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Report shows Hooksett Safety Center needs millions in repairs

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:02:00 GMT

A report detailing problems at the Hooksett Safety Center proposes between $500,000 and $3.5 million in repairs.

The building housing the police and fire stations has been plagued with problems since it was built in 1996, with leaks and other issues. The report notes these problems can result in “sick building syndrome,” a term used to describe situations in which building occupants can experience acute health effects that are linked to time spent in a building.

“Right now we are reviewing the report and will be coming back to the (Town) Council with further recommendations for next steps,” said Town Administrator Carol Granfield.

“The costs in the report are broad estimates and we really need to hire a construction manager to work with the architect to review and fine tune what is needed and cost estimates.”

Granfield said she is also pursuing energy grants to assist in paying for the fixes.

On March 5, with the Building Forensic Team, the H.L. Turner Group Inc. conducted a complete evaluation of the building’s overall condition and systems. In their report, the professional engineering and architectural group identified the primary cause of the building’s flaws a product of poor building construction detailing practices and no provision for air sealing at the structure’s perimeter envelope. The company predicts even more building failures if the structure’s current needs aren’t addressed.

In its report, the building forensic team addressed concerns about three areas – the safety center’s offices, stair tower and apparatus bays.

The report said the major point of concern surrounding the center’s offices are related to the environment’s air quality and pertinent life/safety of the occupants. The proposal estimated the lowest cost option for office repairs to be around $500,000; the accelerated cost option would reach $1 million.

Among the many changes proposed to ensure the office’s safe air quality are work on the building’s insulation and storm drainage system.

Amendments to the building’s stair tower were also proposed in the report. The changes, carrying a lowest cost option of $250,000 and an accelerated cost option of $500,000 would address problems with air ventilation and drainage issues.

The proposal’s final and most expensive alterations were linked to the building’s apparatus bays. Estimated costs were between $750,000 and $1.5 million. The major change proposed to the facility’s apparatus bays are to its roofing assembly. Where a new roofing system isn’t required, the report recommended that all the structure’s lap sealants should receive new sealant coverings, as they show signs of fatigue. This process would ensure the full 20-year useful life of the roof system.

Hooksett Safety Center to be fixed

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:21:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

The Hooksett Safety Center on Legends Drive may have been leaky since the first year it opened 12 years ago, but town officials have decided now is the time to do something about it.

Interim Town Administrator Carol Granfield said the building, currently experiencing plumbing, electrical and water problems, has been inspected by several architects who are currently formulating opinions on the best actions to take regarding repairs.

“I’ve had three different groups come through with architects to tour the building and they’ve reviewed it and they will be providing me with some proposals with some options,” Granfield said.

“I’d like to have some plan of moving forward. It’s something that really needs to get something in place rather than just fix one thing one day and something pops up two weeks later,” she said.

The good news is that the problems are being addressed, she said. The bad news is that no one can anticipate how much the repairs will be.

“At this stage, I’ve proposed to add some funds to the building maintenance line but we have no idea what kinds of costs will be involved,” she said.

Police Capt. Jon Daigle said during a tour of the building last month that structural issues have plagued the police, fire and emergency management department – all housed in the Safety Center – since the building opened in 1997.

“That first summer when we first moved in, it started leaking when it rained,” Daigle said. “It’s still leaking now.”

Hooksett Police Chief Steve Agrafiotis said the Police Department has routinely addressed these building problems on a piecemeal basis, although it is legally the town’s administration department which is required to financially address building maintenance issues.

“I’m very happy that we finally can move forward to take care of issues that have been outstanding for many years,” Agrafiotis said.

Hooksett’s first full-time fire chief, Ray O’Brien, dies

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:03:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

Hooksett’s first full-time fire chief, Raymond James O’Brien, 70, died on Monday, Jan. 12, of cancer, surrounded by loved ones.

James Sullivan, currently a Hooksett School Board member, remembered O’Brien as a “nononsense” fire chief.

“Mr. O’Brien was fire chief when I was on the Town Council,” he said. “He was always very thorough in his budget preparation and would always be open to questions. He was direct and straight to the point.

I remember meeting with him at the old fire station on Coaker Avenue, and one time, while the offices were being re painted, he had his office set up out front on the lawn keeping to his business as usual.”

O’ Brien was born May 14, 1938, to James Frances and Esther Aline (Lang) O’Brien in Hooksett, where he lived most of his life.

He was educated in the Hooksett and Manchester school systems, graduating from Manchester Central High School in 1956. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and, while stationed at Suffolk Air Base in West Hampton, Long Island, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for saving two children who were being swept out to sea. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he attended the University of New Hampshire. He was employed at Rockingham Park, Suffolk Downs and Wonderland as an auditor in the money room for 20 years.

He then pursued his passion for the fire service as a profession by becoming a firefighter with the Hooksett Fire Department where he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the town’s first full-time fire chief in 1987. He is credited with improving equipment, staffing and training during his 20 years until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years Lynne (Fogg) O’Brien of Hooksett; a son, Sean Patrick, and wife, Amy Denise (Wheeler) O’Brien of Canterbury; and his grandchildren, Aiden Patrick and Karleigh Morgan O’Brien of Canterbury. He also leaves his longtime friend, Donna Rae (Hebert) Amato also of Hooksett. He was predeceased by his first wife, Judith Ellen (Farley) O’Brien.

A wake will take place Friday, Jan. 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Petit Funeral Home, 167 Main St., Pembroke. Burial at the New Hampshire Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen will take place at a later date.

Dogs save man from burning home

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:45:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

If it wasn’t for two insistent boxers, Hooksett resident Edmond Nadeau is convinced he would have died in the fire that consumed his house on Friday, Dec. 5.

Luckily for him, it was the dogs, named Mooshu and Kiara, that nudged him awake from the first-floor room where he had been sleeping, giving Nadeau just enough time to grab the phone and the dogs and run outside.

“I thought it was a dream, and then it hit me,” said Nadeau, 52, of 26 Granite St. “I’m not dreaming. This is really happening!”

As of the day of the fire, officials had yet to determine the cause of the blaze that started at about 8:35 a.m. Nadeau suspects the fire originated from the firstfloor wood stove. Deputy Fire Chief Michael Hoisington said the house, which was converted in the 1940s from an old wooden barn, was all but completely destroyed.

Hoisington was one of dozens of firefighters who responded to the house fire that quickly rose to two alarms, bringing fire units from Allenstown, Auburn, Bow, Candia, Chichester, Concord, Epsom, Goffstown, Manchester and Pembroke. Loudon and Derry officials covered the Hooksett fire stations during that fire.

Nadeau estimates the original structure was built sometime in the 19th century. The family had the chimney, which was attached to the wood stove, cleaned and repaired in early September.

“I’m devastated,” said Nadeau, who has lived in the home his entire life. “It was so old. It’s one of the oldest houses in the neighborhood. I grew up there.”

Also upsetting, he said, is the likely reality that the family’s cat did not make it out alive.

Nadeau was the only person in the house at the time of the fire. He said his sister and niece, who also lived at the Granite Street home, were not present when the fire broke out. His sister, Claudette Nadeau, had left to take her daughter to school, he said. The family will temporarily stay with Edmond and Claudette’s mother in Bedford, he said.

Two other fires The fire on Granite Street was the third residential fire that Hooksett safety officials responded to within a week.

On Dec. 2, a portion of a duplex located at 60A Dale St. was burned in a fire that originated in the basement. An unidentified man who lived next to the burning residence was brought to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

According to fire officials, who did not know the patient’s name, the man was soon released.

In a separate incident on Dec. 3, firefighters from several surrounding towns assisted the Hooksett team in extinguishing a house fire at 18 Scott Ave. that started when homeowner Jay Jennato dumped hot ashes from a wood-burning fireplace in the back yard. The ashes had smoldered for several hours and eventually caught fire. The flames crept up the back corner of the house and damaged a portion of the interior. No one was injured in the accident.

