Select Board Minutes 8/31/20

MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 31, 2020 SELECT BOARD MEETING

MEMBERS PARTICIPATING:  Board Members Chair Mike Houghton, Vice Chair Joe Lovejoy, Board Member Allison Knab along with Town Administrator David Moore and Public Works Director Nate Mears.

The Board Chair opened the meeting at 7:01 p.m.

Ms. Knab made a motion to approve the August 17, 2020 minutes.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Town Treasurer Tracy Abbott submitted the Treasurer’s Report.  The Board reviewed.  No discussion.

PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works Director Nate Mears presented his department report.  He reviewed the paving schedule which includes Union Road patching between Winnicutt Rd and High Street.  Line striping will begin once paving is complete.  Drainage concerns were investigated on Stratham Heights Rd.  Drought conditions have decreased the number of mosquitoes.

Mr. Mears reported that solid waste proposals have been submitted and analyzed.  Volumes of municipal solid waste has increased 10% year to date and recycling is up 11%.  There is speculation that the increase is due to more people being home because of the pandemic.

Next Mr. Mears updated the Board on work being done at the cemeteries, the parks and the facilities.        

Under separate cover, Mr. Moore provided the Board with background information about drought conditions and a request from NHDES.  Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to move forward with a water use restriction as recommended by the State of NH and to request the Town Administrator to follow-up with all posting and implementation requirements, including communications with the public, as required in RSA 41 11:d.  Ms. Knab seconded the motion.  Mr. Houghton opposed the motion out of concern that not enough notice was given to the public.

Mr. Houghton made a motion to go into a non-public session at 7:55pm.  Ms. Knab seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.  At 9:24 pm they voted to come out of the non-public session and seal the minutes noting that failure to do so may render a proposed action ineffective.

Mr. Moore received a request from Police Chief Anthony King to release CIP funds and Radio Reserve funds.  There is an additional cost to the previously approved amount.  Mr. Moore advocated a policy for expending Detail Account funds.  Ms. Knab made a motion to approve Chief King’s request to release the CIP funds and Radio Communication Reserve funds.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

Mr. Moore presented the Comcast Cable TV franchise agreement.  They are allowing us a one year extension because of the pandemic.  Mr. Moore researched the benefits and limitations involved in renewing and doesn’t believe it would be detrimental to do so.  Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to move forward with the one year extension agreement.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

Next, Mr. Moore reported that he’s been working with DES and Wilcox & Barton to develop a scope of work and cost proposal for following up with the PFAS Remedial Action Plan.  The Board asked for some clarification on the details of the mediation.  Ms. Knab made a motion to authorize the Town Administrator to enter into a professional agreement with Wilcox & Barton in an amount up to $37,000.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

Mr. Moore felt it was important to update the Select Board Rules of Procedure.  The Board wanted to spend more time reviewing the document and requested it be on their September 21st agenda for further discussion. 

Mr. Moore reviewed Election Day preparations and the extra measures being taken to make it as safe as possible.  He detailed the logistics and importance of moving the flow of people through the building quickly.  Mr. Moore clarified questions about processing absentee ballots.  He explained the accommodations that were being made to ensure everyone’s right to vote.   Mr. Houghton made a motion to make masks required while in the Municipal Center until further notice.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion.  All voted in favor. 

Mr. Moore reported that there will be a large increase in NHRS rates which will occur mid next year.  We do not have any choice or ability to change this.

The owner of 30 Bunker Hill Avenue has come to Mr. Moore to request a cost sharing agreement to pave his driveway.  The Town benefits from using this driveway and we have the funds to cover the work. 

Mr. Moore presented requests for reservations and fee waivers.  Mr. Lovejoy motioned to approve the reservations and fee waivers.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

Next, Mr. Moore noted there were three appointments:  Tracy Abbott to be re-appointed to the Recreation Commission, Joe Anderson to the Planning Board as an alternate and Kyle Saltonstall as an alternate to the Conservation Commission.  Mr. Moore sees a need to implement a consistent practice regarding appointments.  He would like to formalize this process for inclusion in the Select Board Rules of Procedure.  Having committee member input and mandating the candidate attend a meeting were deemed important parts of the process.  They discussed the issue committees have with members remaining as an alternate.  Conversation centered on whom has authority to appoint members.  Mr. Lovejoy made a motion to re-appoint Tracy Abbott to the Recreation Commission.  Mr. Houghton seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.  Mr. Houghton motioned to appoint Joe Anderson to the Planning Board as an alternate.  Ms. Knab seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.  They were unsure if the Conservation Commission was aware of Kyle Saltonstall’s interest and decided to wait until they received input from them.  Ms. Knab made a motion to appoint to the Conservation Commission Ana Egana to a full member, Brad Jones to a full member and re-appoint Bob Keating.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

At 10:29 Mr. Houghton made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Lovejoy seconded the motion.  All voted in favor.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Richard
Recording Secretary