Board of Selectmen August 11, 2026 Meeting

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

I think it's the wrong way.
>> Microphone's on.
All right. I'm going to call the meeting
for the Board of Selectmen meeting for
Tuesday, August 11th, 2026.
Is that noise back?
>> Feedback.
>> I can hear it.
>> Volume.
>> Um we have a room here for the public
who wants to Wow.
>> Yeah, the echo's back.
>> The echo's back, Tanya.
We deal with that?
Yeah.
>> I think you guys have to turn the volume
off on one of
>> I think you just turn down the volume on
the TVs.
>> On that one.
>> Test.
Test.
Yes.
>> Is it that one, too?
>> Yeah.
>> We're in here testing.
>> Yeah, it's 54. That's why.
That's fine.
Oh, is it?
Yeah, Anna, actually she is on mute.
Don't try to unmute her.
Try that.
>> Mute. Mute.
>> Something like that.
>> It is.
>> Volume 53.
>> Check mute.
>> And they're working on it to improve the
sound and then
>> Can you hit me on this one?
>> Hit me on both TVs, though.
>> Do what?
>> There's Are they separate TVs?
>> Yes.
>> Hit me on both.
>> On both.
>> Now I see where you're confused.
>> Yeah, it's weird, right?
>> That one's off.
>> Mute.
>> Is it coming out of the
>> I think we got it. We got mute on both.
Okay.
>> Okay.
>> And you're still showing me Okay.
>> That's work, guys.
>> Did it. Okay.
Anyone here from the public who wants to
comment on something not on the agenda,
speak now.
Seeing none, we're going to move on to
the public hearings.
Uh we're going to first deal with a
public hearing notice.
Um we are required by RSA 21 {colon}
95-B
to hold a public hearing to discuss the
acceptance of the state of New Hampshire
emerging contaminant small and
disadvantaged community grant in the
amount of 1.5 million dollars to be used
to extend the water main from the city
of Concord's municipal water system to
the Bow Junction to address PFAS,
chlorides, and other contaminants. Um if
anyone wants to speak to that, they can
Seeing none, we will close the public
hearing.
Um
Do we have to make a motion?
>> Make a motion that we uh uh
accept the grant from the state of New
Hampshire uh in the amount of 1.5
million
under the disadvantaged created grant
program funds and authorize David Stack
to sign any documents necessary for the
town of Oak.
>> Second.
I have a motion and a second. Any
further discussion? Hearing none, all
those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> I's. I's have it three to nothing.
We're now going to move on to meetings.
We have a community building discussion
citizens group meeting. If you could
I guess pull your chairs up and turn the
microphones on in case people are
listening. Uh
just state your name and address.
This shirt is This is something here.
Hi, my name is Jeffrey Knight, 8 Paisley
Road.
I'm here with the same group that came
to you, I don't know, many moons ago.
Um Harry Judge.
I'm Douglas and Colleen Hunter.
Um we have kind of banded together to um
see if we can get a um
affordable community building
bill.
Uh we did some work over the summer.
And so one of the things that we'd like
to do tonight is talk to you about
getting a RFP.
So our goal would be able to bring a
a firm price design build cost to the
taxpayers in March of 27.
and in order to do that, we'd like to
put out an RFP for design build.
Um with a firm price with the same
approach as the public safety building.
Uh
and we actually did use um input
um from the last committee to gather
information on what might be required.
We haven't started that process of
putting the RFP together
because we wanted to come to you guys
first and make sure it's okay that we do
that.
Because that is a process that will
probably take a couple months.
Chris, you might have been around when
we did the
public safety building.
>> after.
>> Just after.
>> I was here for the walk, but not the not
the planning.
>> Yeah. Um
So, what happened in that was we
had a committee.
Um we got together and
basically gave
specifications
on what we expected in the building
and we let um
the the public um
general contractors look at it, come up
with the design that would meet the
needs that we put forward, the
requirements,
um to see if we could come up with
something that was affordable. And
through that process, we we did come up
with something affordable, brought it to
the taxpayers, the taxpayers said okay,
um and it was built.
Um so, it's kind of the same process.
Um it would be a
um
construction manager type
but with a firm price.
Um the minimum
requirements would be given um to
anybody that put together the RFP.
the approximate space would be about
17,000 square feet.
Uh it would have one full-size gym.
Um the other items in that space would
be determined in the RFP.
Uh the location is to be determined, but
it probably would be
somewhere where the existing building is
and across the street.
and as far as requesting some funds,
we're looking for $7,500
that would be used to um do the same
thing we did at the public safety
building. Uh we hired somebody that
reviewed the RFP that we came up with to
make sure it was complete, we weren't
missing anything. And then we also uh
used [snorts] that same person. I can't
remember. Do you remember the name of
the person that we used?
>> I don't.
>> [snorts]
>> Um
we also used that same person to um look
at the um
quotes that we got to make sure that we
were
in the realm of things.
>> I two quick questions. One for Cheryl.
Uh Cheryl, how much is in the um
wreck
rolling fund fund not I'm sorry, not
rolling fund.
>> Community center fund.
>> I have to check, but we've put in now 3
years, I believe, of $500,000
and $150,000
uh 2 years from wreck rolling fund.
>> About 2 million.
>> So, yeah, 1.8. Um
so, I think
we owe it to the community at this
point. We owe it to the community to
start thinking about what plans look
like, what this building looks like,
where it's going to be sited. Um I think
it's been
you know, the support from the community
for 3 years now to to to put away that
kind of savings is testament that at
some point we're going to have to do
we we should do a project like this.
Um I think $7,500 is cheap. Um it
doesn't hurt at all that the person
asking for it is the same winning bidder
who just delivered us an addition on our
wreck center about half price the
competing bid. Uh nice play to have Jeff
do that introduction. The only thing
that and thank you, Jeff. That I don't
think I've seen a
government project go that efficiently
in my time in government.
>> No change orders at all.
>> Uh that happens when you do it that
fast. Once it's done.
So, I think I'm I'm prepared to make a
motion. I would
I've been moving this around a lot. And
I think the the selling of this
um I think is going to be key to its
long-term success. And I know that
there's some people who think the
sledding hill's awesome.
It's probably not my favorite location,
but I'm just going to offer the
committee group that's spearheading this
uh a suggestion that they consider
uh the school forest. School forest has
a deed restriction that is right next to
Bow Lake. There's a house in between.
But as I understand that deed
restriction, it is for recreational use.
>> A very broad recreational use.
>> Mhm.
>> Um I did maybe 18 months ago have a very
brief conversation with the school board
about you know,
what they thought of that. And I don't
think they realized they owned that land
on that side. And so, that may be a
flatter piece of land closer to the
schools and worth consideration.
Uh but I'll make a motion
to make $7,500 available from
uh
Are we able to expend that money?
>> No.
>> So, where is this money coming from?
>> I can possibly the wreck revolving fund
if we were to do the 7,500 prior to
>> conversation with Darcy to say if we
were to ask for $7,500, would you be
okay with it? And she said,
"I think it's a good use of the fund,
but obviously I have to check with
Dave." So, my thought would be the
$7,500 would come from her
operating budget.
>> All right. Okay.
>> Yeah. Whatever that's going to make
sense.
>> The revolving fund I think is what we
All right, so we have a motion do we
have a second?
>> But I didn't finish the motion because I
didn't have
>> I know I just I just want to be clear
that the $7,500 would be expended by the
town
for the purposes of
um obtaining a professional to
review the RFP um that the money is not
would not be going to a ad hoc committee
um to willy-nilly
>> It's It's a third party.
>> Yes. Um working and the third party
would be working on behalf of the town.
>> For the information gathering so we
could understand the scope and the
potential for a potential building
there.
>> Right.
>> That
would allow people to make informed
decisions at next town meeting.
