Skip to content
Home » 12/09/2019 SB Minutes

12/09/2019 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
December 9, 2019

Present: Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Moore, Selectman Jensen, Selectman Caplain – via phone.

At 6:06 Chairman Boisseau opened the meeting.

PUBLIC INPUT
David Van Houten said he is still trying to figure out the taxes for the solar project at Profile. He said for these projects they are not paying anything in taxes or in some towns they pay PILOTS. He also said he talked with the assessor and he didn’t know much about it. Selectman Jensen asked how much it will save the school and was told about $350,000 – $400,000 over 25 years. Selectman Moritz said they need something more substantial that shows this, some type of documentation. Mr. Van Houten said they received 3 proposals and all the power will be used for Profile. Chairman Boisseau said it makes sense to do what other communities are doing and said the Board should talk with the assessor. Selectman Jensen said he would like to see more of what other towns and schools are doing.

Steve Dignazio came before the Board to discuss a grant for the Colonial theater. He explained it is a USDA rural development grant for $40,000 with 35 – 37 % (approx $14,000) that Colonial will get and will be used for lighting. They are asking for community support and said no money will be coming from the town. Selectman Moritz moved to sign the letter of support for Colonial. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 4-0. The Board signed the letter.

BUDGETS
CEMETERY
Clare Brown came before the Board to discuss the cemetery budget. She said she is making progress with getting information input into the cemetery software system and hopes to be done by summer. She discussed the need to have the cemetery surveyed. The Board discussed putting an estimate in for next years budget and then putting it out to bid so it can get done. Selectman Jensen will look for grants to see if there are any for this. Mrs. Brown asked if the cemetery brochure could be put on the website and was told yes. She also mentioned there is nothing in the master plan about the cemetery and there should be.
POLICE
Chief Ho-Sing-Loy came before the Board to go over his budget. He explained his budget is up 3% and that increase is due mostly to salaries. He explained he has been working for years to get salaries up and hopefully it will help with retention. Chairman Boisseau asked how retention has been and the Chief said he has lost about 1 officer a year but there was one year he lost 3. Selectman Jensen asked what is in his services and supplies line and the Chief said it is for membership dues to DARE & Lead, tasers annual payment, camera systems, interforce technology (response – active shooter notification system), radar recertification, IMC (maintains records).
Selectman Moritz said they are trying to get on a good rotation with the cruisers due to using a lot of miles a year. She said he could buy the cruiser with money from his budget this year instead of putting $45,000 in capital reserve and then he could put in 25,000 this year and next year to capital reserve to be ready for the next cruiser purchase. The Chief said the new cruiser would replace the 2015. Selectman Jensen asked why 2 cruisers are parked. Chief Ho-Sing-Loy said they put on 100 miles per shift and they do 3-4 shifts per day so that is 400 miles per day so 24,000 – 26,000 miles per year on a cruiser is the goal. With 4-year rotation of cruisers at 100,000 miles they get a better trade value. Selectman Caplain asked why put it off when they can do it now. Chairman Boisseau asked how much wear and tear does idling do to a cruiser. The Chief said more than driving but need to keep them on due to computers and electronics etc. Selectman Jensen said they are asking departments to trim and if they didn’t buy the cruiser it would save $47,000. Selectman Moritz said it could end up costing more in maintenance. Selectman Caplain said with 4 cruisers we would pay less in maintenance cost per year. The Board will make decision next week.
FIRE
Chief Anderson came before the Board to discuss the fire department budget. He said his budget is only going up slightly. He explained to the board that his expense to use his truck cost more than what he is reimbursed but is not asking to increase that at this time. He said he is asking for the same amount for warrant articles as last year. He told the Board the air packs that were gifted to them were tested and they actually are lower standard then what we have so they will not be used. The Chief said he will have to replace the ones we have sometime in the near future though and a new pack with one cylinder is $6,500. He also said they should talk about a new fire station and said the roof keeps leaking and he doesn’t know how that will be fixed because it happened from the addition being built so a new roof will not solve it.
AMBULANCE
Chief Anderson reviewed the ambulance budget with the Board. He told the Board there have been 350 calls so far this year which is an increase. He explained he had to increase the budget due to the increase in calls.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Stayed flat.
DISPATCH
Stayed flat.
GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL BUILDINGS
This budget went up with an increase in building maintenance. It was noted the energy commission suggested a maintenance plan for the whole building.
INSURANCE
It was explained it shows a big increase for workers comp but that is due to switching from fiscal year billing to calendar year.
VISITOR CENTER
$8000.00 decrease because of the one-time expense of painting in the 2019 budget.
WOOD ASSESSOR
Stayed flat.
BUILDING
Salary increase worked in, but budget could absorb it without increasing it.

Selectman Jensen moved to appoint Susan McClain to the Ammonoosuc River Local Advisory Committee. Selectman Moore seconded. Carried 5-0.

Selectman Moore told the Board that she contacted the attorney/resident that contacted them about concerns on the street name change and said they had a pleasant conversation and it is resolved.

Selectman Jensen asked the Board about looking into joint purchasing with other towns to try and benefit from cost savings. He will look into this.

The Board discussed brush on the school property the snowmobilers want to cut. April will talk with Sue Greenlaw at the school.

Selectman Jensen said there is rebar sticking up at the old community garden site and it worried about that. The Board agreed to have Brett Jackson see if he can have an employee address that.

Mary Lou Krambeer asked the Board if she can work with April on room set up and was told yes. She said deliberative will be at Profile School.

At 8:05 Chairman Boisseau moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of legal & real estate. Selectman Moritz seconded. Chairman Boisseau did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.

The Board discussed legal advice. Selectman Moritz moved to release legal advice to the Planning Board. Chairman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.

The Board discussed the country club lease.

The Board discussed enforcement issues.

At 8:37 Selectman Moore moved to adjourn. Chairman Boisseau seconded. Carried 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant