Meeting report · Town Council
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Town Council — March 2, 2026
While major votes passed without split results, the meeting featured pointed public comments on constitutional rights, budget transparency, and voter clarity on warrant articles.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Library Infrastructure and Safety
Potential mold issues, HVAC failures, and the need for significant exterior envelope repairs/monitoring. Affected: All town residents using the library
safety change
02
Southern New Hampshire Green Energy Campus
Sale of town-owned right-of-way land and potential changes to local traffic patterns. Affected: Nearby residents (Litchfield Road area) and the town's land/utility assets
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Appointment of Paige Williams and Cindy Peterson to the Londonderry Arts Council as full voting members.
Motion by Dane, seconded by Ted.
Approved
Repeal of Chapter 10 of Title 4 of the municipal code (Emergency Management Plan).
Motion by Shawn, seconded by Dan.
Approved
Authorization of the Town Manager to negotiate and execute an easement for a water booster pump station on Auburn Road Landfill (Tax Map 16 Lot 23-0).
Motion by Shawn, seconded by Ted.
Approved
Authorization of the Town Manager to negotiate and execute the sale of property and a recordable deed to Purpose Energy for driveway and utility construction.
Motion by Dan, seconded by Ted; Chair voted in the affirmative.
Passed
Approval of consent items.
Motion by Dan, seconded by Ted; Chair voted in the affirmative.
Passed
Approval of amended non-public meeting minutes.
Motion by Ted, seconded by Dan. Amendment to correct spelling of 'Counselor Faber' (noted as 'Favor' in transcription).
Approved
Adjournment of the meeting.
Motion by Dan, seconded by Ted; Chair voted in the affirmative.
Passed
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 06:50 Introduction of New Cyber Services Director
The council introduced Jeremy Spalding as the new Cyber Services Director, noting his private sector experience.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 07:59 Public Comment: Candidacy and Warrant Articles
Citizens provided comments regarding a write-in candidacy for Trustee of Trust Funds and concerns regarding the lack of clarity in the wording of Warrant Article 22 regarding senior transportation.
Speakers: Joe Stelmach, John Wilson
▶ 16:09 Public Comment: Citizen Petition and Ideology
A resident expressed strong opposition to a citizen's petition regarding red flag laws, citing concerns over constitutional rights.
Speakers: Ken Sannes
▶ 20:49 Public Comment: Local Elections
Two residents introduced themselves as candidates for the Budget Committee and the School Board.
Speakers: Matt Tapley, Kent Bacher
▶ 24:09 Budget Committee Report
The Budget Committee Chairman discussed budget progress, taxpayer advocacy, and addressed a dispute regarding the release of information to the Council.
Speakers: Joseph Gagnon, Councilwoman Bouchard
▶ 32:20 Arts Council Board Appointments
The Arts Council recommended two candidates for full voting membership.
Speakers: Larry Casey
▶ 35:58 Emergency Management Plan Code Rescission
Discussion regarding moving the Emergency Management Plan out of the municipal code as it is an operational plan rather than law.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 39:22 Recreation Foundation Presentation
The 'Restore the Recs Foundation' presented a plan to revitalize basketball courts at Nelson Road through a 501c3 nonprofit.
Speakers: Doug Cole, Vicente Zenni, Dan Barczak, Trevor O'Brien
▶ 54:48 Auburn Road Landfill Easement
Request to authorize an easement for the Town of Derry to operate a water booster pump station on town-owned land.
Speakers: John Troyer
▶ 1:00:04 Purpose Energy Project Site Sale / Site Access
Discussion regarding the sale of town-owned right-of-way land to Purpose Energy for the Southern New Hampshire Green Energy Campus, including proposed site entrances and concerns about the Litchfield Road entrance being perceived as a cut-through.
Speakers: Karen, Attorney Ari, Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:07:54 Library Building Updates
An update on the library's condition, including exterior envelope inspections, mold testing, HVAC unit failures, and the need for additional mold testing to ensure safety.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Dan
▶ 1:11:03 Master Plan Public Hearing
Announcement regarding the Planning Board's public hearing for the formal adoption of the town's master plan following a two-year effort.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Red Flag Law Citizen Petition
A resident expressed strong opposition to a petition regarding red flag laws, citing constitutional rights and distrust of the justice system/Democratic policies.
Board position: The board did not take a formal position during the meeting.
medium concern
02
Warrant Article 22 Wording
A representative of the Senior Resource Committee argued the language is too broad and unclearly communicates its connection to senior and disability transportation, potentially misleading voters.
Board position: The board acknowledged the issue and expressed regret, noting that while language was refined, it became too broad.
medium concern
03
Purpose Energy Project Site Access
The sale of town-owned land for a Green Energy Campus raised concerns regarding site entrances and the potential for the Litchfield Road entrance to become a high-traffic 'cut-through.'
Board position: The board approved the sale after seeking clarification on location and maintenance responsibilities.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Negotiate and execute easement for Auburn Road Landfill water booster pump station.
Assigned: Town Manager
Negotiate and execute the sale of property/deed for Purpose Energy.
Assigned: Town Manager
Correct/amend errors in the non-public minutes (specifically regarding Counselor Faber/Favor's name).
Assigned: Town Administration
Continue coordinating library inspections, insurance claims, and building monitoring.
