Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
January 29, 2018
Pledge of Allegiance
Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm
Roll Call- John Pfeifle, Chairman; Jim Bibbo, Selectman; Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator and Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer were in attendance
Sonny Harris, Selectman was not in attendance
Appearances:
- Transfer Station: Lois Kilnapp stated that NFI had asked about how volunteering in town. They will do some road clean up along Route 114. She also mentioned that she may have help from the inmates in doing some painting at the Transfer Station. She mentioned placing cameras at the Transfer Station to catch off-hour trespassers. She was asked how the compactors are working now that the weather has warmed up. She indicated they were functioning better and said that she had brought in some heaters to help when it was very cold.
- Pam Bruss – Circuit Rider: Pam noted that the Town had not updated the Circuit Rider agreement it has with the Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission for several years. She has spoken with them and they are willing to let Bradford continue to use their services on an as needed basis. The two Selectmen present signed the CNHRPC’s letter of agreement.
Regular Business:
- Budget: The Chair indicated he had two areas of concern with the Budget. The first was that the Select Board and Budget Committee fully understand where they agree and disagree. The second was that both the CIP proposal and the Select Board bond proposal were fully understood. The Select Board would like to consider timbering and/or selling Town-owned property to fund capital purchases, such as the fire truck. A list of potentially saleable properties will be put together. The question as to whether or not we can sell a property with a specific revenue use was asked. This is a question for the Dept of Revenue. The Selectmen would like to see the smaller, annual appropriations added to the Operating Budget next year (ex. BNSYS and the Boat Launch). The Board then reviewed their proposed budget as compared to the Budget Committee’s budget.
| Department | Budget Committee | Select Board (previously voted) | Select Board (revised) |
| Executive | $183,000 | $180,000 | $183,000 |
| Election | $8,000 | $8,000 | n/c |
| Financial Adm | $105,000 | $100,000 | $105,000 |
| Revaluation | $28,000 | $26,000 | $28,000 |
| Legal | $21,000 | $21,000 | n/c |
| Planning/Zoning | $11,000 | $11,000 | n/c |
| Gen Govt | $67,000 | $67,000 | n/c |
| Cemetery | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| ($5K from trust) | ($15K from trust) | ||
| Insurances | $65,113 | $65,113 | n/c |
| Other Gen Gov | $6,700 | $6,700 | n/c |
| Police Dept | $473,000 | $475,000 | $473,000 |
| Fire Dept | $57,000 | $57,000 | n/c |
| Rescue | $17,000 | $14,000 | $17,000 |
| Rescue – Cont | $65,000 | $65,000 | n/c |
| Building Dept | $15,000 | $15,000 | n/c |
| Civil Defense | $2,500 | $2,500 | n/c |
| Highway | $497,000 | $505,000 | |
| (remove $15K warrant) | |||
| Bridges | $1 | $1 | n/c |
| Street Lighting | $3,300 | $3,300 | n/c |
| Solid Waste Collection | $81,000 | $81,000 | n/c |
| Solid Waste Disposal | $20,000 | $19,700 | $20,000 |
| Inoculations | $1 | $1 | n/c |
| Welfare | $7,000 | $7,000 | n/c |
| Welfare Pmts | $35,000 | $33,302 | $35,000 |
| Parks/Rec | $2,000 | $2,000 | n/c |
| Library | $70,000 | $70,000 | n/c |
| Patriotic | $18,000 | $18,500 | $18,000 |
| Comm Center | $22,000 | $22,000 | n/c |
| Conservation | $900 | $900 | n/c |
| L/T Notes | $69,840 | $69,840 | n/c |
| TAN interest | $4,000 | $4,000 | n/c |
Two notable differences: The Select Board proposed funding the Cemetery Operating expenses with $15K from the Trust Funds where the Budget Committee suggests using $5K from the Trust Funds. The Select Board also recommends the Highway budget remain at $505,000. And instead of purchasing the dust control spreader with a $15K warrant article, it be purchased with the Highway Expendable Trust Fund.
With regard to warrant articles, the Select Board voted 2-0 in favor of funding capital projects and reserves in the amounts shown below. The Select Board and Budget Committee agree except where noted below:
| Select Board | Agree? | Budget Committee | ||||
| Highway Expendable Trust | $5,000.00 | no | ||||
| 4913 Capital Project Funds | ||||||
| Highway equipment | $30,400.00 | $30,400.00 | ||||
| Loader | $33,000.00 | $33,000.00 | ||||
| Revaluation Capital Reserves | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | ||||
| BNSYS | $2,750.00 | $2,750.00 | ||||
| Police Cruiser | $9,200.00 | $9,200.00 | ||||
| Asphalt Road Repairs | $50,000.00 | $50,000.00 | ||||
| Master Plan/CIP | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | ||||
| Boat Launch | $6,000.00 | $6,000.00 | ||||
| Fire Dept Equipment | $22,000.00 | $22,000.00 | 20K from CR | |||
| Cemetery Tree Removal | requested $5000 | |||||
| Road work | $120,000.00 | no | ||||
| BACC tree removal/survey | $10,000.00 | $10,000.00 | ||||
| Town Hall | no | $150,000.00 | ||||
| 4915 Capital Reserve | ||||||
| Fire Dept Equipment | $35,000.00 | no | $150,000.00 | |||
| Fire Dept. Bldg Maintenance | $5,000.00 | no | ||||
| Town Facilities & Bldg | $5,000.00 | no | ||||
| Town Bldg Emergency | $5,000.00 | no | ||||
| New Capital Reserve for Bridges | $10,000.00 | no | ||||
| Police Equipment and Vehicles (new) | no | $10,000.00 | ||||
| $358,350.00 | $483,350.00 | |||||
- Trumbull-Nelson Contract: Based on the attorney’s advice, the Board agreed to require a payment bond, but not a performance bond, for the work taking place at Town Hall. The Board agreed that for the next phase of work both bonds would be required.
- Town Hall Bond: The Board discussed funding the work at Town Hall and voted 2-0 in favor of a bond issue to complete the 1st floor for Town Office occupancy. It was noted that while Sonny was not present, he was in favor of this as well. The Selectmen feel it is beneficial to the Town take advantage of low interest rates. Based on the Police Chief’s recommendation that the offices be moved upstairs should they remain in the Community Center, the Board discussed adding a warrant article for $85,000 to fund the renovations necessary. The Board requested a detailed report of the Town Hall expenses from the 2017 bond issue.
- The Board accepted funds for the Town Hall Restoration Trust Fund.
- The Board discussed the Town Report. Rick Messer will be remembered in this year’s report. The Chair reviewed the topics he felt should be included in the Selectmen’s commentary and welcomed input.
- Solar Panels: Jim mentioned there is funding available to install solar panels (similar to what Warner has done). Jim will pursue this and invite his contact to a future meeting.
The Payable and Payroll Manifests were signed.
Minutes of January 22nd meeting were reviewed and accepted without changes.
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be held on Monday February 5, 2018 at the Bradford Community Center.
Meeting adjourned at 7:08.
Minutes submitted by Karen Hambleton