Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

Yeah, it's just whenever you put the mic on.

All right, we're going to call to order the board cycle meeting for Tuesday, May 26th. We are going to delay the board photo until we have our attendance. Is there anyone here from the public who wishes to speak to something that's not on the agenda? Seeing none, we have no public hearings. We're going to go into meetings. We're going to have our year-to-date financial update from Cheryl. Just remember to press the button to turn it green, Sharon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening. Thanks.

This is helpful, Cheryl. We're basically going to spend down to $100,000. Yes. So not a lot of planning can go ahead into next year with that kind of target.

There's a couple of factors for this. It was a rough winter. There was a lot of overtime that we normally don't have. And so DPW came in. If you look at the back sheet... And this was done after payroll today because I wanted to get the most up-to-date numbers, but we still have four more weeks of payroll and some accrual days. So on the back sheet, you'll see that we're over on the overtime. Public Works is currently at 141% of their budget. Wow. A lot of that was from the plowing over the winter. And then police continues to exceed... They're over time. They're at about 263% of their budgeted number. And FIRE also, due to some, I guess, vacancies during the course of this year, having some personnel out, they had to cover with overtime for quite an extended period of time. So I think they've got everybody back now. But during that time, they also had to utilize overtime. So they came in at almost 200% over budget. Facilities, again, due to some vacancies, came in at 143%. So the overtime is kind of driving that number, but I just wanted to point that out.

Some of that should have been offset by payroll that was less than budget, I would assume.

Well, it was, but the police positions, we have had the four open positions this year, but The wages for overtime that exceeded exceeded. Yeah, so it kind of closed that gap quite a bit. And then adding to it, we had so many weekend storms this year and it was nonstop plowing some weekends for extended periods of time. We had almost a month where I think every storm was on the weekend. So we had not only the 40 hours coming in, but then you had all the overtime on the weekends to get the roads clear. So

So my experience, $100,000 is not, at this point, we can't spend that, right? There's too many weeks left. But I think in a couple of weeks, we could talk about maybe pouring some salt or, you know, once we have these numbers firmed up a little bit more, or a couple of projects that we had next year's budget that we could do. But there's not a lot here. There's not a lot. There are years where that number is $500,000. Yes. I have no questions.

No, this is great.

Thank you. Very, very clear. Thank you, Cheryl. So we have another meeting, certainly, before the end of the fiscal year. So at that point, I'd love to have Just that updated. So if we can use some money.

And some project ideas, if you have any things that we either have put off or that we know we have for early next year and David same to you.

Yeah, we have one tonight. We're going to discuss briefly as well. Okay.

So reach out to department heads and told them to think about what was coming up and what they might like to add into the share. Could I make one request here? There is a memo to use money out of the transportation fund, but it's not. Do you have any questions on that?

We can just do I'll make a motion to approve the request. Can you use the. Just they should find to line the streets.

2nd, I have a motion a 2nd, any further discussion. Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Ayes have it 4-0. Thank you. Cheryl? Thank you so much. Thank you. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Ayes have it 4-0. All right. Town Manager's report.

Yeah, I didn't send out. I can't remember if I sent one out Friday, did I? I don't think so. I don't think so. Um, yeah, 1 of the things and it's, uh. You'll see it later on the agenda, but we did have a meeting for the hooks in order to connect. It was pretty, uh. Pretty productive meeting and so where we could talk about that after. Anything else new? I have a couple of things from the chief for. Officer farmer, the chief did go down to Washington, D. C. and he went to the New Hampshire 1, and there's an etching of of his name on the monument in Washington. So he. I think in New Hampshire, thank God, he's the only 1 added this year. So that's. And but he says pretty sobering going down there to Washington, and there's 30, 40 from states. And that's all I had today.

Okay. Minutes?

I wasn't here, so I can't vote on that.

I have a motion to accept the minutes of May 5th, 2026. Second.

I have a motion to second. Any further discussion or revisions? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Ayes have it, 3-0. We will now turn to not keep from his dinner to go to photos, and we will be back in a minute. We're back. Next discussion action item is the Hooks at Water interconnection. We don't need any motions on this, but this is just an update following a meeting with Hooks at Water.

Yep, a select woman followed me, and I attended a meeting, Zoom, with all kinds of people.

The select woman, Brennan? Oh, yeah, you were there.

You were quiet.

That's unusual. She was there.

Yeah, there was a whole bunch of people on there. So we had a good discussion. Hooks is still very interested. They do have a six to eight various proposals in there, not necessarily commercial, but a lot of residential. Brady Sullivan's brought up a bunch of stuff and brought a subdivision.

I think that's 600 homes. Yeah, at least 400 homes to start.

The old Manchester Seine and Gravel. In the other north, Headspot.

It's in Hooksett.

Yeah, they're all in Hooksett. So we started off the engineers, their engineering firm had done a review of the plan, the draft plan that Du Bois and King had done. So it was just knocking some ideas around to possibly save some cost or make it maybe more efficient or more efficient to operate. So the two engineers are going to get together and compare notes. The one thing is I know we're, and I raised it, is we're at about 60% of design. So a lot of the things that the engineer had, you know, may not be, may not matter at this point or it may not change the plan, but there's some good stuff that they came up with. We talked about we never had a survey of users. We may do that for the users on our side. We're trying to get some information from OXIT to provide a little more background on what we want to do and what we're working on. And I think why we put this back on the agenda is not just for an update, but to, I guess, get permission from the board to submit a pre-application for a revolving project.

Loan so you're on a motion for that. Yeah, make a motion that we authorized David to participate and submit a Pre application to apply for a revolving loan. 2nd, is that a forgivable?

No, this 1 wouldn't I believe it is so we can just to see what's out there. Just a Pre application to test the water. See what's out there. and will give us, at least all of the options will be on the table. I'm sure DES funding is running low, so the sooner we get this application in, the better.

I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye. Aye.

Ayes have it, five nothing. All right. Anything further on Hooks at Water? Okay. Moving on to Community Power. So just to refresh everyone's memory, we sent a letter to Community Power asking two things, the earliest date to withdraw without penalty and the penalty to withdraw early. They sent us back via Merrimack County a notice basically saying that earliest you can withdraw without a penalty right now is April 7th, 2029. and that there is a significant penalty to do so earlier. And so tonight we can have a discussion around this. I don't think any decision needs to be made, but you all have the memo in your folder if you need to review and have any questions.

So is your reading of this letter that the offer to let us withdraw in calendar year 2027 is not a no-cost withdrawal?

Yes, the letter is... It is poorly written. And I would argue that it's intentionally obfuscating stuff. But my read of it is that they're assessing the waiting period, but as of now, the waiting period is until April of 2029. They're going to reassess that this coming September. But in the meantime, the cost to withdraw, let's say today, is $708,000, but that number will go down, and they admit that as the year goes on. That's my read of it, but it was not a well-constructed letter.

I read it to say you have an absolute right to get out in 29, that if you want to get out today, it's $700,000, but we think we can get you out in 27 for free.

That's, yeah, that was confusing to me.

Because they have not entered into three-year forward contracts.

Right, to purchase there.

I think, given today, I make a motion that we clarify with Community Power and County Merrimack that this letter says, in fact, we can get out with no cost in calendar year 2027. And if that is the case, we proceed with that. Second? Second.

All right. I have a motion, a second. Any further discussion?

Just to point out, I think the section that you're talking about, Chris, is they assess the minimum waiting period under which Bo would have no cost for withdrawal. Should Bo wish to proceed with an early withdrawal, they anticipate processing the withdrawal in calendar year 2027. Final withdrawal terms will be reviewed and approved. So we just need clarification on that. That is what you're reading, because I had the same interpretation. It's saying no cost right there in 2027.

