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 October 21, 2024
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to approve the October 21, 2024 minutes as written.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Appearances:
Bryan Nowell – Fire Department Update
Fire and EMS incidents (Based upon dispatch only) For 2024, year to date there have been 200 incidents, an increase of 12 since October 7 (several Powerline, medical). 2024 (128 EMS and 72 Fire). 2023 calls this time last year was 170 – calls this year are up 30 calls compared to 2023. Total incident for all of 2023 was 193. Since Bryan’s report on October 7th, there have been 12 Incidents: 7 EMS calls, 5 Fire calls
Activities: Red Cross Blood Drive 11/25 12:00-4:30, Hazard Mitigation meetings are ongoing, working with Highway and Planning Board on driveway permits, Elementary school visits for fire prevention, Trunk or Treat at Elementary school on October 25, purchasing for Fire Department, work on Capital Improvement Program.
Other items: The Federal Emergency Management Administration grant applied for was denied due to lack of funds, fixing dry hydrants, work on Community Center emergency shelter.
Budget: As of 11/04/2024 29.01% of Fire budget and 13% of rescue for overall 28.15% remaining.
Public Input: None
Regular and Old Business:
Review Budget Worksheet and Expenses. Karen presented first drafts of the budget worksheets. Beth asked a question about a $5,000 request from the Economic Development Committee. Comments from Marlene indicated that it’s uncommon for committees to have budget line items.
Revaluation Update and MS-535. Assessor met with residents for three days in the previous week. Karen reviewed the process for setting the tax rate. Karen is hoping to set the tax rate at the November 18 Select Board meeting. Karen will contact Board members when signatures are needed on the MS-1 and MS-534.
Health Insurance Selection: Karen explained that the Town needed to make a decision about the health insurance plan offering by November 15. The Town offered a new plan two years ago to help control cost. The old plan was still made available to employees, except with a higher level of employee contribution. Since no one has opted for the old plan for two years, the consensus of the Board is to drop the old plan and offer just the new plan. Karen will discuss this with departments heads when she next meets with them.
New Business:
Camper Numbering: A resident has asked to have a street number for a camper that will be used in for three months during the summer. The consensus of the Board is that this request is not granted.
Vote to accept and sign PD grant:
Motion: Beth Downs moved that the Town of Bradford accept the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Highway Safety Grant from the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety in an amount not to exceed $8,200.00.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Town Report:
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to accept a bid by RC Brayshaw to produce 300 copies perfect bound for $1280, or coil bound for $1352. Copy to be delivered to them three weeks prior to when the report is needed.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0 all in favor
Donation Acceptance:
Motion: Beth Downs moved that the Board accept a donation of personal property in the form of a bookcase and map of Merrimack County in 1858 per RSA 31:95-e.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Accept Unanticipated Revenue
Motion: Beth Downs moved that the Board accept $5,850.00 in unanticipated revenue per RSA 31:95-b from the sale of the 2017 Ford Explorer police vehicle.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Sign TAN request. Signed
Sign Abatement Request Map 11 Lot 76 Site 11. Approved.
Sign Driveway Permit Map 2 Lot 8. Approved.
Sign Yield Tax Certifications. Signed.
Karen presented thank you notes.
There will be a Celtic music event on November 16, a fundraiser for outfitting the Town Hall auditorium.
Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest for review and signature. Signed
Upcoming meeting: November 18, 2024
Adjourn
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn the meeting.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 6:41 pm
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary