NOTES OF NOVEMBER 13, 2017 RYE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Final Revision B – Provided by the Rye Civic League
Present (clockwise around table): Town Administrator Michael Magnant, Selectmen Craig Musselman, Priscilla Jenness and Phil Winslow, Finance Director Cyndi Gillespie. Also present and sitting in the audience or the lobby outside: Police Chief Kevin Walsh, Fire Chief Mark Cotreau, Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy, Recreation Director Lee Arthur, Library Director Andy Richmond, Town Clerk Donna Decotis.
Persons present from the public included: Karen Allen, Victor Azzi, Steven Borne, Mae Bradshaw, Peter Crawford, Bill Epperson, Jaci Grote, Sally King, Brian Klinger, Gregg Mikolaities, Karen Oliver, Ned Paul.
Editor’s
note: For ease in finding particular
sections using the archived video and audio on the Town website, the elapsed
time is indicated. Use the slider and
the elapsed time indicated at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to
the desired section. Videos on the Town website may currently be accessed
at www.town.rye.nh.us by clicking on
“Town Hall Streaming” at the bottom left of the screen. Follow the link for
“Town Hall Live Streaming,” then find the meeting by date under “Previous.”
4.
Beach parking sticker prices
are being raised from $20 to $25.
The video starts
at 6:42:10 p.m. (0:00 elapsed).
Summary
Announcements (0:46 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
read a letter of commendation regarding a recent drill involving the evacuation
of 260 Rye Elementary School children.
New Hampshire Homeland Security gave the exercise high marks, he said.
Public comment on Sanders Poynt sign (3:58
elapsed)
Peter Crawford spoke
about the sign that had been at Sanders Poynt.
He passed out a copy of a newspaper article that Bob Jesurum had sent
him. He said that, from what he had heard,
the Police Chief had done a great job of retrieving the sign that says “Sanders
Poynt, 1623,” in a manner reminiscent of the recovery of Tom Brady’s
jersey. He determined the sign had been
taken and that the Chief secured its return.
It is now sitting in his office or the Town Administrator’s office, he
said.
Mr. Crawford said that
apparently there is a problem getting the sign re-erected. He said that he does not understand how there
can be a legal barrier. The site plan
that the judge approved included the sign.
To say that the judge did not order it does not make sense to me, he
said. In addition, when the building
permit was issued for the split rail fence, in 2012 or thereabouts, it included
the condition that the historic monument remain. If there is a serious legal barrier, perhaps
the Town could talk to the State and have the sign placed in the right-of-way
or the intertidal zone. Ninety-nine
percent of the people in town are very glad that we got this access back and
most of them would like to see the sign there, given the historical significance
of the location, he said. He asked the
Selectmen to do what they could.
Editor’s note: Click here to see further discussion of this issue later in
the meeting.
Public comment on priority of capital projects (6:22 elapsed)
Steven Borne noted that
the Capital Improvement Plan was on the agenda.
He said that he had watched AG Architects propose what they wanted to do
and the Selectmen propose a second large building for Town Hall. The Selectmen told us that we should buy the
property next to the Police Station. If
it goes forward, I assume that the Selectmen are going to tell us we should buy
the TD Bank building. We just keep going
on and on, he said.
I am going to put
together a petitioned warrant article, Mr. Borne said. I would have no problem doing it with the
Selectmen. The gist is going to be the
same thing that I’ve been talking about for years, which is that we use
listening groups and study circles to get input from town residents in terms of
the priorities, whether it be a new water plant, expanding the Library,
utilizing more space at the Safety Building, or building more space for Rye
Recreation. We have a lot of information
regarding the needs, and we can get the priorities from the residents. What can we afford? Based on that, we should come up with a
plan. I will work with the Selectmen to
do that, or put a petitioned warrant article on the ballot for March. I really don’t want to see us bumbling along
any further without a good, solid, priority list from the people, along with
what we can afford, he said.
Motion to seal the minutes of the non-public session (8:43 elapsed)
The motion of Selectman
Jenness to seal the minutes of the non-public session just concluded carried
unanimously.
Consent Agenda (8:54 elapsed)
A new item, J, the
Chowder Club Huffin’ and Stuffin’ event on November 23 was noted. At the request of Selectman Jenness, items H
and I were removed.
All were in favor of
approving the other items on the Consent Agenda.
With regard to items H
and I, Katherine Brown introduced herself as a potential alternate on the
Historic District Commission, and Anne Arnold introduced herself as a potential
alternate on the Heritage Commission.
All were in favor of
approving the appointment of these two persons.
Capital Improvement Plan public hearing (15:32
elapsed)
Chairman
Mae Bradshaw of the Capital Improvement Plan Committee addressed. She said that the purpose of the plan is to
classify projects according to their urgency.
She said that she wanted to call attention to the Hampton Waste Water
Treatment plant items as that contract is up for renewal in about a year. The Committee also felt strongly that the
bathrooms proposed for the Recreation area are needed. They feel, however, that the quint can be
postponed. Editor’s note: A “quint” if a
fire truck that performs five different functions, including those of both a
ladder and a pumper truck. There is
a total of $2.752 million in capital projects in the 2018 plan. They are very excited about the TD Bank
availability and ranked that high. More
analysis of the numbers will be done once the tax rate has been set, she said.
