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Select Board — October 27, 2025

Routine approvals dominated, but public comment and Dunlap's reservations on development language introduced limited tension without escalating to division.

Date Monday, October 27, 2025 Public comments 1 Decisions 7 Lively
📄 Agenda 📄 Minutes

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

2026 Municipal Budget 3% Increase Target

Budget held within 3% target; affects overall tax rate and service levels Affected: All property taxpayers
tax increase

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approve Consent Agenda for October 27, 2025
Motion by Bram, second by McKeon
Unanimous
01:29
Approve Public Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2025
Motion by Bram, second by McKeon
Unanimous
01:29
Approve Public Meeting Minutes of October 14, 2025
Motion by McKeon, second by Bram
Unanimous (Whitley abstained)
01:29
Approve multiple Nonpublic Meeting Minutes (Sept 26 Sessions I/II, Oct 14 Sessions I-III)
Various motions by Bram/McKeon; notes on sealing status
Unanimous (some abstentions by Whitley)
01:29
Approve Pine Street Easement Agreement with non-inheritance language added
Motion by Whitley, second by McKeon; Public Works to confirm no concerns
Unanimous
32:31
Authorize Town Administrator to sign private Pine Street agreement
Motion by Whitley, second by McKeon
Unanimous
32:31
Enter nonpublic sessions under RSA 91-A:3 II (b), (c), (d), (e) (multiple sessions)
Motions by Whitley; minutes sealed for one session only
4-0 roll call each time
2:23:38

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
01:27 Points of Pride

Recognition of successful Trunk or Treat event organized by Recreation Department with support from Police, Fire, DPW, PTA, Library, and volunteers.

Speakers: Karen Hambleton, Alyssa McKeon
01:29 Administrative Approvals

Consent agenda, multiple public and nonpublic meeting minutes from September and October 2025 approved, with some abstentions and notes on sealing.

Speakers: Steven Whitley, Victoria Bram, Alyssa McKeon
06:53 Library Trustees Alternates

Library Board amended bylaws to allow up to three alternate trustees under RSA 202-A:6; Lisa Parker recommended.

Speakers: Amy Stone
06:53 Bates Building Requests

Two Villages Art Society requested benches in front of Bates Building and repurposing basement space for art workshops; Board conditioned on DPW and safety reviews.

Speakers: Ruby Fogg, Annie Frye
32:31 Economic Development Mission Statement

EDC mission/vision/values reviewed; discussion on 'minimal barriers' language and need to align with broader board policies; tabled pending job description.

Speakers: Ian Hart, Sabrina Dunlap, Steven Whitley, Alyssa McKeon
32:31 Boards and Committees Review

McKeon presented analysis of inconsistencies in charges, recruitment, and online information; Board supported updating webpages starting with RSA-based committees at November 10 meeting.

Speakers: Alyssa McKeon
32:31 162 Pine Street Easement

Draft easement agreement reviewed and approved with added non-inheritance language; Town Administrator authorized to sign.

Speakers: Steven Whitley, Alyssa McKeon
53:17 Veteran’s Park Plaque Correction

American Legion request to correct name spelling on memorial plaque; Town will handle correction and notify family.

Speakers: Karen Hambleton, Alyssa McKeon, Sabrina Dunlap
2:01:14 Town Administrator Updates

Budget within 3% target, FEMA grant not viable, Five Rivers conservation easement updates forthcoming.

Speakers: Karen Hambleton
2:06:00 Public Forum and Other Business

Public comment on development barriers; discussions on water meters, stormwater, transfer station, George Park improvements, and budget schedule.

Speakers: Katherine Mitchell, Select Board

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Economic Development Committee mission statement 'minimal barriers' language

Sabrina Dunlap and public commenter Katherine Mitchell raised concerns that the phrasing could reduce regulatory safeguards, potentially impacting property values and town vision; aligns with broader resident worries about development pressures
Board position: Tabled the mission statement pending alignment with job description and broader policies; Whitley clarified it targets only municipal barriers
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Coordinate with Fire Chief, Supervisors of the Checklist, and Town Clerk on Bates Building basement safety compliance
Assigned: Town Administrator
Notify American Legion and family that Town will correct spelling on Veteran’s Park plaque
Assigned: Town Administrator
Begin updating board/committee webpages with RSA charges, starting with RSA-based committees
Assigned: Alyssa McKeon · Due: November 10, 2025
Schedule meeting with water precinct commissioners in early 2026
Assigned: Karen Hambleton · Due: Early 2026

Notable ⁠statements

Expressed concern about phrasing of 'minimal barriers' in EDC mission statement and overemphasis on bringing businesses — Sabrina Dunlap · Economic Development discussion 32:31
Explained 'minimal barriers' language addresses municipal barriers to new businesses or expansion — Steven Whitley · Economic Development discussion 32:31
Proposed updating webpages one at a time beginning with RSA-based committees to improve engagement — Alyssa McKeon · Boards and Committees discussion 32:31
Some barriers serve as safeguards; Select Board should be final arbiter of Town vision — Katherine Mitchell · Public Forum comment on development 2:06:00

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
0
Addressed
0
Partial
1
Not addressed
Katherine Mitchell
2:06:17
Not addressed
Katherine Mitchell expressed discomfort with the term 'barriers to development' in the context of the Economic Development Committee's mission statement. She raised concerns that loosening restrictions could negatively impact adjacent properties and noted that some barriers serve as important safeguards. She reminded the Board of their role as the final arbiter in aligning proposals with the Town Vision. Key concern
Opposition to language that might reduce regulatory protections for development and property impacts
The Board recorded her comment during Public Forum but provided no response or discussion of it at that time; the related EDC topic had already been tabled earlier in the meeting

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

Topics discussed — not on agenda

Transcript vs. official minutes

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Report composed by grok-4.3, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-27.