08/25/2025 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

August 25th, 2025

In person – Chairwoman Strand, Selectwoman Hibberd, Selectman Bruno, and Selectman MacDonald.   Selectwoman Knowles attended remotely.

Chairwoman Strand opened the meeting at 5:30 and motioned to go into nonpublic according to RSA 91A for reasons of personnel.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and roll call followed.

The board discussed a personnel issue.

Chairwoman Strand motioned to come out of nonpublic at 6:00.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and roll call followed.

D4 Rubbish- Chairwoman Strand introduced Melissa & Douglas Dano, the owners of D4 Rubbish, to discuss the possibility of working with the town when NCES closes.  Mr. Dano explained he currently works with 6 municipalities and would be interested in responding to the RFP.  Mr. Dano continued that his company would be able to localize service for specific areas, and they could do an annual contract or a multi-year contract with a fuel surcharge, and they currently do not offer single stream recycling.  Rich Ubaldo asked of the 6 towns D4 services how many utilize Mt. Carberry and what would happen if that landfill declined to take Bethlehem’s garbage.  Barry Zitzer from the Transfer Station Committee responded that Mt. Carberry has already agreed to take Bethlehem’s waste.  The board asked D4 Rubbish to provide a response to the RFP.

Traffic Calming- Bruce Caplain updated the board that he met with the Road Agent and as a result was not moving forward with road bumps on town roads.

Social Media Policy- Chairwoman Strand opened discussion on the proposed social media policy noting the town has several social media pages on Facebook.  Chairwoman Strand noted other towns consistently do not allow comments on their social media platforms.  Chairwoman Strand outlined what is currently in the employee handbook including:

• Employees may not post financial, confidential, sensitive or proprietary information about the Town, citizens, employees or applicants.
• Employees may not post obscenities, slurs or personal attacks that can damage the reputation of the Town, citizens, employees or applicants.
• When posting on social media sites, employees must use the following disclaimer when discussing job-related matters, “The opinions expressed on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of Town of Bethlehem.”
• Town of Bethlehem may monitor content out on the Internet. Policy violations may result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.

Selectman Bruno recommended that the current administrators of the social media sites sign the revised policy and reiterated the importance of not allowing comments on town social media pages. Chief Galloway noted that the Fire Department has two Facebook pages both managed privately and questioned what the town could require.  Selectwoman Hibberd noted that was how the Rec Department’s Facebook page was originally created.  Chairwoman Strand noted the Fire Department will have to address the administrative access.  Chief Galloway agreed to talk with the two fire department members who manage the social media pages and get administrative access.  Chairwoman Strand recommended amending the employee handbook social media policy to include elected officials adding any sanctioned town social media site needs to share username and password and turn off comments.  Selectman Bruno clarified that getting username and password may not be possible, so he recommended tuning off comments and signing the social media policy.  The board agreed to discuss the social media policy further at a future meeting.

Sign Permit Brown Paper Packages– Selectwoman Hibberd motioned to approve the sign permit for Brown Paper Packages in accordance with the new light and sign ordinance.  Selectman MacDonald seconded and all were in favor. 

Rambling Woods CDBG Grant- Mary Moritz, Town Administrator, updated the board that there would be a public hearing on 9/22 to move forward with CDBG grant.

Bonnd Construction- Chairwoman Strand updated the board that we received an estimate to replace the roof at the Pool Welcome Center and complete cement repairs for a total of $12,277 which Steve Carter would reduce by $1,000 if both projects were completed.

Selectman MacDonald motioned to accept the proposal from Bonnd Construction for the cement work and roof in the amount of $11,277.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.   

Minutes 8/11- Selectman Bruno motioned to accept the minutes from 8/11.  Selectman MacDonald seconded and all were in favor. 

Updates and other business- Selectwoman Hibberd requested the board amend the minutes from 7/25 because it was discussed to include allowing the administration to sign the orchard agreement if the school board agreed and the board agreed to amend the minutes.

Selectwoman Hibberd motioned if the school board allows the administration to sign the agreement for the orchard the agreement is approved.  Chairwoman Strand seconded and all were in favor.  

Chairwoman Strand recommended going forward Updates and other business move to after Public input and the board agreed.  Chairwoman Strand updated the board that the assessors recommended abating a LUCT in the amount of $20,400 as a result of additional information.

Selectman Bruno motioned to accept the assessor’s recommendation and abate map 420 lot 30 sub 5 in the amount of $20,400. Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.

Chairwoman Strand confirmed with the board the meeting schedule to be 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 1/5/26, 1/12,2026, 1/19,2026

Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, reputation, and legal) Chairwoman Strand motioned to go into nonpublic per RSA 91A-3 II for reasons of personnel at 7:15. Selectman Bruno seconded and roll call followed.

The board discussed personnel.

Chairwoman Strand made a motion to adjourn at 7:25. Selectman Bruno seconded, and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Moritz

Town Administrator