Ms. Bradshaw introduced
the other members of the committee who were present: Jeanne Moynahan, Bill Epperson and Ned
Paul.
(29:40 elapsed)
Steven Borne said that
he was pretty sure that he heard Town Administrator Magnant explain that the
Outer Marker site could be used for a different purpose if another property of
equal value is purchased and turned into a park. If we’re thinking about cell phones, American
Tower and Crown Castle, the two companies that install all of the wireless
towers across the country can tell us whether that would be an appropriate
site. You don’t go to the operators, you
go to the companies that put up the towers and lease the space back to the
operators, he said. Editor’s note: See the notes of
the September 25, 2017 meeting, at which the issue of improving cell phone
service in Rye was discussed, along with the retention of a consultant to look
at possible cell tower sites.
Peter Crawford said
that as usual, the Committee had done a lot of work and that it is a good
job. He said that they had been a little
bit hampered in terms of cooperation from some of the departments this
year. It has been known that the Salt
Shed would be $700,000 for about a month.
It has been known for a couple of months that the Shoals View Drive
paving would not be done this year, and was going to end up costing twice as
much as planned, but I don’t see a project sheet for that, although I believe
that the Selectmen are planning to do that next year, he said. Editor’s
note: Click here
to see further discussion on this during the meeting. Only the engineering on this project will
occur in 2018. However, towards the end
of the meeting, there was discussion of including the paving cost in a “catch
all” bond issue. Click here. From
the all-day budget meeting, I know that the quint was not going to proceed in
2018, Mr. Crawford said. I made my own
adjustments to the numbers. For some
items that are going to be bonded, the CIP Committee counts only the interest
and principal payments. For other items
that are going to be bonded, they do not do that. I like to look at the total capital cost of
all of the projects. I come up with a
total of about $5.8 million, which is an extraordinary amount of money in one
year. The way it breaks down is:
$3,000,000 Conservation bond
$ 700,000 Salt
shed
$ 250,000 Second
Red Mill Ln. culvert
$ 250,000 Shoals
View Dr. paving
$ 625,000 TD
Bank acquisition
$ 985,000 Three
Water District Projects
$5,810,000 Total
We’re going to find out
in a week or two what is going to happen with the tax rate. It is likely to be down, but tax bills will
be up because the average assessment is going up 14 percent or so. We’re going to see a pretty big increase in
people’s tax bills. I don’t want to
prejudge any of these as I sit on the Budget Committee and would like to hear
the pros and cons of each, Mr. Crawford said.
The Selectmen should go
through a prioritization process because this much may be too much to handle,
even if it is bonded. Everyone realizes
that it would still need to be paid, and with interest in addition. A closer look needs to be taken, he said.
At the all-day budget
meeting a plan was mentioned that three projects that might independently be
bonded might be rolled into one warrant article: the salt shed, the
Red Mill Ln. culvert and the Shoals View Dr. paving, Mr. Crawford said. The best thing to do would be to allow the
voters to vote independently on these.
There is not much connection between them. Why make it all or nothing? They might just vote the whole thing down,
even though they might be willing to vote for some of them, he said.
Referring to the
expendable trust page, Mr. Crawford said that there was a revelation that there
is money in a second ambulance fund.
That is not listed. There is a
cell tower fund as well, he said. Editor’s note: Pursuant to a warrant article passed a number
of years ago, all revenues associated with a cell phone tower on town-owned
conservation land accumulates year by year, but can only be spent on a new
ambulance.
Town Finance Director
Cyndi Gillespie said that there was about $107,000 in the cell tower fund.
There is additional
money for the fire truck, Mr. Crawford said.
He added that one of the complaints that came up when the second ambulance
was being considered was that expenditures seem to be scheduled once sufficient
funds have been accumulated, rather than based on need. He suggested that the three funds be combined
into a single Fire and Ambulance Fund, which would provide flexibility, he
said.
Selectman Musselman
agreed that that was a good idea.
Dennis McCarthy took
exception to the comment that some of the department heads had not been
cooperative. The higher cost of the salt
shed was only discovered in the past thirty days. We provide information to the CIP Committee
at every opportunity and try to keep it updated as best we can, he said.
Ms. Bradshaw said that
they had received “wonderful” cooperation.
Selectman Musselman
said that the tax rate was being set late this year due to an issue with the
valuation of utilities, that we are now beyond, and questions on each of the
districts. These issues are in
process. We are all waiting with baited
breath as people need to know what their tax bills are going to be following the
revaluation. We are waiting for DRA, he
said.
Steven Borne questioned
why the updating of the Land Development Regulations is considered a capital
expense. I would think it would be an
operating expense, he said. The same would
apply to the statistical update, he said.
A lot more money should be put toward planning, he added.
Ms. Gillespie explained
that these two items were considered capital as they are over the $15,000
limit.
Bill Epperson said that
he is also Chairman of the Planning Board.
He said that it had become apparent over the last four or five years
that the Planning Board was a little “behind the eight ball” in terms of
planning. The Rockingham Planning
Commission had volunteered to look at all of their regulations and procedures,
and that they had recommended the updating of the Land Development
Regulations. They recommended this
$23,000 expenditure. The current
regulations are 1980s era.
