Select Board — May 21, 2026
Two split votes and discussion of off-agenda items produced measurable internal disagreement but no heated exchanges or strong public pushback.
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At the May 21 Select Board meeting, several substantive items were addressed that did not appear on the published agenda. These included a detailed review of the building inspector position and past liability problems, plus opening and awarding the 2026 paving bids for Elbow Pond, Flaghole, and Plains Roads.
The paving contract went to GMI/Peckham after a 4-1 rejection of the R&D bid. Jim Delaney voted against the rejection, referencing earlier contract cancellations with that vendor. A separate 3-2 vote continued the Town Administrator in the Treasurer role despite stated concerns over concentrated duties.
A resident request for partial tree removal reimbursement on Tucker Mountain Road received only a site visit commitment. Official minutes have been published, but the off-agenda handling limited prior public awareness of these decisions.
Public impact
Paving contract awarded for three named roads
Contract awarded to GMI/Peckham Road Corporation (5-0) after 4-1 rejection of R&D Paving bid
Highway Supervisor to verify documents and negotiate minor material overage for pothole patching equipment
Topics discussed
Approved minutes from April 16, April 26, and May 7, 2026 meetings with minor amendments to the April 16 minutes.
All three sets of minutes were approved unanimously.
Received updates on delinquent tax collection and appreciation for recent highway ditching work.
Information provided; delinquency tracking noted as a strategic planning item.
Donna Baker-Hartwell requested partial reimbursement for removing five trees she believed were destabilized by town ditching work.
No vote or decision; Chairman Swenson agreed to visit the site.
Site visit by Chairman Swenson to assess responsibility.
Andover Historical Society requested formal transfer of an antique coach and discussion of a pothole at the HUB driveway.
Board willing to participate in ceremonial transfer; pothole referred to NHDOT.
Town Administrator to consult town counsel on coach transfer process; Highway Supervisor to connect with NHDOT contact.
Discussed options for town-owned property abutting the Sirard property.
Next step is legal review of easement viability.
Town Administrator to contact town counsel; briefing to board if viable.
Reviewed long-standing question of hiring a building inspector and associated liability issues.
No decision; information shared on current permit-focused enforcement and tax-roll goals.
Chairman circulated draft strategic plan framework for board feedback.
Board members to submit feedback by May 27; work session planned for June.
Dedicated work session in June (excluding first meeting due to travel).
Opened bids, rejected one non-conforming bid, and awarded contract to GMI/Peckham.
R&D bid rejected 4-1; paving contract awarded to GMI/Peckham 5-0 for Elbow Pond, Flaghole, and Plains Roads.
Highway Supervisor to verify documents and negotiate small material overage for pothole patching equipment.
Update on ditching, new pothole patching equipment, fleet, loader, and North Short Street culvert replacement.
Board expressed enthusiasm for new equipment and planned a post-meeting viewing.
Culvert work coordination with police and fire chiefs.
Discussed continuing Town Administrator's service as Treasurer.
Motion to continue passed 3-2.
Performance review rubric to be redistributed; review placed on second June meeting agenda.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
2026 Paving Bids
Town Treasurer Position
Building Inspector Role and Liability
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
Accountability flags
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
Transcript vs. official minutes
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grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-21.
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