Chairman Dana Glennon Councilor James Bergeron (excused) Vice-Chairman Judith Carr Councilor Rose-Anne Kwaks Councilor Michael LaBranche Councilor Steve Minutelli Councilor Michael E. Ploski Administrator Ed Wojnowski
Chairman Glennon called the meeting to order at 7:33pm.
Non-Public RSA 91-A:II (c) – 6:00pm
Chairman Glennon noted the Town Council did not meet this evening for the Non-Public. Councilor Bergeron would not be here due to a family situation. Vice-Chairman Carr is downstairs with the Planning Board and would join the Council when that meeting was over.
9. Review of Standing Committees and Council Representatives
a. Councilor LaBranche
Budget Committee
Councilor LaBranche explained the Budget Committee and CIP Committee have been meeting regularly. The Budget Committee has attended the School Board work sessions. They have not been handed the School Board Budget yet.
CIP Committee
Councilor LaBranche passed out copies of a form he presented to the CIP Committee at their last meeting. His recommendation is to cut the total CIP presented by 50% across the board for two years. This is an action plan; not a knee-jerk reaction to the economy. This would stall purchases for one year while still saving for future purchases. Hopefully within two years the economy will be better and regular CIP contributions can be maintained.
Vice-Chairman Carr arrived at 7:36pm.
Councilor LaBranche discussed last year’s CIP Budget explaining road maintenance has become a budgeted item. He felt this action plan could work and would take some pressure off the homeowners. It was a bare bones budget last year and would be again this year. He would let the Budget Committee know as well. This would give the tax payer a break for two years. Any input from the Town Council would be appreciated.
Chairman Glennon asked when road maintenance became a budgeted item.
Councilor LaBranche noted that had been proposed last year. The CIP is a long term bank account that should not be used for revolving accounts like road maintenance. All areas within the CIP will take the same cut.
Chairman Glennon noted last year there were certain departments that had been hit harder than others. He supported this idea. He recommended freezing future expenditures between now and June 30, 2009 so any excess funds could revert to the general fund. He asked the Council to consider directing department heads to freeze purchases unless necessary.
Councilor Kwaks agreed. She felt some departments could be cut more than 50%.
Chairman Glennon asked if it would be possible to push purchasing vehicles out one more year as vehicles were being made better.
Councilor LaBranche noted when a vehicle was replaced the least operative of the bunch was replaced with the newer one. He noted this action plan would create a replacement as needed basis. He noted he would rather not have a motion by the Council at this time to endorse the recommendation. He wanted to bring this to the CIP and Budget Committee. He was comfortable with the Council knowing his plan.
Energy Committee
Councilor LaBranche noted he is looking for direction from the Council where they saw this committee going. He believed the Committee membership was full now.
Chairman Glennon asked Councilor LaBranche to take the initiative and call a meeting, select a location and elect a Chairman.
f. Councilor Ploski
Highway Public Safety Committee
Councilor Ploski noted the High Way Public Safety Committee has not met.
Cable Access Committee
Councilor Ploski noted they had met briefly to discuss the Comcast negotiation. They had talked about You Tube and inappropriate postings. They had discussed possible ways of preventing such events from happening again without impeding upon people’s freedom of speech.
Main Street Committee
Councilor Ploski explained there had been a dinner meeting at the Riverworks to discuss the success of the Heritage Festival.
Channel 13 Committee
Councilor Ploski noted they had finalized a process to submit slides. He explained the process. There is a two week lead time for slide submissions. Emergency slides are handled differently.
Chairman Glennon asked for the policy to be submitted to the Town Council for approval. He felt it would be helpful to include a list of appropriate and inappropriate things so there is a better understanding. He noted he had spoken with the Administrator Wojnowski regarding keeping track of the funds from reproduced DVDs. There needs to be a policy to trace how a request for DVD is handled followed by where the money goes.
Councilor Ploski noted the Committee would work on that at the next meeting.
Administrator Wojnowski noted there is a process for requesting a DVD. He explained the process.
Chairman Glennon suggested the process be written up as a policy for Town Council approval.
g. Councilor Minutelli
Cable Franchise Committee
Councilor Minutelli explained the Committee had voted to extend the agreement. The will meet again in the beginning of December; this is anticipated to be their final meeting. Following this meeting, he would contact Chairman Glennon to be put on a future agenda. He noted the attorney had suggested a Public Hearing associated with the recommendations.
Downtown TIF Advisory Board
Councilor Minutelli noted at the November 6, 2008 meeting Project Coordinator Julie Glover updated the Board on the Main Street construction. There was a brief discussion on the budget. This was a status meeting; no action was taken.
Open Space Commission
Councilor Minutelli explained at the November 11, 2008 meeting there had been an election of officers. There was also a discussion of Town owned property at Lita Lane. The Commission had approved correspondence drafted which would be sent to the Town Council for review.
Veteran’s Memorial Trust Committee
Councilor Minutelli noted the Committee had discussed the Town Council approval of the civil war monument. He referenced the event at the Legion held on November 11, 2008 stating the Chairman of the Committee had asked for correspondence to be read into the record. He read: “On November 11, 2008 a very successful ceremony was held to honor our veterans in Newmarket, NH. We would like to take this time to thank the three councilors that took time from their day to attend the ceremony. They were Councilor LaBranche, Councilor Bergeron and Councilor Minutelli. Your appearance was appreciated and duly noted. A special thank-you to Chris Williams who traveled here from his home to film the event, and later that night aired the greetings and ceremony on You Tube so those that have ties to Newmarket could enjoy. This ceremony was well received by those in attendance that night. Our members are still receiving messages of thanks for showing our veterans that this community cares. Our committee received support from the American Legion Post 67, Sons of American Legion Squadron 67, Ladies Auxiliary unit 67 and Boy Scout Troop 200. This was a wonderful way of organizations working together for the community. Support also came from the local Jr./High School Art Department in assisting us with headers for the pro panel boards that displayed the photos of our veterans. Once again, a heartfelt thanks to all and to our veterans and community members that attended the event”.
Councilor LaBranche asked if the Cable Franchise Committee had discussed I-net. It was his understanding that portion of the current/expired contract had not been upheld.
Administrator Wojnowski explained I-net was a connection between Town facilities through fiber. This was part of the current/expired contract and should have been built out during the course of the contract. There are certain things the Town would have needed to do in order for this build out to take place. I-net has been part of the discussions for the new contract.
Councilor Minutelli agreed stating this was one of two or three items left to be negotiated.
Councilor LaBranche asked about contract time frame.
Administrator Wojnowski explained this contract that is concluding was for a fifteen year period. The Committee has also discussed time frame for the new contract.
Councilor Minutelli noted this was another item the Committee was still negotiating. The attorney from Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella who had been working with the Committee on the negotiations has indicated most communities are entering a five to seven year term.
c. Vice-Chairman Carr
Planning Board
Vice-Chairman Carr noted the Planning Board had held a non-meeting with their attorney earlier this evening.
e. Councilor Kwaks
Advisory Heritage Commission
Councilor Kwaks noted the Commission had met Thursday and had discussed the subcommittee formed by the Planning Board to review the Historic District Ordinance.
Municipal Audit Committee
Councilor Kwaks noted the last meeting had been canceled.
Municipal Solid Waste Committee
Councilor Kwaks noted there has not been a meeting yet.
d. Chairman Glennon
Lamprey Riverwalk Committee
Chairman Glennon noted the Committee had met and discussed the sidewalk easement for Water Street. They instructed Project Coordinator Julie Glover to put the pressure on the business owner for resolution. Some language had been changed which needed to be included. Project Coordinator Julie Glover would check on the pavers for Arbor Park. Funds have been approved, but not expended yet. There is some concern with ADA compliance as the walkway will step down to the flag pole. A letter of resignation had been submitted by Brett Johnson because he is possibly moving out of state. This resignation has not been accepted yet until the Committee is sure he will be moving.
Councilor Ploski asked if the kiosk on Main Street would be dependent upon the easement.
Chairman Glennon noted the kiosk had been proposed outside the door of the eye glass place. It has been decided the two structures at the entrance to the Arbor Park would be a better location. Since this is also a COAST bus stop, there may be funds available for the project.
Black Bear TIF
Chairman Glennon noted he had attended the Black Bear TIF meeting where the Board had felt there was no sense in proceeding with an engineering study since most of the land is privately owned. The Board instructed Administrator Wojnowski to invite the stakeholders of large properties within the district to come to a meeting so they can begin dialogue on what was envisioned for the area.
Councilor Kwaks discussed funding for the Wilson Farm and noted she had spoken with Finance Director Don Parnell about how the property was purchased. Not all of those funds had come from the Black Bear TIF. She suggested if the Town was to reimburse the Black Bear TIF the property could be used for athletic fields
Chairman Glennon noted the Board had discussed this and had instructed Administrator Wojnowski to look into.
Administrator Wojnowski explained the Council would need to amend the Black Bear TIF district to include this property in its entirety. This should not be done until the general fund is paid back by the Black Bear TIF or if the Town decides to purchase the property from the Black Bear TIF. The only access to the Wilson property is through a road about 10 feet wide; this road travels through an easement on a neighboring property. In order to use this land for fields, a new road would need to be constructed; there could potentially be wetlands crossings.
