Selectboard and Board of Sewer Commissioners Meeting

Attendees: Ivan Beattie (chair), Wayne Bell (vice-chair), Lisa Souls, Steve Nichols. Absent: Carol Lattuga.

Other Attendees: John O'Keefe (Town Manager), Lee Krohn (Town Planner), Ron Mancini (TIC), Linda Spence (Town Clerk), Brent Herrmann, John Jamieson (see attached).

Beattie called the meeting to order at 5:05PM.

Minutes from January 17, 2012

Bell moved, seconded by Souls, to approve the minutes. Motion carried 4-0.

Town Meeting 2012 Warning

The Board and O'Keefe reviewed the draft warning one Article at a time. The Board made some minor changes to the Warning.

The Board discussed Article 27 (bonding for a new building at the Rec. Park) in detail. Beattie, Bell both noted that they like the design but that $1.5 million (the cost estimate) was a lot of money for a small town like Manchester.

Beattie stated that he did not support the Article because of the cost, but that he did not like the alternative (a citizen petition for a special Town Meeting with limited voter participation) because the decision would be made by too few voters (and taxpayers). Souls and members of the Parks and Recreation Department Workgroup spoke in favor of the project.

The Board, through consensus, agreed to include Article 27 (with the bond number of $1,500,000) on the 2012 Town Meeting Warning.

Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to approve the Town Meeting Warning, as amended. Motion carried 4-0. Signed Warning attached. The Board signed the Warning, which was then given to Town Clerk Spence to be posted in five (5) public locations, pursuant to State law.

Local Contractors - Other Business

Herrmann and Jameson stated that they were upset that a non-local contractor was used by the Water Department for an emergency repair. Beattie and O'Keefe responded. Beattie noted that the project in question was under the jurisdiction of the Water Board, but that the Town would reexamine procurement policies as they related to local contractors.

Roundabout Update - Other Business

O'Keefe, Krohn and Mancini updated the Board on the progress of the project, including the Public Information Officer, the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the resident engineer, and the utility agreements. O'Keefe stated that he was prepared to sign the agreements, which total about $908,000, the next day (Friday).

Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to authorize the Town Manager to sign said agreements between the Town and Fairpoint, Comcast, CVPS and Level 3. Motion carried 4-0.

FY 2013 Budget - approval

The Board and Mancini discussed a proposal from Mancini to allocate some of the Town's local option tax revenues to market Manchester.

Souls and Nichols stated that they were in favor of using local option taxes for marketing, while Beattie and Bell stated concerns. 

Nichols moved, seconded by Souls, to appropriate $16,000 for marketing, in the economic development office, and increase revenues from the Taxpayer Relief Reserve Fund by $16,000. Motion carried 3-1 (Beattie voting NO).

Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to approve the FY 2013 budget (General Fund and Sewer Department), as amended, to be considered by Town Meeting on March 3. Motion carried 4-0.

(At this point, Souls left meeting. A quorum of three members was still maintained.)

Executive Session

Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations, the premature disclosure of which may place the Town at a significant disadvantage, and the appointment of a public official. Motion carried 3-0. O'Keefe was invited to attend the Session.

Appointment of Greg Cutler to Development Review Board

After exiting Executive Session, Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to appoint Greg Cutler to the Development Review Board. Motion passed 3-0.

Adjournment

Nichols moved, seconded by Bell, to adjourn. Motion carried 3-0.