03/10/2025 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

March 10th, 2025

In person – Chairman Bruno, Select Woman Strand, Selectman Caplain, Select Woman Hibberd, and Selectman Morris.

Energy Commission Appointment 3 Year Term: Bruce Caplain- Selectman Morris motioned to appoint Bruce Caplain for a three-year term to the Energy Commission starting April 1^st.  Select Woman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.  Selectman Caplain abstained.

Clean Energy NH Assurance Agreement- Selectman Caplain introduced Melissa Elander from Clean Energy New Hampshire.  Ms. Elander shared with the board that Clean Energy was hoping for an agreement with the town to enable them to continue to work on behalf of the town regarding clean energy initiatives.  Dan Crosby from the Bethlehem Energy Commission stated how helpful Clean Energy NH has been with several initiatives and strongly urged the select board to partcipate with the agreement.

Selectman Caplain motioned to approve the assurance agreement with Clean Energy New Hampshire. Select Woman Strand seconded and all were in favor.   

Police Department Cruiser Purchase- Selectman Morris motioned to move forward with the quote from Berlin City for the new police cruiser. Select Woman Strand seconded and all were in favor.    

Updates and other business- Selectman Caplain updated the board that Sustainability Working Group was working on a plastic reduction resolution.  Chairman Bruno updated the board that he had been contacted by a member of the Stark Select Board in opposition of SB 55 which impacted LUCT to encourage housing which potentially would impact Bethlehem’s ability to regain land use change tax.  The board agreed to send a letter opposing SB 55.

Selectman Caplain motioned to send a letter opposing SB 55.  Select Woman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.

Cheryl Jensen, Conservation Commission, requested that HB 639 Crypto Mining on the next select board meeting agenda.  Selectman Morris updated the board that the SEC hearing took place, and SEC has agreed to oversee the Eversource project and next will be the Public Utility hearing as a result of the planning Board denial of the height waiver.  Chris Jensen congratulated the board on their efforts to hold Eversource accountable.

Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, reputation, and legal) Select Woman Strand motioned to go into nonpublic per RSA 91A-3 II for reasons of personnel, and Legal. Selectman Caplain seconded and roll call followed.

The board discussed a personnel issue and legal.

Selectman Morris motioned to increase the Rec Directors salary 3% for 2025 and review a future salary increase with continued improvement in August to increase her salary to $54,000 the remaining of the year.  Select Woman Strand seconded, and the vote carried 4-1.

Chairman Bruno made a motion to adjourn at 8:00. Selectman Strand seconded, and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Moritz

Town Administrator