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Hollis, NH
Tracking 7 boards and committees in Hollis. Every meeting transcribed, every vote logged.
At a glance
This town in numbers.
21
Worth watching
134
Decisions logged
51
Public comments
22
Meetings analyzed
Browse Hollis — choose a section
Worth watching here
Recent meetings flagged as heated, off-agenda, or otherwise consequential.
Variance Application: 25 Coburn Lane Garage
The application involved a significant request for a 15-foot relief from side yard setbacks, which the board debated against the legal requirement to prove a 'hardship' rather than mere personal convenience.
Proposed additional well on Cobbett Lane
Residents are concerned about the potential environmental impact of a new well on the water quality and temperature of Witches Brook, a significant trout stream.
Junkyard License Renewal (80 Witches Springs Road)
The renewal involves questions regarding the accuracy of height applications for trailers and the adequacy of screening and security measures.
Unauthorized water withdrawal at Rocky Pond Road
A resident reported commercial landscapers using large trucks to withdraw water from a conservation-owned property for hydroseeding, raising concerns about drought management and the 'public trust doctrine.'
Potential wetland violations at Federal Hill Road
The Planning Board reported possible lot development causing wetland disturbance, and there is frustration regarding the difficulty in obtaining state inspections.
Ridge Road Minor Subdivision Environmental and Safety Concerns
Abutters raised significant concerns regarding groundwater contamination (PFAS), septic runoff into potable wells, wildlife (vernal pools/Blanding's turtles), and traffic safety.
Lone Pine Lane Subdivision Stormwater Management
The board questioned the use of a proprietary 'jellyfish' filter versus more conventional stormwater methods, such as utilizing a cul-de-sac as a pond.
Hollis moves toward synchronized 10-year capital planning to manage school district tax impacts.
Special Meetings to cure warrant defects
A legal defect was identified by the Department of Revenue Administration regarding the lack of required signatures on school district and co-op warrants, necessitating urgent special meetings to rectify the procedural error.
School District Facilities and Bonding Strategy
Community members raised questions regarding the accuracy of facility priority rankings and debated whether urgent maintenance (like HVAC or septic) should be bundled with large expansion projects in single bond votes.
Right to Know Policy
The policy involves balancing transparency with the privacy of requestors and the administrative costs of coordinating requests across departments. It also touches on legal definitions influenced by state legislation.
Farley Building Conservation
The commission is organizing a formal effort to advocate for the protection of the Farley building to the Select Board, indicating it is a significant local preservation matter.
Lone Pine Design Review
The proposal to add 10-11 houses and a road 'causeway' involves crossing wetlands and negotiating easements with neighbors, which drew significant technical questions from the public regarding water flow and land impact.
Lone Pine Lane Subdivision (PB 2026-005)
This is a large-scale 10-lot major subdivision on over 93 acres involving complex technical requirements such as lead remediation, archaeological studies, and septic/well impacts for neighbors.
Hollis Budget Committee discusses staffing wages and capital expenditure changes during off-agenda discussions.
Porch Railing After-the-Fact Approval - 15 Main Street
The applicant requested a waiver for required porch railings based on personal preference (views) and safety arguments, while the board had to weigh these against historical preservation guidelines and the risk of setting a precedent.
Preservation of the Farley Building
The commission is seeking to pressure the Select Board to act on the preservation of the Farley Building, noting high demolition costs and the risks of neglect.
Public Safety Complex and School Expansion Transparency
Residents expressed frustration over the sudden appearance of large project estimates (specifically a $20 million school expansion and public safety complex figures) in the capital plan without prior vetting or discussion, leading to concerns about taxpayer impact and the accuracy of cost estimates.
Off-agenda discussion of project costs and bidding
The committee engaged in significant discussions regarding specific project cost discrepancies and the complexities of the bidding process that were not explicitly listed on the public agenda, limiting the community's ability to prepare for these specific topics.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) - ADA Assessment Scope
There was a debate regarding the scope of an ADA assessment for Town Hall, specifically whether to include all town buildings. The concern centered on the legal liability of identifying deficiencies in a report without having the immediate means to fix them.
Hollis-Brookline High School Easement Encroachment
The Commission identified ongoing encroachment into a wetland buffer by school athletic facilities and expressed frustration over a lack of successful communication with the school administration regarding water quality and buffer maintenance.
Police Cruiser Leasing
The board deliberated on the financial wisdom of leasing versus purchasing vehicles in a high-interest-rate environment, which impacts long-term municipal expenditures.
Hollis Select Board implements new gatekeeping policy for all Capital Improvement Plan entries.
Silver Lake Estates Protective Well Radius Easement
A developer is requesting an easement on town-owned land to protect a backup well for a high-density development. This has raised concerns about groundwater preservation and whether private interests should benefit from public land.
Hollis Celebrates America 250th Fireworks Contract
The contract involves a $12,500 expenditure for a single event, which prompted internal questioning of the cost, and raised concerns regarding noise and pet safety.
Deacon Lane and Proctor Hill Subdivision Traffic Safety
The proposed 35-home subdivision includes a 'right-in/right-out' intersection on Proctor Hill Road that residents and board members flagged as potentially dangerous due to high crash rates and poor sight lines.
