07/25/2022 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

July 25, 2022

 

In person – Chairman Caplain, Selectman Jensen, Selectman Morris, Selectman Hibberd, and Selectman Queiroga

 

Chairman Caplain opened the public meeting at 5:00pm

 

Chairman Caplain made a motion to go to Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel) @ 5:00 pm Selectman Hibberd seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

Chairman Caplain motion to come out @ 5:55 – Selectman Hibberd seconded – roll call – motion passed

 

Chairman Caplain opened the public meeting at 6:00pm and reminded zoom participants to keep their microphones on mute and in-person public members to use podium to speak.

Chairman Caplain filled in public on early non-public session

 

Public Input –

Nancy Strand – thank select board for making pool free for residents – proud of Bethlehem and credit Chris McGrath for idea.

 

Rambling Woods Coop – paperwork review

Chairman Caplain – met with select board at last meeting – additional paperwork requested by board – Selectman Queiroga – no questions or concerns – asked for more information – recommend to give abatement to move forward with process – Selectman Morris agrees – Chairman Caplain would like to make it contingent on foreclosure – Selectman Queiroga – coop will not let it move forward without abatement of taxes for reasons – Selectman Hibberd – town would be first lien if foreclosed – Selectman Hibberd – to demolish property need permit with town – questioning if that is across the board, backed up by RSA –

Selectman Queiroga made a motion to approve the abatement for the 2 properties of Rambling Woods so they can move forward with foreclosure – Selectman Hibberd seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Bottle Bill – letter of support request from board

Selectman Morris – Transfer station Committee and Conservation Commission drafted letter and reviewed and have given select board opportunity to sign on with it – shared final version – up to board if they want to sign on or not – Selectman Hibberd – agree with it – Selectman Jensen – good idea – committees very thorough with it and agree with it – Selectman Queiroga – agree with cause moving towards but not all tactics – Selectman Morris – optional for board to sign, not needed – Chairman Caplain – agree with bill but a little uncomfortable without ability to change wording of letter – Selectman Morris – like letter, direct challenge to group of companies actively lobbying against bottle bill in NH – lots of bottles and cans picked up during roadside cleaning days – different tactic to approach issue – comfortable with board not being comfortable with signing onto it – Conservation Commission worked on it for 6 months – Chairman Caplain – agrees with issue and supports bill but doesn’t feel some of the tactics of the letter are good –

 

Selectman Jensen motion to add Select Board sign on to letter approved by Conservation Commission and Transfer Station Committee – Selectman Hibberd seconded – Roll call – Selectman Jensen, Chairman Caplain, Selectman Hibberd yay – Selectman Queiroga nay – motion passed 3-1

 

ARPA Funds – review of proposed projects

Chairman Caplain – went through projects briefly and sorted project by dollar amounts – 17 items less Solar array already committed to – suggest adding columns for rankings by board to move forward with

Minutes – none

 

Other:

 

Chairman Caplain – Profile Technologies – upping monthly charge from $600 to $650 – Selectman Queiroga – any issues with service asked to Tim Fleury? – No issues –

Selectman Hibberd made a motion to sign new agreement – Chairman Caplain seconded – roll call – all motion passed.

 

Chairman Caplain – Primex CAP agreement – TF – explained agreement

Selectman Hibberd made a motion to approve CAP agreement with PRIMEX – Chairman Caplain seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

 

Selectman Jensen – Brett Jackson sand bid – offer $17 delivered – since talked to Bethlehem Earth Materials – trucks can pick up there for $11.50 yard – Brett Jackson looking for approval to go ahead with Bethlehem Earth Materials

Selectman Jensen made a motion to allow Brett Jackson to go ahead with Bethlehem Earth Materials – Selectman Hibberd seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Chairman Caplain made a motion to go to Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, reputation) @ 6:27 – Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

The board discussed abatement of property in town with property owner.

Board discussed distressed property in town and cleanup.

Board discussed hiring a new administrative assistant to the select board.

Chairman Caplain made a motion to hire MM as new admin assistant to start in Sept on part time basis to transition – Selectman Queiroga – seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Chairman Caplain made a motion to adjourn @ 7:29pm – Selectman Queiroga seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Fleury

Administrative assistant