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04/29/19 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
April 29, 2019

Present: Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moore, Selectman Moritz.

Chairman Boisseau opened the meeting at 6:01 pm.

Chairman Boisseau passed out a sign permit request for Mascoma Bank.  The Board reviewed the pictures of the new sign with the changed logo.  The representative for the sign company hasn’t arrived so they put aside until they arrive.
The Board reviewed a sign request from Cold Mtn. Café to put a sign on Route 302 on the Mountain Roots property.  Selectman Moritz moved to approve the sign permit.  Selectman Moore seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Sarah Levy told the Board Wayside Inn will be hosting a Vintage Market and heard there are concerns about parking.  She said they are hoping to get 5000 people and said they will have signs on Route 302.  Ms. Levy told the Board they will be paying for police detail and said Sean will speak more to it when he arrives.

The Board reviewed the minutes from 04/15/19.  Selectman Moore moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Moritz seconded.  Carried 3-0.

The Board discussed a request to reappoint Nancy Czarny to the Bretzfelder Park Committee for a 3-year term.  Selectman Moore moved to approve the appointment.  Selectman Moritz seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Chairman Boisseau said the Conservation Commission wants to apply for a $4000.00 grant and needs a vote from the Board.  Selectman Moore moved to authorize the Conservation Commission to apply for the grant.  Selectman Moritz seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Chairman Boisseau said Selectman Jensen would like to talk with Consolidated Communication to speak with them about improving fiber optics in town and wants them to come speak to town.  The Board is ok with Selectman Jensen doing this.

The Board reviewed an intent to cut for Map/Lot 408/11.2 and signed it.

Chairman Boisseau said April got prices to get the windows cleaned in the town office on the main level.  He explained our cleaning company said they were not interested in doing it, Beautiful Visions gave a quote of $490.00 and a third quote couldn’t be obtained.  Selectman Moritz moved to approve the bid to wash windows.  Selectman Moore seconded.  Carried 3-0.  It was noted there is money in the General Govt. Building Maint. budget to do this.
The Board discussed a request to have someone work for the Country Club in exchange for memberships.  Chairman Boisseau said based on the advice the town received it sounds like a risky endeavor.  Selectman Moore said we would need a contract that our attorney would need to do that would cost money.

The representative for the Mascoma Sign permit said he is just looking to change the signs due to the logo change.  Selectman Moore moved to approve the sign permit.  Selectman Moritz seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Sean Gawlik discussed with the Board the parking concerns with the Vintage Market.  He told the Board he talked with DOT, the Fire Chief and the Police Chief.  He explained it will all be manageable but said the police detail is a 1/3 of their budget and was told only half of that cost goes to the town.  Sean said he would need detail coverage for 10 hours on Saturday and Sunday.  He said the Chief suggested he would need 3 officers for both days.  He asked the Board to see if there is a way to cut this expense.
Sean also asked if he could use some golf carts from the country club.  Selectman Moritz said she doesn’t believe they are allowed to let them be used for private use.  Ms. Levy asked if they should come to the Select Board to get permission for the signs they want to put up and was told yes.  She was told the event can be put in the town newsletter and on the town website.

Martie Cook said they had a meeting about the community gardens.  She said there were questions about doing raised beds and she explained because it is less maintenance.  Selectman Moritz said they found a perfect area near the ballfields on Elm Street.  She said it is an underutilized area and would work well but they need to check on access to water.  There was discussion about how it is located directly behind the elementary school so possibly could access their water spicket.  It was also suggested to use a rain barrel.  Ms. Cook asked if town employees and equipment can be used.  She was told that is not allowed.  There was discussion about liability for equipment on town land and volunteers working on town owned land.  It was determined a liability waiver form will be signed by volunteers.  There was also discussion about having the wood and dirt delivered and having someone there when it is delivered.  Selectman Moritz said she would contact recreation director Tim Fleury because he oversees that piece of property.  It was noted they will start building the beds on May 18th or 25th and the delivery will be on the 16th or 17th.  Dann said he has a tractor and offered to help.  Ms. Cook explained it will be a plot 40 x 60 with hay in between the beds so mowing will not need to be done in between the beds.  Selectman Moritz moved to approve the land by the baseball field to be used for community garden contingent on Mr. Fleury’s approval.  Selectman Moore seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Rita Farrell asked about a letter about the parking on Main Street that makes pulling out of Agassiz Street dangerous.  She was told a letter was sent to DOT and we are waiting to hear from them.

Dann asked what can be put on a warrant article and discussed two different types of crime.  Ones that are evil and wrong in itself and ones that are only law because it is prohibited but it is not bad and there is no victim.  He asked the Board if voters could submit a warrant article to command the Select Board to lynching.  Selectman Moritz said if 25 people sign a petitioned warrant article the Select Board has to put it on the warrant.  She also said the Select Board is guided by RSA and if there is no law, they can’t enforce it.  She gave an example of the warrant article that passed this year about prohibiting guns on town property and said the Select Board can’t enforce it because there isn’t a law to back it up.

At 6:55 Chairman Boisseau moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel.  Selectman Moritz seconded.  Chairman Boisseau did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.  Dann objected to the non-public session.
The Board discussed personnel.
Selectman Moore moved to rehire HN for the Country Club.  Selectman Boisseau seconded.  Carried 3-0.
At 7:04 Chairman Boisseau moved to adjourn.  Selectman Moore seconded.  Carried 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant