Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
Creating this report cost real money.
Help fund coverage →
Board of Selectmen — March 23, 2026
While votes were unanimous, the meeting featured direct disagreement between residents and the board regarding road maintenance and a verbal reprimand from the Chair to the public regarding staff interactions.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Amendment to Municipal Fee Schedule
Potential increase in municipal fees (hearing postponed to April 13th) Affected: All Springfield residents/taxpayers
fee change
02
Brook Road Wetland Buffer Encroachment
Requirement for a formal mitigation plan due to encroachment into protected zones Affected: Property owners at Brook Road
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Nomination of Jen Roberts as Chair of the Select Board
Motion made by Erin Meding, seconded by Jen Roberts; both voted in favor.
Passed (Unanimous)
00:00
Nomination of Erin Meding as Vice Chair of the Select Board
Motion made by Jen Roberts, seconded by Erin Meding; both voted in favor.
Passed (Unanimous)
00:00
Amendment to Municipal Fee Schedule Public Hearing
The hearing was postponed and will be re-noticed for April 13th.
Postponed
00:00
Approval of Zoning Permit for Michael Hansen
Application for modification and extension of a storage building permit at 112 Hansen Road.
Approved
00:00
Approval of ISDS Permit for Jeffrey and Kathleen Remillard
Application for a 3-bedroom single-family residence on Sanborn Hill Road.
Approved
00:00
Acceptance of Zoning Coordinator/Health Officer Report
Motion made by Jen Roberts, seconded by Erin Meding; both voted in favor.
Passed (Unanimous)
00:00
Entry into Non-Public Session
Motion made by Jen Roberts, seconded by Erin Meding; both voted in favor per RSA 91-A:3, II (a).
Passed (Unanimous)
59:00
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:00 Select Board Leadership and Assignments
The board held elections for Chair and Vice Chair and established department assignments for the current term.
Speakers: Jen Roberts, Erin Meding
00:00 Resident Appointment: George Hill Road Maintenance
Sam Vidal raised concerns regarding the use of heavy equipment (graders/front loaders) and snow removal on George Hill Road; the board and road agent discussed right-of-way widths and safety protocols.
Speakers: Sam Vidal, Neal Huntoon, Jen Roberts, Erin Meding, Catherine Delage
00:00 Eastman Charitable Foundation Presentation
Steve Barker provided information on ECF resources, including environmental grants and scholarships for local students.
Speakers: Steve Barker
00:00 Zoning and Health Officer Report
Reports were provided regarding zoning permits, short-term rental statuses, driveway permits, and wetland buffer zone encroachment at Brook Road.
Speakers: Tim Bray
00:00 Departmental Updates
Various updates were provided for the Buildings/Grounds, Cemetery, Highway, and Planning departments.
Speakers: Jen Roberts, Neal Huntoon
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
George Hill Road Maintenance and Equipment Usage
Residents are disputing the necessity and safety of using heavy machinery (graders/front loaders) versus standard plows, citing concerns over property damage, unnecessary snowbank creation, and increased heavy truck traffic.
Board position: The board supported the road agent's authority, prioritizing safety and right-of-way maintenance over resident preferences regarding equipment type.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Look up information regarding 'no-thru trucking zones' for George Hill Road.
Assigned: The Board
Draft a mitigation plan for the Brook Road wetland buffer zone encroachment for Board review.
Assigned: Tim Bray · Due: Next meeting
Reach out to a recommended IT company and review quotes with the Board.
Assigned: Emily · Due: Next meeting
Inquire about replacing the second bathroom toilet at the Fire Department/Highway Garage.
Assigned: Jen Roberts
Attend Superior Court regarding the Prime situation.
Assigned: Tim Bray and Jen Roberts · Due: 2026-04-20
Notable statements
It is not acceptable for residents to go to the staff being rude and preventing them from working; it’s not appropriate. The appropriate route is to go through the Board. — Jen Roberts · Discussing a resident's interaction with road crew regarding snow removal and equipment use. 00:00
Even if the town has a particular rule... if the road agent feels that is necessary [for safety], the town and the road agent have the right to ensure safety. — Erin Meding · Addressing concerns about the width of the road right-of-way and the use of heavy equipment. 00:00
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
1
Addressed
1
Partial
1
Not addressed
Sam Vidal
Partial
Mr. Vidal questioned why heavy equipment like graders and front loaders are being used on George Hill Road instead of just plows. He noted that his property has a slope that should prevent snowbank issues and suggested the crew contact him to shovel if needed. He also expressed concern regarding increased heavy truck traffic on the road.
Key concern
The use of heavy road equipment on his property and the desire for a 'no-thru trucking zone' due to increased heavy vehicle traffic.
Board responseThe Board deferred to the road agent's expertise regarding safety and right-of-way maintenance. Regarding the trucking concern, they stated they are unsure how a no-thru zone works but will look up information on it.
The Board addressed the equipment concern by explaining the necessity for safety and right-of-way maintenance, effectively declining the request to stop using heavy equipment. However, they treated the trucking concern as an action item to research.
Catherine Delage
Addressed
Ms. Delage disagreed with the assertion that the heavy equipment was used for safety purposes. She argued that the snow was already thawing and that the usage was unnecessary given the weather conditions.
Key concern
The necessity and timing of using heavy equipment for snow removal.
Board responseJen Roberts stated that managing such issues is a common reality for New England property owners and thanked the resident for expressing her concerns.
The Board acknowledged the comment and provided a perspective on the regional reality of snow management, though they did not change their stance on the road crew's actions.
Steve Barker
Not addressed
Mr. Barker introduced the Eastman Charitable Foundation (ECF) as a resource for the town. He highlighted their focus on environmental issues, available scholarships, and grant opportunities for local conservation projects.
Key concern
Raising awareness about ECF's financial support and grant availability for the town.
The speaker was providing information/outreach rather than raising a grievance or a specific request for action from the Board at that moment; no formal response was recorded.
Support coverage
Creating this report cost real money.
MeetingWatch attended, transcribed, and analyzed this meeting on its own dime. If this work is valuable to you, chip in to keep covering Springfield.
Follow Springfield
One email when a new report is published from the Board of Selectmen — or one weekly digest.
Report composed by
gemma-4-26b, grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.