Bethel Select Board reviews audit, approves permits and special town meeting warrant

The Bethel Select Board reviewed the FY2025 audit, which reported a healthy fund balance and a federal procurement finding, and approved several permits, bids, and appointments. The board also approved the warrant for an October 15 special town meeting and heard updates on the Bingham Forest, the airport, and a pending Board of Appeals case.

Key points

• The board accepted the FY2025 audit from RHR Smith & Company, which reported general fund revenues about $699,739 over budget and expenditures about $399,000 under budget, leaving an unassigned fund balance of roughly $3.97 million.
• The auditor reported a significant deficiency and federal finding because the town lacked a procurement policy meeting federal guidelines; a corrective action plan calls for a policy by the end of the calendar year.
• The board voted 4-0 to approve a medical cannabis dispensary permit for the Garden We Grow, junkyard permits for Todd Wilson and Goodrow's Repair, and appointments of Meryl Kelly to the Planning Board and Gabe to the Ordinance Review Committee.
• The board voted 4-0 to approve a hangar lot lease and addendum for Michael Klein at the airport and to award a generator bid to Flanders Electric for $17,480.
• The board approved the October 15 special town meeting warrant with amendments, including $150,000 from undesignated fund balance and changes to moratorium language so the legislative body, not the Select Board, holds authority.
• A Bingham Forest Committee representative said the committee may stop logging given low wood prices and asked the town to look into whether it must pay property taxes to another town.

Next steps

• The town manager will follow up with the town attorney on the space rental insurance question and with the library and historical society on Wi-Fi coverage.
• A community safety meeting is planned for the next meeting on October 21, and the board plans to finalize annual goals and an email policy then.
• The Board of Appeals will hear the Tillman appeal regarding the code enforcement officer's stop work order on October 27 at 6 p.m.
• The town manager will ask the assessor to respond again on the Bingham Forest property tax question.

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