Selectmen Minutes 1/29/2008

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OFFICE OF SELECTMEN

6 HOLLAND STREET

PO BOX 139

MOULTONBOROUGH, NH 03254

Selectmen’s Workshop January 29, 2009

MINUTES

Present: Karel A. Crawford, Ed Charest, Jim F. Gray, Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten, and Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator

Also Present: Advisory Budget Committee: Jean Beadle and Gary Haracz, Kathy Garry

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:05pm

The Town Administrator handed out a variety of documents on the drafts to date and led off with a recent communications from the Town Clerk relative to whether or not she could or would be able to open on Thursdays with the Selectmen’s proposal on her budget. It was the general consensus they had agreed to increase the hours of the two staff members to 64 under their understanding this would enable the office to be open that extra day. Karel would speak with the Clerk and there may be a need for her to come back in for another conversation.

On other budget issues, the changes to date on the “Build To” were affirmed and a consensus was to strike the States Landing study. The Town Administrator began a review of the Warrant. There was a question from Nat King as to why

the “endorsement” of the Master Plan was an article. After lengthy discussion of the merits of such an action to gain a formal town-wide endorsement of this, as opposed to the Planning Board’s statutory role in adopting the plan, it was determined to kick this back to the Planning Board for consideration.

The Town Administrator noted he had submitted to Town Counsel a question on whether or not we could omit certain language of statue relative to the Heritage Commission rolling over unexpended funds. While we were certain we could not expand the scope of statute the question was whether or not we could constrict the scope of statute. There was lengthy discussion of the Article which adopted additional language relative to effectively creating a Public Works Department.

Mr. Charest was concerned that people running for and voting for the Highway Agent needed to understand the scope of the position. The TA said that was why he was trying to bring this article forth now so that the scope of the job changed as did the new Highway Agent. The Town Administrator also noted it had been agreed that the Transfer Station would not be brought under the DPW umbrella until after the retirement of the current Supervisor.

The Town Administrator was asked to draw Article #14 (Credit Cards) down to its simplest bare bones elements. He noted the Selectmen would then develop Rules and Procedures to implement it.

On Article #17 (Building Fund) the Town Administrator was asked to provide that any insurance reimbursement or disaster relief (FEMA) would flow back into the fund automatically.

The order of Articles was reviewed with the Town Administrator being asked to move the operating budget to the last as well as looking at the possibility of tightening up (i.e. reducing) the number for the

planner.

On Article #22 the consensus was to change the end date in the non-lapsing language to 2010 and on Article #23 the elements related to the withdrawal from the Building Fund were to be moved behind it (the non-lapsing date was to be rolled back to 2012 here). It was noted the ABC report was due for the February 5th meeting with the ABC Chair noting she needed a bottom line number. Some quick math was done and the number was $8,249,747.

The Town

Administrator will do a revised comparison of the budgets and the next Draft of the Warrant to email out by the close of business the following Wednesday.

The Chair set a continuing budget/warrant workshop for February 12, 2009 at 5:00 pm. Motion by Joel, seconded by Betsey to adjourn at 8:03 p.m.

All in Favor.

Respectfully Submitted, Approved:

Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator Karel C. Crawford, Chairman