Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2019
Present: Chairman Moritz, Selectman Moore, Selectman Glavac, Selectman Ubaldo.
Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm and opened the public hearing for the rescission of the special revenue fund for the country club. Chairman Moritz read the public hearing notice and explained the hearing is because they need to change the fund from a special revenue fund to a revolving fund and read an email from our Department of Revenue representative explaining that due to a change in legislation we could no longer fund our country club the way we had been and it was their recommendation to change it to a revolving fund.
Victor Hoffman asked what a revolving fund means. Chairman Moritz said it means money in money out and said it is no longer appropriated in the budget. Mr. Hoffman said that is the way it has always been. Chairman Moritz said now if they spend more the taxpayers cover it, but they won’t be able to anymore. She said there is currently approx. $8000.00 to start the revolving fund with. Mr. Hoffman asked if they know what the numbers are supposed to be and said who is going to lease it if it is in bad shape. Chairman Moritz said the revolving fund will protect the taxpayers. Mr. Hoffman said they haven’t managed the club well because the clubhouse has gone down the tubes. Chairman Moritz told Mr. Hoffman he could speak more on the lease aspect of the country club later, but it wasn’t relevant to the public hearing. She also said if the Board did a mailing, they should clarify the wording about this article. She closed the public hearing at 6:10.
Nigel Manley and Will Abbott from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests came before the Board to discuss their PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement they have with the town for the Rocks and Bretzfelder Park properties. Mr. Abbott said they would like to extend the current agreement another 5 years at the same rate of $8,000.00. There was discussion about how they currently pay taxes on the office building that is no longer being used and will eventually be taken down. Mr. Abbott said the taxes for that building were just under $6000.00 but they are proposing to add that building into the PILOT agreement. He also said they are not sure the building will be removed by next April 1st. Chris Jensen said there will be a new Board soon and 5 years is a long time. He asked how long it has been that someone has looked at PILOTS. Chairman Moritz said the assessor is okay with this because of the state of the building. Selectman Ubaldo asked why a 5-year agreement instead of another 3-year agreement. Mr. Abbott said because of the certainty for budgeting. He said they could add a CPI. Selectman Glavac suggested them paying the $8000.00 and the tax on the building going forward until the building is removed. Mr. Abbott explained they could apply for complete exemption from taxes but appreciates the services from the Town. Selectman Glavac said the Town is looking at a loss of $5,800. Nigel Manley said the first time the PILOT was negotiated it was for 10 years and said budgeting is easier knowing what it will be. Mr. Abbott suggested they pay taxes based on the land value of the building property for this year and next year if there is no building it would come to an end and would go into current use. The estimated land value is $67,300 which would be an estimated tax amount of $1800.00. Mr. Jensen asked how many years it has been at $8000.00 and was told 3 years. Mr. Jensen said a lot of people don’t have that many acres and business etc. and pay $8000.00.
Selectman Glavac asked how they wouldn’t pay taxes under the complete exemption.
Mr. Abbott explained under state law a 501c3 Charitable can apply for a complete exemption and the town has to grant it if they meet the criteria. Mr. Abbott said PILOT’s were written in so they could pay for services that are used. He said he doesn’t know that they would ever ask for complete exemption because they appreciate the relationship they have with the town.
Chris McGrath asked what the taxes would be without a PILOT. No one had that information readily available.
Mr. Abbott said he will supply a letter with the amendments discussed tonight ($8000.00 a year + CPI + land value of office building until building is down, for 5 years).
Fire Chief, Jack Anderson, came before the Board to request $2000.00 to finish the hydraulic tool purchase. He explained Bethlehem Emergency Services has donated $8000.00 for the 2nd tool needed. Selectman Ubaldo moved to allow the Chief to purchase the equipment. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Chief told the Board about a donation to the Bethlehem Fire Dept. for 40 air packs including cylinders, masks and compressors. He said he will share some with Dalton. The Chief told the Board he has a hold harmless agreement from the Town of Salem that needs to be signed to accept them. He also said we may need to have a public hearing to accept them because the value is over $10,000.00.
The Board discussed the transfer station report. There was a question of whether they should wait to do this until after election because they would be discussing and assigning action items to Board members and there will be 2 new Board members. They continued to discuss the report.
Chairman Moritz said April can contact Eversource for 3 phase power. Selectman Moore said she will contact Carberry. Selectman Glavac asked what she will be asking them. Selectman Moore said she will take it directly from the report. Chairman Moritz read the warrant article to set up the capital reserve funds and the money can be used to plan. Barry Zitser said they may have to put out to bid. Selectman Glavac said the Board should contact Littleton Selectmen, Carberry, and NCES formally with a letter asking for information. He said they should be told the information requested should be based on this year’s market rates and include dates we will require a transfer station, tonnage, recycling, etc. Mr. Zitser suggested putting in current tonnage and when we operated our own and to say we are information gathering not bidding and cautioned against committing to a contract. He said Feb. 19th is the Transfer Station Committee’s next meeting. Selectman Ubaldo asked if there is a zero-dollar impact option. Mr. Zitser said a truck could come 2-3 times a week and they could price bags to cover but with recycling options it is very hard to have no tax impact.
Selectman Ubaldo said if Littleton Transfer Station is used, they figure out the costs for Bethlehem residents and charge accordingly.
Mr. McGrath said if trash removal is too difficult, we will see trash on the sides on the streets again.
Andrea Bryant said it is the municipal’s responsibility to provide trash removal. Selectman Ubaldo said not to pay for it.
PUBLIC INPUT
Victor Hoffman said if you want to lease to golf course you have to have numbers and there has to be a reason why someone wants to invest in it. He said they need to have the facts and figures and suggested they talk with Natti, a former pro at the club.
Chairman Moritz said this is why the Board looked into it and hired KW Commercial and said she was surprised by their findings.
Mr. Hoffman said there is a big difference between Bethlehem and the other side of the notch. He asked what the possibilities are and what are the costs to fix the building.
Chairman Moritz said KW did a good job and is confidant in the information received from them.
Rita Farrell said the Preservation Society was interested in the country club and they have funds that could possibly help refurbish and restore the property. Selectman Moore said Clare Brown looked into that for the Visitor Center.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 01/28/19. Selectman Glavac moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board reviewed the golf cart lease paperwork and discussed that there is not a payment this year because the trade covers 1st payment.
The Board reviewed a pole license. Selectman Moore moved to approve the pole agreement. Selectman Ubaldo seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board reviewed the parking map that North Country Council did. Mrs. Farrell said the parking on 302 is still causing problems with exiting off Agassiz Street. Selectman Glavac said the state could be asked to add another stop line. Selectman Moore said we have to have parking and said we would have to go back 50 feet to be able to see. Selectman Glavac said 30 feet is regulation. Chairman Moritz said we could ask DOT to come to a meeting. She asked the Board if they had any changes to the map. Selectman Glavac said if we are advertising this, we should provide same signs at location. Selectman Ubaldo said the country club and highway lots should say seasonal and no overnight parking.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
