RAYMOND BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES 01-13-03 Approved 02-03-03
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Harold Wood. Members present: Norm Weldy, Wayne Welch, Paul Brown and Jonathan Wood. Also present: Town Manager Richard C. Bates.

Chairman Harold Wood led a salute to the flag.

PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND DONATIONS
Chairman Harold Wood stated that this is a public hearing to accept the following gifts and donations:

Watson Hill/Jemco Subdivision Recreation Account - Contribution is for the perpetual maintenance of the proposed recreation area and ball court which will be built as part of this project. This area is being given to the Town and it is intended that the Town will maintain it. The money will be placed in an interest bearing, non-lapsing account, for the express purpose of maintaining these facilities. The amount of the fund was determined through consultation with the Recreation Advisory Board and the Recreation Director.
MOTION: Selectman J. Wood made a motion to accept a contribution from Jemco Builders in the amount of $10,000 to be placed in the Watson Hill/Jemco Subdivision Recreation Account for the perpetual maintenance of the proposed recreation area and ball court. Selectman Weldy seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

DARE donation - The Masonic Charitable Foundation has donated $150.00 to be deposited into the DARE account.
MOTION: Selectman Weldy made a motion accept the $150.00 donation from the Masonic Charitable Foundation for deposit in the DARE account. Selectman Brown seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

United Methodist Women - They have requested permission to cater the deliberative session on February 1st.
MOTION: Selectman Weldy made a motion to accept the donation for catering the Town Deliberative Session on February 1st. Selectman J. Wood seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Planning Board Alternate Appointment - Chairman Harold Wood read a letter from Planning Board Chairman Sloan recommending the appointment of John Page as an Alternate member of the Planning Board. The Board of Selectmen met with Mr. Page who expressed an interest and desire to serve on the Planning Board.

MOTION: Selectman J. Wood made a motion to appoint John Page as an Alternate member of the Planning Board for a term of three years. Selectman Weldy seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

Elderly Exemptions - The Board of Selectmen reviewed a copy of the revised averages for Elderly Exemptions dropping out the high and low from each category. Town Manager Bates stated that we are low in the exemptions for people eighty plus years old by $8,500 and low in the asset limits by $18,000.00.

Selectman Weldy stated that other Towns are looking at the same thing and he recommends that we bring up the exemptions across the board for all age groups. He stated there is a bill at the State house that would make all of the elderly exemption amounts the same state wide.

Selectman J. Wood stated that raising all of them is overly generous. He stated we should increase the asset amount in the eighty plus age group.

Selectman Weldy stated that about 10% of the population is the elderly and for the most part it's not going to affect the tax rate.

MOTION: Selectman Brown made a motion to increase the asset requirement from $40,000 to $60,000. Selectman Weldy seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

MOTION: Selectman Weldy made a motion to increase the asset requirement for the 65 years of age up to 75 years to $60,000. Selectman Brown seconded for discussion. DISCUSSION: Selectman J. Wood stated that looking at this in terms of the surrounding communities we are doing fine. He stated that the Selectmen could look at the overall exemptions next year. Chairman Harold Wood stated that the exemptions were increased two years ago. Selectman J. Wood stated that we might be going too fast. He added that currently we are exempting two million dollars and if we bump this up across the board, it would cost even more. VOTE ON THE MOTION: Selectman Weldy voted in the affirmative. Selectmen Welch, Brown and J. Wood voted against the motion. MOTION FAILED.

MOTION: Selectman Brown made a motion to increase the asset requirement for all age categories by $5,000 each and to increase the asset requirement for 80 plus to $65,000. Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

Selectman J. Wood requested an impact statement from the Town Manager as to what all these increases will mean to the taxes. Town Manager Bates stated that because it's the end of the year and everyone is getting ready for the auditors, it would not be possible at this time to get that information because each individual property would have to be looked at. He added that he could get that information when the activity in the office slows down.

NEW BUSINESS
Curbside Collection of Recycling - Petition Warrant Article
We, the undersigned registered voters of Raymond, NH, submit the following petitioned article for inclusion in the Town Warrant for 2003: To see if the Town will vote to establish a weekly program of curbside pickup of recyclables and to raise and appropriate the sum of $103, 400.00 to fund this program to begin after July 1, 2003.

MOTION: Selectman Welch made a motion not to recommend the petition warrant article for curbside collection of recycling. Selectman Weldy seconded. DISCUSSION: Selectman Welch stated that he is not opposed to curbside recycling, however, this year should have been used to educate people and next year would be a better time to place this on the warrant. VOTE ON THE MOTION: Voted unanimously in the affirmative not to recommend this warrant article.

Timber Cut Tax - Petition Warrant Article
To see if the Town will authorize 100% of the collected Timber cut Tax (also known as Normal Yield Tax under RSA 79:3) to be deposited to the conservation Commission Conservation fund, for the purpose of having additional funds available for open space and land use initiatives, and activities. The collected Timber Tax is currently deposited to the General Fund.

MOTION: Selectman J. Wood made a motion to recommend a yes vote on the Timber Cut Tax petition warrant article. Selectman Weldy seconded. DISCUSSION: Selectman J. Wood stated that currently the balance not deposited in the Conservation Fund comes in as revenue and is used to reduce taxes. This, on one hand is good in the short term, but is a one time benefit. Land taken out of development for residential housing has the long term benefit of saving the taxpayer money indefinitely. Selectman Welch stated that we do need to be careful not to deplete our income. VOTE ON THE MOTION: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.

Draft changes to personnel policy - Sick and Vacation Bank
The Board of Selectmen reviewed a draft policy for the sick time buyout plan. This would be a revision to the Personnel Policy that would need to be adopted and placed into the policy after the vote in March. They also reviewed a copy of the draft policy to deal with vacation "carry over" and "bank".

Board members were concerned with the accumulation of vacation time and the carry over. Town Manager Bates stated that currently an employee can cash out up to a week's vacation time and we currently budget for that. We would be taking away that benefit in exchange for allowing employees to carry time over or bank it.

The consensus of the Board of Selectmen was to agree with the concept of the draft.

Draft policy on use of the proposed scale at the Transfer Facility
Selectman J. Wood reviewed the draft policy and recommended that the Town charge ten cents per pound for demolition. Yard waste and scrap metal would continue be no charge and coupons would still be purchased for appliances that contain CFC or Automotive Waste. This would fund the maintenance of the scale and facility.

Selectman Welch suggested that we take the cost of the case and add 5% to calculate the cost.

The Board of Selectmen agreed to review this item again when additional figures are available.

Board of Selectmen Reports
Selectman Weldy reported that the Governor's Inauguration was great.

Budget Committee - Chairman Harold Wood reported that the Public Hearing on Town Warrant Articles was held last Tuesday and would continue this Tuesday.

Conservation Commission - Selectman J. Wood reported they had a work session identifying areas of Town that have large open space.

Planning Board - Selectman J. Wood reported that a lot line as approved.

TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Bates reported on Department activities.
There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 for the water bond issue at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Office. Public Works Director McCarthy was requested to make a presentation at that meeting.

ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Selectman Weldy made a motion to adjourn. Selectman Brown seconded. Voted unanimously in the affirmative. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:32 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Bette Patterson
Selectmen's Secretary