>> Um I am happy to make the motion to
expend um up to $7,500
uh to cover the cost of the review of an
RFP for completeness and review of the
quotes when they come in
for the community building.
>> The other thing I would um like to
mention is if a select board member
would like to join us while we meet,
we're happy to have one.
Um or we're happy just to report back to
you
when we get an RFP that we're ready to
go out to the public. But it's it's
whatever your pleasure is.
>> I would love to join this so I can see
the inside of the the process.
>> Sure. Thank you, Kevin.
>> So we have a
pending motion but Elena had the
>> But I didn't have her finished the
>> Okay, so Sacco and Colbath has a motion
do we have a second?
>> Any further discussion?
Hearing none, all those in favor say I.
>> Thanks, guys.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it.
>> All right, moving on to our second
meeting quarterly financial report and
end-of-year report from Finance Director
Cheryl Loner.
>> Hello.
>> Hi.
>> Thank you for having me today. Um
I am going to go over where we currently
stand at year end.
Um these are pre-audited numbers. Our
auditors are coming in in September and
will make any of their year-end
adjustments and those will be be posted
accordingly as um as we receive them
back from them, but
we did end up um
our operating revenues um
are at 78% and again, this is due to the
fact that we only bill in June. We bill
bill yearly for semi-annual services,
especially from the school, and also we
request um roof um
reimbursement from the trust funds once
a year.
So uh so we will be seeing a bump in
those revenues once those come in.
The unaudited expenditures of the
operating account came in at 434,000
below budget, but after we counted in
the encumbrances and the accrued
payroll, we ended up um
for the year right around I'm going to
jump to my year-end report, right around
157,000,
almost 160,000.
>> That's pretty That's pretty damn close.
>> That's the one we cut.
>> Yep.
>> I think
it doesn't leave a lot of a minute down,
but that's because we gave you a pretty
tough budget, and so thank you guys
>> for delivering all the services to the
um and
not going broke.
Um our revenues again, motor vehicles um
over performed at 116%
of their budget.
>> And that was my question.
When does that end?
What is the natural cap on
>> us always over performing, not just our
budget, but like previous years. So,
looking at last year actual
>> versus
actual this year, you're like $900,000
up.
>> At some point, this can't go on forever.
Like, cars do get more expensive.
>> Also, we're we are benefiting from a
really good economy, which I think will
buy a lot of cars. But, we're also
benefiting from
our town attracting some big trucking
interests that have chosen to register
cars here, and at least one of those has
left.
>> That's That's why I'm thinking for next
year's budgeting process, we can't keep
assuming a $900,000
above performance from that department.
>> You know, I think
it
It doesn't make sense. It shouldn't have
done it this long.
>> I'm Yeah.
>> Mhm. Is any of these
results because of the increased fees at
the state level?
Um I could check with Mardula on that. I
know that um
>> I wonder if that could answer part of
the question.
>> Yeah. These are after we pay the state.
>> We pay We pay the state their fees
daily. There's a trans- There's a
transmission that goes through that that
reimburses the state for their fees, but
um I think that cars are getting more
expensive. We did see this year there
was a fleet that was
not allowed to register here due to the
the new state law that I guess it's it's
a mileage thing. Um that they had more
miles in another state, so they couldn't
register their fleet here. So, I don't
know if that will impact us in the
coming years if if that law continues to
be in effect. Um but but other than
that, it was only I believe one fleet
this year.
Uh and I can confirm that with Mardula.
But, yes, I agree. At some point um that
overage is going to come down. And
again, this year she she was only at
116. So, um that's It was over, but just
over. So, um interest on deposits again
the interest we don't never seem to know
what it's going to do. We are at 3.99%
now in our our
banking institution which is good.
It's up a little bit from last quarter
but our interest on deposits
beat our estimates again.
Public Works revenue due to all the
additional snow plowing came in over
budget.
And
they they did a great job that the
public works team all winter. So, kudos
to Tim and his crew.
And then we had the sale of our co-op
piece of property that didn't end up
being
developed. So, the town ended up with
$60,000 in sale of property that we were
not expecting. So, that was also a good
year.
Railroad revenues came in at $4,000. We
were not expecting to get anything from
railroad revenues. So, we did have some
unexpected revenues which was was nice
to see.
Our cash flow continues to be strong.
Expenditures again we talked about the
overtime lines due to the openings in
the departments.
Recycling fees the average was 132.49
per ton this quarter.
Those do fluctuate. And
I did pull the diesel and gasoline rates
for
June.
Those fluctuate a little bit as well.
Diesel was at 4.249
and gas was at 3.519.
So, lower than you're seeing at the pump
but still higher than than we've seen in
the past.
Property taxes continue to be strong in
the collection area. So, we are at 95%
with about 2 million outstanding.
And prior year tax liens are over 98%
collected only about $246,000
outstanding still.
So, and then the wreck revolving fund um
again, this is as of June 30th, it is a
point in time. Uh stands at $704,000.
who can have registrations were
collected at that point, but she hadn't
expended
um her her costs for the summer, so
Uh so, at that point, she was expecting
to see $141,000 surplus, which Darcy has
been saying for a while should be around
about 100,000. So, she's she's close in
her estimates.
Um the addition was started at the time,
but it wasn't finished, so only some of
the bills had come in at that point. And
her programming revenue continues to
cover her expenses.
>> Awesome.
>> I would echo Chris's comments. It's
great.
>> So, we're in good
We're in good shape.
Thank you.
Anybody have any questions?
>> I don't I like this.
>> [laughter]
>> Old man river over here has seen some
stuff.
Awesome. Thank you, sir.
>> You're very welcome.
>> I also have one request. There is a
a um request for reimbursement from the
Trust funds for the water a wa- we had a
water leak. Is that something that the
board would like to take up now or would
you like
Um it was $23,000
thing.
>> This is especially for water capital
replacement system.
Yes, so we had a leak and it was uh
$21,002
in the motion.
>> that we authorize a withdrawal from the
water capital reserve replacement fund
of $21,002.63
pursuant to the documents in our packet
pages 10 to 17.
>> All those in favor say I. I.
I say that three nothing.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a
good night.
>> Joy with you. Joy will make a motion to
approve the minutes from July 14th.
Uh with one
Actually,
with one variation of
On your um page six,
there's at the top the page motion says
did the motion pass in the minutes? The
motion did pass. I checked.
>> Thank you.
>> It checked. Passed. So, as amended we
have a motion.
>> All those in favor say I.
>> I. But we jumped ahead there. So, we
have the consent agenda.
>> Make a motion to approve the consent
agenda.
>> Oh, sorry. Second.
Consent agenda passes three nothing.
All right.
>> No, I won't.
>> So, moving on to discussion. This is
town manager's report. Okay. So, we'll
do a town manager's report. Thank you.
>> Chair,
>> Yes, three nothing as amended.
>> I make a motion to
second.
>> Okay, the Laurel Mountain Solar Project
continues to
roll on at a
not a snail's pace, but there's a lot to
it. Um we have submitted Keeler Sarge in
the town the last of the required
documents
for a 1B permit, which is the again our
closure plan.
And Keeler Sarge has submitted whatever
documents they are required to submit to
us, and they said they hope to start the
project before the end of August.
Um legislative policy conference, this
is the annual uh meeting that the NHMA
has discuss upcoming legislation and
what you know, legislation the
association and all the communities
would want to support or not to support.
Um I just need to know if the board
wants one of you to go.
Uh we can have one voting member per
community. Or I've done it in the past.
I know you had done it.
>> I'm not available.
>> I have no idea if I'm available.
>> It's weird.
>> I think uh
David, you can represent us unless
somebody speaks up then
>> I got you down for it. All right.
>> All right.
Nice try. Thank you. Thank you.
Uh the Route 3A water extension and
interconnect um we did I think I sent it
out word to the board,
uh but they've released the project
funding priority list for water projects
for the state revolving fund.
Um our project was ranked at number 11.
probably out of look like 45 or so were
submitted.
>> About 60, I think.
>> It just kind of goes on, but then I did
notice what if you're within the ones
that are highlighted colored, we're
probably I hope pretty good. Uh they
held a public hearing and then there's a
public comment period. Once that
happens, uh the playlist will be
finalized and then we'll get the
decision letters and then we'll just
follow pretty much the same process that
we have with the boat junction.
Uh we'll find out is it a mix of grants,
all loans. It seemed I think they
discussed it was probably just going to
be
uh revolving uh funds.
Um so we'll see what we get and if the
board, you know, wants to proceed, we'll
go to
town meeting and get approval to borrow
and we'll do again what
And actually with this one, I'm very
confident that we will actually break
ground
and
and uh
do the connection.
So that's good news. Um Dow Road
intersection, the final wearing course
has been completed and pavement markings
need to be done. Um
and they probably a few smaller items
here and there. The state hasn't signed
off on it yet.
Um we or town. There's a few items that
we need to just punch list items.
You'll be all happy to know that this
particular select woman will be
that our new cap fire captain EMD Craig
Bolduc took a look at the
mitigation action list. I had asked him
please take a look and I said the board
you know it we were going to wait till
you came on or whoever it was.
So he either 67 actions being
researching the status of them. He's
been working with department heads to
see maybe what has been done or what the
thoughts were.
There are some that are of unknown
status or where they're at. He's going
to focus on the
on these right now
particularly the ones that involve
public awareness and outreach type of
work
because what I'm guessing I haven't been
able to talk to Craig about it yet but
that those are ones that we can
you know not low hanging fruit but that
we can pick up and pick off and get
those efforts going and
like he said update the emergency
management website. So that's good news.
I haven't looked through it all yet but
I'll be sitting down with him.
The lighting conversion project
it's begun the Baker Free Library all
those lights were converted.
Work is continuing with the municipal
book building.
There's no controls yet necessarily
right now they're just set to when you
walk in a room right you get surprised
but there are controls that you'll be
able to set which will do light
harvesting so if it's a bright day
they're not all the same lighting.
There's a whole bunch other things that
we can do. So
Chrissy Andrews will actually have it on
a tablet he can go and and there's still
a little more programming to do.
And then they're going to be doing the
Bolduc Center after but it's going great
you know that they have it's a one one
person. They have one person doing the
install.
And he's quite efficient and
unobtrusive. So, uh
State Bridge Aid,
we have submitted
hard work by Cheryl and pulling together
the backup about this literally this
thick of everything, checks and bills.
Um and we're looking for 1.4 million,
which is 80% of the total project cost.
Um so, and complete from soup to nuts
from engineering design study,
construction. Um and the the state has
that and we're not quite sure how long
it'll take to
But, you know, we're prepared to answer
questions. So, that that will be good to
get those funds
back.
And any questions? That's what what I
have.
None for me.
>> I'll make a motion to
accept the bid from Bo Plumbing and
Heating for the new boiler.
Uh in the community building.
>> Have a motion and a second.
All those in favor say I.
>> I say it's three nothing. Thanks to Bo
Plumbing and Heating as always.
>> Are you going to make the motion on the
landfill?
>> Um I can.
>> So, I'll just give some
>> Some background.
>> Just a little brief background if
anyone's listening.
Um due to a some outdated ordinance, uh
we have a conflicting ordinance in our
in our own town,
um ordinance that Carrie and I will work
on fixing in the future.
And um there was a question of whether
Kearsarge needed a special exception
um through the planning process. The
planning board has already approved the
development. And we have worked with our
town council to just make clear for both
parties, cuz both parties want this to
proceed uh as quickly as possible, that
Kearsarge does not need to get a special
exception around the size of the
facility
and as I said it's not a result of
you know Kearsarge is not doing their
job. It's really a result of an
ordinance which is just referencing a
RSA that has since been out of date. And
so we have been told by our town council
that uh by making a certain motion
tonight we can make uh this issue a
non-issue and it can proceed as as all
parties want to. So uh if so I'd like to
make a motion on that topic.
>> I would like to move that when it is
unclear whether a special exception is
required for the proposed solar array to
be constructed by Kearsarge-Bow LF LLC
on the town's Lempster parcel
uh which is tax map 14-4-71
to the extent that one is required the
select board hereby waives the
Kearsarge-Bow LF LLC's obligation to
obtain such relief under section 3 A I 2
of the lease agreement as the proposal
constitutes a governmental land use
pursuant to RSA 674:54.
>> I'll second.
>> It's almost like a lawyer wrote that
motion.
>> Uh
that was that was all on the page.
>> That was just off the cuff.
>> Yeah I'll move that
>> All right. All right. All those in favor
of the motion say I. I
I say it's three nothing. We can
hopefully proceed with the Lempster
um solar project. All right. So we now
move on to board committee reports. From
a planning perspective it's obviously we
had only one meeting in the summer.
the only thing that is sort of ongoing
is a potential cell phone tower in South
Bow. Um we did a sidewalk. We've done
some
further discussion and that will be up
for discussion again next Thursday. Uh
as usual it's being well managed by
Carrie and the department. Other than
that, any other board reports from the
summit?
>> None from me, Kim.
>> Um so, Heritage Commission met this
morning.
Uh they were kind enough to give the
300th Anniversary Commission a sneak
peek tour at the lower level uh for some
inspiration last night. Uh yes, last
night.
But, this morning, uh they did make a
decision to hold an open house down
there,
um which will
uh officially be called the Bow
Heritage Room.
As voted and approved by the committee.
The open house will be November 14th,
2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
So, that is their official opening date
for the downstairs.
Um they are still pursuing a
National Registry of Historic Places
designation for Bow Bog Meeting House.
Um and the New Hampshire Registry um
for a few other properties.
They did have a question regarding um
the board had approved the select board
had approved
an expenditure of I believe up to $500
for a resident to volunteer to clean
gravestones.
Um and they weren't sure on the status
of that, and DPW didn't have a status on
that. So, I don't know if you have her
contact information.
>> Yeah, I'll follow up.
>> reach out
>> Cuz I know we did, you know, we said we
would pick up, yeah, the cost of the
cleaning there, and I believe we went
ahead and bought it. So, but I'm not
sure.
>> I think they were just wondering
>> I'll follow up.
>> And then, the 300th Anniversary
Committee decided on a rough logo design
that will be sent out
to someone to give a
more artistic
cleaner
cleaner more exciting option.
They are pursuing the idea of a
town-wide carnival. It is very important
to them as a community to
bring back a carnival that used to be
held by the men's club over at Bow
Memorial School
for decades
and then just suddenly
fell off to the wayside. So, if we could
be thinking about possible locations
to host a carnival that would be most
helpful.
But, they have decided on a spring
summer
fall and winter
big events.
So, lots of progress being
>> Okay, so any bottom lines, Chris?
Lena?
>> I need a place to hold a carnival.
>> Carnival sourcing.
>> And I just want to thank Darcy Little
for all of her work
with our kiddos down at Bow Rec. That
summer program not only is successful
financially and helps out by taking
quite a bit of property tax burden
off of us,
but
all of the kids feel so included and
loved and safe.
They may have such a great time and that
is priceless. So, special thank you to
Darcy and her team over there.
>> Great.
We have no non-public, so a motion to
adjourn.
>> [clears throat]
>> Public comment?
>> Before you, gentlemen. Do you have a Do
you have a public comment?
>> We did.
>> We started public comment, but you have
a public comment?
>> Do you mind?
>> Of course.
>> It'll be interesting.
