Skip to content
Home » 06/01/2020 SB Minutes

06/01/2020 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2020

Via Zoom – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moore, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen.
Meeting opened at 6:00. Chairman Boisseau reminded people to mute their microphones when not talking.
Sign Permit – Selectman Moore moved to approve the sign permit for Presidential Mountain Resort. Selectman Moritz seconded. Chairman Boisseau explained where it is. Roll call – all – motion carried.
Speed limit on Lehan Road. A resident on Lehan Road sent a letter to the board with concerns and suggested more signage or speed bumps. Selectman Moore said she met with the resident today. She said there is a 25mph speed limit sign, but it is not in a good place and sees where it could be moved to make it more visible. She said she spoke with Chief Demoranville about putting the electronic speed sign on the road and he thought that was a good idea. Deb from Lehan Road said anything that can be done for the elderly, children, pets, etc. on the road will be helpful and appreciated. Board will talk with Brett Jackson about moving the sign. Selectman Moore said she will talk with him.
Façade Grant – The Board discussed the possibility of using this to help businesses struggling due to Covid but tabled it to get more information on what it can be used for and the balance in the fund. Chairman Boisseau said a few months ago they increased the amount for façade grants 3000.00 to 5000.00 as a matching grant. Selectman Moore said she thinks it should be something the committee should be recommending if they see fit.
Summer Recreation Program – Selectman Moritz said Tim Fleury did extensive research with sending out a survey to parents and talking to other area rec programs. He has been very thorough in researching this. Selectman Moritz agrees with his recommendation to close the summer program this year. Chairman Boisseau said he agrees and said it is a tough call but thinks it is the right one to make. Selectman Moritz said they discussed the tennis, basketball courts and playground and would like to see what happens in the next couple of weeks. Selectman Caplain suggested they discuss it at the meeting on 06/15/20. Selectman Jensen asked how many parents responded to the survey and was told 34 responses 80/20 in favor of using the program. Mr. Fleury said it was sent to families in the billing system. He said 19 responded they had a need and were essential, but comments indicated they were not comfortable. Selectman Caplain asked if he went off CDC recommendations. Mr. Fleury said they do not have their own space or experienced staff to handle the sanitizing needs. He said he believes the need is there but not the want. Chris McGrath said he is very disappointed and has talked to at least 11 people that would have sent their kids and wonders why it was sent to families in Dalton and if that swayed the answer. Mr. McGrath asked if the survey is public and Mr. Fleury said he would have to check because there is identifying information in the comments.
Concerts – Angel Larcom said they are pushing the limit on whether the concerts are happening or not and said they need a decision one way or another. Mr. Fleury said Casey’s suggestion was to cancel June’s performers to have a later start and move those performers to the end of the season. Mr. Fleury said he would love to put it on the agenda for next week. The Board discussed cancelling the June concerts and do further research and decide what to do with July concerts. Chairman Boisseau asked if any of the artists have been paid yet and was told they have not been paid yet. Mr. McGrath hopes the concerts happen and went there and did a visual on his own time. He said he hopes with all the cutting there will be a low tax rate next year. Selectman Jensen moved to cancel the concerts on June 21 and June 28. Chief Anderson said he would be willing to go up there to help and would like to see the concerts happen. Safely. Selectman Moritz seconded. Roll Call – all – motion carried. Selectman Moritz moved to not have the summer rec program this summer. Selectman Caplain seconded. Roll call – all – motion carried.
Food Pantry Event – June 13th in the afternoon for people that may need it. It will be a drive up so no one will need to leave their cars. Board all agreed it was a good idea.
Abandoned flower beds in Gazebo area. Selectman Moore went to look at the area because she remembered discussing it in the past. She said the wood is completely rotted and would have to be redone if they are going to be used. Selectman Moore said she would not recommend the conservation commission using it at all. The Board discussed removing everything from that area and flattening it out and putting seed down. Chairman Boisseau said that would be the highway department so the first question is if they have the ability (time) to do that and would the conservation commission be interested in doing it elsewhere. Selectman Caplain suggested they do it there but not in a raised bed. Selectman Moritz said the conservation commission can make the decision. The Board all agreed. Chairman Boisseau said the Board can talk about it at a later time after the conservation commission makes their decision.
Public Input
Allegra Wright said she has noticed in the last few weeks the new cases of Covid are in the 100’s and used to be in the 50’s. She said she is very concerned about that especially with people coming up from the south. She hopes all employees of businesses wear masks to demonstrate we care and said it would be great if everyone wore a mask. Selectman Caplain appreciates her comments and said the numbers don’t always tell the whole story and because they are testing more there are increased numbers. They are also doing targeted testing in elderly homes etc.
Mr. McGrath thanked the highway guys and said they are the forgotten guys. He asked with non-essential businesses opening up is the town hall opening anytime soon. Mr. McGrath also said town employees reduced hours or laid off may need to happen now.
Selectman Moore said she talked with Mary Jackson about having a drop box in the first set of doors. Selectman Moore said Mrs. Jackson is fine with people coming into the office. She has the glass enclosure and would like to open her office. Selectman Moritz suggested blocking off the third floor to avoid having to clean the third floor. Selectman Moore said to close the bathrooms to the public. Selectman Jensen is curious what Chief Anderson thinks. Chief Anderson said he believes Mary is right if she is comfortable with reopening. He said people can be asked to wear a mask and tape can be put on the floor for social distancing. The Board discussed starting with appointments and see how that goes and then maybe opening the building for that side. Selectman Moritz moved to open the tax collector/town clerk office when Mary Jackson would like to do so. Selectman Moore seconded. Selectman Caplain asked to amend adding per CDC guidelines. Selectman Moritz and Moore agreed to amendment. Roll Call – all – motion carried. Selectman Moritz said they should discuss opening the rest of the building eventually and talk with April, Debbie and Nicole.
Selectmen Jensen said he talked with Chris Fournier of HEB engineering. He said there are programs available with partial reimbursement. Selectman Moritz asked if there are specific projects in mind. Selectman Jensen said yes, he (Brett Jackson) has a laundry list of projects. Selectman Jensen will look into it in more detail.
Minutes – 05/18/20 & 05/22/20. Selectman Caplain moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Moore seconded. Roll Call – all – motion carried.
At 7:16 Chairman Boisseau moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel, legal and real estate. Selectman Caplain seconded. Roll call – all – motion carried.
Personnel – Brett Jackson. Selectmen Jensen moved to move Scott Harris to full-time for the highway Dept. Selectman Caplain seconded. Roll call – all – motion carried.
Country Club new hires. Michael Naso, Lyndsi Stone, Peter Texley. Selectman Moritz moved to hire employees. Selectman Caplain seconded. Roll call – all – motion carried.
At 8:03 Selectman Moritz moved to adjourn. Selectman Moore seconded. Roll call – all – motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant