Select Board Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call – Beth Downs, Marlene Freyler, Mel Pfeifle and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
Appearances:
Chief Nowell – Fire Department – Chief Nowell thanked the Highway Department and Police Department with their assistance in moving a lift. The 14 SCBA bottles have been delivered to the department. The department has been doing a lot of training and hooking up to the dry hydrants, and they have some new applicants interested in joining.
They are up to 76 calls since the start of the year. There have been 16 calls since April. Most have been downed power lines and medical calls. There have been some brush fires, one house fire and several mutual aid assists as well. The Chief has been busy with fire inspections and been working with E 9-1-1 to update information. All apparatus is in service and operational. There will be boat training this evening at Lake Massasecum.
All members now have shirts and hats indicating they are part of the Bradford Fire Department. The Chief has been trying to visit local organizations in Town to introduce himself. Karen asked if the swim line was in. The Chief will look into this.
Steve Hall – Highway Department – Steve reported that the chipper is coming tomorrow. He asked what the Board’s thoughts were in getting rid of the old chipper. He said there is an employee in Town that is interested in the chipper. Mel said he should find out what the fair market value is, and they can take it from there. Beth asked if there is a policy and Marlene said there isn’t. Karen suggested the approximate market value be determined and then let people place bids on it.
Fuel costs are up to $5.50/gallon.
Young’s Paving gave a quote of $19,500 to do 10,000 sq ft of road at the intersection at the West end of Main Street. The quote is only good until May 31 and then it goes up. He has drainage work to do before the paving starts. Karen asked if they could hold the price if they commit by May 31. Beth is worried the cost will continue to go up. Steve will see if he can lock in the price if he commits by May 31.
Steve said he and an engineer looked at Marshall Hill where there are several culverts that need to be replaced. Steve got pricing from Scituate Concrete Products on 6 pieces of pipe at $2,448.90 with a $2,000 delivery charge. He said the delivery charge is so much because it is not a full load. Steve called Warner to see if they wanted to go in together on a load.
Steve talked about the crack sealing work to be done and noted that what was thought to be a one-day job would actually require two days. The cost would be $4,032/day.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to use All State’s Construction for chip seal and crack seal in the amount of $137,613.96 with the $37,000+ coming from the 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Steve said Ben Nugent (New Hampshire Fish and Game) asked if we are still interested in applying for a grant for the Deer Valley Road culvert project. It is approximately a 50/50 match project. The Board needs to indicate their interest by May 31. The Board agreed to proceed.
Steve said he reached out to the dump truck dealer, and they said they would split the additional $3800 surcharge with the Town. Mel would like to propose that we prepay and ask for a discount. Steve said he doesn’t think they will do that. Mel said we would be helping their cash flow if we prepaid and wants to get rid of the surcharge. Marlene disagrees and thinks it puts Steve in a tough spot. Steve will look into it.
Beth asked if Steve had taken down the tree at the Transfer Station. Steve said it will be taken down at some point.
Public Input:
None.
Regular and Old Business
- The Board reviewed the minutes of the May 9, 2022, meeting.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to accept the minutes with corrections.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
- The Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
- Vacant Positions – Karen reported that the Police Department has received several applications and are currently reviewing them. She has also updated the Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant job description.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to accept the job description as presented.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
- Town Hall Update – Karen said the LCHIP letter of intent was submitted on time. She indicated that bond counsel has offered to prepare Post-Issuance Compliance Guidelines. The auditor suggests the Town pursue this.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to engage bond council to prepare the Post-Issuance Bond Guidelines.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Beth reported that Northway Bank has offered a $200,000 loan for ten years at 2.95%. This would be used for Town Hall.
Beth recused herself from the vote.
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to proceed with the $200,000 loan at 2.95% with Northway Bank
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
- Town Building Cleaning Update – Beth said she received three bids for the cleaning job. One company was $1,600/month, one was $2,500/month and one was $3,600/month. This would be for all Town buildings. The last two bids included a deep clean in certain areas. Beth feels the best value for the Town’s money is the one that quoted $2,500/month.
Beth recused herself from the vote.
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to accept the quote for $2,500/month for the remaining months of the year after references checked out favorably and an agreement was drafted outlining the conditions and expectations.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
New Business:
- Conservation Commission Clarification – Karen read a letter from the Conservation Commission stating the Commission was not involved with the restoration of Old Mountain Road.
- Community Gardeners Areas of Work – Karen received an email from Susan Moss stating they are currently working on the two traffic triangles on Routes 103 and 114, the Historical Society and the Lafayette Memorial, Rail Trail barrels at Lake Todd, the little library box, the Tall Pines parking area and at the Town Hall. Karen asked if they wanted flowers at Bement Bridge this year. They agreed by consensus to have flowers at the bridge if the Gardeners were interested in doing it.
- Cilley Lane – Marlene asked how many cars are not registered on Cilley Lane. Karen will ask the Police Dept to look into this.
- Butman Road – Karen said this is off of West Road and there are a cluster of lots out there. There is a piece of property out there that someone is selling, and there have been many inquiries as to whether or not it is a buildable lot. There was originally a subdivision, but only one house was put up. The Code Enforcement Officer thinks it is grandfathered in. There are concerns about the road which crosses over private property. Karen said there are many types of views. Karen would like to hire someone at Central NH Regional Planning to help us decide the status of this lot. Mel asked if this could go to Planning Board after the research is done. Karen said it should go to multiple boards after the research is done.
Motion: Marlene Freylermotioned to pursue having Matt Monahan look into this.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 3-0
- CAP Lease Renewal – The terms of this lease state there needs to be an agreement reached before May 20. Beth thinks we should go up on the rent to an extra $25/month for a total of $775/month. Karen will ask Suzanne Demers to come into the next Selectboard meeting.
- Complaint – Marlene read a letter from Jane Johnson showing concern about a Select Board member receiving compensation for working in the office. Mel said she appreciates the concern, but the Town Office is stuck at the moment and the Select Board member is helping out during this time of need. Mel said this is only temporary until they fill the full-time position.
- Concern About Infestation – Marlene read a letter from Debra Hanson regarding an infestation of rats in a neighborhood with elderly people. The health inspection officer said it is a private property and therefore it is outside the Town’s jurisdiction.
- Authorization to Manage/Administer Town’s Federal Grant Filing – Karen said Andrew Pinard signed the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant originally. Karen needs the Select Board to authorize her to act on behalf on these documents.
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to authorize Karen to manage, administer and file the required reports for the Town’s Federal grants.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 3-0
- Accept Unanticipated Revenue
Motion: Beth Downsmotioned to accept $1,070 from Accredited Financial Services for the trade-in for tasers and $ 5,005.48 from Eversource (a rebate for energy efficiency work done at the library) as unanticipated revenue.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
- Sign Call to Vote – Signed.
- Sign Personnel Action Forms – Signed.
- Sign Intent to Cut Map 3 Lot 69 – Signed.
- Sign Intent to Cut Map 3 Lot 73 – Signed.
- Sign Intent to cut Map 3 Lot 74-1 – Signed.
- Beth reported that she ordered two shirts for the Code Enforcement Officer.
Upcoming Meetings:
- June 13, 2022
Motion: Mel Pfeiflemotioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (a) at 8:14 p.m.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to return to public session at 8:37 p.m.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m.
Second: Beth Downs
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.