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Town of AmherstBoard of SelectmenNovember 6, 2006
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Chairman Bruce Bowler called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Selectmen present: George Infanti, Reed Panasiti, Thomas Grella and Jay Dinkel (at 6:48 p.m.). Also present Town Administrator Gary MacGuire and Executive Assistant Sharon Frydlo.
Amherst Fire Department
Mr. Bowler announced they were there to recognize the efforts from both the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.
Back on October 11th, 12 members of the Fire Department received a Unit Citation for their work in rescuing three individuals from the Souhegan River on April 24 of last year. The Unit Citation was presented at the 15th Annual Fire Service & Emergency Medical Services Awards & Recognition Presentation held at the Capital Center for the Arts. He briefly described the river rescue of three teenagers who were clinging to branches after their canoe overturned. Deputy Chief Matthew Conley, Lieutenants Dan Barton, Paul Labrosse and Scott Mobley, Firefighters William Campbell, Mary Eileen Indelicato, James Lockwood, Robert Petrella, Brian Quick and William Rapf received recognition, plaques and applause from fellow firefighters and the audience.
It was also announced that former members of the Department, Lieutenant Joe Walsh and Firefighter Robert Clauss were also part of the Unit Citation.
Of the representation, several were not present to receive the Unit Citation Pin which was given to them by Chief John DeSilva. They were Firefighters Quick, Rapf, Campbell and Lieutenant Mobley.
Chief DeSilva also introduce Brian Rondeau from Americore (a position they were granted) who will begin orientation on Wednesday and Thursday and will join the Department next week for 40 hours per week for eleven months.
Mr. Bowler announced that the Selectmen would like to recognize several members of the Amherst EMS for their CPR emergency patient saved efforts on the afternoon of August 28, 2006. The Selectmen invited Paramedic Scott Smith and EMT’s Kevin Maier, Rick Istvan, David Shaughnessy and Greg Castillo to receive a Certificate of Merit. This award was given to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in a CPR Healthcare Provider and/or Emergency Medical Technician Program. He asked that everyone join him in congratulating these individuals. All accepted recognition plaques with Director Gleason accepting recognition on behalf of Paramedic Smith. All were recognized with applause from EMS members and the audience.
Mr. Bowler announced that the Selectmen would also like to recognize several members of the Amherst EMS Department for successful completion of an Advanced Level EMT-Intermediate Program from the Town’s own Amherst Academy of EMS. This award was given to an individual who successfully completed a 140 our National Standard Curriculum – Advanced Level Emergency Medical Technicial-Intermediate Program. The program included not only classroom activities, but each student had to successfully complete an Emergency Room clinical rotation at one of the area’s hospitals. The Board invited up EMT-I Rick Istvan, Greg Castillo, Lynn Briggs, Earlene Calabro and Lisa Lupo to receive a Certificate of Completion. Director Gleason accepted recognition on behalf of Lynn Briggs. All were recognized with applause.
EMT David Shaughnessy thanked everyone for coming. He indicated it was an honor for them to be present. He thanked the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen for their support. Being with the Department for a little over a year, he commented that a number of them would not be there if it wasn’t for Director Gleason who had brought the Department into the future and continues to do it professionally. Director Gleason thanked everyone for coming, as well as every EMT and Paramedic for their commitment to the Department and for their professionalism.
Recess & Reconvened Regular Meeting
The Board took a brief recess and reconvened their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Citizens’ Forum
Cal Wood, 10 Woodland Drive, mentioned that this was the last meeting before Election Day and asked the Selectmen to sponsor a warrant article this year to increase the Veterans Exemption. Mr. Bowler indicated that if he remembered correctly they talked about increasing a dollar amount and would look at this each year. Mr. Dinkel’s recollection was to raise it half way and then next year to the full amount and it was his intent to go to the full amount. Mr. Bowler advised they went from $150 to $300 and will then go to $500. The Board talked about this last year and they now have a new member. He was in favor of $500 and had no problem putting it back again to the voters with a warrant article.
Budget Presentations
Finance Department
Finance Director Merri Howe advised her biggest impact was for an additional four hours for her part time 16 hour position. Mr. MacGuire added that the target was 20 hours last year and it was reduced. Mrs. Howe indicated that if they go the additional four hours, Social Security and Medicare would increase. There was also an increase in the auditing fees bringing the total to $17,000. Mr. MacGuire explained the reason there was a 7% change in the accounting wages was because after the last budget cycle it was determined that the payscale they were using was artificially low in some areas and this budget reflects the correction. Board members supported the additional hours. It was mentioned that it was their intention to have Mrs. Howe work more closely with Mr. MacGuire in preparing the budget and have someone else work on more routine duties, thereby freeing her up more. In response to Tedd Landon’s questions, Mrs. Howe briefly explained what she sees the part time person accomplishing within the additional four hours. Mr. MacGuire commented that there will be some positions moving within the Town departments and there may be a shift within the Finance Department.
Emergency Medical Services
EMS Director Brian Gleason reported he was proposing a very cost efficient budget with an overall increase of 2.52%. His full time wage line included a 2.3% COLA increase. He spoke of the increases in Social Security, Medicare, Deferred Comp, Health Insurance and Group II Retirement. He briefly outlined those items that reflected no increase or a decrease. At Mr. Bowler’s request, Mr. Gleason described the EMS Academy he formed and the education he provides in-house as well as for interested folks in the surrounding communities as a common courtesy and a thank you for their mutual aid. There was an increase in BLS and ALS supplies due to a new hospital exchange policy that is no longer offered. They never had an IT wage line before for Police, Fire and EMS and he was proposing $1300.00 for EMS’s portion.
Director Gleason talked about part time wages indicating that the Department does not have a tremendous pool of people living in Amherst and he had to be very creative in offering incentives to the staff. Last year they handled 713 calls with a staff of 40. Six years ago they instituted a stipend and many of the towns came to him to see what he had done and implemented something similar. He is finding it extremely difficult to recruit folks. He would like to offer paramedics $13.50 per hour and non-paramedics $9.50 per hour. He talked about putting forth a one time warrant article after soliciting other towns on various levels to find out what Amherst needs to keep their folks. He would like to put in a figure of approximately $97,000, and was suggesting a possible warrant article in the amount of $29,000 to achieve this goal. Mr. Gleason believed this should be put into an operational budget and W&M seemed to like this, he said. He explained he needed to offer a competitive wage and have the ability to now recruit because many of their day time folks were not residents and asked for the Board’s advice.
In answer to the Board’s questions, Mr. Gleason advised he was budgeting $235,000 in revenue for ’08 and where it has been for the past three years. This budget was based on 650 calls per year and was raised last year to 625 from the previous 525. Relative to call volume, Goffstown and Milford have more calls than Amherst. Mont Vernon revenues were a subsidy to offset operating costs, each resident was charged for a call and they had made approximately 70 calls there. He used the same flat fee for Mont Vernon as he had over the years and the formula worked well for them. Mr. Dinkel suggested that they may want to reconsider the rates for Mont Vernon. Board members spoke of their preference and reasons why they wanted it a warrant article or in the budget.
Mr. Gleason answered Robin Warren’s questions relating to heat, new equipment and office supplies. In answer to John Behn’s questions, he told him that they had a unique group of folks who will make it happen because they believe in what they do and because of their beliefs; they should be paid for what they do. The two ambulances were replaced on an eight year cycle, but he projected they will not need to replace them for ten years. Mr. Behn indicated he would wait until talking further with Mr. Gleason on the warrant article and then render a decision.
Public Safety Communication Center
Mr. Gleason advised this was his first time presenting this budget and he was responsible for it. The budget he has presented is not only cost efficient, but thoroughly meets the needs for the Town of Amherst and he did not think they could put a “price tag” on the Center. People have been there for two years and both part time and full time wages reflect a COLA and step and the increase is a little over 4% - the same for overtime. He estimated an increase in health insurance, a small one for Social Security and a decrease in Medicare which may be off a decimal point. There was a 19% increase in Deferred Comp, one in sick leave incentive, a change in training and education (in the past E911 offered training, it will now cost the Town for training and $500 was built into the budget). They did not have a Miscellaneous Supplies line in the past, but has budgeted $500 for such items as chairs, etc. There was a change in mileage because Chief Peter Lyon has made an additional cruiser available. As in his EMS budget, there is now a line for IT wages at $1300.00.
Mr. Gleason indicated that the budget had not increased much from last year and this was after they had sat down with the Committee and Town Administrator and double checked where their needs would be. He answered the Board’s question indicating they were aware of what other dispatch centers were paying when they put the wage amounts together. Regarding office supplies, he uses Staples Business Link and W.B. Mason. He has found they drop their prices in certain cases to remain competitive. Mr. Bowler asked that at some point they would like to meet their newest dispatcher. Mr. Gleason told them that Tim Johnson had been a dispatcher with Hillsborough County, started orientation a week before Halloween and will start alone this coming weekend. He briefly talked about Mr. Johnson’s background in IMC, being a call firefighter and an EMT.
Planning and Zoning
Director Charlie Tiedemann reported there wasn’t a great deal of change in his budget from last year. There was an increase in COLA and steps, a slight increase in postage and supplies and a decrease in advertising. They have added additional funds for a part time clerical person that had been discussed a month ago. The $25,000 last year set up for the Master Plan has been reduced to $15,000 because of the cost that had been established. Mr. MacGuire indicated that he had talked with Mr. Tiedemann about combining accounts 4191, 4192 and 4193 that were established State accounting numbers. When they referred to Planning Board wages and ZBA wages, it was the same person. When combining the three budgets, wages went to zero in one line and up in another.
Relative to the company that may do the Master Plan, Mr. Tiedemann told the Board that a figure had been built in to review their Zoning Ordinance, however, if there was an extensive re-write, he would recommend doing it internally. The company never gave them any numbers for mailings and as the process starts they will find if there was anything else that may go along with it. Mr. Dinkel questioned why the final payment for the Master Plan was split into the budget and capital reserves, why not put the entire amount in either the reserves or the budget. Relative to supplies, Mr. Tiedemann told the Board it was hard to figure out the right number based on the three accounts. He had taken all of the amounts spent in the last fiscal year and applied them between the different departments and increased it slightly. The supplies were basic things and he did not have a list of what they were.
Mr. Panasiti asked to go back to the earlier discussion on office supplies for the entire Town. Mr. MacGuire explained that Sharon came up with the new online Staples Business Link and that they tend to move where the market is. They have used warehouse clubs and W.B. Mason and shop around. The majority of the departments go through the same circle; however, supplies may be different in each department. Many of the different items that get put under supplies were defined by the department. They wait until the price looks good and then they buy. They keep looking and make the best deal.
Mr. Bowler asked Mr. Tiedemann what was his department’s revenue line? He believed it was $111,000. Mr. Bowler commented that 3-4 weeks ago they had talked about P/Z fees, asked to see a comparison of neighboring towns and asked if he had made any headway on this. Mr. Tiedemann explained he had accumulated the numbers from other towns, but haven’t put it all together. Mr. Bowler asked if this was something the Board could receive before the end of the budget process so they could see if there was a need to make some adjustments. He advised that the part time wages were showing an increase, but will show a decrease in a DPW line item. Mr. MacGuire explained the changes within line items that had been previously discussed as it pertained to engineering work. What was not seen was the offsetting amounts in the DPW budget of $5000 in Stormwater II and $6000 in Outside Hire for Engineering.
Mr. Landon commented that after meeting with Mr. Tiedemann and Mr. MacGuire that morning, they were freeing up the Engineer for 16 hours and hiring a clerical person for 16 hours and asked if an Engineer wouldn’t make more than a clerical person? Mr. MacGuire advised they were replacing some outside hire and were not looking to match up hour-to-hour. They tried to look at this as an offset to some engineering services. Mr. Tiedemann explained he asked Heather Seitz to go through her average week and put together the number of clerical hours she worked and replace them with engineering hours – that number was 16.
Mr. Landon asked about a State contract for supplies and indicated W&M had asked Administration to look into this in the past and he did not remember if they got an answer about a contract. Mr. MacGuire will look into this further.
Waiver of Municipal Liability for Class VI Highway (Bartlett Dr.)
