Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem Selectmen Office
April 10, 2017
Present: Chairman Moritz, Selectman Moore, Selectman Glavac, Selectman Ubaldo, Selectman Boisseau.
Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm and explained the agenda format has changed and they will be taking public input first.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Cheryl Jensen said the annual roadside cleanup day will be on May 6th with a rain/snow date of May 13th. She explained people meet at the gazebo at 9:30 and then the cleanup is from 10-12.
Tim Vaughn said he had recommended a landfill committee be formed but said the Board hadn’t established goals and objectives yet for the committee so recommends tabling it until that is done.
Dick Robie asked why public input was first and Chairperson Moritz said maybe more people would come if they could speak and not have to wait through the entire meeting to speak. She said it was open to discussion though. She also explained there will be opportunity for public input during agenda items as well.
Selectman Moore said she felt hurried through the discussion on forming a landfill committee and wants to table it because of that. She said they heard a lot of input at the last meeting about it.
Selectman Glavac asked why table it. Chairman Moritz said there is no budget for this and said she wouldn’t want to waste people’s time. Dann asked for clarification on what would be needed to be budgeted for. Chairman Moritz said money would be needed to get expert opinions. Dann said he has been on several committees and thought this would be a committee of volunteers. Chairman Moritz said environmental studies would be needed which would cost money. Selectman Boisseau said there is confusion about what the committee is about but it may be good in the future. Dann said a committee would come up with ideas and present to the Board.
Kim Johnson said she has friends that didn’t vote for the expansion because of the better deal. She asked the Board when the process would start to talk about that. Selectmen Boisseau said he never spoke of getting a better deal. Ms. Johnson said there were signs that said slow down – better deal and the perception was there would be a discussion about a better deal. Selectman Moore said that is up to the town not her. Ms. Johnson asked if it will be on the ballot then and also said she was on a committee in Maine and they did not have a budget. She said you don’t need a budget for a committee. Chairman Moritz said she wants it to be fair but not rushed and not waste anyone’s time. Selectman Glavac said he brought up at the last meeting that he has been approached about the better deal and was questioned for bringing it up.
Chris McGrath told the Board people ask him when the next deal is.
He also told the Board there are no signs at the skate park and the committee was told the signs needed to be there. He said there is also a plan from the committee to put in permanent ramps and said the ice rink couldn’t be used this past winter because of the skate park so asked if they need to go to the Select Board before putting in permanent ramps.
Julian Czarny said he went onto the website and the agenda that came up was from Sept. There was discussion about the website and concerns with it.
Paul Greenlaw came before the Board to discuss an economic development initiative group he is forming for the purpose of economic development. He said he talked with some professionals to get some ideas and will start networking. Dann said he was on the river district committee in Littleton and asked if he could be on the committee or attend the meetings. Mr. Greenlaw said he handpicked who is in the group but will get Dann’s number. He explained there will not be any tax dollars used for what he is doing. Chris Jensen said this is a private group and won’t be happening in public venue. Mr. Greenlaw said he would get on the agenda every few months or so to give an update to the Select Board. Dann said the meetings in Littleton were open to the public. Mr. Greenlaw said they will not be using any public money. Selectman Glavac said the Business Retention & Expansion committee is on hold at UNH (facilitators of committee) request because of friction within committee members. He said committee members have asked that Kevin Roy be excluded from the committee. Geoff Sewake has put it on hold until town “heals” and will talk again in May to see if it can be done in an unbiased way. He thanked Mr. Greenlaw for what he is doing. Don Lavoie said it is not the job of the Select Board to bring business to town. He said nothing governmental is going on in the group formed and they hope to help sell town owned deeded property.
Selectman Ubaldo said it is a great idea but warned they are sliding on a slippery slope because they have come to the Board and will be working closely with the town.
Ms. Johnson said she hopes the group would not just be looking at only town owned property.
