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06/19/2017 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem Selectmen Office
June 19, 2017

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

Chairman Moritz opened the meeting at 5:50 pm. Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel. Selectman Moore seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session. The Board discussed personnel. Chairman Moritz moved to allow Brett Jackson to hire part-time highway personnel. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0.
At 5:56 Chairman Moritz moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Glavac seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.
Chairman Moritz began the public session at 6:00pm and opened the public input portion.

PUBLIC INPUT

Sandy Laleme said she is part of a committee that is doing a fundraiser for the preservation of the country club and said the country is over 100 years old. She said the fundraiser will be on August 19th from 4 to 7 and will be wine and horderves and will cost $25.00 per person. Mrs. Laleme said she is looking for permission to have it on the website and also to have an account to hold the money similar to how the pool committee did it. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the fundraiser with the town having an account and to put it on the website. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 4-0.
Julian Czarny requested the Board speak loudly when doing roll call.

Michael O’Donnell from DOT came before the Board to discuss the letter for the crosswalks in regards to the paving project. There was discussion about how the Village District handles the sidewalks and the Town handles the crosswalks. Mr. O’Donnell said they are recommending but not requiring streetlights over each end of crosswalks and also talked about ADA requirements and putting in “bumps” that are required. It was agreed the Select Board would sign the letter for the crosswalks and the Village District Commissioners would sign for the Sidewalks.
Mr. O’Donnell also discussed with the Board the flashing Beacon at the school and said it is not optimal. He said they have found that the steady flashing beacons are not optimal but the rapid lights when the button is pushed is more optimal. He also said the crosswalk in front of the school doesn’t require one and said if it is something we wanted they cost approx. $15,000.00 for a set of signs but he said he could leave the existing beacon until the town figures out what they want to do. Chairman Moritz asked why we can’t just keep that permanently and he said traffic devices work on uniformity and beacons are used for dangerous intersections that don’t have a light. He said the crosswalk is in a safe location. Selectman Glavac pointed out that the DOT is a state agency is there has been some skepticism about state agencies lately that has come up.
Chairman Moritz asked Mr. O’Donnell about J Brakes and who do we contact if we want to limit the noise of them in the village. Mr. O’Donnell suggested sending a letter requesting a sign to William Lambert. There was discussion about parking signs and Mr. O’Donnell said those are maintained by the town.

The Board opened the sand bids. There were 2 bids received. The first bid was from Bethlehem Earth Materials for 2500 cu/yards sand @$6.75 per yard for $16,875.00 and the second bid was from Chick’s Sand & Gravel for $7.00/C.Y Loaded. Also $10.40/C.Y for delivery. It was noted it was purchased from Danny Tucker last year. Selectman Glavac asked Mr. Jackson what his preference was and he pointed out that Bethlehem Earth Materials is the lower bid and is closer. Chairman Moritz moved to award the bid to Bethlehem Earth Materials. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0.

The Board reviewed the Master Plan Goals for Chapter 2.
Goal 1. Overall Maintenance of the Transportation System: Provide a safe, functional and well-maintained transportation system which implements the land use plan. It should include roads, parking, sidewalks and non-motorized opportunities. – Mr. Jackson talked about the Noyes development problem with water. Selectman Glavac said he would like to develop a plan to pave entire town.
Goal 2. Traffic Speed & Noise on Route 302
a) Work with the Police Department to seek grant funding to obtain a portable speed monitoring sign. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said 2 signs have been donated and they are trying to put them up permanently but DOT says they don’t meet federal standards so he is having a stand built to make them portable. He also said he believes the speed limit from Lewis Hill Road to Maplewood should be 25 MPH.
b) Continue law enforcement in front of the school to enforce the speed limit. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said they do this when they are available. Selectman Glavac asked what it would take to get it paroled more. The Chief said they used to run details there. Selectman Glavac asked if the position they put on hold should be relooked at and the Chief said that would help. He said they had more presence when they were at full capacity.
c) Lobby the State to provide “No Engine Brake Zone” signs for use in the 30 mph zone. There was discussion about the J brakes and the Chief said there is no statute that says they can’t use them and only thing that could enforce it would be a noise ordinance. Chairman Moritz said she looked into the noise ordinance and said it would have to be a warrant article and that it should be revisited. Selectman Moore said even if it is not enforceable maybe a sign would help. Mrs. Farrell asked about the existing noise ordinance and was told there was not anything specific in it to regulate. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said one on the books has to have laws, penalties, etc to be enforced.
Goal 3. Review Regulations & Road Specifications
a) Look at site plan regulations to review road specifications for private roads to ensure compliance with current standards. – Planning Board
b) Devise a method of review for road regulations to ensure that road specifications are met before a road goes to Town Meeting for approval as a town-owned road. Has to be approved at town meeting and petitioner needs to have engineer state that road meets town specs.
Goal 4. Provide Public Education on Road Safety & Maintenance
Educate residents who live on private roads of the importance of maintaining their roads for first responders by adding information to the Town’s website. Brett Jackson said this has been an issue for the town when the Town has had to respond to calls on private roads that are not maintained. There was discussion about the legal issue of having to respond if the road is not passable for emergency vehicles and discussion about the possibility of having the roads inspected yearly. Selectman Glavac asked who would inspect them. Mr. Czarny said not to dictate to private road owners and said he didn’t care if they didn’t respond if they couldn’t. Selectman Ubaldo said it is private property and they should respond within reason. Margaret Gale said private roads are not in isolation so they could affect people that are not on private roads like fires spreading for example if the fire trucks can’t get to a burning building on a private road.
Goal 5. Improve Parking at Public Band Concerts
Devise a parking solution for bank concerts at the town gazebo. Chairman Moritz said there are multiple municipal parking lots that they will be looking to add signs to encourage people to park at including the skate park and the highway garage. There was discussion about there being an announcement of appropriate places to park and it would be enforced.

Chairman Moritz said the Transfer Station is part of chapter 1 goal but is a big conversation so it is its own agenda item. Selectman Glavac said he would like the committee to look at recycling in the same manner that it is now. He said it is zero sort now with all recycling accepted. He also said he wants to see zero tax impact. Chairman Moritz asked how he recommends zero tax impact and he said by user fees. Selectman Moore said a committee would be able to look into all these things. There was discussion on whether a committee was the best option or not. Selectman Glavac suggested using money from the $75,000.00 in the Capital Reserve Fund to survey the community. Selectman Ubaldo said the committee could investigate using the Trudeau Road one by leasing it. Selectman Glavac said people need to have open minds. Chris McGrath offered to be on the committee. Chairman Moritz read through the committee purpose and objectives. The Board discussed it having 6 to 7 members and putting it on the website and in the paper.

Chairman Moritz said they have reached out to Littleton about the boundary line issue to move forward and called Dave Gagnon to let him know.

Chairman Moritz said she has contacted our attorney about the religious exemption and the assessor is still working on that.

Selectman Glavac said the BR&E Committee met 2 weeks ago and they are moving forward. He said the press release will be issued and surveys will be going out and they will be looking for volunteers. The volunteers will use the survey to interview the businesses in town. There was a question of whether to send the survey to all 105 businesses or to send them a letter saying the surveys were available. It was decided they would send the letter saying they were available. Chris Jensen asked who generated the questions on the survey and was told the University of Minnesota and UNH took it and tweaked for each community. Rita Farrell asked if any company would be interviewed by an employee and was told no.

The Board reviewed the minutes from 06/12/17. Chairman Moritz moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 3-0. (Selectman Glavac abstained).

Cheryl Jensen said more hearing dates have been added for Northern Pass and wondered if a reduced rate could be negotiated with the attorney. She also said interveners are to be questioned by Northern Pass and other interveners so should discuss with attorney what we should participate in.

There was discussion about selling town owned property so it can be taxed again and how that is in the works.

At 7:50 Chairman Moritz moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of personnel. Selectman Moore seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session. (Selectman Ubaldo left the meeting at 7:45)

Selectman Glavac moved to re-hire Alexandra Dimarzio at $8.75. Chairman Moritz seconded. Carried 3-0.

At 8:33 Chairman Moritz moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Glavac seconded. Chairman Moritz did roll call with all members agreeing to come out of non-public session.

At 8:33 Chairman Moritz moved to adjourn. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd