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SB DM 09.16.26 
 
 
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Town of Boscawen 
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Select Board 
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                                                           MEETING MINUTES                                        
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Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM 
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In Attendance: Matt Burdick, Lorrie Carey, Joshua Crawford, Katie Phelps, Kate Merrill, Conner 
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Bailey & Jason Killary 
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Guests: Kyle Poirier, Caroletta Alicea, & Stephanie Alicea 
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Roll Call: completed and guests introduced.  
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Chairman Matt Burdick called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.    
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Consent Agenda Items: 
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• Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Check Manifest & Payroll  
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• Nonpublic and Public Minutes from 9/9/26  
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• Fund Balance Policy 
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• Job Description Updates: Public Works Director, Public Works Foreman, Public Works 
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Driver/Laborer, Transfer Station Attendant, Building Inspector, Health Officer, Deputy 
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Health Officer and PCD Director 
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• Supplemental Warrant Map 183D Lot 23 Sub T8 
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• Charitable Tax Exemption Map 183C Lot 81 
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• 2027 Holidays and Office Closures 
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• Underwood Engineers ESR #95 – 57 Commercial St (Auth KJE Signature) 
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Selectwoman Lorrie Carey motioned to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 
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Seconded by Selectman Josh Crawford. All in favor.  
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Department Head Updates: 
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Follow Up – Road Name Change –Board 
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4 Stirrup Iron Road – Caroletta Alicea and Stephanie Alicea attended the meeting to follow up on 
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their request to rename Stirrup Iron Road to Alicea Drive. Chairman Burdick stated that the Board 
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had reviewed the request, discussed it with department heads, and received recommendations from  
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E911. He stated that, although the Board understood the reason for the request, emergency services 
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recommended against renaming the road after a surname, and Stirrup Iron Road has long been 
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known by its current name. The Board stated that they would like to work with the Alicea family 
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to identify another meaningful way to honor the family’s history and contributions in town. 
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Selectwoman Carey stated that the request followed a similar prior request and that the same 
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recommendation had been given not to change a road name to a surname. Ms. Alicea stated that 
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she understood the Board’s decision but explained the importance of the request. She said that 
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when she built her daughter’s house next to hers, the Fire Chief required an address change because 
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another house had been added on the road, and she stated that there had been no issues with that 
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change or with the Police Department. She further stated that the request was not made for personal 
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recognition, but because, to her knowledge, her family was the first family of color to live in 
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Boscawen. She spoke about knowing some of the town’s oldest residents and said that one of those 
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residents and her mother had encouraged her years ago to pursue the request. Ms. Alicea also stated 
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that, through her experience as a former State Representative, she heard concerns about children 
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leaving New Hampshire and not returning, in part because they did not know the history or roots 
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of their communities. She felt a road name could encourage children and families to research the 
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history of the town. For the record, Ms. Alicea clarified information from the prior public meeting 
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at which her letter had been read into the record. She stated that her mother was a 33-year Guidance 
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Counselor at Winnisquam School District; served as an elected State Representative for the Town 
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of Boscawen for five terms; served on the Education Committee; was a strong advocate for 
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children; became a specialist in assessment of intellectual functioning; and served as an elected 
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member of the Merrimack Valley School District for 15 years, not five years. Ms. Alicea stated 
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that she herself served for 19 years; her mother was Chair of the Police Commission; and was a 
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member of the Zonta Club, NBCSL, NAACP, Old Home Day Committee, Women in Government, 
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NH LEAF for Hard of Hearing, the EVE Guild, and Boscawen Congregational Church choir. She 
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stated that her mother was a strong pioneer for women and children of color in remote areas and 
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across economic classes. Selectwoman Carey recalled that Ms. Alicea also served on the Charter 
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School Committee when charter schools began in New Hampshire and served on the board of the 
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first charter school in the area for hearing-impaired students in Penacook. Ms. Alicea stated that 
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her mother worked for all people. Ms. Alicea stated that she had not yet considered other options 
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but was open to honoring her family in another way. Chairman Burdick stated that this gives the 
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Board and the Alicea family an opportunity to collaborate on an appropriate way to honor the 
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Alicea family lineage in town. Ms. Alicea stated that her father bought the old Mckerley house, 
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moved there in 1968, and that she later knocked it down and built another house. Ms. Stephanie 
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Alicea stated that the family also owned what is now called Apple House Furniture. Selectwoman 
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Carey provided examples of other ways to honor the Alicea legacy, including a bench at the 
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municipal office building or at Boscawen Town Park. She compared the discussion to the 
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Commercial Street project, where interpretive panels are planned to recognize the history of the 
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mills, the railroad, and the Native American presence in Boscawen so that history is not forgotten. 
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She stated that a marker near the Alicea home may not be seen by many people, whereas 
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recognition at the park would be more visible to the public, and suggested that the recognition 
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could include more than a name, such as a brief story or description. The Board discussed 
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opportunities to place benches or picnic tables as part of the park project and agreed that any 
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recognition should be prominent, visible to the public, and available for future generations to read 
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and understand the Alicea family lineage in Boscawen. Town Administrator Phelps recommended 
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that the Alicea family also share their story with the Boscawen Historical Society so it can be 
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preserved in its records. Ms. Alicea thanked the Select Board for their time, for respecting the 
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family’s lineage, and for considering another way to honor the family. The Board will continue to 
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stay in touch with the Alicea family. No further discussion. 
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Transfer Station Update – Public Works Director Bailey 
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Public Works Director Conner Bailey provided an update on the Transfer Station. He previously 
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reported that the Town received a letter of deficiency from the New Hampshire Department of 
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Environmental Services regarding asbestos at the Transfer Station. PWD Bailey contacted several 
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companies and heard back from one, which came out that week to conduct testing. He received 
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the results, which showed 10% asbestos, requiring an abatement process. PWD Bailey explained 
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that he had been trying to find a company that could handle the work under one scope, but because 
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the severity of the asbestos and the depth of the material in the ground are not yet known, the 
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contractor was unable to do so. PWD Bailey will reach out to another company. The first contractor 
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estimated the work could cost between $70,000 to $100,000. PWD Bailey stated that he wanted to 
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bring the matter to the Board’s attention so the potential cost would not be a surprise. He noted 
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that there may not be many asbestos contractors available and that the Town may need to work 
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with the available contractor. Selectwoman Carey asked which company was used for the Gage 
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Street project, and Finance Director Kate Merrill stated that it was Spears Brothers. PWD Bailey 
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will send a copy of the test results to the Board. No further discussion. 
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Guests & Hearings:  
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Advisory Budget Committee Application – Kyle Poirier 
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Town Administrator Phelps introduced Kyle Poirier, who submitted an application and expressed 
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interest in serving on the Advisory Budget Committee. The Board reviewed his application. 
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Selectwoman Carey asked whether Mr. Poirier had reviewed the Town’s budget, and Mr. Poirier 
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stated that he had. He said he would like to offer insight and another set of eyes. He did not have 
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an agenda or any glaring concerns and wanted to donate his time to help the Town. Selectwoman 
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Carey stated that if he had suggestions regarding grants or other resources available to the Town, 
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the Board would welcome them. The Board discussed the time commitment for meetings and 
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responsibilities of serving on the Committee. Selectman Crawford noted that, as a small business 
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owner, Mr. Poirier likely has budget experience and experience making difficult decisions. Mr. 
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Poirier explained that he has eight employees, manages numbers every day, is college educated, 
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and serves as President of Concord Youth Hockey. Discussion ensued. The Board was in favor of 
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Mr. Poirier joining the committee. He will be sworn in by the Town Clerk. 
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Selectwoman Carey motioned to approve Mr. Kyle Poirier as a member of the Advisory 
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Budget Committee. Seconded by Selectman Crawford. All in favor.  
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Department Head Updates (Cont’d): 
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Commercial Street Update – Town Administrator Phelps 
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Town Administrator Phelps provided an update on the Commercial Street project. She stated that 
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the fence installation was nearly complete and the Town is waiting on remaining administrative 
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items. The grant period ends on September 30, 2026, after which the Town will begin the required 
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reporting process to close out the grant. 
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Townwide Yard Sale – Town Administrator Phelps 
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Town Administrator Phelps noted that the Old Home Day Committee will hold the townwide yard 
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sale on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Municipal Building, with a 
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rain date of Sunday, October 4, 2026. Residents may add their address to the townwide map for 
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$5 or reserve a table at the Municipal Building for $10. Applications are available on the Town 
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website and in the Municipal Building lobby. 
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Commercial Street Project – Board 
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Selectman Crawford asked whether the fence installation was the remaining item for the 
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Commercial Street project. Selectwoman Carey stated that the interpretive panels also need to be 
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installed. She explained that the EPA has reviewed and approved the panels, and they will next be 
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submitted to the Division of Historic Resources for review. The committee hopes that review will 
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be completed quickly. Selectwoman Carey stated that the graphic artist has already been engaged 
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to prepare the panels and that they are ready to move forward. 
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Sewer 3 & 4 Debt Schedule – Town Administrator Phelps 
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Town Administrator Phelps reported that Underwood Engineers provided an updated estimated 
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debt schedule for Sewer Projects 3 and 4. The updated schedule anticipates the first payment will 
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be due in 2030 rather than 2027, which will help the Town over the next few years. Selectwoman 
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Carey asked whether Underwood Engineers would also revisit the contract with the Town 
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regarding the small system development charge, and TA Phelps confirmed that they will. No 
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further discussion. 
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Town Park Improvement Donations for Approval – Finance Director Kate Merrill 
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Finance Director Merrill presented Town Park Improvement project donations for approval.  
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Selectwoman Carey motioned to approve the $250 donation from Mr. Bill Heinz for the 
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Town Park Improvement project. Seconded by Chairman Burdick. All in favor.  
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Chairman Burdick motioned to approve the $5,000 donation from the Melanson Co. for the 
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Town Park Improvement project. Seconded by Selectwoman Carey. All in favor.  
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Town Administrator Phelps asked for an update on the DPW station punch list items. Public Works 
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Director Bailey stated that he had heard from Dan Remillard that he was expected to begin the 
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work, but PWD Bailey had not yet seen him on site. TA Phelps stated that Mr. Remillard cannot 
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begin the work until he provides updated insurance information to the town, which he is aware is 
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required. No further discussion.  
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Police Chief Jason Killary provided an update on the Police Department. He reported that there 
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was a serious motor vehicle accident on Queen Street the prior week, which shut down the road 
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for an extended period of time. The accident involved serious bodily injury and remains under 
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investigation. Chief Killary stated that additional information will be released when it becomes 
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available. He also reported that the Police Department remains in standby mode regarding County 
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services and that the County is still recovering from a technology issue, with systems coming back 
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online intermittently. He stated that dispatch may be able to resume operations during the coming 
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week; however, that would not include satellite services to the Police Department. The issue is 
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being worked on, but there is no timeframe for full resolution. No further discussion. 
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Finance Director Merrill reported that Cruise Night was another successful event. She thanked the 
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Town departments and volunteers who helped and noted that Best Septic and Franklin Savings 
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Bank for being sponsors of the event. The event raised nearly $1,000 for Parks and Recreation, 
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which may be used for the summer program or civic events. Finance Director Merrill stated that a 
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debrief meeting will be held the following week to discuss improvements for future events and 
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determine where to invest the funds. The grand prize winner was the Herbie Lovebug; second 
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place was Wynell Staller; and third place was a Corvette. Selectwoman Carey noted that the event 
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is organized and run by Town staff with assistance from volunteers from the Economic 
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Development Committee. The Board, staff, and public further discussed the success of the event. 
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Mr. Poirier stated that, as a vendor, it was the best event and that he stopped keeping count of his 
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bacon jam sales after 50 were sold. He stated there was a lot of foot traffic and a great atmosphere. 
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Mr. Poirier noted that the primary issue was limited space, as some cars were turned away. The 
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Board discussed space limitations and possible improvements. Mr. Poirier suggested trying to keep 
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vendors together and using additional spaces for cars, although he acknowledged that could be 
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difficult. Selectwoman Carey suggested considering a cutoff date for signups due to sellouts. 
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Discussion ensued regarding ideas for the future event. No actions taken. 
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Chairman Burdick opened public comment at 6:55PM. 
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Selectwoman Carey asked Mr. Poirier about the agenda topic he had requested for the previous 
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Board meeting. Mr. Poirier stated that he had been considering planning an event with a political 
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candidate, which may have included music, face painting, and other activities, as a way for the 
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candidate to become better known in Boscawen. He stated that he ultimately decided not to pursue 
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the discussion or event because it would have required significant time and was coming together 
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too quickly. Town Administrator Phelps stated that the Town cannot promote political candidates 
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and must remain bipartisan. No further discussion. 
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Chairman Burdick closed public comment at 6:58PM. 
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Non-Public Session(s): 
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Chairman Burdick made a motion to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 
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6:58pm. Seconded by Selectwoman Carey. Roll call vote – Matt-yes, Lorrie – yes, Josh – 
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yes. Motion passed.  
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Chairman Burdick  made a motion to exit nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 8:02 
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PM. Seconded by Selectwoman Carey. Roll call vote – Matt-yes, Lorrie – yes, Josh – yes. 
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Motion passed.   
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Selectman Crawford made a motion to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:3 III, because it 
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has been determined that divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the 
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reputation of any person other than a member of this Board. Seconded by Chairman 
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Burdick. Roll call vote – Matt-yes, Lorrie – yes, Josh – yes. Motion passed.   
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Selectwoman Carey motioned to adjourn at 8:02 PM. Seconded by Chairman Burdick . All 
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in favor. Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:00PM. 
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Respectfully submitted by Hannah Gardner 
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