Middleton Select Board Meeting - 24 August 2026
The Middleton Select Board approved minutes from July 27th and August 10th with a minor correction. They signed Andrew Seal's personnel form for his new highway department laborer position. They accepted a certification for yield taxes assessed, resulting in a $6,779.71 credit for map 18, lot 44. The board approved a late elderly exemption application due to medical reasons. They authorized the Trustee of the Trust Funds to release $167,640 for CRF items including highway, revaluation, and fire department purchases. Regarding Map 8, Lot 12, they accepted a letter from Avatar explaining the denial of a tax abatement. The board offered two AC units first-come, first-served, unredeemed units to be turned in for $50 credit on September 5th. They added Tim's name to the conservation, ambulance, and police detail bank accounts. They purchased a bank reconciliation module for $500, with $1,000 annual support starting next year. They voted to dispose of excess town furniture. The excavator purchase was tabled pending a second quote from Volvo.
All right, we're going to call the meeting to order. I aliance to the flag of the republic for it stands one nation under Gody and justice for all. >> Okay, roll call. Bonnie here. Roxan Tuskegee here. >> Michael Green here. >> Jonathan Synindorf here. >> Tim Kman here. Okay. So, we have first item on the agenda is the approval of minutes. Um, and what date are those four? >> The first one is July 27th. >> Yep. >> And the other is August 10th. >> All right. So, July 27th. This was we had read these over, but there were some amendments and we approved those. So, this is just needing >> So, we just need to sign this then. >> Okay. as we approved at the last meeting with the amendments. Okay. So, we have um the minutes from August 10th. So, August 10th, um under one, it says we went into non we opened up the public meeting at 5:35 and then it also says the non-public session ended at 5:35. >> Oh, yeah. You >> So, um that's the only thing I have though. Hey guys. So, just that one correction. >> So, um we can go ahead and I'll >> make that correction. >> Okay. Make the motion to accept the minutes with that update. Somebody wants to do that. Tim, you did. >> I'll second. >> Um all those in favor? >> So, we'll give you that back. And Kim, the next meeting, we'll just sign those. That's all. We won't need to um we won't need to uh Oh, that's all good. So the next item we have is signature action item. First one is personnel action form for our new employee Anthony Seal. Can I say it right? >> Andrew. >> All right. So this is uh he started on >> 810 and so this is just his the employee who needs to sign this. So, um, go ahead and get that signed, you just have him come over and sign that tomorrow. Kim, >> is it does it say employer or employee? >> It says employee, isn't it? Or did you change it? >> It says >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> That and that's what I was wondering if >> we mention what Andrew Seal is. >> Oh, Andrew. Yes. Andrew is the new um he's he accepted the position of the laborer for the highway department and he started on August 10th and uh yeah he comes from other construction backgrounds so we're pleased to have him. The next item you have is certific certification of yield taxes assessed. So, this is for Oh, this came from the looks like from the Department of Ham New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. And it looks like we're getting we got to pay six Well, they're going to do it's not us. We're going to end this back $6,779.71. And that's for map 18, lot 44. Don't ask me what the I don't know the what the address is on that off top of my head. I guess that's it. It's all for Yeah, it's all for the same. So, um someone want to make a motion we accept that? I guess I don't >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. So, it's the certificate of Yale taxes assessed. So, um is it a signature? Looks like it 24 and there's two places to sign everybody. >> Robin's nice about filling this in for us. 246. >> Was that all in favor? >> Oh, all those in favor? I'm sorry. I >> Sorry. Thank you. I got distracted signing. >> Glad you're here, Bonnie. Keep me in track. Somebody has to. >> I know it is true. It's a It's a big undertaking. Yes, it is. Um the next item we have is the late application elderly exemption. So typically um typically these need to be in by April 15th. Um the gentleman submitted a letter. He stated that he was unable to apply on time due to multiple health issues that resulted in hospitalization. He's attached a letter um and he is and it says under RSA 7233 it authorizes the select board to accept a weight application under certain circumstances provided the tax rate has not been yet set for the year and it hasn't. >> I motion. >> Okay, >> Any discussion? So let's see where we need to sign here. 26. Six. Um the next item we have is the trustee of the trust fund. So this is from Janet Kayla who is the head person for the trustees. She is requesting the money that we approved at the town