Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
June 24, 2019
Present: Selectman Moore, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Jensen, Selectman Caplain.
Vice-Chair Moore opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.
Phil Beaulieu from the NH Department of Transportation (DOT) came to discuss the intersection of Route 142 (Agassiz Street) and Route 302 (Main Street). He said when he received the letter from the Select Board expressing safety concerns, he forwarded it to the safety section of DOT and to the Bureau of Traffic. He said they all commented and did brainstorming about what improvement could be made. Mr. Beaulieu said not a lot can be done and said it is common in NH villages that allow street parking. He said eliminating parking on both sides of the intersection would help and could also move the crosswalk to the other side of the intersection. Vice Chair Moore asked about a speed limit adjustment. Mr. Beaulieu said it is now 30 and the Bureau of Traffic regulates that. He said an engineering study would need to be done to track current speed going through there. He said we could ask the Bureau of Traffic but said the speed limit probably wouldn’t be reduced. Vice Chair Moore asked about head on parking at an angle. Mr. Beaulieu said it used to be like that and was probably modified to give more sight. Selectman Caplain said they could get more parking and could eliminate spots if they had head on parking. There was discussion about the process to eliminate parking spots and who makes that decision. Mr. Beaulieu said the Board needs to send a letter to the state and they will come put up the signs. Vice Chair Moore said she doesn’t want to make this unfriendly for businesses. Selectman Moritz said they should remove 1 more spot and make a spot for motorcycles only. She said they need to keep as much parking as possible and keep safe. She said there are many difficult intersections and said there are not many accidents at the 142 & 302 intersection. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said he looked back to 2015 and there was only one, but it doesn’t negate that it is a dangerous intersection. He said he tried in the past to lower the speed and thinks we need the engineer study. The Chief explained people actually go 35 MPH is that is too fast and said if the speed limit is 25 MPH, they will go closer to 30. He said the businesses also need parking but doesn’t believe nose in parking is the answer because people will be backing out into traffic which will create another problem. He said taking out parking spots will help and reducing the speed will help but said it is a bad intersection no matter what. Mr. Beaulieu said backing out is not typical and would require a road safety audit and this location wouldn’t qualify because of the lack of accidents and no fatalities. The Board discussed getting a bigger sign to identify the municipal parking lot. Chief Anderson said in the 60’s when the Sinclair was there the traffic was just as bad or worse. He said it is nice to see Bethlehem reviving itself and told the Board to be careful on what restrictions to put on parking on Main Street due to businesses. He said there is a safety concern but people need to be patient so people can get all the information and analyze the situation. Patrick Doughty lives on Agassiz and said he wished it could have been made into a straight intersection with the Cruft Block lot and put in one traffic light. He also suggested other ways to slow down traffic like bump outs, cones down the road, make lanes narrower. He said angle parking won’t work and said the intersection needs a traffic light. Selectman Moritz asked if it will actually correct an issue and pointed out it is a tough intersection as it is. Mr. Beaulieu suggested contacting North Country Council about the street light issue because they have information and said that is part of the 10-year plan. He said it doesn’t meet the standards to correct so wouldn’t get funding. Cheryl Jensen said she changes her driving behavior to avoid turns she doesn’t like to make, and suggested people go Cross to Congress to 302 to avoid the intersection. Chris McGrath suggested parking meters to push people off Main Street and keep the parking lots free. There was discussion about turning the Sinclair lot into a parking lot, but people spoke about losing potential tax revenue if that happened. Chief Anderson suggested using the skate park as a parking lot because it isn’t being utilized. Rita Farrell spoke about her concerns for safety pulling out of the intersection. Selectman Moritz said the Board needs to consider the facts and asked what facts prove it will make a difference. She said she came onto the Board to help promote businesses and feels eliminating parking will hurt the businesses and sees no evidence that it will make it easier. There was discussion about eliminating spots and how many made sense. The Board discussed things they can do immediately; put up parking sign for the municipal parking lot, change road to slow down, and long-term plans; parking lot at skate park, possible parking lot at Sinclair lot. Marlaina Renton said the #1 concern is safety and said speed is an issue. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said putting the crosswalk signs in the middle of the road does help slow people down, but the signs get broken and they cost $300.00 each. Mr. Doughty suggested using tubular markers that they are using in the notch. Vice Chair Moore asked if they should form a committee to look at this. Mr. Dowling said committees delay things. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said if the Board does a parking plan and submits it, DOT will approve what you submit. Mr. Beaulieu said the Board should request study in writing and to be specific. He said they won’t do a traffic study and said the Bureau of Traffic does the speed study. He said for the safety study they could coordinate but will take time. Mr. Doughty said Dollar General and Ahead did traffic studies so North Country Council will have the data. Selectman Moritz moved to eliminate one more spot on Route 302 West and make the next 2 spots for subcompact cars. Selectman Caplain seconded. Selectman Moritz said she will follow up with Tim Fleury about the signs. There was discussion about subcompact cars. Selectman Moritz amended her motion to make next spot for 3 motorcycles (instead of subcompact cars). Selectman Caplain seconded the amended motion. Carried 4-0
The Board discussed the goals of the parking committee.
• Slowing traffic down; using cones, tubulars, flower boxes, bike lane, etc.
• Finding additional parking in center of town
• Use the skate park as a parking lot?
• Subcompact vehicle parking
The ad will be placed on the website, town office & post office with a date of July 8th to respond by submitting a letter of interest.
The Board discussed the possibility of needing a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN). Vice Chair Moore moved to approve the TAN. Selectman Moritz seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board reviewed the sand bids. There were 2 bids received.
Chicks – $9.00/yard
AB Excavating – 10.75/yard screened and delivered
7.50/yard picked up
Road Agent, Brett Jackson said the price went up quite a bit from last year and although AB is cheaper, they are further away. The Board decided to put it back out to bid for a couple of weeks. Vice Chair Moore moved to re-advertise for sand bids. Selectman Jensen seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board reviewed a request for a road name for the Ahead development. They are requesting the road be named Lloyd Hills Lane. Selectman Moritz moved to approve the name contingent that state doesn’t have rule on “lane” use. Vice Chair Moore seconded. Carried 4-0. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy will look into the use of “lane”.
Chief Ho-Sing-Loy came before the Board to discuss the purchase of a police cruiser. He said he would like to replace cruiser #4 that has 166,000 miles on it. He said the dealer is giving a $2000.00 trade allowance for it. He explained to the Board that he has $50,000 in his Capital Reserve Fund for a cruiser and the cost including the trade allowance is $43,883.50. He said they will take everything from the old cruiser and put into the new one. He also said he will have to look at the #2 cruiser next year but will try to spread it out another year. There was discussion about rotating the cruiser and the use of them. Selectman Caplain moved to go forward with the purchase of the cruiser. Selectman Moritz seconded. Carried 4-0.
Chief Ho-Sing-Loy also discussed with the Board the need to purchase 3 body armor sets. He said 2 are replacements and 1 is new for the new officer. He said they need to be replaced every 4 years per federal govt. requirements and the cost to replace them is $2000.00 and will be taken from his safety equipment capital reserve fund. Selectman Moritz moved to approve the purchase of the vests. Vice Chair Moore seconded. Carried 4-0.
Brett Jackson came before the Board to discuss his roadside mower that broke. He said the repair is so significant it is not worth it to do. He told the Board he found a used 2018 one that only has 32 hours on it that he would like to purchase to replace it. The current one is a 1986 Kubota and was purchased in 2004. He said the 2018 is $51,900.00 but would have cost 65,000 new so it is a significant savings. He explained he has $44,000 from his block grant so far so would like to use that and when he gets more to reimburse the difference, he will use to purchase this. Selectman Moritz moved to go forward with the purchase of the John Deere tractor. Selectman Caplain seconded. Carried 4-0.
Selectman Jensen drafted a letter to send out to local businesses, representatives, etc., to get support for the application for the Tillotson Grant. The Board all agreed to send the letter.
Selectman Jensen said the Transfer Station Committee is looking for more active members. A notice will be posted. Select Board will approve members appointed to committee.
Selectman Jensen asked the Board about writing a letter to Victoria Sheehan of DOT thanking Phil B. for his help and his time on the parking issue. They all agreed.
Sugar Hill Board of Selectmen sent a letter saying they have requested Profile School to have the energy committee look into ways of saving money for the school. Selectman Jensen will re-write the letter and the Board will send a letter as well.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 06/10/19 & 06/14/19. Vice Chair Moore moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Moritz seconded. Carried 4-0.
At 8:30 Vice Chair Moore moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel, reputation and real estate. Selectman Moritz seconded. Vice Chair Moore did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board discussed cemetery concerns.
The Board discussed personnel. Selectman Moritz moved to rehire CB and GG for the country club. Selectman Caplain seconded. Carried 4-0.
Vice Chair Moore moved to allow NM to speak with attorney about payroll/irs reporting question. Selectman Moritz seconded. Carried 4-0.
Selectman Moritz moved to let go GK for falsifying application. Selectman Caplain seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board discussed the Country Club Lease.
At 9:25 pm Vice Chair Moore moved to adjourn. Selectman Caplain seconded. Carried 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
