Dunbarton Board of Selectmen July 9, 2026

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

Recording

20 not July 9th. It is I have all three
semen present. I have the town um
administrator president Mr. Leo Martell
is not here tonight. So I have a
substitute.
>> Very qualified one.
>> Yeah.
>> According for the uh uh citizens of
Dunard.
>> Okay. General have some minutes to start
with.
I will make a motion to approve the
regular minutes of June 25th, 2026 as
amended.
>> I'll second that motion.
>> Any discuss June 25th minute?
>> Any discussion on those gentlemen?
>> Um I assume we did have some final edits
within just the past couple hours. I
assume those made it in there.
>> Yes, they did.
>> Okay.
>> All in favor?
>> I
>> I'll make a motion to approve the
non-public minutes of June 25th, 2026 as
amended. I'll second that.
>> And u as far as discussion, gentlemen,
do they have to be sealed? I don't think
so.
>> I would not
>> find a need to seal that up.
>> Okay. All in favor?
>> I
Well, for the record, when I was said
there's a substitute for Leo Martell, I
didn't name the substitute. Fred Mullen
is here, former Tom moderator
and a very integral contributor to the
town of Dunar. Thank you, Fred.
Okay. Um,
it's going to be a modified agenda,
general. We have the mailbox essentially
and then we have several items needed to
be discussed and nonpublic. So, I'm
going to open up the town for public
comment first if there's anything in the
audience. Go ahead, sir.
>> Yes. Uh, our cemetery trustees should be
commended for where they maintain our
cemeteries, all of them in town is I do
a lot of geocaching and sometimes it
brings me near a cemetery and I was in
one last night in Manchester. That thing
is derelic. The grass is about 8 in
high. There's at least eight 10 stones
toppled over. There's a big obelis over
there like on a 30 degree angle ready to
go over. It's it's a shame. and and our
se our cemetery trustees get sixth
graders with them as a give back
project. They clean stones and
everything else and they also got a
beautiful website so I think they should
be commended.
>> Okay.
>> Right.
>> I agree with that.
>> Very good. Thank you. And they also and
chief you're on the uh agenda
so we don't have to talk about anything
right now. Um I'm going to go right to
the mailbox item. Mr.
We have a uh an lettuce notification
from the auctioneers where we put uh
police and fire departments advertise
some some stuff and uh looks like we get
some sales from the auction of an amount
of $2,176.58.
Have we received the the uh
>> Yeah, it's attached.
>> Attached. Okay, that's good.
>> So PD um recouped $9947
after our fees and fire department
recouped $128.51
after fees.
>> Now normally um this we have a decision
to make on the board. Sometimes we would
let this go into the budget uh into the
general fund that's been pretty much
policy or we return it to the department
as far as operational expenses. It's up
to the board how we want to handle the
funing.
>> Could I ask when um When were these
items actually put into the auction
pipeline?
>> When it was spring,
>> how long does it take for something?
>> They have like a yearly spring auction
every year.
>> They'll have they've been having two
though lately.
>> They have a spring and a fall auction.
I'm talking about the state auction on
Clinton Street. That's twice a year.
>> And this this is this these are the
results of the spring auction.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> Go ahead.
>> May I just add? Sorry. Um, the ones that
we did, uh, it's the same company, JSJ,
but they do a municipal online auction.
>> So, what's really nice is once we gather
up all that stuff, instead of having to
hold on to it till April or October,
they'll come pick it up and they'll put
it right in the online auction and then
the town recoups money that way.
>> So, it gives more exposure to the items
you're selling.
>> It does. Yeah. Like vehicles and stuff,
we still do April, October. But all the
stuff that we sold was basically like
quite frankly junk from the basement.
>> Okay. Just uh just to let you know the
auction was advertised digitally this
time using platforms as Facebook,
Twitter, High Bid New England and now
their internal website and uh it was
they basically advertised it by sending
it out to 7,500 people who participated
in auctions before.
>> Okay.
>> And so it's a it's a great
>> So this is different than the spring and
fall.
>> Yeah. So, because it's digital, um, is
this is this like more in real time?
Like if you found more stuff now, you
could
>> you could put it up there.
>> Um, is there any frequency to that? Like
can you do it quarterly or monthly or?
>> We we try to we try to gather as much
stuff as we possibly can and then send
it. I think this was only the second
time we've done it in the last couple
years. So maybe it's a once
>> but in terms of their frequency
stuff
>> I get a notice that I share with the
departments and that would give them the
time to
>> do you have any sense for how
>> twice a year but this
>> it's pretty okay
>> I believe the the municipal one
>> the online one
>> online yes
>> that's my understanding
>> I mean it would make sense that they go
into more of a real time online I mean
think about it everything you know
whether it be eBay or Facebook market or
anything like there's no reason to like
wait till a certain date
>> just put the stuff out there.
>> What kind of items are in this list? Is
it like
>> vacuum a vacuum? Uh lights, tires,
helmets,
>> um medical training dummy.
>> Interesting. Coleman and polyate, an old
generator,
miscellaneous old splits,
>> file cabinets, project old projector
screens, lateral file cabinets, an old
black and green suction holes.
>> So to your question about where the
funds would go, what what has been some
precedence on that?
>> It's been a mixed bag. In the most
recent past, we've been just putting
into the general fund. If if we found
the uh the departments could use the
dollars, we return to the departments.
So it's a mixed bag. There's no the
president the president is either way
the board decides
>> because we have adopted at the RSA that
gives this board the authority to do
what they would like with that money.
This is a small dollar amount. Um
>> I I I I'm of the opinion that basically
they're turning in equipment. If they
want to go out and purchase or find a
new piece of equipment which would
supplement their aritarian might say I'd
say this would be some money they could
use within their budget.
You say give it back to the uh give it
back to police department and fire
department.
>> Yes.
>> You're also taking away from your
potential surplus that you might use for
next year's
>> operating budget. We're talking about
$2,000 $2,100.
>> Do you have any opinions on it?
>> I mean, I could I could always use the
900. Um
>> so think thinking about Let me just ask
this. So one of the one of the thoughts
I have is by giving it back to you for
potential needs, right? You don't have
to spend it, but if you came up with
something, you say, "Oh, look. I got
this$9.94 for that." Um, would you be
more inclined to clean your basement out
more if you knew you were getting it
back?
>> I mean, yeah. I mean, I I think the
whole
>> I just don't know what like are you
like, is it clean and spotless and you
don't have any more stuff or would you
actually say, you know what, if I can
get this, I can come up with another
batch of stuff.
>> Yeah, I mean, we we've done a pretty
thorough clean. We probably have maybe
another SUV full. Um, nothing too too
crazy, but I mean either way, um, we
want to make sure we're getting rid of
stuff appropriately with that policy and
okay,
>> that money's coming back to the town.
I'm kind of ambivalent. I mean, I'd love
the money, but at the same time, I
understand the the surplus is needed at
the end of the year. So,
>> I'd say we can just keep it in general
fund. It's just a small amount. Let's
just keep it general fund for now in the
event. I mean, and and and we can make a
mental note that this this occurred,
right? And this money's there. So, if
you came up with a need,
>> it just means you got to come back and
ask for it instead of just spending it
because if it goes into your budget, you
can spend it without anyone knowing
about it,
>> right?
>> I I like that idea. They're shorts. We
know we have some dollars that we can
allocate.
>> I think that's I think that's
>> and put it in the general fund. makes
sense to me
>> because then it would be an
unanticipated expense for you where you
could come and say, "Hey, I'd really
like, you know, $1,000 for such such and
such an item."
>> Sure.
>> And that would balance out with the the
amount we received.
>> Then I I make a motion that we accept
the check for $2,176.58
to be added to our general fund.
