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Select Board — March 30, 2026

While there were pointed public comments regarding fiscal policy, the meeting was characterized by standard procedural business and unified decision-making.

Date Monday, March 30, 2026 Duration 2.0h Speakers 1 Decisions 9 Routine
▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Groundwater Supply Improvement Project

Significant capital expenditure with bids ranging from ~$1.28M to ~$3.25M. Affected: All Exeter residents (water utility/infrastructure)
other high impact
02

State Legislative Tax Shifts

Potential increase in local property taxes due to state-level policy changes. Affected: All property taxpayers in Exeter
tax increase

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Refer groundwater supply improvement bids to the Public Works Department for recommendation.
Bids from Mechanics LLC and Granese and Sons Inc. were referred for review.
Passed 5-0
Appoint Elaine Hayes as an alternate to the Planning Board.
Term expires April 2028.
Passed
Initiate public hearings for Wadleigh Street and Cass Street neighborhood requests.
Hearings requested for roadway signage and parking changes.
Passed 5-0
Re-adopt the town's investment policy for public funds.
In accordance with NH RSA 41:9-7.
Passed
Approval of various tax abatements, credits, and exemptions.
Includes solar, veteran, elderly, religious, and charitable exemptions.
Passed
Authorize sales and sampling at the farmers market under specific requirements.
Requirements include: liquor license and insurance naming the town as co-insured; $200 vendor fee per event; no more than two vendors per week; limit of three samples per day per person following RSA guidelines; non-compliance results in vendor ban.
Passed
Authorize Parks and Recreation to purchase 10 kits of rubber flakes from Rubberize It.
Cost is $7,226.55, to be funded by the park improvement fund.
Passed
Authorize interim town manager Melissa Roy to execute documents for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Project 33-00763.
Resolution allows signing agreements/amendments with the NH Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Passed
Motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, 2A.
Passed 5-0

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 05:53 Swearing-in of Police Chief

The formal swearing-in ceremony for Josh McCain, who officially started as Police Chief on March 17th, following his tenure as interim chief.

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 11:51 Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening

The board reviewed two bids for the groundwater supply improvement project: Mechanics LLC ($3,249,800) and Granese and Sons Incorporated ($1,277,950).

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 18:00 Public Comment: Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy

Resident Mark Furlong requested an update on the Park Street bridge and urged fiscal conservatism regarding the 2027 budget and municipal bonding.

Speakers: Mark Furlong, Niko Papakonstantis, Dan Chartrand, Julie D. Gilman
▶ 25:11 Approval of Meeting Minutes

The board reviewed and approved the minutes from the March 11th, March 16th, and March 19th, 2026, meetings.

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 28:50 Appointment of Planning Board Alternate

Discussion and vote regarding the appointment of Elaine Hayes to the Planning Board.

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 29:59 Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings

Public Works Director Steve Cronin requested public hearings regarding signage/traffic changes in the Wadleigh Street and Cass Street neighborhoods.

Speakers: Steve Cronin, Melissa Roy, Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 34:02 Announcement of New Town Manager

The board announced the appointment of Paul Cohen as the new Town Manager, effective May 26th, 2026.

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 44:34 Grant Funding Update

Interim Town Manager Melissa Roy provided an update on various municipal grants, including solar tax credits and transportation programs.

Speakers: Melissa Roy, Niko Papakonstantis, Dan Chartrand, Julie D. Gilman
▶ 52:59 Investment Policy Review

Finance Director Corey Stevens presented the 2026 investment results and requested the re-adoption of the town's investment policy.

Speakers: Corey Stevens, Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 1:00:01 Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements

The board processed several batches of tax abatements, solar exemptions, veteran's credits, elderly exemptions, religious exemptions, and charitable exemptions.

Speakers: Niko Papakonstantis
▶ 1:11:05 Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal

Skyler Amston from Seacoast Eat Local presented a proposal to allow controlled alcohol sampling at the Exeter Farmers Market. Discussion regarding the implementation of guidelines for alcohol sampling at the Swasey Parkway farmers market, addressing concerns about precedent and potential loopholes.

Speakers: Skyler Amston, Greg Bisson, Niko Papakonstantis, Unidentified speaker, Selectman Chartrand, Selectwoman Belanger, Selectwoman Gilman
▶ 1:36:42 Spray Pad Surfacing Update

An update on the spray pad repairs and a recommendation to purchase rubber flake surfacing from Rubberize It.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:38:34 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant

Procedural discussion regarding the close-out of the Planet Playground grant and authorizing the interim town manager to execute necessary documents.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:43:00 Committee and Board Reports

Various updates from the Energy Committee, Planning Board, and Facilities Advisory Committee.

