Walker Road and Wood Drive in 2007. Mr. Stewart explained that the survey work ($10,000) for the project had been completed. The Board reviewed the KNA services agreement noting that it was a proposal for the scope of work. Mr. Stewart went on to explain that the engineering work and bid document costs for the project from KNA were $9,500 versus $17,000 from Vollmer. Discussion ensued among Board members and Mr. Stewart with respect to the scope of service agreements from the respective engineers. Mr. Sapia made the motion to take the issue under advisement. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board next reviewed the warrant article for road reconstruction (Wood Drive & Walker Road). The discussion’s thread wound through the pros and cons of having all the costs associated with the road reconstruction within the warrant article, versus having the paving costs portion for the project remain in the operating budget and separate from the warrant article. Proponents argued that if the warrant article was not approved, then funding for crack sealing and shim work for other roads remained intact. Opponents argued that the total cost of the reconstruction project should be reflected in the warrant article. Other discussion focused on the total cost of the warrant articles and reiterated Board concerns with future uncertainty over education funding, the state of the economy and the recent revaluation’s impact on seniors with fixed incomes.

The TA inquired about the Board’s desire to encumber the funding remaining in the warrant article for roadwork on Newbury Drive. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to encumber the remaining funding of $11,949 in the Newbury Warrant Article. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Sullivan spoke to the issue of placing Granite Ridge Road before the voters to be accepted as a Town Road. He noted that work on the road had been completed, but because the developer was no longer part of the project he believed it was acceptable for the Board to place it on the warrant on behalf of the residents living on the road. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to place acceptance of Granite Ridge Road as a Town Road on the Town Warrant. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Ms Adele Dillon was acknowledged by the Chair to address the latest turn of events associated with the Vietnam Memorial Panels. Ms. Dillon noted that subsequent to the mediated agreement the Historic Society preferred to have only the Vietnam Memorial Panels placed in front of the Historic Society building. Mr. Childs explained that he didn’t have a problem with that request, but noted that the mediated agreement acknowledged by both parties called for a replica of the existing Vietnam Panel to be included with the other two panels. As such that written agreement needed to be modified to reflect the change so as to avoid any future conflict. Mr. Sapia agreed that it was a small issue, too and was pleased that the mediation had been successful.

The Board read each warrant article debating the merits of each. Discussion centered on affordability given the uncertainty over future education funding, abatement amount, and the recent revaluation. The Board asked that the TA submit the warrant article language to the DRA for review. The TA agreed to do so.

Mr. Sapia introduced the topic of converting the Recreation Director position from part to full-time. Mr. Sullivan disagreed noting the associated increase in fringe benefit costs.

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 9:30pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Fred Childs, Chair

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Jack Sapia

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Paul Sullivan