TOWN OF BRADFORD
SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 4, 2013
5:30PM
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Harry Wright, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:30pm with Sonny Harris, Cheryl Behr, Administrator, Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer and Marge Cilley, Secretary present.
Review and Consideration of January 28, 2013 and February 1, 2013 Minutes:
Motion made by Sonny Harris to approve the minutes of January 28, 2013. Seconded by Harry Wright. On page one under Appearances: next to last sentence under Peter Isham should read: With Peter Isham’s permission the Town can still turn around there and they will not take this by prescription or eminent domain.
Under Fire Chief, three lines up from the bottom should read:
Diesel would use 2/3 the amount of fuel as propane.
Motion carried 2-0 with edit.
Motion was made by Harry Wright to approve the minutes of February 1, 2013. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 2-0.
Appearances:
Town Hall Relocation Committee with presentation:
Cheryl Behr read the following two articles:
Article Seven: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a Five Year lease/purchase agreement to acquire Bradford Corners Map 3, Lot 103 and Map 3 Lot 103-a to house town offices for the amount of Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000.00). In addition, to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($138,450.00) for the first year’s payment for this purpose. This expenditure will be funded in part by Thirty One Thousand Dollars ($31,000.00) in rents with the remaining $107,450.00 to be raised by taxation. This lease agreement contains a fiscal funding clause. (By Petition) (Passage represents $ .49 on the tax rate).
Article Eight: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum $95,000.00 to renovate and relocate the town offices to the Bradford Corners property. This article is contingent on the passing of the lease/purchase Agreement. (By Petition) Paper Ballot requested.
(Passage represents $.43 on the tax rate.)
Dawn Rich presented a colored picture of the area and a list of reasons to vote for Bradford Corners. This is a 4.4 acre lot with 47 parking spaces with room for expansion and is handicapped accessible.
Dawn went on to state they would like to have a Public Meeting to discuss this further.
The Selectmen advised a Public Meeting would be fine and the Bradford Corners Committee can set it up at their discretion. Also a list of committee members was asked for by Harry Wright, Chair.
Harriet Douglass questioned the taxes paid to the town on the Bradford Corners property. Cheryl Behr advised the Post Office pays the taxes in the amount of approximately $12,000.00. Discussion ensued.
Appointment of Selectman:
Harry Wright, Chair advised some thinking had gone into appointing Selectmen who had some experience in the position, and several people have shown some interest.
Motion was made by Harry Wright, Chair to appoint John Pfeifle as Selectman for the remainder of Barry Wheeler’s term. Sonny Harris seconded.
Michele Halsted questioned Mr. Pfeifle how he feels about the Town Hall Restoration.
John’s reply was that he likes old buildings in town preserved well within reason, therefore, he is for fixing buildings in town, however he is a conservative, and therefore we have to balance both. Motion carried 2-0.
Mr. Pfeifle has been sworn in, and joined the Selectmen at this time.
Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
Personnel action forms were also reviewed and signed.
Transfer form signed for the Treasurer to transfer funds into the checking account was signed.
TAN note for $400,000 will be ready for signature on Feb. 11, 2013.
Town Hall Restoration Committee :
Michele Halsted presented colored floor plans of the anticipated renovations for all to review. A hand out was also given to the Selectmen including stages of work for each floor as well as drawings and some comparison reports.
Eileen Kelly, Chair Town Hall Restoration Committee gave an updated report on the Town Hall Restoration progress. The Committee has been working for one and a half years on this project. Eileen advised that Jim Bruss and Bruss Construction has given this town an invaluable amount of time and effort for the good of the town. An overview of the Town Hall history was given as well as the Renovation Plan. The Construction Manager, North Branch Construction was mentioned which is working towards a Guaranteed cost.
A question was asked: How many would the auditorium hold to which Michele Halsted replied a great question and the number is 240.
Eileen Kelly, Chair advised this renovated town hall could be completed and ready to open fall/winter 2013.
John Pfeifle questioned the limited use of the Community Center being used for town offices. Eileen Kelly stated the Grant that was received for the renovation of the Community Center for the purposes of being a Community Center, and it is no longer being used totally as a community center, and the grantor does have a problem with that.