>> I'll second that.
>> All in favor?
>> I
Yeah, I like that. Okay,
>> I like that approach.
>> I got a leave request for a town
employee.
>> Is this the second one in a row?
>> Yes.
>> For that time,
>> we got too much vacation.
>> I try to take time off.
>> No names are mentioned.
There are we have a note for join us for
July garden cleanup days. This is from
U. Can you talk about this?
>> All right. So in the email you have
there garden club shared um for
information their um schedule for
cleaning the and beautifying the town.
They have been out here for a few hours
today. They were here uh on the 7th a
couple days ago and they have a very
hefty schedule of dates. Um
listed and they're doing a wonderful
job, but they they're opening it to
everyone that might be interested in
just getting involved.
>> I saw him a few minutes after 8 a.m. Uh
>> I saw him out here still working out
here now.
>> Yep. Tuesday morning. Y
um Saturday, July 11th, Monday, July
13th, and Wednesday, July 15th. They
have twohour blocks. If anyone is
interested, bring your gloves and
whatever else you would like to use in
your garden.
>> I haven't um they do a lot of posting on
Facebook, but I haven't seen this like
these dates actually posted. This is the
first
>> because it's in that.
>> Yeah, because I'm a member of the garden
club. This was sent out to in an email
to garden club members asking for the
garden club membership to participate in
this. Okay. That's where the volunteers
are coming from.
>> Okay. So there is not there isn't a
solicitation to the general res.
>> Not to my knowledge to the general
population.
>> Do you know if the garden club
>> not to have it?
>> I I assume it's I'm not the president of
the garden club or
>> Okay. I didn't know what the
communication has been like. Does it say
are you told like bring your neighbors
and friends if
>> No, it I'm just told this is uh this is
going out to garden club members. I
don't know. Others are
>> the members. I think um Carrie, is it
Carrie? Um she said that you mentioned
like 50 members,
>> right?
>> And she's trying to get them
>> more involved.
>> More involved. They're just the
meetings.
>> I'm not sure they need the general
public because you want to have
>> that's probably why it's not been
posted.
>> And this is just an FYI.
Limited time.
>> I mean, obviously for the public, I want
to make sure that they would know that,
hey, how come I'm you know, I would I
would like to help, but it really has
been a request.
>> They can help by joining the garden
club. It's like an incentive,
>> right? Exactly.
>> Okay. Got it.
>> I think FYI for us. Okay,
>> that makes sense.
>> Well, I just want to say kudos. Kudos to
the garden club. I've seen them all.
I've seen them outside doing the
triangle.
>> They're doing a great job.
>> Yeah. So, kudos to them. Continue the
good work.
>> Okay. Um Liam, I think that's it on the
mailbox.
>> Yep.
>> Fred, I promise you, you're going to go
home early today, Fred.
>> Yeah. I'm going to open up for public
comment one more time.
>> Okay.
>> Um I'm closing public comment. It's
going to come back to the board. This is
for the uh for the tape. I want to if
you
>> I just want to let the board I did share
the notice was being audited from the
Department of Labor. Um I have spoken to
the individual assigned to this audit.
Um it's a work in progress. It involves
um information from the payroll
department and uh the department. So,
it's a work in progress and we'll be
working closely with them to get this um
corrected and finalized.
>> Chuck, anything for the board?
>> Nothing for the board. No,
>> I have a couple things.
>> Okay, go ahead, sir.
>> Um, one, um, we had spoken last time we
had Dave Nalton here talking about
vendors for the transfer station
equipment. Just wanted to report that we
actually had um two um two on-site
visits this week. one was to the
transfer station on Tuesday just to view
kind of the general operation of the
existing equipment around there so we
had a better feel for the usage of
equipment. Uh and then on Wednesday we
actually visited a vendor for uh looking
at a couple of different models. Um
three different models we we looked at.