Chairman Glennon asked if numbers could be prepared.
Chairman Glennon asked who the Chairman of the Municipal Audit Committee is. He asked that the Chairman be asked to contact Administrator Wojnowski about the matrix Brian Hart had created.
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10. Old Business/New Business
Councilor Kwaks noted both petitions had been deemed deficient. She noted Administrator Wojnowski had indicated at a prior meeting his goal had been to move forward on this issue which has created havoc. One of the issues within the petition was claiming that she had interfered with Town Administration as put forth in Section 4.11 of the Town Charter. She noted Administrator Wojnowski had not informed herself or the Council there had been any interference.
Administrator Wojnowski noted since there was a petition before the Council which would be discussed at the December 3, 2008 Business Meeting, this should not be discussed tonight.
Councilor Kwaks noted there is no petition. She asked why the Council had not been informed of any feeling there had been interference with Town Administration.
Administrator Wojnowski explained since he has been Town Administrator, Councilors have come in at different times asking for and doing certain things. He has allowed a certain amount of latitude for these things to occur. He has since learned that he needs to take control over the things he is responsible for and not allow Councilors to due those tasks. There needs to be a clearer line drawn between his authority and Council authority. There is a series of allegations that have been made which would be discussed December 3rd.
Councilor Kwaks hoped as Town Administrator any violation of this section would be immediately brought to the Council’s attention.
Administrator Wojnowski noted the Town Administration encompassed other staff as well; not just the Town Administrator.
Councilor Ploski thanked the Council and staff for the plant he received for the loss of his family member.
Chairman Glennon referenced a memo dated November 24, 2008 regarding the elevator door. He expressed his concern with the elevator not being accessible to residents.
Administrator Wojnowski explained the process of opening the building in the morning and closing it at night. He explained there had been some complaints the door used to access the elevator had been locked. He called Building & Grounds to come look at it. A locksmith had been called. The simplest and most effective way to remedy the situation is to “dog” the door open using a screwdriver. This would lock the push bar for the day eliminating the possibility the door will relock. This memo was meant to let everyone know the issue had been addressed and what needed to be done to ensure the elevator access door does not re-lock.
Chairman Glennon asked how long this would be the case.
Administrator Wojnowski explained this was the recommendation from the locksmith. This was the best way to address the situation. The front doors to the Town Hall were done the same way. He offered to take the Council on a site walk after the meeting to show them what he meant.
Councilor LaBranche asked about the second water tower. He asked if background information could be provided to Councilors as to when the Warrant was passed and when the vote was taken so this project can move forward. There was confusion within Town questioning whether this second tower was ever approved and if it was, where the funds would come from.
Chairman Glennon noted at the biweekly staff meeting last night, Administrator Wojnowski had agreed to create a timeline.
Administrator Wojnowski explained at the CIP meeting, Water Superintendent Sean Grieg stated he had been researching the issue and has been trying to understand all the pieces. The resolution had been confusing.
Chairman Glennon asked where they were at with the sign for the door of Council Chambers.
Administrator Wojnowski noted he had asked Building & Grounds to get the sign.
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11. Town Administrator’s Report
Administrator Wojnowski referenced discussions about Lou Caprioli acquiring the small piece of land behind the Town Hall. This piece is .06 acres and has been assessed at $5,000 according to Andy Blaize. The land has been surveyed and Lou Caprioli would bring the plans to the Planning Board for annexation of the land. Trees would be planted.
Chairman Glennon noted he spoke with Andy Blaize about whether the Town could sell Town owned land without a warrant article. That would be researched. There had also been discussions about taking the cost of the trees that would be planted out of the cost of the purchase of the property.
Councilor Kwaks noted any applicant before the Planning Board for subdivision is normally required to plant trees; the funds for such plantings are the responsibility of the applicant. She felt this should be no exception. She added the property had been assessed as it is used now; once ownership was transferred, it would make the business more valuable due to the parking.
Chairman Glennon noted there would be give and take on both sides.
Councilor LaBranche noted he had been on the Planning Board when the detail shop had looked into that building. It should not be the responsibility of Lou Caprioli to provide the buffer of trees as the Town should have provided that when they did the parking lot.
Administrator Wojnowski explained on Saturday from 11:00am until 1:00pm there would be the annual “Stuff a Cruiser” in front of the Rite Aid. This event would help children in Newmarket. Chris Williams will be there during that time to video tape clips for service people around the world.
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