Amherst/Hollis Cross-Border Stormwater Project
The project involves a development in Amherst that would place stormwater management and potential pollutants (oil/asphalt) within Hollis, raising environmental and identity concerns regarding the applicant.
Golden Valley Way Holdings Application
The application involves a complex industrial project on the Amherst/Hollis border with potential impacts on local wetlands, aquifers, and stormwater runoff. There is significant interest due to the project's scale and its potential to bypass local coordination by having applied to state agencies first.
Municipal and School Infrastructure Coordination
The committee identified a disconnect between the Select Board and the School Board regarding bonding requirements and long-term capital planning, which affects the town's ability to manage simultaneous large-scale projects.
Taxpayer Impact vs. Operating Guidance
There is a structural conflict between 'zero-growth' operating guidance and the actual cost increases driven by Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and infrastructure needs, creating tension in how much burden is placed on taxpayers.
Police Department CDS Grant and Software Upgrade
The upgrade involves a $1 million grant for cloud-based records management and dispatch software. While it offers significant taxpayer savings, board members raised specific concerns regarding data ownership, portability after the initial five-year period, and federal security certifications (FedRAMP).
Right to Know Request Management
The board discussed the rising costs associated with Right to Know requests, noting over $7,000 in legal fees in 2025. There is an effort to change how requests are handled to manage administrative labor and legal expenses.
Boards & committees
Click any board to see meeting reports.
S
Select Board
7 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-22
71% responsive
7 active
B
Budget Committee
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-09
90% responsive
3 active
C
Conservation Commission
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-17
96% responsive
3 active
P
Planning Board
3 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-16
67% responsive
3 active
C
Capital Expenditure Advisory Committee
2 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-15
91% responsive
2 active
H
Historic District Commission
2 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-04
90% responsive
2 active
Z
Zoning Board of Adjustment
2 meetings tracked
Latest: 2026-06-25
100% responsive
1 active
Community responsiveness
How well does each board address what residents say in public comment? Higher is better.
1
Zoning Board of Adjustment
100%
→
2
Conservation Commission
96%
→
3
Capital Expenditure Advisory Committee
91%
→
4
Budget Committee
90%
→
5
Historic District Commission
90%
→
6
Select Board
71%
→
7
Planning Board
67%
→
Based on 71 public comments across 7 boards. Trend compares recent vs. older meetings.
Upcoming & in progress
Scheduled meetings across every board, soonest first. Briefs publish here as agendas are posted; full reports follow each meeting.
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THU9JULHistoric District Commission7:00 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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MON13JULSelect Board6:00 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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TUE14JULBudget Committee7:00 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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WED15JULConservation Commission6:30 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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THU16JULHistoric District Commission6:00 PMIn personEvent Location, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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MON20JULCapital Expenditure Advisory Committee6:30 PMIn personEvent Location, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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TUE21JULPlanning Board7:00 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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THU23JULZoning Board of Adjustment7:00 PMIn personTown Hall Community Room, 7 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049Scheduled How to attend
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MON20APRConservation CommissionMeeting held — no recording available.No recording
Times and locations are mirrored from each board's official calendar and can change. Confirm with the town before attending — every meeting links to the town's official meeting page.
Recent reports
Published reports across every board.
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Thursday, June 25, 2026
Zoning Ordinance and Hardship Definitions — Potential changes to how setbacks and hardships are defined and regulated.
Select Board — Monday, June 22, 2026
Proposed Fee Schedule Changes — Includes new re-inspection fees and a proposed $20 non-resident fee for athletic field rentals.
Conservation Commission — Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Agricultural Conservation Easement - 9 Proctor Hill Road — $44,000 expenditure
Planning Board — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Zoning Ordinance and Open Space Updates — Potential changes to tree preservation, clear-cutting, and rural character protections.
Capital Expenditure Advisory Committee — Monday, June 15, 2026
Long-term Capital Expenditure Planning — Long-term fiscal planning and tax alignment
Budget Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026
School District Capital Improvement and Maintenance — Significant long-term capital bonding for facilities and infrastructure
Select Board — Monday, June 8, 2026
Municipal Bond Authorization — $2,770,000 in new debt
Historic District Commission — Thursday, June 4, 2026
Preservation of the Farley Building — Potential long-term preservation or loss of a historic town asset
Zoning Board of Adjustment — Thursday, May 28, 2026
The meeting was routine, consisting of a single specific zoning request and the approval of previous minutes with no evidence of significant conflict or public opposition.
Conservation Commission — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Lone Pine Residential Development — Addition of approximately 10 to 11 residential units and new road infrastructure.
Planning Board — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Abbott Hill Estates Subdivision Traffic Safety — Installation of blinking lights, radar speed indicators, and new signage.
Select Board — Monday, May 18, 2026
Tax Collector's Warrant Approval — Total taxation amount of $21,972,827
Select Board — Friday, May 15, 2026
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Review — Review of multi-departmental capital expenditures including DPW, Police, Fire, and Recreation
Budget Committee — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
School Enrollment Trends — Potential long-term shifts in school population and facility needs
Select Board — Monday, May 11, 2026
Silver Lake Estates Easement — Potential precedent for use of town land to support private development and long-term groundwater management.
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