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Select Board Meeting – 09/11/26 — BOS-Minutes-09.11.26-Draft

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             Town of  
Northumberland  
Office of Selectmen  
19 Main St  
Groveton NH 03582  
Phone (603) 636-1450   
Fax (603) 636-6098  
                                                                              
  
 
  
www.northumberlandnh.gov  
Town of Northumberland 
Board of Selectmen 
Meeting Minutes - Draft 
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026 
Place: Town Meeting Room – 10 Station Square 
Time: 3:00 P.M. 
 
Board members present: Jim Tierney, Al Rossetto 
Others present:  Mark A. DeGennaro, Chuck Kenison, Deb Miles, Norman Cotter, Pete Marshall,  
Bob Roby, Eric Brown, Claire Mood, Ruth Lupine McDonough, Kathy Wiles, Bryan Connary,  
Rebecca St. Cyr - Minute Taker/Transcriber 
 
1. Chairman Opens the Meeting - J. Tierney opened the meeting at 3:00 pm 
 
2. Pledge of Allegiance - All 
 
3. Acceptance of Minutes: Monday, August 31, 2026  
 
Motion to approve the August 31, 2026 minutes by: A. Rossetto 
2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
 
4. Department Head Business: AMB / PD / FD  
Ambulance - Jim Gibson - EMS Chiefs Report 
1.  2026 as of this printing at noon today, we have had 301 calls for service to date. 
2.  2025 on this date we were at 308 calls for service. 
3.  Comstar report as of 07/16/2026, $175,784.89. This does not include payments made directly to the   
     office or 2026 contract fees. Not updated until 09/16/2026. 
4.  A2 will be in the shop next week for tire replacement and to get a front-end alignment. 
5.  On going shortage with staffing, not sure where to go from here. 
 
            Trevor and Jim are pretty much carrying the load of call. We've got about 8 to 10 people and most of 
            them have jobs. Jim G. said I've got two that help out on weekends and then a couple that help out  
            during the week, if they can. Tierney asked if it’s because it’s part-time as needed. Jim G. said that's  
            part of the problem, the other part is I have people that would be willing to travel, but we don't have  
            the housing situation resolved where they can stay and shower, etc. J. Tierney asked Gibson how many  
            people would you need to keep it going if at the next Town Meeting there were say four or six full-time  
            positions. Gibson said he’s starting to work on that for budget because I know that's coming up.  
           J. Tierney commented then it's going to be the people's decision if they're willing to pay the extras so that  
           they have the service. 
 
Fire Department - Andre Brasseur - Chief  
1.  50 calls in 2026, 7 less than last year.   
     In the last month it’s been quiet 
      
1 - residential fire alarm  
      
2 - smoke investigations, mostly from people burning the brush. That shouldn't have been. 
 
 
 

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       2.  September is inspection time.  Our vehicle maintenance budget is way overspent already by over 
            $1,000. That was with the last invoices that came in and we still have more to come in.  Our rescue truck  
            Is still at ATG, not sure when it will be back.  They are waiting on parts and technicians working on it  
            yesterday and actually broke the part that they were using to fix it and had to reorder parts.  This seems  
            to be the story of what's going on with the trucks as they age. Next year, we may need to increase our   
            maintenance line. 
3.  Homecoming is tonight, we are assisting with the parade and the bonfire.   
4.  Hoping it will be clear enough to see the Honor Summit lights on Mt. Washington tonight or tomorrow  
     night. 
 
Police Department - Kyler Kenison - Chief  
1.  Still dealing with 200+ calls every 2 weeks 
2.  Trying to keep up with State mandated training hours, etc.  
2.  Posted a (new) position, there is plenty of interest. 
3.  Keeping up with community involvement at the schools. Will be helping with the Homecoming Parade 
     tonight, as well. 
4.  Stark would like a proposal to have Groveton PD cover them when we are on too. They will pay for the  
     service.  Discussion continued re: Stark.    
5.  We have a new radios through a grant. Kyler would like to hand the old ones out to our departments. 
 
5. Requested Agenda Matters:    
 
 
6. Town Business:  
a. 
Town Office Meeting Room Policy - application to use the Town Meeting Room.  Primex wants to use 
it later this month.  It’s from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. They will be paying a fee.  There isn’t anything else 
scheduled for that day and someone at the Town Office can unlock the room for them. 
Motion to approve Primex using the meeting room by: A. Rossetto 
2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
 
b. Carwash Asbestos Building Removal / CRF - The money is coming out of the CRF. It can be used for 
the asbestos removal. The new intent will allow the fund to be used for the purchase, repair, rebuild or 
alteration to any municipal building. It will be a tear down of the car wash and altered into parking 
spaces. We will check with the Trustees of the Trust Fund to see if they accept that decision.  The 
lawyers have said it fits the bill. The bills for the asbestos removal and disposal can be paid from the 
CRF. Romy reviewed the bill(s) with the Board.  The $14,900 was changed to $17,900 
 
Motion to pay the abatement company $17,900 for the asbestos abatement on the 
carwash by: A. Rossetto, 2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0    
 
 
The tear down cost is an additional $9,900.  
 
 
Motion to transfer $17,900 from the Municipal Building CRF to the General Fund by: A. Rossetto 
2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
 
M. DeGennaro asked about the retention schedule for the abatement documents and who maintains 
them.  J. Tierney said he believes the company does, Al added there is a certificate. Romy said she has 
a retention schedule in the office, J. Tierney suggested checking with Shane as well.   Al said there is a 
waste shipment record re: where it went.  The chain of custody has to be maintained. 
 
Mark said the insurance company may want the documents. M. Randall said they will be notified when 
we take the building down. J. Tierney suggested letting them know the asbestos is gone.   
 
 
 
 

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7. Applications/Permits and Warrants:   
a. 
Zoning Permits;  
#205-018-00-TW - NCIC, Morse Mtn.  T Mobile is installing a new 1 48kw diesel generator., a new  
4’ x 10’ concrete pad within the compound. Fee is paid. 
Motion to approve by: A. Rossetto, 2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0  
 
b. Non-Resident Transfer Station Permit; #107-005-00-00 - New - Steven Tate, 30 State St. Fee is paid. 
Motion to approve by: A. Rossetto, 2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
 
 
M. DeGennaro asked if there are fuel storage permits required by the Town or DES for the diesel on 
Morse Mtn?  J. Tierney said probably yes unless they have a small tank, if it’s large there probably is a 
permit. If they need a permit, they will have to get it. We can ask T Mobile when they come in for their 
transfer station permit. 
 
c. 
Rotobec - 40th Anniversary - Bryan Connary - it’s a chance for anyone in the community that wants to 
see the factory. There are some knowledgeable people that work there.  There will be tour guides to 
answer questions. There will be food vendors, bouncy houses and activities for the kids.  We have 
reserved parking at the fairgrounds and will shuttle people up. Bryan asked for some parking areas in 
town.  To use this lot, the new parking area for the trail on Brown Rd., around the big ball field and at 
the municipal garage. Al appreciates all they have done for the town and didn’t see any problems. 
Bryan said they will be responsible for picking up after the event. The Board concurred to approve 
permission.   Bryan hopes to see a lot of us there. Pre-registration is preferred - call Kaela Ray at 802-
397-4846 or Melissa Charbonneau at 603-631-6094 or go on the web-site.   
 
 
8. **Public Comment:   
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Norm Cotter - asked why he wasn’t notified of the change in the meeting date for the last meeting.  He 
goes to all the meetings and doesn’t have a computer. He feels someone should have notified him. J. 
Tierney said it was changed after the previous meeting to every other week.  For the rest of the year, it 
will be every other week.  Columbus Day week it will be on Tuesday. Tonight’s meeting was supposed 
to be at 6:00 but due to the Homecoming events, we changed it to 3:00. 
 
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P. Marshall asked for an update on the sidewalk / grant project.  Michelle met with the engineer for the 
project and the head of the project for the State just this week..  They want to have a meeting with the 
PD, crossing guards, and the school. Chief Kenison and the crossing guards have been contacted, she 
can’t get anyone to call her back from the school.  The  crossing guards have been having issues with 
where the crosswalk was moved, Michelle further discussed.  She wants some input from the school 
and feels they need to step up and help with the situation.  The grant has to go through a double  
engineering process. It’s all through HEB, there were some things the Dept wanted to do and HEB 
wanted to put sidewalk near the RR tracks, Michelle said we are going to stay away from the railroad.   
 
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C. Kenison - asked the Board if they received an email from him?  J. Tierney said the process we will  
approve, (since nothing has been approved by the State) we will get the zoning ordinances and permits 
approved and vetted by the State.  M. Randall said No. Country Council was going to look into it, 
NHMA redirected us to law firms that handle; our law firm is one of them.  
 