Mr. Tiedemann presented a copy of a plan approved by the Planning Board that shows a 25 acre lot being subdivided into two lots. One of the lots has frontage on a properly maintained road and was going to have access on Bartlett Drive where they were going to build a house. Because it was considered a Class VI highway they needed to enter into an Agreement with the Town of Amherst Board of Selectmen and he presented a copy of the RSA that pertained to this. Board members weighed in on their past experience with this waiver and Mr. Tiedemann indicated the area closed to gates and bars. After several questions, Mr. Tiedemann advised that the Planning Board instructed the developer to contact Mr. Glover on the plowing of the road. There was also a brief discussion on the abutting industrial land. Mr. Bowler indicated it was the Board’s consensus they were fine with this, but requested Town Counsel’s review and his recommendation.
Mr. Bowler reported that Mr. MacGuire brought forth questions on the budget’s grant agencies. Mr. MacGuire described his understanding that line item 4415 Health Agencies & Hospitals have been put into the budget and were basically non-profit agencies that had come to the Town and requested municipal funds for services they provided residents of Amherst. The practice was if there was a new request, the first year it would be placed as a warrant article and then be further funded in subsequent years. He asked if the Board wanted to look at this portion of the budget in a more in-depth review to see if the funding is at the level they want to fund. Mr. Infanti indicated that Sharon has a file on how many people are serviced by these agencies and he felt they should put them on a spreadsheet and review them annually. Mr. Grella suggested that a standardize form be created and ask that any new group seeking funding come in and meet with the Board. Mr. MacGuire indicated that he anticipated the two new agencies seeking funding should come in and talk to the Board.
Mr. Panasiti spoke about whether or not the Amherst School Board would be placing a warrant article regarding State aid funding for the Bean property. The Recreation Commission is trying to get the property developed and one of the ways that they have looked at was for State aid to address funding as well as getting money from the Town. They can receive State aid as long as the fields were school fields. Before this is addressed the Superintendent has asked for a needs assessment to see if the fields were actually needed for the schools. Outside of this, they believe they wouldn’t want to tackle this issue because of the new school funding and refurbishment and wouldn’t want to add this to the amount of the warrant article they would have to write for the new school and teacher contracts. They didn’t say they wouldn’t look at it later. They can request State aid even after the fields have been developed.
Mr. Bowler advised he attended the recent school meeting where it was suggested that they look at the Bean property site for building a new school rather than the Baboosic Lake Road property. Board members briefly discussed this matter further giving their views on the matter of State aid, the cost of development and whether or not they should take the lead regarding this issue.
Mr. Infanti reported the posts had been moved in front of the Old Cemetery. The Planning Board met that week and will be meeting again on Wednesday night to begin getting committees together for the Master Plan. He will oversee this process and not take an active role. He also noted that one of the tennis courts posts had been crushed and he had reported it.
Mr. Bowler reported that the Landfill District met recently to discuss their budget. He agreed with Jay about not developing fields with State aid because the School Board has a tough decision to make within the next several weeks.
Mr. Dinkel reported that he and Steve Coughlan met with the Attorney and Comcast and initially it went well.
Mr. MacGuire advised that Bruce Berry and CLD have scheduled a meeting for potential users of Phase II on the Baboosic Lake Community Septic System on November 14. CLD has contacted people directly. He and Bruce will be present as well as two engineers from CLD who will be running the meeting for them.
Mr. Infanti reported that one of the Milford Selectmen had commented favorably on Amherst’s website and public access TV and was shocked with the number of volunteers the Town had doing this.
The Board discussed times they will be serving at the polls. Mr. Bowler advised that there will be a recount of the votes taken at someone’s request. Bob Schaumann called the Secretary of State’s Office, this request was not just in Amherst and the voter machines were being challenged. Mr. Schaumann made it clear that he was not under any obligation to do this.
Minutes
Mr. Infanti moved to accept the minutes of October 30, 2006, second by Mr. Grella amended as follows: Line 27 – Change “through” to “throw”; Line 46 – Insert “per day” after “”$75.00”; Lines 152 & 153 – Change the two sentences to read “Mr. Infanti reported that last Wednesday night they had a Planning Board meeting and there will be an additional meeting on November 8th to form the Master Plan Committees”. Vote: Unanimous.
Mr. Infanti moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:19 p.m., second by Mr. Grella. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Frydlo
Executive Assistant