A list of 6 individuals who have expressed interest in serving as an Interim Town Administrator. B. Cox pointed out that LGC only keeps a record of names, but does not get involved with the hiring process of "Interims". Chairman P. Sullivan suggested that each Selectman call two potential candidates to see if they are still interested, and, if so, requesting a copy of their resume: Chairman P. Sullivan – Dana I. Hadley and Brendan L. Gray; F. Childs - John R. Frederick and Craig J. Kleman; W. Friel – W. Veroneau and Donald P. McLelland, Sr.

A sample Job Description to be reviewed and modified by the Board of Selectmen to best suit the Town of Atkinson. Chairman P. Sullivan said that the job description could best be done at a workshop session, tentatively to be scheduled for Monday, March 31, 2008.

Draft of an ad that could be placed as soon as the Board of Selectmen review and approve the wording. F. Childs noted that there are closer to 7,300 people in Atkinson at this time, and that the Town has a $4.6 million-dollar budget for 2008. Chairman P. Sullivan said he would get the number of part-time and full-time employees. B. Cox said that, if he could receive all of the information by noon on Wednesday, March 19, the ad could be published by Sunday, March 23.

A list of typical placements for ads. B. Cox pointed out that significantly more people respond to web sites than to print media. Chairman P. Sullivan asked if it would be possible to get our as into the monthly LGC magazine Town and City. B. Cox answered that the ads for Town and City had to be in on the 1^st of the month preceding the month of publication, the soonest of which would be the May edition, and that it takes about a month before replies start coming in. The Board of Selectmen reviewed the list and decided on the following placements:

A sample list of interview questions. B. Cox asked who would be doing the interviews, an Interview Committee or the Board of Selectmen. Chairman P. Sullivan said that the Board hasn’t discussed the interview process yet.

Road Agent E. Stewart asked the Board of Selectmen if he might contact the Town’s Information Technology professional S. Jussif. E. Stewart said currently he has to go outside to use his laptop since he is operating off of the Fire Station’s Internet connection. He would like to be able to use the laptop in his office and have an e-mail address for the Highway Department. Chairman P. Sullivan suggested contacting S. Jussif this week so that the Highway Department’s needs could be considered in the 10-year computer plan being proposed.

Road Agent E. Stewart then brought up the fact that the Town’s 10-year Road Maintenance Plan expired two years ago, and he would like to have another 10-year plan developed. To that end, the Road Agent budgeted $10,000. He asked the Board if he could put the engineering of the plan out to bid, or must he use the Town Engineer, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.? F. Childs said he would have to first review the Stantec contract to see if we are obligated to use only their services. B. Friel asked for more information about the Road Maintenance Plan. E. Stewart answered that an engineer would review the whole road system in Town, and develop a maintenance schedule for the next 10-years, which would then have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. After approval, the Planning Board would then incorporate the Road Maintenance Plan into the Town’s Master Plan’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Chairman P. Sullivan suggested that E. Stewart develop a Request for Bid ad, to bring in to the Board for next week, meanwhile the Selectmen will review the Stantec contract and give E. Stewart an answer concerning the approach to engineering at the March 24 meeting.

Resident M. Fletcher asked if Civil Engineering students at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) would be able to help. E. Stewart replied that, in the past, UNH had always bid significantly higher than the others, however he would send them a bid. P. Sullivan asked if the Circuit Rider could be of assistance. E. Stewart responded that he could take the plan to the Rockingham Planning Commission, but in the past they were willing to review plans but not engineer them, although he would send RPC a bid. He was then asked who would develop the engineering criteria for the bid. E. Stewart answered that he would handle the specifications.

Road Agent E. Stewart told the Board that the 3-year lease agreement on the Town’s Ford F-450 was now up, and the 2008 Highway Budget has passed with $10,000 for a proposed 4-year lease on a Ford F-550. He added that Grappone Ford was awarded the bid to supply the State trucks, and suggested that ours be purchased under the State bid as in the past. He said that all Grappone needed was a Purchase and Sales Agreement signed by the Selectmen, and presented the document to the Board (copy attached).

W. Friel asked if we didn’t just return the old one. E. Stewart answered that in a Municipal Lease, after the lease period is up, the Town owns the vehicle. W. Friel then asked if we were going to trade the old one. E. Stewart said that was his intent. W. Friel asked if the Town owned the plow and sander on the Town Truck. E. Stewart said that the 9-foot plow would go with the truck, but the 3 cubic yard stainless steel sander belonged to the Town. F. Childs asked who owned the sanders. E. Stewart said that he and Warren (?) owned their own sander, the rest were owned by the Town. Chairman P. Sullivan said he would take the issue under advisement and have an answer for next week’s meeting on March 24.

Chairman P. Sullivan asked Road Agent E. Stewart how the update to the Annual Report for the NPDES PII Small MS4 General Permit was coming along. E. Stewart replied that he would present the finished copy to the Board on April 7.

Chairman P. Sullivan thanked the Road Agent for responding at 8 PM last Saturday night to help a Sawyer Avenue resident who had water up to the front door. E. Stewart noted that the problem was caused by a Halloween decoration that plugged the culvert pipe. As a result, the water washed out three other culvert pipes and was cascading into the Sawyer Avenue yard. Since Sawyer Avenue is a State road, E. Stewart called NH-DOT Division 6, who responded to help the resident as well. While the State is aware of its responsibility to repair the drainage system, there has been no money allocated in 2008 for such work. Division 6 will, however, continue maintenance such as filling in washouts.

F. Childs asked if the drainage on Atkinson Farm Road would be fixed prior to shim and overlay. E. Stewart replied that he had Busby Construction Company create drainage swayles, however the road was relatively flat, with a 2% grade. F. Childs indicated that the residents believed that poor drainage caused the road to break up. E. Stewart disagreed, stating that the road was 20 years old, and the deterioration was due to normal wear and tear.

F. Childs noted that he had complaints about Wood Drive since it was redone last summer. E. Stewart said the scope of work on Wood Drive was only 40 feet, and that the problem existed before the road work and, although the homeowners’ won’t be happy, the problem is theirs.

W. Friel said that each of the Selectmen should have a Town e-mail box to receive messages from residents. P. Sullivan said that would be one of the topics to be discussed with S. Jussif.

Following reviews and interviews, the Board of Selectmen noted that a new Recording Secretary would be available for both the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen, and is expected to start with March 19th Planning Board meeting and March 24th Board of Selectmen. Chairman P. Sullivan said he would write the letter of employment.

Chairman P. Sullivan wants to have a "tour" of all Town Buildings with the Maintenance Supervisor, Dave Weymouth, and the building inspectors, in order to develop a five-year plan for major projects. Both F. Childs and W. Friel agreed, and the date is to be Saturday, March 29, time to be determined.

Decision RE: Road Study Engineering

Decision RE: Town Truck

Get R. Cavalear a laptop for Rabies’ Clinic

3/19/08 – Recording Sec. Letter of Employment