Select Board Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.
Roll Call: Beth Downs (Chair), Marlene Freyler, Chip Meany
Also attending: Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator
Review Minutes of January 7, 2025 and January 13, 2025
Discussion: Chip pointed out a correction needed in the second paragraph where the price quoted for truck repair is $60,000. Chip said the repair would cost $6,000. [Reviewing the January 7, 2025 video stream, at 9:00 to 9:10, Beth says truck repair will cost $61,000. There is no further mention of this expense.]
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to approve the January 7, 2025 minutes with correction of $6,000 for truck repair.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Chip Meany moved to approve the January 13, 2025 minutes as written.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Appearances:
Devin Pendleton – Warrant Article Request. Devin requested the following article be added to the warrant.
“Property Taxes for Private Education: A Call for Responsible Use
Whereas, taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent and deserve clear, verifiable evidence that it is being spent wisely and delivering results; and
Whereas, taxpayer dollars are being diverted from public schools to private and religious education through Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers), and this shift does not reduce public school expenses, leaving local taxpayers to cover the difference through higher property taxes; and
Whereas, unlike public schools, private education funded by taxpayers through vouchers lacks key accountability measures, such as reporting how funds are used, tracking student performance, ensuring services for students with disabilities, and conducting background checks for staff;
Therefore, we, the voters of Bradford, New Hampshire, call on our state elected officials to uphold their duty to fiscal responsibility by rejecting any expansion of taxpayer funding for private education until we have full accountability, transparency, and a sustainable funding plan that ensures no further strain on public schools or local property taxpayers.
We further direct the Bradford Select Board to deliver this warrant article and results in writing to New Hampshire’s Governor and members of the State Legislature within thirty days of this vote.”
Discussion: The Board and audience members discussed the advantages/disadvantages of submitting the article as a “petition warrant” or “recommended by the Select Board.”
Eileen Kelly appeared to present information relevant to the proposed warrant article and about NH’s contribution to KRSD education. Pam Bruss contributed to the discussion saying that the State sent KRSD adequacy payments for all children in the district. Eileen and Beth challenged this saying that adequacy payments were determined by “Average Daily Attendance” of children enrolled in KRSD schools; the district receives funds from NH for enrolled children only. There was further discussion of how families applied for Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) and what the money received by families could be used for.
Motion: Chip Meany moved to place the article on the Bradford Town Warrant – recommended by the Select Board — to be voted on March 12, 2025.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 2-0-1(Marlene Freyler abstained)
Public Input:
Dawn Gezelman appeared to ask about reducing telephone expense budgeted for the Bradford Area Community Center. Karen explained that the TDS telephone accounts have been reduced as much as possible. The BACC phone budget includes services for security, internet and telephone. Dawn also had a question about the balances shown on the warrant article spreadsheet, specifically, where is this money? Karen explained that that money sits in trust funds administered by the Trustees of the Trust Funds. This money is not part of the general fund.
Regular and Old Business:
Highway Department Kudos: Karen reported that an email from Michelle and David Duffy had been received with compliments about the job performed by the Highway Department. Also, they also support requests for Highway equipment.
Town Meeting: Karen reported that all things considered, the best option for holding Town Meeting would be at KRES-Bradford. The Board agreed with this plan.
Review of Warrant Articles:
The Board agreed that they needed to vote on the operating budget and will do so at their next meeting.
1991 Town Building Repair Fund – Discussion: Marlene proposed that the request be reduced from $6,000 to $1,000. Karen suggested the $1,000 be removed as there is sufficient money in the fund already. The Board concurred.
2002 Police Facility Fund and the 2003 Fire Department Station Repair Fund – The proposed funding is $5000 each.Discussion:Beth proposed that $5,000 each be removed from each of these accounts for a reduction of $10,000. Chip and Marlene concurred.
2020 Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve – Discussion: Beth proposed, and Marlene and Chip concurred: To purchase a new dump truck for $254,000. The $254,000 would be funded by the 2020 Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve in the amount of $218,000, with the balance of $36,000 to come from taxation. Next: The amount to be raised and placed into the 2020 Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund would be reduced from the $110,000 suggested by the CIP Committee to $74,000. This keeps the tax impact level. Further, if the warrant article for the purchase of the truck fails, the Board wanted the original amount of $110,000 placed into the 2020 Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Trust Fund.
2015 Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund – The Board agreed to add a warrant article to fund a five-year lease of a backhoe at $38,500 per year. The Board also agreed to reduce the $80,000 funding request for the 2015 Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund to $41,500. Should the lease article fail, the Board wished the amount of $80,000 be raised for the expendable trust fund.
Highway Road Paving, $500,000 to be raised. The Board discussed whether or not to change this amount. Marlene and Chip are in favor of leaving the amount to be raised at $500,000. Beth is not in favor. Beth suggested strongly that the taxpayers have information about how the $500,000 will be spent.
Select Board agreed to meet on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm to vote on both the operating budget and the warrant article expenses.
Town Report: Karen asked the Board if the Town Report should be wire- or book-bound. Beth would like it wire-bound. Marlene Agreed.
New Business:
Masonic Building Electricity – Karen suggested that the electric service to the Masonic Building be disconnected. It’s costing the town approximately $25/month. The Board concurred to disconnect.
Discussion: A member of the audience asked about the $5,000 appropriated for the sale of the Masonic building. The Board agreed to add a warrant article for the removal of the Masonic Building in the amount of $5,000 to be funded from fund balance. No tax impact.
Reminder: January 28 – Education Presentation at KRHS, 6:30 pm
Community Revitalization Application: Application withdrawn.
Adjourn:
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (a) at 7:09 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to return to public session 7:25 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to adjourn to the meeting at 7:25 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary, minutes recorded from video stream of Select Board Meeting, January 27, 2025.