Present: Phil Consentino, Chair; Fred Childs, Jack Sapia and Town Administrator Russell McAllister.

Mr. Stewart spoke briefly about the paving recently completed at the library parking lot. He also noted that he was working with the Conservation Commission with the storm water management plan along Big Island Pond. Mr. Stewart noted that he had completed some shoulder work on Salem Road. Mr. Stewart spoke to the issue of hiring an Assistant Road Agent. The TA suggested that any interview be conducted in non-public session.

The Board opened the paving bids. The bids are listed in the table below. The TA noted that the bid from Continental Paving was received after the deadline for bid submissions.

The Board referred the bids to Mr. Stewart for review.

Mr. Scanlon addressed the Board with respect to the above captioned issue. He explained that Nashua was actively pursuing eminent domain proceedings against Pennichuck Water with the goal of taking over the company. While Nashua was looking to take over the water company, the city was not interested in running the operation once the company was acquired. The Merrimack Regional Water District will be responsible for managing the day-to-day business operations of the water company if acquired by Nashua. Membership within the water district was open to municipalities where assets from Pennichuck Water were located. The original membership fees requested from municipalities were to support the legal costs associated with formation of the water district and the Charter governing the district’s operation. Mr. Scanlon noted that because the legal work associated with formation of the district and the attendant governing charter, future membership fees were unlikely, specifically in the case of membership for Atkinson. It was noted that membership in the district was voluntary, but after June 1^st, the Board of Directors for the water district must approve new membership. Benefits of membership include payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for assets located in the host community as well as participation in the decision making on matters related to the district. The Board discussed the benefits and the timeline for making the decision to join. The consensus among Board members was to table any decision for a later date.

Linda Jette addressed the Board relative to the time frame for licensing dogs. April 30^th was the last day. The month of May was a grace period prior to the issuing of civil forfeitures for non-licensing of dogs.

Library Trustee Elaine Woodbury addressed the Board with cost information relative to holding a special meeting. The total cost was derived in consultation with the Town Clerk and estimated at $2,388. Ms. Woodbury noted that the architect was onboard and that delays in design and construction would result in higher costs. Ms. Woodbury noted that the Library Trustees were looking to expend $179,000 form the capital reserve. Mr. Consentino noted that the voters previously approved a $50,000 expenditure from the capital reserve. The TA explained that language in the warrant article naming the selectmen as agents for the capital reserve fund was changed on the floor during the deliberative session in 2003. The language change named the selectmen as agents, but limited their ability to expend from the capital reserve at $50,000. The DRA disallowed this language change noting that selectmen could not act as partial agents, meaning that they were granted the ability to expend only a portion (in this case $50,000) of the amount in the capital reserve. The TA went on to explain that the special meeting would be to name the selectmen as agents of the library capital reserve fund. The issue of whether or not to expend $50,000, as expressed by the voters in 2003, or to expend $179,000 as recommended by the Library Trustees in 2005, was a decision solely in the hands of the Board. Mr. Sapia expressed his concern over holding a special meeting when the problem had been left unresolved since 2003. He noted that the issue could have been corrected at the last Town meeting, but was not. He did not see how the issue rose to the level of an emergency. There were other issues that needed to be addressed and therefore he expressed his desire to see the issue tabled. Mr. Childs agreed with Mr. Sapia also noting that the issue was not an emergency and the language defects in the warrant article could have been corrected at previous town meetings. Mr. Childs made the motion to table the issue until the June 6^th meeting. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Weymouth addressed the Board relative to the above captioned issue. Mr. Weymouth reported the results of a recent Veteran’s meeting wherein Atkinson veteran’s proposed to keep the Vietnam memorial the way it is; dedicate a veteran’s memorial park where all memorials and monuments could be consolidated; and to create a committee to look a the issue and report back to the Board. Mr. Weymouth noted that a signed petition from Veteran’s would be available at the June 6^th meeting. Mr. Weymouth next asked about the Town Committee that was soliciting money for the Vietnam Honor Roll. Mr. Childs explained that there was no Board appointed committee charged with soliciting funds. The donation drive was solely private and Ms. Grant was undertaking the project on her own.

Mr. Consentino acknowledged Carol Grant who addressed the Board and reproached Mr. Weymouth and he plans he offered with respect to locating the Vietnam Honor Roll elsewhere. Ms. Grant maintained that the voters had approved the location of the honor roll in front of the town hall. Mr. Sapia cautioned Ms. Grant against name-calling.

