The Town is in need of a revamping of the water department!

       MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

   Wednesday - July 15, 2009

Selectman Tedford reads an excerpt of an email from Gary Puffer to Bob Gray, dated June 19, 2009, which states, “…I NEED HELP! I cannot continue running the office and working in the water department without more help. Every week we fall further behind in our work due to me being in the office more than in the past…” A majority of the Selectmen understand this email to mean Gary is asking for office help. The Board has seen too many abatements due to data entry error, and hope having a secretary in the office will resolve these issues. Selectman Tedford is not in favor of having the Selectmen’s secretary assist with this function. Bob wants to make clear that he is to approach the person, who was laid off, and offer her position back, up to 20 hours/week, based on the prior motion made by Selectman Tedford, which still stands in effect. Selectman Tedford makes a motion to revisit the motion made to rehire the former Water Department secretary. Selectman Berthiaume seconds the motion and it passes 5-0. Selectman Tedford makes a new motion to meet with the Water Department Supervisor on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at a Work Session to see what he needs for manpower, and hours for a part-time secretarial position and office duty work. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.

MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Wednesday - August 26, 2009         WORK SESSION

5th Order of Business: Water and Sewer Secretary
Selectman Gardner is now present at 11:10AM. Selectman Tedford made a motion to rehire the part-time secretary to work up to 20 hours/week based on an email the Board read from Gary Puffer stating he needed the help, and that onsite work was suffering because of too much time spent in the office. Gary Puffer does not want to hire back the former water secretary, and the Town Personnel Policy makes clear that one year from time of layoff is required to offer a person’s job back, which time has expired. Gary explains paperwork in the office has not increased. It only takes 5.5 hours, per quarter to do data entry of water meter readings. Gary has previously asked during budget time to allow for more manpower. Gary thinks he cannot train someone to assist with the technical details of his job.

Rick Meleski says he could use a secretary to assist with updating property records and deficient customer lists, and document manholes because his office is not very efficient right now. Rick thinks you could hire someone with skills, maybe did previous work in water/sewer to do monthly permit requirements, calculations, paperwork for DMRs, and basic computer skills. Rick admits he functions now, but does think a more efficient technique is plausible. Selectman Fraser is concerned about the Water Department not returning customer calls promptly, to which Gary responds he and Ric Brooks check messages a couple of times daily, and Karey has been a great contact person when they are not in the office. Selectman Fraser likes the idea of having set hours for the Water Department, so a customer knows when they can stop by or call to speak with Gary. Again, Gary still feels his need for a secretary is limited. Gary is in favor of purchasing 2 water meter readers from a reputable, local manufacturer/distributor at a cost of $13,000.00 (for two meters). These meters radio read and show leaks, high or low usage, and would eliminate human error. Gary would rather do all paperwork himself, and doesn’t think there is space to put a person. Selectman Fraser suggests restructuring the Water Department’s office because of misuse of space. Gary is busy with well rehab, sewer plant, upgrades, manholes, road, and the Highway, Sewer and Water Departments do not have enough manpower to get these jobs done in a timely fashion. Gary has projects from the State (from before he took over), hydrants need to be replaced, flushing (required to do every 3 years), working wells, and a recent lightening strike.

The existing meters would not need to be replaced, as Gary has previously done research on replacing all meters in Town at a cost of $190,000.00 plus. Selectman Gardner suggests it would not be difficult to train a person to read these meters to free up some of Gary’s time. Selectman Fraser still feels a qualified person could be trained to assist with office demands, and suggests Gary comes up with a job description and hours necessary to help out.

Selectman Gardner would like to look at the Water, Sewer and Highway Departments, including John Gomarlo, to look at ways to combine duties and save the Town money. Selectman Gardner has been working on some facts and figures to consider changing the hierarchy by combining the Water and Sewer Departments. The Board briefly discusses the status of Ric Brooks’ CDL-B license, to which Gary responds he failed a written test by one question and could not retake the test yesterday because Gary needed Ric’s assistance with the wells. Selectman Fraser stresses that Ric needs to get with Dale so he can learn to drive the truck and take the test in Concord in that very same truck.
Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to revisit the hiring of the former water secretary for up to 20 hours/week. Selectman Gardner seconds the motion and it passes 4-0. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to withstand hire of the former water secretary for up to 20 hours/week because the Board is revisiting all job descriptions Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 4-0.

MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Selectman Tedford reviewed the proposed Water Department budget and there is no wage line item for a secretary. Selectman Tedford would like to know the status, to which Selectman Fraser responds Gary Puffer does not want a secretary, but Rick Meleski said he could use one. The Board had a lengthy discussion with Gary and Rick and decided to hold off on hiring for this position until a job description is created based on what both superintendents need for assistance. Selectman Gardner is still in favor of combining the Water and Wastewater Superintendent into one position, with one secretary to be shared between departments. The Board also suggests the secretary could be responsible for quarterly meter readings. These ideas will require further research.