Jim said it will go to Town Meeting as a warrant article for approval. There’s no reason to go back to 
the Building Permit because it wasn’t approved by the State either.  C. Kenison asked if you need to 
have something that was never vetted, vetted now? It was started in 1984.  J. Tierney said the easiest 
way is let’s do one and get it done.  It’s notification for the assessors to go by the property to check it 
out.  
 
There would be a public hearing prior to Town Meeting, first it needs to be written, and approved 
present to the people, and then it goes on the warrant. The Planning Board used to do it all, but nothing 
ever went to the State. The only way it’s not on the warrant is if it doesn’t come back from State in 
time. The public doesn’t say what goes on the warrant, they have a say in being informed and a say at 
Town Meeting by voting no. 

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Eric Brown asked if the next meeting is at 6:00 pm - Yes. He asked Michelle if there any decision on 
covering the graffiti on the covered bridge and how’s the process for grants going.  Michelle said the 
best option to cover the graffiti is to spray paint over it.  She hasn’t found anyone to come in to do the 
lead testing.  The budget is tight right now, if we get a proposal it can be looked into for next year.  
Grants, she has looked at getting it on the national historical registry, it’s a considerable amount of 
paperwork. The front gable pieces were replaced in the 90’s or 2000’s which could take it out of the 
running. As she gets a chance to work on it, she thought the State of NH has some resources which 
didn’t work out. J. Tierney asked if anyone is a painter? He spoke with a paint contractor at the fair 
about an encapsulating paint, and gave him Michelle’s number and he said he would call.  It’s not 
cheap, it goes on by spraying, spreads out, would cover the graffiti and wouldn’t knock the lead paint 
off the b 
  
9. Announcements:   
  
Next Board Meeting Date: September 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM 
 
Rotobec Anniversary Celebration event - September 26, 2026 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Pre-registration is 
encouraged - call Kaela Ray at 802-397-4846 or Melissa Charbonneau at 603-631-6094. 
 
Chief Kenison requested a moment of silence to honor 9/11. 
  
10. Non-Public Session: (Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a)(b)(c):   
Motion to go into Non-Public by: A. Rossetto, 2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
Roll Call - J. Tierney - Yes, A. Rossetto - Yes 
 
  Into Non-Public session at 3:42 pm 
 
a. 
Employee matter  
b. Personnel matter 
 
 
 
  
Motion to come out of Non-Public session by: A. Rossetto,  
2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0  
 
Out of Non-Public session at - 4:11 pm 
Into Regular session at - 4:11 pm 
 
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M. Randall noted that we would like to explore getting rid of the buzzer on the door at the Town Office 
and just have the door open.  She asked if the buzzer can be left on and reactivated when there is only 
one person in the office.   Maybe change the signs to show the TC/TxC is Closed - Town Office is 
Open.   
 
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A. Rossetto called the Chair of the Trustee of the Trust Funds, Gail Rossetto. J. Tierney explained the 
money coming out of the CRF has been run by NHMA and they advised it fits.  M. Randall read their 
reply, Gail agreed with what they said. 
 
Motion to transfer $9,900 from the CRF-Municipal Building Maintenance to the General Fund 
for demo of the old carwash building by: A. Rossetto, 2nd by: J. Tierney, All in Favor 2-0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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11. Adjournment:  
 
Motion to adjourn by:  J. Tierney, 2nd by: A. Rossetto, All in Favor 2-0  
 
       Meeting adjourned at 4:21 pm 
 
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Rebecca St. Cyr  
Select Board Minute Taker/Transcriber 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Agenda is subject to change   
**Deadline for Agenda items is 12:00 noon on the Friday before scheduled business meeting (by vote of Board of Selectmen at 7/11/2005 
meeting).  This deadline may be amended by the Board of Selectmen at will (by vote of Board of Selectmen at 06/17/2024 meeting).   
 
 
 
 
***This Institution Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer*** 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Minutes approved by Northumberland Select Board Members on______________________ 
 
 
X _______________________________    
X____________________________________ 
    James Tierney  
 
 
 
    Alan Rossetto  
 
 
    Northumberland Select Board Chairman   
    Northumberland Select Board Vice Chairman 
 
 
X_______________________________ 
 
   Wayne Montgomery 
 
 
 
   Northumberland Select Board Member