The Conservation Commission met September 8, 2026. Financial totals showed $2,852.00 paid and $1,629.88 pending. Tracy Donovan-Laviolette and Kate Buzard approved reimbursing John Mullen $168.00 for E. Coli testing at Eurofins. Kate moved to place the Tanglewood Watershed Protection Area Committee on hiatus pending Selectmen or Commission review; Tracy seconded and the motion passed unanimously. NHDES reviewed an incomplete trails permit for SPNHF and a standard dredge and fill permit for Darren Wilder. The Native Plants Trust declined surveying Town Forest property due to the season; Kate will contact them regarding protocols for future requests. The next meeting is October 13, 2026.
Source: https://middletonnh.gov/uploads/2026.09.08-conservation-commission-meeting-minutes.pdf
The Middleton Select Board approved a letter of commitment for the Sunrise Lake Watershed Advisory Committee to apply for a 319 grant. This supports phase two of the Sunrise Lake Management Program, focusing on town beach runoff and the canoe launch.
The Board voted to purchase a DEV1 DX100 excavator from Equipment East for $152,066.63. Funding includes approximately $130,000 from state block grants, $26,000 from the capital reserve fund, and a $40,000 trade-in.
SPEAKER_1 presented a potential propane contract with Ferrellgas for the town and school at $1.399 per gallon, requiring tank swaps. A future fuel collaboration for diesel and gasoline was also discussed.
The Middleton Select Board held a personnel policy workshop on August 26, 2026. No formal decisions or votes were taken. The Board reviewed a draft personnel policy, discussing updates made since the fall. Key discussions included clarifying the definition of "bonafide volunteers" for appointed committee members and potentially requiring each board to submit an ethics policy. Regarding work schedules, they agreed to add a definition for "work day" that acknowledges management rights to alter schedules. The Board discussed harassment reporting procedures, emphasizing reporting to immediate supervisors first. For disability accommodations, it was recommended to designate the town secretary as an alternative contact. Discussions on the Appendix B hiring policy were tabled for further review. The debate on combining sick and vacation time into a PTO bank was deferred to a fall work session to gather more information. The Board agreed to include a uniform performance evaluation form in an appendix.
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.
The Middleton Planning Board met August 13, 2026. The board approved July 16, 2026 meeting minutes on a motion with all in favor. Discussion focused on updating 2027 zoning ordinances, specifically Article 22 regarding home enterprises, definitions of home offices, and zoning district inconsistencies with campsites. A motion carried to add a "housekeeping clause" to the zoning ordinance for formatting corrections. Public speaker Danielle from Sunrise Drive mentioned deteriorating culverts on Silver Street and asked about using a condemned trailer for storage; the board advised she discuss the trailer issue with code enforcement rather than the planning board. The board adjourned at 7:48 PM.