PHOTO: LR: Commissioners: Chuck McGee; Hon. Harold B. Parker; Jail Superintendant: Brian King;

Summary of Carroll County Commissioners Meeting - April 21, 2025 Meeting Details: Date: April 21, 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: Raised concerns about record retention, particularly if former Commissioner McCarthy’s phone was wiped, violating the county’s records retention policy under a litigation hold. Commissioners clarified the county did not wipe the phone and are consulting the county attorney for retrieval options, promising updates.

Supported employee hay purchases but urged a first-come, first-serve policy open to all taxpayers for fairness. Inquired about American Rescue Act funds’ timeline (no deadline except for Gopher funds) and McCarthy’s withheld April paycheck.

Criticized McCarthy’s absence from meetings, calling it unethical for an elected official to collect pay without attending.

Dallas Emery: Expressed frustration with government responsiveness and criticized a Supreme Court decision granting rights to illegal immigrants, questioning reciprocity abroad. Urged local action to counter federal overreach.

Advocated restoring the hoop house for vegetable production using inmate labor, offering to fund $1,000 in repairs or take it if declined. Criticized delays in a $2 million Jean Shaheen grant, with commissioners confirming the environmental study’s completion.

Kevin Houle: Praised the reversal of the hay purchase restriction, suggesting it could improve hay quality. Supported hoop house restoration for vegetable production, referencing the county’s “poor farm” history. Questioned an employee mowing during the meeting.

Hale’s Location (HL) Business (08:36–08:39): Approved a $6,210.49 bill payment warrant for tax collector payroll reimbursement.

Issued a building permit to Lloyd and Craftsmen LLC for a three-bedroom house on Lot 4.

Approved April 14, 2025, HL public minutes.

County Commission Actions: Minutes Approval: Approved public and non-public minutes from April 14, 2025.

Financial Manifests: Approved April 18, 2025, manifests: accounts payable ($404,404.34 and $3,165.00) and payroll ($299,659.69).

Supplemental Budget: Approved a $7,080,394 supplemental budget for projects (e.g., registry land record system, pavilion HVAC, impound lot, carpet replacement), with $7,734,873 available, leaving $225,000. Requires delegation approval via a May 12, 2025, hearing.

Hay Policy: Approved a policy allowing county employees first access to hay bales via a signup list at market value, reversing prior restrictions. Remaining hay available to the public.

Committee Formation: Established a disaster recovery and emergency management committee (Sheriff, Jail Superintendent, Nursing Home Administrator, IT Director, Facilities Director, DPW Director) to review jail and nursing home emergency plans.

Formed a recreational trails committee, led by Mellisa Seamans, to develop trails on 700+ acres of county land, potentially using inmate labor.

Department Reports: Financial (Mellisa Seamans): Budget on track, but DPW social security payroll was under-budgeted, requiring supplemental funding. Confirmed Hale’s Location manifest covered tax collector salary/benefits.

Mountain View Community: Approved a $15,527 bid waiver for an air curtain refrigerator.

Approved a $16,875 bid waiver for a Unimac washing machine for the nursing home laundry, replacing a 1999 Milnor ($4,875 over budget, to be covered by capital reserve or mattress RFP savings).

Facilities (Bob Murray): Completed: Installed wheelchair washer (old unit for scrap/sale) and delivered resident refrigerators.

Ongoing RFPs: Wheelchair van and mattresses (savings to offset washing machine overage).

Scheduled: Elevator repairs (May/June 2025) and jail roof replacement (May 2025).

Proposed: Tuftonboro Fire Department driver training at county complex, tabled for department head consultation.

DPW (Will DeWitt): Water Main Upgrade (Old Route 28): Nearing completion by June 2025, with directional drilling, new fire hydrant, and live tap completed. Repaired a hit service line.

Water Tower: Planned cleaning/repairs (July–August 2025) with temporary tanks and tanker truck for fire protection.

Wastewater: Requested evaluation of sand filtration system; addressed compressor and electrical issues.

Other: Installed fire hydrants, resolved meter reading issues, maintained equipment, and planned hoop house removal due to disrepair (2013 grant-funded, ownership to be verified). Used inmate labor for spring cleaning.

Jail (Brian King): Approved a contract with Rockingham County to board female inmates at $60/day (up from $57.50), effective July 1, 2025, generating ~$1,000 daily.

Discussed potential ICE detainee housing for short-term stays, pending a site visit.

Human Resources (Linda Matchett): Recognized eight employees for 5–30 years of service with certificates and a new gift program (via Snappy.com). Photos taken with commissioners.

Non-Public Session (09:36–09:57): Entered under RSA 91-A:3 II(c) to discuss a person’s reputation. Minutes sealed to protect privacy.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:08 a.m. Public commenters thanked commissioners for their work.

Additional Notes: McCarthy’s resignation and related issues (phone wiping, paycheck) remained contentious, with ongoing investigations.

Emphasis on transparency (hay policy, minutes, budget) and infrastructure improvements (water, jail, nursing home).

Commissioners addressed public concerns while managing county operations and planning community-focused initiatives (trails, emergency management).