12/09/2024 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

December 9th, 2024

In person –Chairman Bruno, Select Woman Strand, and Selectman Morris and Select Woman Hibberd. Selectman Caplain attended remotely.

Public Input- Allegra Wright thanked Bethlehem Events for putting on a fantastic Christmas in Bethlehem event.  Chairman Bruno thanked all the volunteers who made the event a success.

Budget Overview: Police Department, Tax Collector Town Clerk, Fire, Dispatch, and Highway:

Highway- Brett Jackson, Road Agent, explained the highway departments 2025 budget that has a 1% increase from 2024.  Select Woman Strand questioned if the gravel line item was too conservative, and Mr. Jackson said he would look at it again.

Police- Chief Dube explained the 2025 Police budget noting the increase was a result of additional money for part time officers and the expectation of being fully staffed.

Town Clerk/Tax Collector- Mary Jackson, Town Clerk and Tax Collector, reviewed both her budgets noting the reduction in Town Clerk is a result in less elections in 2025.

Fire Department- Jack Anderson, Fire Chief, explained he did the best he could estimating the 2025 Fire Department budget for the future Fire Chief.  The increase is a result of hiring a full time Fire Chief again and increasing the Fire Chief car stipend from $2,000 to $4,000.

Updates and other business-Chairman Bruno reminded the board that Tuesday December 10^th was the meet and greet with the three Fire Chief candidates.  Selectman Caplain stated that David Van Houten from the Energy Commission had met with the Library Trustees to go over the electric bill and explained that the cost of the bill is not related to electricity but the transmission.

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 7:30. Selectman Strand seconded, and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Moritz

Town Administrator