Board of Selectmen     
Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2008

Present: All Selectboard members, Kim Leahey, Chief Fleury, John Trickey

Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Lease Agreement
Selectmen discussed the recently received opinion from Town Counsel in answer to their questions regarding the proposed police vehicle lease:

• If, after one year, the Town decides to purchase the vehicle outright, only interest for the year(s) during which the lease-purchase agreement is operative would have to be paid, not the interest for the balance of the purchase price.
• The Town must provide 30 days prior written notice to exercise the purchase option. Counsel referred to the lease agreement’s schedule of “Concluding Payments” and noted that the Concluding payment due after the first year lease payment is paid is $21,216.82.
• In response to who would own the vehicle at the end of the five-year lease, Counsel points out that, unless the Town exercises it’s option to purchase the vehicle before the conclusion of the agreement, then the vehicle is owned by, and must be returned to, the lessor. He also notes that the Concluding Payment for the fifth year of the agreement is $1.00 and so suggests that “it would be financially prudent for the Town to give written notice of its intent to exercise its purchase option at least thirty days in advance of the final date of the agreement, if the Town concludes that it wishes to take ownership of the vehicle”.

During the discussion, Selectman Martin suggested that for the Spring Town Meeting there probably need to be two warrants; one article proposing the pay-off of the cruiser in full and one article (should the first not pass) proposing the continuation of the lease for a second year.

Selectman Martin made a motion to sign the warrant which included the first year’s lease payment; Selectman Huber seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Chief Fleury was given the check; he informed the board that it was his intent to FedEx it to Michigan and that the Town should take possession of the vehicle by Friday. Fleury promised to bring the cruiser to the next Selectboard meeting to let the Selectboard familiarize itself with it.

Fall Town Meeting Warrant Articles
Selectmen reviewed the five proposed Warrant Articles for the October 22nd Fall Town Meeting.

Article 4 regarding the appropriation of funds from the Capital Equipment and Stabilization Fund for the purpose of purchasing a bucket loader for the DPW was the only one that generated significant discussion; the Bucket Loader Committee was scheduled to meet immediately following the Selectboard meeting. Selectman Huber, a member of the committee, informed the board that bid specifications were to be finalized at that meeting.
Huber also shared that DPW Superintendent Adamcek has become aware that the prices for John Deere will be increased by 7 ½ % on November 1st. It was suggested that the $85,000 requested in Article 4 be increased to $90,000. Finance Committee chairman John Trickey assured the Board that, if the money was not needed and not spent, it would be able to be deposited right back into the fund.

Selectman Huber made a motion to change the amount in Article 4 to $90,000; Selectman Martin seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Selectman Martin made a motion to accept the five articles presented for the October 22nd Town Meeting; Selectman Huber seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Martin made a motion to adjourn; Huber seconded.

Meeting adjourned 6:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Kim Leahey