Meeting called to order at 4:00pm
Roll Call- Michael James (joined at 4:31pm), John Pfeifle, Jason Allen, Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator and Marilyn Gordon, Treasurer were in attendance.
Pledge of Allegiance
- Minutes from the November 4th, 2019 meeting were reviewed.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to approve the minutes.
Second: John Pfeifle
Decision: 2-0 in favor
- Account Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
Appearances:
- Police Chief Jim Valiquet appeared to request payments for vacation time that the Police Department will not be able to use before the end of the year due to a lack of shift coverage. Karen added that a Highway Department employee as well as the Town Administrator would likely be making similar requests. The Personnel Manual allows for the payout of unused vacation time and, as a courtesy, has traditionally been brought to the Select Board for approval.
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to move forward with the Police Chief’s recommendation to payout vacation time, as well as the other Departments, provided it is within the Departments budget to do so.
Second: Jason Allen
Decision: 2-0 in favor
Karen brought a compensatory time payout request to the Board for approval.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to payout compensation time.
Second: John Pfeifle
Decision: 2-0 in favor
Regular Business:
- The quarterly Select Board update is due to The Bridge for the December issue by November 20th, 2019. John will draft the report and send it to the other Board members.
- The Board approved placing two Census Employment signs at the Transfer Station as long as it is done within the Town’s temporary sign ordinance.
- The Board signed a revised MS-535, Financial Report of the Budget, for the New Hampshire Department of Revenue. Karen updated the form to breakout a reporting line differently but there were no changes in the overall total signed at the previous Select Board meeting.
- The Bradford Business Association presented the Town with a donation of $500 in honor of Dawn Rich for the Bradford Scholarship Fund.
Motion: Jason Allen motioned to accept the donation.
Second: John Pfeifle
Decision: 2-0 in favor
- Karen shared a courtesy notification from the Town of Antrim outlining the construction of a new cell tower.
- Karen provided the Board with final invoices for dumpster fees utilized in the demolition done at Town owned property at Dunfield Road which total just under $3,000. John asked that the discussed be held until Michael was present.
- John and Jason discussed attending the next Planning Board meeting to discuss Bradford’s Sign Ordinance.
Michael James joined the meeting at 4:31pm.
- The Board reviewed pictures outlining the condition of the Town Hall roof and reviewed estimates received to repair/replace failing roofing. The Board requested Karen have Sentry Roofing attend a meeting to provide additional detail around what the quote includes and how they plan to complete the work. Jason expressed some concern that the Board and Administrator are acting as the General Contractor on the Town Hall. He suggested that it may make sense to establish a dual role/part time position to have someone who is knowledgeable about building maintenance and construction processes review all of the vendor quotes and scope reviews for activity at Town properties.
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to have Karen verify with Sentry Roofing the parameters of the work that is included in their proposal is in alignment with what the Select Board believes is included.
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
A conversation with LCHIP is pending concerning a concrete retaining wall that was part of the playground when the Town Hall housed a school. The wall is currently located in the area the water cisterns for the sprinkler system are planned to be placed. Karen received an inquiry about what will happen with any remaining granite and it will be saved for landscaping at this point.
- After discussion of the Fund Balance value, which the Department of Revenue recommends be between 5% and 17%, and a desire to fund improvements in Town, the Board voted to maintain the balance at approximately the current level. This set the tax rate at $27.91 with the Town portion at $9.20; this is a decrease of $.02. An increase of $1.46 in School and County taxes was noted.
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to reduce the fund balance by $100,000 to offset taxes which will leave the total amount in Fund Balance at $580,767.
Second: Jason Allen
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to adjourn to Non-public Session per RSA 91-A:3II (c) reputation at 5:14pm.
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Michael James motioned to adjourn to public session at 5:28pm.
Second: John Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Michael James motioned to adjourn to non-public session at 5:28pm per RSA 91-A:3II(l) legal.
Second: Jason Allen
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to adjourn to public session at 6:07pm.
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Jason Allen motioned that the minutes of the non-public session be sealed as the reputation of a person other than a member of the board would be adversely affected.
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: John Pfeifle motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:07 pm.
Second: Michael James
Decision: 3-0 in favor
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be held on Monday, November 18th, 2019 at 7:00pm, at the Bradford Community Center.
Minutes submitted by Laurie Colburn, Recording Secretary