TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Tuesday January 17, 2006

 

*Accepted* 1-23-06

 

Selectmen present:  Bill Stockman, Chip Albee and Susan Weeks.

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included:  Approval for Construction for Gerard/Joanne Maughn; Approval for Operation for Anya Robinson, W. Perry Wilson Jr, James/Marion Antonucci, James Champagne, Bruce Campagna, Rourke Builders LLC, Eleanor/Ronald Lecours, George/Joan Leclair, Todd M Workman, J. Willard Marriott Jr., Kathleen Lochhead Revocable Trust; Property Transfers from Niel & Ruth Hansen to Trusts; Avitar response to NHDRA reval report; NH BTLA Copy of acknowledgement of Town response; NH DRA Notice of Sales Assessment Ratio – 100%; BudCom 1/10/06 minutes; NH BTLA Date of Notice of Tax (11/28/05); Primex PrimeTimes; Coalition Communities; LGC Slice of Life Newsletter; Road Business Newsletter; The Inner Chamber; Minimum Impact Expedited Application for Hidden Valley Property Owners Association; List of abatements to date; Ray Burton Executive Report #1; Bid Documents for Transfer Station Project.

 

Minutes: The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 1/09/06 were approved.

 

Items for Signature: Abatement for Berry; Appointment of Joe Ewing to Budget Committee; Application for Current Use for Fabian, Piper Trust, Benker Living Trust; Compensation Change Authorization for Magee.

 

The Selectmen approved and signed the following:

  • Compensation Change Authorization for Magee
  • Notice of Appointment to Budget Committee for Ewing
  • Abatement for Berry

 

The Current Use applications were not signed because additional information is needed.

 

At approximately 9:15 am Selectmen met with Barbara McClure, Cemetery Trustee, regarding the cemetery budget. Ms. McClure questioned the amount of money spent on mowing of the Town House cemetery and the seven other cemeteries the trustees are responsible for as they are only supposed to be mowed three times a year. Ms. McClure will contact Hunter’s Lawn Care regarding this issue. The cemeteries under the care of the trustees are: Town House, Piper Edgerly, Cross Neck Road, Swett, Hoyt Remick, Thompson Moulton, Fields Jones and Bennett. The town mows all of the others once a year. The trustees are responsible for grounds maintenance and upkeep of fencing and stonewalls but not for headstones. The headstone restoration project was undertaken by the Tuftonboro Association and paid for by the town. Ms. McClure also felt that if the French cemetery is disturbed by the state when they widen 109A at that point then it is the states responsibility to restore it. Selectman Albee made a motion to accept the Cemetery budget for a total of $18,175.

 

Selectman Weeks stated that she had a “bone to pick” with Chairman Stockman regarding the interview he did for the Tuftonboro Times. She would have appreciated having been told about it since she had been taken to task by writing a Selectmen’s report for the town report last year on her own even though it had been given to the other selectmen for review. Until a decision is made otherwise by the selectmen all three selectmen should be involved for any reports or publications. Chairman Stockman agreed and apologized.

 

Ken Cookson and Niel Hansen approached Chairman Stockman about holding a public meeting sometime in February to discuss the public safety building, the Master Plan and possibly a Candidates Night. The Tuftonboro Association would handle the mailing and publicity. The Selectmen said that there is not enough information at this point to hold a public forum on the public safety building as they still have decisions to make. The Planning Board is responsible for the Master Plan and has already held several public meetings. As far as candidates night it is inappropriate for the Selectmen to host and at this point it isn’t yet known if there will be any candidates.

 

At approximately 9:45 Selectmen met with Police Chief Shagoury regarding the department budget. Chief Shagoury was asked if he agreed with the placement of his people on the grade chart. The chart currently has 25 grades and 15 steps. Chief Shagoury felt the Patrol Officers were not high enough. After some discussion the following grades were agreed upon:

  • Police Chief – Grade 22
  • Deputy Chief – Grade 21
  • Lieutenant – Grade 20
  • Sergeant – Grade 18
  • Master Patrol Officer – Grade 16
  • Patrol Officer – Grade 14
  • Uncertified Officer – Grade 11

 

All increases for the Police Department will be given as of January 1st not on anniversary date as was done before.

 

The Selectmen also decided as a Board that step increases would be given as ability changes. Step increases will not be given every year, only cost of living. The line item for conferences and training has increased because last year the officers were not able to attend as many training sessions due to staffing shortages.

 

Chief Shagoury discussed his hardware and software requirements. It was decided to present it as a separate warrant article. The Selectmen approved the expenditure of $31,300 for IMC software and equipment as a separate warrant article. The Police Department budget of $241,721.00 was also approved and will be presented to the Budget Committee tonight.

Chief Shagoury reported that he is very close to filling the sergeants position – there are one or two things to be done in addition to the polygraph.

 

BudCom Chairman Wayne Black was in attendance and the Selectmen asked if he would allow more than one Selectmen to give input, as there was an issue at the last BudCom meeting. Mr. Black advised that there should be one Selectmen selected as spokesmen but it could be a different one each week or even each budget. Mr. Black will ask for consensus from the committee. Only one Selectman can vote.

The Public Hearing for the budget is scheduled for Tuesday February 14th with a snow date of February 15th.

 

The Selectmen discussed the need for information on the ambulance contract. This will also be taken into consideration in planning for the public safety building. There may come a time when the equipment and personnel should be stationed in town.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 am.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant