Meeting Lancaster Selectboard 8.3.2026

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

Recording

of the United States of America
and to this republic for which it
stands, one nation under [clears throat]
God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
>> Hold and say
>> First select for me.
Just let me see.
>> Thank you first Thank you very much.
First up this evening, department head
updates.
>> Uh my department head is not available
right now.
>> Updates for us? Um Tim Brown has been
out there stitching. They have been
doing some work to clear some debris off
of the Wilder Cemetery cuz it was
overhanging the Methodist Church. It's
also getting um
talking to work with Ryan and Brett
Kernalton to install the walkway over to
the pavilion so that we can put back
ramps back. And um we Tim Billiju's last
day was last week. We have posted for
his um
that position.
Um had put put it through NHMA, number
of different waterworks associations,
um on our website, so on and so forth.
Um we are contracting temporarily for
Welch's Wastewater uh Welch's Water and
Wastewater out of Whitefield, so they're
providing us uh
operator in responsible charge for the
time period, so with that we maintain
our compliance.
Um transfer station, Rusty said that the
debris from our
storm
uh they burned for 10 days straight. So
typically they burn once a week and they
were having a ton of brush come in. Um
Saturday was also very heavy metal day,
so they filled up their metal bin and um
it was very busy down there.
Um you spoke with Robin this evening and
um Kaylee is going to be helping us for
a little bit with our left field
terminal.
So that's it for that. Uh next up there
are no appointments this evening, no
public hearings.
We have the review of minutes for the
May 18th non-public meeting minutes.
>> Okay.
>> Make a motion to accept.
>> I'll second.
>> Mr. Mayor, you can vote.
>> Mr. Mayor, you can
>> Yes, you can vote.
>> Mr. Mayor.
>> It was asked for Q.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you can second.
>> Second.
>> Any discussion? All in favor?
>> Aye.
>> And I will be voting no.
And next up is the July 20th, 2026
regular meeting minutes.
>> Any discussion?
All in favor?
>> Can I vote?
>> You were not here.
>> Yes, you were
>> I attended.
>> You attended.
>> So, that means I could vote on the
minutes.
>> Yes.
Um next up is the July 20th, 2026
non-public meeting minutes.
>> I'll make a motion to accept.
>> And I'll second.
>> Was that I have to second that?
>> I'm voting no.
>> Yes, this is one.
>> Um
>> That's fine.
>> This is the last one.
>> Hang on.
>> Okay. Yeah.
>> I'll abstain on this one. Um then we
have the July 27th July 22nd, 2026
>> Make a motion to approve as presented.
>> And the July 22nd, 2026 non-public
meeting minutes.
>> Motion to approve.
>> I think it was unanimous.
>> And the July 30th, 2026 regular meeting
minutes?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> All in favor? Sorry, any discussion?
Uh all in favor?
>> I.
>> And then the July 30th, 2026 nonpublic
>> I'll make a motion.
Who seconds?
>> I'll second. Any discussion?
>> No.
>> All in favor?
>> Ms. Williams, you may proceed.
Phew, thanks for slogging through that.
Get your pens sharpened cuz we have some
more various paperwork. Uh sign various
paperwork this evening, the delegation
of deposit authority pursuant to RSA
4129 to the town treasurer has the
responsibility to deposit all such
monies received by the town of
Lancaster. And they use the um the
treasurer uses the delegate of deposit
or other financial functions to other
town officials. Specifically in
Lancaster, the Lancaster tax collector,
the Lancaster town clerk, and the
Lancaster financial director.
So, looking for your signatures this
evening for James.
>> This is something we just reviewed it.
Uh
>> Next up is the application for
reimbursement of towns and cities in
which federal and state forest land is
situated. You'll see the total assessed
valuation for the North Region
headquarters, Weeks State Park, and
White Mountain National Forest. It's a
pretty significant amount.
And next up this evening is the gravel
tax levy. This is for Y- Yacaran.
This is for Peckham real estate at map
R1, lot 21. One is for the amount of
$2,310
and 4 cents.
And the next map is for lot R1, map R1,
lot six in the amount of $2.
>> I want to thank the board for the work
session.
As part of the work session this
evening, we are striking the new
business number one adoption of safety
policy until next meeting.
So next up this
evening is old business for Colonel Town
improvement.
Just to bring folks up to speed who are
not in attendance of the work session.
We have previously moved some money over
from the asphalt line to the home and
ground line in order to cover the
heating project. That amount was
$118,575.
For the life safety improvements over at
Colonel Town previously motioned
$50,000 from Colonel Town's capital
reserve fund on
on July 6th. We've also received word
that new lever funds will be
contributing $51,000 to the project. So
this evening we're looking for the
board's support in $101,000
in order to complete the work.
>> I
make a motion to move $101,000
from the paving budget to the Colonel
Town
>> I'll second that.
>> And just a point of clarification, we'll
be going to the home and grounds for
Colonel purposes.
>> Nice work, Jessica.
>> Uh thank you. Next up are the select
board member reports.
I want to bring our first meeting in
September. We would generally have it
what would have been the Tuesday after
Labor Day, and that's going to be the
primary voting day. So moving our
meeting to Wednesday, September 9th.
>> I make a motion to
the September meeting to Wednesday,
September 9th.
>> Thanks, guys.
>> Same same bat time, same bat channel.
>> Maybe don't pick a location.
But yes,
because planning board will be that
night also.
>> So, okay.
Any discussion?
So, let's do September 9th.
Wednesday. All right. Thank you. Next up
is the town manager report. Uh we are
looking We have received our um we
revised our sewer reuse ordinance
um to fully through comments from DES.
We've received our approval that those
comments were all
um
completed in the document. So, we will
need to hold a public hearing in order
to adopt them and we have a 60-day clock
on our heads. Um we also have the FEMA
money that are hanging out there for um
acceptance for under public hearing and
water sewer rates.
Um looking to you to understand if you
would like that to be your September
your September 9th meeting or if you
wish to have it for the second September
meeting, which is September 21st.
>> Given that it's an odd night,
I would think that September 21st date
would be better for
most of that. We're back on our regular
schedule.
>> Yep. Yep.
What are the next steps? Um so, I think
that
uh I'll go ahead and publish those and
make sure that we get them in the
calendar. We again we're holding off on
having all of these because we didn't
want to have to pay for advertising with
that so. I'm sorry, Mike. Can you put it
on the night but
>> So, what's your hour?
>> 8:00 to 9:00.
Yep.
Um the Daughters of the American
Revolution would like to display their
flag again at Centennial Park. They'll
be working with the VFW for their
ceremony. Um that puts a like a bug in
my ear just about the cannon. Yeah, so
just to keep it on the radar.
Um, Colonel Town's heating system is now
being worked on. The plumbers arrived
today, so I want to thank you. I know
we'll be opening oil heating bills bids
in soon.
Um, so I want to thank you for your
support. We're going to see some
savings. Okay.
Um, and I have had in the past 2 weeks
three more three welfare awards for
$3,300 and I've had about six inquiries.
Um, that is it for me this evening.
You'll see that there is a planning
board meeting notice for August 12, 2026
at 6:30 p.m.
I'm going to see a DES permit DES
approved standard dredging filled
wetland permit for Crane tax map R13 uh,
lot 68.
That's off of uh, Bonnell Brook off of
Arthur Lake Road. Yep.
Um, you'll see a land use permit for
Coyle at 83 Middle Street for a demo and
renovation of the interior.
For uh, Philip and Mary Louise Saxton at
17 Gore Road for the construction of an
additional stick built 30 by 24 foot
two-bay garage.
Also for Thompson Mill Properties at 65
Main Street um, to remove existing
windows and do some um, exterior
improvements.
And then also for Barrington Solar at
this is for our panels over at 150 um,
Water Street. They will be starting
very soon. Like this week, next week.
