TOWN OF STARK, NH
Select Board Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
6 PM
Stark Town Office
Call to Order
Select Board Chairman, Glen Wiggin, called the meeting to order at 6 pm.
Persons Present for All or Part of the Entire Meeting
Select Board Members: Glenn Wiggin, Lisa Demers, Crystal Pelletier; Office Manager, Patty Peel
Stephen Gilman, Jim Hickey, Jack Pepau, Jay Beaton, Randy Beaton, Ron Boivin, Cheryl Gale, Bob Gale
Read and approve minutes from previous meetings— March 20, 2024.
Select Board Member, Glenn Wiggin, made a motion to waive the reading of minutes, second by Lisa Demers.
Motion passed unanimously.
Sign Checks & Manifest 14 Totaling $19515.57
Select Board signed checks & manifest 14 totaling $19,515.57.
Sign Heritage Center Checks & Manifest 6 Totaling $375.81
Select Board signed Heritage Center checks & manifest 6 totaling $375.81.
Sign Intent to Excavate
Select Board signed Intent to Excavate 24-421-03E, Map/Lot 408-106.
Kelly Butler—JLMC
Move discussion to next meeting.
Department Reports
- Highways—Select Board reviewed road agent request for safety wear; Road agent reported receiving a burn on his leg, incident was filed with Primex.
- Fire Department—Letter of Resignation: Glenn Wiggin made a motion to accept the letter of resignation as Fire Chief from Charles Nesbitt, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion Passed Unanimously.
- Fire Department—TIMS Training Update: Discussion regarding the TIMS training the SB had asked the fire fighters to complete, question as to whether all fire fighters should have to complete all modules. Motion by Glenn Wiggin to table the discussion until a new chief is appointed, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously.
- Fire Department—Janitor Position/Jay Beaton: Discussion with Jay Beaton regarding the position of janitor at the fire station. Motion by Glenn Wiggin that the Town acknowledge a paid janitor position at the fire station and that the Town hire Jay Beaton to fill said position at a rate of $11.60 per hour for 8 hours a month, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously.
- Fire Department—Containers Behind Station/Citizen Concern: Select Board reviewed citizen concern regarding 55-gallon drums and a 300-gallon oil storage container behind the fire station. Assistant Chief, Jack Pepau, will investigate this and dispose of any containers that exist.
- Fire Department—Heating System: Fitch Fuel recommends a new firebox at the Fire Station; Patty Peel will get a quote from Fitch Fuel.
Old Business
- Per Copy Charge: Due to an increase in requests for photocopies, the SB approved a per copy fee. Crystal Pelletier made a motion to charge 50 cents per copy, after the first 3 copies, 2nd by Glenn Wiggin. Motion passed unanimously.
- Select Board email Account: Select Board discussed the [email protected] email that was established by a vote of the SB on August 22, 2024. A motion was made by Glenn Wiggin to discontinue the [email protected] email and the stipulations for its use, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously.
- Select Board Correspondence: Lisa Demers made the following motion: When a Board member individually gathers information or asks questions, the answers shall be in writing when brought back to the SB table for discussion, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously.
- TS Fence: Follow up from previous SB meeting—At the August 22, 2023 meeting the SB passed a motion to put a fence around the Transfer Station as soon as possible; At the September 6, 2023 meeting a motion passed to put the fence on hold until the Operation Plan was approved by the DES; the fence would only be put up if required by the DES.
- Miles Property: Lisa Demers made a motion to move forward with the sale of the Town owned property on Thompson Road for $50,268.61 (the total owed at the time of deed plus expenses accrued since the deed), 2nd by Glenn Wiggin. Motion passed unanimously.
- Blacktop Proposal: Select Board discussed the Blaktop proposal for paving a section of Northside Road in Stark. Glenn Wiggin made a motion to accept the Blaktop proposal with the understanding that the Town will try to provide flaggers, 2nd by Lisa Demers. Motion passed unanimously.
- Website/Crystal: Crystal Pelletier has been designing a new website for Stark. It can be accessed at starknh.gov.
- Recording Meetings: The SB discussed taking an audio recording of Select Board meetings. Crystal Pelletier made a motion to have the office manager record meetings and post the recording on the Town website until the next meeting, when the minutes are approved. Once the minutes are approved the audio will be deleted. Motion seconded by Glenn Wiggin. Motion passed unanimously.