If they say we can get out in 2027, let's pull this Band-Aid off and move it. Otherwise, we just need to start being louder and letting citizens know they can get out from this terrible deal that the community power has put us in.

All right, we have a motion and a second. We did not vote, so we'll vote now. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Ayes have a 5-0. Tanya, so if we can just craft that letter. I'll look over it. I think it's sent from my name. And then we'll send it fairly rapidly just to get that clarification just because of the poorly written letter. All right, moving on to item number four, fiscal year 25-26, organizational goals. You have them in your... packet and Jason, I was speaking with David earlier and asked that anything just that's slightly bogged down be raised so we can perhaps get back on track there. So, David, anything you want to discuss?

Okay. Yep. Just, and this is a good kind of a to-do list too. So, the down to number, well, let's start with number two. I know we discussed doing the GIS GPS mapping and conditions inventory. I read the, I finally looked at the mitigation plan again. and we need to get people together, I think, and just get the players together again and say, look, what do you want and how does this fit in? But I have a clear idea on the explanation that's in the mitigation plan. Number one, on goal number two, We did get the RFP issued for proposals to do the feasibility study, the northern border grant funds. So the submittal deadline is 6-15-26. So I'll be, it depends on what the, I'll be bringing back a proposal to you once we're able to take a look and review them. And again, Central New Hampshire Regional Planning is assisting us with this. We were required to have an agency work with us as part of the grant. The next one, the Hooksett, Bow Hooksett Water and Sewer Interconnect. I brought you up to date on that. Bow Junction Water Interconnect. All the paperwork was submitted. We're just waiting for governor and council, and then we need to go back to tackling the Concord City of to see if they will. Entertain moving this along and we have this funding. I'm sure they're aware that we have the funding. It's just getting them to make the decision to proceed. Sort of field projects where I don't have a kickoff date for construction yet, but we have all the paperwork in place so. Although, I know that the, uh, they filed for a permit modification. I saw some comments came back that they had a few questions. The state did on the permit. Um, and that's a B, 1 permit is the conditions of the. When we close the landfill, you know, it's to operate and be managed. So we have to amend it to allow the solar field on top. Um, and then river road municipal building. The parking lot, some time we still have to try to tackle that. And I was surprised that was in the hazard mitigation plan too. There's a lot in there. Um, yes. And I did look through, I think there's some projects we can pick off that are no. No costs, no, some are costs and we should budget them and. So, I don't know if we necessarily need the group to get together again, I guess, or some artists start doing them.

When are we, did they already put out a request for employment for the new position for fire?

Yes. Okay. Yeah, that was out. It was posted for two weeks per the collective bargaining agreement, but we do post positions anyway, in-house, internally. And there's one candidate, as far as I know, that submitted.

Great. And when that position is filled, that's probably when we should regroup with hazmat.

Yeah.

Since that will be the new EMD. I mean, that's me. Okay.

Yeah. That makes sense.

Okay.

Nick, we can make a note of that.

Thanks. So it's time to set the goals for the next fiscal year. And I'm going to imagine that's one we want to carry over. And, you know, any others that are. Close, but not quite done. I don't know if you want to carry them over or but definitely I would recommend the mapping and. Hazard mitigation projects carry over to the next.

The whole setting and yeah, the next item is to set the date for the workshop on that. Is there, um, we want to have that. Before the next, it seems to work.

We get some people moved in.

Okay. We have two meetings in June. As of now, I'm not available on the first meeting. Do you want to do it on the second?

First off, I don't think we should have two meetings in June. Yeah.

Oh, that's my calendar. What's the date?

The 9th? Tuesday in June.

Yeah, I'm not available. Would people be available to move into the 16th of June? The third Tuesday?

That's fine with me. I'm flexible.

I won't be available on the 16th, but you can do that. We'll have a quorum about the 23rd.

I will be out of town on the 16th.

Okay. Do you want to just keep it on the 9th and I'll be missing that meeting? Or you could do the 23rd?

I would rather do the 23rd and have us all here.

