PHOTO: LR: Commissioners: Chuck McGee; Hon. Harold B. Parker; County Attorney: Keith Blair;

Summary of Carroll County Commissioners Meeting - April 14, 2025 Meeting Details: Date: April 14, 2025

Time: 08:30

Type: Commission Meeting

Present: Commissioners Chuck McGee, Hon. Harold B. Parker

Absent: None specified

Executive Coordinator: Mellisa Seamans

CAM Operator: Hon. Ed Comeau

Key Points and Actions: Public Comments: Fred Cain: Highlighted former Commissioner Terry McCarthy’s return of a wiped cell phone and password-locked laptop, violating the county’s record retention policy amid a CFO lawsuit investigation. Submitted a Right-to-Know request to verify device status, urged hiring a forensic investigator, and suggested legal notice to McCarthy. Inquired about staff title changes (IT Director, IT Specialist, Deputy HR Director), with McGee clarifying roles to maximize staff abilities and support the nursing home.

Kevin Houle: Shocked by McCarthy’s device issues, submitted a FOIA request for DPW farm manager’s time records, questioning availability. Defended his free speech against HR Director Linda Matchett’s “berating” claim. Observed wildlife at the county fire pond and demanded an apology or “buyout” from DPW/Farm Manager Will DeWitt over a hay purchase refusal, threatening termination.

Dallas Emery: Expressed distrust in government, citing McCarthy’s lack of accountability, stating, “if I took that stuff I would be in jail… nothing happens.”

Justin (IT Director): Reported IT progress, including a ticket system rollout by April 30, network transitions (Administration, Finance, County Attorney completed; others pending), and .gov email implementation via Ninja One for enhanced backups. Confirmed McCarthy’s laptop is password-locked and phone wiped pre-Ninja One, proposing a policy for automatic backups. Requested department liaisons for workflow efficiency.

Hale’s Location (HL) Business (08:39–08:41): Approved allocating $662.17 in USDA Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to the Conway School District.

Approved April 7, 2025, HL public minutes.

County Commission Actions: Minutes Approval: Approved April 7, 2025, public minutes for both CCC and HL.

Financial Manifests: Approved April 11, 2025, manifests: accounts payable ($609,894.58) and payroll ($234,487.22).

Water Connection: Approved a water connection for 30 Old Route 28 (Colson Remodeling) after discovering a pre-existing line.

Abandoned Property Claims: Approved claims of $145 and $1,247.96 (insurance reimbursements, vendor credits).

Department Reports: County Attorney (Keith Blair): Reported on the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, now on a six-month cycle due to federal funding uncertainties. Funds the Victim Witness Director’s salary and supplies (e.g., gas cards). Approved a resolution authorizing McGee to sign the 30-page grant contract.

Mountain View Community (Richard Leboeuf): Approved an RFP for 103 regular and 4 bariatric mattresses, budgeted at ~$40,000, to support resident care.

Commission Office (Mellisa Seamans): Presented the April 11 budget vs. actual report (no issues), deferred disaster recovery committee appointments for plan unification, and scheduled a department head review for May.

Registrar of Deeds (Karen Rines): Reported stable operations with potential $80,000 tax stamp from a Storyland sale. Noted successful vault material relocation. Detailed issues with the 2022 Applied Intelligence Technologies (AIT) land records system ($244,000 ARPA-funded, $34,740/year), including capricious search results, sluggish retrieval, and poor support. Recommended reverting to Fidlar Technologies ($82,000/year, used by 8/10 NH counties) for reliability and $32,000/year Tapestry revenue, proposing an RFP for transparency. Commissioners requested further research within a week.

IT (Justin Liechty): Detailed ticket system rollout, network transitions, and .gov email implementation by April 30. Addressed McCarthy’s device issues, proposing a data retention policy overhaul. Clarified contractor Jon Rich’s 24-hour/week commitment after McGee’s inquiry.

Non-Public Session (09:19–09:39): Entered under RSA 91-A:3 II(a) (dismissal, promotion, compensation) and (c) (reputation). Minutes under (c) sealed to protect privacy; (a) left unsealed per legal advice to avoid over-sealing.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 09:43, with the next meeting scheduled for April 21, 2025, at 08:30.

Additional Notes: McCarthy’s wiped phone and locked laptop raised significant public concern, prompting calls for forensic investigation and policy reform.

IT infrastructure upgrades and land records system issues were focal points, emphasizing operational efficiency and transparency.

Public distrust, particularly regarding accountability, was evident, with active commissioner responses to address concerns.