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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JANUARY 25, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Keith Mitchell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Keith A. Mitchell, Chairman; William Duffy; John R. Leeman, Jr.; Donald B. Stewart; David M. Torrisi; Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: David Torrisi made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman, to approve the Minutes of January 11, 1999; vote approved 5 — 0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Keith Mitchell added two items to the Agenda under new business; one being a Town election item and the other being appointing a designee from the Board of Selectmen to the D.E.P. Steering Committee. An Executive Session was also added to the agenda to discuss the Library contract and the Firefighters contract. Keith Mitchell announced that the next regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen's meeting will be on February 8, 1999 and February 22, 1999. NEW BUSINESS: Donation Acceptance. David Torrisi made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to accept the $1,000 donation from A.E.G. Schneider to the Police Department; vote approved 5 — 0. Deed Acceptance—Beechwood Lane. The Town Manager stated that a vote was taken at the Annual Town May, 1998 under Article 33 where it was accepted as a public way. John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to accept the deed for Beechwood Lane; vote approved 5 — 0. Geographic Information System G.LS.). Mr. James Rand, Director of Engineering, delivered a presentation on the benefits of having a geographic information system. He stated that it is a system that can be utilized by all departments. It will not generate cash flow but will reduce the need for some consultants and will save all departments man-hours. The greatest cost will occur in the first year. Another expense will be a G.I.S.technician who will coordinate input into the system. John Leeman questioned whether other towns utilize G.I.S. and was told that Methuen, Andover and Salem,NH are towns in the area that use it. When asked if grants would be available, Mr. Rand said there was a possibility Chapter 90 funds would be available for some road work and also the state provides information at a very low cost. Time Lines to Annual Town Meeting. The Town Manager proposed that May 3, 1999 be set for the Annual Town Meeting. He also proposed that a memo be sent to all Town Officials, Boards, Committees and Managers requesting submissions submitted during the month of February. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 25, 1999 Page 2 It was also determined that the Warrant be opened on March 8, 1999 and close on March 15, 1999. John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart to schedule the Annual Town Meeting for May 3, 1999 Town Election. The Town Manager stated that this request is the result of a home rule petition that was adopted at the Annual Town Meeting in May 1998 (Article 41)pertaining to custodians and food service workers being removed from civil service rules. It is requested that this be put on the ballot on the March 2, 1999 ballot. John Leeman, made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to include on the March 2, 1999 ballot revocation of civil service for custodians and food service workers; vote approved 5 — 0. D.E.P. Steering Committee—Board of Selectmen Designee.gnee. The Town Manager said the state has expressed interest in forming a state/local steering committee to improve the cooperation between the Town and the State in monitoring of the incinerator. David Torrisi made a MOTION, seconded by William Duffy,to appoint John Leeman as the Board of Selectmen designee to this steering committee; vote approved 5 — 0. OLD BUSINESS: Capital Improvement Plan: Overview—General Fund Capital Outlay Requests. The Town Manager reviewed the capital outlays for annual replacesments and building repairs totaling $678,479 which would be raised and appropriated as part of the FY 2000 budget. There are three other projects totaling $798,500 that would be funded through long-term debt. The raise and appropriate potion includes the replacement of a 1985 Jeep, annual police and fire radio replacement,technical upgrades at five schools, automating elementary school libraries, repaving the Atkinson and Franklin parking lots, scheduled equipment replacement at the DPW and a new garage heating system at the DPW. The long-term debt portion includes a heating system at the Bradstreet School, youth athletic fields at Foster Farm and Sharpner's Pond and extraordinary maintenance at the Town Hall. Police and Fire Radio Replacement Program. Chief Dolan reviewed the replacement of radios at the Fire Department. It includes purchasing 33 new radios that have new technology and provides extra radios in the event some are being repaired and provides back-ups at the fire station. The request is for$74,700. Chief Richard Stanley is requesting an additional 15 radios. These radios are replacing radios that are 8 to 15 years old. The FY'99 radio replacement that was deferred is also in the budget. The request for additional radios is $43,937 and the deferred amount is $40,000. Schools—Five School Technolog_yUpgrade/Automate School Libraries. Mr. Robert Parker, School Systems Technology Coordinator, described the process to upgrade various schools with new computers. He said that a five-year technology plan was adopted in 1995. The School Department is requesting $166,393 to replace the oldest equipment. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 25, 1999 Page 3 Mr. Parker then reviewed automating the school libraries. It will enable students and teachers to look into the server to find out what is available in the libraries. Inventory is completed immediately with this system. Automation of the libraries is budgeted at$47,949. Repave Atkinson&Franklin School Parking Lots. The cost to pave these parking lots is $89,000. Mr. Paul Szymanski, Director of Management& Support Services, reviewed the need to repave these parking lots. Mr. Szymanski said this is a safety issue. Heating System—Bradford School. Mr. Szymanski stated that the boiler from the Thomson school will be moved to the Bradford School. The cost of this project which will be financed by long-term debt is $200,000. Other raise and appropriate projects include DPW scheduled equipment replacement($128,000) and a garage heating system at the DPW($50,000) The youth athletic fields at Foster Farm and Sharpner's Pond($348,500)and extraordinary maintenance at the Town Hall ($250,000) are other long-term debt projects. David Torrisi made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to make a favorable recommendation to the Finance Committee on all items listed(see attached) including the unfunded Geographic Information System; vote approved 5 — 0. EXECUTIVE SESSION: John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart to move into Executive Session at 9:00 p.m. to discuss the Library contract and the Firefighters contract; vote approved 5 - 0. Ann M. Keating Administrative Secretary John R. Leeman, Jr., Clerk of the Board