Town of Bristol
Board of Selectmen
Minutes of 3-27-08
Members Present: Rick Alpers (RA), Don Milbrand (DM), Paul Fraser (PF), Town Manager Elizabeth Corrow
Members Absent: Bruce Van Derven (BVD), Joe Denning (JD)
Chairman Rick Alpers called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Employee Recognition
Ms. Corrow stated she would like to recognize Mark Bucklin for his hard work this past winter. Ms. Corrow stated we had a tough winter and Mr. Bucklin and his crew did an excellent job. Ms. Corrow explained Mr. Bucklin is a salaried employee and he has had a lot of hours on weekends and nights and feels he deserves recognition for all the additional hours he put in. The board thanked him. Ms. Corrow also stated there are a lot things Mr. Bucklin does that isnt just related to plowing or his other highway duties. He and his crew have done many things at old town hall and helped out at the town office etc which has saved us money. They are always there with a smile and many jobs asked of them do not even relate to the highway department. Mr. Alpers thanked him and his team.
Public Comments
Mr. Lindholm questioned what the approximate estimate of the tax rate will be. Ms. Corrow stated the estimated impact of what has been voted on is 0.75 per thousand. However, there is still one last article to be decided on which would not impact the tax rate until next year estimated at 0.39 per thousand. This is only the town portion. Mr. Fraser stated we would try and find out what the rate would be for school and county.
Mr. Lindholm questioned when the assessors begin reviewing the town they start in the North and West and continue through the town, will the assessor re-adjust according to market value from the beginning to put the entire town on an equal footing. Ms. Corrow explained the assessor is doing a cyclical reevaluation. They look at a portion of the town each year and are only making changes on interior inspections and measuring all the properties. Then in the fifth year they do the reevaluation and look at the last two years of sales for everyone and make adjustments according to the market to all the properties. The value only changes during the fifth year unless there are changes when they measure or there is any new construction done to the property prior to the reevaluation year.
Purchase Orders
Smeal Fire Apparatus Company for $570,573 to lease a Ladder Truck as approved at town meeting. Motion by PF to lease the Ladder Truck from Smeal Fire Apparatus Company for $570,573: seconded by DM; vote was 3-0. Mr. Fraser confirmed the impact of this would not be until 2009 on the tax rate. The Board signed the resolution.
Board and Committee Appointments
Mr. Alpers read the appointments:
Library Trustee 2011 George Corrette
Library Trustee 2010 Nancy Gavalis
Library Trustee 2011 William Barrett
Library Trustee 2011 Wendy Costigan
Budget Committee 2011 Brenda Biss
Budget Committee 2011 Daniel Bouchard
Budget Committee 2011 Andrew Williamson
Budget Committee 2011 David Carr
Budget Committee 2009 Ashley Dolloff
Trustee of the Trust Fund 2010 George P. Tsiopras
Trustee of the Trust Fund 2011 Elizabeth Guyer
Treasurer 2011 Kathleen Haskell
Selectmen 2011 Donald Milbrand
Selectmen 2011 Bruce Van Derven
Supervisor of the Checklist 2014 Cheryl Martin
Moderator 2010 - Edward Gordon
Cemetery Trustee 2011 David Carr
Planning Board 2011 Janice DellaCroce
Planning Board 2011 Clay Dingman
Conservation Commission 2011 - Janet Cote
Conservation Commission 2011 Mason Westfall
Historic District Commission (alternate) 2011 Mark Greenwood
Historic District Commission (alternate) 2010 Robin Fitzgerald
Historic District Commission 2011 Clay Dingman
Historic District Commission 2010 Lawrence Douglas
Historic District Commission 2011 Dorcas Gordon
Selectboard Chairman and Vice Chairman Appointment
Mr. Milbrand made a motion to appoint Mr. Alpers as Chairman and Mr. Fraser as Vice Chairman. Mr. Fraser seconded Mr. Alpers for Chairman: vote was 3-0. Mr. Alpers seconded Mr. Fraser for Vice Chairman: vote was 3-0.
Selectmen Representatives on Boards
Mr. Milbrand stated he would be the representative for the Planning Board and Mr. Alpers stated he would continue on with the Historic District Commission. The Board would decide the Budget Committees representative at the next meeting.
Mr. Milbrand stated the board will need to appoint someone to the Planning Board to take his spot as he is going from citizen to Selectmens representative. Mr. Fraser questioned if Mr. Favorite would be interested in the citizens position. Mr. Milbrand believes Mr. Favorite would like to be an alternate. Mr. Alpers questioned if any of the alternates wanted to become a full member. Mr. Milbrand stated Murray Campbell approached him with interest. Mr. Alpers suggested the Planning Board ask all the alternates and then the Board can appoint someone.
Chief Clark Update on Inventory Issue
Chief Clark stated upon his arrival he had Detective Dupris do an inventory of the evidence. He found several weapons missing. Prior to Chief Clarks arrival, two weapons were requested by the owner to be given to another gentlemen in lieu of giving them back to the owner, however, a recent court order states the owner can have them back and now they do not know who the guns were given to. Chief Clark therefore, believes we are responsible for the guns. There is another instance as well where the owner would now like his guns back and the Police Department is unable to locate them. Chief Clark stated he looked online and found the guns are estimated at $500 $700 each. Chief stated his budget is very tight and requests the Board take the funds out of the contingency fund should they need to replace the guns. Chief Clark was hoping to find the guns but have not found them yet. Chief explained its a mistake that was inherited, and if he lost them under his tenure he would definitely replace them through his budget. Mr. Alpers suggested if there comes a point that we have to return weapons in the future; it would be wise to have the attorney draft a contract/settlement release. Mr. Fraser questioned what the time frame is for making a decision. Chief Clark stated one gentleman is being patient and understands Chief needed to ask the board. Chief stated he may need $1000-$1500 to replace what is needed and the guns have been reported stolen. Mr. Alpers questioned if this could be a possible insurance claim or if the funds could come from the legal line.
Mr. Fraser welcomed Mr. Milbrand to the Board and thanked Mr. Favorite.
Mr. Alpers stated he would not be able to attend the meeting on Monday to sign contracts for the Water and Sewer Department and asked Mr. Fraser to take his place. Mr. Alpers made a motion to have Mr. Fraser be the signing authority to sign the Waste Water Treatment upgrade contract: seconded by Mr. Milbrand. Vote was 3-0.
Mr. Alpers questioned if there was anything the board could do for the Police Building project besides spreading the word. Ms. Corrow stated she was holding an Open house so she would encourage citizens to attend and to send people to town hall if they have any questions. Mr. Fraser feels educating the public is very important because he believes many people do not fully understand and there are still some misconceptions out there.
Ms. Corrow stated Hill also voted their funding down for their share of the Borough Road Bridge. Ms. Corrow has spoken to Nancy Mayville. Ms. Corrow questioned how long the temporary bridge could stay. Ms. Mayville stated up to five years but they only have so many temporary bridges so it will be shorter then five years. Ms. Corrow questioned how long the funding that we have been approved for would last as we convinced them to move funding from 2009 to 2008 due to safety issue. Ms. Mayville stated they would probably hold it until next year, but there is no guarantee. Otherwise we would have to wait for funding in 2013-2014 before we would be eligible again. Ms. Corrow stated some of the citizens at town meeting stated they wanted to give the bridge to Hill, but we can not do that. Bristol does own half of it. We also can not keep the temporary bridge and the old bridge is still underneath it and will eventually crumble and fall into river. It cost $1200 a year for the temporary bridge but they are looking at increasing the rental fee. Ms. Corrow stated the longer the temporary bridge is there the more money will be coming out of our pockets. Ms. Corrow stated the town of Hill wants to meet with us. Mr. Fraser stated we have not allocated money to rent the temporary bridge and the town a couple years ago voted in $80,000 to do the preliminary work on the Bridge. We have one more shot for next year then the funding will move out to 2013. Mr. Alpers felt it was hard to answer questions at town meeting on the project when the voters were attacking the Board and Town Manager. Ms. Corrow agreed that it is hard to keep motivated and to make comments when comments are negative and there is a poor mood. It makes it difficult to get information out there when the mood has changed. Mr. Fraser stated the Board does understand the economy is poor now but it will improve.
Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Paul Fraser; seconded by Mr. Don Milbrand; vote was unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm
Respectfully submitted,
Krystal Alpers
Administrative Secretary
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Richard Alpers, Chair Donald Milbrand
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Joe Denning Paul Fraser
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Bruce Van Derven