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

Mr. Childs made the motion to open the public hearing. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to his request to withdraw $1,517 from the Police Donation account for a town wide mailing to the seniors, heating assistance for a senior, birthday cards and postage. Comments from the public were solicited. Hearing none Mr. Sullivan made the motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The public hearing adjourned at approximately 7:33pm.

Chief Consentino noted that donations for the wheelchair van amounted to almost $20,000 to date. Chief Consentino next introduced the new Atkinson Post Master, Eddie Machieski who briefly chatted with Board members. Board members thanked Mr. Machieski for attending the meeting.

Frank Constabile addressed the Board seeking permission to participate in the towing needs of the PD and Town in general. Mr. Constabile noted that he had the appropriate insurance and equipment and that he had been providing the same services in Plaistow. The Board thanked him for coming to them and directed Mr. Constabile to schedule a meeting with the Police Chief who was still in the audience. The Chief agreed to schedule a meeting with Mr. Constabile.

The TA initiated the discussion about the new services that the Board had negotiated within the new contract with Waste Management (WM) and believed that the current meeting might be used to discuss the changes as well as make note of the changes in the upcoming annual mailer. Discussion ensued over the benefits of increased recycling. Mr. Nocella explained that curbside recycling was set at a fixed fee, but that curbside pick-up of municipal solid waste (MSW) was a variable fee dependant on the tonnage picked-up. Therefore, the more people recycled the less MSW there would be. In turn les MSW would translate into lower costs. The Board discussed the changes to the white goods and electronics pick-up noting that WM would provide curbside pick-up in the future. Payment for the pick-up would be made directly to WM by the resident requesting the pick-up. These changes would be reflected in the new WM newsletter coming out in March/April. The discussion spilled over into how to improve efficiencies in the transfer station. Mr. Nocella explained that because of a lack of space at the transfer station, its overall layout, and proximity to recreation fields conspired to create less efficiency. The Board discussed various other options including automated pick-up with use of toters as a later initiative. Mr. Nocella explained that WM could offer educational forums for school aged children as well. The Board asked for monthly tracking reports for totals of MSW and recyclables. Mr. Nocella agreed to compile and provide the data. The Board thanked Mr. Nocella.

The TA explained that the current bill SB 26, was still in committee, but that the intent was to limit the stocking of fish in Big Island Pond, or any other pond or lake, that did not offer public access. Reprentative Jim Garrity addressed the Board relative to the bill. He noted that it was still in committee and that there were funding concerns raised in the bill. Primarily, were would Fish and Game find the funding to purchase land and construct boat ramps to provide public access to the lake. Representative Garrity agreed to look into it.

The TA explained that the program (Community Technical Assistance Program) was part of NHDOT’s program to assist communities impacted by the $400M widening project for I-93. The Board had appointed the TA as a representative to CTAP with Sue Killam appointed as an alternate. However, Ms. Killam was unavailable to serve and the program required an alternate. The TA also explained that there was a scheduled meeting on February 1^st to discuss available project funding for Towns. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to appoint Harold Morse as an alternate member to the CTAP program. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Sapia passed out a handbook highlighting strategic planning efforts other communities have used; in this instance it was Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Sapia asked Board members to review the handbook.

Mr. Sapia expressed his opinion to have an annual meeting where the school and other officials discussed the tax rate and how the school’s rate was established.

Mr. Childs alerted viewers that the Town’s Deliberative Session of the Town Meeting was scheduled for February 3^rd at 10:00am in the Dyke Auditorium at the Atkinson Academy.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Childs made the motion adjourn the meeting. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Fred Childs, Chair

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Jack Sapia

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Paul Sullivan