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Convention unlikely to fund new union contracts
Written by Michael Kitch
LACONIA — The Belknap County Commissioners voted yesterday to approve the collective bargaining agreements negotiated with the three unions representing employees of the Belknap County Nursing Home, Sheriff's Department and Corrections Department. The unions ratified the contracts last week. But, there is little likelihood the agreements will be funded.
Before the commission can ratify the contracts, the Belknap County Convention must approve the cost items included in them — step raises for eligible employees at $115,000 along with approximately $35,000 in funding for bonuses for unused sick days and longevity of service. The convention has eliminated the funding not only for these three cost items but also for the increase in health insurance premiums from the 2013 county budget.
The commission asked the convention to consider the cost items in the new contracts when the convention met this week, but after placing the subject on the agenda, Rep. Colette Worsman (R-Meredith), who chairs the convention, refused to bring the item to the floor for discussion.
The agreements include the merit step raises for eligible employees recommended by the Belknap County Commission but stripped from the 2013 county budget by the Belknap County Convention. Although employees would receive no increase to their salary schedules this year, they would be awarded a two-percent raise for every level in June, 2014, prior to the expiration of the agreement, funds for which would be appropriated in the 2014 county budget.
The employees' contributions to the cost of health insurance remain unchanged. However, the contracts include incentives designed to reduce health care costs by providing employees paths to wellness. The entire county complex would become a non-smoking area. All employees would be required to undergo a health assessment and physical examination as well as participate in a wellness program. The contribution to premium costs of those who failed to comply would increase by as much as three times. The program is intended to lower the risk profile of county employees and with it future premium costs.
The county's union contracts expired at the end of 2012. If the new contracts are not ratified, the relationship between the county and its union employees will revert to the status quo. In return for employees foregoing the right to strike and in order to provide employers with incentive to bargain, public employee contracts are governed by the so-called "doctrine of status quo." It stipulates that when collective bargaining agreements expire their terms and conditions, except for so-called cost items, remain in effect pending ratification of a new agreement.
Step raises, or new rates of pay specified by a salary schedule for an additional year of service, qualify as cost items and are not awarded in lieu of a new contract. But, since health insurance is a defined benefit in the contracts, without an assigned dollar value, public employers are obliged to continue to pay their agreed upon percentage of premium costs for specified policies, regardless of the cost of the premiums.
Without funding for the 7.3-percent increase in health insurance premiums, the county commission could find itself with the choice of asking employees to contribute a greater share to the cost their health insurance or laying off enough employees to provide health insurance to the remainder at the new cost. If employees were to bear the additional cost, the contribution of those with two-person and family plans, who currently contribute five-percent, to 11.5-percent.
Before the commission can ratify the contracts, the Belknap County Convention must approve the cost items included in them — step raises for eligible employees at $115,000 along with approximately $35,000 in funding for bonuses for unused sick days and longevity of service. The convention has eliminated the funding not only for these three cost items but also for the increase in health insurance premiums from the 2013 county budget.
The commission asked the convention to consider the cost items in the new contracts when the convention met this week, but after placing the subject on the agenda, Rep. Colette Worsman (R-Meredith), who chairs the convention, refused to bring the item to the floor for discussion.
The agreements include the merit step raises for eligible employees recommended by the Belknap County Commission but stripped from the 2013 county budget by the Belknap County Convention. Although employees would receive no increase to their salary schedules this year, they would be awarded a two-percent raise for every level in June, 2014, prior to the expiration of the agreement, funds for which would be appropriated in the 2014 county budget.
The employees' contributions to the cost of health insurance remain unchanged. However, the contracts include incentives designed to reduce health care costs by providing employees paths to wellness. The entire county complex would become a non-smoking area. All employees would be required to undergo a health assessment and physical examination as well as participate in a wellness program. The contribution to premium costs of those who failed to comply would increase by as much as three times. The program is intended to lower the risk profile of county employees and with it future premium costs.
The county's union contracts expired at the end of 2012. If the new contracts are not ratified, the relationship between the county and its union employees will revert to the status quo. In return for employees foregoing the right to strike and in order to provide employers with incentive to bargain, public employee contracts are governed by the so-called "doctrine of status quo." It stipulates that when collective bargaining agreements expire their terms and conditions, except for so-called cost items, remain in effect pending ratification of a new agreement.
Step raises, or new rates of pay specified by a salary schedule for an additional year of service, qualify as cost items and are not awarded in lieu of a new contract. But, since health insurance is a defined benefit in the contracts, without an assigned dollar value, public employers are obliged to continue to pay their agreed upon percentage of premium costs for specified policies, regardless of the cost of the premiums.
