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Selectmen's Meeting - 8/18/2026

Video

Yeah.
>> Yeah.
Order at 601
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for it
stands one nation under God indivisible
with liberty and justice for all.
Everybody seen payroll manifest?
>> Yep.
>> Everybody seen the minutes from August
11th?
>> Yes. [snorts]
>> I make a motion we approve the minutes
from August 11th.
>> Second. All
>> in favor? [clears throat]
>> Three. Land use change tech bills.
Everybody read the New Hampshire DEES uh
grant agreement for the second F600
potential.
If Governor council do approve it,
there's the potential for up to
$143,97
to get reimbursed through the town. So,
>> so which truck is it we're looking at on
getting rid of too?
>> The other the other Mac 10wheeler.
>> 10 wheeler.
>> Yep. It's up uh up top.
>> But we don't want another 10 wheel,
right?
>> We have one on order right now.
>> Oh, yeah. That's right.
>> So, no 10 million.
>> Mid September, beginning of October is
when we should take delivery of that 10
million. Okay. So,
Everybody see the monthly building
inspector report?
>> The expenditure request. I'm gonna wait
till
[clears throat]
region planning
representative there. I didn't see that.
>> I didn't see that either. Was that in
there?
>> I didn't see that.
I didn't see it.
>> Oh, yep.
>> No, I didn't look at that one.
>> Skipped right over that one.
>> Was that just a renewal? No, it's just
to thank him for attending the meeting.
Thank you.
>> Rules of procedure, under business,
board have any comments?
Anything they like to change in that add
to it?
>> Yeah, there is. But um
I think what we should do is
>> take our markups,
give them to Karen and have him
implement them or at least
>> Yes, we have draft what the changes
might be.
>> Can we can review it?
>> See,
>> yeah,
>> we do need to have a rough draft. So,
>> right. Um, obviously the whole board can
review what what they proposed,
>> but let's set a date to do that though.
I think we should.
>> Yeah. I mean, we talked about that last
week for
everybody was going to do that. Um,
>> yeah, because there are some things that
I think that
>> we should be added, should be clarified,
especially on the resident side there
>> um for them so that they know what's
expected.
>> So, do you think we should have a draft
by next week? recap.
Let's
going through the draft September first.
Karen, give you enough time to
>> please go through things and then
>> is everybody okay with that?
>> Yep. I think that's a great idea.
Before we do that,
the website, the new website's supposed
to go live the 20th. So Danielle is
finishing that up. She just having the
department heads review their sections
for any changes. So hopefully they have
responded back to work.
>> Go live is August 20th.
>> Yes.
>> Uh Thursday.
Thursday.
>> I'm so excited.
>> Right.
All
>> those two people, three people, four
people that weren't at five that weren't
at last week's joints board meeting with
Pittsfield,
we had gone there. Um [clears throat]
the bulk of it is we're going to try to
see Winter Sandalt, see if we can work
together on that. Um, we're going to get
both road agents to talk about how much
we use for materials each year. And then
we are going to meet again September
[cough and clears throat] here at 5:30.
>> That's what I just wanted.
Um
>> what we're doing is looking at some of
the commodities that we're we can share
such as salt, gravel,
um stuff like that that we can buy in
bulk and maybe get a discounted price
on.
That seems to be one of the biggest
avenues that we might be able to save a
little money.
Um some of the other stuff that we
discussed was uh um you know fire fire
resources and police resources but they
pretty much work together as it is
already. So it's
>> you know I don't know how much benefit
is really there or how much we can
actually help each other out more than
what we're already doing.
And then uh couple other things were uh
the u maybe uh talk about maybe a
mechanic shared mechanic or or
mechanical services because or because
of the cost. Those are our biggest costs
is is repairs and maintenance on our
heavy equipment. I
>> mean just maintenance in general.
>> Yeah. Is expense. [clears throat]
So,
um, we had also talked about trying to
trying to have our both of our business
development committees, economic
development committees, whatever you
want to call it, um, meet together and
try to see what we can do to attract
businesses to either town, help each
other out. Um, Pittsfield, I don't know.
I actually don't know if Barnes is a
limited access section of 28 or not, but
Pittsfield is a what they call a limited
access.
>> I don't think it is.
>> 28.
>> Yeah, Barnstead's not. But Barnes does
have I believe in our in our zoning
ordinance, it has some kind of um
protect protection type thing for
viewable area on 28.
>> So,
>> remember there's some kind of buffer
zone or something like that to push
everything back. Isn't there limited
driveway cutouts on 20?
>> Well, that's Yeah, that's what that's
what Pittsfield has. They the state
won't allow them anymore,
>> but they requested that
>> originally that was requested through
through the select board or town or
whatever.
>> Yeah. They said back in the 60s they
requested that
>> and now they're trying to put it back
and it's not going real well.
>> Yep. Yep.
Um, overall it wasn't a bad meeting.
>> No, no, we're going to continue to keep
having kind of try to get it worked out.
Um, there was talk about trying to get
another town involved, but as long as we
can figure out us two first, then it's
who knows who we can go with. So, um,
but we got to we got to figure out the
basis of it first. Get things set and
then we can concentrate on that.
Huh?
>> Yeah, we did talk about that. Um, doing
something fuel fuel wise. I think that
was mainly for for gas because we both
have our own diesel.
[clears throat and cough]
Um, it's just the gas portion of it.
uh, tomorrow night have a prospect
school board meeting and that's going to
regard the school construction they're
going to have.
Um,
just so everybody knows too, last
Thursday there was a water leak here at
town hall from the boiler.
Brasco ended up coming out fixing it.
another $475.
>> the leak was from the boiler. It wasn't
from the storm.
>> It was from both.
>> Kind of both
>> is what it was. So, it was but it was a
it was an issue that
somebody knew about it last year. I'll
say that's no longer on the board and um
they kind of got forgot about honestly.
>> is that
>> Yes. Yeah, from the boiler. So,
>> I haven't had a chance or an opportunity
to look at that door [clears throat] or
the seal around the bulkhead or
>> Yeah,
>> but apparently that's a problem
>> that Yeah, that when I had downpours,
heavy rain and um at one point
everything was graded like the water
went away from it if I remember right.
It's been a problem for years past road
agents actually tried to ditch move the
water away from there but I just talked
to about it overhang
so much coming off the roof
>> and it just
down
>> well there's a lot coming off that roof
too right there. So that's that's
something that we got to think about for
the potential addition.
>> So if they're in the working corner
then,
>> right?
>> Uh just so everybody knows,
everything went well with car on
vacation last week, so nothing majorly
happened smoothly. We did have a part-
timerr
um start in the tax office yesterday,
actually. So there is a second
part-timer
depending how you want to look at it
could be a third if you count the debt
is part time too. So just don't want to
get wrong but um so Dean now works and
he's
Monday
Thursday Friday's
Tuesday Wednesday
>> you're back open fulltime right?
>> Yes. Yep. So
>> we should is that on the website or we
put that out there?
>> I don't know.
>> I can see the hours on the town website
never get changed.
>> Okay.
>> When we did that so I can say that.
>> So [clears throat] there is that.
>> We probably ought to make an
announcement somewhere along the line.
>> Maybe put it on the whole page of the
website
>> something.
Just so everybody knows when they go to
the home page.
Nancy, you ready? I know we're early or
do you have more people showing up to
help you?
>> You flying solo tonight.
>> You hear his town moderator?
>> That's your hat tonight.
No, that's that's the first hat tonight.
[laughter]
>> You got 120 of them. [laughter]
>> Four. 144. That's what I meant.
>> Okay. So, I'm here.
>> The big question is the elementary
school.
>> Yep. They posted that for the election
on September 8th happen.
>> They are all ready for that.
>> They are.
>> I have asked Matt I've had conversations
with Matt about that ahead of time
already.
>> So, he is the new superintendent. Matt
is
>> so just so we were ahead of in case we
needed to change the location. So, they
do have it on their school calendar.
they'll be closed that day. And November
3rd, they'll be closed as well for that.
He did say that beginning of this year,
the school buses are supposed to have
access to go around the building this
year. So, that's all supposed to be done
and that we'll have access around the
backside there.
>> Okay. So, I would like
to go
Y
>> going up there.
>> That's what it seems to be. Yep. So,
let's uh something happens where we
can't. So, but at least Yeah. At least
we weren't trying to scramble around the
last minute. Um
>> that's why I reached out to him just to
get a schedule there on that. We don't
have to be out.
>> No. So, I don't I don't know when paving
is going to happen up there or whatnot,
but you assured me that
>> um just just
FYI,
I've already been to safety training.
the secretary of state and office this
year did a
safety training and tumblers
and it was more to just let us know that
they have our mask
and was there security office
out of state.
>> And so it's just really good in that um
some people worried about showing up.
>> So there was that and
conflict resolution
supposed to send that information
next Thursday I have a training and
after I do that then I will train
>> now what's the training on is that um
any changes to the process or procedure
of registering or
>> no so the [clears throat] um the
supervisors take care of all
registration things. So it's more to
just talk with the ballot gatekeepers
procedure
>> because
they
>> didn't even notice.
>> And so the next
question is availability of police.
I would like to have someone
in the morning
6:45 to 8:00 p.m.
>> [clears throat]
>> I was during the day.
>> Well, that's what I was asking you.
>> Okay. All right.
>> That's when it's the busiest. Plus, that
way they're in the ballot box. So that
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
7:30.
I'm sure they will.
>> You'll have two because Nick will be out
Friday. So,
>> we'll have two instead of one.
>> Graduates on Friday.
>> Friday.
>> Yeah. [clears throat]
As an FYI, we're not
situation.
>> Well, we had more than zero. So
>> and I guess the same thing too as long
as
that's going on there.
>> Not available that day.
have a proxy.
>> That's a good to know.
>> That's good to know.
>> Yeah. There's no way she's getting that
day off.
But I don't know what people's work.
>> I should be there.
>> Good.
>> You need one of us all day. Two of us
all day.
supposed to be there
>> or proxy
>> all five of us that would constitute a
meeting
>> together and you're discussing town
business
>> it's an election
>> and the constitution requires us to do
that
>> all five
>> y
>> so is that different
>> curious now is that different than local
elections every town not all five of us
have ever been there
>> because proxy,
>> You can have a if you can't be there,
you can
>> Well, that's so that's fine if you have
a proxy then, but
>> then it needs to be posted then where it
is so people know because I've never
seen that. Who Who's a proxy is with
somebody that's not they're on the
board.
>> Since I've been since I've been on the
board, all five of us have been there or
a replacement for them.
>> But I'm saying I've never seen anything
as to like who was the replacement for
them.
Sometimes we don't know until
>> we don't know but that's
>> but I just want to make sure
>> she is she issues as needed.
>> I just want to make sure that residents
come in if they're asking that there's
information available
>> that they can know.
>> Well, they should be asking the
moderator and Nancy can tell them
>> because the moderator is running the
election.
>> I get it. She's in charge.
>> I get it. She's running it.
There shouldn't there's a whole bunch of
other paper that she puts up too. It's
not hard to just put up a piece of paper
that says so and so is filling it for
Paula.
>> That's fine. I'm just saying I don't
think it's required.
>> I just it is not required.
>> And usually
depends on
I have a 99%
chance there.
>> But I look at
>> Y
>> I have some staff.
>> I know that. Yeah, I know that
>> cover and coverage may only be an hour
or two.
>> You know what I mean,
>> I'm just trying to understand for
myself. So,
>> right. So, so
>> that's fine. I don't mind.
>> [laughter]
>> You're not going anyways.
>> And you call and you say, "Hey, I can't
make it.
>> I'll be in at 11."
>> So then on the spot, I look around and I
say, "Okay,
And so then comes up.
>> I mean, there's never been an issue with
it.
>> Yeah, I know.
>> Right. And I usually try to
No, I'm okay. I'll keep moving around.
>> It's okay.
>> It'll be over on me. Pretty sure you
>> So that's why we got to hurry up. We
just meet
We're under pressure from the sun.
>> Right. Right.
>> So, so that's why it's not
there.
>> I can tell you
>> somebody
Well, I can tell you I won't be at work.
I couldn't take the day off.
>> So, I can say I will not be there.
>> I think we've got this routine down
pretty well.
>> What?
Yeah, because I slept over setting
everything up.
>> Okay. Anything else you guys need?
>> Yeah. Did you talk to Rocket at all? Is
he coming set up?
>> Yeah, we had somebody else last year.
Young kid, right?
Who's a young guy?
>> That goes back to 1940 something,
doesn't it? [laughter]
>> That's my mom's book. [laughter]
No, this
>> it looks
>> Oh, yeah. Jesse's daughter.
>> Yes, that's who it was. Jesse's
boyfriend's Jesse's daughter's
boyfriend.
>> Oh, they're still together. [laughter]
We got to get some young blood trained
in there. You know what I mean?
>> What do you want me to do?
>> Yeah. Bring the defibrilling
election. No, but don't go too far.
Don't worry, you're gonna
hate me. But it's just so we're all on
the same page. So, everybody is done
with the elections
>> come with it. Just make sure
>> uh your expenditure request for 300 year
celebration
>> for the hats.
What' you say? Has
>> been denied. So,
The total amount goes over the what the
purchasing policy allows
which means you need to have informal
bids or quotes.
I'm just putting it out here in public
to see what the board wants to do.