Marcia Keller advised Community Development Finance Authority is the Grantor in answer to a question. Question of a letter so stating is in question at this time and it should be addressed.
Request of the Committee is for the Selectmen to vote tonight to recommend this bond where we are right now in the hopes as we continue work in the next two weeks to bring the price down lower. The THRC will meet with the Budget Committee on Tuesday and Thursday the committee meets. At this time the Warrant Article for the Bond is set at $1,767,621. It was stated this would represent the tax impact of:
A $150,000 assessed home @ $.71 = $106.00 per year
A $200,000 assessed home @ $.71 = $142.00 per year
A $250,000 assessed home @ $.71 = $177.00 per year
This would be for a 15 year Bond with an annual payment of approximately $125,000.00 with an interest rate of between 2.1% and 2.2%, depending upon which financial institution was used.
Jim Bruss, Bruss Construction gave a brief explanation of how they would be retaining historical features of the town hall.
Upcoming events include:
Budget Committee Meeting February 5, 2013 at 6:30pm
Budget Committee Hearing, Friday, February 8, 2013 with a second date of Feb. 15, 2013 if required.
Bond Hearing is posted for February 18th.
Candidates Meeting, sponsored by the BradfordBridge is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2013, 10:00am to 12:00 noon.
Town Hall Restoration Forum scheduled on Saturday, February 23, 2013 10:00am to 12:00 noon at the Elementary school.
Review of Warrant Articles not done in the past couple of weeks:
Article Four: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate One million seven hundred sixty seven thousand six hundred twenty one dollars ($1,767,621.00) to renovate the Bradford Town Hall at map 16, lot 92 and to authorize the issuance of not more than
One million seven hundred sixty seven thousand six hundred twenty one dollars ($1,767,621.00) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term and other details.
(2/3 vote required) (passage of this article will not impact the tax rate until 2014)
Motion to recommend Article Four made by Sonny Harris. Harry Wright seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Article Five: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Six Hundred and Seven Thousand Dollars ($607,000.00 (gross budget) to repair and rebuild asphalt roads in Bradford and to authorize the issuance of not more than Six Hundred and Seven Thousand Dollars ($607,000.00) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act. (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term and other details. The roads to be repaired include Old Warner Road, Rowe Mountain Road, Sunset Hill Road, West Road, Greenhouse Lane, Pleasant View and Fairgrounds Road.
The Selectmen had previously recommended Article Five.
It was suggested at the last Budget Committee to do this in two halves with the second half to be brought up in 2015.
John Pfeifle suggested reducing the total by half and ask Barry Wheeler, Road Agent to re-align the roads to be done.
Motion was made by Sonny Harris to revisit Article Five and edit the dollar amount to Three hundred thousand ($300,000.00) and revisit list of roads to be done. Seconded by John Pfeifle. Motion carried 3-0.
Chris Frey suggested if bonding, then set payment to be due in December.
Article 7: Harry Wright, Chair re-read Article 7.
Discussion ensued. Harry Wright, Chair brought up one of the big issues in town is looking at town development and lack of commercial, industrial/business real estate.
If this passed, then $675,000 would be taking commercial real estate off the town assessment. Also questioned is the town becoming a landlord. Question also came up if the Selectmen need to recommend or not recommend a Petition. Cheryl advised she had talked with the Department of Revenue today and their advice was for the Selectmen to make a recommendation.
This Petition will be on the Warrant and at this time the Selectmen are holding on making a recommendation.
Article 8: Article 8 is also a Petition Article which the Selectmen are holding on at this time until after the Town Attorney has been checked with.
Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) to purchase a solar Highway Safety Sign with proceeds from a Highway Safety grant of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) to offset the cost with Nine Thousand Dollars ($9,000.00) to be raised by taxation. This will be non lapsing per RSA 32:7 VI.
Motion was made by John Pfeifle to recommend Article 12. Seconded by Sonny Harris. Motion carried 3-0.
Question was asked if the Police Dept. has been notified of the Amended Dog Ordinance to which Cheryl advised yes and Andrew Pinard has put it on the Website.
Motion was made, seconded and carried to adjourn at 7:25pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary