Select Board Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call – Jason Allen (Chair), Michael James (via ZOOM), Marlene Freyler and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
Appearances:
- Andrew Pinard did not attend as noted in the agenda.
- Brackett Scheffy, Town Moderator, appeared via ZOOM and provided the Board with an update on planning for the fall elections. The venue for elections has not been finalized but will likely be held at the Bradford Area Community Center, and will follow social distancing protocols. Melissa Cloutier, Town Clerk, outlined that a curbside voting option, which follows the absentee voter ballot process, will be available. Brackett will attend the Select Board meeting on August 10th to provide another update.
Regular and Old Business:
- The Board reviewed the Minutes of the July 13th and July 20th, 2020 meetings.
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to approve the Minutes of July 13, 2020 and July 20, 2020
Second: Michael James
Vote: 3-0 in favor
- The Accounts Payables and the Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
- Lois Kilnapp, Transfer Station Manager, asked the Board about the status of any changes regarding French’s Park. The Board is drafting an ordinance revision and will schedule a Public Hearing once the revision is ready.
- Lois also provided an update on operations at the Transfer Station. She outlined building maintenance work, reviewed with Walter Royal, Town Facilities Supervisor, which will be done using recycled lumber.
- A request had been made to update the Town’s email policy to require all Town related functions to have a Town email address. The Board feel that Town Employees and Department Heads should have Town email addresses but there is no need for Committee and Board members to have Town email addresses assigned.
- The Board discussed implementing Fire Lanes. Jason and Marlene were not in favor of adopting Fire Lanes, while Michael expressed that he supported the adoption provided the Board manages the process. There had been previous discussion about defining specific roads as Fire Lanes. Jason asked Karen to follow up with the Conservation Commission to determine if there is a sub-listing of roads that the Commission has identified as priority emergency lanes. The Board will also reach out to the Police and Fire Departments to see if they have identified a list of potential emergency lanes.
- An ongoing Property Assessment lawsuit with PSNH has been settled. Bradford is liable for a little over $71,000 in tax abatements. Karen is exploring what financial options exist to relieve the abatement burden. Karen will work with the lawyer, who represented the case, to setup a conference call for the Board to get feedback from legal representation.
New Business:
- Karen requested the Town Administrator be given fuel lock-in authority to participate in with the Towns of Warner and Sutton.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to give Karen Hambleton the authority to establish a fuel lock-in for 2021
Second: Marlene Freyler
Vote: 3-0 in favor
- Marlene thanked Noah Boisvert for his assistance in putting flags on the phone poles on Main Street.
- Karen shared a request from the Census Bureau to conduct training at the Bradford Area Community Center. Jason was supportive of that allowing planned events, conducted with social distancing and cleaning requirements but managed within the normal operative procedures of the Town Offices. The Board will leave the details to the Selectmen’s Office to determine and manage.
- The Board voted to approve a withdrawal from the Recycling Revolving Fund for repair to the baler. The expenditure was made prior to approval in an emergency. Future emergency situations shall be paid through the normal operating budget, then reimbursed from the Fund if the Board approves it. All non-emergency requests shall be presented for approval prior to incurring the expense.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to expend $493.61 from the Recycling Revolving Fund
Second: Marlene Freyler
Vote: 3-0 in favor
- Karen received complaints, via the Department of Transportation, regarding speeds on Route 114, near French’s Park and the Lake Massasecum Boat Launch. Karen is working with Central New Hampshire Regional Planning to do a Speed Survey.
- The Board signed an Application for Reimbursement for Low State Forest.
- A Veterans Credit Application was signed.
- The Board signed three (3) Current Use Applications.
- A refund for a Property Tax overpayment was signed.
- A BACC Governance Board appointment was signed.
- Inspectors of the Election appointments were signed.
Public Input:
There was no public input.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to move to non-public session, per RSA 91-A:3,II (a) at 7:57 pm
Second: Marlene Freyler
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to return to public session at 8:07 pm
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3,II (a) at 8:09 pm
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to return to public session at 8:57 pm
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to adjourn at 8:58 pm
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be held on Monday August 10th, 2020 at 7:00 pm, at the Bradford Community Center.
Minutes submitted by Laurie Colburn, Recording Secretary