Yeah.
Um, and then we also have a hearing
notice for Ridgewood Hill Limited
Partnership versus the Town of
Lancaster. Um, this is for um, BTLA.
Um,
Yes.
And that is for March 30th of 2027.
That's it for me this evening.
>> Okay, we're going to have some public
comments tonight.
Hi Derek.
>> I just want to comment upon
There's a lot of
um postings on Facebook from around the
neighborhood and
whatnot. So, I just wanted to
to say this out loud that there's um a
lot of dogs
around and there's
been some incidences.
I know Johnson where we live and I think
he's doing
a pretty good job of it.
But I'm wondering if in from what I am
to know, the town goes by the RSA
laws about leashing and about incidences
or or whatever. But I just want to let
the select board know even
like say from Fletcher
okay, that a park just go up across from
like Fletcher and then all the way down
to where like Seaver Terrace is
and that's that Fletcher kind of goes up
to the middle street. So, I'm trying to
do a slow box. So, middle street, Summer
Street or or Stone Street but Summer
Street.
And then
so you're going like Summer Middle
even Terrace all the way up there down
Fletcher Street just that area there.
There's like 23 dogs.
So, and I don't think anyone knows that.
I mean, I alone had three, one passed
and now I only have two. One I crossed
the street from. Just from my road
there's a three and then up there
there's two, you know,
within like three, four houses. So, I
counted them the other day. Some of them
and most of them are good, responsible
owners. They are
they know what they need to do. They're
responsible in how they walk them, how
they pick up and and what I own them.
They just run over some porch and you
know, and good luck with that. So, I
know
there has been discussions to John. I
think you're going to they're all the
troublemakers per se.
One of them wondering
instead of our saying maybe sometime in
the next year or two in the valley
coming, would it be beneficial to have a
ordinance
and try to explain the proper, you know,
leash laws, what what owners are, you
know, what I
expected to
do as an owner of a dog in the public in
the public town hall cuz it's just
sitting up right there.
>> I believe there is already an existing
leash
law ordinance within the town of New
Hampton where they are supposed to be on
a leash.
>> Like state-wide, there are RSA I looked
at. There are RSA laws. I just
>> They can't
>> or as a town ordinance, I mean while I
was finding it I was going through the
town ordinances, I went through the town
site. I did research there, went to the
RSA and and everything. So, I just
thought if if somebody's moving in or
people, you know, have a dog that they
go on site and look at the ordinances,
what the fine is, what is expected of
them. So, it would help them. It would
be eas- easily accessible
and that they there's no "Well, I didn't
know." sort of thing. So,
that's not that that's one side. Just to
bring awareness to the brain. Yeah, just
like I I started like counting them and
I'm like, there's so many dogs
and oh my god. Oh.
So, anyway, and I know there's a lot
more and they know you go
So,
and I know it's a walking town and you
see a lot of them and some owners don't
really control their dogs very well.
It's a little scary. So, it doesn't make
it always a pleasant dog.
thank you.
Alan, do you have something?
>> Ron?
>> Yeah, I'll be brief.
First of all, I think there's some
inconsistency in the resident notice
emails going out because uh
there
things usually make it on the calendar,
generally make it onto the website, but
the email doesn't always seem to get
out. Um
that seems so.
>> Mhm.
>> Um I I also it's you see a lot of power
bikes going up and down the sidewalks of
Main Street. There are some Obviously,
people know about it and a lot of people
stop and walk their bikes, but that's
still going on, you know.
And you can tell that they're you look
at it where they show them getting away
with something.
I guess that would be something that we
would hope the police department
would be aware of. Boots on the ground
would help. Um
the uh
as far as the pursuing the Dallas money
the letter that Emmett Smith will be on
the letter has been sent by the attorney
to the trustee in Rhode Island, but we
haven't had any reply yet. And we are
still under our
five additional hours, so we'll get a
chance to get back to them a little bit.
