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08/10/2026 BOS Agenda (PDF) (minutes)

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Town of Hampstead
Selectmen’s
MEETING MINUTES
August 10, 2026

Members Present: Lewis Eaton, Joe Guthrie, Laurie Warnock, and Maurie Worthen
Member Absent: Steve Morse

The Chairman opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.

Announcements:

1.

Check out the www.hampsteadnh.us website.

Public Comments
There were none

Department Heads

1.

BOS Minutes Page 1

Fire Department — Chief Kramlinger presented 3 items:

a. Per Diem Firefighter hourly rate adjustment. The Chief explained that the department is having a
difficult time filling per diem firefighter shifts as the pay is below the area average. The only way to
increase the number/hiring of more per diem firefighters is to increase their hourly rate, which will be
incentive based. To coincide with trying to find the funds necessary for the per diem firefighters, the
Chief may be able to prioritize other areas of the budget if the Board approved the following requests
from the Building Repair and Maintenance Fund and the Ambulance Revolving Fund.

b. Request from Building Repairs and Maintenance Fund. The Chief identified unanticipated service
costs and repairs from the ac/heat system (mini splits) and septic system. The overall cost for these
items is $14,019. He is requesting that the Board approve the use of the Building Repair and
Maintenance Fund to pay for those items.

c. Additionally, the Chief is requesting $6,660 from the Ambulance Revolving Fund for various EMS
equipment and supplies. With the use of these funds, there should be help with minimizing the service
impact of the fire department budget and assist with maintaining an appropriate staffing level.

Discussion continued with the hourly rate increase and the incentive-based rates, which depends on the
certification levels of the per diem firefighters.

Discussion continued on the availability of funds within the Building Repair and Maintenance Fund and
Ambulance Revolving. The use of these funds is appropriate for the requested items.

A motion was made by Selectboard member Warnock to authorize $14,019 from the Building
Repair and Maintenance Fund for fire department repairs. The motion was seconded by
Selectboard member Worthen. Motion passed 4-0-0.

A motion was made by Selectboard member Warnock to authorize $6,600 from the Ambulance
Revolving Fund to pay for medical equipment and supplies. The motion was ‘seconded by
Chairman Eaton. Motion passed 4-0-0.

By doing so, it allows the budget to absorb unanticipated invoices that were not paid in 2025 but needed
to be paid in 2026.

It was determined that the salary adjustments be put on hold unless budgetary funds become available
based on end of year trends.

Library — Kate Thomas
Director Thomas provided an update on the connection to HAWC water and getting estimates to remove

the old water tank that was used for the sprinkler system.

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Additionally, Director Thomas provided statistical updates on the use of the library.

New Business

1. CART/Manchester Transit Authority

Increase in CART funding from $17,142 to $45,006. MTA Executive Director Michael Whitten explained to
the board the reason for the increase, which included loss of federal revenue, increased operating costs,
and stated that there hasn’t been an increase in 10 years. Selectboard member Warnock asked if the CART
or MTA approached any facilities that residents use to see if they could help with funding. Director Whitten
stated that they have not. The Selectboard asked for additional information that relates to number of people
that use the service as opposed to the number of trips. It was indicated that the trips are round trip and most
likely that a person uses the service approximately 250 — 300 times and you project that it is probably 40-
50 people that use the service during the course of the year. Also indicated is that a great majority of the
trips a directly related to medical appointments.

No decision was made as this was informational only and the Board is requesting that CART’s
representative, Laura Jones, come to a board meeting to further discuss the service and the increase.

Old Business

1. Bid award for HVAC services — Selectboard Chairman Eaton for DPW Director Sullivan.

DPW Director Sullivan is recommending that the bid be awarded to Southern NH Plumbing and Heating.
Southern NH Plumbing and Heating came in at $16,832 for the annual service of the town's HVAC systems,
and EMCOR came in at $21,402. This is an annual savings of $4,570. Southern NH Plumbing and Heating
has a good reputation and has done recent work in the town buildings.

A motion was made by Selectboard member Warnock to award the bid to Southern NH Plumbing and
Heating for an annual service amount of $16,832. The motion was seconded by Selectboard member
Guthrie. Motion passes 4-0-0.

Liaison Reports
Selectman Guthrie- He had no updates

Selectwoman Warnock — Provided update on Hospital and YDC - Herself, Chairman Eaton, Police Chief
Kelley, Deputy Chief Dyer, State Police, State Attorney’s representative, and Senator Birdsell met at the
Police Department to review and discuss the MOU with the State Police for the Hospital and YDC. Once a
document has been agreed upon, Chief Kelley will come before the Selectboard for review and approval. It
was noted the Selectboard can sign the MOU but the Police Chief must sign it as well. It was reiterated again
that the State Police is the primary agency responsible for the hospital and YDC. All outside issues are still
the responsibility of Hampstead Police Department, this is no different than responding to Hannaford’s or any
other business in town. Inside the hospital and YDC however, is the State Police’s responsibility.

She also brought up an email she received from DHHS thanking Deputy Fire Chief Warnock for his
willingness to work out a plan for the Sallyport (ambulance entrance) that needed to be redone because of a
design issue where patients could not be placed into the ambulance properly.

Selectman Eaton - The CIP committee will meet on 8/20 and will discuss and vote on the 2026 and 2027
Capital requests and then prepare a recommendation for the Selectboard.

The Town Clerk will need one or two members of the Board to work at the polls on election day, September
8, 2026, from 8:00am — 8:00pm.

DPW has begun catch basin cleaning as part of the town’s MS4 requirements. DPW Director Sullivan is
comparing plow rates with the surrounding communities and will present a competitive contract to the Board
for their first meeting in September.

Early salt prices are showing an increase of $5 per ton for salt and $10 per ton for treated salt.

Selectman Worthen- He had no updates

BOS Minutes Page Bheln
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Call for Candidates/Appointments
The list was read.

Consent Documents

A motion was made by Selectman Guthrie with a second by Selectman Worthen to accept the

documents as noted on the Agenda.
Motion passed 4-0-0

Correspondence
There was none

Visitors Comments
None were present

Adjournment

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Selectman Warnock at 07:20 pm with a second by

Selectman Worthen.
Motion passed 4-0-0

A True Record:

UH Lane
Mfthael Carrier, Town Administrator

Approved By:

Selectman Eaton: : —>——— +
Selectman Guthrie: / Y, A

Selectman Morse: L015 5€% T

Selectman Warnock: KAN —

Selectman Worthen: //// VALE, ZZ

BOS Minutes Paged

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