Town of Kensington
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
May 3, 2010
Draft edited by Selectmen- approved May 17, 2010
In attendance: Richard Powers, Russell Perry, Stefanie Johnstone, Kathleen Felch, Wayne Sheehan, David Buxton, Kay Cardoni and 9 residents.
Meeting opened at 7:15pm by Richard Powers the Selectmen Chair.
Recreation Revolver: Michael Schwotzer was asked to attend and address the board with information regarding the new “fund” account for the Recreation Revolver. He explained the necessity for the split and the need for the town to adhere to the Department of Revenue Administrations rules and regulations. Kathy Felch has been working with him to set up accounts and to recognize the correct general journal entries needed to transfer what is already there and to start the “fund” as of this year. Russell asked if donations can be added to these accounts and Mike said yes they are able to be added in the Recreation Revolver accounts. The Selectmen were in favor of the split and will be kept up on any further information needed or changes to accounts presented.
Grants: This was discussed and both Kathy and Mike would like to see the Grants in the regular accounts, not liability accounts. The grants even though they are in the books they will still be unanticipated revenue and treated as such on State reports. These have been moved and will be tracked as well.
GASB-45- Russell was interested in resolving the GASB45 issue. The board decided to forgo the process for this year, as the cost is estimated around $1500, and they will put in the budget to be done in early next year to comply for 2011. All were in agreement.
Citizen’s Forum: Urgent Matters for the Board to Hear
Michael Motherway was recognized by Rich Powers and he read a letter stating that he had many concerns with the way Sawyer Park Trust and current Selectmen were handling certain areas of the town, including the posting of Trustee Meetings, Selectmen working as a board, and concession stand items potentially being sold past date.
Rich Powers made a motion to have someone on the Board replace Mike Motherway as the Primary for the vendors and Sam’s Club Card. Motion seconded and approved. Motion for Russell to be appointed as the person to replace Mike for the purchasing and Sam’s Club Card holder. All in favor.
Rich asked Russell if the Trust meetings have been posted. Russell said the meetings have been every Wednesday at 7:30pm. Russell will talk with the Trust about the posting on their website.
Rich expressed concern to hear that expired food was considered for use. Russell said that no food was considered or kept and only sodas were considered, and all other expired items left from the previous season were thrown out. Rich made a motion that with any town activities expiration dates on packaging will be adhered to. Motion seconded and passed. Rich also made a statement to say that the food should be cleaned out every fall and start fresh every year. All in favor.
Driveway- Chigas was present and asked about the current position of the driveway issue with a neighbor and was told that the neighbor had until May 7th to comply; the letter sent on the 7th of April gave 30 days to comply. If no further action from the neighbor is done, then they will review further.
Frying Pan Lane- The Heal’s were present and Skip asked that the board of Selectmen fix the end of Frying Pan Lane. Rich responded that the end of Frying Pan Lane can’t be worked on. The board responded by letting the Skip know that the Town can’t fix a class 6 road, it would then become a town liability. Skip asked to have permission to fix the road himself and the board could not grant this either, for the road is not a town maintained road. The town does not have the legal right to give permission to fix. Andrew White explained the Class 6 is a right of way, and the town would have to bring it up to a town maintained road. The residents have the right to pass over the road, but not maintain it.
Spraying Article: Julie Hall was present and explained that she had talked with someone at the Attorney Generals office about the article in question. Stefanie had also talked with legal council and was told that a spelling error does not negate the article. They also said they were not concerned about the validity of the article. Julie was told that in RSA 40:16, and RSA 31:5-b, you are able to hold a special meeting to fix problem articles if the Selectmen see fit. She was wondering if this would be the way to go to fix the problems with the article. The selectmen asked to put this issue on the agenda for next week.
Reason for changing of the Citizen’s Forum:
The selectmen explained that the citizen’s forum was going to be used for urgent matters not currently on the agenda and would like people to request to be on the agenda in advance to keep the meetings moving. David Buxton expressed some concerns about this stating that Citizen’s Forum was so that people didn’t have to put their names on the agenda and could come before the board to air certain issues impacting them. Selectmen are not trying to redirecting the intent just, to move the meetings at a more organized pace.
Department Heads:
Fire Chief: Charlie LeBlanc
Not present, but Skip Heal asked to speak on his behalf, the board recognized him. He stated that since the water main broke last fall between the fire dept and the library there still needs to be some patching done. Will the town do it? David Buxton had some concerns about this and stated that the selectmen should really think about trimming the services for the town entities (Library, School, and Fire Dept.). Letting them absorb part of the cost so that the town isn’t paying for all repairs. He will patch in a week to ten days and the Selectmen agreed to look into that and make some suggestions. They will also visit a school board meeting to suggest possible help from them, for plowing ect.
Road Manager: David Buxton
Expressed that he had done some patching and will do some crack sealing of the newer roads, Wild Pasture, the oldest, up through the newer ones. Most signs in for Kensington Place and will be put up. Work at Kensington Place waiting for Christian to come up with a bid sheet. Christian will get the bid sheet to the Selectmen, and then do a walk through.
Rich concerned about the Cistern, David wants to see where they are in the Budget first. He will talk to him about it. 15yrs old, never held water. David will have the construction meeting before next meeting. David is getting price from Seacoast Tree for tree trimming. French’s Lane, David can do with bush hog.
Police Chief-Wayne Sheehan
One request from him is to do some further air quality testing now that everyone is back in the building, upstairs and down. Also training for employees on how to work the new ventilation; heating; cooling system. Rich would like for Denise to get the same company we had do the first set of air quality test to come back and do another set, to document a base line. Russell wondered if the vents were opened yet and Chief was unsure because insulation is still in some of the vents upstairs in the main hall. Russell would like to question weather the system is functional in the main room. Kathy indicated that the system will reset to default every time the power blinks or goes out. Selectmen would like to know if that will happen each time or is there something the Demmons can do to give the system longer before it resets. The Chief replied that the generator is hooked up and would like to know that if the power goes out if the system is able to not reset for a couple of minutes till the generator kicks in. Police department all in and making the changes to the move well. Trailer was moved out last week.
Assessing Office-Kathleen Felch
Kathleen Felch had 20 Elderly Exemptions, Donation for the Park Letter for the Dingman Foundation, Veteran’s Exemption
The board signed the Donation receipt for the Dingman’s and the Veteran’s Exemption that they waived the deadline for because the letter from the Veteran’s Council was not received in time for the deadline. Russell moved to sign the rest later in the meeting to move the meeting on.
Recreation Committee- Kay Cardoni
Kay wanted to board to recognize that a Recreation Committee Member’s term had expired and that she would bring to the next meeting, and realized that the member can’t vote on behalf of the recreation committee until reappointed.
Summer Camp has moved the deadline to June 1st to allow for more campers to register. Budget and authorizations are getting set, have met with Russell and meeting with Kathy Felch. The Summer Camp Director will be Elizabeth St. Martin. Concession Stand – will put out a flyer for volunteers. Stefanie mentioned that John Andreasse has already started one and Kay was fine with that. She will forward to Kay. Rich will get to Pam Schwotzer to see about getting into Community News.
Adult Softball- Dave Macek has some concerns:
Bathroom has no locks on Field C. Russell stated they were designed to not have locks for children’s safety. Maybe an occupied/not occupied sign to flip when in use. Will look into.
Left Field Lights need to be adjusted or the tree limbs trimmed. Selectmen aware of the situation. Russell has talked to a few people and Dave is willing to trim them himself. Russell made a motion: if Bruce works with Dave Macek to determine what is needed to be trimmed the Selectmen are okay with Dave donating his services to trim the trees. Seconded and all in favor.
1st base fence on Field C needs to be higher because of injuries last year.
Ask trust to get some bids on how to fix, and then discuss. Put up a sign for now.
3rd Base balls going into woods and kids running in after, wanting to know if a net could be put there to stop the over throws.
Skate Board park- Cengez looking into where to put the equipment, cost of putting in. Mike DelSesto has donated services. Cengez will go the Trust meeting and see. Russell suggested he call Mike, because the trust is not meeting for awhile.
Kay also asked what the price would be for night games for the Adult Softball. Stefanie read from the application that it would be $25.00 per game or night.
Time Capsule in the Town Park. Mr. Smith was present and asked if it was found when the park was redone. Rich indicated that it was looked for, and all donated stuff. They have added fill and not very confident that it will be found.
Conservation Commission-
Any update on Sargent Property? Stefanie knows that the urgency of the matter has been resolved and the Conservation Commission has to have a public meeting before anything is decided.
New Business:
Intent to cut- Mark Kimball on 150 would like to remove blow downs behind house. Signed.
Recreation Revolver Funds-
Summer Camp, Ski Trip, and Adult Softball- Russell made a motion to authorize recreation committee to spend specific line items from the Recreation Revolver amounts for the Summer Camp, Ski Camp, and Athletic Programs. Stefanie seconded all in favor. Andy White recommended that they not be able to spend any amount. Kathy indicated that last year it was stated not to over expend the money brought in for the individual accounts. Russell indicated that was to be added to the motion all in favor. Motion is now to authorize the Recreation Committee to spend specific line items from the Recreation Revolving Account for Summer Camp, Ski Camp, and Athletic Programs, not to exceed the monies brought in for the specific program. All in favor.
Town Park Items not on the Agenda but need to be discussed.