Assigned: Donna (Library Project Coordinator) · Due: Ongoing
Notable statements
The wording of Warrant Article 22 is not on an even playing field because it doesn't clearly communicate the connection to senior transportation. — John Wilson · Public comment regarding voter clarity on ballot articles. ▶ 11:00
The budget committee's priorities lie with the taxpayer and keeping the tax rate down and the budgets low. — Joseph Gagnon · Budget Committee chairman report. ▶ 25:38
Our goal is to turn [the basketball courts] into something absolutely beautiful and make it a real point of pride. — Dan Barczak · Presentation by the Restore the Recs Foundation. ▶ 7:57:10
The library's HVAC units were found to be in poor condition and humidity controls likely non-functional for some time. — Dan · Reporting on the findings of the exterior envelope consultant Re-Arc. ▶ 1:09:09
We want to make sure we don't have to do this [investing in repairs]... the fixed asset management program... is going to be important moving forward on all of our buildings. — Unidentified speaker · Discussing the necessity of better lifecycle tracking and maintenance for town buildings like fire stations and the library. ▶ 1:14:00
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
11
Total speakers
8
Addressed
0
Partial
3
Not addressed
Joe Stelmach
Addressed
Joe introduced himself as a lifelong resident and candidate for the write-in position of trustee of the trust funds. He shared his professional background in software engineering and his experience managing budgets for a childcare center.
Key concern
Announcing candidacy for trustee of the trust funds.
Board responseThe board thanked him for stepping up to run.
The board acknowledged his candidacy and expressed appreciation for his willingness to serve.
John Wilson
Addressed
As a member of the Senior Resource Committee, John expressed concern that Warrant Article 22 is worded too broadly and unclearly. He argued that the lack of specific terminology makes it difficult for voters to understand that the fund is intended for senior and disability transportation.
Key concern
Warrant Article 22 lacks clear, specific language regarding senior transportation, creating an uneven playing field for voters.
Board responseA board member acknowledged the issue, explained that the language was refined but became too broad, and expressed regret over the situation.
The board member engaged with the concern, validated the difficulty of the wording, and explained the procedural reasons behind why the language ended up that way.
Ken Sannes
Not addressed
Ken spoke out strongly against a citizen's petition regarding red flag laws, characterizing it as an attempt to erode constitutional rights. He expressed deep distrust in Democratic policies and the justice system, arguing that such laws are a step toward losing all rights.
Key concern
Opposition to a citizen's petition for red flag laws.
The board did not respond to his comments.
Matt Tapley
Not addressed
Matt introduced himself as a candidate for a three-year position on the budget committee. He shared his professional background in technology and expressed his desire to volunteer and help the town.
Key concern
Announcing candidacy for the budget committee.
The board did not respond to his introduction.
Kent Bacher
Not addressed
Kent introduced himself as a candidate for the school board, emphasizing the need for creativity and collaboration within local government. He used the example of a superintendent's office building project to argue for more flexible, proactive leadership.
Key concern
Announcing candidacy for the school board.
The board did not respond to his introduction.
Joseph Gagnon
Addressed
As Chairman of the Budget Committee, Joseph discussed the importance of collaboration between the committee and other town entities. He also addressed a specific conflict regarding a comment made by a councilwoman about the committee being controlled and restricted from sharing information.
Key concern
Clarifying the budget committee's role and addressing allegations that the committee was being prevented from releasing information to the council.
Board responseCouncilwoman Bouchard responded to the specific allegation by clarifying that she had requested information that she hadn't received, rather than claiming a group was controlling the committee.
The board member involved (Bouchard) responded to the specific point of contention raised by the speaker.
Jan McLaughlin
Addressed
Jan shared a positive experience from a recent vacation with her grandkids, noting the kindness and cooperation she observed among Londonderry residents. She encouraged the community to continue acting with kindness and coordination.
Key concern
Encouraging community kindness and cooperation.
Board responseThe board thanked her.
The board acknowledged her positive comments with thanks.
Larry Casey
Addressed
Larry spoke on behalf of the Arts Council to support the appointment of two candidates, Paige Williams and Cindy Peterson, to full membership. He detailed their volunteer contributions and professional skills that would benefit the council.
Key concern
Recommending two candidates for full membership on the Arts Council.
Board responseThe board listened to the recommendation and subsequently moved to appoint both candidates, which passed unanimously.
The board acted directly on the recommendation provided by the speaker.
Vicente Zenni, Dan Barczak, and Trevor O'Brien
Addressed
Representatives of the 'Restore the Recs Foundation' presented a plan to revitalize the basketball courts at Nelson Road. They shared their progress in forming a 501c3 nonprofit and their successful efforts in raising $120,000 for the project.
Key concern
Presenting the foundation's mission and progress for renovating the basketball courts.
Board responseThe board expressed appreciation for their leadership, their initiative to self-fund, and their efforts to solve a community problem without relying solely on town funds.
The board members engaged with the presentation, asked questions, and provided positive feedback and encouragement.
John Troyer
Addressed
John requested authorization for the town manager to negotiate an easement on the Auburn Road Landfill property. This easement would allow the Town of Derry to operate a water booster pump station on an uncontaminated portion of the site.
Key concern
Requesting an easement for a water booster pump station on town-owned property.
Board responseThe board asked questions regarding the location of water lines and the impact on stone walls, then authorized the town manager to negotiate and execute the easement.
The board engaged with the technical questions and then voted to grant the requested authorization.
Karen and Attorney Ari
Addressed
The speakers presented a request for the town to sell a portion of right-of-way land to Purpose Energy for $7,500. This sale is intended to allow for the construction of a driveway and utilities for the proposed Green Energy Campus.
Key concern
Authorizing the sale of town-owned land to Purpose Energy.
Board responseThe board asked for clarification on the project location and road maintenance responsibilities, then voted to authorize the sale.
The board addressed the concerns regarding location clarity and maintenance, then voted to approve the motion.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-02.