Can people... Is it here?

Yeah, I'm not going to be here in the 2030s either.

Let's just keep it on the 9th.

I mean, those nights are usually so light in the summer.

Yeah, we'll just keep it on the 9th. I might be able to dial in now on the West Coast. Okay. I'll go to the 2nd. That's next week.

Oh, that's next week already? Too soon. Yeah.

All right, we'll keep it on. So we'll set the date for the organizational goals being on June 9th.

And just, well, I think... Why don't we just set a date? Set a date to discuss the organizational goals? It doesn't have to be during our next meeting.

Do you want to do a different evening?

Typically, we have a meeting where we just talk about goals. It could be on a night of a meeting before or after. I think let's do it in September when we're back.

Does that make sense? Yeah. Okay. And we'll work a couple months in September.

Yeah. I mean, there's enough on here that's not done yet that needs to carry over anyway. So I think it's actually smarter to wait and get some of these things done.

We're not, you know, thinking about what your organizational goals for the town is that's going to be on this list for years, right? These things are on your projects. I think we all could benefit from,

All right, so let's try that. I think it's September 8. Target that as a 5 o'clock start and if you could send some calendar invites, that'd be helpful. Yeah, I don't think we need a motion for that. No.

Okay.

So, when we've done the request, that's been approved. We have a request for an audible pedestrian crossing that both center road. It's like that talk away and it will go from the middle school across the boat rack. which is a very high trafficked area. David was going to get us the approximate cost for that if we were to do that.

Yeah, we got a quote in October when this person first contacted us. She's a student in the high school, wants to volunteer to work at Bull Rec Center. So she had asked, she's sight impaired. She raised it and said, geez, I think it would be a good idea. So we did end up getting a quote last fall for $22,000 for the same setup as at the high school, basically. It's a sound, not sound activated, but it's the rapid flashing. Tim was also looking at, there's a feature you can put Just lights on top that light up across the crosswalk when it's on and then to help people get across. But it's 22,000. The tip downs are ADA compliant. The state did those on each side. The only thing we would need to look at is the sidewalk coming down. But I think it's enough of a slope. So it would be just the cost of installing equipment. It would be solar powered, so there's no cost to try to tie in.

so the question is a do we want to do that and if yes b how would we fund it and it's not our road it's a state road so we also need state approval um i think we should ask the state to put in audible crosswalk can we as a board

like send a letter and have it signed by the board that this is what we want to make sure that we are.

Well, if I could just give you an example, though, the state won't do that. What they'll do is they'll say, okay, we'd like to go pony crosswalk. The way we had to do that is the town had to take on the maintenance responsibilities and pay for it all. basically though the town did not pay anything graponi paid for the whole thing and um we also have an agreement with them that required maintenance painting the crosswalk anything to do with repairing the lights um will be the cost will be borne by them so this i don't even think they would paint the crosswalk so they they basically said okay you can do this on the state yeah but i have to get permit grasses in here do we want to start by getting permission and then figuring out

how to fund it if we want to proceed?

I think that we should send a letter to DOT asking them to put this in for the purposes of making it accessible to a student who needs this. To be clear, many students.

A job. Right. Apply for a job.

Yes, but this is something that Wouldn't it be great if the state that has access to some additional funds that are not accessible to us, this would be a great project for the state to take on and brag about doing this very nice thing in the town of Bow for a student based on a student's request. And so I would think a letter going to DOT talking about the student's request, the reason for the request, and asking the state to do it, I think would be the first step.

I don't see any downside in that. There is a lot of foot traffic coming all year round to and from. I mean, the long line of kids traveling to and from on a daily basis. I don't think this changes that. No, but it addresses the issue, I think, when school is out and Bo Rec makes their way across the street and there is no officer shooter there to direct traffic. This isn't a red light, guys. No, but it is a crosswalk. It's extra safety.

It's improved safety. I don't know. I think it's worth the request.

I would.

