Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
October 22, 2007
Present: William Martell, Edward Martin, Richard Hall, John Trickey, Joan Temkin, Ed Fleury, Mary Carey, Fred VanDerbeck, Kim Leahey
Meeting called to order by Chair Richard Hall at 6:02 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion for approval of the minutes from the September 24th meeting was made by Martell and seconded by Martin, the minutes were unanimously approved. A motion for approval of the minutes from the October 9th meeting was made by Martin, seconded by Martell and unanimously approved.
LIASON REPORTS
Ed Martin, School Committee Liaison, reported that the schools had discovered an “excess” in their budget of $45,000 and planned, therefore, to reinstate the Spanish program and others originally cut due to lack of funds. There was also discussion regarding the belief by some school members that the Selectmen had agreed to give them 50% of the Town Technology fund. Chairman Hall recollected some discussion but reported that no vote was taken on the issue and the Selectmen were in agreement, therefore, that any decision regarding the distribution of the funds rests with the Selectboard. There was minor discussion regarding the School Choice tuition money and the fact that this year’s money will be available to be used for next year’s budget; this year’s $45,000 surplus is from last year’s funds.
Administrative Assistant Kim Leahey reported that the Library has hired a new director named Adam Novitt and that he has already assumed the position.
Chief Ed Fleury of the Pelham Police Department handed out department activity reports for August and September.
No report from the Fire Department.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS
None
BRIEFING OF TOWN MODERATOR JOAN TEMKIN
The Selectboard briefed town moderator Joan Temkin on the Warrant Articles that will be discussed, and voted on, at the Special Town Meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Town Counsel Kate Connolly had proposed, via email, language changes to Article 4; these were discussed and it was decided that a motion to amend the article would be made from the meeting floor and copies of the changes would be ready for distribution.
John Trickey reported that the Finance Committee had voted recommendations on Articles 1, 2 & 3 only. No recommendation was voted on Article 4 because the informational meeting took place after the last Finance Committee meeting and they had not yet met to discuss the issue.
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion regarding proposed Zoning Board personnel changes: Jeff Eiseman had made the Board aware of the following proposed changes (by phone through Administrative Assistant Leahey):
Christopher Rice will be resigning from the ZBA.
Kathy Holmes would like to change her status from full member to Associate member; the Board received a letter from her with this request.
Daniel Robb would like to be appointed as an Associate member; the Board received a letter from Robb expressing his interest.
Current associate members who, with Eiseman’s expressed support, would like to become full members upon appointment are: Ralph Faulkingham and Ann McNeal.
Martell made a motion to change the status of Kathryn Holmes from Full to Associate member, Martin seconded; motion passed.
Martell made a motion to appoint Ralph Faulkingham to replace Holmes, Martin seconded; motion passed.
Martell made a motion to appoint Robb as an Associate member, Martin seconded; motion passed.
The Board is unable to take further action until they receive Chris Rice’s resignation letter and a letter of intent from Ann McNeal.
NEW BUSINESS
John Trickey initiated a discussion regarding the future financial health of the town and the need for Board members to “start to think now” about a strategy and presentation for Spring Town Meeting. It is his belief that “now is the time to push the town” to support funding. He suggested that it is time to “start gathering information from all areas”, put information in the “Pelham Slate” and prepare a Warrant Article for the annual Spring Town Meeting.
Administrative Assistant Kim Leahey spoke to the Selectmen regarding the need to upgrade some of the office systems – particularly those that are inoperative (such as the fax machine) or in dire need of service (the computer has not been defragmented in a very long time, if ever!). Leahey knows of someone who is willing and able, in a cost-efficient way, to clean up and upgrade the computer system and also to more efficiently wire the phones in the Rhodes building. The Board was open to the effort; Chairman Hall suggested that Leahey have her contact write up a proposal which would include all of the proposed upgrades and changes and present it to the Board. One of the major points of Leahey’s verbal proposal was to discard the color printer, the printer on the cabinet behind her office area, and the scanner which are not used, and also the printer which is networked to her computer but which is “broken”, according to former Administrative Assistant Amanda Majewski and works only from the bypass tray, and replace them with one multi-function unit which would print, copy, scan and fax. This would also remedy the fax situation. The Selectmen responded positively to all suggestions and noted that there is money in the Technology Fund which could be used for the upgrades.
Leahey will have her contact write up a proposal and present it to the Selectmen.
Police Chief Ed Fleury reported that the copier that his department purchased cost more than originally budgeted for due to necessary upgrades and he asked if the $1050 difference could be paid from the Technology Fund. The Selectmen reported having no objections to paying the difference as long as there is enough in the Fund to cover the cost. Selectmen will check with Collector/Treasurer Edna Holloway to be sure.
Martin made a motion to pay the $1050 from the Technology Fund and Martell seconded. Motion passed with unanimous approval.
Leahey reported that Alternate Wiring Inspector Doug Rae had asked about reappointments for himself and Electrical Inspector Ron Shepard.
OLD BUSINESS
None
Martin made a motion at 7:23 p.m. to adjourn the meeting, Martell seconded. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Kim Leahey