Chairman Moritz moved to reconsider the landfill committee at this time. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Selectman Glavac asked when does the Board think they should look at this and said he would like a timeline. Selectman Boisseau said UNH not working with us speaks more to holding off on the committee but doesn’t know when it would be right. Selectman Moore said she wants things to settle down and then decide what they want the committee to do. Selectman Glavac said the landfill discussion is front and center and we need to fill the financial gap. He said that is not going away. He said they need to discuss how the revenues will be replaced and said it is a real issue. Selectman Glavac also said waiting for things to settle down isn’t going to help. Chairman Moritz said they just voted on it and was voted down so need to seek info and go forward. Selectman Glavac asked how much time. Selectman Ubaldo suggested calling it an economic committee. He said the expansion didn’t pass and the $75,000 for solid waste needs after landfill closure didn’t pass either so we are not planning for the future. He said we need a revenue committee and can leave the landfill out of it.
Tim Vaughn said they need to set goals, priorities and develop an action plan. He said as a Board you need to decide where it needs to go and it is not a discussion for public to have. Mr. Jensen said it should be tabled now to take the time to look at finances and not be stampeded. Mrs. Jensen said the Board will be reviewing this when they review the budget anyways. Dann said the town didn’t vote the landfill down but the majority voted against it. He also pointed out that by RSA any meeting has to be heard by everyone and said he can’t hear most of the people and requested the microphones be used. Chairman Glavac said there is a sense of urgency with the revenue reduction and said they can’t just say the town voted and move on. Chairman Moritz said she looked back in the minutes and this is early for tax rate conversation. She agreed they need to talk about revenue but said it is premature now. She called for the vote. Carried 3-2 (Selectmen Glavac and Ubaldo opposed).
Ben Woo came before the Board to discuss having a coffee and donut shop on Main Street with the possibility of renting the Country Club to do that. He explained he has a small business plan and a traffic study that shows 5000 cars a day go through on Main Street. He said he wants a Main Street presence but said signage would be difficult at the country club. He mentioned neon and sail signs as options. Mr. Woo said he believes he would bring traffic and attention to the country club. He explained he would be looking to run from 5 to 10 am and 3 to 7 pm. There was discussion about what equipment would be needed and he said he would provide all the equipment including a donut robot but would need a hood. There was also discussion about the possibility of Mr. Woo making the donuts on the deck which would mean he would not need a hood. Frank Claffey asked if the electrical upgrade was complete enough to support the electrical needs of this. Mr. Woo said the robot would need 110. Selectman Boisseau asked when he would want to open and was told in 3 to 4 weeks. Mr. Woo will talk with the Country Club Manager once one is hired.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 03/27/17. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board reviewed a bill for a pool filter that was on the warrant. Dick Robie said on Saturday the old filters came out. He said they put the word out and 35 to 40 people showed up to help including the Profile baseball team. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the bill for the pool filter for $24,562.00. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.
Selectman Glavac asked for an update on the skate park. Recreation Director, Richard Ledoux, said he wasn’t aware there was going to be some permanent installation going on over there and said he needs to get in touch with them (skate park committee). Chris McGrath said it is town property and it is on social media what their plan is. Selectman Glavac said the ramp was supposed to be removed so rink could still be filled but it didn’t happen. Mr. Ledoux will contact the skate park committee about this.
The Board discussed the Littleton boundary line issue and setting up a meeting with the Littleton Town Manager and two of our Selectmen. Chairman Moritz and Selectman Moore will attend the meeting.
At 7:24 Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91 A:3 II for matters of personnel and reputation. Selectman Moore seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board discussed tax issues and deeding. Selectman Glavac moved to sign the deed waiver. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 5-0.
The Board discussed personnel.
Chairman Moritz moved to hire David Walker for $10.00 for Country Club. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 5-0.
Chairman Moritz moved to hire Matt Courchaine for $32,400 a year with the following incentive: 25% of all revenue received above $300,000.00 (example: total revenue $310,000.00, 10,000.00 x 25% = $2500.00). Maximum incentive is $4,000.00. Please note that any incentive based earnings are contingent upon the country club operating at a profit for the season, independent of the target revenue. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 8:56 Chairman Moritz moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.
Chairman Moritz moved to authorize Sandy Laleme to speak with Attorney Christine Fillmore about Northern Pass. Selectman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.
At 9:03 Chairman Moritz moved to adjourn. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
