MEREDITH VILLAGE CHRISSY COUGHLIN Mailing Label SAVINGS BANK AT THE CASTLE Wolfeboro Branch opens Sept. 26 Ed Gerhard plays in Wakefield See page A16 See page B7 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 ESTABLISHED 1859 WOLFEBORO, N.H. GRANITESTATENEWS.COM 75¢ Selectmen receive Pay and Classification Study Questions raised about grading for some positions BY THOMAS BEELER process of how the external Editor market survey information WOLFEBORO — Gary R. was collected. A total of 20 Thornton of Thornton & As- area towns were invited to sociates presented his firm’s participate in the survey and Pay and Classification Study 16 responded. While not all of all town positions to positions matched, the over- Wolfeboro selectmen at a spe- all response rate of 76 percent cial meeting on Sept. 10. was high. Typically the re- While no one argued with the sponse rate on these surveys survey section of the study, was in the range of 50 to 60 questions were raised about percent, so the amount of da- the job classification and ta collected was very good. He grading section. cautioned that external pay Selectmen decided to do a data was based on a compar- comprehensive review of em- ison of basic skills and not ployee salaries and benefits performance in the job. earlier in the year and after There is also the issue of in- soliciting Requests for Pro- ternal equity – how pay com- posals chose Thornton and pares within the organiza- THOMAS BEELER ■ Associates on May 7. The last tion. Thornton stressed that WORK IS FINALLY STARTING on the new Kingswood Youth Center (KYC) building on Center Street. At the groundbreaking on Sept. 12 were (from such study was conducted in selectmen need to balance in- left): Caryn Clark, KYC Board member; Allen Folsom, Wetlands Scientist for Beckwith Builders; Mike Pilkovsky, Project Manager for Beckwith 1987, more than 20 years ago. ternal equity with external Builders; Donna DiCasparro, KYC Board Member; Jennifer Haskell, KYC Board Member; Jim Bartlett, Senior Architect for Beckwith Builders; Les Selectmen also appointed an market pay requirements. Beckwith, President of Beckwith Builders; Tim Radley, President of KYC; Tony Triolo, KYC Board Member, Pam Sweeney, Executive Director of KYC; oversight committee made Thornton said that em- Ed Gillespie, Treasurer of KYC; Police Chief Stuart Chase, Vice President of KYC; and Mallory Stephens, Advisory Board of KYC. up of representatives from ployees were asked to create departments as well as em- job descriptions that were ployees to make sure that the then validated by their su- Kingswood Youth Center breaks ground for new building process went smoothly and pervisors and then by Town BY PAMELA SWEENEY erect the structure, but not to fying high school students. initial thought was to refur- that all necessary informa- Manager Dave Owen. The job Executive Director, Kingswood Youth Center complete the inside. Dona- The success is evident in the bish the chapel, using it as tion was provided to Thorn- descriptions were used to de- WOLFEBORO — The tions are still being sought to lives of the teens that com- the center and continue rent- ton. The committee met termine which external jobs Board of Directors of open the Center as soon as plete the programs, get a ing out the house on site for three times, the last at the were comparable. Kingswood Youth Center possible for the kids that de- sense of their community, income. The chapel had suf- end of August to review a Police Commissioner Curt (KYC) and the design and pend on its services. and go on to college or lock fered considerable water draft of the report Thornton Pike asked Thornton to sum- build team of Beckwith The Kingswood Youth into a career. All programs damage and proved to be too was presenting to selectmen marize where Wolfeboro Builders were on hand to cel- Center has been providing are funded through grants that night. ebrate the ground breaking teens with a safe, supervised and donations. SEE YOUTH CENTER PAGE A14 Thornton explained the SEE STUDY PAGE A15 for the new Youth Center place to go during the crucial The youth center has been building at 565 Center Street time between school hours actively engaged in a search last Friday, Sept. 12 (see pho- and home for more than eight for property since 2006, when to on front page). years. All services are free Huggins Hospital notified District school board urged to plan The Kingswood Youth and a hot meal is served dai- them that the building serv- Center building construc- ly.A variety of programs are ing as the center since 1999 tion project actually began offered to kids, allowing would need to come down for now for four-day weeks next year on Monday, Sept. 15. The them opportunities to partic- their expansion project, and BY HEATHER TERRAGNI trict board addressed a num- updated the board on school barn-like structure, designed ipate in music, art, nature, they would be terminating Staff Writer ber of other issues at its Sept. happenings. After only one by Beckwith Builders of career exploration, commu- the 10-year lease. After a WOLFEBORO — Beyond 8 meeting. week, fall high school activi- Wolfeboro, is slated for com- nity service, yoga, physical lengthy search for property, approving a revised school During public input, Dick ties are running full tilt. pletion in late October or ear- fitness and social growth. A the Center Street parcel with calendar (as reported last Seibel, a Wolfeboro resident Kingswood’s first Energy ly November.At this time, the Mentorship Program is of- house and chapel was pur- week), the Governor Went- and Ossipee business owner, Committee, made up of 12 Youth Center has funds to fered each year to the quali- chased in January 2007. The worth Regional School Dis- commended the board for proactive students and staff, their efforts on creating op- will address ways within the tions for energy conservation school that students and staff schedule changes. He encour- alike can help save on energy Replacement for Road Agent Steve Hunter discussed aged the board to continue to costs. Approximately 40 stu- pursue the idea of a four-day dent leaders volunteered to Fire Rescue gets board approval for a new pickup truck week and commented that help incoming freshman with though there will be changes, schedules, class locations and BY ELISSA PAQUETTE nation, effective Nov. 1, at a warrant article for the job, Thompson got approval they should be changes ac- general questions on Aug. 27 Staff Writer the Sept. 9 meeting. Stock- which she suggested be de- from selectmen at their cepted by the public. Seibel during Jumpstart day, after TUFTONBORO — A re- man raised the question of scribed as that of construc- meeting this past Monday suggested that the board which the administration placement needs to be found whether the board has to ap- tion manager. That appoint- evening to pick up a new adopt a modified schedule for held a cookout for them all. for Road Agent Steve Hunter point a person to the job ed position, rather than GM2500 HD pickup truck for the next school year as soon MacIver announced that who announced his resig- from November to March the current elected post, the department on Tuesday. as possible, thus giving the senior Chris Mancuso quali- and then ask for town ap- would include the coordina- The purchase will be paid public plenty of notice to fied as a finalist for the 2009 INSIDE proval at the March town tion of maintenance staff. for by funds from stocks do- make any adjustments neces- National Merit Scholarship ■ meeting. He noted that Weeks described it as nated to the Tuftonboro Fire sary. Competition. The football there’s “a lot at stake” for “a unique opportunity.” Se- Rescue Association by Returning from his sum- team is off to a good start as Volume 149 • Number 38 whomever fills the slot. lectmen took the suggestion mer break, student represen- 38 Pages in 3 Sections They have to make an in- under advisement. SEE ROAD AGENT PAGE A14 tative Conner MacIver SEE SCHOOL PAGE A14 vestment of equipment and The board received notice Arts & Entertainment ..B7-B10 manpower. of another resignation, this Business.........................C2-C3 Town Administrator Bill time from the Conservation Churches ...........................A10 McChesney pointed out that Commission. Selectmen are Classifieds....................C5-C11 the bright side is that in the process of receiving whomever gets the appoint- names to replace the plan- Editorial Page....................A12 ed job will be highly moti- ning board position recently John Harrigan......................C1 vated to do a good job. vacated by Ted Wright and Legal Notices.......................C8 Susan Weeks spoke up have posted the job of ad- Letters .......................A12-A13 from the audience to suggest ministrative secretary on- that the Board consider the line. Obituaries......................... A15 idea of convincing Hunter People & Places.............C2-C4 to remain in the position un- Fire Rescue report Public Notices .............. A4, C7 til March, and then develop Fire Rescue Chief Adam Real Report .........................C4 Sports.............................B1-B6 Week Ahead........................C1 ROTARY AUCTION NEXT WEEK ©2008, Salmon Press, LLC. The Rotary Club of A flyer listing and de- Call us at (603) 569-3126 Wolfeboro will present its scribing all items to be auc- email: [email protected] 21st Annual Rotary Club tion will be inserted in next Auction next week on Sat- week’s edition of the Gran- urday,Sept. 27 beginning at ite State News on Sept. 25. THOMAS BEELER ■ 8:30 a.m. on WASR 1420 The flyer makes it easy to If you want something done . AM. Annuncer Joe Collie follow along, so don’t for- This Tuesday, Sept.