Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2018
Present: Chairman Moritz, Selectman Boisseau, Selectman Moore, Selectman Glavac, Selectman Ubaldo.
Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.
Heidi Boedecker came before the Board to discuss trees behind her property that she would like to take down. She said her property abuts a town owned parcel and the trees are on the towns property. She explained that she wants to take down 3 white pines. Chairman Moritz asked if there would be an expense to the town and was told no by Ms. Boedecker. Chairman Moritz said the Board should check to make sure they don’t need to notice it or anything. Selectman Glavac said this happened before on Prospect Street and the Board approved it. Ms. Boedecker will get a quote on how much it will cost her and let the Board know if she wants to go forward with it.
The Board discussed Board officer positions. Selectman Moore moved to nominate Chairman Moritz to continue as Chairman. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Selectman Glavac said they usually rotate every year. He also said Chairman Moritz did a good job and said he would support her being Chair but wanted to point out how it has worked in the past. Selectman Moore said Chairman Moritz puts in a lot of work on a daily basis. Chairman Moritz said she wants feedback on how to handle things better or differently. She also said she wants the liaisons to handle department items. Selectman Boisseau asked that she let the Board know how they can help more. Carried 4-0 (Chairman Moritz abstained).
Chairman Moritz moved to appoint Selectman Moore as Vice-Chairman. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 4-0 (Selectman Moore abstained).
The Board discussed liaison positions and went through the list to determine average hours it takes to be a liaison for each position. They also determined the first and second liaison for each department.
Department/Function Primary Liaison Secondary Liaison
Executive 10 hrs/month Mary Martin
Town Clerk 10 hrs/year Martin Linda
Tax Collector 10 hrs/year Martin Richard
Assessing/Wood Assessing 10 hrs/year Richard Gabe
Legal 20 hrs/year Mary Martin
Planning & Zoning 5 hrs/month Linda Mary
Government Buildings 10 hrs/year Martin Mary
Visitor Center 1 hr/month Linda Mary
Direct Assistance 10 hrs/year Mary Gabe
Police/Animal Control 5 hrs/month Richard Mary
Fire/ Ambulance 2 hrs/month Martin Richard
Building Inspection 10 hrs/year Gabe Linda
Highway/Street lights 2 hrs/month Richard Gabe
Recreation 5-10 hrs/month Gabe Linda
Library 10 hrs/year Gabe Linda
Conservat. Comm./Bretzfelder 2.5 hrs/mon Linda Gabe
Dept. Serv./TAN/Treasurer Board
Safety Committee 2 hrs/month Richard Linda
Bethlehem Country Club 10 hrs/month Martin Gabe
Bethlehem Village District 10 hrs/year Mary Linda
North Country Council 10 hrs/year Linda Martin
Transfer Station Committee Richard Martin
Capital Improvement Committee Mary Gabe
The Board reviewed warrant article follow up items. Chairman Moritz said she will be signing the LED lighting contract and meeting with them tomorrow. Selectman Moore asked about the evaluation of needs for the streetlights. The Board discussed areas that were previously mentioned; in front of the church, from Strawberry Hill Road to Lewis Hill Road on Main Street, move some by Maplewood closer to town, Agassiz Street, and the skate park area. Dick Robie said there are not any poles on Main Street on that side of the road between Strawberry Hill and Lewis Hill Road. Chairman Moritz will ask about the evaluation when she meets with them.
Chairman Moritz read an ad she created seeking 2 residents to be on the Capital Improvement Plan Committee. After discussion with the Board she will include they are seeking 2 members per RSA and to also include the other members of the committee; 1 Selectmen, 1 Planning Board member, 1 Department Head and Treasurer (optional) which is also per RSA. The Board said they would like the committee to do a projection of 5 years.
The Board discussed the Country Club articles to pursue selling or leasing. Chairman Moritz said they should assess (appraisal) the property and get some additional help. She suggested they get help from Carol Kerivan from Bethlehem Reimaged if the Board agrees. Selectman Ubaldo said that is a private group and Ms. Kerivan is a real estate agent. Chairman Moritz said she wouldn’t be able to be part of the sale. Selectman Ubaldo suggested working with a realtor directly. Selectman Glavac said they should do an RFP for a realtor because they will also assess it. Selectman Ubaldo said if they specialize in this they will know what needs to be done. Selectman Boisseau said Bethlehem Reimagined may have contacts. Selectman Glavac will write the RFP. Selectman Ubaldo pointed out that it remains a golf course is an important piece. Mr. Robie asked if they will go with someone that it is their expertise and was told by Chairman Moritz that they want someone that specializes in golf courses. Rita Farrell asked the Board if they will also be looking at leasing and reminded them of the grant that was applied for last year and was told to apply again this year. Chairman Moritz said she thinks leasing is a mistake because the town would own the liability and feels it would be taken care of better by an owner versus a lessee. Julian Czarny pointed out a real estate agent is an appraiser not an assessor. He also said a realtor takes a % of the sale and asked if the Town Attorney could execute the paperwork for a sale to save paying that %. Chairman Moritz said getting it appraised is the best thing to do. Selectman Ubaldo said they should hire professional to do the appraisal. Selectman Glavac said they don’t have money to pay for an appraisal unless they take it out of the Country Club budget. Selectman Moore said she thinks it is important to have an appraiser and a realtor. The Board decided they would use an appraiser and a realtor. Selectman Ubaldo asked if the expense has to come from the Country Club budget. Chairman Moritz said she would look into that.
