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Minutes

Commissioners unanimously accepted the Weekly Manifests and Minutes of July 29, 2026. County Administrator Coates reported propane costs are locked at $1.3647 per gallon and a County sponsored CDBG grant for Keene Daycare Center received Executive Council approval. Longevity awards will be issued via checks instead of gift cards. Superintendent Phillips stated camera project installation begins November 1, lasting two weeks, and sidewalk construction occurs at the end of August. DOC Maintenance Director Plaskiewicz reported a facility-wide hot water and air conditioning outage caused by a power surge; EEI identified a communications issue with major systems, with a target fix date of August 8. Coates is seeking transport van quotes from Fenton Dealership and Monadnock Ford for Maplewood Nursing Home. First Responders Appreciation Day is set for August 16, with Executive Committee and Delegation meetings scheduled for August 17. Source: https://co.cheshire.nh.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Comm.-Minutes-Aug-5.pdf

Document

COMMISSIONERS MEETING 
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 
Minutes 
 
This meeting will be conducted in person and via Zoom at 
Department of Corrections 
825 Marlboro Road 
Keene NH, 03431 
 
Zoom Call-in Number: +1 646 558 8656 
Meeting ID: 409 748 8803 
Pin #: 603123 
Start Time 8:30 AM 
 
Present: Commissioners Terry Clark, Claudia Stewart, and Skipper DiBernardo 
Absent:  
Staff: County Administrator Coates, HR Director May, DOC Maintenance Director 
Plaskiewicz, Superintendent Phillips, and Director of Executive Services/Communications 
Bernstein 
Guests:  
 
Public Comments 
Upon recognition from the Chair, a Public Comment on topics of interest may be made. 
 
I. 
Elected Officials & Department Head Updates 
To receive, as informational, departmental updates requiring Commissioner review, 
participation, approval, and impactful departmental and operational issues. 
 
1. Superintendent Phillips said the camera project installation will begin November 1 of this 
year.  
 
Commissioner Clark asked how long it will take to complete the project.  
 
Phillips said it will be a couple weeks.  
 
2. Phillips said sidewalk construction will be performed at the end of August.  
 
3. DOC Maintenance Director Plaskiewicz said the DOC is currently out of hot water and the air 
conditioning is down.  
 
On Wednesday, July 29 the power went out and the generator kicked in. The next day the mini-
splits went out in certain areas and the water went off in booking.  
 
There were not any indications hot water or air conditioning was out facility wide due to the hot 
water tank being full, and the day being cooler due to the weather.  

 
On Friday Plaskiewicz had EEI come in to check out any issues for booking and the mini-splits.  
 
Later that day he was alerted that it was starting to get hot in multiple places in the DOC.  
 
He checked the control boards and these showed that the building was heating up.  
 
EEI told him to turn the compressors on and off again to jump the system. They came back 
online but nothing changed.  
 
On Saturday morning Plaskiewicz came in and could not get a hold of EEI.  
 
Plaskiewicz got his whole team on the issue and could not fix it. 
 
The main engineer at EEI was not available. They could not access any information from their 
office like they usually can.  
 
The problem was identified as a communications issue with major systems all stemming from 
the power outage. This will ideally be fixed on Saturday, August 8.  
 
The DOC team said the water is not cold, it is lukewarm around 80-90 degrees so showers are 
not miserable. They have industrial fans in all units and the temperature is warm, but not terrible 
around 76 or 77 degrees.  
II. 
Scheduled Items 
 
County Administrator 
Weekly Operations Report - The County Administrator will update the Commissioners on 
activities that have taken place since the previous meeting. 
 
1. County Administrator Coates said all County facilities are locked in on propane costs 
at $1.3647 per gallon. 
 
2. Coates said a County sponsored CDBG grant for Keene Daycare Center passed 
through the Executive Council and is officially approved. 
 
3. Coates said in the past gift cards were given for longevity awards, this year it will be 
done through checks instead.  
 
4. Coates said the First Responders Appreciation Day is on Sunday, August 16 starting 
at 10:00AM  
 
5. Coates reminded the Commissioners that the Executive Committee and Delegation 
meetings are on Monday, August 17 at 5:30PM and 7:00PM respectively.  
 

6. Coates said he spoke to the Fenton Dealership and Monadnock Ford to inquire about 
discounts for a transport van for Maplewood Nursing Home.  
 
Monadnock Ford has presented two options so far, and Fenton will circle back at the 
end of this week.  
 
III. 
Old Business 
 
IV. 
New Business 
 
V. 
Consent Agenda Items: 
Vote to accept the Weekly Manifests and Minutes of July 29, 2026 
 
Commissioner DiBernardo made a motion to accept the manifest and minutes of July 29, 
Commissioner Clark seconded. Upon a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. 
 
VI. 
Calendar 
Action Expected: To accept the calendar as informational and to make necessary 
changes/additions. 
 
VII. 
General Discussion for Commissioners 
VIII. 
Nonpublic Sessions:  
 
At 9:42AM Commissioner Clark made a motion to enter into a non-public session 
pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a). Commissioner DiBernardo seconded. Upon a roll call 
vote the motion passed unanimously.  
 
As a result of the non-public the Commissioner’s made no decisions and no votes were 
taken.  
 
At 10:08AM the Commissioners unanimously voted to re-enter the public session. 
IX. 
Adjournment 
At 10:09AM Commissioner Clark made a motion to adjourn, and Commissioner 
DiBernardo seconded. Upon a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously.  
 
Minutes Recorded by: 
Davis Bernstein  
Director of Executive Services & Communications 
 
Minutes Reviewed by: 
Commissioner DiBernardo 
Clerk, Cheshire County Commissioners