Selectman Musselman
closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m.
Minutes (40:25 elapsed)
The
minutes of the October 23, 2017 meeting were unanimously approved with changes.
Seacoast Drinking Water Commission (42:05 elapsed)
Art Ditto provided an
update. He also said that Rye cannot
just tie into Portsmouth Water long-term as Portsmouth water is
chlorinated. If we put our water into
the Portsmouth system, the iron and manganese would precipitate out, he
said.
Shoals View Drive design contract (47:05
elapsed)
Public Works Director
Dennis McCarthy addressed. Only two
design firms had put in bids. We spoke
to Altus Engineering about reducing the amount of ledge that would need to be
removed. We recommend that they be
awarded the contract, he said.
Selectman Musselman
said that he had known Eric Weinrieb, their President, for more than 30
years. It is a good firm. They have done a fair amount of work in Rye
on subdivisions. There is no conflict of
any sort due to that, he said.
Selectman Jenness asked
about carry-forward of the funds. Mr.
McCarthy said that it would only be in the amount of the engineering
contract. Some of the funds would be
spent this year, but this contract would be encumbered so that it could be
carried over. The amount is $18,300, he
said.
Selectman Musselman
said that that is the portion of the $125,000 that would be carried
forward. He said that there would not be
anything ready for the 2018 Town Meeting; that it would have to be in 2019.
The motion to approve
the award of the contract carried unanimously.
Harbor Rd. bridge superstructure design contract (50:48 elapsed)
Public Works Director
Dennis McCarthy explained that the Board had decided to proceed with Option
One, which is repair of the bridge deck to get it to hold up longer. A letter was sent to the State to get on the
bridge repair list. Nothing has been
heard yet, but nothing happens quickly with DOT when bridges are involved, he
said. The construction estimate is
$75,000, but prices are rising, he said.
The contract sum is for
$34,727 of which $25,000 had been approved last year, so there is a $9,727
deficiency. That could be taken from
unexpended appropriations within Public Works or the Town, or some of the
Highway Block Grant funds. I would
recommend that this be awarded as the Selectmen want to proceed as quickly as
possible. The $75,000 was the estimate
for the deck repair cost, but I anticipate that it would be more, he said.
Selectman Musselman
asked whether the $75,000 would be part of the bond issue. Mr. McCarthy confirmed that that had been the
discussion.
Selectman Musselman
made a motion to authorize award of the contract. Selectman Musselman seconded.
Selectman Musselman
commented that the “group” on Harbor Rd. had listened to all of the
alternatives and did not insist on an immediate replacement of the bridge. They were entirely reasonable, he said. Editor’s
note: Selectman Winslow as well as Mae
Bradshaw, who is Chairman of the CIP Committee and a member of the Budget
Committee, live on the far side of the Harbor Rd.
bridge.
Mr. McCarthy said that they get occasional
calls about the weight limit and work arounds have been found, such as the use
of two trucks rather than one. Editor’s note: After Hoyle Tanner looked at the bridge, it
was discovered that the weight limit needed to be reduced. See the notes of the May 10, 2017, May 22,
2017, June 12, 2017 and August 28, 2017 meetings. Because state grants might be available in a
future year, the decision was made to delay improvements to the bridge that
would increase its load-handling capacity with the expectation that the town’s
grant request would bubble to the top of the list. The repair of the bridge deck being discussed
is an interim step that would not increase the capacity.
The motion carried. Selectman Winslow appeared to recuse
himself.
Building and Grounds foreman job description (55:33 elapsed)
It was decided that
this issue would be deferred until later in the meeting when the budget is
discussed. Click here.
Beach sticker price increase (56:57 elapsed)
Town Clerk Donna
Decotis noted a proposal to increase the cost of beach stickers from $20 to
$25. She explained how the new stickers
would have holograms to prevent them from being copied. The stickers cost a little more with the
hologram. The beach sticker price has
not been raised in ten years. She
estimated that 2700-2900 stickers are sold annually. She just got the bill for the new stickers,
with holograms, which is about $1086 for 3000 stickers.
Selectman Winslow noted
a cost of about $.33 each.
Selectman Musselman
noted increases in beach cleaning and environmental monitoring costs.
Selectman Jenness asked
what the maximum number of stickers that could be requested would be if every
household had one.
Ms. Decotis noted the
issuance of multiple stickers per household.
Selectman Musselman
asked whether the stickers were issued for vehicles registered in Rye.
Ms. Decotis confirmed,
but added that a lot of properties are held in trust. There may be five or six children on the deed
that are actually homeowners. Each of
them may have a number of children that drive.
You could sell twenty beach stickers for one property, she said.
Selectman Musselman
asked how they know that out-of-town residents aren’t getting Rye beach
stickers.
Ms. Decotis said that
they check everything. Those purchasing
beach stickers have to bring their registrations in for each sticker. If they are in Massachusetts we check to see
if they are the homeowner. If we are
still not sure, we call upstairs to Joanne to see if they are on the deed. We check everything each year, she said.
Selectman Winslow said
that a lot of people buy beach stickers for status, but don’t use them. He asked whether there were complaints from
people who can’t find parking spaces.
