Skip to content
Home » 04/30/2018 SB Minutes

04/30/2018 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
April 30, 2018

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

Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.

Chief Ho-Sing-Loy came before the Board to introduce Mike Kopp from North Country Ford to give information to the Board about the Ford leasing program.  Mike Kopp came before the Board and explained they do a large amount of municipal business and they take that business seriously.  He said they service the 550’s and ambulances and that the Town of Bethlehem has been a customer as well as the Village District.  Mr. Kopp said the municipal lease and finance is exactly the same thing and said the town owns the vehicle at the end of the lease.  He explained it is to break up the purchase amount and how it is beneficial with budgeting.  Chairman Moritz asked what the interest rate is and was told 3-year lease it is approx. 7% and 4-year lease is approx. 6.9%.  Mr. Kopp said financing has better interest and said leasing isn’t the cheapest option, but it is the easiest.  Mr. Kopp said he believes the lease has the language in it that the cruiser can be returned if the amount didn’t get appropriated.  Mr. Kopp explained the state bid program where a particular dealer can sell the vehicles for a fraction less than all other dealers.  Selectman Boisseau asked about extended warranties.  Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said he added the price to show what it would look like and said only tires are not included.  Mr. Kopp said not enough is being put in the capital reserve fund on a yearly basis to purchase and maintain the cruisers.  Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said he had spoken with Chairman Moritz about getting on a regular rotation and the need to stick to it or they will have broken cruisers.  He said he has 2 cruisers at 130,000 miles and one that is dead.  The Chief explained they don’t have any trade value at that point.  He also explained the cruisers get 100 miles per shift and they do 2 -3 shifts per day.  Selectman Glavac asked Mr. Kopp the trade value after 3 years and was told an estimate of 7 – 8 thousand for a cruiser with approx. 100,000 miles on it.  Paul Greenlaw said they need to come up with a plan and not get off the cycle because if one vehicle goes down the other vehicles pick up those extra miles.  He said sticking with the plan makes sense.  There was discussion about how many miles were on the cruiser that is dead (140,000) and if the Chief looked at other options besides Ford.  The Chief said he has looked at other options, but they are more expensive because they have to be special ordered.  Selectman Glavac said they need to be putting $36,000 in the capital reserve every year and they can either pay cash each year for cruiser whether it is a 3 or 4-year rotation.

Jim McCann from the Bethlehem Trails Association came before the Board to give an update on the human powered trails they would like to develop on town owned property.  He explained they are self-funded and partnering with Mtn. Bike Collaborative and would be developing beginner/intermediate terrain.  There was discussion about a public hearing needing to be scheduled at some point for this.  Brett Jackson said Bethlehem is made up of 51% National forest and asked why that is not being used for this.  Mike Bruno said the Master Plan speaks to creating different recreation opportunities and to interlink communities.  He said the loop (of the proposed trail) looks like it is a closed loop.  He also said the snowmobile club pays fees for trails.  Mr. McCann said human powered is their (BTA) focus because that is what they know but said they will not get in the way of access of snowmobilers.  Selectman Boisseau said they are looking at public and private land.  He said the map was of town land only and they are still looking at land.  Joanna Boisseau said the human powered trails will mostly be utilized in the summer and said the White Mountain National Forest is not geared for mountain biking.  She also said communities have been transformed by mountain biking.  Cheryl Jensen said she doesn’t see why it is this versus that.  There was discussion about the town forest management plan for the forest is non-motorized.  Andrea Bryant said atv’s would require more than a single-track trail.  Selectman Boisseau said their passion is human powered and that is how they are selling it to the landowners.  There was discussion about town liability and Selectman Boisseau said a waiver form could be signed for volunteers and if you don’t pay to use it the town is not liable.  The Board questioned if this will need to go to a vote or not.  Selectman Moore will call NHMA and check.  Selectman Ubaldo asked about erosion control and asked if there would be construction of bridges.  Mr. McCann said some bridges will need to be built and said they will do everything they can to prevent erosion.  Selectman Ubaldo said it is exclusive.  Mr. McCann said it is additional.  Selectman Boisseau said non-motorized trails do not take as much to build.  He said there is momentum behind it and it has worked in other communities.  He also said it would not impede on future development on that property.  Selectman Glavac asked if it would connect to other trail systems and was told yes and there is a push to connect Bethlehem to Parker Mtn. in Littleton and Bethlehem to Franconia.  Selectman Glavac asked the approx. construction cost and was told by Selectman Boisseau they will fundraise for the bridge supplies and all work is being done by volunteers.  Selectman Glavac asked for timeline and was told ASAP.  Mr. Bruno said he is in favor of this.  He said he would like them to collaborate with snowmobile club.  He suggested they talk to Brad Presby who is a trail master.

The Board reviewed the RFP’s for the Country Club for appraiser services and real estate services.  The Board will review them over the week and will make decision at next week’s meeting.

The Board discussed the option of having the land surveyed.  Selectman Glavac said the assessor may include this.  Dann asked if the taxpayer should pay for wetland delineation.  Rita Farrell asked for clarification on warrant article #10 so Chairman Moritz read the warrant article. Mrs. Farrell asked if it would remain a golf course.  Chairman Moritz explained that it would per warrant article #11.

The Board discussed what the vote will consist of with the Country Club.  Chairman Moritz said this is preliminary and the warrant article says town will vote.  She also said the Select Board could not recommend it there was not a good deal.

Chairman Moritz said they have 2 people interested in being on the Capital Improvement Committee.  She said Alan Jackson and Ken Smith are interested and reviewed their attributes.  Chairman Moritz moved to accept both Alan Jackson and Ken Smith to be on the committee.  Selectman Boisseau seconded.  Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed parking.  They discussed the skate park parking lot being an option, but no overnight parking is allowed.  There was also discussion about parking for the summer concerts at the Gazebo.  The Board discussed having temporary handicapped parking on 302 and there cannot be parking on Prospect Street due to emergency vehicle access.  They listed the parking areas as; library, skate park, elementary school, pool parking lot, etc.  Selectman Ubaldo will talk with Chief Ho-Sing-Loy about parking fully on Gazebo lawn and Log Cabin Road.  Chairman Moritz said she wants to post a map with available parking on the website and give to local businesses.

PUBLIC INPUT
Peter Roy asked what the cost of using the donated flag pole is.  Chairman Moritz said Jack Anderson and April Hibberd are working on a new plan and said hopefully it will happen by 4th of July.  Josh Casey asked who owns the burnt building (next to the school) and was told they will get him that information.
There was discussion on when public input should happen at the meeting.

The Board reviewed the minutes from 04/23/18.  Chairman Moritz moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Glavac seconded.  Carried 5-0.

At 8:00 PM Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of reputation and legal.  Selectman Ubaldo seconded.  Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.

The Board discussed tax deeded property.
The Board agreed to rehire HN for the Country Club.
The Board discussed a legal issue.

At 8:47 Chairman Moritz moved to come out of non-public session.  Selectman Boisseau seconded.  Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.

At 8:47 Selectman Ubaldo moved to adjourn.  Selectman Glavac seconded.  Carried 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant