Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
January 29, 2018
Present: Chairman Moritz, Selectman Boisseau, Selectman Ubaldo, Selectman Moore, Selectman Glavac.
Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.
State Rep, Erin Hennessey, came before the Board to give them a couple of updates. She told the Board of a couple bills for the rooms and meals tax so towns and cities receive additional money. She said towns are allowed to approve up to a $2.00 tax per day per room and town would get 100% of that. She also told the Board that if the dollar amount in a warrant article changes at Deliberative the Board could then vote again on their recommendation.
Chairman Moritz said there were questions at the last meeting that she would like to address. She said the question of Bryan Gould’s involvement in writing the warrant article is not in contempt of court. She said they have no answer on the question of the land purchase being contempt of court or not. She said she is not sure when the Board will have an answer. Chris McGrath asked about the legality of the warrant article. Chairman Moritz said there is no reason why any articles would be eliminated.
Chairman Moritz said the warrant articles were submitted to DRA (Department of Revenue) and they made an adjustment that changed the way it had been done previously. She said they asked for the law they cited and the attorney advised the changes should have been discussed at the budget hearing but they were not. Chairman Moritz said the warrant article numbers will change if they follow DRA’s advice. She told the rest of the Board that she thinks they should follow DRA’s advice because it is under their jurisdiction. She said what they are discussing is the country club special revenue fund and explained DRA wants it to be a separate warrant article instead of being included in the proposed budget. Selectman Glavac said he doesn’t see how they can post the warrant and then change it. He said it is against the law. He also said they didn’t have that information so they didn’t talk about it at the budget hearing so he thinks it should remain in the proposed budget. The Board discussed the reduction in the general fund budget of $32295.00 that was moved to the recreation revolving fund. Selectman Glavac moved to post the warrant as discussed last week with the country club in proposed budget. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz told the Board she drafted explanations of the articles they are proposing. She read the explanations for LED lighting, Capital Improvement Plan Committee, and Keno. Chris McGrath suggested they put in the explanation on the Keno one that you need a liquor license to serve in order to have Keno. The Board discussed the explanations on the country club warrant articles and decided to shorten it to make it simpler and brief. Rita Farrell asked if they can sell the country club and was told they could. Chairman Moritz said they can sell it without voter approval but the Board is seeking voter input. Dave Wiley said the golf course is not a highly desirable piece of property and has wet areas. Chairman Moritz said they don’t know how much capital the clubhouse will require and thinks it will be a good amount. She said a municipality is not the best to run a business. She also said money needs to be put into it. Jerry Blanchard said golf is capital intensive business and need to keep doing maintenance. He also said he doesn’t think municipality should run a business and said successful courses have housing around them. He said that is what drives the course.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 01/08/18, 01/15/18, and 01/22/18.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve all the minutes. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 6:40 Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of legal. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
Chairman Moritz moved we are not seeking contempt of court actions against NCES at this time because it is not in the best interest of the town. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 7:36 Selectman Glavac moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.
At 7:36 Chairman Moritz moved to adjourn. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
