Selectboard and Finance Committee

Subscribe via Email

Monday, March 13, 2023, 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm
A meeting of the Select Board

Selectboard Meeting - 5 Academy Hill Road, Conway - 6:00 p.m.
Meetings are now held every other Monday and are at this time accessible via Zoom.

Meeting of Select Board

Members: (Quorum)

• Present: Christopher Waldo, at 6:00 PM
• Present: Philip Kantor, Chair, at 6:00 PM
• Present: Erica Goleman, at 6:00 PM

Also Present:

• Alan Singer
• John Craine
• Roy Cohen
• Laurie Lucier
• Ken Quimette
• Howard Boyden
• Bob Armstrong
• Seth Capista
• Phyllis Craine
• Roxanne Parent
• Véronique Blanchard and Adam Reed.

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:00 PM

Meeting closed: 7:33 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Mar 6 - Selectboard and Finance Committee

1. Warrants

   • - Vote to approve the Accounts Payable Warrant, the Payroll Warrant, and the Payroll Deduction Warrant .

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: .

     Pass: Aye: Erica Goleman, Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo.

     1. Conway_W23-20_AP_Warrant.pdf
     2. Conway_PW23-20_Payroll_Warrant.pdf
     3. Conway_PDW23-20_PR_Deduction_Warrant.pdf

2. Meetings Attended by Select Board Members

   • General Discussion...
     Erica attended the Governor's press conference in Deerfield.
     
     Phil attended multiple meetings regarding the schools and their budgets.

3. Public Comments. None

4. Unfinished Business.

   • Discussion and possible vote on obligation of remaining $406,260.59 in ARPA funds.

     General Discussion...
     It was suggested the remaining ARPA funds be put towards the Public Safety Building. There were some concerns that a portion of these funds be directed to the lift proposed for the Town Hall. The goal being to sell the Town Office building and move everyone to the Town Hall. Other than the lift, there will need to be other renovations that take place including the installation of office space in the upstairs.
     The Town Administrator also pointed out the the town hall has very little storage space and it will be time consuming to go through and transfer documents to a digital format. The administrator is also concerned about the committee in charge working on multiple projects at once. Focusing on one building at a time may be more beneficial. Since the money does not have to be commited immediately, it was decided to look into how much money a grant for the lift will cover and the final decision will be tabled for a future date.

     1. ARPA_Running_Tally_by_Project.xlsx

5. New Business

   • - Budgets to review: Capital Improvements recommendations; 310-Frontier & 300-CGS budgets

     General Discussion...
     Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee opened their meetings at 6:32 to discuss capital recommendations. Capital Improvement adjourned at 6:53 and Finance adjourned at 7:03 after discussing the school budgets.
     
     Capital recommendations included a dump truck which can be the recycled ambulance again when the town has to purchase a new one. A new chipper, the chipper box and a new vehicle for the Highway Department were discussed. It was pointed out the Ron Sweet and his crew were able to do some work themselves on the new highway facility. This will save the town over $400,000 on the estimated cost. It is hoped that some of this savings can be allocated to the expense of new equipment. It was also noted that new equipment is preferred for these expenditures. Used equipment requires more maintenance which is a budget cost and a time cost because the highway crew must work on vehicles instead of other duties through out the town.
     
     The Frontier budget has a 2.88% increase for the town which is lower than the 2.92% average increase for other towns. There were no concerns with the budget.
     
     The Conway Grammar School has a 2.37% increase to continue level services. At the time of the meeting this budget had not been voted on and more information will be provided shortly.
     

   • - Candidates put forth by Police Chief screening committee for Selectboard review.

     General Discussion...
     Howard Boyden spoke for the screening committee, which put forth candidate Don Bates to fill the office of Chief of Police. There was a great deal of time spent vetting the four candidates that applied for the position. Don was the only one that met the criteria that the committee set forth. The ultimate decision rest with the Select Board and this will be addressed at the next meeting.

   • - Discussion of Roxanne Parent with regard to social media posts.

     General Discussion...
     It was brought to the attention of the Select Board that Roxanne Parent had posted on social media posts that could be considered inappropriate for a town employee to be writing. The discussion had been posted as an Executive Session, pending Roxanne's decision on whether or not to meet in Executive Session. She chose to meet in public. Other members of the Board of Assessors were not a part of these social media posts, and it was pointed out that we have open meeting laws so a board or committee can tackle issues together in an open forum. Roxanne felt that she did not have any malicious intent with the posts and was just trying to be open with the citizens of the town. The board agreed that the statements were counterproductive and in violation of the employee handbook section regarding social media. A vote to censure Roxanne was taken.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Christopher Waldo: To censure Roxanne Parent for violation of the non disparagement clause in the town employee handbook. .

     Pass: Aye: Erica Goleman, Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo.

   • - Schedule date for second transfer station public hearing.

     General Discussion...
     It was decided that the next public hearing regarding the Transfer Station will be held on April 13, at 5:30 at the Town Hall. It is hopeful that Jan Ameen will attend .

6. Items Not Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of the Meeting

   • None.

7. Town Administrator update

   • 1. TA_2023-03-13_Update.pdf

8. Selectboard member comments/concerns

9. Mail

   • - Nexamp Solar Array letter.

     General Discussion...
     The letter was received by the board and it was acknowledged.

10. Announcements

    • None

      General Discussion...
      The wood bank grant discussion was postponed until Thursday, March 30, at 10:00 a.m.
      
      March 28, will be the ribbon cutting at the temporary North Poland Bridge.

11. Executive Session

    To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. The individual to be discussed in such executive session shall be notified in writing by the public body at least 48 hours prior to the proposed executive session; provided, however, that notification may be waived upon written agreement of the parties. Select Board will reconvene in Open Session after the close of Executive Session.

12. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Mon, Mar 20, at 6:00 PM "Selectboard and Finance Committee"
      2. Mon, Mar 27, at 6:00 PM "Selectboard and Finance Committee"
      3. Mon, Apr 3, at 6:00 PM "Selectboard and Finance Committee"

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes approved on Monday, Mar 20, 2023