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
Review Minutes of May 13, 2024 and May 20, 2024
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to approve the May 13, 2024 and May 20, 2024 minutes as written.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Appearances:
Brian Martel – 82 Fairgrounds Road. Appeared to ask about the status of the title on his properties.
Erica Gross – Town Clerk – The Board signed the Call to Vote. Deed Waivers – All is in order with the present deed waivers. Those being waived are adhering to the payment plans they have agreed to.
Devin Pendleton – French’s Park Attendant
- Devin asked if a member of her family could take the job of French’s Park Attendant. Consensus of the Board was in favor.
- Independence Day: Discussed planning for the June 29 activities. A bike parade is in the works. Permits for fireworks are done. Food trucks are signed on.
Walter Royal – Building Inspector (Permits for Map 10 Lot 6, Map 16 Lot 113, Map 16 Lot 93, Map 23 Lot 27, Map 16 Lot 90, Map 2 Lot 6, Map 16 Lot 107, Map 15 Lot 3, Map 2 Lot 20, Map 8 Lot 16) – All but two of the permits were signed.
Ed Shaughnessy – Police Department Update
- Calls: Since the May 13 meeting there have been 434 calls. Year to date the number of calls is 1,847. Motor vehicle calls are up 147% from 2023. Chief believes this is due to greater presence on the roads.
- The Police Department has three dozen kids bike helmets that they would like to distribute during the June 29th town celebration.
- At auction, Department equipment and firearms brought about $5,000 to the Town.
Bryan Nowell – Fire Department Update
- Calls: This has been a very busy time for the Fire Department
- Year to date calls: 108 (63 EMS, 45 Fire) compared with year to date 2023, 80 calls
- The usual percentages Fire/EMS equals about 80% fire/20% EMS. For 2024 so far, the percentage split is 63% fire and 45% EMS.
- Since May 20 there have been 13 incidents: 6 EMS and 7 Fire (including assists to Warner, Weare and Newbury).
- June 29 Chicken BBQ tickets will be on sale soon.
- The Department will be supporting the Bradford Center Meetinghouse by selling burgers and dogs at their concerts.
- Bryan asked that everyone complete the Hazard Mitigation survey.
- 75% of the Department members are now EMS trained.
- Bryan has been working with the Highway Department on driveway permitting and street numbering.
- The fire truck ordered in 2022 is expected to be in service this summer.
- Budget: Overall fire and rescue budgets have 67% remaining.
Steve Hall – Highway Department Update
- Bryan and Steve presented a proposal to repurpose the fire truck being replaced with the new pumper this summer as a dump truck for the Highway Department. The consensus of the Board is to move forward with investigating the proposal further.
- Work on West Road is starting on July 8 approximately.
- Steve has been working on the Hazard Mitigation Plan update effort. A hazard for the Highway Department is the lack of communication while members are on the road due to cell service deadspots. He is looking into solutions.
Public Input: None
Regular and Old Business:
Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest for review and signature. Signed.
Town Hall Recap
Karen reported the Open House on June 1st was well attended. Several issues need to be attended to by the contractor(s) before final payment will be made.
May Expense Review
Town Department budgets are in line. Bradford Area Community Center has budget line overruns. The Board discussed and emphasized the need to keep spending lower than what is budgeted.
Cemetery Maintenance
At the next Cemetery Committee meeting the contract for the 2024 season will be discussed.
Community Action Program (CAP) Lease
The Select Board reviewed the proposal from CAP on space they wished to utilize and expressed several concerns.
Better definition of community center space needed by CAP
Regarding freezers: Electricity supply, the weight, heat and noise generated in the
proposed space.
Set up of refrigeration to be shared.
The Board indicated they would like to renew the last for 6 months while these issues are worked through. Karen will email CAP with concerns.
Permit to show movies at the Community Center. Karen asked if perhaps the Town might want to renew the permit, which currently tied to the Community Center, and change its location to the Town Hall. Further details are needed.
New Business:
Appoint Deputy Treasurer: Jason Grey was appointed Deputy Treasurer.
Driving School Lease: Consensus is to renew the current lease with the same terms.
Process to Make Requests of Other Boards. Board discussed Chip’s ideas. Chip volunteered to be the Select Board representative on the Planning Board.
Sign Raffle Permits (2). Signed.
Sign Application for Reimbursement to Towns and Cities – Federal and State Forest. Signed.
Sign DRA Response Form for PA-28. Not signed pending completion of revaluation.
Sign Appointment for Economic Development Committee. Bruce Gezelman was appointed to the Economic Development Committee.
Sign Personnel Action Form. Signed.
Adjourn
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to adjourn the meeting.
Second: Chip Meany
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 8:32 pm
Upcoming meeting: June 24, 2024
Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary