Salem Observer : local government

Land deal struck for high school

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:38:00 GMT

The Pelham School Board announced recently that it has entered into an agreement to buy two parcels totaling approximately 43 acres for $3 million on which to build a new high school.

The announcement was made at the board’s Wednesday, Nov. 28, meeting. The land is located off Windham Road.

The land deal is subject to voter approval in March.

In addition, the school board plans to present voters with a $44,665,000 warrant article to spend $41,411,000 to construct and originally equip the new school and $3,254,000 to renovate the current high school.

A separate warrant article for $3,116,000 would fund the construction of an auditorium at the new school.

During the meeting, architects Frank Marinace and Tobias Farkas reviewed their designs for the new school.

A road would circle the school and there would be three areas for parking with space available for future parking spaces to be build.

Designs include a baseball field, soccer field and two softball fields overlapping a field hockey field.

Testing discovered no soil contamination on the property.

“We’ve been looking at the land for a while, before you made the announcement,” Marinace said. “It’s as good a site as we’ve seen for building a school.”

According to assessing records, one parcel is 8.7 acres and is owned by Richard A. and Karen J. Sutton. It is located at 36 Windham Road and has a log cabin on the property.

The other parcel, 34.5 acres in size, is owned by the heirs of Harry and Carrie Atwood, according to assessing records.

Selectmen recommend 9 percent tax increase

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:27:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

Salem property owners will see a 9 percent increase in the town portion of their tax bills next year if all warrant articles put forward by selectmen are approved in March.

Director of Finance Jane Savastano said at the selectmen’s Monday, Dec. 3, meeting, that if everything passes, the estimated municipal tax rate would be $4.87 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

That’s nearly 9 percent up from the current rate of $4.48.

If the municipal tax rate climbs to $4.87, owners of a $350,000 home would pay $136 more in town taxes.

Selectmen do not determine the county, local school rate or state education rate portions of tax bills.

During the meeting, selectmen took up several warrant articles, debating whether to recommend them.

They supported spending $104,912 to hire four new firefighters but not to replace a 20-year-old truck next year. They also removed $48,000 for vinyl siding for Foss School.

A majority of the board voted to support reconstructing Shore Drive, a $2.145 million project, next year. Selectman Michael Lyons voted against doing so, citing a staff recommendation to split the work over two years.

Selectman Patrick Hargreaves said it would cost a lot more by delaying some of the work.

“We need to get it done next year,” he said. “Bite the bullet. Let’s do it.”

“From time to time, I have to keep reminding myself – all we do is make recommendations at town meeting,” said Selectman Arthur Barnes. “The voters will do what they want to do. They vote projects up. They vote projects down.”

Town manager settles in – Three-year contract began this month

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:21:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

While driving through Salem recently, Jonathan Sistare got lost a few times. But he didn’t mind – it just helped him learn more about the town he’s working for.

Sistare, 45, became Salem’s town manager on Oct. 1, and he’s been learning how the town works since he came on board –meeting with department heads, and attending Budget Committee meetings in recent weeks.

“It’s important. You have to know the town, the operations, to do my job better,” he said.

Sistare came to the job after spending a year deployed in Bagdad. He is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Sistare served as town manager in Jaffrey since 1993. Coming to Salem, he said, was an opportunity for professional growth.

In Jaffrey, a community of 6,000, Sistare managed 45 full-time employees and a $6 million operating budget. In Salem, he oversees an operating budget of $27.4 million. There are 240 full-time employees and at least 30 part-time workers.

“The issues, the problems, are similar,” he said. “It’s about running a community in New Hampshire.”

Sistare graduated from Concord High School in 1980. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science at the University of New Hampshire in 1985, and a master of public administration there four years later.

Prior to going to Jaffrey, he spent four years as the town administrator in Hopkinton. Sistare and his wife, Kathleen, live with their three boys, ages 11, 13 and 14, in Dublin.

Sistare also holds a law degree from New England School of Law in Boston, which he earned by going to school at night. Through law school, he said, he understands how laws affect municipalities.

For Sistare, his interest in working in public management came early. For a class assignment in high school, he had to interview someone in the field he was interested in working and he chose Concord’s city manager.

Sistare succeeds Henry LaBranche, the former school superintendent, who served as town manager before recently stepping down from the job. LaBranche has helped in the transition and told Sistare to call him anytime.

“He obviously was a key person to talk to, to learn the important issues from,” Sistare said.

Sistare was chosen by the Board of Selectmen after they interviewed several top candidates for the job. He has a three-year contract, and his starting salary is $118,000.

“The thing that was impressive was his longevity in Jaffrey and his ability to get things done,” said Everett McBride, the board’s chairman. “I think his military experience is an impressive thing. That he’s risen to lieutenant colonel can’t be taken lightly. I think he has the skill set we need for a long-term relationship.”

