Meeting Minutes
SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
January 9, 2018
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chairman Harris. Present was Mrs. Paight. Also present were Ellen Smith, Town Administrator, Richard Butler and Frederick Mead of the Heritage Commission, Jeffrey Miller, Richard Hill and Daniel Belluscio of the Budget Advisory Committee.
Mr. Butler and Mr. Mead presented the proposed budget for the Heritage Commission. They discussed upcoming maintenance projects. Mrs. Smith read a memo from Ms. Pitt, who could not be present at tonight’s meeting, which outlined some of the research she had done on the Gates House. She spoke to members of the Condo Association who are the only abutter of the property and they are not interested in acquiring the house. There was discussion about revisiting the deed to see what if anything it allows for the disposition of the structure. Perhaps a warrant article should be drafted to get an idea what people in Town would like to do with the property.
At 6:45 pm Mr. Butler and Mr. Mead left the meeting and Peter Switzer joined the meeting.
Mr. Switzer presented the proposed budget for the Recreation Department. There was very little discussion as most items stayed flat. Mr. Switzer did point out that many donations were received in 2017 that allowed for improvements to the facilities. It was also noted that the Town will probably need to put a stipend in the budget once Mr. Switzer’s term is up in two years. Mr. Switzer left the meeting at 7:00 pm.
Mrs. Smith presented the administration budgets. There was discussion about the increase in budgeted hours for the Office Assistant position and the challenges being faced in the Town Office. It was noted in the Assessing budget that the Board entered into an agreement with the appraising contractor to spread the cost of the data collection associated with the next revaluation be spread over four years. It was decided that the cost of revaluation will continue to be funded through the Capital Reserve Fund.
Members of the BAC left the meeting at 7:45 pm.
Mrs. Smith advised the Board that the Fairpoint contract had been finalized and a meeting has been posted for Friday January 12, 2018 at 9:00 am to meet with Stone Pond Technologies.
Chairman Harris moved and Mrs. Paight seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting, vote to approve was 2-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Smith
Town Administrator