February 13, 2013 NEW DURHAM — Joe Blosakey, foreman at the New Durham Transfer Station, addressed the board of selectmen at the Feb. 4 meeting.
Blosakey told the board he had a part-time job opportunity at the transfer station that he would like to advertise as soon as he could.
The job would be an average of 20 hours a week. It would include Saturdays, Sundays and "when I go on vacation; I'm the only full-time down there," said Blosakey.
Chairman David Bickford asked about the certification requirements for the position.
Catherine Orlowicz, office manager of the Highway Solid Waste and Equipment Department, assured the board that she had previously researched the certification process and employees are able to get a temporary certification until classes become available. It is up to the individual, at that point to make sure to take the classes and get their certification completed.
Orlowicz went on to say that a certification goes with an individual not with the town and that if someone were to let their certification expire, they have 30 days to recertify or they go back to a level zero even if they were previously at level four.
The order of proceeding, according to Orlowicz, is to hire someone first and, then, they apply for temporary certification.
Selectman Jeff Kratovil made a motion to advertise the position with a pay not to exceed $10.31 an hour. The motion was unanimous and it was agreed the policy of advertising "in house" for five days before publicizing the vacancy should be followed.
Highway garage expansion
The board of selectmen took up the topic of expanding the highway garage, but Bickford was opposed to working without an architect.
"I will vote no on anything that doesn't have any professional help involved," stated Bickford.
Board member Terry Jarvis argued that she felt the town did need an addition, and to make the decision on expanding did not require "architectuals."
Road Agent Mike Clarke stated that the board "took it upon themselves" to have architectural drawings done and that "we have always done additions in house."
Jarvis made a motion that the town's road agent and building inspector work together to draw up Request for Purchases (RFP) that can be put forward.
Jarvis and Kratovil voted for the motion, while Bickford voted against.
Warrant articles
Bickford told the board he wanted the New Durham Public Library to have their own warrant article this year.
Bickford's argument was that the library is its own entity and that the board of selectmen has no authority over the library, so why, therefore, does the board of selectmen approve or disapprove of the library's budget.
Jarvis argued against Bickford saying that while the board does not have control over how the library spends their money, they do have control over how much money goes to its trustees.
Kratovil sided with Bickford stating that by the library having its own warrant article the town would have a "true litmus test" of what the people want to spend on the library.
Bickford made the motion, Kratovil seconded the motion, and Jarvis strongly opposed citing she worried about the precedent it would set.
The motion passed 2-1.
The board of selectmen went through proposed warrant articles for 2013 and voted on each.
Whenever possible Bickford and Kratovil motioned and passed, with Jarvis objecting, to use money from Capital Reserve Funds and a portion of an unassigned balance for purchases.
Jarvis fretted about the board taking too much out of Capital Reserve Funds and not leaving enough for future purchases.
Kratovil and Bickford stated that they believed when there is extra money in the budget it should go back to the taxpayers.
Bickford said he hoped to drop the tax rate by a dollar this year.
Jarvis worried it would only have to go back up next year and the taxpayers would not appreciate the taxes jumping up and down.
Kratovil made a motion to apply the remaining $9,000 from unassigned fund and the remainder of surplus in the budget to the 2013 tax rate.
Jarvis stated she believed that would be "irresponsible."
Bickford agreed with Kratovil and the motion passed.
When Bickford made a motion to accept the 2013 Warrant Articles as a whole he found no second.
Both Jarvis and Kratovil had warrant articles in there with which they did not want to go forward.
Kratovil did not agree with Milfoil treatment in warrant article 6, he stated it was a "questionable treatment."
He also did not agree with warrant articles 8 and 9 allowing the purchase of a baler and a quonset hut.
Jarvis was easier to appease, she was only holding out against the library having its own warrant article.
Bickford repealed his motion for the library warrant article and Jarvis agreed.
Jarvis then made a motion to pass the 2013 Warrant Articles as they now stood having been "amended multiple times" and Bickford seconded the motion.
The motion carried 2-1.
The next New Durham Board of Selectmen meeting will be held on Feb. 22 in the Fire Station's Community Room.
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