Um, so just for the for the general
knowledge of the board and the public,
we are still in the process of
evaluating equipment and vendors for
transfer station needs.
>> Okay.
>> And it's going well. Yeah, we have
another um we have another um session
scheduled to meet with some other
vendors and then we'll be narrowing it
down from there. So that's
>> like to add on to that that I attended
the the tour of the transfer station on
Tuesday as well. I kind of initiated it
as a new selectman. I wanted to see how
the operation worked more so that we
could evaluate what the equipment needs
were and I attended that one vendor um
session on Wednesday.
>> Very good.
>> So it was very good and informative.
Both of them were good.
>> Good. Okay. I have a second item. Go
>> ahead.
>> Um so we have been uh notified. This is
related to Dunarton Community Power. Uh
so Eversource and Unil have announced
their rates for August 1st that have
been approved by the PUC. They both of
the uh utility vendors are coming in at
with the supply rate north of 14 cents.
I don't have the exact numbers here in
front of me uh but they're both north of
14 cents. Okay.
>> Therefore, our Dunarten community power
plan is looking better all the time at
11.2 cents.
Uh so if there are residents that chose
to opt out on the original plan and
they're on utility power and not on
their own third party arrangement
already, uh this would be a good time
for them to opt back into community
power and save approximately 3 cents per
kilowatt hour, which could be in the in
the range of anywhere from 20 to $50 per
month savings um for a
if they're not in community power. Now,
>> by what time would they have to opt in
anytime?
>> So, they uh they can opt in at any time,
but when you opt in, everybody has a
different meter read during the month.
And so, when you opt in, the next meter
read date is the is the date at which
you would start using Dunbar and
Community Power. So let's just say for
argument sake you had a 15th of July
meter read date and you opted in
tomorrow
starting July 15th you would start to
incur power from Dunar and community
power your August bill that you would
get would reflect the fact that you
converted prior to your meter read date
in July. So there's always a little bit
of a lag from
>> when the power starts flowing to your
house to when the bill comes in. Um, so
I would recommend people do it during
this month now. Don't wait until August.
Otherwise, you just lose savings.
>> You're just a month behind if you waited
till August.
>> How many months would that uh rate of 11
cents be good for?
>> It's good until uh December 1st.
>> December 1st. And then it could
potentially go up or down or
>> we're we're in negotiation on on that.
Yes. Okay. That's that's a that's a
supply uh bidding issue. We and and
everything that happens geopolitically
affects those rates,
>> right?
>> Hopefully uh we can get something locked
in for the fall.
>> Yeah.
>> Sooner than later.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> So, anyway, that's a I think that's a
good public uh notice for people to know
that we're now
>> about 3 cents a kilowatt hour savings on
the energy portion of your bills if you
participate in Dun Part Community Power.
>> Very good. Thank you.
>> So, you're okay with me posting those? I
was shared in that email.
>> Yes, you can you can post that. And that
had the exact rates that the utilities
were going to.
>> Uh last meeting it was decided that I
would be the selectman's rep to talk to
with lean to talk to the town clerk
regarding closing and lean and I met
with the town clerk. It was a very
positive meeting. We educated her of the
latitude she has within her budget line
of what she can and cannot use to pay
her deputies. And as a result of that
meeting, she retracted the closure and
opened up for at least a half a day on
the July 2nd.
>> All right. And so she's uh uh very much
more educated as far as how much
latitude she has and keeping when she
can take time off, but she can utilize
her deputies to keep it open as a
service to the public. So it was a very
positive meeting.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you for doing that.
>> And Le was very helpful there, too.
Thanks, Le. All right. Then uh then I
make I like to make a motion we go into
non-public um for RSA 91- alpha column 3
paragraph 2 sub paragraph C and alpha at
the request of the police chief.
Yes.
>> If you want to see those miss
>> Oh, okay. We just do a frost. Yes.
>> Um and then we're going to take a quick
recess. That's why we allow you to