02/15/2021 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

February 15, 2021

 

Via Zoom – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen.

Chairman Boisseau opened the meeting at 6:00pm and reminded people to leave their microphones on mute.

 

Public Input:

Chris McGrath – would like introduction in newsletter for new assistant rec director and welfare director.

Nancy Strand: electric charging stations for town. Can BOS look into?

Rita Farrell – second lawsuit by Conservation Law Foundation – brought to board attention.

Jon Swan – Update to Douglas Drive? Traffic impact from Casella through town? Any board discussion. Chairman Boisseau – Douglas drive being reviewed by attorney – traffic issue discussed by board – no formal board discussion yet.

Senator Erin Hennessey – Senator from District 1 – Thornton to Pittsburg – update from statehouse – senate meeting via zoom – public can sign up for meetings to comment and give testimony – senate has combined bills to help streamline process – Governor gave budget address last week – waiting on specifics for school capital improvements.

Board questions:

Selectman Caplain asked about getting more access to COVID vaccines in the north country Senator Hennessey – working with Perry Plummer, who oversees vaccine distribution for the state, and the Governor to get doses to North Country. Chairman Boisseau – inquired about the preservation of recreation opportunities in the area. Senator Hennessey – following up with Commissioners Caswell and Stewart, Executive director of Business and Economic Affairs and Commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, respectfully –the budgets have been raised but the details are not available yet.

Public questions:

Rita Farrell – Contact info for the senator? – 603-271-4151- erin.hennessey@leg.state.nh.us

Chris McGrath – last year funding to remove unused rails from Littleton to Bethlehem – plans to refund project? Senator Hennessey – not sure but will find out and get back.

Pam Sullivan – Town has started destination marketing program – will you support putting funds back into JPP (Joint Promotional Program) grants?

 

Sullivan Creative – Pam Sullivan – Ms. Sullivan wanted to clarify that the business is registered in Bethlehem and give an update for the current marketing plan. The current emphasis is on capturing data and use that data to market to the correct audience. Sullivan Creative is looking for more recipes for the Savor and Tour of Bethlehem promotion. Contact: pam@sullivancreative.com

Rita Farrell – Ms. Farrell inquired about the current direction WREN is taking with its membership. Sullivan Creative is not a part of WREN, Pam Sullivan clarified that she is at WREN part time and this update is about Sullivan Creative only.

Veronica Morris – asked for Pam’s contact and inquired about photo opportunities.

Pam Sullivan – at WREN almost every day – stop in to ask questions about Sullivan or WREN – WREN won the 2021 Advocate for Women’s Empowerment Award from the NH Business Review.

 

Electronic Signatures –

Tim Fleury – the town is looking into implementing an electronic signature practice to streamline the town operations. 4 possible programs were discussed based on input from other towns and the town’s IT provider. Board discussed and asked for demos in the upcoming weeks.

 

Follow Up –

Selectman Jensen – asked for follow up with new phones in town building.

Rita Farrell – if a lawsuit is filed against town what is the board position on discussion in public? Public document? – Select Moritz – a lawsuit that effects town is different than lawsuit filed against town – if effects town can be discussed as agenda item – Ms. Farrell – not discussion but just to get info out to public – say that is exists, not discuss specifics

 

Other

 

Minutes (2/01/2021)

Select Moritz made motion to approve minutes from Feb 1^st – BC seconded – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motion passed

 

At 6:55pm Chairman Boisseau moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91A:3 II for matters of reputation and employment.  Selectman Caplain seconded – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motioned carried.

Board discussed rec counselor pay options.

Selectman Moritz made a motion to hire 2 counsellors, Rachel Westover and Karli Daly at 10 hr – Selectman Jensen second – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motion passed.

Mary Moritz made a motion to raise Abbie Sawyer to the federal minimum for overtime exemption, $35,568 – Selectman Caplain – second – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motion passed.

Board discussed Sarah Donahue’s resignation from Bethlehem PD.

Board discussed options of PD with officer’s resignation for coverage.

Board discussed legal in general and what should be public and what should be in non-public.

Board discussed tax repayment agreement from resident for back taxes.

Selectman Moritz – made motion to accept payment plan for Map 406 Lot 32 – 04 – Selectman Jensen seconded – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motion passed

 

At 7:42 Selectman Boisseau made a motion to adjourn. Chairman Moritz seconded – roll call – Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen – motion passed.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Fleury

Administrative Assistant