Police Chief Kevin
Walsh said that they are rare, and usually at 1:30 on Sundays. We get maybe two a year, he said.
Selectman Musselman
said that surveys have shown that there are problems for the general public in
obtaining parking spaces, but the resident parking spaces usually have
availability.
A motion to authorize
the increase was made. Selectman Winslow
said that he wouldn’t be for it if there were not enough spaces available, but
since there are, he seconded the motion.
All were in favor.
Ms. Decotis noted that
extra stickers were ordered as, when people buy new cars, they are able to
bring the old sticker in and obtain a replacement for free.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector budget work session (65:20 elapsed)
The elections budget,
4140-03, $23,295, was unanimously approved.
Ms. Decotis noted that she had reduced the budget for coding as not all of the budget had been used in the past. She noted that there would be three elections
in 2018, compared to one in 2017. The
only time that the town pays for the ballots is for the Town election, she
said.
The Town
Clerk/registrations budget was unanimously approved for $7400.
The office supplies
line item in the Tax Collector budget was reduced from $4000 to $3500 after
Selectman Musselman questioned it. That
brought the total budget to $231,653, as a compromise with Ms. Decotis, who
resisted a reduction to $3000.
Selectman Winslow noted
a $5000 reduction in health insurance.
The budget was further
reduced to $227,653 with the agreement of Ms. Decotis after the figure for
postage was questioned by Selectman Musselman.
Ms. Decotis said that she did not know how many absentee ballots would
need to be sent out.
All were in favor of
the revised $227,653 budget.
Public Works Jack-of-all-Trades (72:14
elapsed)
Public
Works Director Dennis McCarthy addressed the proposed new hire that would do
various jobs, including for the Police Chief, the Fire Chief and the Town
Administrator. It would be a Public
Works position, so the person would do plowing and fill in at the Transfer
Center as well, he said.
Selectman Winslow asked
whether the “church” was plowed. Editor’s note: This is an apparent reference to the Rye
Congregational Church next to Town Hall.
The front parking lot of that is owned by the Town. Mr. McCarthy confirmed, noting that it is
town property. He acknowledged that no
compensation was received for that plowing.
Selectman Musselman
asked why that was done. Mr. McCarthy
said that there is a very old agreement that predates his arrival.
Selectman Jenness noted
that it is the old parade ground, up to the church steps, and is Town
property. Mr. McCarthy said that they
had also paved the lot, but added that they do not plow in the back.
Selectman Jenness asked
where someone who is both computer literate and could drive a plow truck would
be found.
Mr. McCarthy said that
younger people have computer skills.
There is also very good training available for Public Works people. The new guys have participated, which is why they
are over budget on that line item this year.
Selectman Musselman
asked which items on the list didn’t get done this year. Mr. McCarthy responded that typically
everything gets done, but it may not be done in a timely fashion.
In response to a question
from Selectman Musselman, Mr. McCarthy said that half of the time of the new
position would be freeing up Public Works workers, and half that of the
department heads.
Police Chief Kevin
Walsh described the various miscellaneous tasks that he does, typically taking
1-5 hours on Friday.
Selectman Jenness noted
Town Administrator Magnant’s responsibilities for insect and vermin
control.
Lee Arthur noted the
assistance that she needs in shoveling and plowing at the Recreation Area.
Selectman Jenness noted
that the job description refers to “foreman.”
Mr. McCarthy
acknowledged that the person would be supervising only his area of
responsibility.
Selectman Winslow asked
for the number of hours weekly at which an employee would be considered part-time.
Town Administrator
Magnant responded that it was 32 or 33 hours.
Mr. McCarthy expressed
concern over the caliber of employee that could be obtained for a part-time
position.
Selectman Musselman
expressed concern that the creation of this new position would add $60,000 a
year to the budget forever.
Mr. McCarthy noted the
added responsibilities for Public Works since he arrived.
There was discussion
about making this issue a warrant article.
Selectman Musselman
said that he liked the idea of hiring a person who is more a laborer for 30
hours per week.
Mr. McCarthy said that
the person must have a CDL and be able to plow.
Town Finance Director
Cyndi Gillespie said that she estimated the total cost, with retirement,
medical, dental and other fringes, would be $71,927 annually.
Selectman Musselman
said that a part-time employee for 30 hours per week would be about half of
that cost.
Selectman Winslow noted
the 24 responsibilities listed for the job.
Mr. McCarthy said that
two part-timers got their CDLs while working for the Department. Nobody passes the first time. It takes 3-6 months. They won’t be retained once they get their
CDLs as everyone wants CDL drivers.
Employees get the training as they want to go to full-time, he
said. Editor’s note: CDL refers to
Commercial Drivers License.
Mr. McCarthy said that
this is the third year that he is asking for this position. They are losing the more senior employees and
nobody is being trained. He wouldn’t
hire someone part-time if that is all that is authorized. He would resubmit the request next year. He said that employees will be lost over the
next few years. One will be 66 in a
month, another is 62. There is one with
health issues.
Selectman Winslow said
that wages and benefits are the highest cost that we have. He suggested that Mr. McCarthy look for
skills that they do not have now in the department, such as electrical and
database skills.
Selectman Musselman
suggested bumping the custodian’s hours from 25 to 32 a week.