Fuel prices hit Hooksett hard

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:02:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Hooksett department heads are going to have a tough time staying within their fuel budgets in the coming year given the default budget they got in March.

With both gasoline and diesel fuel topping $4 a gallon right now, fire, police and highway departments are going to have to spend almost double what their fuel budgets will allow for 2008-09.

The current budget number for gasoline assumes a price of about $2.60 per gallon, far less than what the current purchase price is.

“The numbers are much higher than what we have budgeted,” said Hooksett Town Administrator David Jodoin. “Everyone is going to have to monitor their budget accordingly.”

The Town Council recently voted to take $82,000 in funds raised through taxes in the 2007- 08 budget year and apply them towards the gas contract for the 2008-09 year rather than using them to offset the tax rate, said Finance Director Christine Soucie, adding that there would be additional funds from other revenue sources to offset the 2008- 09 rate. Towns are permitted to do that under New Hampshire law only to pay for contractual obligations, she said.

“We could only get them to guarantee the fuel, not a price. The market is too volatile. All we could get them to lock in was the delivery fees. No one would lock in (to a set price),” Jodoin said.

The encumbered funds are not going to come close to covering all the anticipated budget overages from fuel costs, however. “I’m looking at being about $200,000 in the hole before I get going,” said Dale Hemeon, head of the Highway Department, adding he’s already had a conversation with his employees warning them about the very real possibility of layoffs. Hooksett Highway Department vehicles run primarily on diesel, which is selling at a higher price than regular gasoline right now.

Hemeon said his fuel line for 2008-09 is $50,000, and he’s anticipating having to spend more than $200,000 in the coming year if the department uses about the same amount of fuel it did last year, about 40,000 gallons.

Hemeon said he’s been trying to put more workers in the same vehicles to cut down on driving, but pointed out the dump trucks at the department only get about 4 miles to the gallon.

“I’m not going to be able to do any paving at all. I may not be able to pay for fireworks for Old Home Day,” Hemeon, also the Parks and Recreation director, said.

The Police Department is anticipating using about 30,000 gallons of gasoline to run its cruisers in the coming year. Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis said he’s still worried about this year’s budget numbers, which have yet to be finalized, and predicts the police department will have gone about $30,000 over budget because of fuel this year.

“If it gets any worse, we may very well have to look at eliminating positions,” Agrafiotis said, adding the department just came up to state and national standards for a town with Hooksett’s size and population by having 29 positions filled.

With the town’s growth, it gets harder every year to maintain services without expanding patrols.

The department has tried to save on gas in other ways, he said, such as stretching the time between oil changes for the cruisers and switching to synthetic oil; cutting back on training and overtime; and constantly maintaining the optimum air pressure in cruiser tires.

“The whole goal is to keep a reasonable level of service,” said Agrafiotis. “If the citizens don’t or can’t pay for certain levels, we’ve given it the best bang for our buck we can.”

Fire Chief Michael Williams was not available for comment by press time, but Assistant Fire Chief Dean Jore said the department is struggling with diesel costs, and there are not many ways for the department to save on fuel when an engine has to respond to most calls.

The department has done things such as using their smaller vehicles as much as possible, particularly for less important calls, including trouble alarms indicating a low battery in someone’s fire alarm control panel, as well as condensing errands. “It’s tough because all we can really do is say, ‘Guys, stay in the station,’” Jore said. “There wasn’t a whole lot that we could change that we haven’t already tried to address.”

Town Council Chairman Paul Loiselle said being stuck with last year’s energy budget lines will have a trickle-down effect to other areas of the town’s budget, and said there is no latitude in the budget to cover shortfalls.

