Town of Milton
Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting
Monday December 17, 2012
Milton Town Hall
6:00 P.M.
Meeting Minutes
Members
in attendance: Chairman Bob Srnec, Tom Gray and Bob Bridges.
Also
in attendance: Joe Ryan-Town Administrator, Wendy
Keane Recording Clerk.
Public
in attendance: Robbie Parsons.
Public Comments: Robbie Parsons stated that his
comment may border on the non public. He is disturbed by the recent comments of
Mr. Mettee that they have an engineer, landscape engineer, and others. He is aware
that there are two grants and asked what the parameters are of the grants. He
commented that those professionals alone are worth $1,000 an hr and does not
include Mr. Mettee’s fees. Mr. Parsons has a conceptual plan for the exit 17
area that was done several years ago done by Diamond Heart. His concern is that
it appears that Mettee and Coogan are employees of the town. Mr. Parsons
further stated that any headway made with the State of NH Department of
Transportation has been accomplished by his efforts and those of the Board of
Selectmen. His concern is that the town
has the information available to them in files and does not see the reasoning
for the work to be done by outside people. Mr. Parsons further pointed out that
he has talked to Mark Sanborn from NH DOT who has not seen the letter including
regarding the curb cuts on exits 17 & 18 nor the letter from 1975 to Mrs.
Perkins saying she would be allowed curb cuts. He inquired when the advisory
committee would be set up. Bob Bridges stated that Jack Mettee has these people
as consultants; these are only consultants to get the conceptions done. Bob
Bridges further stated that the grant is being administered by Jack Mettee and
Jerry Coogan. Robbie Parsons inquired if this was with the ok of the BOS. Tom
Gray stated that it is.
Bob Srnec stated that there is a list of interested
people for the economic development committee.
He agrees that there does need to be a committee to get control and a
better understanding of this. Robbie Parson stated that if McDonalds decides to
go in they have a boiler plate design and do not need a conceptual plan. To
him, that money needs to be spent in a reasonable fashion with more oversight
from the town.
Joe Ryan stated that there is a letter from Mr.
Coogan that may address some of these issues. He talks about the three things
the Board was provided; scheduling, surrounding abutters and lastly asked he
asks the board for permission to contact the property owners.
Discussion was held on some of the redundancy that it
is happening in regards to work being done on developing exits 17 & 18,
what the grant money is specifically being used for and what the parameters of
the grants are. Tom Gray said that the minutes of previous meetings will be
reviewed for information regarding the approval of the grant(s). Robbie Parsons
requested a copy of the letter that went to the state regarding curb cuts.
Discussion was held on persons interested in being
on the Economic Development Committee. Wendy
Keane was directed to contact these people to see if they are still interested
and ask them to attend the December 21, 2012 meeting to be appointed.
Discussion was held on splitting the contract of the
Planner and Economic Development person between two budgets.
Police Chief Mark McGowan made the Board aware that
he has received another grant for a portable that needs to be signed by the
Chairman of the Board. He also stated that he will need the ok of the Board for
Saturation speed and DWI saturation patrols.
Chief McGowan also notified the Board that he
recently applied to a non profit in PA for a grant to equipment new holsters,
lights, sights and two holographic sites and they were approved and need the
blessing of the BOS to sign for $2847. The grant is the Freas Foundation grant.
All Selectmen were in agreement to accept the grant.
MOTION: Tom Gray moved to approve Dec 3rd, 2012
meeting minutes. Seconded by Bob Srnec. Motion carried 3-0.
Acceptance of Manifest:
MOTION:
Tom Gray moved to accept the manifest. Seconded by Bob Bridges. Motion carried
3-0.
MOTION:
Tom Gray moved to allow the signing of the purchase order for the mower for the
Highway Department. Seconded by Bob Bridges. Motion carried 3-0.
Discussion was held in regards to the Recreation
Commission and vacancies on the commission. Since the resignation of Lue
Snyder, they are down a member as well as have a member that does not attend
meeting regularly. Bob Bridges stated that there have been meetings when they
have not had a quorum and it is becoming problematic. It was discussed amongst
the Board that there is a person who the Commission has recommended as well as
another person interested. The Board decided to table this topic until a policy
was in effect regarding social media sites.
Professional Services Agreement for Coppola and Associates.
Joe Ryan opined that it is in the best interest of the Town to hire an
accounting person and in the interim continue with Coppola and Assoc. heir
accounting service as it will take some time to find someone to fill the need.
He has spoken to Joanne and the key note is the term of agreement is: that they
“remain in force until Nov 30 2013, unless terminated by the town or them
without any cause or penalty”.
MOTION: Bob Srnec
moved to accept the contract from Coppola. Seconded by Bob Bridges. Motion
carried 3-0.
Bob Bridges stated that there are discrepancies with the
amount of funds due to the Conservation Commission (Con Com) and that it had
previously been voted by the towns’ people to give half of the monies from the
land use change penalties the Con Com.
Tom Gray suggested that we ask Town Counsel how to legally
settle this issue with the Con Com once and for all.
It was noted that Cynthia Wyatt, Chairman of the Con Com,
has contacted town counsel and needs to be reminded that no one can contact
town counsel without approval from Joe Ryan.
Presidents ordered the flags at half staff and the flag at
the beach has been left up. Wendy
Keane stated that the flag has been taken down. Bob Bridges stated that if the
flag is not going to be respected then the flag should not be there at all.
There is no requirement to have the flag on town property at all.
Fire hydrant testing has to be done twice a year, and it has
not been done and the hydrants are not working properly. It was suggested that
the Chairman of the Water Department be called as there has been no response
form the contact the BOS has been using. Hydrants are owned by the Water
District so do they need the permission of the Water Dept. Tom Gray stated that
his issues with this is that if the Town tests them and something breaks then
the Water Dept will have the Town replacing their lines. Robbie Parsons stated
that the State has said they do not have any authority over the Milton Water
Commission because they are a private entity. It was the general consensus that
if the Town is paying for the service of the hydrants then they should be in
working order.
Free Library, Mike Beaulieu stated that the season has gone
past where they can dig to put in new footings and that the ramp should be fine
until spring and suggested holding off as there will not be good backfill on
the footings. The Library will be directed to contact Pat Smith in regards to
railings. It was suggested that the money that was to be used this year for the
rear egress be used to outfit the building with fire alarms instead. Tom Gray
asked of there were bids on the fire alarms? He suggested getting three bids on
an alarm system for the library and to contact Pat Smith to do so.
Joe Ryan asked the Board members to think about a firm
direction on how to proceed with choosing a Town Administrator.
MOTION: Bob Bridges moved to adjourn. Seconded by Bob S.
Motion carried 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Keane
______________________ ______________________ ______________________
Chairman Bob Srnec Tom
Gray Bob
Bridges