>> I say we prosecute to full extent of the
law.
>> So just
>> after the election,
>> right? Yeah. After the election.
So that would be you know try to get at
least three.
>> Is this something that you use on a
regular basis for all stuff
>> or
would be a good idea if
wants to buy some
money,
>> Well, and that's the other thing. That's
another reason you get a couple of
quotes because your profit margin could
be a lot high,
you know.
Did you get rid of all the shirts you
purchased for the whole home day?
>> She wasn't the chair.
>> Sorry, that wasn't the question though.
right,
>> we can get you the coffee
that over.
>> I mean, it seems
>> it's kind of late. Yeah, you already
ordered yet.
>> Freddy be picked up.
>> Oh, I didn't know that part.
>> All right. Well, we're going to grant
your request this time.
>> I know that.
>> What is it? 2,000 over 1500.
>> 1500.
>> Anything under that, you can do whatever
you want.
>> Yeah. so to speak,
>> within reason,
>> Just don't bring us three invoices at
$1,400
all with the same date.
>> No, same person.
>> Well, they're all the same date and
they're all from the same roughly the
same thing. Three different vendors.
We're going to know what it is at the
end of the day. That means you spent
more than 50 the board's approval,
>> but you spent it three times that day.
>> I see. So
>> there is a system.
>> So
>> we've been we've been creating a checks
and balance in town hall for situations
like that.
I don't know t-shirt.
>> Oh my.
>> I mean, she probably has spent over
$1,500.
are going to spend over probably 100
church over that
>> if it goes over $1,500.
>> Guess the point is get the best deal
possible
>> and the only
time really will go
>> save a dollar.
>> And part of the reason why [snorts] this
is because the board has to approve the
purchase. We have to sign off on that.
Old home day, their committee does that.
The board doesn't have to sign off on.
But we've got to be the same with
everybody.
>> I know. So I know. So, so [snorts] when
we sell all of our swag,
>> would that be that'd be revenueable?
general fund.
And the other thing is that
please donate
so that we can make sure
>> cost.
So for the drone show,
>> how much is a drone show?
>> What's that? What's that average
>> for a drone show?
>> Oh my god.
>> Yeah, that's
>> So we have to
>> you know how much fireworks that is?
[snorts]
>> We have a blast.
Um, yes, probably. [clears throat]
>> That's an hour and a half fireworks,
I mean, I would say try to get, you
know, three quotes for your own show,
firework show if you can.
sometimes it's hard. You put it out
there and only one person responds back.
>> Better see competitive
Okay.
>> That's all.
>> So, are you going to
>> We don't have We don't have a choice. It
being delivered tomorrow.
>> Oh, okay. Whatever.
something.
>> You ever seen me with a hat on?
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks.
>> Sorry, Justin. bumper a little early.
>> Uh Nancy, one more thing. Are you are
you planning on going up to school
prior?
Yes.
>> A consultation, so to speak, with
>> I don't have to be. You just tell me
what to do.
>> Wow.
>> Oh yeah.
>> If you show up at Prospect M, you can
talk to him tomorrow.
The school board meeting tomorrow night.
Yeah,
>> math.
>> Okay. Anybody else have anything on the
board?
>> All good.
>> Anything else?
>> The only thing I want to mention about
the 300
that was set up just for that purpose.
it isn't going to continue. There's no
money bring back.
>> Where's it going to go?
>> Well, it will offset any
any cost. So if they make out ahead and
they actually have
to I mean it could go towards home day
because we'll pretty much dissolve that
committee anyways afterwards
>> then I'd have to have a warrant to
dissolve that capital
>> right
>> because old woman is not going to have
an old woman next because of the 300
years
>> whatever that Yeah,
>> that makes more sense.
Um, okay.
I do want to confirm that
the report from the school that we are
referring to is from the building
inspector. His report, what he typed up,
sent to us there, that is what was sent
to the school. As far as the state
reports go, the states aren't producing
any formalized inspection reports. Um,
and this was after checking with FAB on
that. So, just so everybody's is aware
of the actual state reports, there is no
actual state report. Prior to my
knowledge, the school doesn't have it
either. So, the only one that we
referred to or when we keep referring to
the report, it's the one that Fab
produced um about his findings when he
first went up there.
>> no, this was a separate one of the
school um that Fab found
some things wrong with the state
inspectors and he he thought it was so
severe that he wrote us up a report. um
gave it to us.
We were trying to meet with the
ele the school board there with no luck
and then we sent it to the school board.
They've now worked between FAB and them.
They've all worked everything out. So
they've worked out who who's supposed to
communicate with FAB. They've got
everything squared away on their own. So
um I will say and it's up to the board.
My feeling on fabs, what fab typed up
for a report should be put on the town's
website, but it's a board decision. So
that's just how I feel.
So
I think we pretty much agreed on that.
We just wanted the school board to
review first.
>> Yep. and they have
>> if I remember right
>> so
>> I don't
>> if we're going to put that on the
website then we should also put
something that the issue has been
resolved so that people know that
>> yes there was this concern but it has
been resolved so that we're not like
stirring up [clears throat]
something
>> that they think oh this is all going on
and what happened but it's been resolved
so they should know that too
>> agreed I agreed to that there um
>> which I think we have another
communication from that that states that
right
>> something yeah
>> something like that so we can put them
both on the website
>> y [clears throat]
>> and I know we talked about rules of
procedure there all September 1st um so
I will just say one of the things that I
think should be in our rules of
procedure is it should be clearly
documented how to obtain information
that from the board there to say um such
as potentially an actual formalized 91
request potentially. Um but something
is actually out there in our rules or
procedure for the public to to all read
and see and they know what it is. So
it's not okay this person comes in, they
get the information, but this person
wants it and we hold it back. I just
want to make sure it's the same for
everybody. So and and all the residents
know it. they know what to expect. So
that's just I just want to throw that
out there is one thing I'm thinking. So
board have anything last time?
>> Okay. I'm going to open public input at
6:42
and yes you will be allowed to speak to
anything
>> anyone. This is
our
land use tax change in tax that was for
the dump.
>> No,
>> there's three land use change tax bills.
there's three properties in town. Um, I
don't have the paper right in front of
me.
>> It was the ones for the conservation
commission.
>> Yeah. Um it's on Province Road moving
property changing to conservation.
>> But it's on Province Road.
>> So basically it's just a change of use
of the land.
That that's for
older. If you have an older truck,
you can you can get rid of it and then
they'll they'll give you a grant to
purchase a new one.
>> So, we
>> we just signed it, though. So, it has
not been approved at this point.
>> So, we Yeah, we've we've applied for the
grant um to replace one truck. [snorts]
We're going from a 10 wheeler to an
F600. So, 10 wheeler to like a one ton.
>> Easiest way to describe it. Um, it has
been accepted by DEES, but the governor
and council need to approve it for us.
So, and it'll cover up to 80% of the
cost of the new truck that we would get
reimbured. So,
>> so I guess [clears throat]
I found violations.
school and made me wonder
do they have a clerk that works
or may not
>> to my knowledge that's what milestones
for
>> they're the project management
>> they're doing their own works
>> that's the school hired Milestone to
manage that project and
>> that's very
>> yes very much so this project
>> and seen a number of failures from the
contractor it's
Someone's getting behind the a
financially.
It doesn't cut corners and you know that
they didn't employ a clerk of the works
is hired and employed by the school
>> What if we spent $25 million
>> and that's and that's why trying to
[clears throat] make sure that the
taxpayers are covered so the town
doesn't run into an issue like would
happen at Prospect potentially down the
road. That's a very good question for
the school board.
>> And I intend to [laughter]
just quick anecdote. [clears throat]
Rochester did a new upgrade on the
wastewater treatment facility and the
clerk of the works on the major farm
construction.
This isn't right. He says, "Yeah, it is.
I got it right here in the throwing
upside down." [laughter]
No, that's it.
>> I'm really surprised.
>> It's a lot of money and you got to have
you should have somebody monitoring or
available for questions or anything else
in even just to share information
>> with with board members or something
else. Um,
>> you know, that should have happened and
We we tried
>> we tried to force that. I don't know
what happened with that.
Well, I mean those
>> I just want to make a quick comment
because when we did Prospect Mountain
um I don't think that was very well
managed either or or monitored should I
say. And a couple years later, we ended
up putting a four, what was it? 400,000
or $700,000 roof on it.
>> Roof,
>> you know, could have been avoided.
>> Let's hope that this doesn't happen to
us.
>> Thanks for coming.
>> Anyone else? Public input.
I'm just I just want to make sure you
don't have
>> it.
>> Where's Linda? Can you take her?
>> She's over in the corner over there.
>> Quiet lady.
>> I know they are.
>> There you are.
I just want to make sure you didn't have
anything. Just sometimes you wait till
12. I'm going to close public input at
648.
Not public. Yeah.
put that under
make a motion we go into nonpublic under
RSA 91
[snorts] 312
>> Hold on. It's in the letter.
>> Make sure I I get it.