Without funding for the 7.3-percent increase in health insurance premiums, the county commission could find itself with the choice of asking employees to contribute a greater share to the cost their health insurance or laying off enough employees to provide health insurance to the remainder at the new cost. If employees were to bear the additional cost, the contribution of those with two-person and family plans, who currently contribute five-percent, to 11.5-percent.
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2013 04:43
Hits: 92
Commissioners say they, alone, will hire lawyer to defend convention against Tardif suit
Written by Michael Kitch
LACONIA — The Belknap County Commissioners yesterday refused to permit the Belknap County Convention to hire legal counsel to represent the convention in litigation challenging the legitimacy of the election of its officers by secret paper ballot. The lawsuit was brought in Belknap County Superior by Tom Tardif.
Although the convention and commission are at loggerheads over their respective authority over the county budget, the convention acknowledged that state statute authorizes the commissioners to hire legal counsel to represent the county and sought its permission to engage independent counsel. In denying the request, the commission agreed that it would hire an attorney to defend the convention against the suit.
In a petition filed earlier this month, Tardif, a former mayor of Laconia and local government watchdog and David Gammon, representing themselves, charge that the election of Representatives Colette Worsman (R-Meredith) as chairman and Bob Greemore (R-Meredith) as vice-chairman at the organizational meeting on December 10 was "a clear attempt to circumvent the state's Right-To-Know laws."
Citing the minutes, Tardif notes that when the organizational meeting convened "a senior member referred to a case from 1971 and indicated that the election of officers should be done by secret ballot." By a show of hands all 16 members of the convention present concurred. Worsman and Greemore were elected by a secret paper ballot.
Tardif claims that the Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) includes no exception for secret ballots, but on the contrary stipulates that all votes taken in public meetings "shall be by roll call vote." Moreover the Attorney General's memorandum on the Right-to-Know advises that, "No vote in a public meeting may be taken by secret ballot" except for town meetings and elections, school district meetings and elections and village district meetings and elections."
When the convention met this week Rep. Frank Tilton (R-Laconia) asserted that the election of officers was legitimate and offered a motion to "reaffirm" it. He recalled that when the convention elected Sheriff Craig Wiggin to complete the term of Dan Collis by secret ballot was successfully challenged in the New Hampshire Supreme Court, the remedy was to reaffirm the original vote. Since Tardif has challenged the legitimacy of subsequent actions taken by the convention, Tilton suggested that by reaffirming its election of officers the convention would protect its forthcoming vote on the 23013 county budget.
Rep. David Huot (D-Laconia), an attorney and retired judge, cautioned the convention against acting without the advice of legal counsel. Representative Dennis Fields (R-Sanbornton), alone among the 13 Republicans who constitute a majority of the 18 members of the convention, balked, protesting that no notice was given that the issue would come before the meeting.
With no further debate, Tilton's motion carried by a vote of eleven-to-two and four abstentions, with eleven of the twelve Republicans present voting in favor and two of the five Democrats voting against. Fields and three Democrats abstained.
Likewise, on advice of bond counsel the convention reaffirmed the vote of its executive committee to authorize the county treasurer to borrow up to $10-million in anticipation of property taxes. Bond counsel was concerned that the suit filed by Tardif also clouded the election of the executive committee composed of Representatives Worsman, Tilton, Bob Greemore and Herb Vadney of Meredith, all Republicans.
Although the convention and commission are at loggerheads over their respective authority over the county budget, the convention acknowledged that state statute authorizes the commissioners to hire legal counsel to represent the county and sought its permission to engage independent counsel. In denying the request, the commission agreed that it would hire an attorney to defend the convention against the suit.
In a petition filed earlier this month, Tardif, a former mayor of Laconia and local government watchdog and David Gammon, representing themselves, charge that the election of Representatives Colette Worsman (R-Meredith) as chairman and Bob Greemore (R-Meredith) as vice-chairman at the organizational meeting on December 10 was "a clear attempt to circumvent the state's Right-To-Know laws."
Citing the minutes, Tardif notes that when the organizational meeting convened "a senior member referred to a case from 1971 and indicated that the election of officers should be done by secret ballot." By a show of hands all 16 members of the convention present concurred. Worsman and Greemore were elected by a secret paper ballot.
Tardif claims that the Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) includes no exception for secret ballots, but on the contrary stipulates that all votes taken in public meetings "shall be by roll call vote." Moreover the Attorney General's memorandum on the Right-to-Know advises that, "No vote in a public meeting may be taken by secret ballot" except for town meetings and elections, school district meetings and elections and village district meetings and elections."