Mr. McCarthy said that
the custodian does not want to increase his hours, but would do so if asked.
Selectman Musselman
said that he does not see adding $72,000 annually. It is an odd list of responsibilities. A private plower and “building de-icer” could
be contracted, he said.
Recreation Director Lee
Arthur noted her needs for bathroom work and trash pickup.
Selectman Musselman
said that they represented the taxpayers and have to justify every penny.
(52:51 elapsed)
Selectman Winslow asked
what additional work would get done if this person is hired, and what work
would be done better.
Mr. McCarthy said that
most of the work would be done better.
The air filters need to be changed quarterly, but are only changed twice
a year, he said.
Selectman Musselman
moved approval of the Town Custodian’s budget at $24,210, with the issue to be
revisited if there is a more clear rationale.
He referred to the resistance to adding a third person at 40 hours per
week in the Town Clerk’s office.
Selectman Jenness said
that she would like to see the tasks regrouped and seconded the motion.
Selectman Musselman
said that a part-time employee could be looked at next year.
Mr. McCarthy noted a
number of communities that have a buildings and grounds person.
Selectman Musselman
said that these are all larger communities.
Selectman Winslow said
that he was reluctant to approve an $80,000 position that would last
forever. It would be a lot easier if it
could be shown where the savings are.
Selectman Musselman
said that it could be revisited in another month if part-time work or
contracting is desired.
All were in favor of
approving the budget of $24,210.
Library budget (122:46 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
said that this had been tabled for a labor study and explanation of wages,
which you have submitted and is in our package, she said. He asked whether the Library had received the
Town’s study. The response was no. He said that it could be provided.
Selectman Musselman
said that the Town’s salaries were between 89% and 110%. We were amazed, he said. The 89 percent ones were a number of people
who had just started and were earlier in their careers, he asserted.
Library Director Andy
Richmond referred to a spreadsheet and said that the Library had made two
part-time hires. One position was
escalated to replace the lost office. Editor’s note: This is an apparent reference to the position
held by Patricia Quinn, who passed away on November 17, 2016. Two small adjustments were also worked in,
Mr. Richmond said. Every other change is
due to an increase in hours to adequately cover service to the public. We were also left to account for .5 percent
of COLA for 39 weeks. He explained that
2 percent had been budgeted, but COLA came in at 2.5 percent. Non-union departments were left to absorb
that. That needs to be taken into
account for next year, he said. Editor’s note: COLA stands for cost of living
adjustment. It is typically based on the
inflation rate. Apparently, the COLA
came in .5 percent above what had been budgeted for 2017, and the Library was
forced to absorb the higher than anticipated increase within its budget. Pay
increases become effective only after the budget is passed at March town
meeting, as, if not passed, the prior year’s budget would apply unless there is
a contractual commitment otherwise. That
would be the case with union, but not non-union, positions. All of the Library employees are non-union.
Mr. Richmond explained
that the Thornton report indicates that 75 percent of their positions are where
they want them to be, but the lowest level positions are under market. Editor’s
note: Thornton & Associates did wage
and compensation studies of Rye and similar towns for both the Town and the
Library in September-November 2017.
We are pushing to correct that, Mr. Richmond said. Incorporating that and the 2 percent COLA,
which is the current working number, we exceed the $52,000 by about $1000. We have reorganized internally and have saved
the benefits and other costs of not replacing the full-time employee. We have brought new skills to existing
staff. The other recommendation from the
study was to effect a performance based system for
salary increases. The model that we have
worked with is 3 percent, he said.
Selectman Musselman
asked whether that amounted to a 5 percent annual increase.
Mr. Richmond said that
it would be with COLA, but that would occur anyway. The 3 percent mimics the overall progression
in the town steps. The town step
increases at three and seven years work out to 3 percent annually. The structure of the system is not fully laid
out, he said. Editor’s note: The RCL
understands that the step increases for town employees at three and seven years
are each approximately 10 percent, amounting to 20 percent over seven
years. That is about three percent a
year.
Selectman Musselman
said that, six or seven years ago, he had done an analysis and the Interim
Library Director admitted that the Library’s salaries were high relative to the
number of visits. He agreed to make
adjustments through attrition. The
promise was that the budget would be kept level for three years. However, the number of hours is back up
again. The results of your salary survey
are not like those of the town, Selectman Musselman said. You have a couple of people that are below
the median, and some who are well above the median. You are budgeting 2 percent COLA and 3
percent merit on those salaries, he said.
He asked whether that was where we ended up with, with your plan to do
this by attrition.
Karen Oliver said that
the overall plan had not been finalized.
A full-time position was replaced with a part-time position. We cannot cover the open hours of the Library
without these hours, she said.
Selectman Musselman said
that the Library is different and the Selectmen have purview only over the
bottom line. The Selectmen have been
hacking away at the budget for 250 years.
We are known as cheap, he asserted.
I don’t think that the Library Trustees are going through the same
process that we are. I don’t believe
it. I’ve heard this discussion over and
over again. I think you’re representing
the Library, not the taxpayers. I don’t
hear it. Sorry. I don’t believe it, he said.
Selectman Winslow noted
the $26,000 reduction in health insurance.
If that is added back in, there would be a 2 percent increase over last
year’s budget. That would include
replacing Tricia Quinn with two part-time employees, which we would assume
would be less costly than her salary. I
can’t find her savings, he said.
Brian Klinger, member
of the Library Board of Trustees said that it is true that the Board of
Selectmen had been hacking away at budgets.
He said that he thought the Board of Selectmen would be pleased with a
department that came in with a budget that was $12,000, or almost two percent,
less than the prior year’s budget.
Selectman Musselman did
not respond, but asked for other comments.
Selectman Jenness said
that quite a while ago there was concern that the Library was not keeping
up. However, the 5 percent increase
budget proposed with COLA and merit increases is above the rest of the Town
that gets 2 percent COLA.
Mr. Richmond said that,
with the step program, Town employees would potentially get 10 percent plus
COLA.
Selectman Musselman
said that, if the Library had new employees, there would be a different
discussion. That argument doesn’t even
wash when employees have been there for 15 years, he said.
Mr. Richmond said that
there is a seven year cap on the Town’s step increase program, that needs to be
reflected, but we don’t have those parameters.
The three percent was a starting point, he said.
Library Trustee Karen
Oliver said that they do not have an overall compensation policy right
now. It would not be an across the board
step. We have taken the Thornton
recommendations as to parity, she said.
(64:43 elapsed)
Most of these positions
now are well above the 50th percentile for a list of communities and
many of those are substantially larger than Rye, Selectman Musselman said. Most of them are substantially above the 50th
percentile. Many of them are
substantially above the 75th percentile. And, you’re coming in with a budget to give
them five percent increases, he said. I
don’t understand. You’re going through a
different process than we go through in managing the affairs of the Town, he
said.
Editor’s note: An RCL analysis
based on the Thornton and Associates compensation studies done for the Town and
Library indicates otherwise. That
analysis indicates that 13 of 18 town positions and 5 of 9 Library positions
are above the 50th percentile relative to other towns (the newly
filled Fire Chief and Assistant Building Inspector positions are excluded as
there is an absence of valid data in the study for those two positions). The RCL analysis indicates that 8 of 18 Town
positions and 5 of 9 Library positions are above the 75th percentile
relative to other Towns. These data do
not indicate that the Library is overpaying its employees (relative to other
towns) any more than the Town is.
Library Trustee Karen Oliver said that when
Library employees get just the COLA and Town employees get the COLA and the
step increases, they end up at very different places.
We don’t have a single
employee in this community that is above the 75th percentile for
parity with other communities, Selectman Musselman said. Not one, except in the Library, he said. Editor’s
note: In fact, 8 of 18 Town positions
are above the 75th percentile.
You have a good salary survey here, Selectman Musselman said. If what you’re doing is representing the
taxpayers, this is eye opening. You represent the taxpayers. He raised his voice and said “how can you
justify salaries that are above the 75th percentile for larger
peers, and coming in with a five percent increase per year.”
Karen Oliver said that
it is not per year, but for this year.
Selectman Musselman
asked what the rationale was for that.
Karen Oliver pointed to
the salary study. She said that she did
not want to get into a shouting match.
She offered to go back and look at the data. She noted that he made a good point about the
Selectmen not having line-by-line authority.
Selectman Musselman
agreed, saying they only have bottom line authority. He then moved to table. We got this only recently, as you did, and
we’d like to digest it, he said. He
apologized for shouting. He said that it
goes back a long time and we’ve had a lot of odd discussions.
Selectman Jenness said
that she would like to see the three percent delayed until a process is in
place.
Karen Oliver said that
they are looking at parity and performance as two different things.
Selectman Musselman
said that they are too. We have a survey
that shows that we are in pretty good shape.
You have a survey that shows you’re way high. Editor’s
note: This is not substantiated by the
data. See the notes above.
Selectman Jenness seconded the motion to
table.
Selectman Winslow asked
what the purpose of the 3 percent increase is.
He said that, in the private sector, the review itself is the impetus to
improve. Adding money may not get the
results that you want, he said.
Karen Oliver said that
they received the Thornton report that morning.
It was pointed out that
the Library has two warrant articles to be addressed.
Selectman Musselman
noted that the first was to add $5000 to the Library maintenance expendable
trust fund. Selectman Winslow moved to
approve the warrant article to add this.
Selectman Musselman seconded. All
were in favor.
The second was to add
$10,000 to the Library accumulated leave fund.
Town Finance Director
Cyndi Gillespie said that this is a new fund.
After Trish passed away, the Library had to pay the accumulated vacation
to her estate, she said.
Mr. Richmond estimated
the liability at around $60,000 and said that they are aiming to have half of
that in the fund.
The motion to approve
this warrant article carried unanimously.
Library Trustee Karen
Allen said that every month the trustees go over the budget and review
performance relative to budget. We look
out for the taxpayers of Rye and are very thorough in going over our budget,
she said. She asked for patience as they
work through the salary issue, that they have been trying to focus on for the
past few years. We work for the patrons
of the Library as well as the taxpayers.
She referred to a survey that had shown over the top satisfaction.
The motion to table
carried unanimously.
Editor’s note: Selectman
Musselman attempted to remove this item from the table late in the meeting, and
reduce the budget by $11,000, however Selectman Jenness objected to proceeding
with the Library Trustees not there and the issue was dropped. Click here.
Recreation budget (151:00 elapsed)
Recreation Director Lee
Arthur said that the Recreation Commission had just met and they want to
proceed with a $150,000 warrant article for a storage facility. There is also $50,000 for restrooms which
will be funded from donations, not taxation, as will $20,000 for drainage. Over the past three years $115,000 has been
funded from the revolving fund and donations rather than taxation, she said.
Gregg Mikolaities noted
that the meetings of the School Use Feasibility Committee and that their recommendations
may provide for additional Recreation space use at Rye Elementary School. Some improvements to that space may need to
be budgeted, he said.
Selectman Musselman
said that there is no chance that that would happen by September 2018.
Lee Arthur said that
the Community Center is now off the table.
Editor’s note: 2017 warrant article 18,
that would have provided $80,000 for preliminary planning, design and
engineering for a community center, failed to pass, 725-820. Heated space of 24 feet by 24 feet is
needed, she said. It is not more than a
home garage. We have not addressed our
issues over the years with any of our buildings. Our free storage shed was trucked over from
Pease, she said.
Selectman Musselman
said that they had yet to make decisions on the Public Works articles, the TD
Bank article, and this one. He asked
about what else still needed a decision.
Ms.
Gillespie said that Mr. McCarthy had a warrant article related to Shoals View
Drive which is being consolidated into a big warrant article for $1.2
million.
Selectman Musselman
proposed that the warrant articles be provided to the Budget Committee all at
once. Selectman Musselman asked for a
sense of whether the Selectman would support the $150,000 storage facility.
Selectman Jenness said
that she would.
The motion to approve
the $150,000 warrant article carried unanimously.
Conservation budget (163:48 elapsed)
Sally
King and Jaci Grote of the Conservation Commission came up to the table. Ms. Grote said that $41,000 had been spent so
far. Editor’s
note: This is an apparent reference to
how much of the 2017 budget had been spent.
She said that $7000 in bills from the Rockingham County Conservation
District had just been received. There
is a plan to spend $2000 on trails by year end, which will bring the number
close to $50,000 spent. They want to
encumber $32,000, including for a survey, a forest report, and easement
monitoring, she said. That would mean
$83,000 in expenditures this year, she said.
Editor’s note: The 2017 conservation budget of $90,000 had
only $8120.33 spent as of September 30, 2017. State
law permits appropriations that have not been spent by year end to be carried
into the next year if there is a contract in place by the end of the year committing
the town to expending the funds. This is
known as an “encumbrance.”
Sally King said that they are looking
actively at acquisitions. They are as
active as they have ever been in that regard, she said.
Selectman Musselman
said that a lot of the properties could have nice trails, but do not. He asked why $35,000 is needed in the regular
budget for acquisitions each year.
Ms. King said that they
cannot count on bond funding. There was
discussion about a new requirement that bonds only be taken out if there is a
specific acquisition.
The motion to approve
the $90,000 budget for 2018 carried unanimously.
Selectman Musselman
said “spend it.” He referred to
surveying properties, establishing trails and putting up signs.
Selectman Winslow suggested
that Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy hire Ms. King and Ms. Grote to
present his request next time.
Selectman Musselman
asked about the status of the conservation bond warrant article for next
year. The response from Sally King as
she was walking out was unclear, but, Selectman Musselman said that there would
not be a warrant article. Editor’s note: At the November 16, 2017 Budget Committee
meeting, Jaci Grote, who is on the Conservation Commission as well as the
Budget Committee, said that a decision on whether there would be a $3 million
conservation bond requested for 2018 had not yet been made.
Capital outlay: Town-wide vehicle (174:15 elapsed)
Town Finance Director
Cyndi Gillespie said that there were three capital outlay items to be
discussed. She mentioned the need for a
town-wide vehicle.
We tried that once
before, Selectman Musselman said. We
tried to get Mike a Yugo, but it died a quick death, he chuckled.
Town Administrator
Magnant referred to a car in use at Town Hall that would only turn left. He said that Selectman Joe Mills had agreed
that they could go for a Town Hall vehicle only if it was a warrant article.
Ms. Gillespie said that
Selectman Mills had set them up. Editor’s note: See 2010 Article 10, that
would have provided $19,800 to purchase a vehicle for town personnel. It failed to pass 604-348.
Selectman Musselman
asked whether there would be a warrant article for this one. Ms. Gillespie said, no, this is in capital
outlay. Selectman Musselman laughed.
We’re going to try a
different tactic. Joe set us up last
time, Ms. Gillespie said.
“Where is Joe when you
need him?” Selectman Musselman asked.
Selectman Jenness
related a story about driving to Concord with Earl Rinker in a car without a
working gas gauge and having to coast into a gas station.
Police Chief Kevin
Walsh referred to the Animal Control Officer and the Building Inspector sharing
a vehicle. In inclement weather, parking
enforcement still needs to be out there.
We used to pay them mileage, and some of them use their parents’ cars,
he said. During the summer months the
car would be used a lot. The big thing
is that, if we have an injured seagull, it must be transported to the shelter
in the passenger compartment, he said.
Selectman Winslow asked
whether the SUV that the Police Department now has couldn’t be put to this use
for an hour or so.
