Town of Bristol
Board of Selectmen
Minutes of 2-28-08
Members Present: Rick Alpers (RA), Joe Denning (JD), Steve Favorite (SF), Paul Fraser (PF), Town Manager Elizabeth Corrow
Members Absent: Bruce Van Derven (BVD)
Chairman Rick Alpers called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Update From Marie Ross – Newfound Area School District Superintendent
Ms. Marie Ross came before the board to answer any questions regarding the Newfound Area School District budget or any items the Board would like to discuss. Mr. Alpers stated the Board had a good visit from Mr. Bill Gabler from the Facilities Planning Committee for the District. He felt it was very informative as Mr. Gabler gave a time frame and options that the committee had discussed. Mr. Fraser suggested the committee get together with our Capital Improvements Program Committee that we now have. Mr. Denning stated at the deliberation session for the school, Mr. Gabler ruled out the elementary school as being renovated himself. Mr. Denning felt the information did not come from the Facilities Committee. Ms. Ross stated there are several life safety issues and there has been a cost estimate to renovate the Elementary School. Ms. Ross explained Mr. Gabler has done a lot of work and research and found that it would be better to build new and possibly combine some of the other Elementary Schools with the new school. Ms. Ross stated the goal of the committee is to get larger and share more ideas and opinions. Ms. Ross hopes the warrant article passes as they desperately need to see what the cost of various options are which would help them make a clearer decision. She explained the committee meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30.
Ms. Ross explained Article # 2 is for the teachers’ contracts. Last year, the teachers did not get any raises. They did not get step increase or cost of living. They since then have negotiated a 4 year contract which will cost $388,667 for the first year. The teachers are placed on a step system and many teachers are already at the last step. Ms. Ross explained how the step system works. She stated the District is trying to be competitive. They looked at 14 districts in the Lakes Region and the average yearly salary in NH is $30,000 for an entry level position just out of school. She stated the school currently pays $31,000 so the district fairs well. However, the teachers with a Masters Degree are not competitive. They came in 12th out of 14.
Mr. Denning thanked Marie for taking the time to come and explain and talk to the Board. Mr. Alpers questioned whether enrollment is up or down. Ms. Ross stated it is down which is another reason why they are seriously looking at consolidating schools. Mr. Alpers questioned the cost per student and Ms. Ross stated about $10,000, however, we do average a little higher because of having many schools.
Ms. Ross stated the potential football field has totally been donated in all aspects; there will not be any tax payers’ money spent.
Mr. Fraser questioned the Article regarding the Alexandria Charter School. Ms. Ross stated the Alexandria School will be closing at the end of this year and this article asks the voters to grant permission to the friends of Alexandria School to apply for a Charter.
Mr. Favorite stated Mr. Murray Campbell gave a good breakdown of comparing the salaries with surrounding schools. Ms. Ross stated it costs to not negotiate the teachers’ contract. It costs to continually bring lawyers and mediators back to the table to negotiate. It increases turnover which then wastes money that has been invested in training teachers. Ms. Ross stated the District received the NECAP scores back and these scores have all improved. She explained they have done a lot of training to help improve the scores.
Ms. Corrow stated the Ambulance agreements have been finalized and gave the Board a copy of all the contracts. Mr. Alpers stated the Town of Bristol is now a service provider for the Town of Bridgewater effective this week. Bridgewater recognized the need for full time coverage; therefore, under this agreement Bristol will be covering them from this point forward. Ms. Corrow stated there have been discussions regarding the use of their ambulance in the future.
Mr. Alpers stated there is need for internal controls and policies between the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer and Town Accountant. He suggested the Town Manager work with the three to come up with internal controls and come back to the board with a recommendation to implement.
Public Comments
Mr. Richard Walenda questioned why the board does not listen to people and go with their will. Ms. Corrow stated Mr. Walenda was referring to the 2005 petitioned warrant article to adopt a conflict of interest policy, which did pass. Ms. Corrow stated this is similar to other petitions, it is advisory only. It is not a duty of the legislative body to adopt policies and procedures. Ms. Corrow stated she has looked at what we do have and it is not exactly what Mr. Walenda wanted, he is looking for more of what Laconia has adopted. Mr. Walenda does not understand why it is not in the computer. Mr. Denning stated Mr. Walenda is targeting a member of this board, which he has the right to do, but we do have an attorneys opinion and there is not a conflict of interest with anyone on this board. Mr. Denning questioned if the opinion can be given to Mr. Walenda. Ms. Corrow stated the Board would have to vote to release the document. Mr. Walenda stated he has talked to an attorney and he is willing to push forward. Mr. Alpers stated when the Board has been threatened with litigation; all conversation stops and our attorneys take over. Mr. Walenda stated he has a son on the Fire Department and the Highway Department, he is on the budget committee and any time expenditures come up with regards to either Department he votes no or steps down. Mr. Fraser stated just because you state it is a conflict of interest does not make it a fact. We have an attorney’s opinion and he states it is not a conflict of interest. If Mr. Walenda is saying what we have is not in the computer then we can provide a written copy if he would like. He explained everything this town has published is not necessarily in the computer but a copy can be provided. Ms. Kathleen Girona asked what would be defined as a conflict of interest in the policy. Ms. Corrow read the conflict of interest section of the personnel policy. Ms. Girona stated she does see a conflict of interest if she had a job and her spouse had job for the same organization. She could see how the public might think there is a conflict of interest. Mr. Fraser stated Mr. Alpers has run twice now and has clearly won both times so there is a good majority of people out there that clearly does not see that there is a conflict of interest. Mr. Fraser stated no one has given a specific instance that there is a conflict of interest. Ms. Girona can see it as a conflict of interest. Mr. Fraser questioned what specifically the conflict of interest is. Ms Corrow stated since the town has adopted the Town Manager form of Government, if there is someone working for the town that is related to a board member it is now even further removed because they no longer work for or report to the board. They work, are hired and evaluated by the Town Manager. Ms. Corrow stated it is not fair to dismiss the person if they are qualified for the position whether they know someone that works for the town or not. Mr. Denning stated this is a small community and many small towns have employees that are related. Mr. Walenda stated Ms. Corrow works for the Selectmen. Mr. Denning stated he personally has no authority to direct the Town Manager to do anything. It has to be directed from the majority of the Board.
Mr. Walenda stated at the Budget Hearing, part of his statement regarding scrap metal was cut out. Ms. Corrow stated he would need to talk to Lakes Region Public Access as they put it on the TV from the tapes. Ms. Corrow stated if it did get cut out it was not done on purpose.
Ms. Girona does not think the town understands the Town Managers job description. Mr. Alpers stated they clearly do as they have had many discussions. There was a public hearing as well as many discussions at board meetings and the ultimate job description is RSA 37.
Town Manager Items
Ms. Corrow stated the Assessing Assistant, Nancy Decoteau will start on March 13th and the Land Use Enforcement Officer, Michelle Bonsteel will start on March 12th.
Ms. Corrow explained the bid tabulation came in lower than anticipated for the water & sewer project, however, there was an error in the lowest bid that is being discussed. They will either negotiate the error or move to the next closest bidder.
Ms. Corrow stated there is a Funders Form to discuss and advocate for funding for the Downtown.
Ms. Corrow stated the Hill Selectmen would like to meet on March 4th to discuss the Borough Road Bridge. They would like to discuss the time line and the cost of an onsite construction manager before Town Meeting.
Ms. Corrow stated the Town reports should be here by March 5th.
Selectboard Items
Mr. Favorite stated the Lakes Region Planning Commission discussed housing options for employees who are required to live in the town they work in and how it affects salaries. LRPC discussed clustered living for town employees to live in if there is a requirement.
Mr. Alpers stated cluster development in general is becoming more popular throughout the northern towns. Mr. Walenda suggested cluster development on Chestnut Street.
Mr. Fraser questioned if the Town Reports would be mailed to all the property owners. Ms. Corrow stated yes, that is what the Board had previously been decided. Ms. Corrow stated Ms. Alpers has done an amazing job on the Town report while doing her own duties, filling in for the Land Use Enforcement Officer and the Assessing Clerk and meeting all the deadlines.
Mr. Fraser questioned if the senior housing would be starting this summer and how one would apply. Mr. Denning stated they still have to go through the Planning board. Ms. Corrow stated they have just barley started the process with the Planning Board. Mr. Alpers stated they do not release anything until they are ready. He explained there is generally a big sign put up on the property when they are ready to begin accepting applications and will request to use town hall for the interview process.
Mr. Alpers made a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II(e) to discuss Newfound Hydro Settlement proposal seconded by Mr. Favorite: roll call vote taken all members agreed to enter into non-public session. At 8:00 PM the BOS entered a non-public session.
Motion to return to public session made by Mr. Favorite, seconded by Mr. Fraser; vote was unanimous.
The board thanked Steve Favorite for all his work during his two years of Selectmen. Ms. Corrow thanked Selectmen Favorite for all his help and his support.
Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Steve favorite; seconded by Mr. Denning; vote was unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25pm
Respectfully submitted,
Krystal Alpers
Administrative Secretary
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Richard Alpers, Chair Steve Favorite
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Joe Denning Paul Fraser
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Bruce Van Derven