BOS Minutes 11/12/18

Meeting date: 
Monday, November 12, 2018

MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 12, 2018 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

MEMBER’S PRESENT:  Board Members Mike Houghton, Joe Lovejoy and Town Administrator Paul Deschaine.  Board Member Robert O’Sullivan was absent.

At 7:10pm Mr. Houghton opened the public meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

Mr. Deschaine reported that at 6:39 pm Mr. Lovejoy motioned to go into a non-public session to discuss a personnel matter with Chief Scippa.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  At 6:57 pm Mr. Lovejoy motioned to come out of the non-public session and to seal the minutes because of the topics discussed.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 

MINUTES
There were no minutes available for review.

NEW BUSINESS
Members of the Energy Commission and Mr. Deschaine have been in ongoing discussions about possibly upgrading the street lighting to LED lights.  Energy Commission chair Mike Welty reported that after much research he is suggesting making the change.  The net cost would be $7,300.  He discussed the financing options, noting that the Energy Commission has funds in their budget that the Town could use.  It was noted that the lights in the municipal parking lot are Town owned and contain floodlight LED lights.  Mr. Houghton made a motion to proceed with the street lights project under the proposal provided with the lighting retro total cost of $13,560.50 incorporating the Unitil incentive of $6,256 for a net cost of $7,305 utilizing Option 2 $3,300 of funding from SEC budget to finance the balance and authorize Mr. Deschaine to execute the agreement.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Mr. Houghton made a motion to move forward with the CMA Engineers drainage study proposal agreement and authorize Mr. Deschaine to execute and put it in place immediately.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 

The Town became owners of the Smyk property as of Monday, November 5, 2018.  Mr. Deschaine inquired if he should prepare the house for winterization.  Mr. Houghton felt that demolition is the best option.  His reasons included the many restrictions on the home, the significant cost of renovating the house into something useful, there being no specific purpose for the home at this time.  They discussed salvaging anything of value in the home.               

ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Deschaine questioned during what timeframe the Eric Flaim banner should be flown.  The original intention of the banners in the Town Center was to be seasonal.  Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to re-install the Eric Flaim Olympic banner to be displayed in Town Center.  Mr. Houghton added to Mr. Lovejoy’s motion that the Eric Flaim banner be returned to its position in Town Center and remain there until such time as a policy is developed to manage those efforts.

Next, the selectmen discussed a letter from the Board of Selectmen in Greenland regarding Stratham selectmen’s response to an invitation to attend a public forum on development at Pease.    The selectmen agreed traffic in the area is an issue. Mr. Lovejoy expressed a desire to get involved in future discussions.  Mr. Houghton will respond to the Greenland’s selectmen’s letter.

The selectmen and Mr. Deschaine compared the offers received on the Bartlett-Cushman house. There are three offers:  two might accept the interior preservation easement conditioned on what they are; one does not.  The one that does not is the highest offer, but also wants the most land.  All of them want to see the preservation easement before submitting a final offer.  The Selectmen want to see the offers before they agree to the easement.  Mr. Deschaine suggests having a draft easement that the Town of Stratham can accept.  It stays as a draft until such time that they settle on a buyer who is agreeable to the easements.  When closing occurs, the easement is part of the closing and one of the first documents recorded before we sell.  Mr. Deschaine asked them to review the interior easement and come to a decision so that it may be presented to the offerees.

Public Works Director Colin Laverty reported that he got a quote from Danley Demolition and it would cost $22,000 to demolish the Smyk house.  Danley would have all rights to salvageable items.  They should be able to have it done by the end of the year.  The horse barn will be kept.  Mr. Laverty has planned for the demolition in his budget.  He made the selectmen aware that he would like to purchase a mower to maintain the property.  Mr. Laverty will talk with Dave Kramer regarding the electrical.  He’ll also check the oil in the tank.  Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to engage Danley Demolition to raze the Smyk house at a cost of $22,000.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  They discussed looking at the property with an eye towards future uses and possibly putting together a committee.

Mr. Deschaine informed Mr. Laverty that they have engaged CMA Engineers to do a drainage study at Stevens Park.  Mr. Laverty said he would be happy to work with them. 

Mr. Deschaine received an email from a resident who asked him to read the following message at this Selectmen’s meeting:
We have lived in Stratham for over twenty-five years.  I have heard residents in other towns complain about their town employees.  Here is Stratham, my experience is that our Town Highway Department has earned high marks and is to be commended.  Colin Laverty and his team are hard working, polite and talented.  We see them, in all kinds of weather, working hard to make improvements to our town.  It’s easy to overlook what can be a difficult job keeping up with the many demands, but Mr. Laverty and the team are a pleasure and as a taxpayer, I want to recognize them for all their achievements.
Kind regards,
Jack Keating

Mr. Laverty expressed appreciation for the recognition. 

At 8:23 pm they took a short recess to tour the building for possible layout options.

At 8:37 pm the Board of Selectmen reconvened. 

MEETINGS
Mr. Houghton reviewed the meetings of the upcoming and past week.  Mr. Deschaine, the Town Planner and Town Assessor will attend the NH Municipal Conference Wednesday and Thursday.  Mr. Lovejoy said he will not be able to attend the Rt 108 Committee meeting on Thursday.  If the consultants don’t have the information on time, the meeting may be postponed.  Election Day went very well.  Mr. Lovejoy gave a brief update on the Rockingham Planning Commission Legislative Forum that he attended.  Mr. Houghton and Mr. Lovejoy expressed interest in attending the next, currently unscheduled, skate park meeting.  Mr. Deschaine updated them on the last skate park meeting.  Mr. Lovejoy reported on the Veteran’s Day ceremony. 

Mr. Deschaine asked them to review the proposed interior preservation easement and be ready to give feedback next week.  The Selectmen asked Mr. Deschaine to put the three offers on a spreadsheet so it would be easier to compare them. 

Mr. Lovejoy asked if Dave Emanuel had appointed the Budget Committee members yet.  Mr. Deschaine said that Mr. Emanuel promised to make the appointments prior to Thanksgiving.  Mr. O’Sullivan, who normally serves as a School Board Rep, will have to be replaced because of his role as Selectman.

Giving a quick overview of budgeting items, Mr. Deschaine reported that there will be a 10% increase in medical insurance rates if we keep the same plan.  He will do an analysis to find a way to decrease that.  Mr. Houghton urged him to consider all the options

In other budget items:

  • The Gifford house requests have to do with energy efficiency, yet when we attempted to do an energy audit, they were not eager to comply. 
  • Trash removal cost went up, but not significantly.  This was mostly due to an increase in tonnage.
  • Recruitment is a new item to be added into the budget. 
  • Recycling automation project will also have to be included.

At 9:07 pm Mr. Houghton made a motion to go into a non-public to discuss a personnel matter.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  At 9:25pm Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to come out of the non-public session and seal the minutes.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

At 9:27 pm Mr. Houghton made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Richard, Recording Secretary