“It’s going to be a tough year from the overall picture of the finances of the town. You have to deal with the neccessary things first, and the things you need versus the things you want,” said Loiselle. “The largest part of any town budget is salaries, when you get right down to it. Hopefully, it won’t come to fruition, but if it does, there’s going to be some very hard decisions made by the council.”

Town Meeting debates sewer, cable TV needs

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:37:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

The 60 or so voters who showed up at the deliberative session of Hooksett Town Meeting on Saturday, April 5, sent all monetary warrant articles to the May 13 ballot virtually unchanged, except for a few clarifying amendments.

Articles including a $1.5 million sewer expansion bond, hiring two additional firefighters and establishing a public access television program absorbed the most discussion.

The town’s proposed operating budget, totaling $15,786,795, was sent to the ballot with little discussion. The proposed budget would comprise an estimated $6.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. If the proposed budget and all warrant articles are approved, it would result in a tax rate increase of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, a tax bill increase of $300 on a $300,000 home.

According to Town Administrator David Jodoin, Hooksett’s taxes did not increase at all in 2007, and in 2006 only increased about 2 percent.

Sewer bond
The sewer bond, which represents an increase in taxes of 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, would pay for the second phase of a $14 million construction project. The expansion would double the plant’s capacity, bringing it up to 2.2 million gallons per day.

The tax bill for a $300,000 home would increase by $51, should voters approve the bond.

The $1.5 million for phase two of the project was included as part of the Cabela’s package, but with the sporting goods giant delaying the construction of its Hooksett store after a drop in profits at the end of 2007, Sewer Commissioner Sid Baines said the expansion needs to happen sooner rather than later.

The total cost of phase two of the project amounts to about $8 million, and Baines said the bond would bring the total funds available for the construction to around $6 million.

“Even if the $1.5 million does pass, we’re still going to be about $700,000 short,” Baines said at the deliberative session. “If the money isn’t approved, we’ll upgrade as much as we can, but won’t look for any more capacity,” he said.

Currently, according to Baines, the plant has no more capacity to sell to commercial or residential developments, which would bring in more money for the project.

Baines added that Cabela’s representatives have assured the Sewer Commission that they would still be good for the $1.5 million after they’ve completed the planning process, but there’s no time line on when that would happen.

“It might not come in until 2012, when they break ground,” Baines said.

He added the Sewer Commission hopes to get to a point where the state would allow a 10 percent increase in the plant’s capacity so they could sell gallonage and make more money to complete the project.

Fire Department
Article 24 from the Fire Departments asks the town to approve $129,548 for the salaries, taxes and benefits to hire two firefighter/EMTs.

Approval of this article would reduce the Fire Department’s overtime budget by $99,672, setting the net cost to taxpayers at $29,876.

This article was amended at the deliberative session because the warrant listed a tax increase of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which was representative of the total $129,548. The tax information was changed to 2 cents per $1,000, which accurately reflects the $29,876 the taxpayers would actually spend.

The Town Council put its stamp of approval on the article, but the town’s Budget Committee voted 3-7 not to recommend the article.

“Right now, we don’t think people can afford this extra burden on their taxes,” said acting Budget Committee Chairman Tom Keach, adding the two new employees would add costs down the road for training and certifications.

Public access TV
Peter Farwell of the town’s newly formed Public Access Committee spoke to a citizen’s petitioned warrant article asking voters’ permission to earmark Comcast franchise fees to set up and maintain a public access channel.

“This is just the first step in getting public access. We just see this as an unlimited possibility,” Farwell said.

The Town Council already voted to add a line item for the public access station into the budget with an initial appropriation of $1, allowing the Budget Committee to add money into the budget for that purpose at a later date.

Currently, Jodoin said, about $100,000 per year in Comcast franchise fees goes into the town’s general fund to help offset taxes. The fee is about 3 percent of each Comcast bill.

The proposal has been a contentious issue in town, with some residents supporting the station, others wanting the money to continue going into the town coffers and still others saying the fees should be removed from the Comcast bills altogether.

Deputy Emergency Management Director Harold Murray spoke as a resident against the article at the deliberative session, saying he’d rather see the money go toward tax relief.

“This is being presented as no cost to the town. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Murray said. “That hundred thousand has got to come from somewhere.”

He added public access channels often repeat content, run old programming and often have low viewership.

Resident Frank Gray agreed, saying the town and school appropriations plus the county and state school tax rates would result in an estimated tax increase of $3 per $1,000 of assessed value.

“I have no problem with public television. However, we have to look at priorities,” Gray said. “This is nice to have, but I don’t think we can afford it. It’s only a small amount, but by God we have to stop spending someplace.”

David Pearl, also involved in the public access committee, said there is a growing constituent of Hooksett residents – including himself – who would like to see the fees removed from their cable bills because it is an unfair tax, with Comcast users essentially contributing more money to offset taxes than the rest of the town’s residents.

Other articles
Other monetary warrant articles include the purchase of a new $55,000 backhoe/loader for the highway department; $113,975 in raises for non-union town employees; $33,000 for a traffic impact study to prioritize how impact fees will be spent on construction projects; $118,294 to hire two new highway workers; and $10,400 to hire a parttime Assistant Building/Zoning Inspector.

Residents will vote on the entire ballot on Tuesday, May 13, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Cawley Middle School.

Hooksett to consider sewer plant expansion

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:52:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Among the items Hooksett voters will discuss at Town Meeting on Saturday, April 5, are a $1.5 million bond for sewer plant upgrades, two new trucks for the Highway Department, raises for nonunionized town employees, additional staff for the Highway and Fire Departments, and starting up a public access TV station.

They will also weigh in on a proposed budget of $15,786,795, more than $400,000 higher than the default budget, which would project the tax rate at around $6.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $300,000, the proposed town budget alone would comprise $1,980 on the tax bill.

Sewer expansion According to Sewer Commissioner Sid Baines, the $14 million plant expansion needs the $1.5 million from voters to add to $6 million the plant has already raised to fund the second phase of the project, which would add a second clarifier and increase the plant’s capacity by 10 percent.

About half of the $6 million raised came from a state revolving loan fund and the other half through developers. Sewer rates increased in the past year to help pay back the loan, Baines said.

The $1.5 million was originally built into the plans for Cabela’s, which have been put on hold due to reduced profits. The bond would increase the tax rate by about 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For a Hooksett home assessed at $300,000, that’s an increase of between $45 and $51 on the tax bill.

At the Budget Committee’s public hearing on the warrant, the idea of comitting 30 percent of the plant’s flow to commercial business to foster growth was discussed.

“I think it would be much more appealing and guarantee it to pass,” said Budget Committee member Gerald Kearney about including such a promise in the warrant article.

Town Administrator David Jodoin said the idea was discussed with town attorney Bart Mayer, who said that would only “murky up” the language. Baines agrees with that advice. “Anything more that you put in an article muddies it up when it goes to the bond bank,” he said.

Town Council Chairman Paul Loiselle said the town cannot continue to say “no” to prospective developers because there is no more sewer capacity. “I definitely am adamant about the voters getting behind this 100 percent,” he said.

More firefighters
While the Town Council and Budget Committee were in agreement on the majority of warrant items, they differed when it came to Article 24, which asks for $129,548 to fund two additional firefighter/EMT positions in the Fire Department.

While the Town Council voted 6-1 to recommend the article, the Budget Committee voted 2-6 against recommending it. Passing this article would reduce the operating budget by $99,672 in overtime, leaving the town with a net increase for the coming year of $29,876 should voters pass the article.

Assistant Fire Chief Dean Jore said the department has saved the town money by doing its own vehicle maintenance and repairs, and plowing out the town’s hydrants and cisterns. “I don’t think firefighters should be plowing cisterns,” said Budget Committee member John Pieroni.

The two additional employees would also bring the department closer to state standards for staffing levels, Jore said. Currently, at least one officer and two firefighter/EMTs staff both the Central Station at the Hooksett Safety Center and Station 1 by the Town Hall 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

More highway workers and trucks
The Highway Department is asking voters to approve a total of $324,294 to purchase two trucks and hire two more employees.

Passing Article 16 would grant the Highway Department permission to enter into a 5-year lease for $151,000 for a plowdump truck, and would further collect $30,205 from Hooksett taxpayers for the first year’s payment.

Article 17 seeks $55,000 for a one-time purchase of a backhoe for the Highway Department.

Unlike the Fire Department’s endeavors to get two more firefighters, the Highway Department’s request for $118,294 to hire two full-time truck drivers went to the warrant with recommendations from both the Town Council and Budget Committee.

Public access cable TV At the public hearing, the Budget Committee also heard from resident David Pearl on a petitioned warrant article to bring public access television to Hooksett.

The program would be paid for through franchise fees the town currently collects from Comcast customers, which is currently about three percent of the total bill.

Right now, the money collected from those fees goes into the town’s general fund, and it would more than cover the estimated start-up costs for the station.

The total amount needed for the first year could approach $100,000, which would pay for a typical set up for the station and fiber optic cables.

Hooksett Town Meeting takes place Saturday, April 5, at 1 p.m., at Cawley Middle School.

Global-positioning satellite is searchers’ newest tool

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:06:00 GMT

By JENN McDOWELL

The search for a missing Hooksett man could have been a lot more difficult without new technology said Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland.

Searchers looking for any sign of Russell Bussiere, 70, in Bear Brook State Park earlier this month used global positioning satellite, or GPS, devices and a high-tech mapping system to comb a 10-square-mile area for more than a week.

Bussiere went missing on Sunday, Dec. 2, while hunting in the state park. He failed to meet his son, Michael Bussiere, at a planned location, and the family called authorities around 2:30 p.m.

Hundreds of mutual aid and civilian volunteers showed up to help look for Bussiere, many of them hunters, ski patrol or emergency workers. Family members also participated actively in the search.

The National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopter was not able to get up in the air until two days later, Dec. 4, due to the poor weather conditions.

People at the ends of each line of 12 to 14 searchers had GPS devices to track the lines progress onto a map, plotting the points the searchers had covered.

The map was used to determine where gaps may have occurred that day so teams could cover that ground the next day, Mulholland said.

Rough terrain made it difficult to stay in a single line at times, and several searchers had to be taken out of the woods because their clothes had become damp and cold, which further complicated the line searches.

The map centers around the last point of transmission from the GPS Bussiere had with him and spanned a two-and-a-half-mile radius.

At any point from that last location reading, Mulholland said, Bussiere could have walked 2.5 miles and hit a road.

The GPS points were plotted on a map using different colors for each team, further attempting to ensure that search teams had not missed anything.

At one point, a searcher found a pair of gloves and immediately turned them over to Fish and Game officials in charge of the search for Bussiere. Fish and Game Lt. Kevin Jordan said that was a testament to the thoroughness of the search and the diligence of volunteers.

After several days of searching, authorities announced their frustration and doubt that Russell Bussiere would be found alive, especially after the storm and consecutive nights of chilling temperatures.

With layers of snow now covering the search area, Michael Bussiere said he will take search teams out to the park throughout the winter in search of his father, but does not hold out hope of finding him before the spring.

Mulholland said that the most likely theory for Bussiere’s disappearance and probable death is a medical event in which Bussiere may have been incapacitated.

There was no evidence of foul play and no indication that Bussiere planned to dissappear. Michael Bussiere said he and his father had plans to go hunting on the next day, Dec. 3, and it was evident this wasn’t set up, Mulholland said.

Michael Bussiere said they were actually looking forward to the snow because deer tracks would be more visible.

“We suspect that he’s still up in the park,” Mulholland said. “We would like to, obviously, bring closure to this for the sake of the family.”