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Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem Town Building Meeting Room
December 17, 2012
Present: Chairman Jerry Blanchard, Selectman Sandy Laleme, Selectman Mike Culver, Selectman Mark Fiorentino.
At 6:30 Chairman Blanchard opened the meeting.
Chairman Blanchard asked everyone to take a moment of silence for the victims from Sandy Hook Elementary school. Chairman Blanchard opened the public hearing to accept $40,000.00 from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for funding the remediation of environmental contamination associated with the Maplehurst Hotel. Jack Anderson said there was a misunderstanding last year when the warrant article was written. Jack said he thought we would be receiving $360,000.00 with a match of $40,000.00 but he received a letter from Michael McCluskey from DES explaining that we will get the whole $400,000.00. Jack said our cash cost will be $10,400.00 and that will be taken out of the $40,000.00. Jack explained our cost share was made up from his labor expense, the highway dept’s labor, the village district labor, some office supplies, survey, and advertising. He said he will make a final report with the exact #’s. Selectman Laleme told Jack it was a job well done. Selectman Culver moved to accept the $40,000.00 from DES. Selectman Laleme seconded. Carried 4-0. Chairman Blanchard closed the public hearing.
Selectman Culver said DES has conducted the testing on the water for River Road/Wing Road properties surrounding Stoney’s property. Selectman Culver said EPA suggested we move forward with applying for the Brownsfield Grant for an assessment. Selectman Culver asked Jack if he would be able to help with this as he has the experience from Maplehurst. Selectman Laleme moved to have Jack be the point person to apply for Brownsfield for Stoney’s. Chairman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
Doug Harman and John Starr from the Bethlehem Public Library building committee came before the Board. Chairman Blanchard explained that he has the packet that needs to be signed but would like some explanation about it before he signs. John Starr said it is a standard agreement that is a guarantee of maximum price. HP Cummings was hired to do pre-construction services. Chairman Blanchard moved to accept and sign the agreement for HP Cummings to do pre-construction work to guarantee the maximum price to be paid out, cost of HP Cummings to come out of capital reserve. Selectman Culver seconded. Carried 4-0.
Selectman Laleme asked where we are at with the layout of the library on the lot. John Starr said it is still in the same proposed spot but they have included an access road next to their parking lot that will go down to the back lot. He said it will be up to town specs and will be paved. Doug told the Board to call him or John if they have any questions.
Chairman Blanchard went through the correspondence. The Board signed deeds that Mary had submitted.
The Board discussed the refinance for the Colonial Theater. Selectman Laleme moved to approve and sign the refinance. Chairman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board reviewed the Investment policy. Chairman Blanchard moved to renew the existing policy for 2013. Selectman Laleme seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board discussed the LGC Holiday Insurance money. The town received $6,244.09 as a credit on the Health Insurance invoice for money paid in 2011. Chairman Blanchard moved to accept this money and redistribute $850.16 to the employees by giving a 2 week Ins. Deduction holiday in their next 2 paychecks. Selectman Fiorentino seconded. Selectman Culver said this has been in the news and is a class action lawsuit and this is how LGC is handling the settlement. Selectman Fiorentino withdrew his second. Chairman Blanchard withdrew his motion. Selectman Fiorentino asked why the employees were not being given a straight check instead of giving the “holiday” from Ins. Deduction. Frank Claffey said the way being proposed is the best way to handle it. Selectman Laleme moved to reimburse through the ins. Holiday as
presented. Chairman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
Chairman Blanchard read the order from BTLA that says they accepted our joint motion with DRA. He said it was helpful teaming up with DRA on this. Selectman Culver said it gave us the ability to have control.
The Board discussed options on what to do with all the wooden chairs from the meeting room. Selectman Laleme suggested to the Board the town buying a storage container for approx. $3000.00 for the chairs and for other storage needs and have the container be placed at the highway dept lot.
Peter Roy suggested getting rid of the chairs and getting metal ones. Julian Czarny asked about the cost of metal chairs and what the occupancy is for the room. He said we should only get the number of chairs that matches the occupancy limit. The Board will get some prices for the metal chairs. There was discussion about renting a storage container instead of buying one.
Selectman Laleme moved to rent a storage container for a price of no more than $100.00 a month on the assumption that it can be placed at the highway garage. Chairman Blanchard seconded. Carried 4-0.
The Board discussed the highway uniforms. Chairman Blanchard moved to accept the quote from GNK services. Selectman Laleme seconded. Carried 4-0.
Selectman Laleme told the Board it didn’t look like we would have the skating rink this year. Chairman Blanchard said an expert came to look at it and would be giving a quote and that an electrician will also be giving us a quote for the lights.
The Board discussed whether to take the Jefferson Street paving project cost from the highway budget or from Capital Reserve. Selectman Laleme said Brett has $79,000 left in his budget and the cost of that paving project was just under $34,000.00. She said there will still be a surplus in the budget. Selectman Laleme moved to pay the Jefferson Street Paving project out of the highway operating budget. Chairman Blanchard seconded. Selectman Culver said the Board had previously approved it to come out of Capital Reserve. Selectman Culver said he sees both sides of this. Selectman Fiorentino said if it was intended to come out of Capital Reserve then that is where it should be taken from. Carried 3-1 (Selectman Fiorentino opposed).
At 7:40 Chairman Blanchard moved to go into non-public session per 91a formatters of personnel. Chairman Blanchard did roll call with all members agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board discussed personnel issues.
At 8:20 Chairman Blanchard moved to come out of non-public session. Selectman Fiorentino seconded. Carried 4-0.
At 8:20 Chairman Blanchard moved to adjourn. Selectman Laleme seconded. Carried 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
April Hibberd
Administrative Assistant
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