TOWN OF ALLENSTOWN

SELECTMEN'S OFFICE

16 SCHOOL STREET

ALLENSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03275

 

SELECTMEN'S PUBLIC MEETING 10/28/02

Benjamin E. Fontaine, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, opened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Present were Chairman Fontaine, Arthur Houle, Sandra McKenney, Selectmen and David Jodoin, Administrative Assistant.

Also present were Police Chief Jim McGonigle, Sgt. Shaun Mulholland, Jim Rodger, Robin McAfee, Peter Viar, and Karen Gendreau.

Karen Gendreau spoke on running a program at Whitten Street Park with the assistance of the Boys and Girls Club. Karen mentioned a pizza party on November 12 at 6:00 PM. On November 14 or 15th, an executive meeting with the Boys and Girls Club at 6:00 PM at the Town Hall. This will be a working meeting. Karen will send reminders out. On November 23, there will be a public meeting for everyone.

Karen presented a revised budget for the Parks and Recreation of $27,520. After discussion, a motion was made by Arthur Houle, seconded by Sandra McKenney, to open the Parks and Recreation budget. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Arthur Houle, seconded by Sandra McKenney to accept the new bottom line of $27,520. Motion passed unanimously.

Karen discussed repairs that will be done which includes the fence, the back deck, painting and any other safety issues. These repairs will be done before the pizza party on November 12th. Bids should also go out for the roof repairs.

Shaun Mulholland spoke on the ball park project on River Road. At the present time, the top soil has been removed leaving the site not in good condition. The field needs to either be reclaimed or completed. Bids will be accepted by the Selectmen for the repairs of the fields. Peter Viar, member of the Board of Directors from Pine Haven, spoke to get the project done as it is cost effective and it is an economical project for the Town.

Chairman Fontaine and Karen Gendreau had a discussion on last week's agenda regarding an issue. A discussion ensued stating that the Board will review how the warrant article was worded. There should be 5 members on the Parks and Recreation Commission. The two people who were interested last week are no longer interested.

The Selectmen met with Penny Touchette of the Assessing Department. The Selectmen read a letter from Wil Corcoran of Corcoran Associates, the present assessing firm. They would like to see some items happen at Town Hall such as normal updates, pictures taken, dimensions recorded, pick-ups, abatements, and market value adjustments. Penny already enters data and sketches. Penny would like to add hours to her position. She now works 25 hours a week. She would like to work full-time, 40 hours a week. After some training, she can go out and do some assessing work. She also needs to up-date the Senior exemptions for certification by 2006. After some discussion, the cost for Penny working full-time will be $25,043.20 a year with a 2.5% raise effective in January.

A motion was made by Arthur Houle, seconded by Sandra McKenney, to give Penny Touchette a full-time position in the Assessing Department with a 2.5% increase in January for a total of $25,667.00. Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Sandra McKenney, seconded by Arthur Houle to accept the Finance Department bottom line of $62,642.00. Motion passed unanimously.

The increase is in payroll processing and assessing clerk salary for a total of $12,210.00.

The Selectmen met with Jim Boisvert of the Highway Department, to discuss his budget. Items that went down were electricity, $400; signs, $200; shed repairs, $300; municipal hydrants, up $156.00 for a new hydrant on Lincoln Street;

The full-time salaries are up with a 2.5% increase to $168,178.00.

The bottom line will need to be adjusted as we have no figures yet for the Penacook disposal. We will leave blank until next month.

Jim Boisvert is recommending that Lincoln Street be paved with a hammerhead at the end if the home is built on the available lot.

Jim Boisvert also expressed concerns that there was trash being placed on the street on non trash days and animals were getting in the garbage and making a mess.

Jim also stated that there was an unregistered vehicle on Town property. Jim was directed by the Board to notify the Police.

A motion was made by Sandra McKenney, seconded by Arthur Houle, to accept the minutes of the Selectmen's public meeting on 10/21/02. Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Fontaine would like the Safety Committee to report any safety issues they observe in their respective departments to be reported immediately so that the item can be repaired.

A motion was made by Arthur Houle, seconded by Sandra McKenney, to adjourn the meeting at 10:35 PM. Motion passed unanimously.

BENJAMIN E. FONTAINE, JR. CHAIRMAN

ARTHUR G. HOULE, SELECTMAN

SANDRA A. MCKENNEY, SELECTPERSON