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2026-09-07 Select Board Minutes.pdf

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TOWN OF EASTON 
Select Board Meeting – Draft Minutes  
September 7, 2026 
 
Select Board​
Select Board Secretary 
Brian Suthoff (Chair) - Present ​
Kathy Ryan – Present 
Toni Woodruff –  Present ​
​
   
Dave Bogdziewicz – Present  
 
These minutes of the Town of Easton Select Board have been recorded by the Secretary or substitute. 
Though believed accurate and correct, they are subject to additions, deletions, and corrections by the 
Select Board at the next meeting when the Board votes its final approval of the minutes.  These draft 
minutes are made available at this time to conform with RSA 91:A. 
 
Google Meet enabled for remote attendees. 
 
Public in Attendance: Roy and Debbie Stever, Jason Arquitt (Fire Chief), Bob Thibault 
 
Brian Suthoff opened the meeting at 6:00 pm. 
 
Minutes:  
August 17, 2026 - Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by Toni Woodruff, to accept the 
minutes as written. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. 
August 21, 2026 - Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by Toni Woodruff, to accept the 
minutes as written. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. Jason Arquitt verified that the minutes 
contained the authorization to sell the fire truck as had been discussed. 
August 17, 2026 - non public session at 7:12 pm. Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by 
Dave Bogdziewicz, to accept the minutes as written. All in favor; none opposed. Passed.  
Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by Toni Woodruff, to unseal the non-public minutes 
from the non public session at 7:12 pm on August 17. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. 
August 17, 2026 - Non public session at 5:39 pm. Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by 
Toni Woodruff, to approve the minutes as written. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. 
August 31, 2026 - Non public session - Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by Toni 
Woodruff, to approve the minutes as written. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. 
 
Treasurer: 
●​ All vouchers accounted for, accepted, and signed. 
●​ 09/07/2026 report read by Brian Suthoff. 
●​ Three members of the Board signed the report. 
 
Bar Harbor Bank and Trust - Checking Account: 
$ 36,792.47 
Bar Harbor Bank and Trust - Money Market Account: 
2,537.50 
PDIP (Public Depository Investment Pool) Account 
504,191.71 
Conservation Commission CD 
10,808.90 
Escrow Account 
2,023.40 

Total 
$556,353.98 
 
Brian Suthoff made a motion, seconded by Toni Woodruff, to accept the treasurer’s report as 
read. All in favor; none opposed. Passed. 
 
Jason Arquitt  
●​ SB confirmed that Ellen Sturgis had been appointed by the Select Board as assistant 
treasurer. 
●​ Reported that he will not run again for the position of Town Treasurer, citing perceived 
conflict of interest with his position as Fire Chief. 
 
Public: 
Roy Stever 
●​ Asked about a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Eversource. 
●​ Brian S described meeting and discussion with Eversource reps. ES asked Easton what 
they could do if/when the SEC approved the X178 tower project through Easton to 
mitigate construction effects on the Town. Brian S noted that an MOU is non-binding and 
that it is a separate discussion from whether or not the SEC permits the project. 
●​ Roy S related the disturbance of the recent repeated ES helicopter flyovers, noting the 
frequency of the flights was not what ES had projected. He asked how residents could 
have MOU input.  
●​ Debbie S asked if there would be a road bond. Brian S responded yes; bonding and 
resurfacing of Gingerbread Rd have been requested. 
●​ Follow on meeting with ES and public input TBD. 
Jason Arquitt (Fire Chief) 
●​ Reviewed reasoning for selling current truck and accepting donated truck. 
●​ Reviewed current FD expenditures and ID’d items needing upgrades due to equipment 
failures and possible liability. 
●​ Discussed trust funds and ways to save on new gear. 
 
Old Business: 
Building Permits 
●​ Beaver Meadow renovation - signed by SB. 
●​ Garage addition - signed by SB pending A. Clark conditions. 
Town Hall Siding 
●​ Dumpster in place, start date pending 
●​ Confirmed that siding is factory painted 
Culverts 
●​ Paine Rd - prep work ongoing 
●​ Ruskin Rd - to start next week 
Ordinances 
●​ Brian S reviewed status of reorganization and revisions, pointing the SB members to the 
draft document and memo with questions for legal counsel and next steps. 
●​ Noted Tier 1 sections - needs town meeting approval, and Tier 2 sections - SB can 
approve changes 
●​ Planning to send draft to legal counsel October 
Primary Election (Bob Thibault) 
●​ Reported that the accessible voting machine was not working - technician scheduled. 
●​ Noted that the TH kitchen faucet was clogging and that he will attempt to flush it. 
●​ Asked about pre-buy for propane. Has not been done this year due to oil price volatility. 
●​ Jason A to follow up with Dead River. 

●​ Bob T asked about the permit for his deck - in process 
●​ Toni W to follow up with the Supervisors of the Checklist for the ballot clerk forms. 
●​ Brian S to print sample ballots for posting. 
Pest Problem 
●​ Brian S reported no recent mice in traps. Surveillance ongoing! 
Assessor - reporting all OK with National Forest assessment and MS-1. 
 
New Business: 
Kinsman Trail Access 
●​ Discussion of current use status of Kenney property off Eric White’s parking lot 
following resident inquiry. 
●​ SB to follow up with tax card to verify current use level and clarify rules regarding 
recreational current use. 
Easton Library 
●​ SB considered a request for an unused chair left in the former library space.  
Document Retention 
●​ Brian S proposed formation of a document retention committee to organize document 
policies and move to increased electronic storage. 
Town Policies 
●​ Brian S to draft a procurement policy for the town. 
Possible Portable Toilet Business 
●​ Individual observed pumping water from 116 pond on National Forest property. The 
truck was noted to have portable toilet logo on tank. 
●​ Discussion of intake vs discharge of pond water, legality of pumping water from pond, 
question of commercial operation in non commercial Easton. 
●​ Jason A to follow up. 
 
Brian Suthoff moved and Toni Woodruff seconded a motion to close the meeting at 6 pm. 
 
Next Select Board Meeting – Monday, September 21, 2026, 4 pm. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Kathy Ryan, Secretary