MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles McMahon, Douglass Barker, Carolyn Webber, Margaret Crisler and Galen Stearns. David Sullivan, Town Administrator, was also present. Meeting commenced at 7:00 pm.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mr. McMahon noted that the Selectmen will now be starting their meetings at 7:00 pm rather than 7:30 pm so as to hopefully have everyone home earlier - residents, staff and cable crews.

Mrs. Crisler made the following announcements:

The Garden Club will hold a plant sale on May 16th and they are also selling raffle tickets.

The Strawberry Festival will be held on June 6th and this year they will also have a baking contest - recipes using strawberries.

The NH Orchid Society will hold their 15th Annual Show April 24-26th at the Nashua National Guard Armory.

UNH Cooperative Extension is sponsoring seminars on lawn care and landscaping in Manchester this month and in Portsmouth in May.

Mr. Stearns congratulated the Odyssey of the Mind participants for their excellent performances. One team is going to Florida for World finals.

Ms Webber noted that the Historic Committee is sponsoring a meeting at the Nesmith Library on May 4th regarding protecting historic resources.

LIAISON REPORTS: Mrs. Crisler reported on the following committees:

Recreation - Beach Clean Up Day is scheduled for June 6th. Volunteers will be able to sign up for swim lessons that day.

The Easter Egg hunt on Saturday was a huge success - over 4,000 eggs were found and the Easter Bunny visited.

Recreation is looking at the possibility of sponsoring many different programs in the fall. Yoga classes have been very popular.

Fishing keys are available at the Town Clerk's Office.

Planning Board is working on Design Review.

Board of Adjustment - Star Vector will be heard on Tuesday, April 14th and has also filed a court case.

Technical Advisory Committee - is working with the Library, Internet access, E mail and with Cable Committee. They request that all boards and committees submit their minutes to the Police Station for placement on the Windham webpage.

Ms Webber reported that the Historic District Commission met on April 9th with representatives from the Presbyterian Church to review their plans for an addition. The Commission approved the conceptual plans.

POLICE STATION BUILDING REPORT: Chief Moeckel reported that new station is nearing completion. The dispatch console will be installed later this week, the appliances are to be delivered on Thursday and there is still some work to be done on the lockers and the cells.

Chief Moeckel stated that the official moving day is April 29th. Chief Moeckel, Al Turner, Mr. Landry, David Sullivan and members of the Building Committee will check out the items on the punch list on Wednesday at 1 pm and Thursday at 7:30 pm. Some Board members may attend. Chief Moeckel will consult with the Garden Club later for additional landscaping.

RESIGNATION: Mr. McMahon read a letter from Chief Moeckel announcing Matthew Norcross will be resigning from the Police Department effective April 21st. He will be taking a position with the Salem Police Department. Mr. Barker motioned to accept his resignation and thanked him for his service. Mr. Stearns seconded. Passed unanimously.

CCTV BID AWARD FOR TRANSFER STATION: Wayne Bailey, Transfer Station Manager, explained that they requested proposals for purchase and installation of four closed circuit cameras to monitor the various areas at the station. Five bids were received and Mr. Bailey recommended that the Board award the bid to the lowest bidder for the camera and installation and additional options may be awarded at a later date. After much discussion, the Board tabled the award until the next meeting, to allow Mr. Bailey to discuss the options with the Technical Committee and bring in a complete package to the Board.

BID AWARD FOR PASSENGER VAN: Mr. Sullivan stated that the following bids had been received for a 1998 passenger van for the Senior Center:

Mr. Sullivan explained that these were the base bids and that a lift for the disabled was an extra. He also suggested extra heating ($700) for the back of the van. Mr. Sullivan explained the types of lifts that could be installed and recommended a rear mount as it would allow for more seating when not in use.

Mr. Sullivan recommended that the Board award the contract to Gladstone Ford for $28,374 which includes the extra heat and lift. Ms Webber motioned to award the bid as recommended by Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Stearns seconded. Mrs. Crisler inquired as to what type of licenses were required for the driver and what type of training on the use of the lift would be given. Mr. Sullivan stated the company would demonstrate the use of the lift and he thought a regular driver's license was sufficient but he will check it out. Motion passed 4-1 with Mrs. Crisler opposed.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Barker made a motion to accept the minutes of March 30th, the payrolls of April 7 and 14th and the manifest of April 13th. Mr. Stearns seconded. Mr. Barker noted that it was Mrs. Crisler not he that initiated the discussion of the speaker from NHMA regarding volunteers. He also noted that in the minutes regarding liaison reports, it is not necessary to post for a change in agenda items. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Barker suggested that as the Board does not have to sign for the payroll, it need not be included in the consent agenda. The Board agreed.

CORRESPONDENCE: Mr. McMahon noted that Mr. Sullivan had given the Board two memos today for their review and to be prepared to discuss them in the future - regarding the Housing Authority and Police Station.

Letter received from Wayne Childs of New England Waterlogged Veneer & Lumber, Llc., regarding the logs pulled from Canobie Lake. He stated that the logs were examined - he believes they would be valuable to artists because of the coloring. Also, he stated that they will rot quickly if not kept wet.

Mr. Sullivan told the Board that he had spoke with Mr. Hannon of the Canobie Lake Association, and the Association has voted to sell the logs with 25% of the funds going to the CLA and 75% to the Town to be put in Trust for development of Griffin Park. Mr. Sullivan stated that he has two bids - for $250 and $350. Mr. Sullivan suggested that the Board agree not to accept the bids, but to work with the firm from Wisconsin who has offered $.60 per board foot. The Board agreed to work with the Association on this matter and to keep the logs wet.

Letter received from the Fire Department Building Committee inviting the Board and Administrator to a working session of the Committee on May 4th. The Board agreed to schedule a session on May 4, 1998 at 7:00 pm and also to hold a workshop with the Fire Chief after the Committee meeting.

Notice received from the Cemetery Trustees stating that they had received the following bids for maintenance work for the cemeteries:

The trustees recommended that the contract be awarded to Tri Town Landscare for $20,400. Mr. Stearns moved to award the contract for the cemeteries to Tri Town Landscare for the bid price. Ms Webber seconded. Passed unanimously.

Letter received from the Postal Service requesting input on a listing of proposed locations for a new post office. After discussion, the Board agreed to send a copy of this letter to the Planning Board for review noting it is confidential and the Board will do a courtesy review in two weeks. Mr. Sullivan will have a map drawn noting the locations of the proposed sites.

Notice was received from the New Hampshire Municipal Association Health Insurance Trust that the Police and Fire Departments had received grants for two persons from each department to attend the NH Celebrates Wellness Conference June 23-25. The conference will be of benefit in establishing long term health risk management strategy for the departments.

OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Sullivan explained that Mrs. Devlin has recodified the Town Ordinances and he requested that the Board review the numbering system for the next meeting, note any modifications so they can accept the recodification and then work on amending any ordinances as required. The Board requested the book on disc for their review.

Mrs. Crisler asked that the Cable Board be scheduled to give the Board updates on the franchise negotiations. Mr. Sullivan noted it is especially important that the Board have a liaison on the Cable Board at this time. Mrs. Crisler agreed to accept this position.

Mr. Barker inquired on the status of two items from the Fire Department. The Chief will reschedule.

NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Barker inquired as to when Mr. Sullivan is scheduling the semi annual legal update with Town Counsel. Mr. Sullivan stated that it is tentatively scheduled for June and will attempt to confirm with Town Counsel.

Mrs. Crisler noted that a presentation had been scheduled for this evening by the Design Review Committee and she was very distressed when she learned that three members of the Board had decided not to have the presentation. She did not even receive a telephone call.

Mr. McMahon stated that he did not believe that this was an issue for the Board but rather for the Planning Board and the Selectmen's focus should be on department head issues.

Ms Webber felt the presentation should have gone forward - that anything should be heard by the Board if requested. Mr. Barker felt this matter was not in the direct purview of the Selectmen and they should be extremely careful not to interfere with other boards especially land use ones.

Mr. Stearns inquired as to who appointed the Design Review Committee.

Mr. Case, Vice Chairman of the Planning Board, stated that he felt it was inappropriate for the Selectmen to hear a presentation by the Design Review Committee for the following reasons:

The Committee was appointed by the Planning Board;
The Committee was now finished with the project and no longer exists;
The Plan has not been finalized by the Planning Board and
The Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing on the Plan for the public.

It was agreed that the Board of Selectmen would attend the Planning Board meeting when the Design Review is discussed.

Mr. Barker asked the Chairman and Mr. Sullivan if the non-public session and workshops could be held in the Armstrong Building. The Board will reconsider this as the building is not ready yet.

Mr. Sullivan extended condolences to the Dinsmore family on the death of John Dinsmore.

NON-PUBLIC SESSIONS: Mr. Barker motioned to go into non-public session in accordance with RSA 19-A:3, II c and e. Mr. Stearns seconded. Roll Call Vote - all members - yes. The subjects were reputations and legal. The Board and Mr. Sullivan were in attendance.

The Board considered a request for a hardship abatement of property taxes. Mr. Barker motioned to approve. Ms Webber seconded. Passed unanimously.

Legal Matter - Mrs. Crisler motioned to instruct the Tax Collector to hold a tax deeding case relative to New England Telephone in abeyance pending resolution of a legal matter. Ms Webber seconded. Passed unanimously.

The Board adjourned into workshop session to meet with Mr. Sullivan regarding goals.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen M. Davis
Secretary

NOTE: These minutes are prepared in draft form and have not been submitted to the Board for approval.