And And I do know that when we
get an answer or something gets moving
that we can
assign it to the town, so that you can
pursue it because we're really sort of
doing this and funding it
on behalf of the town because our
charter allows us to.
so I just wanted to mention that the
handoff may come and
it will be worth pursuing if it looks
like there's something to get out of it.
Uh the last thing is uh
I
The Dow tree fund
the town did a very wise thing by
segmenting it into two funds because
there are two different purposes and so
I'm interested in
finding out about how that is done so I
can take that to Evan Smith because a
lot of funds have their principal and
then they have a huge amount of capital
gain and then they have their interest
income and the interest is the only
thing that's accessible. And I would
like to look at
and trust law lets you as long as you
stay with the general purposes you can
change the letter of the trust if the
court approves. And I don't foresee any
great expenditures right now but it
would be nice to have for the town to
have the ability to mobilize that kind
of money if something happened. Maybe
the road will wash out or whatever.
And so that's my report on that and
Am I three minutes, sir?
>> I don't I haven't even kept track.
>> Be one of those things like they have in
a chess game.
No.
>> Are you going to put winter sand out,
kid?
>> We put material bids out. Uh we put
material bids out this spring which
included winter sand. They were
um mailed out to people hard copy to our
typical vendors. They were also pushed
on the website and I believe also on
MMA. So we awarded that in maybe the May
time frame.
>> Sir.
>> Uh Biagi was the only submission.
Before you do anything, hold on. Before
you go, Sam Chance, check if ready to
go.
All right. Ron,
go ahead.
So.
Ron is good. I'm good. You can You can
talk, Ron.
>> Me?
>> Yes, I think you have 3 minutes. Go.
So, one thing that occurred to me,
during the
not too long ago, the power was out for
some time in various places. I know that
Shaw's had sort of a a big loss of of
perishable foods, and then it occurred
to me that there are for instance the
food pantry here.
Uh Hammond Smith is considering asking
them to write a proposal for some sort
of standby generators
for that for their freezers and so on
and so forth. So far, nobody's been out
without power for more than 3 or 4
hours, and they haven't had a loss. But
that seems to be something that would be
within the purview of helping the poor
and indigent. And so, if you all have
any other ideas about
things we could do to protect
uh
life of eligible individuals if the
power's out or something gets worse for
any of you.
Again, the town probably has some Do you
have backup power for your computers and
your
dial in the iCloud?
We're interested in working on that. Try
again.
>> Did the um little pantry get replaced at
the Episcopal Church parking lot?
I would not notice. Do you know if
anyone's replacing the little
Remember the little pantry in the
Episcopal Church parking lot? Didn't
that go away from the storm? Like
>> Well, what was it There's been a lot of
talk about what happened. What of course
it blew away completely. Okay. that was
pretty much where Brooke
She was the head of the project and it
began on Facebook.
She thanks everybody for their
persistence but said she was bowing
down.
Because uh
Yeah. She She She only called all the
funds. She [clears throat] got it up.
So, I know that uh
James Eckerman from Jefferson has a
foundation and he offered
to to whoever might be making a decision
to spend some money buying a slightly
more permanent building and I think St.
Paul's would be willing to have that on
the side. But as far as I know, it's
just talk right now. And I guess John,
if I wanted to know, I would contact
Claire Brookes and ask her the question
in the right parish.
>> Well, I was thinking about Amy Smith,
whether that's something Amy Smith would
want to do or not.
>> Well, well, that's right. So, so we
think
that's something that we could spend
money on. Uh
and for
What we will need, just like anything
else, we'll need some sort of statement
of who's asking for it and you know, are
they uh
charitable organizations, stuff like
that. Food pantry doesn't That's not
Any other public comments?
>> Motion to adjourn?
>> All in favor, aye.
>> Councilor
>> Would you be willing to second that?
I'll second it. Didn't Maureen have
something?
>> All right.
>> Favor?
>> Oh. I will approve it.