Chief Walsh explained
that the back compartment of that vehicle is currently devoted to other uses.
Selectman Jenness said
that there need to be a lot more uses than just seagulls.
Chief Walsh enumerated
other uses.
Selectman Winslow asked
how many miles would be put on the vehicle.
Chief Walsh said that
they had never calculated the miles, but could start doing so.
The motion to approve
the $24,000 item carried unanimously.
Selectman Winslow had asked for a commitment to track the usage.
Other capital outlay items (182:41 elapsed)
There was brief
discussion about a possible $20,000 item for document scanning. Mr. Magnant said that he had been working on
a memorandum and that the figure would probably be a fraction of that.
The discussion then
turned to town-wide computers. Ms.
Gillespie said that that is the regular rotation. The motion to approve $10,000 for this
purpose carried unanimously.
Ms. Gillespie said
that, without the Library, the department operating budgets are 9.53% less than
the prior year. Capital outlay is up 42
percent. The total budget is up 3.99%
with warrant articles. Some are being
funded by capital reserves, she said.
Library budget attempt to remove from the
table (185:43 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
asked whether it would be legitimate to take an item off the table that had
been tabled earlier in the meeting.
Selectman Jenness asked
what he would like to take off.
Selectman Musselman
said that he was proposing to take out the three percent and reduce the Library
budget bottom line by “11 and change.”
They admitted that they just got the report. They keep going back to parity with the
town’s pay structure, but most town employees have been on board more than 7
years, he said. Editor’s note: Town employees
are eligible for step increases at 3 years and 7 years.
Selectman Jenness said
that they would be upset if there is discussion without them.
Selectman Musselman
agreed to defer discussion.
Request from John Loftus to display Town
Hall rendering (187:25 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
said that Mr. Loftus was requesting the display of a rendering related to his
upcoming petitioned warrant article to demolish this building and construct a
new building. He wants to post that in
the Town Hall, he said. We have not in
the past had people marketing petitioned warrant articles at Town Hall. We need to respond to his request. Another issue is that he is anticipating a
bond warrant article and we do not have the Town Attorney looking at
those. We need to pass on the message
that he will need to structure that in a way that would allow a successful bond
issue. He is going to have to do that on
his own, he said.
Town Administrator
Magnant said that he had received a request from Mr. Loftus to post the plans
and the elevations at Town Hall.
Selectman Jenness said
that his letter referred to extending the same courtesy that had been extended
to Hutter. However, Hutter was working
for the town. It is not the same thing,
she said.
Selectman Musselman
said that he did not think that the Library would have the same issue with
regard to meetings and display of information.
Selectman Winslow
expressed concern about setting a precedent.
TD Bank building acquisition (193:05 elapsed)
Town Administrator
Magnant said that he hoped to receive more information on this in the coming
week. The bank will be discussing the
possibility of getting an appraisal, he said.
Tax rate setting meeting (193:40 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
asked when this might occur. Ms.
Gillespie said that she was “praying” that it could be Wednesday or
Thursday. Selectman Musselman said that
it could be combined with an update on the TD Bank acquisition.
Selectman Musselman and
Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy discussed their birthdays. It turned out that both turn 66 a couple of
weeks apart.
Sign at Sanders Poynt (195:39 elapsed)
Selectman Jenness asked
whether they should comment on the Sanders Poynt sign that had come up during
the public comment period.
Town Administrator
Magnant said that the sign was sitting in his office. I’ve been trying to work the issue. The country club has refused, in no uncertain
terms, to post the sign. I’ve talked to
Town Attorney Donovan who has informed him that it is private property despite
the public easement allowing the parking of cars, he said.
Selectman Jenness asked
whether it was spelled correctly now.
Mr. Magnant confirmed. Editor’s note: At a prior meeting, Selectman Jenness had
argued that the correct spelling was “Point.”
Mr. Magnant said that New Hampshire DOT would not put the sign in
the right-of-way.
Selectman Jenness
referred to a meeting at which Mr. Sanders had made a presentation years ago,
and that there had been an agreement to contact DOT. The country club may have given their
permission at that point, she said.
Mr. Magnant said that
Mr. Jesurum is correct, the sign was on the plan that
went in front of the judge. I can’t say
that she adopted the plan verbatim. It
showed where the sign was going to go, and it was on the golf course land. The Town Attorney said that either the Town
or Mr. Jesurum could take the country club back to court, he said.
Selectman Musselman
said that, for the record, he was recusing himself from the entire
discussion. Editor’s note: Selectman
Musselman has, at prior meetings, revealed that he is a member of the
Wentworth-by-the-Sea Country Club.
Selectman Winslow said that it would be hard
to face a taxpayer and tell them that town money had been spent to put the sign
back up.
Mr. Magnant said that
an appeal could be made to the DOT Commissioner.
It was agreed by
Selectmen Jenness and Winslow that that would be a good avenue to pursue.
Safety Committee hat and mitten drive (197:50 elapsed)
Town Administrator
commended the committee for this. Most
departments had 70 hats and mittens contributed. There was a discussion of the relative
standing of the departments in the drive.
Adjournment (201:40 elapsed)
Whereupon
the meeting adjourned at 10:04 p.m.