>> You just turn the microphone on and then
uh say your
>> wanted me to give you guys something. Go
first.
>> Uh this speaks for both of us.
>> like to sit down for us.
>> Why is this I don't know. This is not
right.
>> Why is this frightening?
>> This is actually in the state library.
I think it's actually kind of pertinent
what you just said.
Maybe put it in this room.
>> So,
>> Thank you for letting me speak. I
actually
>> Do you just give your name and
>> Yes, I'm Jason Gerhard and I live
actually in Northfield,
but this is related, I can assure you.
I did a deep dive on the grand jury
in New Hampshire, but specifically the
county grand juries.
They
are currently told they meet for 4
months in Merrimack County and they meet
for 3 days a month. And it's public
information when they meet and I've
actually been going to the courthouse
and getting information about their
historic role. So, if you were to go to
page two, now granted, this is from
1978. I found this in the state library,
which fun fact, the state library our
state library is the oldest in the
country. It was It was founded in 1719
with two law books.
But if you go to page two,
you will see grand jury as investigatory
body.
The grand jury has two roles. One is the
accusatory role. Prosecutor, county
attorney in our situation, will walk in
and say, "I want to indict this
gentleman or woman for a crime. Here are
the Here are the facts and so forth."
They either say yes or no, goes to
indictment, doesn't.
Their other role, which they are
currently not telling them about, is
their investigatory role. And I'm just
going to read these few sentences.
In addition to the duty of the grand
jury to hear evidence and decide whether
formal criminal charges should be made,
the grand jury also has the important
power to make investigations. The grand
jury on its own initiative may on rare
occasion subpoena witnesses to appear or
compel the production of documents. This
type of investigations they have to
report to the court in what is called a
presentment or report.
This is
critical, I believe, because there
there seems to be some
accountability problems within the state
government. I was actually a state rep
for Northfield, Franklin from '22 to '24
and there's no way to actually have
anyone testify under oath, even though
it's in the RSAs,
according to committee rules in the
RSAs, I should say.
Anyone that comes before the committee,
you can require that that person be put
under oath. Because if somebody's not
going to be telling the truth, what is
the point of listening to them when you
really think about it if it's a matter
of grave consequence?
I wanted to bring this to your attention
cuz I'm having
difficulty
having our current county attorney,
who's not running for re-election, but I
wanted to make this an issue because the
traditionally our grand juries in this
country, now granted they were created
in 1166 AD, but when they were brought
over, Paul Revere, who you should know,
but and Ebenezer Hancock, who was John
Hancock's brother, first governor of
Massachusetts, were grand jurors in
Boston. And so it's traditionally been a
bulwark against
a tyrannical overreaching authority,
which is I believe is what we need
because these grand jurors, there's
actually a really good New York Times
article from 1835 in here, but I don't
want to bore you with that, but the
basic thing is the grand jurors are a
rotating body of the people. It truly
represents the essence of the people who
are not politically aligned or they're
not trying to protect their job, they
simply want the truth.
So I wanted to give that to you so you
can see that this is a real document and
I'm just interested in pursuing this and
I actually created the New Hampshire
Grand Jury Association, but really, you
know, it's just me. Um but I'm just
giving the grand jurors information of
what they're actually capable of doing
cuz unfortunately, we just do not have
any way to
to get to the bottom of of matters,
especially at the state level, it's it's
pretty disappointing. And being in
Merrimack County with capital conquered
being here, it's actually a I believe
critically important grand jury. So, I
just want to bring it to your attention.
So, thank you.
>> Is there a motion to adjourn, Mr. Chair?
>> Good luck.
>> Also, thank you so much.
>> Thank you for letting me speak.
>> Thank you, Mr. Gerhard.
>> Honorable Justice Souter, I make a
>> I make a motion to adjourn.
>> Uh sure, I'll make a motion to adjourn.
>> Very good.
>> Oh, okay. I will second the motion to
>> All those in favor, say aye.
>> Aye.
>> Do you have anything else?