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, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Elect a New Chair:
Motion: Chip Meany made a motion to nominate Marlene as Chair for 2025-2026.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Review Minutes of the March 10, 2025.
Concerning the motion that gave all employees a 2.5% increase in pay:
Motion: Chip Meany made a motion to amend the minutes of March 10 to specify that employees be given a 2.5% raise at the discretion of department supervisors.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to approve the March 10, 2025 meeting minutes as amended.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Appearances:
George Maney – Alder Plains Road: George Maney appeared via Zoom to get advice from the Board about using property on Alder Plains Road (a Class VI Road) as a composting farm. Mr. Maney is considering purchasing the land. The Board recommended that he consult with the Planning Board and contact the owner to look at the land.
Mary Derry, Community Action Program: Mary Derry appeared via Zoom to see if the town would accept a gift of a dishwasher for the Bradford Area Community Center.
Motion: Chip Meany made a motion that the Board accept a donation of personal property in the form of a dishwasher for the kitchen in the Bradford Area Community Center per RSA 31:95-e.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Bradford Area Community Center – maintenance issues
Septic: The pump switch is broken. Karen has made arrangements with a septic contractor for the switch to be replaced.
Kitchen stove: The pilot on one of the burners will not light. The Select Board Office has called the company that has serviced the stove in the past.
General Maintenance Point Person:
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to designate Chip as the point person for Bradford Area Community Center maintenance and repair issues.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Heather O’Brien, Tracie Elder and Dave Palmer, Managers from CAP were also present via Zoom during the meeting to consult with the Board.
Marlene asked to have a conversation with the Board about a plan for the spaces at the Bradford Area Community Center. Beth and Chip agreed. Marlene agreed to bring a plan for usage of the rooms to the April 14th Select Board meeting.
Chris Frey: Chris Frey appeared to voice concern about the assessment of a building on East Main Street that continues to be renovated. He wanted to be sure that someone from the town was keeping track of the renovation for tax assessment compliance.
Public Input: None
Regular and Old Business:
Select Board Meeting Schedule: The Board agreed to keep the current schedule of meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
Department liaison and Committee assignments. The Board agreed to the following assignments.
Planning Board: Chip is representative, secondary is Marlene
Budget Committee: Beth is representative, secondary is Marlene
Capital Improvement Plan: Marlene is representative, secondary is Beth
Roads & Bridges: Chip
Historic District Commission: Marlene
Energy Committee: Marlene
Highway: Chip is representative
Police: Beth is representative
Fire: Marlene is representative
Transfer Station: Beth is representative
Proposed combination of Economic Development and Facilities Committees. Members of both committees will be invited to come to the next Select Board meeting (April 14) to discuss combining these two committees.
Town Meeting recap:
Masonic: The Board finalized the language of a Request for Proposal for demolition of the Masonic Building. Letters will be sent to contractors within the week.
Town Hall Roof: The Board accepted a bid from Melanson and Co. for repair of the southwest corner of the Town Hall roof which recently was damaged by wind. There was also a discussion of the leaking roof at the Bradford Area Community Center. Melanson and Co. will be called to investigate.
New Business:
Lafayette Visit – June 27. A reenactment of General Lafayette’s visit to Bradford will be held on June 27. “General Lafayette” will arrive on horseback. A representative of the Select Board will give a short talk.
Flood Insurance Rate Map: The Select Board has received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency with reports of a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study for certain locations in the Town of Bradford. Digital copies of these report and materials can be found at http://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelim/download. “Flood Hazard Determination on the Web” can be found on the FEMA website: http://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp.
Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest for review and signature. Signed.
Non-public Session:
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A-311(a) at 7:16 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Beth Downs moved to return to public session 7:35 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn to the meeting at 7:35 pm.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary