Select Board Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call – Beth Downs, Marlene Freyler, Mel Pfeifle and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
The Bement Bridge received a NH Preservation Alliance Achievement Award last week.
Appearances:
Steve Hall – Highway Department – Steve reported a resident was upset with some road work the department was doing. The resident said there has never been a pipe there before, so the road crew showed him the current pipe and the resident apologized and told them they were doing a good job.
Steve said there are four options for this year’s road work:
1. To do the work all the work recommended will cost the Town ($133,581.96). The Town appropriated $100,000 at Town meeting. The additional can be spent from the Highway operating budget or from the Roads and Bridges fund.
2. The Town can double chip Pleasant View Road and crack seal Massasecum Lake Road and Old Warner Road for $100,164.89.
3. The Town could do part of Pleasant View, all of Old Warner and Massasecum Lake Roads, and do Breezy Hill and Center Road for $81,884.
4. Adding Fairgrounds would be $19.926.67 and that would give a grand total of $101,108.90.
Discussion ensued.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to accept the contract in the amount of $133,581.96.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Steve said they received an email stating there would be a for a surcharge for the new truck since it won’t be delivered until after May 31. Steve will try to see if the surcharge can be removed.
Lois Kilnapp – Transfer Station – Lois said after research she found that chipping the burn pile will be $3,000/year.
Beth asked why we can’t use our old Highway Department chipper. Steve asked who would run and maintain the chipper. Steve also said the chipper isn’t rated for what they need it for at the Transfer Station.
There was discussion regarding selling the chips to residents.
Lois reported a resident dropped some old shingles at the Transfer Station stating they were from a building being restored prior to donation to the Historical Society. The Historical Society is unaware of a building to be donated. Karen will follow up.
Public Input:
None.
Regular and Old Business
- The Board reviewed the minutes of the April 25 meeting.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to accept the minutes.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
- The Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
- Police Department Update – Karen reported that the open position has been posted.
- Vacant Positions – Beth said she made phone calls to people who do commercial cleaning and three people came in to review the work to be done. One more will be coming in in the next few days. Beth feels it’s important for one person to clean all the locations. Karen said Marlene has offered to clean Police, Fire and Highway in the meantime. Karen shared the bookkeeper job description from 2012 and stated that much has changed. She will update the description.
- Electrical Inspection Update – Karen said she spoke to a former a Code Enforcement Officer, who stated that special certification is beneficial, but not required. She will write a letter to Eversource stating that Bradford will reinstate their practice of doing electrical inspections prior to Eversource’s inspection.
- Town Hall Bond – Karen said the bond goes to sale on June 7. She said the Board needs to authorize the Town to enter into the agreement. Marlene read the certification.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to authorize the Town to enter into the loan agreement and sell the bond to the Bond Bank.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
New Business:
- Future Audit Engagement – Karen said our agreement for the past 5 years has been for $14,000/year. The auditor has offered to extend it another five years. The Board approved this by consensus. The Select Board chair signed the agreement.
- Sign Tax Warrant – Signed.
- Sign Tax Anticipation Request – Signed.
- Sign PAFs – Signed.
- Sign Letter to Appoint Town Clerk – Signed.
- Review/Sign Tax Credits/ Exemption Recommendations (5) – Signed.
- Sign Intent to Cut Map 4 Lot 15 – Signed.
- Sign Intent to Cut Map 4 Lot 36 – Signed.
- Sign Intent to cut Map 7 Lot 60 – Signed.
Upcoming Meetings:
- May 23, 2022
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (a) at 6:50 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to return to public session at 7:29 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.