12/02/2024 SB Minutes
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
2155 Main Street
Bethlehem, NH 03574
Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
December 2nd, 2024
In person –Chairman Bruno, Select Woman Strand, and Selectman Morris and Select Woman Hibberd. Selectman Caplain attended remotely.
Budget Overview: Conservation Commission, Rec, Planning and Zoning, Direct Assistance, Cemetery, Executive Assessing, and GGB:
Conservation Commission- Cheryl Jensen shared the Conservation Commission’s flat budget.
Recreation Department- Abbie Sawyer, Rec Director, went over the rec department budget. Ms. Sawyer shared her plan to fundraise to offset department increases and utilize the capital reserve that had been previously created to help with rec property maintenance. Paul Nandico asked if the rec department was self-funded, and Ms. Sawyer responded that it is not, and taxpayers subsidized the program.
Planning and Zoning- Dawn Ferringo presented the Planning and Zoning budget explaining the increase was due to the upcoming Master Plan update that will be partially funded in 2025. Ms. Ferringo also explained that a capital reserve will be created for Professional Services so in the future there won’t be such a large budget increase.
Direct Assistance- Dawn Ferrigno gave the Welfare department budget overview and explained that there had been an increase in cremation expenses in 2024. Select Woman Strand asked how much a cremation cost and Ms. Ferringo responded $1,000.
Cemetery- Dawn Ferringo, Cemetery Trustee, went over the Cemetery budget.
Executive Budget- Mary Moritz, Town Administrator, gave the executive budget overview. Ms. Moritz stated there was an increase in software expenses because we will be switching to a new municipal software company and marketing was reduced by $5,000 to help offset the increase.
GGB- Mary Moritz, Town Administrator, gave the Government Buildings budget overview. Ms. Moritz explained that the town should continue to budget $40,000 for building maintenance because of years of deferment.
Grafton County Funding Request and ARPA spreadsheet updated- Chairman Bruno updated the board that Grafton County will be awarding additional ARPA funds to the 39 towns in the county. The board decided to use the balance of the ARPA funds on the new printers for the Police Department and Selectman’s office and apply for funding for traffic calming measures from Grafton.
Select Woman Strand motioned to use the balance of ARPA funds for the new printers. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
Selectman Caplain stated he would draft the ARPA fund request to Grafton County.
Minutes 11/25- Select Woman Strand motioned to accept the minutes form 11/25. Select Woman Hibberd seconded, and all were in favor.
Updates and other business- April Nandico offered to help teach residents how to make soap to help offset their tax bills. Select Woman Strand thanked Ms. Nandico for her generous offer.
Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, reputation, and legal) Chairman Bruno motioned to go into nonpublic per RSA 91A-3 II for reasons of personnel, and Legal. Selectman Morris seconded and roll call followed.
The board discussed a personnel issue and legal.
Chairman Bruno made a motion to adjourn at 8:30. Selectman Strand seconded, and all were in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Moritz
Town Administrator