Select Board Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call – Marlene Freyler (Chair), Chris Frey and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
Appearances:
Public Input:
There was no public input.
Regular and Old Business:
- The Board reviewed the minutes of the February 22nd meeting.
Motion: Chris Frey motioned to accept the minutes.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
- The Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
- Karen asked if Chris and Marlene could be at elections no later than 7:30 a.m. The polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
New Business:
- Karen said that Harry Wright has been working very hard on the TAP grant which is due at the end of next week. She said they have taken a look at what they have done before and tweaked a few things. Karen explained that the last grant we submitted was for $800,000. Harry has had discussions with Central New Hampshire Regional Planning about how to better our chances to receive this grant. Karen has also spoken to Tom Jameson who is the administrator of the TAP grant program. She said there has been some discussion about the inclusion of the rail trail from West Main Street to the gas station. Karen said she isn’t sure that would be the best use of the allocation of monies.
- Tim Blagden from the Friends of the Lake Sunapee Rail Trail said there are several concerns about the project. One concern is the effect increasing the amount of the grant would have on Bradford’s chances of receiving the grant. Tim said the sidewalk portion grant is the most important and the rail trail part would be secondary. Tim spoke to Dean Williams who said there are two options: ask for less and hope to receive some more at the end if there are any left-over monies at the end of the grant round, or strengthen the grant application by including the rail trail as a multi-use path. There are currently 47 letters of intent filed with the DOT. Tom Jameson has said that the addition of any rail trail piece would be improved it went from street-to-street, in which case it should not end at the gas station, but rather go to Center Road. He said they are currently trying to communicate with the landowner who owns that property to see if they could include this in the proposed rail trail addition. The application deadline is midnight on March 19th.
- Harry said that a trail part of the program has to have a beginning and an end. So, he agrees it would be best to go to Center Road. Chris asked Harry if Central New Hampshire Regional Planning had an opinion as to whether the rail trail would be helpful to add in this project. Harry said that he can run it by them.
- Tim should have an answer for the property owners regarding the extension of the rail trail by the end of the week. He also mentioned that the multi-use path would not need to be winter maintained because it would be part of the snowmobile network.
- Harry will send the Board something by Sunday night so they can review it at the next Select Board meeting. Karen said there needs to be a Letter of Support from the Select Board. Marlene and Chris will take a look at the original letter and freshen it up a bit.
- Karen stated someone contacted the Town who would like to hold a wedding on the front lawn of the Center Meeting House on June 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. There will be approximately 59 people. The Board approved this request providing they follow whatever COVID protocols are in place at the time, follow the Town ordinance and submit a security deposit. They would also like to require her to have porta-potties.
- Karen asked about supporting Donate Life this year. The Board agreed to fly the flag again this year.
- Karen indicated the GASB report had been completed and asked if there were any questions about it.
- The Board members reviewed and signed a building permit.
- The Board accepted $100 for the Scholarship fund.
Motion: Chris Freymotioned to accept the funds.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
- Karen said someone has complained that the sign on the corner of Route 114 and Route 103 for the Police Station, laundry, etc. is an eyesore. Marlene said this is grandfathered and does not need to be changed.
Upcoming Meeting:
- March 15, 2021
Motion: Chris Freymotioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (c) at 6:35pm.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to return to public session at 7:00pm.
Second: Chris Frey
Decision: 2-0 in favor
Motion: Marlene Freylermotioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (c) at 7:00pm.
Second: Chris Frey
Decision: 2-0
Motion: Chris Frey motioned to return to public session at 7:48pm.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0 in favor
Motion: Chris Frey motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:49pm.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Vote: 2-0 in favor
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.