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BOARD OF SELECTMEN 08/03/2026                                                         1 
 
 
Plaistow Board of Selectmen Minutes 
 
Date: August 31, 2026 
 
Meeting Called to Order:      6:01 pm 
 
Roll Call:    
Chairwoman, Liz Kosta – present 
 
Vice Chair, Bill Coye – present 
Selectman, Jay DeRoche – present  
           Selectman, Jonathan Gifford – present 
Selectman, Tyler Schorman – excused 
 
Also present: Town Manager Greg Colby, Administrative Assistant Audrey DeProspero, Fire Chief 
Knutsen, and Moderator Bob Harb 
 
Public Comment – None 
 
ALS Update – Chief Knutsen – March 20, 2025 full operation of ALS.  Responses: Paramedics 
4,325 times, 8,478 patient procedures, 630 calls, 315 mental status, 275 motor vehicle accidents, 77 
hospital stroke, 94 cardiac arrest unconscious, and 84 patient chemical sedation.  He is proud of all 
staff.  Program received grant funding: 2 million Beth Isreal contributed, Department of Justice 1.4 
million and Congressional Direct Spending 1.5 million.  They have been running on grant funding for 
17 months.  April 1, 2027 transition to financially sustainability model and will ask then for money.  
Discussed readiness standard charge and fee per charge.  Cost will be charged to towns who use us.  
Initial funded model NH got money in Big Beautiful Bill.  Towns we serve have submitted letter of 
support.  A 5-year plan has been created, buy in $15,000 a year ask with 4% escalator.  Warrant 
Article in 2027 to enter membership with Plaistow for five years.  We do not pay for Plaistow, as we 
manage program.  Discussed Go North Program, October funding one year and done in 2 phases.  
Meeting with stakeholders for final funding numbers before end of year/town meeting.  Suggested 
wording to be received from attorney for warrant article.  It is a membership based agreement.  There 
is a usage fee discount if they join.  If they are not funded Plaistow will still respond but calls will be 
higher cost.  18 communities are currently working with Plaistow.  We will move ahead one year, 
collect money in 2027 give cushion for 2028.  Currently housed out of Plaistow and Brentwood.  
Communities are being asked to lock in for two years with a buyout within two years.   
 
Selectman DeRoche would like to see budget and revenues. 
 
Chief Knutsen discussed big budget drivers: payroll and benefits, equipment usage (consumables).  
He discussed small charge amount for call and Department of Justice Grant reimbursement funding. 
 
Chairwoman Kosta inquired about ambulance progress. 
  Town of Plaistow  Board of Selectmen 
  145 Main Street  Plaistow  NH  03865  
 

 
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 08/03/2026                                                         2 
 
Chief Knutsen discussed delays due to insurance company, possible end of month, accident, and 
fixing ambulance.  Border towns have loaned ambulance when needed.  Increase over last year FD 
response – 1091 for service, last year 1008.  Fire and EMS for Plaistow increase in ambulance 
revenue.  Discussed computer aided dispatch service and commercial occupancy, they see 
picture/live time.  Spoke of Walton Road concrete barriers which did not allow access to fire hydrant, 
situation addressed, now gate there allowing accessibility to hydrant.  Discussed assessing water 
supply, hydrants being painted, flow test being done, tops color coded to address flow and by doing 
so mutual aid community can find them easily and are mapped by GPS, and revamp of over 100 
policy and procedures.   
 
Elections & Deliberative Session – Town Moderator Bob Harb – Next Tuesday is Primary 
Election.  Hours are 7am until 8pm.  Location is Plaistow Fish and Game on 18 May Ray Avenue.  
Ballot is one page.  Voters will check in with Ballot Clerk, Democratic, Republican or Undeclared 
will be asked, if Undeclared you will be asked to be declared.  There are blue and pink papers to assist 
with declared and either paper will be put in the blue or pink box.  Building is handicap accessible, 
ramp is on the right and people are asked to exit through exit.  Two machines will be operating, 
people are asked to bring ID for ballot, students cannot use their Student ID.  Rules for Moderating 
are same as previous.  1,200 voters are anticipated.  Volunteers for counting at 8:15 pm are needed, 
there is a 3-way reconciliation.  
 
Chairwoman Kosta and Town Moderator Bob Harb discussed Deliberative Session and survey of 
different dates.  School met week ago to discuss, majority wants it on a Saturday, and if decision is 
Saturday morning, suggestion is not same day as Town.  Noted was if snow day, then you need to 
meet within 72 hours. 
 
Selectman Gifford noted there will be police presence during voting which will make people aware of 
activities going on.  Police will be located at main entrance, parking lot and building. 
   
Approval of Prior Non Public Session Minutes   
Selectman DeRoche motions to approve the Non Public Session Minutes of November 25, 2019 
and unseal them.  Seconded by Vice Chair Coye.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
Vice Chair Coye motions to approve the Non Public Session Minutes of August 17, 2026 
and keep them sealed.  Seconded by Selectman Gifford.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
Selectman Gifford motions to approve the Non Public Session Minutes of August 26, 2019 
Session 2 and unseal them.  Seconded by Chairwoman Kosta.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
Selectman DeRoche motions to approve the Non Public Session Minutes of September 3, 2019 
Session 1 and unseal them.  Seconded by Vice Chair Coye.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
Selectman Gifford motions to approve the Non Public Session Minutes of September 3, 2019 
Session 2 and keep them sealed.  Seconded by Chairwoman Kosta.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
 
 

 
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 08/03/2026                                                         3 
 
Consent Agenda 
Item Description 
1. BOS Draft Minutes – 08/17/2026 
2. Manifest 08/31/26 
Vice Chair Coye motions to approve the consent agenda of the Selectmen for August 31, 2026.   
Seconded by Selectman Gifford.  Vote: 4-0-0.  Motion Carries. 
 
Town Manager’s Report – Greg Colby 
• Budgets out to Department Heads, answering questions, tracking down information and 
receipt of a couple of budgets. 
• Waste Management gearing up for end of years.  Looking at dumpsters and working with 
Republic.  Transition is January 1. 
• Legal issues. 
• Monthly tasks. 
• Department Safety Stop Sign Program going before Governor and Counsel. 
• Veto overturned the 10-year plan and is back in play.  Plaistow has four projects added back. 
• Summertime with warm weather, water testing came back well. 
• Upcoming meeting with Beede, negotiations and/or aspects of liens continuing. 
 
Selectmen’s Reports 
Selectman Gifford 
• Elderly Affairs meeting, fun get together.  October 7 is apple pie. 
• Historical Society – carpenter needed to put up oak shelf and willing to donate time. 
• Atkinson/Haverhill perambulation docs forthcoming to be signed.  
 
Selectman DeRoche 
• Budget Committee holding off on meeting until they have budgets. 
 
Vice Chair Coye 
• Friday test voting machines. 
• Planning Board workshop this week. 
 
Chair Kosta 
• CIP 
• Bob Harb held Ballot Clerks meeting last Monday. 
 
Non Public 
Vice Chair Coye motions to go into Non Public under RSA 91-A:3 II for (A) Public Employee.  
Seconded by Chairwoman Kosta. Board Polled: all in favor, 4-0-0. Motion Carries. 
 
Meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Audrey DeProspero 
Administrative Assistant