Sistare’s work will not be confined to Town Hall. He will be the guest speaker when Woodbury School students make their annual salute to veterans on Nov. 9.

He expects to attend Chamber of Commerce events, and may join selectmen in testifying before the Legislature if there is an issue being debated that affects Salem.

“It’s important for someone in this position to be involved. It’s not a 9-to-5 job,” Sistare said. “People want to see the guy in the position, talk to him, share their views.”

Towns react to Right to Know test

Salem Editor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:15:00 GMT

BY CHRISTINE HEISER

After last week’s investigation into Salem, Pelham and Windham’s compliance to the state Right to Know Law, town officials are pleased they passed the test for the most part.

And some changes are in the works to make information even more accessible, especially in regard to police logs.

Reporters went to the towns in the Neighborhood News coverage area without revealing who they were and asked for information from the town offices, school district and police department. Towns and schools were asked for the latest meeting minutes and employee salaries, and police were asked for lists of arrest and
police activities.

The Salem Police Department has, coincidentally and unknown to Neighborhood News, been reviewing their ability to meet Right to Know requests.

“We want to make sure we comply,” said Deputy Chief Bill Ganley.

When the reporter asked for a police log, the police were willing to print one out, but they said it would cost $1 a page, or $158 dollars.

He said that cost did prompt some discussion, and the police were concerned about how that could prevent some people from getting a copy of information they are entitled to.

To fix that, Ganley said they do offer a printed copy of the log for viewing for free, and that they are about to put the media log online.

In this way, the arrests and police activity are available for view anytime to anyone with a computer, and if someone doesn’t have a computer, they can come to the police station and see the information.

He said they don’t charge the media for logs because they’re trying to be a good neighbor, but sees that they should treat the general public the same way, and the best solution was making the log available online.

“Our goal is to be as transparent as possible,” said Ganley. “It benefits us for the public to see how busy we are.”

Salem Town Manager Henry LaBranche said he was pleased the town did so well in complying with the law.

Having employees who’ve been working in town for a few years helps, he said.

“My assistant, she’s been here more than 15 years and she knows,” LaBranche said. “We get several requests a week for some kind of information.”

The Board of Selectmen just sponsored a Right to Know workshop in August as a refresher course, he said.

Pelham

Marie Maruca, the selectmen’s secretary in Pelham, said they go out of their way to get information to people within the five days allotted by the law.

“I think we’re very good about turning things around,” she said. “We have a lot of long-term employees here. A lot of knowlegeable people work here.”

Lt. Gary Fisher at the Pelham Police Department said it’s unusual for residents to go in asking to see the police log, but they do get phone calls asking about arrests.

“We tell them the names and what the charges are, because it’s public information,” said Fisher. “I’m very well aware of the Right to Know Law.”

If residents do go in requesting the police log, Fisher said it can’t be given out immediately, as information such as Social Security numbers and juvenile names must be redacted. However, the log is usually available later the same day.

Dispatchers aren’t authorized to release that information out of the building, he said.

Windham

Windham town, school and police complied with all the information that was requested.

Kathy Davis, human resource coordinator, who provided the town report for salaries and updated salary ranges, did not know it was a reporter asking for the information. She said they usually treat all requests the same.

“We do know what we have to do. It’s public information and we’re public employees,” said Davis.

Windham employees try to keep up with Right to Know Law and attend the municipal conference in Concord each November for updates.

Susan Cad, administrative assistant at SAU 28 for Windham and Pelham, said minutes are kept in a book and approved minutes are on the SAU Web site.

The SAU does not charge residents for copies.

“Anything that’s public information should be available. That’s why we have a Web site so people have easy access to (information),” she said.

State law is evolving as technology changes

Salem Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:14:00 GMT

BY STEVEN ANDREWS

The state’s Right to Know Law grants every citizen the ability to inspect countless public records, nearly every piece of information the towns compile, simply by asking for them.

The information is not limited to what is gathered at the town hall; the schools, police and every other public agency must adhere to the same rules.

These rights are nearly as old as the state itself. When the state’s Constitution was adopted in 1784, Part 1, Article 8, said, “All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them.”

This has developed into what is known as RSA 91:A, the Right to Know Law, a constantly evolving document that specifically outlines the rights of citizens, defining what records they have access to and how towns must comply.

“Everything about our society is built on openness,” said Rod Doherty, executive editor of Foster’s Daily Democrat newspaper, and an expert on the Right to Know Law. “Without strong laws for the people in regards to public information we’d be a subdued society.”

The law clearly states that any citizen may examine public records during regular business hours of the public body at its place of business. This means that public officials have no right to ask you any personal information or reason for wanting to see the information.

You may also take notes, photographs or request a copy of the document. The office may only charge you the cost of the copy or any other fee required by law.

If the document exists on a computer, the office must print it out for you, as long as it does not reveal any confidential information.

Electronic communication has been one aspect of the law under the most scrutiny and planned revision by legislators recently.

“Using e-mail or text messages makes the jobs of public officers easier, but it also allows them much more communication outside of the public domain,” said Doherty.

Revising the law to reflect which of these communications to make available has caused much debate among the government, the press and citizens, but a resolution has been hard to reach.

“Unlike a lot of legislation, the Right to Know Law is built on the spirit of the law,” said Doherty. “It’s very hard to define some of the vagaries of the language (especially relating to electronic communication).”

If the office is not able to immediately give you the information, they have five days to make it available; deny the request in writing, giving reasons; or give written acknowledgment of the request and how long it will take to grant or deny the request.

“If there is a flaw, it’s that there is no punishment of any consequence for those who do not follow the law,” said Doherty.

There are, of course, pieces of information that towns have every right to keep to themselves. Broadly speaking, anything that would reveal personal information about a resident or town employee is restricted.

These include students’ school records, internal personnel information, medical information and juvenile court records.

Any confidential commercial or financial documents that could harm the town if released prematurely are also off limits.

Police departments also have specific restrictions on the information they can hand out. Obviously, anything that would interfere with enforcement proceedings, reveal a confidential source or harm someone’s right to a fair trial are excluded from dispersal.

If the document would reveal investigative techniques or otherwise endanger the lives of personnel, it can also be kept private.

Arrests, however, are considered public information, as are the daily activities conducted by a police department.

New town manager to start job in fall

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:38:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

Salem is ready to hire its next town manager, but it’ll have to wait until he returns from Iraq.

At their Monday, June 25, meeting, selectmen announced that they have offered the job to Jonathan Sistare after months of searching and interviewing.

Selectmen said Sistare has received and accepted a conditional offer for the position. He is set to begin working for the town on Oct. 1 after he returns from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Sistare is the current town manager in Jaffrey and is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Current Town Manager Henry LaBranche said the job offer is still dependent on a background check and contract negotiations, but he hopes to have the process completed within a month.

Sistare was chosen over Salem Community Development Director William Scott, Pelham Town Administrator Thomas Gaydos and Deputy Federal Security Director William Ross.

The selection process took a committee of town employees several months as they narrowed down a pool of candidates to the final four earlier this month. Selectmen interviewed each of the finalists before making their choice.

LaBranche is set to retire in December but said he wants to have Sistare in place beforehand so he can assist the new manager with the town budget process.

Sistare is set to return from Iraq at the end of September. LaBranche said that he and selectmen aren’t too worried that their new manager will be called back to serve again.

“Anything is possible,” LaBranche said. “It doesn’t appear (his unit) is going to be on the extended list.”

LaBranche said he believes Sistare will bring continued stability to the town manager position and is confident he will stay for a long time.

Though some selectmen said they didn’t know if they could comment about why they chose Sistare because the minutes of their nonpublic sessions are still sealed, LaBranche said the board was impressed by his qualifications.

“I think he was attractive to the board because of the experience factor,” he said. “He has a strong commitment for this to be the career and job he’s looking for.”

Sistare holds a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration. He has more than 18 years of experience in municipal work.

He has been the town manager in Jaffrey since 1993. Prior to that, he held the same position in Hopkinton.

Sistare could earn as much as $125,000 per year, but his salary will be decided during contract negotiations.

Salem to decide on manager soon

Salem Editor — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:18:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

A week after Salem selectmen met privately to discuss the four finalists for the town manager position, a decision has yet to be made.

The board met during a non-public session on Wednesday, June 13, but were unable to finish their discussion.

Selectman Michael Lyons said he couldn’t discuss the meeting and he would only confirm that the board will meet again on Thursday, June 21, to continue the discussion.

Named as finalists for the position earlier this month were: Thomas Gaydos, the current town administrator in Pelham; William Ross, a deputy federal security director at the Philadelphia, Pa., airport; Jonathan Sistare, the town manager in Jaffrey: and William Scott, Salem’s current community development director.

Current Town Manager Henry LaBranche is set to retire in December, but he said he hopes to find his replacement by the fall. That way, he’ll be able to advise the new manager and help him prepare for Town Meeting season.

The new town manager will earn between $98,000 and $125,000.

LaBranche currently earns $98,000 and turned down a pay raise during his time in the position.

Advertisements for the position drew a total of 41 applicants, only 13 of which were truly qualified, LaBranche said.

Selectmen said they are confident about the final candidates but will miss LaBranche’s influence and stability.