The one that says you're safe to cross when the cars aren't stopped doesn't necessarily give me a whole lot of comfort.

But I will take the side that I find it comforting when I leave and go to the high school every day. It makes me more aware of a kid that I can't necessarily see, sun's in my eyes or other traffic coming, that there is someone waiting to cross. It's like it does heighten your awareness.

Maybe I don't. I'm sorry. I thought this light was for the visually impaired person to know they could cross and to have.

No, it's like the one in high school. It's an audible. So she would be able to hear. She hears it. Yes.

That doesn't mean the cars are stopped.

No, of course. Well, no, of course, a red light doesn't mean that nothing ensures someone stopped at a stop.

Could you send out what this would look like? No, it's just blinking. Yeah, let's come on. Pedestrian sign.

It just makes it a driver notification on these signals. that tell us that there are bright strobe lights that the drivers will see when someone is blind. It makes it more accessible, does increase safety. I'd like to make a motion to send a letter to DOT explaining the situation and making a request of the state to put this in

on the state road for our students' safety. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Ayes have it. Five nothing? Aye. Moving on to salt contamination. So we had a discussion with people from the state about salt on 3A. There has been a letter crafted addressing the commissioner of transportation under my name it's in your packet basically asking for data um for the past five years on basically everything to do with salt being applied to 3a in the um aquifer protection zone i believe it's really just asking for data on um who's doing it uh their certification that kind of thing it's a it's a request for information and so we would need a motion to make a motion to approve by signing this letter under your signature second i have a motion a second all those in favor say aye hi i satisfied nothing the commemorative calling

Oh, yeah. Okay. So real quick. Um, it's after our the meeting where we voted to sell the coins, we voted a location at the town manager's office. However, there is no cash box at the town manager's office. So the thought was, do we want to change the location to perhaps the town clerk's office, or somewhere different or supply a cash box?

And what's the town clerk's office?

Is there any? I think she sent an email back or did she do a memo or email that?

No, she just shared her concerns with you.

Yeah. Yeah, go ahead.

Her concerns were it's selling the coins out of her office. I think she was afraid that with the upcoming elections and property taxes coming due that she may not have staff to actually wait on the customers that want to buy the coins and then...

I would argue...

If you want to buy the coins, you may have to wait in line.

I would argue that there's not going to be a run on the coin bank. I think that it will be a solid, steady, consistent trip of people. I don't think there's a big... I would not be concerned. I have no interest in putting more work on Redula. I'd much rather her be registering the $80,000 cars that walk in here every day, but I think having one or two people a day coming in to get a coin is not going to make that much of a difference.

There's not that many coins, but I also, like, Madula does a lot, and does a lot with not a lot of people. So the other option is, of course, you can supply a cash box. She has a giant safe.

Yeah, but it doesn't lock. That was my other concern when I did the selection with Colby, is that It's an old safe, and my concern would be if I'm not there, if David's not there.

Can people make an appointment if they want to buy a coin? Could you call ahead and make an appointment, perhaps, to make this purchase?

Or could you be interested in selling them at the library? And what are the steps, if any, that we would need to take to have that happen?

Or maybe we give them to the Heritage Commission to sell.

Buy equipment only.

Yeah. Nobody's coming to buy them. We've had these coins. We've had coins for sale in that safe for all of the years I've been a selectman. I've only seen it once, and that's when I said, Tanya, what's in the safe? And she showed it to me.

But these weren't allowed to be sold in time for 25. Yeah.

Coins that weren't part of the hoard.

I would say the library or the Heritage Commission.

Well, the Heritage Commission also does not walk away with cash boxes or secure.

I would be happy for David to take the steps to have these coins sold out of the library. Do we have a motion on that?

Motion to check in with the library and authorize them to sell the 250th slash 300th anniversary coins.

Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All right, we have to finally set a date for our annual meeting with the board, committee, and commission chairs. What month do we usually do that in?

Also September.

I would say let's do it in the second meeting of September then, which is when, 22nd? Mm-hmm. All right, do you want to make a motion?

