PHOTO: LR: Treasurer: Joanne Dolbear; Selectmen: Richard Zacher; Ed Gauthier; Austin Fifield; Administrative Assistant: Leah Gage.

Summary of Selectmen Meeting Transcript (April 15, 2025) Meeting Details: Held at the Town Office conference room, starting at 6:00 p.m., with Selectmen Ed Gauthier (Chairman), Richard Zacher, and Austin Fifield present. Administrative Assistant Leah Gage and CAM Operator Hon. Ed Comeau attended. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. after a second motion due to post-adjournment discussions. Key Agenda Items and Actions: Public Comments: Gus Stratton requested a home business permit to convert an antique barn into an art gallery for 17th-century architectural prints. He was advised to submit a formal application for review at the next meeting.

Board Actions: Minutes Approval: Public and non-public minutes from April 6, 2025, were unanimously approved. April 1 minutes were held for further review.

Liaison Assignments: Committee roles were redistributed to balance workload: Cemetery Trustee (Zacher), Conservation (Gauthier), Heritage (Fifield), Municipal Records (Zacher), Zoning Board (Gauthier), Planning Board (Zacher), Trustee of Trust Funds (Gauthier), Joint Loss Management (Fifield).

Appointments: Reappointments and new appointments for Heritage Commission (Marilou Maclean, Sandra Pace), Conservation Commission (Frank Frasier, Faith Buell, Pat Girard), and Zoning Board (Susan Weisky, Brian Robischeau as alternate) were unanimously approved for three-year terms.

Building Permit Revision: A revised building permit application and permit document were adopted, with a fee structure of $6 per $1,000 of assessed value (minimum $50). Email distribution and case-by-case physical pickup were established.

Home Occupation/Business Application: A new application aligning with zoning ordinances was adopted, with public notification via the town website. Existing businesses are exempt from retroactive enforcement.

Veterans Tax Credit: A $1,650 tax credit ($250 standard, $1,400 disability) was approved for a veteran’s primary residence, per RSA 72:28 and 72:35.

Intent to Cut: Approved for Chantelia Farm LLC (Map 20 Lot 5) to cut 100 cords of firewood, with access via Cottle Hill or Old Governor’s Road.

Gravel Tax Warrant: Approved a $143.84 tax for 7,192 cubic yards excavated in 2024 (Map 30 Lot 3), per RSA 72-B.

Intent to Excavate: Approved for 10,000 cubic yards of sand in 2025 (Map 30 Lot 3), with a $100 state fee.

Financial Manifest: Approved payments totaling $35,586.43 (e.g., school district, legal fees), payroll of $3,430.71, and payroll taxes of $992.49.

Winter Parking Ordinance: Discussion deferred, with a call for public input to shape a future ordinance, requiring a public hearing.

Commission/Committee Reports: Conservation Commission: Planned Earth Week activities for April 19, 2025, promoting trash collection with free disposal at the transfer station.

Municipal Records: Scheduled a working meeting for April 29, 2025, to address RSA requirements.

Planning Board: Focused on finalizing the town’s master plan, with support from Strafford Regional Planning Commission.

Department Reports: Road Agent: Removed seasonal weight restriction signs; collaborating on a paved roads inventory.

Tax Collector: Reported on the April 21, 2025, deeding process for unpaid taxes ($85,000 owed, a record low). One property faces deeding, 28 others risk liens.

Selectmen Office: Leah Gage outlined training opportunities, a website cost increase to $4,000, IT audit recommendations (e.g., auto-lock terminals), and quarterly IT contract reports. Her attendance at the Risk Management Summit was approved ($275/night for two nights).

Treasurer: Presented draft MS232 and MS636 reports for 2025 budget and town meeting, approved for signing.

Gafney Library: Reported grants ($10,000 ALA, AARP for tech classes), new kid kits, a vintage exhibit, and a mountain lion presentation.

Announcements: Deputy Town Clerk Elizabeth Buehne resigned effective April 23, 2025, seeking more hours and pay.

Post-Adjournment Discussions: Clarified the deeding process, logging access (no town enforcement unless roads are damaged), and non-public session posting issues (April 6, 2025, session lacked calendar posting). The Chairman apologized for post-adjournment business, leading to a second adjournment.

Notes: The meeting focused on administrative approvals, community engagement (e.g., Earth Week, public input for ordinances), and procedural compliance (RSA requirements, transparency). No non-public session occurred, though prior session posting was critiqued.