February 23, 2009
7:00 p.m. – Town Council Chambers, Town Hall,
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jeffrey C. Plumb and
MEMBERS ABSENT: Hubert
E. Little and
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A moment of silence
for our men and women around the world in harm’s way.
TOWN COUNCIL
CONSENT AGENDA - None.
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS – None.
PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The Council met on 2/9/09 under RIGL 42-46 5 (a) (2) potential litigation.
President McIntyre stated that Ms. Gleason was absent but that she maintains continuous contact with the Council President and she is keeping abreast of all Town issues especially the budget. She has been dealing with a personal matter and expects to return soon.
MINUTES – TCM 2/9/09 & Exec
A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to approve the minutes of TCM 2/9/09
and Executive Session as written. All voted in favor of the motion.
BILLS
A motion by Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to pay all just and due bills in the amount
of $71,376.30. All voted in favor of the motion.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S
REPORT
TCM 2/23/09
Page 2
Town Solicitor D’Andrea stated that Attorney General has ruled on the Open Meeting Law the fact that your next regular meeting does not come until some sort of deadline does not allow you to add something to your agenda if you have time to post and hold a regular meeting. So March 4th being more than four days away, if this Council wishes to take some action this evening that would violate the Attorney General’s interpretation of the Open Meetings Law.
Mr. Driscoll will draft a letter reiterating the Council’s position in opposition to transport of LNGs by our shores.
Mr. Driscoll responded to a question by Leonard Katzman that the Town has not spent the $25,000. previously committed by the Council for the opposition.
APPOINTMENTS AND
RECOGNITIONS
1. Tree Commission Notice of Inactive Members (6)
A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to approve the request to remove Carol
Mutty, Nancy Babcock, Andy Kittel, Kelly Kittel, Tom Vanicek and Mark Poremski from the Tree Commission roster so the committee can advertise for new members. All voted in favor of the motion.
OLD BUSINESS
in Feb. 4, 2009 Memo
Mr. Seveney said this discussion is limited to surviving the current fiscal year and the smart things we can do or the things we can plan on doing once the legislature actually does make a decision to figure out whether we are going to get any state aid or not.
Mr. Driscoll stated that the Council has already frozen discretionary spending and a hiring freeze is in place. He referred to his memo regarding a summary of potential remedial actions. He said that eliminating about 50% of the street lighting in Town would save about $26,000. The Police Department is reviewing the lighting and Chief Hebert is preparing a list of lights that are not essential to public safety.
A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to approve the de-lighting. All voted in
favor of the motion.
Regarding Personnel Adjustments, Mr. Driscoll said a vacancy will not be filled. He asked for an Executive Session next meeting regarding Collective Bargaining.
TCM 2/23/09
Page 3
Mr. Driscoll said that neither the Fund Balance Contribution $107,438.00 nor the Application of School Fund Balance $217,454.00 affect our Fund Balance as it now exists.
Mr. Driscoll said that Road Resurfacing Warrant Elimination may have to be taken out for necessary repairs.
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to accept Mr. Driscoll’s summary of
potential remedial actions and to give Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Faucher the discretion as far as following the guidelines he’s set forth.
Larry Fitzmorris referred to and presented to the Town Solicitor a copy of Title 16, Section 16-7-23, which states that “…All state and local funds unexpended by the end of the fiscal year of appropriation shall remain a surplus of the school committee and shall not revert to the municipality...”
E. Richard Carpender, Chairman School Committee said the Committee is building a budget with four different scenarios: level state aid, the minus 18% governor’s supplemental budget, a 10% reduction in state aid, and a 5% reduction in state aid. They are looking at a gap of revenue to expenditure of $104,000 to $372,000.
All voted in favor of the motion.
Mr. Hamilton requested that NB -1 be heard at this time.
NB 1 - Request Permission and Support for Community Development Block Grant Application,
skate park/Island Park Neighborhood Crime Watch Committee
Lori Rinkel, representing the Island
Park Neighborhood Crime Watch Committee, addressed the Council stating the
committee is asking for the Council’s approval to build a skate park at the
playground in
A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to approve the request.
In response to Mr. McIntyre’s question on upkeep, Ms. Rinkel said material costs for upkeep would be low because it is concrete.
All voted in favor of the motion.
TCM 2/23/09
Page 4
Bob Andrews, Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, provided an update on the workshop scheduled for March 21st at Portsmouth Abbey. The number of people will be limited because of the size of the facility. 76 people, a cross section of the community, were sent invitations. An RFQ for a professional facilitator has had four bids. Only the opening and closing will be open to the public. They will be working on a SWOT list (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the Town).
OB 3 - Discussion:
This item was continued to the next meeting when all Council members are in attendance by request of Mr. Smith.
Mr. Faucher said a management letter for the single audit would be coming with a presentation at the Town Council meeting of March 9th.
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to accept and place on file. All voted in
favor of the motion.
NEW BUSINESS
NB 1 - Request Permission and Support for Community Development Block Grant Application,
skate park/Island Park Neighborhood Crime Watch Com. / L.Rinkel
This item was heard following
NB 2 - Request use of Glen Farm Special Events Fields/Metacomet Select Lacrosse, June 7, 2009
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve. All voted in favor of the motion.
NB 3 -
Request use of Glen Farm Fields and
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve. All voted in favor of the motion.
NB 4 - Request to Establish a “Commemorative Bench” Program
A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Canario, to approve. All voted in favor of the motion.
TCM 2/23/09
Page 5
NB 5 - Tax Vouchers #20090223 01 and #20090223 02
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve Tax Vouchers #20090223 01
and #20090223 02. All voted in favor of the motion.
CORRESPONDENCE – None.
FUTURE MEETINGS
March 6 – 4:00 p.m. – Town Council walk thru of barns at Glen Farm
March 9 – 6:30 p.m. – Town Council Meeting with Lower Glen Farm
Preservation Committee
March 9 – 7:00 p.m. – Town Council Meeting
– HEARING: Proposed Nuisances Ordinance
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RIGL 42-46 5 (a) (2) Pending Litigation
Mr. Driscoll requested the Executive Session be postponed to March 9th.
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to adjourn. All voted in favor of the motion.
ADJOURN
TIME: 8:10 p.m.
_________________________________
Kathleen Viera Beaudoin
Town Clerk