Present: Jack Sapia, Paul Sullivan, Fred Childs (Selectmen) and Russell McAllister (Town Administrator).

Mr. Sapia opened the meeting with a moment of silence.

New vehicle Purchase

Sponsorship of Atkinson Softball Team

The public hearing was opened at 7:30pm. Chief Consentino addressed the Board relative to the new wheel chair van purchase. The amount of money raised to offset the purchase cost came from several sources and is listed in the table below.

Chief Consentino explained that the total lease amount was 16,858 and the lease period was 4 years. Mr. Childs made the motion to withdraw $25,485 from the PD Donation account to be used for the purchase of the wheel chair van. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Chief Consentino next requested to withdraw $250 from the PD Donation account to fund an Atkinson softball team. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the funding in the amount of $250. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Comments were solicited from the public. Receiving none Mr. Sullivan made the motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned at approximately 7:40pm.

Dave Weymouth addressed the Board by recommending that the roof bid for the Police Department be withdrawn The Board agreed. Mr. Weymouth next spoke to the issue of re-roofing the Kimball House. Mr. Weymouth recommended Dempsey Construction to do the work for $11,300. He also noted that gutters were an additional $2,800 and if new flashing was needed around the chimneys that cost was $750. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to award the bid to Dempsey Construction in the amount of $14,100 (roof – 11,300 / gutters – 2,800). Mr. Sapia seconded the motion. Mr. Childs abstained. The motion carried with Messer’s Sapia & Sullivan voting in the affirmative and Mr. Childs abstaining. The Board asked that Mr. Weymouth check references and return should there be a need to install flashing.

Mr. Weymouth also asked to move his office from the kitchen in the Town Office to an office in the community center. Messer’s Sullivan and Sapia agreed and Mr. Childs did not.

Mr. Dinapoli addressed the Board relative to his building a retaining wall in what Mr. Dinapoli believes is not the right of way. Mr. Dinapoli provided a synopsis of the issue from the time he applied for and received a driveway permit (August 8^th, 2006) to replace a wood retaining wall with one constructed of stone, to the time (October) Mr. Stewart informed him that he needed to undo some of the work. He voiced concerns over not having a copy of the signed permit; to confusion over what both he and Mr. Stewart agreed was the scope of work. Mr. Dinapoli expressed his frustration over the process and the lack of communication with the Highway Department concerning the issue. Mr. Stewart explained that Mr. Dinapoli constructed the replacement wall closer to the road than the previous wall. He also filled in a drainage swale as well and stacked pavers around two storm drains, which created a hazardous condition. Mr. Stewart explained that drainage work had just been completed on Sunset and the filling-in of the drainage swale had made drainage worse. The TA observed that there seemed to be two issues; the retaining wall and the filling-in of the drainage swale. Jim Kirsch explained that he was made aware of the situation on December 19^th and he had acted at that time to inform Mr. Dinapoli of the problem. The Board thanked Mr. Dinapoli for coming and agreed to go out for a site visit.

The TA explained that the Town had accidentally billed itself for land it owned on Knightland Road. The amount was $70. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to approve the administrative abatement in the amount of $70. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

The Board discussed scheduling a special town meeting date among each other and with the Town Moderator, Frank Polito. It was noted that the timeline between the deliberative session and the day of the vote could be no less than 28 days or any more than 60 days. The Board settled on a deliberative session date of July 17^th and a voting day of September 12^th. The next topic of consideration was over where to hold the meeting. The Dyke Auditorium or Community Center was discussed as possible venues. The Board leaned more towards Dyke Auditorium because of its crowd capacity. The TA was directed to look into scheduling the Auditorium.

The fertilizing of the playing fields was discussed. It was noted that no bids were received for the work and that two purchase orders had been tendered for the work with the existing company. The Board agreed to move forward with the existing company.

The holes in the fence at the playing fields were also mentioned along with the repair schedule. The cement columns for the gate were next reviewed with the hope expressed by the Board that both would receive attention and be repaired as soon as possible.

Mr. Sapia addressed the issue of burning versus chipping the brush pile at Pope Field. Mr. Stewart explained that there was not enough money in the budget to just chip. He noted that recent flood and wind events had brought above normal amounts of brush to the facility. Rental costs for the equipment and labor costs made it difficult to only chip the brush. Mr. Stewart explained that he planned to chip twice a month and see how the budget was doing.

Mr. Childs asked if the paving and drainage bids had been prepared. Mr. Stewart explained that he had not received the engineering work from Keach Nordstrom for the projects. Mr. Stewart brought forward the issue of the flood damage and the associated repair and re-paving of Line Brook Road. He explained that he had received 3 bids for the work and the low bidder was Busby Construction for $1,995. The Board agreed to authorize Mr. Stewart to proceed.

Mr. Childs addressed the issue of walking the Town’s border with Salem. The TA was directed to schedule with Salem representatives. The TA agreed to do so.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sullivan made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Childs seconded. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:50pm

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs