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August 17, 2026

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Acworth Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2026 
 
   
     
 Page 1 
 
 
TOWN OF ACWORTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE 
Selectmen 
Approved Minutes for Business Meeting of August 17, 2026  
Town Hall, 13 Town Hall Rd, Acworth, NH 03601 
 
SELECT BOARD PRESENT: Kathi Bradt; Ryanne Schoonover; Katy Haas 
STAFF PRESENT: Charlotte Comeau, Town Administrator; Jennifer Bland, AHD, EMD, HO; Collin Crosby, Road Agent, Melinda 
Loiselle, Treasurer 
OTHERS PRESENT: Rob DeValk; Lori & Steve Murray; Peggy Starks; Robin Ungeheuer 
CALL TO ORDER: Kathi called the meeting to order at 6:30. 
MINUTES: On a motion by Ryanne, seconded by Kathi; the Board voted to approve. Passed. 
BILL MANIFEST: On a motion by Ryanne, seconded by Katy; the Board voted to approve and sign. Passed.  
PAYROLL MANIFEST: On a motion by Katy, seconded by Ryanne; the Board voted to approve and sign. Passed. 
Kathi addressed the recent conversation on social media regarding the budget and made the following comments: 
• 
The SB cannot spend any more money than the voters voted for, and this is enforced by NH Dept of Revenue Admin (DRA) 
• 
The Town Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was started in 2007, is a Planning Board function and is updated every year. It’s our 
best estimate of our responsibilities to the town. If someone has questions about the CIP, they should attend the PB meeting. 
• 
The Board reviewed the Town expenditures in July for YTD, and all departments are where they need to be. 
• 
There was a substantial savings on CPR paving project. The budget was $500k and it was completed for ~450k. The savings will 
flow into the Town’s fund balance. 
• 
We’re about to go into budget season. The SB and PB will be working on the budget. For anyone that has questions about the 
process, the meetings are all open. Kathi encouraged everyone to attend the meetings. Meetings are posted on bulletin boards 
around town and on the website. 
Charlotte explained that after the BC and SB vote on recommending or not recommending the articles for the budget, she enters 
them into the DRA portal which generates the MS-737 report. This is all reviewed by DRA and she is advised if something isn’t 
accurate. This is then printed, reviewed and signed by the Budget Committee. It is posted at the PO, on the board at the town hall, 
on the website, in the town report and is what people vote on in March. Charlotte read off the summary of appropriations from the 
MS-737 that were approved by the voters at the 2026 meeting: 
Operating Budget: 
 
 
 
$1,526,381 
Special Warrant Articles:   
 
 
$71,100 (Fund Capital Reserves and 1st year payment of truck) 
Individual Warrant Articles:  
 
 
$2,250,000 (Paving CPR and FRB construction) 
Total Appropriations: 
 
 
 
$3,847,481 
Less Amount of Estimated Revenues & Credits: 
$2,768,672 (Fund Balance, CRF for truck, Refund for FRB, etc.) 
Estimated Amount of Taxes to be Raised:  
$1,078,809 
Part of the formula used by DRA to calculate the tax rate is based on the total local assessed property valuation and not population. 
You can find information on the home page of the Town website “2025 NH Municipal Tax Rates” which breaks down the amount 
for town, county and education taxes for all towns in NH.  
Steve stated that they appreciate that the Select Board has always managed the town expenditures very appropriately. He thinks 
people are reacting to the revaluation. He also thinks people completely ignore the fact the school taxes have gone up about ~40% 
in the last 2 or 3 years. Kathi noted that it is ongoing explaining to folks that town taxes account for about one-third of residents’ 
total tax bills. 
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:  
• 
Work report/work plan (for detail reports go to https://www.acworthnh.net/highway): 
o 
Graded and rolled Ryan, Hilliard, Ball, Royce, Meader, Livermore, Campbell, Quarrier and Milliken Brook Rds. 
o 
Filled potholes on Polly Hill Rd and worked on obtaining more info regarding the road. 
o 
Graded and hauled gravel to Breier Rd, ditched Brier Rd and checked culverts 
o 
Loaded trucks for Springfield Paving. 
• 
Collin said they are spending a lot of time on Brier Rd to bring in gravel and do ditching. 

Acworth Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2026 
 
   
     
 Page 2 
• 
Working on widening the entrance to the pit as it was too narrow for 2 trucks to pass. 
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Changed 3 culverts on McLaughlin Rd. Filled up the water truck to clean out culverts. 
• 
Working on the roadside mower. The valve body had to be sent out to replace o rings. 
• 
Collin addressed Rob DeValk about the trees on Gove Rd and that they will get out and cut them down. Rob mentioned that 
there are many small trees around town that need to be removed when they have a chance. 
• 
Will be starting work on Nye Rd and then Grange Hall Rd and roads by the shop. 
• 
Kathi asked how things were going on Derry Hill. Collin said it was good, but it’s been dry creating a lot of dust. 
• 
Kathi reminded Collin and Jennifer that we start working on the Highway budget in November. 
Polly Hill Update: Kathi mentioned that a lot of time has gone into this and asked Jenn for an update on the research. 
• 
Located records from 1779 that the roads were voted to be a 3-rod road which includes Polly Hill Rd and the layout of the road 
was also voted in 1779 with a map indicating it is a historical road into Alstead. The telephone poles are in the towns right-of-
way. The engineer from DOT said the house and barn have been there a long time and felt that since we’ve been maintaining 
this road all along, history could support that the highway equipment is not causing damage to the structures.  
• 
Kathi mentioned that we still don’t have clarification from the assessor how the road between the house and garage is assessed. 
Charlotte said she was told the owners would need a survey to determine. Kathi will email the assessor for further clarification. 
• 
Kathi read how road classifications are changed. Robin would need to present a petition warrant article to close the road and 
have it voted on at Town meeting. 
• 
Collin asked if he still should hold off on maintenance. Based on the evidence that this is a town road the consensus from the 
Board was highway needs to continue maintaining it.  
PLANNING BOARD: None 
CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Kathi.  
• 
Discussed turbidity at Dodge Brook which is coming from the racetrack. Gregg Thibodeau has filed a report with DES. 
• 
Mark Girard is following up with loggers to initiate a harvest within the next year of the Gove and So Acworth Forest. 
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Lisa Hyatt has made signs for the pollinator garden. 
• 
Geoff Jones is drafting an introductory letter for landowners who are interested in land conservation. 
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There are two contractors for the Keyes Hollow wetland project. One will work on the assessment part and the other on the 
recommendation part. Gregg is drafting contracts. 
• 
They are working with a consultant on the 319 grant for Crescent Lake.  
• 
Cold River Advisory is being revived by DES and looking for an Acworth person who may want to participate. 
PUBLIC: None 
ACTION ITEMS: 
Building Apps: R Cunniff M241 L10.2. On a motion by Ryanne, seconded by Katy; the Board voted to approve and sign. Passed. 
M Ste. Marie-M 226 L12. On a motion by Kathi, seconded by Ryanne; the Board voted to approve and sign. Passed. 
F Mulhern M241 L5. On a motion by Kathi, seconded by Katy; the Board voted to refer to PB due to installing an antenna may fall 
under the telecommunications ordinance. Passed. 
ZBA Alt. Appointment: Terry Mattson. On a motion by Ryanne, seconded by Katy; the Board voted to approve and sign. Passed. 
DISCUSSION:  
Beehive update from Historical Society meeting: Kathi said this is now in the hands of the Historical Society and Helen Frink is 
working up a memorandum of understanding. She has contacted the owner. This may come back to PB for a waiver of subdivision 
disallowance of subdivision on a Class VI Road. 
Ryanne mentioned that a resident on Gove Rd has a semi-trailer parallel to the driveway and recently moved in a second trailer. 
Kathi mentioned the owners should know they need an application. Charlotte will ask Bob if he could assess. 
On a motion by Ryanne and seconded by Kathi; the Board voted to adjourn at 7:30 p.m. Passed. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Charlotte Comeau,  
Town Administrator