All towns · grafton

Selectmen's Meeting Minutes

Document

Town of Grafton 
Board of Selectmen 
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 
 
Members Present: Ed Grinley, Chair, Leif Hogue, Steve Darrow, Sara Hogue (Recorder) 
  
Others Present: Sam Faulkner, Mary Gasiorowski, Alan Gove, Chris Thruston, Gary Whitney, Jeff 
Cogswell, Deb Clough, Bruster Gove, Gary Yuknuk, LeeWhay Pasek, Ryan Huff, Maureen O’Reilly, Jake 
Abuhav, 
  
Acceptance of Minutes 
Steve motioned to accept the July 21, 2026 public and non-public minutes. Leif seconded. Ed agreed. 
Motion passed. 
 
Ex-Officio Reports 
Steve reported the following: 
Fire Department – Last night's meeting was well attended. 
Library – Patron visits were down for June. There were conversations about the history of the 
library and what to do that isn’t going to cost a lot.  
 Ed reported that the Let's Grow Grafton Games is August 15th, 11 am – noon for low-sensory hour, and 
then full event noon – 4 pm. 
 
Road Agent Report 
Sam reported that they are continuing to replace and clean culverts. Grading is ongoing. Calcium truck 
repairs are almost complete. Steve asked about ditching Barney Hill. Sam stated they did Sargent, then 
down Barney to Salb City and Dean. Steve complimented the grader operator on his work. He asked 
about the large ditch at the corner of Salb City and Prescott Hill. Sam said they have to go deep because 
the rain is going to fill them in. Ed asked about the culvert on Prescott Hill. Sam added it to his list.  
 
Public hearing – Fire Truck Apparatus 
Ed asked for a report of funds from the Trustees of the Trust Fund. Mary stated that as of the end of 
June, the Fire Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) has $273,676.89. Ed inquired about the 
spreadsheet. Mary explained the end market value is not the true value, and you can only go by the 
principal and income column. Mary will have a note on the report explaining moving forward. Ed then 
asked the Fire Department to talk about the Mini Pumper they are requesting.  
Alan listed the apparatus the Fire Department has and what they do. He explained the reason they are 
looking at a mini pumper is that they don’t have enough in the CRF for a full-size engine. The mini 
pumper can also fit in narrow driveways and can hook into another engine for water supply. They only 
have one engine right now, and they can’t go to a mutual aid fire too far away because it would leave 
the town without a truck. They have already made repairs to the engine, which has put it out of 
commission for a full day twice. The current engine is 25 years old. 
Gary Whitney commented on the CIP plan for replacing the current engine with CRF and grants. Alan 
stated that Chris Williams was helping with grants and said that there is too much money in the CRF to 
apply for them.   
Gary inquired what the impact would be if they spend the money now but then find they need it later. 
Alan stated they would need to continue to add money to the CRF.  
Jeff Cogswell asked if they were $25,00 short. Alan confirmed. He had questioned about money left 
from the ventilation system. Leif stated we can’t use that money for anything else.   

Ryan Huff inquired how they were going to come up with the difference. Steve stated that it makes it 
impossible to get at this time.  Where are we coming up with $25000? Alan, we thought we had it. 
Steve, I would say that it makes it impossible to get it at this time. He suggested putting it on the CIP and 
on the Ballot for next year.  
Deb Clough stated that with this year's $15,000 added in, they would only be $4,000 short. Alan stated 
they could find a way to take it out of the operating budget.   
Bruster Gove inquired how much a new full-sized engine would cost. Alan said around $850,000.  He 
inquired what the tax burden would be on the taxpayers. Ed guessed $5 to $6 per thousand. Steve 
estimated more and said it would be a huge burden.  
Jeff Cogswell commented that they could spend down the CRF to apply for a grant for a bigger pumper. 
Steve stated that grants are not guaranteed.  
Leif commented that if they buy the mini-pumper, are denied a grant, and the big engine goes down. 
They will be stuck with a mini-pumper and no big engine. 
Chris Thurston stated that the repairs wouldn’t come from the CRF. Leif clarified that if they were not 
able to repair it.   
Gary Yuknuk inquired if they would change tactics if they got the mini-pumper. Alan said yes. 
Gary inquired if it would change the CIP plan and amount requested for the CRF moving forward.  
Jake Abuhav inquired about the strategy for money that needs to be spent but also saved. Chris 
Thurston clarified that FEMA needs to see the money being used.  
LeeWhay Pasek inquired about the monetary limits of the GRANT. Alan is unsure.  
Deb Clough inquired if the Selectboard is going to make a decision tonight. Steve stated they will take 
the information gathered and make a decision at a later time, but right now, the money isn’t there. 
Steve would prefer that the townspeople vote on it in March.   
Bruster Gove advised that if they go for another rig, they go for something new.  
Jeff Cogswell stated the Board has the authority to spend the money in the CRF when there is enough 
there to purchase the pumper.  
Ed stated they are just getting the public's feedback on it. 
Ryan agreed with Jeff, but added that if they do, then they won’t be able to afford anything else for a 
long time.  
Deb Clough recommended taking the risk. 
Ed ended the public hearing at 6:57 pm 
 
New Business 
Building notification - 114 Lewin Rd - Map 5 Lot 736 -  Steve motioned to approve. Leif seconded. Ed 
agreed. 
Recycle Center Waste Oil Grant Request - $2500 grant for a new waste oil drum. The new tank will be 
$5,000. The remaining to come from the budget and revolving account. The Board had to designate 
someone to be the signee. Steve nominated Leif. Ed seconded. Leif accepted. Motion passed.  
 
Other Business 
Action Items 
Equipment inventory  - no update 
Parsonage – there is a public meeting on Wednesday at 9 am at the parsonage  
Policy Updates- no update 
Junkyard ordinance – Steve stated the original ordinance was created because of a 2003 warrant 
article that passed; however, there are no signatures on the ordinance. In 2018, it was amended 
to define junk. Legal advised it was hard to enforce, so they created a newer. At the public 
hearing, it was pointed out that the Board could just act on the state regulations, so he looked 

into the RSAs, and the definition of junk shrinks. Either way they go, it needs to be clearer the 
process of how the town handles complaints, including anonymous ones. He has looked into 
what other towns do; he found that towns that don’t have an ordinance have it worked into the 
zoning regulations. Ed recalled the update in 2018 was due to changes to the state RSAs. Steve 
added that when looking at the RSAs, it was focused on how to apply for a license, and not how 
to handle junk issues.  
Ambulance contract – Steve received the correct contract back from Canaan. They will need to 
start conversations for the long term. Leif motioned to sign the contract. Steve seconded. Ed 
agreed. Motion passed. 
  
Watershed letter of interest - one letter was submitted. Steve read the letter of interest from Gretchen 
Renee. Steve motioned to appoint Gretchen as representative for Grafton. Leif seconded. Ed agreed. 
Motion passed. 
  
Dog Warrant - Ed pointed out that some of the addresses on the list are from another Town. The Board 
signed the Warrant.  
 
Public Comment 
Maureen O’Reilly inquired about the original contract from Canaan. Steve explained that it was not the 
approved one from the AG office.  
Ryan Huff cited the Junkyard RSA and stated the Selectboard can locally enforce. It also allows a citizen 
to go after another for violation.  
Ryan inquired if it was time for new leadership on the Ambulance. Steve informed that the Assistant Fire 
Chief is working on a plan, and they are waiting for him to report to the Selectboard.   
Maureen O’Reilly asked if they are planning on combining the Fire and Ambulance. Steve stated that the 
idea has been mentioned.   
Maureen stated that there is an article in one of the older NHMA magazines about junkyards.  
LeeWhay Pasek inquired if they still offer Junkyard workshops. Sara directed her to the NHMA website.  
Gary Whitney inquired if the Town is still working under the same agreement with Canaan for 
Ambulance coverage. The Board confirmed yes.   
LeeWhay Pasek inquired when the contract expires and when the Town has to come up with a plan. Leif 
stated December 31st. 
Jake Abuhav inquired about the Town hosting an EMT course. Ed stated no one has stepped forward to 
do it.  
LeeWhay Pasek inquired about a task force. Steve stated the Fire Department is working on that.  
Jake inquired about Junkyard being enforced in the past. Steve stated that they can’t speak to the past 
board; they can only learn from the past and move forward.  
Jake inquired about written procedures for the Junkyard enforcement. Steve said there isn’t one.  
Maureen commented that the Board can make regulations stronger but not weaker.  
Maureen inquired if there would be a place to put the new pumper if we got it. Steve stated yes. She 
commented that getting a new pumper should go before the people in March. She is concerned about 
coming up with money to replace the aging engine.   
Steve added that the Board is agents to expend the CRF, and they do not take that job lightly.   
Leif commented that the Mini pumper was not a good idea. He pointed out that it has pumps 1500 
gallons a minute but only holds 300 gallons.   
Maureen cited what the Fire Department was asking on the CIP plan for the pumper and tanker.  
Leif stated that the concern was that if another town needed coverage, Grafton can’t go.  

Ryan cited RSA 236:128 and commented that the governing body may initiate a proceeding; it does not 
say they have to.  
 
Non-Public 
Ed motioned to go into non-public per RSA 91-A:3, II(a) the dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any 
public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or 
her, unless employee affected (1) has a right to a public meeting, and (2) requests that the meeting be 
open, in which case the request shall be granted. Leif seconded. Roll call vote was unanimous. The board 
entered non-public at 7:48 pm. Ed motioned to seal the minutes as it could affect the reputation of any 
person other than a member of the board. Steve seconded. Roll call vote was unanimous. Motion 
passed. Leif motioned to leave non-public. Ed seconded. Motion passed. Public session reconvened at 
7:57 pm 
Ed announced no decision was made. 
 
Steve motioned to adjourn. Leif seconded. Ed agreed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 pm. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Sara Hogue, Administrative Assistant