Select Board Meeting called to order at 3:38 pm.
Roll Call: Beth Downs, Marlene Freyler
Mel Pfeifle joined at 4:00 pm
Also attending: Steve Hall, Road Agent, Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator; Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Public Input: None
Regular and Old Business:
July 1st Closure of East Main Street: Discussion was held at the May 22nd meeting regarding the idea of closing part of East Main Street on July 1st.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to close East Main Street from the property line between #144 and #150 East Main Street east to Route 114 from 5:00 pm until after the fireworks on July 1, 2023; rain date July 2, 2023
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 2-0
Center Road Bridge: Following an inspection of the bridge over Hoyt Brook on Center Road between Battle’s Farm and Bradford Center, the NH Department of Transportation officially recommended that the bridge be closed on May 24th and placed it on the State’s Municipal Red List of deficient bridge structures. Steve contacted three bridge construction companies and received three proposals.
Discussion of the three proposals.
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to approve the repair of the Center Road Bridge by bridge repair option #2 with funding to come from the 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 2-0
The Board and Steve Hall also discussed the West Main Street sinkhole in the road and hole in the sidewalk. Steve Hall recommended that the Town get the Wetlands permitting done at approximately $30K so that the permit would be in place when the Town is ready to repair it and/or should the culvert fail. The engineer (from Hoyle Tanner) recommends that the pond be lowered in anticipate of rain events to facilitate the water flow under the bridge.
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to approve the following expenditures:
Center Road Bridge: $35K from the Emergency Road and Bridge Expendable Trust Fund
and $47K from the 2019 Road and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund;
and permitting for the West Main Street culvert: $35K from the 2019 Roads and Bridges
Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Beth Downs moved to approve expenditure of $2,850 for the transmission of the 2007 International dump from the 2015 Town Equipment Repair and Purchase Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
493 Center Road:
A letter has been received from a lawyer asking for setback and right of way clarification. Karen asked the Board for permission to ask Town Counsel to respond to the letter. The Board agreed by consensus.
Clarify change to benefit wait period:
Motion: Beth Downs moved to designate the change in the benefit wait period (discussed in the May 12th meeting) to be effective as of April 1, 2023.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
Discussion of holes drilled in Bement Bridge wooden approach guardrails for flags. Karen has asked the Police Chief to handle it.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:22 pm.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
Upcoming meeting: June 12, 2023
Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary