Selectboard Minutes
Town of Antrim–Board of Select
Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2020
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Selectman John Robertson
Members Present: Michael Genest, John Robertson, Robert L. Edwards
Staff Present: Donna Hanson
Chairman Roberts opened the Public Hearing on the proposed 2020 Warrant and Budget.
Ms. Hanson read the Public Hearing notice and stated that it had been posted in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript on January 28, 2020 as well as on the town hall bulletin board, the local post office bulletin board, and the town’s website.
1. Mr. Genest presented Article 3 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixty-two Thousand Dollars ($62,000) to replace the Fire department's current SCBA’s (self-contained breathing apparatus) with six (6) Scott X3PRO 5.5 SCBA’s to meet the NFPA 1981-2018 standards for Firefighter safety and to authorize the withdrawal of Sixty-two Thousand Dollars ($62,000) from the Fire department Capital Reserve Fund created for that purpose. This is the third and final phase of the Fire Department's breathing air upgrade project started in 2018. Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Genest seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
2. Mr. Genest presented Article 4 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($245,600) for the replacement of the High Street Bridge, and to authorize the withdrawal of Two Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Six Hundred ($245,600) from the Bridge Capital Reserve fund created for that purpose. Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Edwards seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
3. Mr. Robertson presented Article 5 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty-One Thousand Dollars ($41,000) for repairs to the James A Tuttle Library, including but not limited to clapboard repair, exterior painting, and cobblestone repair; and to authorize the withdrawal of Forty-One Thousand ($41,000) from the Town Government Buildings Capital Reserve fund created for that purpose.
Mr. Robertson moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Edwards seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
4. Mr. Edwards presented Article 6 - To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($563,600) to be added to the present Capital Reserve Funds in the following manner:
- Bridge - $295,600
- Highway - $50,000
- Park & Recreational - $38,000
- Fire Department - $75,000
- Dam Maintenance - $50,000
- Town Government - $55,000
Mr. Edwards moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Genest seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
5. Mr. Genest presented Article 7 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for the purpose of continuing the update to the Town assessments in compliance with RSA 21-J:11-a and RSA 75:8-a. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the project is complete or December 31, 2025, whichever is sooner. Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Robertson seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
6. Mr. Robertson presented Article 8 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) for the purpose of purchasing and outfitting a Police Cruiser and to authorize the sale or trade-in of the current cruiser that will be replaced and to apply those proceeds towards this purchase. This sum to come from unassigned fund balance. Mr. Robertson moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Edwards seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
7. Mr. Genest presented Article 9 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for the purpose of purchasing a Loader/Backhoe for the Highway Department to be used at the Transfer Station and to authorize the withdrawal of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) from the Highway Department Capital Reserve Fund created for that purpose. Mr. Robertson moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Genest seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
8. Mr. Genest presented Article 10 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($38,000) for the purpose of purchasing radios for the Highway Department and to authorize the withdrawal of Thirty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($38,000) from the Highway Capital Reserve Fund created for that purpose. The department's radios need to be interoperable with the fire and police departments. The current analog radios are becoming obsolete. In the Antrim area, a 100-watt system is needed. The 100 watt units are being discontinued to go to digital/analog for better serviceability and signal communications.
Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Robertson seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
9. Mr. Robertson presented Article 11 - To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Two Thousand Dollars ($32,000) for vehicle exhaust extraction systems for the Central and North Fire Stations and to authorize the withdrawal of Thirty-two Thousand Dollars ($32,000) from the Town Government Buildings Capital Reserve Fund created for that purpose. This will protect our station personnel and the general public from cancer-causing effects of vehicle exhaust emissions. Our apparatus generates these emissions during startup and returning to quarters with the accumulation of exhaust contamination evident throughout the stations. Current changes in health and safety standards have clearly identified that vehicle exhaust emissions, in particular, whole diesel exhaust (PM10) is a cancer-causing substance. This system will bring the stations into compliance with NFPA 1500 – 2002 Edition Standard 9.1.6 on facility safety regarding exhaust emissions.
Mr. Robertson moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Genest seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
10. Mr. Edwards presented Article 12 – To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of installing a new air conditioning system at Town Hall to replace the failed system. This sum to come from unassigned fund balance.
Mr. Edwards moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Robertson seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
11. Mr. Genest presented Article 13 – To see if the town will vote to extend the maintenance exemption period in RSA 231:79 for all highways to summer cottages within the town, to begin November 15th and to end April 30th. The current dates are December 10th to April 10th. Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Edwards seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
12. Ms. Hanson presented Article 14 – To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Million, One Hundred Ninety-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Thirty-Nine Dollars ($4,192,739) for general operating costs of the Town (this appropriation includes Four Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Three Hundred Ninty-Four Dollars ($476,394) for the Water & Sewer Department as set forth in the town budget). This article does not include appropriations contained in special or individual articles addressed separately.
- There was discussion on the hiring of a 6th police officer which raises the police salaries, retirement, and benefits line items by approximately $100,000. Most spoke in favor of a 6th police officer. Select Board member Mr. Genest was not in favor of the hiring a 6th officer. Regardless, the vote for the budget was unanimous.
Mr. Genest moved to recommend the article as written. Mr. Robertson seconded. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (3/0)
13. Article 15 – To hear any reports of committees and act thereon.
14. Article 16 – To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.
15. Mr. Robertson moved to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee. Mr. Genest seconded. Passed 3/0
16. Roland Davison has resigned as custodian but will stay on at the transfer station on a part time basis.
Mr. Robertson moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Robertson seconded. Passed 3/0
After no further business Mr. Robertson moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m., Mr. Genest seconded. Passed 3/0
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hanson