PHOTO: LR: Town Administrator: Matthew Sawyer Jr.; Selectmen: Brian Keyes; Kyle Copeland; Hon. Jonathan Smith;

Summary of Selectmen Meeting Transcript (04/14/2025) The Ossipee Board of Selectmen meeting on April 14, 2025, held at the 2nd Floor Conference Room (3:30 PM) and Bub Avery Memorial Gymnasium (4:15 PM), was attended by Selectmen Kyle Copeland, Jonathan Smith, Brian Keyes, Town Administrator Matthew Sawyer Jr., and Administrative Assistant Angela Eldridge. Key actions and discussions included: Police Department Report: Police Chief Donald Babbin introduced Asa Osgood, a new non-certified officer from Wolfeboro, who started the prior week and is slated for police academy training in May or August 2025. Osgood passed background and physical training checks. No motion was made.

Non-Public Session: The board entered a non-public session (3:34–4:00 PM) under RSA 91-A:3 II(a) to discuss a public employee matter, with minutes sealed. Motion by Smith, seconded by Keyes.

Employment Contract: Post-non-public session, the board approved an employment contract for Asa Osgood, formalizing his role as a police officer. Motion by Smith, seconded by Copeland.

Outgoing Letter: Approved a draft letter from Avatar Assessing to PSNH regarding transmission and generation assets, with Smith authorized to sign. Motion by Smith, seconded by Keyes.

Conservation Commission Appointment: Approved Crystal Eldridge for a three-year term on the Conservation Commission, as recommended on April 9, 2025. Motion by Smith, seconded by Copeland.

Current Use Assessment: Approved a current use assessment for 7 Rainbow Drive (tax map 112, lot 4) to reduce taxes and encourage undeveloped land use. Motion by Smith, seconded by Keyes.

Veterans Tax Exemption: Approved a veterans tax exemption for 115 Route 16B (tax map 92, lot 36), as recommended by the assessor. Motion by Smith, seconded by Copeland.

ZBA Notices: Noted ZBA decisions: a special exception for expanding a non-conforming structure (case 2501-SE) and a three-lot merger at 36 Knox Mountain (case 2501-LM). No action taken.

Land Use Change Taxes: Approved three land use change taxes for properties exiting current use: $4,000 (tax map 223, lot 28), $6,250 (tax map 75, lot 19), and $6,250 (tax map 20, lot 200, corrected from tax map 75). Motions by Smith, seconded by Copeland.

Minutes Approval: Approved draft minutes from March 31, 2025, meeting. Motion by Copeland, seconded by Keyes.

BTLA Refund: Approved a $1,662.79 refund plus interest for the Alex Bachman Revocable Trust, following a successful BTLA tax abatement appeal, as advised by Avatar Assessing. Motion by Copeland, seconded by Keyes.

Property Tax Abatements: Approved three abatements: $1,383 for Bear Camp Beach (tax map 25, lot 15), $9,479.40 for Pine River Sand and Gravel (tax map 235, lot 4, $740,000 assessment reduction), and $80 for Terrace Pines (tax map 104, lot 14001). Motion by Copeland, seconded by Keyes.

Recess/Reconvene: Recessed at 4:07 PM and reconvened at 4:15 PM in the gymnasium.

Public Comments (First Session): Daymond Steer (Conway Daily Sun) questioned a $77,000 fine from a court ruling on a trash-covered property, with the board affirming the court’s decision and noting attorney fees are often uncollected. Steer also raised state budget impacts, with the board citing a $600,000 paving budget due to inflation and challenges in cruiser purchases.

Elderly Tax Exemption: Approved an elderly tax exemption for Donald Wigan at 32 Door Street (tax map 92, lot 36), as recommended by the assessor. Motion by Copeland, seconded by Keyes.

Clerical Tax Abatements: Approved two clerical abatements: $72 for Terrace Pines (tax map 104, lot 14001, camper registration error) and $66 for 7 Guile Road (tax map 122, lot 010). Motion by Copeland, seconded by Smith.

Denied Tax Abatements: Denied three abatement applications for 25 Route 25 East (tax map 84, lot 24), 80 Cove Road (tax map 37, lot 3), and Moultonville United Methodist Church (tax map 91, lot 39), as recommended by Avatar Assessing. Motion by Copeland, seconded by Smith.

Incoming Correspondence: Noted a letter from Governor Kelly Ayotte thanking Police Chief Babbin for the department’s participation in the 287(g) ICE program for immigration enforcement.

Property Sale Announcement: Reported the sale of the former police station on April 10, 2025, netting $345,000, returning it to tax rolls. Potential uses include a retail store or mixed occupancy, pending planning board review.

Public Comments (Second Session): Steer clarified the 287(g) program’s benefits (e.g., immigration status checks), former police station plans, and rail trail transfer to DNCR. Dallas Emery questioned the church’s abatement denial, learning it received a prior $87 refund, justifying denial.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:32 PM, with no next meeting date specified.