Speakers: Selectwoman Gilman, Selectwoman Belanger, Selectman Sharples
▶ 1:51:00 State Legislative Updates

Report on several bills moving through the state legislature, including changes to the state primary, blockchain regulation, and electioneering definitions.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal

The proposal involves introducing alcohol sampling into a public community space, raising concerns about setting precedents and creating regulatory loopholes.
Board position: Approved the proposal subject to strict regulatory requirements and fees.
medium concern
02

Fiscal Policy and Municipal Bonding

Residents are expressing concern over fiscal conservatism, the 2027 budget, and the use of municipal bonding.
Board position: The board defended current bonding practices (e.g., using bonding to qualify for loan forgiveness) while acknowledging state-level tax pressures.
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Make a recommendation on the groundwater supply improvement project bids.
Assigned: Public Works Department
Include Paul Cohen's contract and resume in the next Select Board meeting packet.
Assigned: Town Staff · Due: Next Select Board meeting
Provide updates on grant funding status every 6 months.
Assigned: Town Staff · Due: Every 6 months
Sign maps and complete registration for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant close-out.
Assigned: Melissa Roy · Due: This week
Continue working on the Styrofoam densifier power issues.
Assigned: Staff/Director Cronin

Notable ⁠statements

The reason we [bonded for a street sweeper] was that it would make it eligible for SRF loan forgiveness. — Dan Chartrand · Responding to a resident's comment about municipal bonding practices. ▶ 36:51
What [state representatives] are doing is saving a small bit of taxes at the state level... and what also what they're doing is shoving things down to us [to be borne by property taxes]. — Julie D. Gilman · Discussing the impact of state-level tax policies on municipal property taxes. ▶ 23:58
The Exeter Select Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Cohen... as the town's next town manager. — Niko Papakonstantis · Formal announcement of the results of the town manager search. ▶ 34:20
The Select Board vigorously encourages public input... It's respectful, public comment is essential to the process working well. — Selectwoman Belanger · Responding to concerns regarding the visibility and accessibility of public comment at land use board meetings. ▶ 1:48:00
I'm concerned that [the electioneering bill] is vague enough that making presentations about [a warrant item]... won't be able to do that because they'll be considered electioneering. — Selectwoman Gilman · Discussing potential impacts of state legislation on municipal educational presentations. ▶ 1:51:00

Member ⁠positions

11 issues · 0 explicit · 9 inferred
Present
Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening YES ~
Appointment of Planning Board Alternate YES ~
Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings YES ~
Investment Policy Review YES ~
Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements YES ~
Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal YES ~
Spray Pad Surfacing Update YES ~
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant YES ~
Motion to enter non-public session YES ~
Molly Cowan
Vice Chair
Present
Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening YES ~
Appointment of Planning Board Alternate YES ~
Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings YES ~
Investment Policy Review YES ~
Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements YES ~
Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal YES ~
Spray Pad Surfacing Update YES ~
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant YES ~
Motion to enter non-public session YES ~
Present
Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal YES ~
Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening YES ~
Appointment of Planning Board Alternate YES ~
Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings YES ~
Investment Policy Review YES ~
Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements YES ~
Spray Pad Surfacing Update YES ~
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant YES ~
Motion to enter non-public session YES ~
Present
Public Comment: Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy ✓
State policies are shifting tax burdens to local property taxpayers.
Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal YES ~
Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening YES ~
Appointment of Planning Board Alternate YES ~
Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings YES ~
Investment Policy Review YES ~
Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements YES ~
Spray Pad Surfacing Update YES ~
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant YES ~
Motion to enter non-public session YES ~
Present
Public Comment: Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy ✓
Defended bonding practices, noting use of bonding can lead to loan forgiveness.
Farmers Market Alcohol Sales Proposal YES ~
Groundwater Supply Improvement Project Bid Opening YES ~
Appointment of Planning Board Alternate YES ~
Public Works: Requests for Public Hearings YES ~
Investment Policy Review YES ~
Tax Exemptions, Credits, and Abatements YES ~
Spray Pad Surfacing Update YES ~
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant YES ~
Motion to enter non-public session YES ~

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning, gemma-4-26b, grok-4-fast · analyzed 2026-05-31.