PUBLIC INPUT
Mr. Robie said the candidates’ night meeting was the worst meeting he has attended and said there was no control. He said he thought there was a danger and suggested going forward the Board have a barrier between the Board and the attendees. Chairman Moritz said a comment made at that meeting was inappropriate and if it was a Select Board meeting they would have been asked to leave. She also said she doesn’t think a rope barrier would work. Mr. Robie also said he doesn’t think someone should be able to sit up front at the Board table. Selectman Moore said she doesn’t like the idea of a barrier and said that meeting did get out of hand. Selectman Glavac said that meeting was leading up to something and said Chairman Moritz will prevent that by being mindful of how the meeting is going. Selectman Ubaldo said the front row is the front row (bench). Chris McGrath said at previous candidate night meetings people wrote their questions down which allowed the moderator to not ask some of the questions. Mrs. Farrell said the meeting was a very good meeting and the person was handled by the group. Julie Seely said she felt threatened and said the “person” was very wound up. Selectman Moore also said she felt threatened. Mr. Robie said everyone realized there was a problem and pointed out people used to bring their kids to these meetings. Mr. Czarny said they never should let one person affect or stifle the speech of all the others.
Mrs. Farrell said she wants to be on the agenda next week to discuss powers of Selectman. She was told to notify April to get on the agenda.
Chairman Moritz asked the Board how they felt about going back to every other week meetings. Selectman Moore said it depends on the workload. Chairman Moritz said she finds it more productive with every other week and more efficient and can get more accomplished. She explained she spends numerous hours each week preparing for the meeting so the week off from the meeting she has more time to focus on the other Board responsibilities. There will be a meeting next week.
The Board discussed a security proposal that Chief Ho-Sing-Loy submitted. Selectman Ubaldo said it is to change the outside doors, police doors and fire doors to card swipers versus keys. He said there are issues with keys being lost and said the cards can be tracked to who is coming and going. He said the schools will be using them and the fire and police will have a swiper for the schools. Selectman Ubaldo also said a card can be deactivated instantly. The amount of the quote is $10,843.00 and would be split between Fire, Police, and GGB (General Governmental Buildings). Mr. McGrath said the budget was tight but now have money to spend and he requests Planning Board members get cards if they switch to this. Selectman Glavac said that amount is sticker shock. Selectman Boisseau asked if there would be a yearly maintenance fee and was told yes by Selectman Ubaldo but he isn’t sure of the amount. Selectman Glavac said he is not in favor of this. Mrs. Farrell asked why the Chief wants this. Chairman Moritz said they can track after hours who and when someone is in the building. Peter Roy said it is impossible to measure the cost of something that hasn’t happened to determine the value of it. Chairman Moritz said it should be budgeted for. She said it is important but there is a process in place. She also said they can look at it and budget for it next year. Selectman Glavac asked what the need for it is. Chairman Moritz said there is a cost to the key system too. Selectman Ubaldo said it ease of operation and connected to schools. Harry Newell said you can also lock doors electronically to lock the building down.
Selectman Glavac said the BR&E will be closing the questionnaires and will be picked up this week to have the data compiled and give recommendations. Selectman Glavac said 25 % of businesses responded to the questionnaire.
At 7:18 Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91 A:3 II for matters of personnel and legal. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board discussed personnel.
Selectman Ubaldo moved to increase the wages for Dave Wiley by $1.00/hour for his Building Inspector position. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve all raises that were recommended at budget time (MHSL, AH, JA, BJ, MJ, TF, DB, NM). Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to pay the back salary in one lump sum for dept. head’s back to January. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve country club rehire and increase for NC by $1.00/hour. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to approve country club rehire (DA). Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
Selectman Boisseau moved to increase salary amount for MC by 3%. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board discussed legal advice. Selectman Glavac moved to ask attorney Walter Mitchell to come up and review the info we already have. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 8:36 Selectman Ubaldo 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 8:36 Selectman Ubaldo moved to adjourn. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
