11/17/2026 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

November 17th, 2025

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

Nonpublic for Reasons of Personnel (5:30-6:00) 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.

Chairwoman Strand motioned to forgive the ambulance expense due to hardship.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.

Public Input-Rich Ubaldo asked if the plan for the new transfer station included employees that would be included in the 2026 budget.  Chairwoman Strand stated there would be transfer station expenses in the 2026 budget and the meeting on 12/1 would be going over the plan for the transfer station.  Chairwoman Strand updated the board that the town was notified on 11/13 by Senator Shaheen’s office that the spending request was going through and we would be awarded that money working with USDA in the Spring.

Budget Overview:

Tax Collector/Town Clerk- Mary Jackson, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, updated the board that the increase to her budgets was due to two additional elections in 2026. Selectwoman Hibberd asked Ms. Jackson about the increase to her longevity bonus, and she responded that because she does not get New Hampshire retirement she increased her longevity bonus line item.

Highway- Brett Jackson, Road Agent, updated the board that the increase to his budget was mostly a result of pay increases for the department. Mr. Jackson continued he does his best to minimize budget increases noting his concern that Highway budget increases are less than inflation and the additional costs will eventually impact his budget.  Chairwoman Strand asked Mr. Jackson if he felt the employee pay increases reflected what they should be noting retention is better than having to seek new Highway Department employees.  Mr. Jackson noted he appreciates the employees, and he feels a slightly larger increase to 5% is warranted.  The board agreed to increase the Highway Department pay by 5%, including the Road Agent.

Fire/Ambulance- Selectwoman Hibbard updated the board on the Fire Department and Ambulance budget noting the increase to a higher Ambulance stipend to better compete with area departments and a restructuring of the department.

Dispatch- The budget for Dispatch remained the same as 2025.

Insurance- Insurance was reduced by $30,000 last year.

Visitors’ Center- Vistor’s Center budget was increased by $2,000 to cover additional training for personnel and a pay increase.

Executive- Executive budget was increased based on personnel pay increases and covering the North Country Counsil road study under Professional Consulting.

Tax Rate Setting-Chairwoman Strand updated discussion on the tax rate noting without using any unreserved fund balance the tax rate came in at $17.47.  Selectman Bruno noted that the unreserved fund balance has been at a good percentage since 2021 and he would like to see more used to reduce the tax rate.  Selectwoman Hibberd agreed stating she would consider using between $500,000 and $700,000 from the unreserved fund balance.  Rich Ubaldo stated he believes the DRA has a certain amount recommended for the unreserved fund balance and as much as he would like property taxes to go down, he would not recommend using the maximum.  Chairwoman Strand noted using $600,000 would reduce the tax rate from 2024 which is important.  Selectwoman Hibberd stated using $700,000 would reduce the tax rate almost a $1.00 which has not been done in a long time and would leave the unreserved fund balance within DRA’s recommendation.

Selectwoman Hibberd motioned to use $700,000 from the unreserved fund balance to reduce the tax rate.  Selectman Bruno seconded and all were in favor.

Minutes 11/03 and 11/10- Selectman MacDonald motioned to approve the minutes from 11/03.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor. 

Selectwoman Knowles noted adding Mary Moritz to the people participating at the Rocks Estate to the 11/10 minutes.

Selectman MacDonald motioned to approve the minutes from 11/10 as amended.  Selectwoman Hibberd seconded and all were in favor.  

Chairwoman Strand made a motion to adjourn at 7:45. Selectman Bruno seconded, and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Moritz

Town Administrator