Fixing the storm damage at the Park, proposal for $5800 and was returned to the Trust, because the town doesn’t have the money to fix. Only thing FEMA will cover would be damage on Field C. If the town doesn’t pay for the fix then FEMA will not reimburse the town. Wash out on left field side and riff raff. We have not spent anything from the budget on maintenance. Russell made a motion to expend the $2175 to fix the park damages to the Field C side. Rich seconded. All in favor.
Irrigation damage- Russell irrigation has been punctured in two spots for a total of $745 to get fixed. This was a donated service. Will their insurance cover? Russell indicated that he had talked with Bruce and not sure if the winter caused the piping to rise. Last year 4in was used and was fine. Everyone is in agreement to pose question to see if they will cover through their insurance. Andy White had questions about why the Selectmen don’t know what and how much has been donated. Russell said that Mike hasn’t provided a detail of what was donated, and determinations of what was donated are difficult, because people keep donating services and equipment. Russell also explained that the town and trust have been trying to get estimates of donations made by each donator to determine donation levels for signage and tracking for future years, but Mike has not wanted to provide this information for fear of having a total value attached to the organic program that may seem inflated. Russell explained that isn’t the intent of the town and understands that gathering products and services from multiple donators would be more that from one vendor. Rich will see about getting some figures from Mike. Rich would like Denise to ask insurance to see if they will cover. Russell will talk with Bruce regarding specifics on the damage. Julie Hall asked if the Grant was being tracked and followed closely. Russell stated that it was being tracked and looking to get a list of what has been donated. The grant of the turf care at the park clearly states what the funds are to be used for and up to now spending has been appropriate.
Emergency Shelter-
Stefanie talked to the Fire Chief and said he would look into. A follow-up letter has been sent. Put on next agenda. Stefanie said that this letter is clearer than the first about what they were looking for. Building being set up for a shelter. Selectmen want to have Mark and the Fire Chief give them a call.
Winthrop Hale-
Issues with tax card and assessment of two of his lots. Brought copies of old tax records and bills that his lawyer put together. Mr. Hale said that Avitar had doubled one of the lots. Avitar assessed in 2003, $82,100, and now in 2009 it is $121,000. Russell asked about Abatement’s. Mr. Hale said they have been denied each year. Stefanie did remember from last term and asked if anyone followed up with. Non-buildable down the bottom it is only 46 feet. Kathy indicated that Avitar is coming this week. Avitar is deeming a buildable lot. Put Winthrop on the list to have Chad visit. Mr. Hale said that the lot is non-buildable. Rich wants to know why buildable one year and not the next. Engineer deemed unbuildable because of angle of the hill. Dow driveway next door not a legal driveway. Slope maybe 2:1. Russell needs an explanation before making a decision and would like Avitar to explain why. Rich would like Avitar to walk the lot and explain why they are deeming buildable and weather it is really a buildable lot or not. Stefanie was remembering and said to send to the Planning Board/Zoning Board and have them send a letter to deem unbuildable. With the letter from the planning board, that would go to Avitar. Avitar wanted him to make the two pieces into one. Stefanie would like him to go to the Planning Board to have them deny it. Mr. Hale said that the problem is that the assessment should not have changed from 2003 and that Avitar doubled the amounts. Stefanie made a motion for the issue to go before the Planning Board. Seconded and all in favor.
Next Meeting is May 17, 2010.
Meeting Minutes from April.
Last meeting minutes questioned regarding a statement from Andy White. No changes made. Selectmen will leave them until next meeting. Not approved.
Julie Hall asked if this was the time to dispute things in meeting minutes, Stefanie indicated that yes at Citizen’s Forum you can at that point and time or call/email Denise. Denise has 5 business days to post a draft of the meeting minutes; Selectmen have started reviewing the draft before it is posted.
Spraying Article put on the agenda for next meeting.
Russell-How often has the supplies been submitted from the park? Kathy indicated that Ralph has submitted for reimbursement two times already and one from Terrie for supplies for Concession Stand. Stefanie asked how the supplies were purchased. They were purchased at Sam’s Club and getting reimbursed. Russell will put his name and the other two selectmen as well. Discussion on the card and how to resolve the Sam’s Club issue were discussed. Rich indicated that Mike did the charge and card because the Town needed one to make purchases. Russell asked the board if it was okay to talk with Mike about shredding the Town Credit Card at Sam’s and the Sam’s Card switched to his name. All in favor. All agreed that they need to change over the card and credit card, and issues need to be resolved.
Selectmen all signed off on bills brought forth for the meeting.
Elderly Exemptions-
20 signed and approved.
Discussion about the Recreation Revolving accounts that are presently being used.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 9:22pm by Russell, seconded by Rich. All in favor. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen T Felch
Filling in for Denise Gregson, Administrative Assistant.