Selectboard Present:  Peggy Pschirrer, Chair; Cheryl Mayberry and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration

Others Present: Steve Varone, Peter Graves and Joanna Andros

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Selectboard Office of the Town Hall. She introduced herself, Peggy Pschirrer, Selectboard Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, Steve Dalessio, and Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration. She introduced those in attendance, Steve Varone, Peter Graves, and Joey Andros.

NEW BUSINESS:

Meeting with SAU 29: Mr. Varone stated that an invitation has been sent from Keene. He advised the Selectboard de-politicize the matter, with just the three of the Selectboard going. The Selectboard stated they would prefer Mr. Varone attend the meeting with them. An agreement was reached to request 1/25/2024 in the morning for a meeting with SAU 29 with, 2/1/2024 being the backup date. Discussion of the Town’s assigned school district took place, in which an analysis of the geographic proximity compared to Fall Mountain and Keene High Schools. Mrs. Pschirrer commented on the increasing education costs and declining enrollments across the state. Mr. Graves discussed his personal experience with SAU 60.  

Public Comment: Mr. Graves asked if Mrs. Pschirrer would be running for Selectboard. She stated that she would not be. Mr. Graves asked about the severance pay of a previous Town employee. Mr. Graves asked the date of the Budget Hearing. Mrs. Pschirrer responded that this was scheduled for 2/8/2024 at 5:30 PM. Mr. Graves asked about the police station. Mr. Dalessio stated that the town is considering purchasing property to build the new police station. Mr. Graves stated that he would prefer less of a surplus in the Town budget. Mr. Graves asked why the Highway Department should have a surplus; to which Mr. Dalessio responded that the budget must allow for an unknown amount of overtime during winter months.

Ms. Andros spoke to ongoing projects on the list from the Selectboard agenda. Mr. Dalessio stated that the bridge and school projects are presently in engineering. Ms. Andros stated her concern about trees along the banks of the Mad Brook. Mr. Dalessio explained that DES has stated the natural flow of the stream/river must be upheld, in spite of the effects of high water-flow. Ms. Andros sees collapsed culverts and other places caving in, and asked if a private owner could do anything about erosion on their property. Ms. Andros spoke to her concerns over “global warming” affecting the Town’s budget, and how it should be included within the Master Plan.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable totaling $1,110,830.33 dated 1/12/24. This includes a $700,531.17 payment to Fall Mt. Regional School District for November billing. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Ms. Mayberry motioned to release the December payment to Fall Mt. Regional School District in the amount of $700,531.17. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $30,835.02 dated 1/12/24 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,535.68. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES, January 3, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve of the Selectboard Meeting minutes of January 3, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD NON-PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES, January 3, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve of the Selectboard Non-Public Meeting minutes as amended of January 3, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved. The minutes will remain sealed. 

ABATEMENT AND REFUND: 

Map and Lot# 028-161-000: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the abatement and refund for Map and Lot# 028-161-000 for $1,004. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

SUPPLEMENTAL TAX WARRANT: 

Map and Lot# 028-161-000: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the supplemental tax warrant for Map and Lot# 028-161-000 for $1,004. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

REFUND: 

Map and Lot# 027-001-006: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the refund for Map and Lot# 027-001-006 for $13.10. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Map and Lot# 008-088-001: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the refund for Map and Lot# 008-088001 for $8,913.00. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTION: 

Map and Lot# 008-009-011: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the solar energy exemption for Map and Lot# 008-009-011. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Map and Lot# 010-020-000: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the solar energy exemption for Map and Lot# 010-020-000. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Map and Lot# 030-008-000: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the solar energy exemption for Map and Lot# 030-008-000. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

CURRENT USE: 

Map and Lot# 011-043-002: Mr. Dalessio motioned to accept the current use assessment for Map and Lot# 011-043-002. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

TIMBER INTENT: 

Map and Lot# 003-074-001: Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the timber intent for Map and Lot# 003-074-001. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Selectboard Meeting date: Mrs. Pschirrer confirmed that 1/18/2024 would be the date of the next Selectboard meeting. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Request to Trustees of Trust Funds: Mr. Dalessio motioned to issue a check for $1,025 from the Fanny Mason Fund to reimburse the Town for expenditures for cleaning Route 12 rest areas. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Closed Landfill Report: Mrs. Downing commented in the report there are certain elements, like iron and manganese, which are higher. The water table at the landfill was higher than normal for this round of testing.

Request to Use the Town Hall: Mrs. Pschirrer stated there was a request from Monadnock United Way to use the Town Hall for no fee. Mrs. Pschirrer commented that this organization would be added to the list of organizations which can use the Town Hall without a fee.

SWRPC WINTER MEETING: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that 2/13/2024 will be the next SWRPC meeting. 

Mrs. Pschirrer commented that the Selectboard received a thank you letter from the Town librarian. 

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c):  

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Non-Public meeting at 7:26 PM. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting reconvened at 8:32 PM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the nonpublic minutes would be sealed. 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the meeting adjourned at 8:32 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary