By Muriel Bristol | October 14, 2018
The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, October 15.
The meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public preliminary session at 5:00 PM. That agenda has a single Non-Public item classed as 91-A:3 II (j).
91-A:3 II (j). Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV in an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to RSA 541 [Rehearings and Appeals in Certain Cases] or RSA 541-A [Administrative Procedure Act].
The sole Non-Public item (the “j” item) might still relate to abatements. Of course, it could be anything at all. Maybe the old fire station still. It has been suggested to us before last time that it might have to do with discussing revisions of employee manuals and employee insurance buyouts, issues that have been mentioned in the open sessions.
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 5:30 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has new business, old business, and the approval of minutes.
Under new business is scheduled 1) Additional Public Comment Discussion (Ryan Thibeault), 2) Halloween Street Crossing Safety Request (Jeffrey Azjicek), 3) Acceptance of Highway Safety Grant (Richard Krauss), 4) Unsealing of Nonpublic Meeting Minutes: 7.10.18 and 9.24.18 (Ryan Thibeault), and 5) Retract Parking Ordinance (Ryan Thibeault).
Some residents have pointed out that under the new By-Law format, having Public Comments at the beginning of the meeting prevents any comments having to do with the meeting itself. They would necessarily lag always behind: commenting only about the prior meeting or general issues. This discussion would explore the possibility of having two Public Comment sessions, one at the beginning and another at the end of the meeting.
The Halloween Street Crossing Safety request may relate specifically to the upcoming Trunk-or-Treat event or to general street-crossing safety on and around Halloween.
Chief Krauss wants the BOS to authorize acceptance of a Highway Safety Grant. He last appeared for this sort of thing in seeking authorization for acceptance of a Federal Seatbelt enforcement grant. It is always wise to beware of grants. They come with attached strings. The granting authority gets to redirect your resources to their ends. But, you still get to fund the long-term expenses for those resources.
The BOS will be lifting the veil from several Non-Public matters from their July 10 and September 24 meetings. Their September 24 Non-Public session dealt with two 91A:3 II (c) matters and a 91A:3 II (j) matter (similar to that that will lead off this meeting). There was no July 10 meeting, unless they mean July 10 of 2017. That meeting was a busy one. Among the matters discussed then was the old fire station.
Retracting prior parking ordinances is a bit of housekeeping. White Mountain Highway is a State highway. Milton has little authority over it, if any. A prior BOS got overly excited and passed a parking ordinance for which they lacked any authority at all. It would be like someone setting dinnertime at your house or arranging the cars in your driveway. This BOS has been wrestling with similar signage and other issues on the State’s White Mountain Highway.
Under old business is scheduled a discussion of the departmental budget submissions of September 24, and October 1. Also departmental presentations previously scheduled, but for which time did not allow: Town Clerk/ Tax Collector, Welfare, Town Administration, and Government Buildings.
Under other business is scheduled the third round of departmental budget presentations. Those will include (time permitting) Sewer, Treasurer, Moderator, Supervisor of the Checklist, Trustees of the Trust Fund, Cemetery, Assessing, Police, Recreation, and Insurance/Benefits.
Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes, expenditure report, Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
References:
State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm
Town of Milton. (2018, October 12). BOS Meeting Agenda, October 15, 2018. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/uploads/bos_agendas_833_2416655218.pdf
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