Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2018
Present: Chairman Moritz, Selectman Boisseau, Selectman Ubaldo, Selectman Moore, Selectman Glavac.
Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.
Chairman Moritz welcomed Tom McGlauflin from The McGlauflin Group Auctioneers. Mr. McGlauflin explained they specialize in tax deeded property sales and said he did former auctions for the town. He explained in the first 3 years the former owner has to be notified (RSA 80:89) 90 days prior to the sale date to alert them of the sale. He said they have 30 days from the receipt of the notice to settle with the town. Mr. McGlauflin said bidders are responsible to do their own homework on the properties they will bid on and people buy properties at auctions anticipating there will be issues and that is why it is less expensive to purchase properties that way. He said abutters sometimes will buy the property and not do anything with it and others buy it and wait out the 10 years. He also said the bidders sign a bidder’s acknowledgement form that explains this. Chairman Moritz asked if doing legal background information on the properties is necessary. Mr. McGlauflin said some are worth it if it is a good property to have a clear title on it. Chris McGrath said he has been to all the auctions and said Mr. McGlauflin does a great job. He said he likes that it is on a Saturday and recommended to the Board using Mr. McGlauflin again. Mr. McGlauflin explained that a quiet title is a process where you petition the court to clear up the problems with the title. Cheryl Jensen asked if you still have to wait the 10-year period with a quiet title and was told no.
PUBLIC INPUT
Cheryl Jensen gave an update on Northern Pass. She said the record was closed on 12/22/17 and nothing more could be submitted. She said she spent a lot of time preparing responses for the attorneys and went through all the transcripts. She said she found out about a group from Bethlehem that interviewed the owner of the proposed Hilton Hotel and the owner said because of Northern Pass the hotel project was in jeopardy. Mrs. Jensen said she prepared a motion to SEC to reopen the record because the SEC committee was very interested in that project during the testimony. She also said she called Mr. Rudich (owner of proposed Hilton Hotel) and he confirmed to her that the project is in jeopardy because of Northern Pass.
She explained three potential outcomes are that they could stop it, they could do nothing, or they could make it a condition to move the transition station.
The Board discussed possible warrant articles. They agreed to put $25,000 on the warrant for the Solid Waste Capital Reserve Fund per the Transfer Station Committee’s recommendation.
The Board discussed a warrant article on selling or leasing the country club. Chairman Moritz said she doesn’t feel comfortable putting it out there now without having a special meeting due to lack of information they have. She said she believes they should get information and have a warrant article in 2019. Selectman Glavac said if a bidder has to wait for town approval it will slow up the process and bidders may hold back because of that. He said they should have a warrant article for either option so the Board can take the best offer. Chairman Moritz said she thinks lease option is a mistake because we would have liability. The Board discussed putting in the warrant article that it has to remain a golf course. Selectman Boisseau said the Board wants a temperature of where people are with it. Selectmen Glavac and Moore agreed. Julian Czarny recommended putting it all in the warrant article and said if they 1st investigate lease or sale option it would delay it another year. Selectman Moore said they could have 2 warrant articles. One to ask to sell or lease and the second to see if it should be kept as a golf course. Selectman Ubaldo asked if they are limiting themselves. Rita Farrell asked about the members of the golf course and if they have quantified the value. Chairman Moritz said the clubhouse is going into disrepair and needs money put into it or need to sell or lease it. She also said she doesn’t believe a municipality should be running a seasonal business. She said someone in the private sector could manage it better. Chairman Moritz said the manager does an excellent job filling 3 roles to generate tax revenue. Mrs. Farrell said Kate Killeen filed a request for historic preservation for the country club for funding to restore it. She said it didn’t get approved but were asked to submit it again. Chairman Moritz asked if that was a matching grant because the special revenue account isn’t set up that way. Mrs. Farrell said the hotels are gone so what is town defined by. She said it is a Donald Ross course. There was discussion about how much is lost in tax revenue every year and Chairman Moritz said approx. $40,000.00. Selectman Glavac said a new owner could invest in the building. Chairman Moritz said a lot of municipalities got rid of golf courses because they are difficult to run. Cheryl Jensen said there is nothing to lose by putting a warrant article on now and said they could research value etc. after the warrant articles and agrees if should be 2 warrant articles. Chairman Moritz asked the Board if they should have an expiration on when it has to be a golf course until. Chairman Moritz said the warrant articles would be sent to legal for review.
The Board discussed the warrant article to allow KENO in Bethlehem. Chairman Moritz said someone asked them to consider putting the warrant article on this year. Mr. McGrath said he is happy to hear they are reconsidering this because it helps businesses.
Selectman Ubaldo asked if it was like a scratch ticket machine and if there is a limit to how many. Chairman Moritz said it is regulated by NH Lottery. Mr. McGrath said it is a tv screen and that it is a barroom game. Mrs. Farrell said she is not a proponent of gambling and advised the board to look at Atlantic City. Chairman Moritz said it is not a casino and it is not Board’s decision to decide who should gamble. She said she can’t see a reason why they wouldn’t do it and said it is no different than power ball ticket and helps businesses. She also said it is regulated by the state and doesn’t see a negative to it. Mr. Czarny asked about language in the warrant article if it can be anywhere in town. He also asked how the state regulates it. Selectman Ubaldo said NH lottery has certain provisions and bonding etc.
Chairman Moritz moved to go forward with the warrant article for KENO. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0 (Selectman Ubaldo abstained).
Chairman Moritz moved to have 2 warrant articles for the country club with the 1st asking if whether the town would authorize the board to look into lease/sale of the country club and the second to see if the country club should remain a golf course in a lease or sale option. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 12/11/17 & 12/18/17. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the minutes from 12/11/17. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve the minutes from 12/18/17. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0 (Selectman Glavac abstained).
The Board reviewed the 2018 tax map maintenance agreement for $2250.00. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the agreement. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board reviewed an abatement refund for 410/022 in the amount of $18,015.02 due to an internal mistake. She explained it is similar to utility situation because of different way of figuring out assessment. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the refund for map/lot 401/022. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board reviewed a timber abatement. Chairman Moritz wants more info so this was tabled.
Mrs. Farrell said decisions are being made without quantifying and looking at comprehensive view. She said the board should have a specialist look at it (country club). She also said any action needs to be a law and laws will be challenged because they don’t follow constitution. Chairman Moritz said the attorney will be reviewing the warrant articles.
Mr. McGrath said the interview with Mr. Rudich was done by the group Believe in Bethlehem and said they have done multiple interviews.
Selectman Glavac gave an update on the BR&E interviews with businesses. He said approx. 25 have been done so far and they hope for 75.
At 7:30 Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board discussed personnel.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve Jack Anderson’s recommendations on 2 new hires (Thomas Martin, Michelle Lafontaine). Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 8:14 Chairman Moritz moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Glavac seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.
Chairman Moritz moved to seal a portion of the non-public minutes due to divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 8:16 Selectman Ubaldo moved to adjourn. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
