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Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem Selectmen Office
December 1, 2014
Present: Chairperson Laleme, Selectman Blanchard, Selectman Fiorentino, Selectman Glavac (arrived at 6:10).
At 6:04 pm Chairperson Laleme opened the meeting.
Dawn Ferringo came before the Board to discuss the Planning & Zoning, Welfare, and Building Inspection budgets. Ms. Ferringo explained the Planning & Zoning budget is going up because her hours will be increased to 20 hours a week. Ms. Ferringo explained the Building Inspection budget was reduced. She said 5 hours is built in for her hours out of this budget. For the Welfare budget Ms. Ferringo reduced her rent by $5,000.00 and reduced her salary line because her welfare hours will be decreasing. The breakdown for all Ms. Ferringo’s hours are 20 for Planning & Zoning, 10 for Welfare, and 5 for Building Inspection. Selectman Fiorentino said he would like to see the hours broken out on the budget.
Darren Perkins came before the Board to discuss the Country Club budget. He said he needs to increase his advertising budget. There was discussion about returning employees and whether they have to reapply every year or not. Mr. Perkins said they come back because they are invited back. Mr. Perkins said he would like 1 full-time and 2 part-time employee’s for the clubhouse instead of 5 part-time employees. Selectman Blanchard said the employee’s need to be more inviting and welcoming to people. Mr. Perkins said the membership was down and it was discussed how there will be an approx. profit of $5,000.00 this year. There was discussion
about the membership demographics and the strategic plan. Mr. Perkins said he plans on increasing his advertising by advertising in the Boston Globe and maybe some TV advertising. He also said he has been talking with a current Town employee who has a degree in Marketing about doing some marketing for the club. The Board discussed the possibility of establishing a Capital Reserve for carts and discussed the cost to replace each cart (5 to 6 thousand). Mr. Perkins said he would get a $1000.00 trade in for each golf cart when buying new ones. Mr. Perkins said the grounds keeping staff is too small so he increased the grounds salary line and he also said the greens keeper will have chemical license next year. The equipment Mr. Perkins said will be purchased is a tee mower, back up greens mower, and reels for current greens mower. Mr. Perkins said a new refrigerator is needed for the restaurant. His overall proposed budget is $300,715.00. Selectman Glavac said there is an increase of $22,000.00 in expenses from what was spent this year and asked Mr. Perkins if he will be able to make up the revenue from $285,261.00. Selectman Glavac asked if the Town should be in the golf business and pointed out that if the Country Club was not town owned it would generate about $45,000.00 in tax revenue. He said he would like to set a dollar amount to give back to the Town as a PILOT amount budgeted for in the expenditures. Selectman Glavac also said the profit should be more than $5,000.00 and Mr. Perkins needs to be aggressive with advertising.
The Board discussed including all vehicles and itemizing in more detail the budgets for Fire, Police, and Ambulance the way the Highway budget is. They discussed how they could track the budget better and expenses per vehicle. Selectmen Blanchard and Fiorentino both thinks this is a great idea and feel the more detail the better. Chairperson Laleme moved to add separate line items in the fire, police, and ambulance budgets. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board discussed the dispatch budget. They determined they needed more information on what the call volumes are like to determine how much to budget. The Fire and Police Chief’s will be asked about the call numbers.
The Board discussed an abatement for Wes Griffith due to correct assessment not being changed in the computer. Chairperson Laleme moved to approve the abatement. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 4-0.
Chairperson Laleme read a letter from Bethlehem Christian School notifying the Select Board they are holding a raffle. Chairperson Laleme moved to approve the raffle. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Selectman Fiorentino pointed out there are specific laws on raffles. Chairperson Laleme and Selectman Blanchard withdrew their motion and second. Chairperson Laleme moved to approve the raffle in accordance with the laws and attach the RSA with a letter to the Bethlehem Christian School. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
Chairperson Laleme discussed a quote ($34880.00) for GIS mapping with the Board and said the quote was more than half the price of what was quoted in the past because of all the updated mapping that has been done already. She said it will need to be done sooner or later and suggested putting it on as a Warrant Article.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 11/10/14. Chairperson Laleme moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Blanchard seconded. This was tabled because Selectmen Fiorentino and Glavac were not at the 11/10/14 meeting.
The Board reviewed the minutes from 11/17/14. Chairperson Laleme moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Selectman Glavac said he wanted to add “the town will have a test after sale of lots to see how much the Town wants businesses in town” to the last paragraph on page 3. The amended minutes were approved 3-0 (Selectman Fiorentino abstained).
The Board reviewed the Deputy Warden list that Fire Chief Anderson submitted to the Board for approval. Selectman Blanchard moved to approve the 10 appointments. Selectman Glavac seconded. Carried 4-0.
Chairperson Laleme asked the Board if they felt the need to meet with the Master Plan Committee about the question on the Master Plan survey about the landfill. Selectman Glavac suggested the question be do you accept future development of the landfill beyond the 2012 agreement and said either way the answer will be no. He said the current question will become politicized and said he would like to attend the meeting. Selectman Blanchard said he thinks the question is inappropriate and said the Board should attend. Chairperson Laleme said she will call June Garneau and let her know the Board will post a meeting and will plan on being part of the discussion. Selectman Glavac said it would be a shame to see that one question be the focus of the Master Plan. Frank Claffey suggested the Master Plan Meeting on Jan. 8th be at the Town Building instead of the library.
Selectman Glavac said he went to the last School Board meeting and they were discussing the budget and Selectman Glavac wants to see if the Town can provide plowing for the school to see if that could be an opportunity to reduce the school budget. Chairperson Laleme said the Town would have to hire another employee and said that would increase the Town budget. Selectman Glavac said he is aware of that but wants to see if it would be cost effective to have the Town do it. He said if we can affect the tax rate in any way we should look into it.
The Board discussed the auction and said the sale amount came to $149,000.00 with a net to the Town of $134,000.00. It was stated that at the auction before people left the room people were already saying we need to be careful about what goes on the sold lots. The Board discussed how concerning that is. Selectman Blanchard said there are people in the community that want to restrict things but that it will be up to the Planning Board to determine if potential businesses meet the requirements. He also said we need to be more pro business and have faith in the Planning Board. Phil Bell commended the Board on the property sale and is glad the properties are on tax rolls now.
Dick Robie said people from Whitefield mows the library and he thinks it should be someone from Town that is a taxpayer do it.
At 7:40 Chairperson Laleme moved to go into non-public session per 91-A for matters of personnel and reputation. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Chairperson Laleme did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board reviewed a request from Rec Director, Rhienna Miscio, to write off some unpaid accounts. Chairperson Laleme moved to write off the accounts. Selectman Fiorentino seconded. The Board discussed whether a child should be able to participate in any recreation program if they have an outstanding balance. Chairperson Laleme and Selectman Fiorentino withdrew their motion and second. Chairperson Laleme moved to archive amounts until if/when they participate in any recreation program then they need to pay in full before participating. Selectman Fiorentino seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board discussed personnel.
Chairperson Laleme moved to seal minutes of personnel discussion. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
At 8:45 Chairperson Laleme moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
At 8:45 Chairperson Laleme moved to adjourn. Selectman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
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