meeting for the CRFs. So that would be the highway department, the revaluation, the self-contained breathing apparatus, the natural or man-made disaster, the fire department replacement vehicle, the public safety complex, the medical equipment department, mil foil and other aquatic species, old town hall, the PD gear and equipment in the fire department equipment. And so that amounts to $167,640. So, if someone would like to make that motion to make a motion. >> All those in favor? >> I have one last item is statement followup. And I'll wait till everybody's situated here. Perfect. There's that one. Um, Bonnie probably needs to sign that one that you have in front of you, Kim, that you just Yeah. Yes. Bonnie needs to sign that one. >> Oh, that's right. >> Oh, maybe it's this one. Oh, you should have to sign that one. It's like the second page in. Yeah, right there. Okay. So, the last item we have for signature is the event with followup. This was uh brought up at the last meeting. Um it was in regards to um map 8, lot 12 and um there's been a little bit more clarification on the reasoning for the denial of this. Um and so again, Avatar is coming back stating that um to the denial of the abatement in the exp. This was the one we talked to last week that David Fran came and spoke on. Right. >> Yes. Yes. And so um they he's had a conversation with Robin. Robin has had a conversation with Avatar. Avatar has written a much better explanation as to why than a >> so um and it's a whole page long and I don't necessarily think it's necessarily to read it out, but we can if you'd like if everybody would like. Um, I think they've done a much better and I think Dave has um is is more understanding of what they're what they're stating for a reason and addressed his concern which was not initially addressed which was the landlockwalk. >> So, um I'll entertain a motion to >> move second. Okay. made the first >> Tim. What did you say? Tim made it. And then you can either pick Bonnie or Mike. I heard it. I heard Mike. Just saying. Um, so the next item on the agenda, we're heading into new business. We have the old home association/chairs. We'll look to you Bonnie guessing at you. >> Um so in talking with the old home association while we were setting up and everything the other day, um they are interested in possibly, it's not a done deal, but um it's on their list to talk about. Um possibly getting new chairs for the town hall here because we've been breaking some of them lately. Um they're not the best of chairs and they >> Okay. So is there looking to make that as a donation to the town? Um >> I guess I said it's not a done >> open that up for discussion to say I guess you know because we know chairs aren't cheap >> so it might be something that they want to look into and come back. It might be something we're willing to maybe split, you know, depending on what the cost is because I know I've looked in the past how much and they're not cheap. They're like >> maybe like 20 or so or something. >> Yeah. But I mean I think the idea is is you know I mean if it >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, no. Good. >> Well, why don't we first see what they're proposing and then go from there. >> Yeah. Like I said, they're still kind of discussing, but they wanted to put it out there for the board just to heads up. I'd like just mean like saying we're open to saying hey you know we want to work with you as well as you know we're willing to accept the donation too. So >> right >> good um old town hall sidewalk to you again. >> Um so a lot of people have been making complaints they just don't see where it lifts up out here and after years of having it flat it makes it even harder. >> So would you recommend that we just paint that >> paint side? Yes. It's >> okay. >> It does not show up especially in the dark and so many people have tripped and I'm afraid of somebody really getting hurt. So I'll just refer Jim is there is there like reflective paint that we could you know like to do the marking so that it kind of >> I mean I have no problem some >> usually glass. >> Mhm. >> It's almost like sand and you paint it and just the chicken sticks and it that's >> it's kind of it's reflective. Rochester and stuff before its off transucent. >> Okay. Um I I don't >> I don't I don't disagree. So maybe we could ask Dan like what he would think the cost would be. I mean like how much paint it would be because he probably could tell us. And not that we're looking for anybody at the moment to do it. Um, but I'm just saying to get you I can't imagine I mean cuz who knows I don't want the paint to be say like it's $1,000. I'll be like what you know. But >> it no intent would be to paint it white so that people are aware that that slant is paint stripes. >> No, I think that's it. The idea is to paint between the stripes white. So then it's one solid. >> Yeah, I think. Right. That's what you're >> Absolutely. >> So we can look into that and see maybe what that cost would be for paint and then move from there. >> Sounds good. >> Somebody's gonna get hurt. >> No, I just want to know how much the paint would cost. That's all I'm asking. Um, the next item we have is AC's, free first, first come, first serve. So, the town does have two air conditioning units upstairs. Um, we had donated them to a previous uh place, but they didn't make it to that location. So, um, we have those. Um, I would say I know that we can also I'm going to look on my I got a sorry uh PSNH has a or ever source. Sorry, dating myself. Right. They have a turn-in event if um so if the we can't if nobody wants to come get them, there's a turning turnin event in Rochester. We just need to get the paperwork downloaded off of um I think Eversource's website, fill it out, and they'll pay us, I think, $50 um a unit. So, um I guess that I'm good with that. I'm like, we can offer it out there, and if they're not gone by the time the um the event happens, then we can take them down and turn them in and get a hundred bucks for the town. >> Is everybody good with that? Do you know when is >> it's going to be like I think it's the the weekend of maybe November 5th. So it's only like two weeks away. >> November. >> Oh, sorry. Gosh. September. September. I don't know why I said November. Oh my gosh. Good lord. Um so if we can get that out on the website to say, you know, first come first serve. We have two units and um you know they'll be gone by the weekend of September 5th. >> Is everybody So if somebody wants to make that motion that would be a motion. >> Okay. Anybody second that? >> All those in favor? I >> Okay. Um the next item we have on here is banking. So I spoke with uh one of the women from the bank regarding um our account. So we have our we have our sorry um we have our regular bank account >> general fund account um which we are all on there as signers but then um we have the town has the conservation has an account the am there's the ambulance revolving fund and the police um detail fund. Those three accounts typically have only had the treasur's name on the account. Um, and the recommendation was to at least have two people's names on the account. So, um, what I'm looking for now is to see if we can go ahead and have one of our names put on the banking account. Otherwise, we can't do really do much business with those accounts. I don't mind having my name on the account. Um, but if anybody else wants to have their >> I'll volunteer to have my name on. >> Okay. So the motion Tim is making the motion. >> Someone in second that >> all second. >> I so I will just need in in order for this to happen I need to the minutes from this meeting to take those to the bank so that they can so just to kind of clarify that. >> Um the next item is payroll conversion and I think you want to speak to this Kim. >> Yes. Um I I've been reaching out to um Christian at MRI to find out when we're going to do the payroll conversion and um in the delay of them getting back to me. Um Carrie Sawyer is the one who's going to deal with the payroll. So she should be reaching out to me in the next couple of weeks. They've had um people leave um those positions and this is why it's been delayed. Um, also, so I'm looking for transparency to just transfer as of January 1st the payroll over um because it makes it much easier doing it in the middle of whatever is in. Uh yeah, I think I would agree with that because I think I was just talking to another town that uses MRI MTS and we were talking about payroll and they said that they cut over it on one one of the I don't know if it was this year prior year or whatever but um by doing that it avoids us from having to do like two W2s W2s right >> so we're looking January 1st 2027 >> yes that they would that we would implement using the payroll >> just wanted that clarification Yeah. >> Makes sense. >> Yeah. Okay. So, which translates into number 15, which is we have the I guess maybe which is part of the system MRI NTS system, the bank reconciliation module, Kim. >> Yes. Um, so basically once we get everything into the AP like um we get Avatar in and everything that's going into there, we still need to be balancing this portion to the bank um statements and not just treasurer. Mhm. >> Um so basically in order to do that we really are going to need the um bank reconciliation module which was not priced out at the time that we did the rest of these. >> How much we looking >> what was the proposal of what they were providing? Um the bank reconciliation is usually $4,000 for the um purchase of it and then an annual support of $1,000 um a year. And Christian says given the delays of some of this, they're willing to adjust the annual fees and bill $500 up uh and just do the annual fee and bill just the $500 upfront. So instead of paying 4,000, we're only um we're only paying500 for the actual margin >> and then $1,000 a year after that. >> Yeah. Um and so I can say um we do have we do have money in um data communication and equipment. I don't I mean I would I don't necessarily I think that's happens to do with any computer type of in in uh computer replacement type of stuff purchases we have 10 thou in the CRF that's right now it's at 10,000 $51763 I think given that they're going willing to sell it to us for 500 and the cost is $4,000 um I I don't think that's >> okay I'll second that >> all those in favor favor. >> I perfect we can discuss maybe we don't need to use it out of that account, Kim, but we can take a look at other >> there's going to be a lot of work going into getting the stuff transferred over. So that's why I said January 1 would be good for the payroll. The bank reconciliation was a lot of work going into that. And even if that's done, >> you know, it doesn't have to be done this year or um I mean 500 this year to get purchased, >> right? >> And um and then maybe after the first quarter, >> we just need to make sure when we get ready to do budget for next year that we have to incorporate that $1,000. Just as a on a side note, just as FYF everybody. Um so the next item is town furniture property. So, I will note that um last week or a week or so ago, I guess last week, not this p week and a half ago, when we did the electronics takeback, we brought all the town stuff over and provided it in the bins or wherever. Um in looking around upstairs, we have some excess furniture that we aren't utilizing. It's nothing that's useful for us for the town. like there's a big metal desk with a top on it that has um an electrical outlet you can use it. We're not going to use it. I don't ever see us any of us using it. So um and there might be a couple of other pieces some old chairs that are up there. So I was just looking to see if we could be willing to Oh, and the voting the old voting box which >> it's just the case which is behind here. It has um it has no useful purpose to us. It has no electronic stuff in it or whatever. So um if some I'm looking to see like if we could just give that away if anybody wants >> historic or anything. It's not that old or not. >> What the No, the old No, no, this is just the plastic one prior to the >> I mean when do we do the uh the big yard sale? >> I don't know that we're doing a yard sale. >> We're not doing one this year. So, >> but so I mean I think >> usually be like more like June or July. >> So I would just say maybe we can put out there saying we have very a couple of pieces of furniture some chairs and I'm talking they're just like regular. They look so they're kind of like old acur I feel like they're like old plastic hard chairs like that and you know but if hey if somebody wants them that's fine if not and then that desk which is big metal and if we nobody wants it we can certainly you know put it in the metal pile but I'm just trying to you know try and get stuff situated so it's a little bit um cleaner upstairs and uh >> anybody could put a maybe for that stuff and then I I mean I don't necessarily think to me I'm thinking I'm just fine I'm fine with if somebody wants to come and take it and just get it out of the building. We're not using it. A lot of it's you know I mean it's just sitting up there and it's taking up room. >> It's just become like the storage upstairs and it's like um so that's my proposal. I don't know if anybody's good, you know, if everybody's fine with that because of that. So if you want if somebody wants to make that motion to >> we'll make a motion to get rid of the excess furniture >> and we'll just put it out there for first come first serve if anybody wants it and if it's there after two weeks or whatever we'll just get rid of it. Is everybody good with that? >> Sure. >> Um all those Okay. So Bonnie made the >> Mike seconded. All those in favor I >> So town property I think you had something Jonathan. >> Yeah I should have. I'm still learning how to do things correctly, but I me I noticed like a half an hour before the meeting I said I should have added on to the agenda, but it can fit under this. Um Jim over in highway department has been doing a lot of really great work over a period of months, actually more than months because it would have gone back to to last year even um looking for to purchase a new piece of equipment. They've really done their homework on it really well as to cost and what they're looking for, what they need. He he'd like to talk to us about it. >> No, just state what you just say what you're here for. >> So, yeah, it's in regards to the uh excavator. Oh my god, Dan had come in a couple of months ago and went over um purchasing a new escalator. >> He's commented about it several times. >> So anyway, um like John had said, we we uh had been looking at it for them for quite a while. We went uh two years up the mountain demonstrations. Um, we were wanting to put a unit on the loader, but uh, Caterpillar, the only uh, vendor they had, went out of business through CO and so that didn't uh, pan out. But, um, probably that wasn't the best route anyway. the uh the esavator certainly be much more suited for uh hitting the higher brush and stuff down on the road edges. Um also this excavator is not a it's not a sub compact but it's much smaller than the one we currently have. Um, it's a three-piece boom on the new one. Uh, which means, you know, if you can picture it, you can fold the boom up much tighter than pick it up over the side of the truck. So, it's also um not exactly a zeroturn machine, but uh it the the swing on the back of the excavator um that we have now is is big. So, you uh and with the two-piece boom, you will most of the time have to sit on the opposite side of the road and reach across to ditch. So you're encumbering traffic both lanes. This would be small enough that you could sit on one side of the road much safer for uh the motor in public as well as us being out in the road. That's another attribute to it. Um we uh we looked at uh trade in value um sale what those cap machines go for. Um the top of the price, you know, was uh 45,000. Um that would be a machine in immaculate shape. Um they they're offering us 40,000 trade in on it. Um and like the air conditioning's not working. Uh the paint's kind of faded on it. You know, I think 40 40 is a good price uh on the machine. So the other part of it is uh between block grant money CRF money. Um we have the money to purchase it. So there wouldn't be any lease any u any cost. Um no no money from the uh capital reserve. >> No would be money from the capital reserve. money from the general from taxation >> from from the taxation. Yeah. Um so that's where we're at. This is the quote. I just need a signature. It'll probably take somewhere between two or 3 weeks a month. >> So you have three quotes, right? >> Not on this. There are three of them, too. There's not three people who sell excavators. >> Not the three set ones. >> There's one other company, TRX. Um, >> so you have the quote from them. >> What's that? >> So, you have a quote from them? >> No, because we really weren't that interested in it. Um just uh well I mean we bought a $300,000 fire truck because that was the truck that uh they felt is best suited. Um the other the Terrax one the reasoning for this um is these these machines have been around for a while parts availability. Uh we dealt with this vendor quite a bit. you just felt like this was the one. Um, like I said, we looked at a bunch of other ones and none of them were. Um, I think Volvo makes a smaller machine about that size. I I've never seen a three stick Volvo. Um, and as far as the head and stuff, I'm not really sure what there are two different types of head. There's one that's a basically a piece of chain on the uh the the roto part of it. And then there is this type that these guys sell which are steel dogs like um so I went over New Durham had the one with the chains and hated it. Um, theirs is on a cap track machine, which uh would be pretty much useless to us because you got to trailer it anytime you move it. Um, as far as a track goes, um, yeah, that's that's where we're at. So what's the >> I wouldn't feel comfortable making a decision like this right now without having more information and the quotes that we require. >> Did did didn't we move pretty quickly on like the fire department though like he was suggesting when >> fire department was made by it was decision was made by the town. No, but even before that there was like the when it was put when before it was determined to be paid out of completely out of the out of the capital reserve wasn't I mean it was brought before us did he bring before what he had looked into for different >> he showed us different options as well and then was Scott decision to buy it was made by us was made by the town >> I do agree >> and that's why Scott we've always said when we make decisions here we require multiple votes and we're in as much information as possible. And I understand they have the money. I not against the idea. I just >> I bought uh a chipper the six wheel clock truck. the the one time we maybe get three other quotes and uh two other quotes and actually cost us money on that one. >> Um so and I've also sat here and like I said watched them guys buy a $300,000 truck one price. I watched them come in here and buy a saw the other night and uh >> every time every time price three prices you never said a word. >> Yep. Go ahead and buy it. We're getting rich. I We can go back and watch the video. Let's do it. >> I was sitting right here. >> I'm happy to. >> I can guarantee you every time Jared's come to buy something, he's had three quotes. The same thing with Scott. >> You don't want to buy it. It's not that I don't want to buy it. I want information. >> There's a way we do things, man. >> There's a proper way to do things. That's all I'm asking to do. >> Excuse me, madam chair. I'm just asking that we do things the way we're supposed to be doing them in a proper order. I'm not here to have an argument with anybody. >> Okay. So um what I'm hearing whatever it's saying is we're requ and I know we request three quotes. So if there are not three companies that provide this type of particular machine that we're looking for we would look at to however many companies there are. I'm just I just want Okay. So Jim, with that, how many companies offer this particular piece of equipment that you're looking to purchase? >> That particular piece of equipment in this area. >> There's only one company in this area that offers that equipment. >> So what was the other piece of equipment that he was asking about that he mentioned? >> You said there was another company, but you I don't know if it was Volvo. I wasn't I don't You said that there was another company. I guess >> Okay, that was who you said, right? So, if you pulled got a quote from them for a similar similar piece of equipment, I mean, you could bring it, but your but the but your preference, the department's preference would be to have this one even if it was say slightly more expensive or more expensive. >> So, no, I'm just asking the question. I'm asking the question, Madam Chair, >> can we Yes. >> I feel as though that was all I wanted. >> Yes, it is. You don't need to be. So, what I'm asking is we need >> Can you call the company, get the quote, and we can look at it seeing how there's only two companies in this area. I'm leaning down because I can't see. Yeah. >> Um, so then we'll have the two quotes, but I mean, in what would be presented to say this is what our preference is. this is what we find has better reviews and this and that and whatnot. I mean, so we're following protocol. Okay. >> All right. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. We're done. >> Um, so >> Jim, you realize I'm happy with getting this. It's literally just following a procedure. >> Yeah. Just >> Okay. All right. Enough. >> The same procedures done. >> All right. We're good. We're done here. We're done. Um, so we're going to move on to uh public comment. Any public comment? All right. Uh, BOS comment. >> Bonnie, >> I was going to tell them I think they did a good job. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, yeah, I just want to thank everyone that came out and joined us for the uh, Touch a Truck Old Home event. The Red Hat band, they were amazing. uh the fire department, the highway department, the police department, uh Kate from cons conservation, uh John from the Sunrise Lake watershed, uh the K9 demonstration, the state highway, uh state state police, uh Little T's food truck, Mimos, face painting, um Anderson Windows, um I'm sure I've missed somebody, but thank you to all of them and especially my amazing rough team who did a lot of work to put these things together. >> Drone team was here. >> Yes, the Straford County drone team. They were amazing, too. >> What's your next What's coming up? >> Uh, I think we have a little bit of a break for the moment. Um, we have Halloween um we're working on for October. I don't have that date. >> And then we have a craft fair on November 7th. >> Black Market. Um, I will before that was I just want to make sure that I also want to thank the rec department and unfortunately wasn't here me for the Friday event. However, I did come for the Wednesday lunch/ dinner and it was awesome. >> Yeah. How many do we how did they turn out? >> I didn't hear how. >> Okay. I was just curious. I was curious to see. >> But it was quite busy. I know that. >> I came up for a little bit and it was it was straight out. So, yeah. Another fantastic job by the old home association. >> It was much appreciated to have the highway department, you know, open up a bay again. It's just it's a perfect situation. And with uh the guys cleaning it up and Dan being there early so I could set up, it was just very >> very helpful to make it easy. It's like almost and you know, our lead guitarist thought it was the greatest thing. I guess there's this thing online where musicians will take a selfie pick playing in a garage and he said that was the ultimate garage pick. >> Oh yeah. >> Well, thanks to our highway department for that. >> Any comments? >> No, just I did hear good things from couple vendors about >> they want to know where you came from. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. And I've had a few comments being made too about the lunch and how um they thought the food was fantastic. They thought it was better than last year. I'm just saying I think they >> Oh, absolutely. My son really love the pumpkin pie. >> And for the record, we have two years till Middleton's 250th, >> right? Um so I'll just make a comment. So and on that day, Bonnie, who else was here? DM Burns came in and they hooked up the building. So, yes, they did. >> Did you notice I didn't ask this time? >> No. No, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT was funny because it was like of all the days, that was the day that worked out the best for them, you know. But, uh, they got through all that. Worked around. Yep. No, it was good. So, that that has happened. So, that's good. Um, and we continue to get the quotes. I'm continuing to try and get the quotes for the windows upstairs and trying to get an electrician to come in to put in the emergency lighting sign. Um, and I think that's all I have at the moment. Um, we I do will make a motion to go into nonpub at 711 for RSA 91- A. um - A column 3 and it's actually Roman numerals 2 I think it's B and C so >> we're going to discuss that Bonnie roll call about Roxan yes >> Bonnie yes >> legal yesman yes >> and we will start that Thank