06/03/2024 SB Minutes
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
2155 Main Street
Bethlehem, NH 03574
Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
June 3rd, 2024
In person – Select Woman Strand, Selectman Morris, Selectman Caplain, and Select Woman Hibberd.
Select Woman Strand opened the meeting at 5:30.
Select Woman Strand motioned to go into nonpublic per RSA 91A-3 II for reasons of reputation. Selectman Morris seconded and roll call followed.
Selectman Morris motioned to accept the deed waiver list. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
Selectman Caplain motioned to come out of nonpublic. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
Public Input- Bruce Caplain, representing Bike the North Country, informed the board that they would like to donate a bike repair and workstation to be located by the ball parks near the trails. Select Woman Hibberd asked if it would be on a cement platform and Mr. Caplain said yes and Bike the North Country would do the instillation including the cement platform if the Highway Department was unable. Selectman Morris recommended the Planning Board be notified as a curtesy. Chris McGrath asked the board if they had visited 1048 Cherry Vally Road.
RSA 236:13,VI Culverts on Private Property- Brett Jackson, Road agent, explained per RSA 236 culverts requiring work on private property or driveways are up the responsibility of the property owner to complete the work and the jurisdiction is under the planning board. Mr. Jackson also informed the board that Tom Hampson has been promoted to the second in charge.
NOCO Mural Project- Select Woman Strand introduced Jessica Bahrakis from the North Country Mural Project. Ms. Bahrakis is excited about the murals brought forth for the 2024 summer season. Selectman Morris stated the select board does choose the art itself as it’s the responsibility of NOCO project.
Selectman Morris motioned to continue our partnership with North Country Mural Project and the murals they have chosen can be installed in their customary locations at the gazebo and basketball court.
Sexton Pay Increase weekend/Holidays- Select Woman Strand deferred to Mary Moritz for sexton pay. Ms. Moritz explained that the rate for weekend/Holiday is different than midweek however the sexton pay is the same. It has been requested to increase the sexton pay from $150 to $200 for weekend/holidays.
Selectman Morris motioned to increase the sexton pay to $200 for the 2024 season for weekends and holidays. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
RFQ-Maple Wood Hill Project Select Woman Strand updated the board the RFQ for the Maple Wood Hill Road has been published and the engineering firm will be picked during the meeting on July 1st.
EV Charger Eversource- Selectman Caplain informed the board that Eversource determined there was not capacity which will be very costly to upgrade. Selectman Caplain is seeking permission to get a work order at no charge for the town to estimate the cost of an upgrade. Select Woman Stand commented that if there was no charge to get a quote, she was in favor of moving forward. Selectman Caplain also noted that Matt Koehler, Eversource Customer Relations, had offered to answer any questions regarding the Pole upgrade.
Minutes 5/20- Select Woman Hibberd made a motion to approve the minutes from May 20th. Selectman Morris seconded, and all were in favor.
Updates and other business- Select Woman Strand updated the board that the town received two letters requesting their Veteran’s Tax Credit application be considered after the April 15th deadline. Selectman Morris stated there was only a 6-week time frame between adopting the credit to the deadline submit an application. Select Woman Hibberd asked what should be done for the other people who were told they missed the deadline. Select Woman Strand explained the RSA gave a reason for requesting an extension as significant events. The board decided not to allow extensions for the Veteran’s Tax Credit. Select Woman Strand updated the board that Carrie Harrington, North Country Pride, was giving a workshop to local officials. Select Woman Strand also updated the board that she had a potential buyer for the wooden chairs at $5.00/$375 for all the chairs.
Select Woman Strand motioned to accept the offer of $375 for the wooden chairs. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
Selectman Morris updated the board that the Planning Board held the Eversource hearing on May 22nd and the height waiver for the pole upgrade project had been denied. Selectman Morris continued the next step for Eversource is to file with Public Utilities.
Select Woman Hibberd noted the meeting on June 17th has been determined to review the abatement recommendations from the assessing company however she is concerned they will not have enough time to review. The board decided to add a meeting on June 24th. Select Woman Strand explained the Transfer Station Committee would like to resubmit for the Mascoma grant and the USDA grant.
Selectman Caplain motioned to allow the Transfer Station Committee to resubmit both the Mascoma grant and the USDA grant. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
There was discussion on the website, and it will be added to a future meeting agenda.
Select Woman Strand made a motion to adjourn at 7:00. Selectman Strand seconded, and all were in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Moritz
Town Administrator