MEMBERS PRESENT: Douglass Barker, Carolyn Webber, Margaret Crisler, and Galen Stearns. David Sullivan, Town Administrator, was also present. Mr. McMahon was not present due to illness. Meeting commenced at 6:30 pm.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Mr. Stearns motioned to go into non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, IIa. Ms Webber seconded. Roll Call Vote - all members - Yes. The Board, Mr. Sullivan and Deputy Fire Chief Fruchtman were in attendance. Subject was personnel.

Public Session: Mr. Stearns motioned to promote Deputy Fire Chief Steven Fruchtman to Fire Chief effective March 13, 1999. Mrs. Crisler seconded. Passed unanimously.

Mr. Sullivan spelled out procedures for filling the deputy slot. First the position will be advertised within the Fire Department. The Board will utilize the list of finalist candidates interviewed last year during the deputy chief hiring process. If there is interest from any qualified candidate from within the department, their name will be considered as well. Mrs. Crisler motioned that this Board supports going back to the finalists in the last deputy fire chief search, unless there is a qualified individual in the department who submits an application or shows interest before 1 March 99, who then will be considered also. She further added that anyone considered for this position must meet all the requirements in the job description. Mr. Stearns seconded. Passed unanimously.

In the interim, the present lieutenants will be given additional administrative duties to assist the new chief. There is no added cost for this delegation and this would not disrupt the day to day operations of the department as each shift, with the exception of one explained below, has two firefighters working with each lieutenant.

In the event new Chief Fruchtman has cause to be away from the station and unavailable for management oversight or backup coverage, we would have an additional Lieutenant on call to cover for the Chief as has been done in the past.

Mr. Sullivan also recommended that one of the present qualified call firefighters from the firefighter eligibility list be promoted to a temporary firefighter position (no benefits) to work on the shift that has only one lieutenant and one firefighter. This would be a temporary position until a new Deputy was hired. The total cost to implement this plan from March - December would be $35,484.63 which would still leave a savings of $7,000 in the salary line from which was budgeted assuming no changes in personnel. Mr. Stearns motioned to authorize Mr. Sullivan to move forward in the steps he explained above. Ms Webber seconded. Passed unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Margaret Crisler noted that Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction tonight. She urged everyone to look.

Mr. Stearns reminded everyone that Candidates Night is tomorrow on Channel 51. He further noted that the School Board and state representatives will meet on March 2nd.

LIAISON REPORTS: Mrs. Crisler reported that the Planning Board is meeting each Wednesday. The Master Plan draft was submitted and is their top priority. Workshops are being held during the year to handle their other projects in a timely fashion.

Mrs. Crisler stated that the Cable Board met last Saturday but she was not able to attend. The Technical Advisory Committee will meet later this week.

CORRESPONDENCE: Letter received from the Windham Community Girl Scouts requesting a waiver of the fee normally charged for the use of the Searles School on April 11 for a tea with the Girl Scouts and their mothers. Mr. Stearns motioned to approve a waiver for the fee to rent Searles School for the Girl Scouts. Mrs. Crisler seconded. Mr. Sullivan suggested a reduced fee to pay cleaning costs, etc. $9. per hour. Mr. Stearns so amended his motion for reduced fees. Ms Webber seconded the motion as amended. Passed unanimously.

Letter of resignation was received and read from Fire Chief Lipe. Mr. Stearns motioned to accept Chief Lipe’s resignation with regret. Mrs. Crisler seconded with regret. Passed unanimously.

Mr. Barker read a notice stating that the Board will hold a public discussion on March 8th at 8:00 pm at the Town Hall regarding the proposal to have Church Street designated as a one-way road entering off Route 111.

Letter received from Eric Foster, Boy Scout, stating that the Windham schools are too crowded and gave his idea for funding for a new school.

PUBLIC HEARING SENATE BILL 2, BALLOT VOTING - In accordance with RSA 40:14, the Board held a public hearing to hear testimony concerning the following warrant article submitted by petition of Richard Horrigan and others: "Shall the town adopt the provisions of RSA 40:13 to allow official ballot voting on all issues before the town meeting?"

Richard Horrigan, the sponsor of Question #1 as described above, spoke in favor of the article. He stated that this would allow residents to vote on budget and warrant at the polls. This allows a longer time frame for residents to vote and more privacy. He stated that the School district has used this method for last three years. This article was proposed for the Town in 1993 and lost by 6 votes. He proposed this article to give residents the opportunity to revisit this item.

Ms Webber stated that she feels that the Town has done great job and it would be a shame to lose this tradition. Mr. Stearns agreed and added that it would do away with the Town Meeting form of government. Mrs. Crisler concurred and added that Town Meeting is an informed group making decisions. Mr. Barker agreed with his fellow Board members.

Margaret Case and Robert Skinner spoke against the article. Mr. Horrigan noted the concerns mentioned but stated he thought the voters are informed especially through our cable channel.

Mr. Sullivan noted that this article and another article on having an elected planning board will be on the ballot, but do not contain a recommendation by the Board as the law does not require such.

PUBLIC HEARING AMBULANCE FEES: In accordance with RSA 41:9A, the Board held a Public Hearing for the purpose of amending the fees charged for ambulance services as follows:

These are the allowed Medicare rates.

Mr. Stearns noted that some additional fees have not been adjusted over the years and asked Deputy Fruchtman if they will be considered in the near future. Deputy Fruchtman replied that they definitely will be reviewing these and probably increasing some.

Mr. Sullivan stated that they were remiss when they voted to promote Deputy Fruchtman by not introducing and congratulating him. He and the Board wished him the best and stated he looked forward to working with him.

Mr. Stearns motioned to approve the new rates as proposed. Ms Crisler seconded. Passed unanimously.

MINUTES: Ms Webber motioned to approve minutes of January 25, February 1, February 9, 1999 and manifest of February 22, 1999. Mr. Stearns seconded. Passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Sullivan reported that he, Tom Case, Al Turner and representatives from the Rockingham Planning Commission and the Town of Salem met and discussed traffic studies and counts, along with recommendations for improvements at Route 111A and North Policy Road. They will meet again on March 3rd.

Mr. Sullivan told the Board that New Hampshire Municipal Association and Compensation Funds of NH will now both be offering all the same insurance coverages thus being pitted against each other. He stated that he is not sure this will help the Town or schools in anyway. However there will be no impact until budget year 2000. He will keep the Board informed.

Mr. Barker read a letter from Mr. Turner, Planning Director to Mr. & Mrs. Arra Yeghiayan who had requested the Planning Board change the name of Landry’s Hill, located off Washington Road, to Lincoln Hill in honor of President Lincoln. Mr. Turner stated that the Planning Board does not have the jurisdiction to change the name but would refer the request to the Board of Selectmen.

Mr. Barker also read the letter from Mr. & Mrs. Arra Yeghiayan to the Planning Board. They are building a home in Presidential Estates which has roads named after Presidents Wilson, Washington and Jefferson and they wished to also honor Lincoln. They further stated that they learned that President Lincoln had sent a Letter of Commendation to a former Windham Town Moderator, Olin Cochran.

Mr. Stearns questioned who owned the hill. Mr. Sullivan stated there are multiple owners. Ms Webber stated that she believed it was previously called Landry’s Hill and the family still lives here. The Board agreed to contact the Landrys for their input and also ask the Historic Committee and the Heritage Commission for their input. The Board will again discuss this on March 22nd.

Mr. Sullivan noted that the Board had received a memo from Mr. Barker, Emergency Management Director, requesting the Board to formally adopt the revised EM Plan. He further stated changes had been made such as renaming appendixes to have a more orderly flow. The committee supports these changes. Ms Webber motioned to adopt the new EM Plan. Mr. Stearns seconded. Passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Sullivan noted that the Board will hold a Public Hearing to consider petitions to have Horne and Turtle Rock Roads declared emergency lanes on March 8th.

Mr. Sullivan informed the Board that on Thursday he and department heads would be filming the annual budget show to be aired on Channel 51 to inform residents on the proposed budget to be voted on at the upcoming Town Meeting.

NON-PUBLIC SESSIONS: Mr. Stearns motioned to go into non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, a, c and e. Ms Webber seconded. Roll Call Vote all members yes. Subjects were legal, reputations and personnel.

Reputations - The Board, Mr. Turner and Mr. Sullivan were in attendance and discussed a Board of Health issue dealing with reputations. No decisions were made and Mr. Sullivan will keep the Board updated.

Personnel - The Board and Mr. Sullivan were in attendance. Mr. Sullivan updated the Board on several personnel issues. No decisions.

Legal - The Board and Mr. Sullivan were in attendance. The Board reviewed a draft agreement with the Housing Authority and it will be on the Selectmen’s next meeting agenda.

Mr. Stearns motioned to adjourn. Ms Webber seconded. Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen M. Davis
Secretary


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