Select Board Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.
Roll Call: Beth Downs (Chair), Mel Pfeifle, Marlene Freyler
Also attending: Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Appearances:
Ann Eldridge – Conservation Commission, appeared to ask the Board to retain two Town-owned properties, Map 4 Lot 7 and Map 4 Lot 9, that were authorized to be offered for sale via a warrant article that passed in 2021. Town took ownership of the parcels due to unpaid taxes. Ann said the Conservation Commission would like the Select Board to retain the lots for conservation purposes as the lots are located within the headwaters of West Branch of the Warner River, the land represents prime habitat for wildlife, and retaining the lots would avoid the challenges future sales could lead to. Ann shared a draft of a proposed warrant article to retain the lots. Consensus of the Select Board is that they support putting this article on the warrant.
Walter Royal – Building Inspector. Richard Greene, Engineer and Kevin Pestana, owner of Lot 21, Map 3, Ring Hill Road, appeared to discuss the safety of a driveway access at a construction site. The Board agreed to sign a building permit after additional criteria for the driveway have been met.
Bryan Nowell – Fire Department Update.
Total incidents for 2023 are 193, compared with 218 (2022). Incidents for the last weeks of 2023: 7 incidents – 5 EMS calls, 2 Fire
VFA grant received. $2,000 match for forestry equipment. $2,000 to match to come from FD operations.
Motion: Beth Downs moved that the Board agree to authorize Bryan Nowell, Fire Chief, to enter into contracts or agreements on behalf of the Town of Bradford with the State of New Hampshire, acting by and through the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and is further authorized to execute any documents on behalf of this Municipality which may be in his judgement desirable or necessary to effect the purpose of this resolution.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Events: Polar plunge with Parks & Recreation on January 1 was well attended. Red Cross Blood Drive collected 21 units from 19 donors. Another drive is planned for May 2024. Street number system is getting several applications per month.
Budget: The Fire and Rescue lines combined have $25.4% left in the 2023 budget.
Steve Hall – Highway Department,
Fences: The replacement of the fence on West Main has been completed. Fences at the fire pond and Brown Shattuck Park will be completed soon.
Late arriving invoices: Steve presented an invoice for truck body repair for just under $17,000 representing about $1,000 over the expected expense. Also, presented were multiple invoices totaling approximately $5,400 received on January 2, 2024 from a truck repair vendor for work done dating back to March 2023. Consensus of the Board was to pay truck body and late invoices out of 2023 funds.
Road Committee meeting: Mel and Beth asked for a Road Committee meeting to be held before Town Meeting.
Public Input: Kathleen Bigford asked about emergency services in the event of a wide-spread power outage or other disaster. The first point of contact would be a call to the Selectmen’s Office or the Fire Chief.
Regular and Old Business:
Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest for review and signature. Complete.
Town Hall Update Most building inspections are complete. Elevators will be inspected on January 17th. Karen spoke to rumors that the project has gone over budget due to the completion of the second floor. This is incorrect. The completion of the second floor, with the exception of the fit-up for theater or event specific equipment, was budgeted as part of the $2.6 million project. The project is coming in on budget.
BACC and Town Hall Second Floor – next steps:
The Board revisited the creation of a core committee to lead the initiative to maximize the usage of these two spaces moving forward. Individuals with special interest or area of expertise will be involved as the process moves forward. For both spaces, this will include a determination of the operating cost per square foot and hours of usage to inform the determination of fees.
Legal Update:
The Historical Society request for an easement on town property adjacent to the Historical Society building is under legal review.
A license to enter private property for wildlife control was tabled.
December Expenses: Some 2023 expenses are still outstanding. The Board reviewed the 2023 expenses to date and had no questions.
Budget Development:
The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed warrant articles for the 2024 Town Meeting. Regarding a warrant article for the Masonic building, the Board agreed the warrant article should propose selling the Masonic building.
Karen revisited the unanticipated revenue that was received from the sale of the boiler that was removed from Town Hall. She suggested it should be moved to the Town Hall checking account.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to approve that the $1000 received from the sale of Town Hall’s old boiler be moved to the Town Hall account.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Beth suggested looking at the operating budget to see if there are further opportunities to reduce the 2024 budget. Final revisit will be on January 22.
New Business:
Town Report Dedication
The Board discussed possible individuals who might be mentioned in this year’s Town Report dedications.
Energy Aggregation Committee – name change to Community Power Committee
This name change better represents the purpose of the Committee and makes their function more recognizable.
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved that the name of the Energy Aggregation Committee be changed to the Community Power Committee.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Accept Unanticipated Revenue
Motion: Beth Downs moved that the Board accept $200 in unanticipated revenue per RSA 31:95-B to be placed in the 2023 Bradford Town Scholarship Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Karen recognized the Rural Heritage Connection and many others for their generous donations to the Town Hall renovation project. The donations total over $10,000 and must be received in a public hearing. A public hearing will be scheduled for January 22nd.
Multiple Letters. Signed.
Auto Registration Reimbursement request. Signed. Reimbursement for overcharge on a vehicle registration.
Intent to Cut Map 9 Lot 8. Signed.
Personnel Action Form. Signed.
Karen paraphrased a letter of appreciation from the Community Action Program for the $10,500 received from Bradford in 2023.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn the meeting to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (e) at 9:27 pm.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to return to public session at 9:50 pm.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 pm.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0, all in favor
Upcoming meeting: January 22, 2024
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary