PEMBROKE
PEMBROKE
ACADEMY AUDITORIUM
ABSTRACT OF
MINUTES
The meeting was called
to order at
Article 1: TO HEAR THE REPORTS OF AGENTS, AUDITORS, COMMITTEES,
OR OFFICERS CHOSEN, AND TO PASS ANY VOTE RELATING THERETO.
There was no
business to conduct under this article.
Article 2: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO AUTHORIZE THE
SCHOOL BOARD TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND DONATIONS FROM ANY SOURCE ON BEHALF OF THE
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Gerard Fleury
Vote: YES Article
#2 Adopted
Article 3: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND
APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF UP TO $100,000 (FROM SURPLUS) TO BE ADDED TO THE SCHOOL
BUILDING CAPITAL RESERVE FUND PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE
USE/TRANSFER OF UP TO $100,000 FROM THE JUNE 30, 2007 FUND BALANCE FOR THIS
PURPOSE.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Bill Stanyan
David
Freeman-Woolpert, Chair of the Budget Committee explained to the voters the
dollar tax rate per $1,000 of property value and how this value was reached based
on the school, municipal, and county rates.
He referred to the summary of tax rate sheet prepared and available for
the voters giving information from 2000 – 2007.
He stated “that if we vote in everything on the warrant today and next
week at the town meeting, the tax rate would be $23.50.”
Vote: YES Article
#3 Adopted
Article 4: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND APPROPRIATE THE
SUM OF UP TO $50,000 (FROM SURPLUS) TO BE ADDED TO THE EQUIPMENT TRUST FUND
PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE USE/TRANSFER OF UP TO $50,000 FROM
THE JUNE 20, 2007 FUND BALANCE FOR THIS PURPOSE.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Bill Stanyan Seconded: William Nunnally, Sr.
Vote: YES Article
#4 Adopted
Article 5: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND
APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $50,000 (FROM SURPLUS) TO BE ADDED TO THE SPECIAL
EDUCATION TRUST FUND PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE USE/TRANSFER
OF UP TO $50,000, FROM THE JUNE 30, 2007 FUND BALANCE FOR THIS PURPOSE.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Bill Stanyan
Ron Clouser
asked what the “current balance of this fund was?” Gerry Fleury stated “$114,000.00.”
Vote: YES Article
#5 Adopted
Article 6: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND
APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $53,200 FOR THE PURPOSES OF INSTALLING SECURITY
ENTRANCES AT HILL SCHOOL AND PEMBROKE ACADEMY, REPLACING CARPETING IN SELECTED
AREAS DISTRICT-WIDE, INSTALLING A PERMANENT CLASSROOM WALL AT HILL SCHOOL AND
INSTALLING A CLASSROOM SINK AT THREE RIVERS SCHOOL. FURTHER, TO AUTHORIZE THE WITHDRAWAL OF
$53,200 FROM THE
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Larry Preston
Vote: YES Article
#6 Adopted
Article 7: TO SEE IF THE PEMBROKE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO AUTHORIZE
THE PEMBROKE SCHOOL BOARD TO ENTER INTO A 15-YEAR LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN
THE AMOUNT OF $2,820,000 AT 4.35%. THE
FIRST PAYMENT TO BE MADE IN THE 2008/09 FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
COMPLETING AN ENERGY RETROFIT OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND FOR RENOVATIONS AND
IMPROVEMENTS AT PEMBROKE ACADEMY AND PEMBROKE HILL SCHOOL AND AUTHORIZE THE
SCHOOL BOARD TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT AND EXPEND STATE BUILDING AID, UTILITY
REBATES AND ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE FUNDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, WHICH
TOGETHER WITH REDUCED ENERGY COSTS FROM THE PROJECTED ENERGY SAVINGS WILL
PARTIALLY OFFSET THE COSTS OF THIS PROJECT.
THIS LEASE AGREEMENT CONTAINS A FISCAL FUNDING (ESCAPE) CLAUSE.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Bill Stanyan
Ron Clouser
asked if Gerry Fleury of the school board could explain this article. Gerry asked the voters to refer to page #3 of
the pink colored School District Information Packet, Honeywell Lease/Purchase
Proposal, prepared for voters. Gerry
explained “that this is an agreement with Honeywell. We can lump together items as opposed to
handling them separate, bring in state aid to help and additionally we are
looking at energy savings. It is a
lease/purchase proposal. The beauty of
this program is that by partnering with Honeywell we basically take a loan and
fund it from what we have to pay.” Gerry
showed a piece of roof from the
Ron Clouser
asked “about the dollar impact to the taxpayer?” “And if there was a cost to the article?” Gerry explained “the energy improvement
initiative and capital projects with reference to the information packet and
how the cost would be recovered in the end.”
Tina Parris
asked “Where are we if the state does not come through with their aid?” Gerry Fleury stated “there is no history of
the state reneging on their side of things.”
Mark Dumas
stated that a “number of companies besides Honeywell are offering this service
and have other companies been looked into for cost comparison?’ Gerry Fleury stated “That Honeywell has been
the driving force and brought this concept to
Rosemarie
Michaud asked “how does the escape clause work and would we be locked in?” Tom Haley, Superintendent explained “that it
has to do with fiscal funding clauses.
If at any point of time in a given year voters decide not to take part,
the monies would be eliminated, program is dropped and we are not obligated.”
Rosemarie
Michaud asked “about paying for utilities?”
Tom Haley explained “that if the state reneges then we would evoke our
fiscal funding clause.”
Gerry Fleury
made a point of clarification “The state has never reneged on building
aid. Is it possible? Yes.
Have they done it” No.”
Mark Dumas
stated “agrees with the article and thinks we are moving in the right direction
by entering into an agreement with Honeywell.
But how does this work with Honeywell as far as venders for items like
windows, etc. How are the decisions
made?” Gerry Fleury stated “We are in
discussion with Honeywell, and our maintenance man Jonathan Burnham is here
today and can answer questions. Jonathan
Burnham stated “it is our decision on which windows we choose.”
David
Freeman-Woolpert spoke about the budget committee’s initial concerns over this
article with specific to the risk verses the benefit. Honeywell is the most successful company
doing this in NH and they are aware of how important school meetings are and
how decisions are made by the voters.
Larry Preston
asked to move the question. Voters in
agreement.
Moderator
Petit re-read the article.
Vote: YES Article
#7 Adopted
Article 8: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO APPROVE
CONTINUATION OF THE PEMBROKE ACADEMY ALPINE SKI PROGRAM PARTIALLY AT DISTRICT
EXPENSE AND TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND APPROPRIATE THE SUM
OF $12,640 FOR THIS PURPOSE. THIS
PROGRAM HAS BEEN TOTALLY FUNDED PRIVATELY DURING THE FISCAL YEARS 2005, 2006
AND 2007.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Bill Stanyan
Ron Clouser
asked “what will we do if the state changes its funding mechanism and we are
five-hundred and fifty thousand short?”
Clint Hanson stated “There have been all kinds of speculation regarding
the governor’s budget and it comes down to what the legislatures will do.”
Ron Clouser
stated “to take a look at the last 6 years of spending, it has increased
69%.”
Dave Newton
asked “what is the total expense of article 8 and 9?” Clint Hanson stated “we are budgeting the
total cost for the programs.”
Rosemarie
Michaud stated “she asked at the budget hearing how much of this will be
fundraised?” Clint Hanson stated
“Fundraising is going on; in terms of total dollars he is not sure.”
Mike Reardon,
David
Doherty, a counselor at
Larry Preston
moved the question. The voters were in
agreement.
Vote: YES Article
#8 Adopted
Article 9: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO APPROVE
CONTINUATION OF THE
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Bill Stanyan Seconded: William Nunnally, Sr.
Vote: YES Article
#9 Adopted
Article 10: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO AUTHORIZE THE
SCHOOL BOARD TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE NEW
HAMPSHIRE DEPARAATMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN REGION
XI AND FOR THE EDUCATION OF PEMBROKE STUDENTS AT THE CONCORD CAREER TECHNICAL
EDUCATION CENTER WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROVIDES FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING PEMBROKE
ACADEMY TO BE ENTITLED TO ATTEND CLASSES AT THE CONCORD TECHNICAL EDUCATION
CENTER AND CALLS FOR PEMBROKE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 25% OF THE TUITION CHARGED
AND FOR THE STATE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 75% OF THAT TUITION, AND CALLS FOR THE
STATE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION OF PEMBROKE STUDENTS TO
CONCORD, AND FURTHER ALLOWS FOR THE RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS
AT THE CONCORD TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED BY THE PEMBROKE
SCHOOL BOARD.
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: Bill Stanyan
Clint Hanson
explained “that we already have an agreement and we are essentially expanding
the program. There are no fundamental
changes and on advice of counsel they wanted us to make the agreement clear to
the voters.”
Cathy Roche
stated “when we send junior students to this program there is no guarantee that
a space will be available for them during their senior year.” Clint Hanson stated “that is a separate issue
in terms of the capacity of the program.”
Tom Haley stated “the issue Cathy raised is a good one, we generally
send twice as many juniors as seniors in to this program as there is a high
demand for the auto and building trade.”