New Business
- Social Media: Select Board discussed Town business being posted on social media. Patty Peel will talk with the administrator of the Stark Neighborhood page to see if it is possible to not allow comments under the Stark meeting minutes and the agenda for the meetings.
- Right to Know Workshop: The Select Board will participate in a Right to Know virtual workshop on April 17th, 2024, from 9 am – 2:30 pm at the Town Hall. The Select Board will meet after the workshop to review personnel files.
- Exemptions: SB signed exemption applications.
- Landfill Report: Select Board signed the Post Closure Report for the landfill.
- Town Official Appointments: Lisa Demers made a motion to appoint Elaine Monahan as Deputy Town Clerk, 3-year term; 2nd by Glenn Wiggin Motion passed unanimously.
- Lisa Demers made a motion to appoint Judy Wentworth as Deput Tax Collector for a one-year term, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously.
- The Town has 2 vacant positions, Library Trustee 1-year term and Trustee of Trust Funds until March Town Meeting 2026. Patty Peel will call those whose names were written in on the ballot at March 2024 Town Meeting to see if anyone is interested.
- Policy Letters/Crystal: Select Board discussed “Rules of Meetings” proposed by Crystal Pelletier; In the following rule the word “will” will be changed to may: “The Public will be allowed 2 minutes to speak at the end of the meeting.”
- Items will no longer be added to the SB meeting agendas after Thursday at noon the week prior to the meeting unless the item is deemed to be “time sensitive” by the Office Manager or a Select Board member.
- Crystal Pelletier shared a Cover Page for the Policy Binder that lists all policies adopted, the date adopted/updated, and page numbers.
- Insurance Bill: Patty Peel asked the SB to set rates to bill insurance companies for the use of Town Equipment and manpower at motor vehicle collisions. The SB will gather more information and come back with suggestions for a fee schedule.
Other Business
- Coos Broadband: Sb reviewed information from Lancaster Planning Office regarding the upgrade of broadband lines from copper to fiber. Information posted at the Town Hall.
- Christine Lake Request: Request for use of Christine Lake Beach came into the Town Office. The beach is overseen by the Percy Summer Club not the Town of Stark, NH.
- MS-535: SB signed the NH Department of Revenue form MS-535 Financial Report of the Budget for year ending Dec. 31, 2023.
- Bob Gale asked a question regarding JLMC membership. Lisa Demers stated that the JLMC must have a minimum membership of 4 members with at least one member being part of management. The SB appoints if a vacancy exists but does not direct the JLMC.
Non-Public: Motion to go into non-public by Glenn Wiggin, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier pursuant to :RSA 91-A:3, II (e) Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed by or against this board or any subdivision thereof, or by or against any member thereof because of his or her membership therein, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled.
Motion passed unanimously. SB entered nonpublic at 8:14 pm
Motion to return to public session by Glenn Wiggin, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier. Motion passed unanimously. Board returned to public session at 8:32 pm.
Motion to seal minutes by Lisa Demers, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier, because it is determined that divulgence of this information likely would render a proposed action ineffective. Motion to seal passed unanimously.
Non-Public: Motion to go into nonpublic by Glenn Wiggin, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier pursuant to: RSA 91-A:3, II (c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of this board, unless such person requests an open meeting. This exemption shall extend to include any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant.
Motion passed unanimously. SB entered non-public at 8:33 pm.
Motion to return to public session by Glenn Wiggin, 2nd by Lisa Demers. Motion passed unanimously. Board returned to public session at 8:47 pm.
Motion to seal minutes by Lisa Demers, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier, because it is determined that divulgence of this information likely would adversely affect the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. Motion to seal passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Glenn Wiggin, 2nd by Crystal Pelletier.
Meeting adjourned at 8:49 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia S. Peel, Office Manager
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Glenn Wiggin, Select Board Chair Date Approved
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Lisa Demers, Select Board Member Crystal Pelletier, Select Board Member
*Planning Board Meeting April 10, 2024 6 pm Stark Town Hall
*Select Board Meeting April 17, 2024 6 pm Stark Town Hall
*Select Board Virtual Workshop Right to Know Law April 17, 2024 9 am-2:30 pm Stark Town Hall
*Select Board Meeting April 17, 2024 2:30 pm Stark Town Hall Agenda: Personnel Files Review
*Select Board Meeting April 17, 2024 6 pm Stark Town Hall