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03/20/2017 SB Minutes

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Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem Selectmen Office
March 20, 2017

Present: Selectman Glavac, Selectman Ubaldo, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Moore, Selectman Boisseau.

Chairman Glavac opened the meeting at 6:00pm. Chairman Glavac moved to appoint Selectman Moritz as Chairman. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to appoint Selectman Moore as Vice-Chairman. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.

The Board reviewed the liaison list. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the following liaison list. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
Department/Function Primary Liaison Secondary Liaison
Executive Mary Martin
Town Clerk Mary Linda
Tax Collector Martin Richard
Assessing/Wood Assessing Richard Gabe
Legal Mary Martin
Planning & Zoning Gabe Linda
Government Buildings Martin Mary
Visitor Center Linda Mary
Direct Assistance Mary Gabe
Police/Animal Control Richard Mary
Fire/ Ambulance Martin Richard
Building Inspection Gabe Linda
Highway/Street lights Richard Gabe

Recreation Gabe Linda
Library Mary Linda
Conservation Comm./Bretzfelder Linda Gabe
Dept. Serv./TAN/Treasurer Board
Safety Committee Mary Linda
Bethlehem Country Club Gabe Mary
Bethlehem Village District Mary Linda
North Country Council Linda Martin
Northern Pass Richard Martin

Selectman Glavac said he would like to discuss the tax rate projection with the budgets voted in and the school budgets voted in. He said there should be a clearer picture now with revenue being the only unknown. He asked that the Board look at it over the next couple of weeks and get back to the town on that and use it as a guide for spending.

Chris McGrath came before the Board. He said he has heard from people that are nervous about their taxes and said people are calling him wanting to sell their homes and not wanting to expand their businesses now due to the fear of the tax rate.
Mr. McGrath said the website is very slow and can’t print agendas and minutes anymore.
He also said people said they were waiting for a better deal (about landfill) so asked the Board if they would poll the residents to see if they want a better deal. He said if the taxes go up the amount that has been predicted that will be a lot of money a year for people.
Mr. McGrath also said he thinks the Country Club should be leased.

Fire Chief, Jack Anderson, came before the Board to discuss purchasing the defibrillator that was on the warrant and passed. Chief Anderson explained if we commit and sign by the end of March we will get a free small defibrillator. Selectman Ubaldo said the warrant did not specify who we were purchasing it from so asked if we needed to get 3 bids. Chief Anderson explained it is a specialized item. Selectman Glavac moved to purchase the defibrillator. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 5-0. Julian Czarny asked about the price being $29,000 because he said he looked online and found some for $3,000.00 and asked if this is typical standard equipment in an ambulance. He said the one he saw online is typical hospital grade. Chief Anderson explained this is a lifesaving piece of equipment and thoroughly researched the best pricing for what was needed.

The Board discussed the GIS agreement that was also a warrant article. Jeanne Robillard said the Planning Board has looked at GIS mapping and recommended it. Chris McGrath agreed with Ms. Robillard and said it would solve abutter issues that applicants have experienced. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the GIS contract. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0. Don Lavoie said he would be happy to give more details on this but said the implementation phase will require a lot of staff time and more staff may be needed during that phase.

The Board discussed the tax map maintenance yearly agreement from Cartographics. Margaret Gale asked if this was needed in addition to the GIS and was told the Board would check on this.

Selectman Glavac said the Town is part of a cable consortium that negotiates an agreement with the cable company. He explained the agreement has expired so the town needs to enter into an agreement with the attorney for representation to renew that agreement. Selectman Glavac moved to sign the engagement letter. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 5-0.

Chairman Moritz read a request from White Mountain School for a road name change for 911 safety purposes. The Board tabled this until they could discuss with Police Chief Ho-Sing-Loy.

The Board reviewed and discussed a pole license from Fairpoint. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the pole license. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed a housing plan from the meeting a few weeks prior on the Friendship House. Selectman Glavac explained the town needs to adopt the housing plan and moved to adopt it. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed Conservation Commission appointments. Selectman Moore explained the conservation commission was requesting that Lindsay Webb and Margaret Gale be appointed to 3 year terms which would run from April 2017 to April 2020. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the appointments. Selectman Moore seconded. Selectman Glavac asked if it was posted. Cheryl Jensen said there has been a posting for alternates for quite some time but nobody is coming. Carried 5-0.

The Board tabled the abatements until the next meeting.

The Board discussed the Primex conference on May 10th and 11th and allowing the Selectmen’s office to close so the staff can attend for training and staff development. Chairman Moritz moved to close the selectmen’s office (includes assessing, planning/zoning, welfare) on May 10th and 11th. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed a request for a façade grant through the BRLF and the Board agreed the person should reapply through the committee.

The Board discussed the minutes and if they could be approved due to having 3 new selectmen. April will contact NHMA about this.

Tim Vaughn said he think there should be a committee formed about landfill within 30 days with a Select Board member and experts about economics and environmental factors.

Jerry Blanchard congratulated the new Board members. He said the innkeepers need to know the rates for the country club and asked if the Board could get those. He was told they would get those to him.

There was discussion about the committee that Mr. Vaughn suggested. Selectman Glavac moved to form a committee with experts on the economic and environmental issues with the landfill. Chairman Moritz seconded. Selectman Ubaldo asked if there was money in the budget for this. Selectman Glavac said they have that money that is for post landfill closure but is not sure if this could be used for that or not. He said the town was divided and we are putting it front and center and the financial impact is focus. He said they need to make sure it is a diverse group that is part of the committee. Chairman Moritz and Selectman Glavac withdrew their second and motion. Chairman Glavac amended his motion to form a committee with experts on the economic and environmental issues with the landfill and to report findings to the Select Board by 09/01/2017. Rita Farrell said it should be determined what facts would be wanted from this process before forming the committee. Chris Jensen suggested amending the motion to extend the deadline if it so wishes. The Board was ok with the deadline as is. There was discussion about there being a cost to the committee and Chairman Moritz said it would be made up of volunteers. Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed the Business Retention and Expansion Committee that was put on hold until after town meeting. Selectman Glavac said that will start back up now and will find out when that will be. Paul Greenlaw said there is talk on social media about growing Bethlehem and asked what the process of that is. He was told the Town is not participating in that.

Don Lavoie said the BRLF Main Street Revitalization program is under the Select Board and can be changed what it is to be used for and said for example it could used for businesses impacted by the culvert project etc.
Jeanne Robillard said there used to be a plan to fix the parking issue with a berm. Selectman Glavac said that is part of the culver project.
Chris McGrath suggested there be an attendance policy attached to the Select Board stipend and asked that the Board read the Master Plan and address the issues that relate to the Select Board.
Roger Metras asked about the expense from the GIS mapping for the extra staffing that was not budgeted for and was told it would be looked into.

At 7:23 Selectman Glavac moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91 A:3, II for matters of personnel and legal. Chairman Moritz seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.

At 10:23 Selectman Glavac moved to seal the non-public minutes because it is determined that divulgence of this information likely would render a proposed action ineffective. Selectman Moore seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to seal the non-public minutes.

The Board discussed the White Mountain School road name change with Chief Ho-Sing-Loy. Chairman Moritz moved to name the private road into White Mountain School McFadden Drive. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 5-0.

At 10:30 Selectman Glavac moved to adjourn. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd

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