Board of Selectmen Meeting, July 17, 2023
The primary focus of the meeting was to address several issues, mostly about spending, that had been tabled in previous meetings, primarily to get additional information and to investigate alternative options. The meeting was led by Vice Chairman John Morin as Selectman Bartlett was absent.
Spending Decisions
$8.2k security camera system for Fire Station unanimously approved.
$7.2k replacement for the library’s air conditioning system, which has failed. Unanimously approved.
$7k for body cam system for police. Unanimously approved.
$19k to replace broken playground equipment at Town Hall. Unanimously approved.
Replacement for the Town Hall heating oil tank. While there was agreement that it had to be done, it was decided that the risk of postponing this spending one year was low.
$8.5k for a town gasoline storage tank and pump. Tabled due to uncertainty that the benefits exceed the costs.
Larger room in Town Hall for the Recreation Department. Tabled, possibly to be turned into a warrant article.
Budget Situation
The Town Administrator provided the mid-year budget update. The town has 44.9% of its budget remaining. We are in line with where we should be.
Selectman Morin pointed out that the Highway Department has had only 2 out of 5 positions filled during much of this year, and that we are having trouble filling positions because we don’t pay as well as neighboring towns.
Staffing
A police officer has given notice. They will be taking a job with a neighboring town.
[On July 13 the town website posted openings for multiple firerfighter/EMT positions, both full-time and per-diem.]
Well Poisoning
Twice this year a citizen has petitioned the board to address the salt poisoning of his well that he claims has been caused by recent excess salting of Kelsey Rd. This has rendered his water undrinkable and toxic to plants. The town’s insurance company says they will not cover this as a claim. The board decided that it did not consider the town to be at fault on the grounds that they felt that the well was too close to the road and too shallow. The home (and by inference, the well) was constructed in 1974.
Other Issues
The Planning Board reviewed a conceptual proposal for a 20-lot subdivision off of Rt 156 near the town line. It’s an open-space development on a 100-acre lot.
Volunteers have been unable to construct the new dugouts at Marston on time because it has rained every weekend. They’re hoping they’ll be able to complete the work by late August.
The board signed a statement about the recent terminations of the Fire Chief and lieutenant. The statement was not provided at the meeting. It is now on the town’s website.
Watch the video:
The town’s ‘official statement’ regarding the timeline of events for the situation with NFRD, not surprisingly, lacks important information.
Obviously many important details are intentionally omitted.
A quick breakdown:
‘The town and admin received workplace complaints from employees’
Employees? What happened to the narrative of ‘6 members of NFRD’ complaining?
‘Employees’ infers full timers or someone else.
Can’t keep the story straight.
‘Impartial investigation’ - this has already been addressed publicly at the previous BOS meetings.
To claim any of the towns actions were ‘impartial’ is insanity.
The building inspector and some previous members of NFRD were contacted and asked to participate in the investigation.
What did any of those people have to do with the ‘complaint’ received in March?
Nothing.
To his credit, the building inspector showed some integrity by refusing to cooperate.
Same with the previous members of NFRD.
March 23- Lt escorted out of the Fire Station by police with other police officers standing by in the bays.
Why? Who ordered this action?
On the eve of March 23 the Chief simply asked the BOS ‘what this was all about’?
To which the BOS replied ‘we’re not here to discuss it’
Those were the last words the Chief had heard directly from the town.
The town never asked for the Chief or Lt’s account. After 40+ years of combined service to the community, the town lacked the decency to inform them of what they were being accused of.
Disgraceful.
This is only the beginning of the story.