Those two meetings in September will start at five.

Okay. I don't think we need a motion for that. We do not. Okay. Board reports. Select them in Colby.

I forgot my notes, but the Heritage Commission is, I think, out of all the things, they are discussing the possibility of hosting a Heritage Day for 2026, which I think is absolutely fabulous. That may involve some historical tours and some engaging activities and perhaps a cookout So stay tuned.

Love a good cookout. Or I used to. I don't have anything.

I got to hang out at the planning board last week and it was like old, old, old me.

Yes, thank you. Thank you for covering for me. I have a child's graduation from preschool.

Nothing to report except building facilities still meets every month and they're still chipping away at all the things.

Yeah. Um, I'm about to say now going on BDC, a new member that we know of, um, we talked about last meeting, I believe the meeting before, um, things are progressing well at, um, the new dealership across from Bo Auto Parts. The name is escaping me right now, but the construction is going well there. Ballard. Ballard. Yep. Ballard. But other than that, that's about it. All right, bottom lines.

Selectable Nikolopoulos. Have you guys seen how much progress they've made? You guys stole my one. It's already like up. Holy smokes.

What? What are you talking about?

It's providing endless entertainment for the kids.

It's like literally we gave them a contract. The next day they had diggers. Yep. They have a new driveway. They have a frame up. Yep. It is wild. No way. can get stuff done. That man gets his crews on working. Yes. They've been going non-stop. Yeah. He should build all of our stuff.

He basically does. Second goal lead.

Selectman McDaniel or Chair McDaniel and I had an opportunity to participate in the Memorial Day barbecue and ceremony. down at the gazebo, and that was fantastic as always. So thank you to the Bow Rooms Club and Bow Garden Club and Eric Anderson and everyone who attended and all of the organizations that are involved in making that day come together. And thank you for a wonderful speech.

Thank you.

Congratulations to Hoptimistic for opening. They had a soft opening this weekend. Hoptimistic and 900 Degrees, pizza, beers, and picnic tables, games. Saw a lot of people attending, and they really enjoyed it. So it's great to have a new business opening and operating in. Yeah. Yeah.

They'll do takeout, too.

Yeah. So pizza, beer, picnic tables, lawn games. All the things David doesn't tell me.

Well, they do it across paths. We turned it up. Soft opening day.

Yeah, so they had a soft opening this weekend. My understanding is they sold out of pizza, and it was just nonstop people coming through. So congratulations to them for a successful soft opening. If this is anything, if this is any indication of what's to come, I mean, they just look like they're going to take off, and it's very exciting. We're hungry. It's a ton of food. We're hungry. And we're glad to have a new business, yes.

So I can tell them. I don't have any bottom lines today.

Me neither.

So we don't have any non-public. Oh, I have an extra, if I may just call out. Thank you to Grumps Landscaping. Oh, yeah. For getting a ton of produce that was not going to be delivered over to something like 10 food pantries over the weekend.

Amazing. So the main story is, Someone called him and said, because he does mulch, rocks, compost. Someone called him and said, hey, we got a tractor truck load full of stuff that needs to be composted. Great. They show up. It's a refrigerated truck with organic everything, peppers, carrots, everything, oranges, grapefruits, plums, tons, cucumbers, tons. Packed. I can't throw this away. This is all perfect stuff. Wow. So he started unloading it and just put it in his warehouse and put it out to the community to come take it.

Amazing. How many people had access to that produce from across central New Hampshire?

Yeah, that's phenomenal.

Do you have some kind of way to recognize him, Tonya?

Send them on the other.

It was definitely, my understanding, it was definitely a team effort. Let's do that.

All right.

That would be wonderful.

I saw pictures of it. I thought, wow, that's a lot of stuff.

He called me on Friday and he said, hey, this sounds weird, but you're helping out. Do you know anybody?

Sorry and thank you. Motion to adjourn.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

You're adjourned.

Are we off?

Thank you.