03/18/2024 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

March 18th, 2024

In person –Chairman Morris, Selectman Strand, Selectman Hibberd, Selectman Caplain, and Selectman Bruno.

Public Input- There was no public input.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair- Selectman Strand nominated Selectman Bruno for Select Board Chair.  Selectman Hibberd seconded and the motioned carried 4-0.  Chairman Bruno abstained.

Selectman Hibberd nominated Selectman Strand as Vice Chair.  Chairman Bruno seconded and the motion carried 4-0.  Selectman Strand abstained. 

Skate park grant agreement- Chairman Bruno opened discussion on the Skate Park Grant that was submitted as a Congressionally Discretionary Spending request and will be administered through HUD.  Chairman Bruno asked if the location of the skate park could be changed once the agreement had been finalized. Dawn Ferringo confirmed that the location could change. Selectman Morris recommended confirming the requirements of the grant to ensure the town was not exempt.

Selectman Morris motioned to the approve the Select Board signing agreement B-23-CP-NH-0966 for the Skate Park grant.  Selectman Caplain seconded and all were in favor.

Tellman Lane private road name change- Chairman Bruno explained the property owners of Tellman Lane in Whitefield and The Lane in Bethlehem requested a consistent name between the two towns: Tellman Lane.  Chairman Bruno continued once the board votes to change the name the PD will do the necessary steps to notify 911 and this change will be less confusing for emergency responders.

Selectman Caplain motioned to approve the name change from The Lane to Tellman Lane. Selectman Morris seconds and all are in favor. 

Cheryl Jensen Conservation Commission reappointment- Selectman Morris motioned to reappoint Cheryl Jensen to a three-year term on the Conservation Commission.  Selectman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.  

Bike the North Country-Bike rack donation- Selectman Caplain explained to the board that Bike the North Country received a grant to donate bike racks to the Tri-Town area and he would like to add one by the basketball court and one by the town building.  Selectman Strand asked if businesses were also receiving the donations and Selectman Caplain replied yes.  Selectman Caplain explained the town would have the option of color and they are safe outside year-round.

Selectman Strand motioned to accept the gift of the bike racks as a donation from Bike the North Country.  Selectman Hibberd seconded and the motioned carried 4-0.  Selectman Caplain abstained. 

Liaison appointments- The board discussed the liaison appointments.  (see attachment)

Future meeting schedule-The board discussed future meetings and the schedule is: 4/1, 4/15, 4/29, 5/6, 5/20, 6/3, 6/17, 7/1, 7/15, 7/29, 8/12.

Minutes 3/11- Selectman Morris motioned to approve the minutes from March 11^th.  Selectman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor. 

Updates and other business- Selectman Stranded updated the board that the Transfer Station has submitted a CDS request to Congresswoman Kuster’s office and will be submitting for Senator Shaheen’s office as well.  Selectman Strand also noted that Barry Zitzer and Paul Karpawich have drafted a recycling grant request that is ready to submit.  Chairman Bruno noted the dedication of the TSC and the amount of work they have done for the grant submittals.

Chairman Bruno motioned to approve the Transfer Station Committee’s submittal of the recycling grant.  Selectman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.

Selectman Strand also noted the positive transformation of Main Street. Selectman Strand continued she is still exploring opportunities for the SS4A DOT grant for the sidewalk from the elementary to the town building.

Selectman Caplain noted he had been invited to a UNH round table because of the Traffic Calming study the town participated in with North Country Counsel last summer.

Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, reputation, and legal) Chairman Bruno made a motion to go into non-public for reasons of legal. Selectman Strand seconded and roll call followed.

The board discussed legal.

Chairman Bruno made a motioned to adjourn at 7:30. Selectman Strand seconded, and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Moritz

Town Administrator