Cathy Roche
asked “if concord is looking at adding more programs?” Greg Brighenti, Assistant Vice Principal
state “Yes, a Bio-tech program is being added.”
Cathy Roche
asked “if it was feasible for us to look at other areas of technical
programs.” Clint Hanson stated “No, we
have not looked at other programs.”
Cathy Roche asked “Why?” Tom
Haley stated “we have not in any formal or official way looked at other
vocational centers but we have sent students on a student-by-student basis.”
Tina Parris
asked “Is there a number per year for our commitment and what our obligation to
the improvements to be made is?” Clint
Hanson stated “it is within our tuition rate of 25%.”
Moderator
Petit re-re-read the article.
Vote: YES Article
#10 Adopted
Article 11: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE COST
ITEMS AS SET FORTH IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF PEMBROKE AND THE PEMBROKE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE
2007/08, 2008.09 AND 2009/2010 FISCAL YEARS, WHICH CALLS FOR THE FOLLOWING
INCREASES IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS AT CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS:
YEAR
2007/08 $470,143
YEAR
2008/09 $361,850
YEAR
2009/10 $351,988
AND
FURTHER TO RAISE AND APPROPIRATE THE SUM OF $470,143 FOR THE 2007/08 FISCAL YEAR,
SUCH SUM REPRESENTING THE ADDITIONAL COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCREASE IN
SALARIES AND BENEFITS OVER THOSE OF THE APPROPRIATION AT CURRENT STAFFING
LEVELS PAID IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
School
Board recommends approval
Budget
Committee recommends approval
Motion to accept: Clint Hanson Seconded: William Nunnally, Sr.
Clint Hanson
explained this article and stated “this is essentially a continuation of the
current 3-year agreement. Overall it is
a good deal for both parties with stability and continuity for us.” Clint referred to the page 4 of the school
handouts for the voters to review.
Ron Clouser
stated all the salaries of the town employees are listed in the town report and
asked “Is appropriate for me to ask for the school board now to list salaries
and benefits of all employees?”
Moderator Petit explained that Ron could “request and petition to add a
warrant article next year for this purpose or bring it up under other
business.”
Dave Newton
asked “if the adjustments for the first year were high and if so, why? Were
we behind? It is a large
increase.” Clint Hanson explained the
budgeted amounts for each year and there being no other questions, Moderator
Petit reread the article.
Vote: YES Article
#11 Adopted
Article 12: TO SEE IF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE TO RAISE AND
APPROPRIATE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF $20,566,258 FOR THE
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS, FOR THE PAYMENT OF SALARIES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
OFFICIALS AND AGENTS, AND FOR THE PAYMENT FOR THE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS OF THE
DISTRICT. THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS
$20,566,258. THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT
INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS VOTED IN OTHER WARRANT ARTICLES.
School
Board recommends approval of $20,566,258
Budget
Committee recommends approval of $20,566,258
Moderator
handed over this article for explanation to David Freeman-Woolpert. David stated “We have been reviewing the
school budget for twelve weeks and have heard some very good presentations from
the principals and the school district.
Please refer to page 6 of the school information handout. Following a brief explanation of the article
and how it will affect the tax rate, a motion was made in the amount of
$20,566,258 for article 12.
Motion to accept: David Freeman-Woolpert Seconded: Clint Hanson
Gerry Fleury
school board member explained how the contract works with the union and
non-union employees, and the major budget initiatives of the added positions at
the Academy, Three Rivers and district-wide, Gerry referred to pages 2 and 5 of
the school information handout for the voters to review.
Ron Clouser asked
the budget committee about resident concerns with new positions listed and were
they addressed? David Freeman-Woolpert
stated “the budget committee had concerns of adding new positions. These concerns were taken back to the final
budget committee meeting and when all is said and done, the school will
re-present if the case be that we don’t get state funding, the final vote was
to agree to vote and staff these additional positions.”
Rosemarie
Michaud stated “the items on page 5 add up to $234,000 and would rather wait
until funding issue is decided at the state level before we vote these items
in.”
Debra
Caldwell stated “I have heard it said that for every $1.00 we spend on our
students we save $6.00 at the other end of dealing with adults that are
incarcerated.”
Ron Clouser
stated “his military and social security check does not cover the increases in
his taxes of $12,000.
Ron Clouser made a motion to decrease Article
12 by $234,000. Second Rosemarie
Michaud. Amendment failed.
There being no further questions, Moderator Petit
re-read Article #12 in the amount of $20,566,258.
Vote: YES Article
#12 Adopted
Article 13: TO CHOOSE AGENTS AND COMMITTEES IN RELATION TO ANY SUBJECTS
EMBRACED IN THE WARRANT.
This article
was passed over as there was no action needed.
Article 14: TO TRANSACT ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY LEGALLY COME
BEFORE SAID MEETING.
Motion made by Ron Clouser “Motion to
include that the salary and benefits of all school and SAU employees be
included into the annual town report and further they be identified by title
and school in which they are employed.”
Seconded by Rosemarie Michaud.
Gerry Fleury
stated “the disclosure of public information is the right thing to do, it
builds trust in the voters, and it is not a highly kept secret and is available
as public information.”
Mark Dumas
“agrees with Ron Clouser and would like the information published.”
Ron Clouser
stated “he is not saying that they did anything wrong, however some people do
not have a clue about where their money is going.” David Freeman-Woolpert explained the process
of negotiation on behalf on the school board and district for the payment of
salaries.
Janice Fortnam
stated “she agrees with David Freeman-Woolpert that we need to let our school
board do their job and trust them to do it.”
Harold
Paulsen stated “he was offended at the statement that we do not have a clue,
and that the people are knowledgeable about their tax dollars.”
Harold
Paulsen moved the question.
Moderator
Petit re-read the amendment.
The Amendment failed.
Peter Mehegan
asked for support of the upcoming spring play and for the townspeople to read
the marquee for information.
Clint Hanson
made a presentation on behalf of the Pembroke School Board, “as some of you may
know we are loosing one of our school board members, long-term school board
member Gerry Fleury who is retiring from the board and I personally will miss
him. We have had some good exchanges
over the fifteen years that he has been on the board and we would like to
present to him this clock “upon this occasion of his retirement from the
Pembroke School Board in recognition of and appreciation for 15 years of
dedicated leadership and service to the Pembroke School District and it’s
students, March 2007.” “In addition we
have a gift certificate for him so that he can take Kathy out on those nights
that he is not doing some other meeting.”
Gerry thanked
everyone and stated “it has been a pleasure to be of service to the town and
school district for these 15 years and I don’t regret having done it the least
bit but I think you reach a point, however, that it’s time to pass the torch on
and let someone else have a turn. My
wife had asked me at the district meeting 15 years ago if we could go out to
lunch and the answer is now, yes, we can.
I really want to thank everyone for the gift. Originally I thought they were just going to
let me keep the piece of roof, so again thank you everyone, it has been my
pleasure to be of service to all of you.”
Clint Hanson
recognized Mike Reardon, Headmaster of Pembroke Academy as the years “candidate
for Principal of the Year her in New Hampshire and in my mind is not number
two, he is the number one principal around and for all of you having the good
fortune to know Mike and to meet with Mike, he is one of the best that there
has been here and probably ever be here and I wanted to recognize him on that
particular event.”
David Freeman-Woolpert
stated “both Mike and Gerry have been terrific additions to the process that we
on the budget committee have had over the years they are astute
professionals. I want to say a
particular word about Gerry, that piece of roofing that he held up. That’s the
kid of thing that he has been doing every year, touring the facilities before
budget committee time to consider these improvements. He is not required to do that, it is
something that he offers to do. He goes
and walks around and looks in the basements and on the roofs, in the closets,
and looks at the heating systems and has been an unbelievable source of
information that it’s almost impossible to imagine we are going to have
replaced by any other member of the school board. I am looking forward to whoever is going to
be his replacement on the budget committee as the representative for the school
board. There is such a thing as
institutional member and he is part of it, we will miss him, he has been a real
help to us all of the years.”
Moderator
Petit stated “there is one thing about Gerry, he is sincere. Of all the things I know, when you hear Gerry
talking he is very sincere.”
There being
no other business to conduct, Moderator Petit thanked the members of the school
board, budget committee and voters for their time and patience. Moderator Petit reminded the voters to come
and vote on Tuesday, and asked for a motion to adjourn.
Motion to adjourn: William Nunnaly, Sr. Seconded: Bill Stanyan
Vote: YES
The
Respectfully
submitted by,
Cynthia
E. Menard
The polls opened at
1. TO CHOOSE A MODERATOR FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Thomas E. Petit - 445 (elected)
2. TO CHOOSE A CLERK FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Cynthia E. Menard - 430 (elected)
3. TO CHOOSE TWO MEMBERS OF THE
SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE ENSUING THREE YEARS
Tammy Annis Boucher – 394 (elected)
Thomas Serafin – 347 (elected)
4. TO CHOOSE A TREASURER FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Peggy Topliff - 43 Write-in (elected)
All other
Board of Selectman present were: Larry Preston, Chair; Brian B.
Tufts, Vice-Chair; Larry Young, Sr.; Fred Kline; and Daniel Crean.
The polls were closed at
Respectfully
submitted,
Cynthia
E. Menard