08/22/2022 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

August 22, 2022

 

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

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

 

Public Input

None

 

Public Hearing – second round of ARPA funds acceptance

Chairman Caplain – second round of ARPA funds for the amount of $134,735.58– Chairman Caplain opened the hearing @ 6:01pm

Selectman Hibberd made a motion to accept the funds in the amount of $134,735.58, Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

Chairman Caplain closed the public hearing at 6:02 pm

 

Town PTO policy

Selectman Morris – delay until next meeting

 

Select Board Follow Up items – review

Chairman Caplain – good idea to run through as haven’t reviewed in a while – Selectman Morris – can board publicly commit funds to solar project and planning board funds – Chairman Caplain – $60k for solar and $10k for planning

Chairman Caplain made a motion to commit $60k for solar and $10k for planning ordinances review from ARPA funds – Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

Follow up items – see attached list below – updated during meeting – ask Jack Anderson to explore generator funds via Homeland Security – Selectman Hibberd – community power – setting up meeting with representatives at select board meeting – carbon offset monies may be available to match funds if needed – Selectman Hibberd – lots of southern towns and cities part of network – rep has all information regarding joining/forming group

 

Minutes – 8/8/2022

Selectman Morris made a motion to approve minutes from 8/8/2022 – Selectman Hibberd seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

 

Other:

Chairman Caplain – future meeting dates – next Monday or wait 3 weeks, Labor Day in 2 weeks –  The board discussed and decided on next week and then back to the 2-week schedule.

Chairman Caplain – rekey offices – check with Zizza on amounts before next meeting – Selectman Hibberd – keycodes a possibility.

Selectman Jensen – did Chairman Caplain have a chance to talk to state with PMR? Chairman Caplain – crosswalk with button to trigger warning lights – states recommendation – price estimate $15k for hardware, 2 units = $10k unit – if town could do install, saves money – BES – interested in adding one as well – touched bases with PMR as they’re responsible for safety of crossing – Chairman Caplain – seek planning board approval to hold off on approving anything until crossing issues taken care of – Selectman Jensen – unrelated condition – tough to do – Selectman Morris – can inform planning board of concerns – Selectman Jensen – letter to Mr. Rudich – Selectman Morris/Selectman Hibberd – personally seen traffic issues during daily drives –

Selectman Morris – Town has not authorized placement of political signs on town land – remind candidates or local reps that need permission to erect sign on town land – PD has authority to remove signs on town lands – candidates must have firm permission from landowners before erecting signs – Selectman Morris – Mary Jackson reached out to candidates at last local election – Chairman Caplain – different unless they are Bethlehem based candidates – Selectman Queiroga – make sure it is town land first and make contact with candidates before removing – Selectman Morris – state right of way is different from town land – make clear to candidates

 

Tim Fleury – asked board to authorize spending funds from the Tech/Computer trust fund to purchase a laptop for the incoming admin and rotate the current laptop to replace the oldest computer at the town offices.

Chairman Caplain made a motion to spend up to $1000 from the Tech/Computer trust fund for a new laptop – Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Chairman Caplain made a motion to go to Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel) @ 6:31pm– Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

Chairman Caplain made a motion to hire HM for rec dept after school program – Selectman Queiroga seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

Selectman Queiroga made a motion to give Jack Anderson $500 bonus for covering the building inspector and code enforcement officer position – Selectman Hibberd seconded – discussion – Selectman Morris permits issued during transition period? – Chairman Caplain – lots came in during transition period – roll call – Selectman Hibberd, Chairman Caplain, Selectman Queiroga, Selectman Jensen yes – Selectman Jensen – no – motion passed 4-1

Chairman Caplain made a motion to approve others in town, without pressure, to donate PTO time to assist fellow employee, without donating all time, and if employee runs out of time after donations to have town extend leave – Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

Chairman Caplain made a motion to approve others in town, without pressure, to donate PTO time without donating all time and if employee runs out of time after donations to have town evaluate situation at that time – Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Selectman Queiroga made a motion to adjourn @8:01pm Selectman Morris seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Fleury

Administrative assistant