When the convention met this week Rep. Frank Tilton (R-Laconia) asserted that the election of officers was legitimate and offered a motion to "reaffirm" it. He recalled that when the convention elected Sheriff Craig Wiggin to complete the term of Dan Collis by secret ballot was successfully challenged in the New Hampshire Supreme Court, the remedy was to reaffirm the original vote. Since Tardif has challenged the legitimacy of subsequent actions taken by the convention, Tilton suggested that by reaffirming its election of officers the convention would protect its forthcoming vote on the 23013 county budget.
Rep. David Huot (D-Laconia), an attorney and retired judge, cautioned the convention against acting without the advice of legal counsel. Representative Dennis Fields (R-Sanbornton), alone among the 13 Republicans who constitute a majority of the 18 members of the convention, balked, protesting that no notice was given that the issue would come before the meeting.
With no further debate, Tilton's motion carried by a vote of eleven-to-two and four abstentions, with eleven of the twelve Republicans present voting in favor and two of the five Democrats voting against. Fields and three Democrats abstained.
Likewise, on advice of bond counsel the convention reaffirmed the vote of its executive committee to authorize the county treasurer to borrow up to $10-million in anticipation of property taxes. Bond counsel was concerned that the suit filed by Tardif also clouded the election of the executive committee composed of Representatives Worsman, Tilton, Bob Greemore and Herb Vadney of Meredith, all Republicans.
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2013 04:32
Hits: 72
New fiber arts store moves into prominent downtown storefront
LACONIA — Kelly Rolfe has been doing handwork since she was a young girl growing up in Belmont. Learning from her mother, she started with embroidering and soon expanded into other areas of fiber-based creation. She married, raised a large family, and helped run a farm in her hometown, but every moment her hands fell idle, she picked up a needle or a hook and began working on a project.
This week, Rolfe has added a new wrinkle to her life-long love of the fiber arts. She's opened Artisan Wool and Fiber, a shop located at the corner of Canal Street and Beacon Street East.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've been doing something with handwork, needlework," Rolfe explained. By following her interests, she was led to connect with the active community of local practitioners of various fiver arts. It was with this community in mind that she began to plan Artisan Wool and Fiber, a store that she was planning to operate out of her home until her husband stumbled across the listing for the space at 62 Canal Street. Rolfe loved the abundance of natural light in the space, the visibility associated with being near the Post Office, the Senior Center and City Hall, and, what she called the "deciding factor," all of the like-minded businesses nearby. "Canal Street has an artistic flair," she said.
In planning Artisan Wool and Fiber. Rolfe identified a niche. While there are shops in the region that cater to knitters and quilters, she said lovers of other fiber arts have to either travel for an hour or longer to find a store for supplies or buy products online.
"The goal was a place to locally offer goods that they could not readily buy," said Rolfe. She will offer supplies for rug hooking, spinning weaving, penny rugs, among other items. For those curious about how to use the supplies, the store will offer a series of classes. Scheduled in March are classes in rug hooking, needle felting, beginning knitting, weaving, and a class on making a pair of mittens out of felted sweater pieces. If someone likes one fiber art, Rolfe said, there's a good chance he or she might be interested in learning about another. "We really want people to come in here and try something different," she said.
And then there are those who appreciate a hand-made product but don't want to produce it themselves, or those who have made so many items that they've run out of people to give them to, Rolfe is offering completed items for sale in her store. Currently, her stock includes scarves, hooked rugs, mittens for adults and hats and booties for babies.
Carol Dale, a Gilford resident who plans to teach rug hooking as well as sell her hand-dyed wool products at Artisan Wool and Fiber, is among those excited to have a nearby place to support her passion. "I think it's fantastic, we needed something here."
Fiber arts originated as a craft of need, said Dale and Rolfe, a way to provide items of clothing and to bring comfort and warmth into the home. Quickly, though, practitioners of the techniques found ways to create something that was as beautiful as it was useful, something that expresses individual creativity. Said Rolfe, "This is art, plain and simple. It's traditional, it's been around for such a long time, but it's still fresh, people are still finding ways to think outside of the box."
CAPTION for ARTISAN WOOL AND FIBER in AA:
Kelly Rolfe, owner of Artisan Wool and Fiber, is shown here in her shop, located at the corner of Canal Street and Beacon Street East in Laconia. She opened her business earlier this week. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)
This week, Rolfe has added a new wrinkle to her life-long love of the fiber arts. She's opened Artisan Wool and Fiber, a shop located at the corner of Canal Street and Beacon Street East.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've been doing something with handwork, needlework," Rolfe explained. By following her interests, she was led to connect with the active community of local practitioners of various fiver arts. It was with this community in mind that she began to plan Artisan Wool and Fiber, a store that she was planning to operate out of her home until her husband stumbled across the listing for the space at 62 Canal Street. Rolfe loved the abundance of natural light in the space, the visibility associated with being near the Post Office, the Senior Center and City Hall, and, what she called the "deciding factor," all of the like-minded businesses nearby. "Canal Street has an artistic flair," she said.
In planning Artisan Wool and Fiber. Rolfe identified a niche. While there are shops in the region that cater to knitters and quilters, she said lovers of other fiber arts have to either travel for an hour or longer to find a store for supplies or buy products online.
"The goal was a place to locally offer goods that they could not readily buy," said Rolfe. She will offer supplies for rug hooking, spinning weaving, penny rugs, among other items. For those curious about how to use the supplies, the store will offer a series of classes. Scheduled in March are classes in rug hooking, needle felting, beginning knitting, weaving, and a class on making a pair of mittens out of felted sweater pieces. If someone likes one fiber art, Rolfe said, there's a good chance he or she might be interested in learning about another. "We really want people to come in here and try something different," she said.
And then there are those who appreciate a hand-made product but don't want to produce it themselves, or those who have made so many items that they've run out of people to give them to, Rolfe is offering completed items for sale in her store. Currently, her stock includes scarves, hooked rugs, mittens for adults and hats and booties for babies.
Carol Dale, a Gilford resident who plans to teach rug hooking as well as sell her hand-dyed wool products at Artisan Wool and Fiber, is among those excited to have a nearby place to support her passion. "I think it's fantastic, we needed something here."
Fiber arts originated as a craft of need, said Dale and Rolfe, a way to provide items of clothing and to bring comfort and warmth into the home. Quickly, though, practitioners of the techniques found ways to create something that was as beautiful as it was useful, something that expresses individual creativity. Said Rolfe, "This is art, plain and simple. It's traditional, it's been around for such a long time, but it's still fresh, people are still finding ways to think outside of the box."
CAPTION for ARTISAN WOOL AND FIBER in AA:
Kelly Rolfe, owner of Artisan Wool and Fiber, is shown here in her shop, located at the corner of Canal Street and Beacon Street East in Laconia. She opened her business earlier this week. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2013 04:25
Hits: 151
Northfield Police Chief Adams announces retirement - 235
Written by Gail Ober
NORTHFIELD — After 37 years in law enforcement, Northfield Police Chief Steve Adams announced his retirement yesterday.
Adams said his last official day is May 4 and that he has recommended the selectmen convene a hiring panel to employ the next chief. He said Lt. John Raffaelly will be acting chief and he will continue to serve as special officer until the transition is complete.
Adams began his career in Northfield and then worked for the Franklin Police Department. After Franklin he returned to Northfield where he worked his way up the ranks. Adams has been Northfield's police chief for seven years.
"Steve Adams wealth of knowledge and experience will be invaluable as the town transitions to new leadership in the Police Department,"said Selectboard Chair Geoff Ziminsky. "We are grateful to be able to start the process while Steve is still on board to provide guidance and advice."
Adams said he has not immediate plans for the future. He said he has fielded a few offers from the private sector but said after being a police officer for 37 years, he wouldn't rule out doing some part-time work for some police department.
Adams and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren. His son is a police officer in Laconia and his daughter-in-law is a police detective in Northfield. One of his daughters works in a local school district and the other is a hairdresser in a local salon.
Adams said his last official day is May 4 and that he has recommended the selectmen convene a hiring panel to employ the next chief. He said Lt. John Raffaelly will be acting chief and he will continue to serve as special officer until the transition is complete.
Adams began his career in Northfield and then worked for the Franklin Police Department. After Franklin he returned to Northfield where he worked his way up the ranks. Adams has been Northfield's police chief for seven years.
"Steve Adams wealth of knowledge and experience will be invaluable as the town transitions to new leadership in the Police Department,"said Selectboard Chair Geoff Ziminsky. "We are grateful to be able to start the process while Steve is still on board to provide guidance and advice."
Adams said he has not immediate plans for the future. He said he has fielded a few offers from the private sector but said after being a police officer for 37 years, he wouldn't rule out doing some part-time work for some police department.
Adams and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren. His son is a police officer in Laconia and his daughter-in-law is a police detective in Northfield. One of his daughters works in a local school district and the other is a hairdresser in a local salon.
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2013 04:21
Hits: 120
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