Mr. Consentino next acknowledged Ms. Kate Rocheford from the Hemlock Heights Improvement Association. Ms. Rocheford began a lengthy complaint of building activities associated with the Osborne property. Ms. Rocheford noted that the fire lane width of 20 feet needed to be corrected and she wished to have a time certain when the work would be completed. Ms. Rocheford also noted that the letter from the Fire Chief commenting on the fire lane and driveway referred to the driveway as belonging to the Osborne’s and she wished to have that language corrected. Ms. Rocheford noted that the building permit was not visible and that she had questions with respect to the square footage of the building as well. Ms. Rocheford also expressed her belief that undue influence by town officials on behalf of Maggia Osborne. Ms. Rocheford noted that Ted Stewart had accepted fill from Ms. Osborne. Overall Ms. Rocheford expressed her feeling that the neighbors felt intimidated by the Osborne’s. The Board expressed confidence that all town officials carried out their responsibilities in a professional manner and that they adhered to all applicable ordinances, laws and regulations. Mr. Stewart dispelled the notion of a conflict of interest and noted that the fill donated by Ms. Osborne was used for the little league field. The TA explained that the issue being discussed should be an agenda item open for public discussion by all parties. Many of the complaints could have been answered during the meeting if the issue had been placed on the agenda. Background material and appropriate staff could have been made available for discussion at the meeting. The Board directed the TA to meet with the Building Department to go over the concerns raised by Ms. Rocheford. The TA agreed to do so.

Mr. Consentino next acknowledged Doug Dowd. Mr. Dowd thanked the Board for the reconfigured T-Ball field, relocated transfer station road and increased parking. Mr. Dowd noted that he wanted to assign a specific area for the concessionaires to improve pedestrian safety near the parking lot going from one vendor to another. Mr. Dowd spoke to the issue of the ball field just off from Birch Lane that is owned by the school district but maintained by volunteers. It was suggested that the town provide some assistance with maintenance and the Little League Association would provide the scheduling for the field.

The TA noted that he had reviewed the specifications associated with the two lowest bids and found them to be the same. The TA recommend the bid from Focus Technology for a server ($4,339) and software component ($1,050) for a total bid amount of $5,389 with installation provided by Adel XT for $950. Mr. Childs made the motion to award the bid for the server hardware and software to Focus Technology in the amount of $5,389 and award the installation portion of the work to Adel XT for $950. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board next discussed the archiving of the videotapes for the Selectmen’s meeting. Mr. Consentino made the motion to archive just the Selectmen meeting tapes starting with the current meeting. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Childs made the motion to approve the following Reports of Timber and Land Use Change taxes. The list of properties is provided in the table below.

Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board briefly discussed the summer schedule where the Board agreed to meet every other week for the months of July and August. The TA also noted that he was taking Thursday and Friday off to go kayaking.

Mr. Sapia made the motion to accept the public minutes of May 16^th as amended. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. Mr. Childs made the motion to approve the public minutes of May 19^th. Mr. Consentino seconded the motion. Mr. Sapia abstained due to absence at that meeting.

Mr. Consentino noted that there was an applicant for the available dispatcher/secretary position at the police department and that he wanted to run the applicant through the process, but that it required a conditional offer of employment prior to running the appropriate background checks. Mr. Childs made the motion to extend a conditional offer of employment for the applicant so that the necessary background checks could be performed. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous with Mr. Consentino abstaining.

Mr. Stewart addressed the Board with a recommendation to award the paving bid to the lowest bidder at $38.70 / ton. Mr. Sapia made the motion to award Pike Industries the paving contract for $38.70 per ton. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Childs spoke of the need to over expend a line item to replace a broken water bubbler at Pope Field. Mr. Childs also spoke about the possibility of a new town sign to replace the old one in front of the cemetery. Mr. Consentino noted that he wanted a nice one and volunteered to help pay for it. Mr. Childs agreed to get more details.

Mr. Consentino made the motion to convene in non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II (a) & (e) at approximately 9:30pm to discuss personnel and legal issues. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board reconvened in public session at 9:40pm. Mr. Childs made the motion to hire William Hyder as the Assistant Road Agent at a starting hourly rate of pay of $13.50 / hour. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

There being no further business to come before the Board the Mr. Sapia made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 9:40pm.

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Phil Consentino, Chair

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Fred Childs

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Jack Sapia