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Select Board — April 28, 2026

The meeting was marked by significant public criticism regarding town management and transparency, though the board maintained order and addressed procedural hiring concerns.

Date Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Public comments 9 Decisions 5 Lively
📄 Minutes

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

At the April 28 Select Board meeting, several issues surfaced regarding how Warner is managed and how town business is conducted.

Public comment highlighted significant resident dissatisfaction with the current management structure. One resident explicitly stated that the Select Board cannot adequately manage the town and argued for the appointment of a professional Town Administrator. The Board offered no formal response to these concerns, which touch on the fundamental way our community functions.

There was also a notable discussion regarding town hiring. The Board initially moved to hire an individual for the minute-taker position, but realized the need to follow standard procedures and voided the motion. The position will now be publicly posted to ensure transparency and compliance with hiring protocols.

Lastly, residents should note that while the Board was unified on major infrastructure projects—like the $185,807 Ballard Brook culvert replacement—Board member Michael J. Smith abstained from several routine administrative votes, including payroll and the approval of previous minutes. We will continue to track these developments to ensure Warner's government remains transparent and responsive.

Apr 28, 2026 9 public comments 5 decisions Lively
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“Suggested using AI to transcribe the minutes.”

— Rick Bixby · Discussion regarding the minute-taking position.

“Stated the Select Board cannot adequately manage the Town and stressed a Town Administrator is needed.”

— Hastings Rigollet · Public Comment.

“Urged the Select Board to run the town as a business and make prudent financial decisions.”

— Steve Bridgewater · Public Comment.
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

$185,807 total project cost with a $46,451.75 town share.

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Herm Blanchette
What was discussed

Director of Public Works Herm Blanchette provided an update on vehicle and equipment repairs following a recent fire, noting that several trucks and machinery are currently undergoing repairs or ozone treatments.

Speakers: Herm Blanchette, Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby
What was discussed

Discussion of a grant for the Schoodac Road (Ballard Brook) culvert upgrade, featuring a 75/25 cost split between the grant and the town.

Speakers: Ginger Marsh, Judy Newman-Rogers, Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby, Michael J. Smith
What was discussed

The Town Treasurer presented a revised document regarding which positions are authorized to deposit Town funds.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson
What was discussed

The Board discussed scheduling a site visit to the Transfer Station with a communications company to finalize repeater specifications.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Barb Marty, Karen Coyne
What was discussed

The Board discussed the interview process for the Land Use position following the submission of two applications.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Karen Coyne
What was discussed

A recap of the legal history regarding subdivision conditions and the Xenakis/Gibson issue.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Clyde Carson
What was discussed

An update on the committee formed to resolve cost issues and create a working agreement between Warner, Webster, and Hopkinton.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Karen Coyne
What was discussed

Announcement that the 2027 budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) processes are beginning.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Tracy Doherty, Clyde Carson, Rick Bixby, Ginger Marsh, Russ Smith, Rebecca Augeri, Judy Newman-Rogers, Michael J. Smith
What was discussed

A discussion regarding the transition of the minute taker from a contractor to a part-time employee and the requirement to post the position.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Minute Taker Employment Status

The transition of the minute taker from a contractor to a part-time employee raised questions about hiring transparency, role definition, and benefits. It required a mid-meeting course correction to ensure proper posting of the position.
Board position: The board initially moved to hire a specific individual but ultimately voided that motion to follow standard hiring procedures and post the position publicly.
medium concern
02

Town Management Structure

A member of the public challenged the Board's ability to manage the town, arguing for the necessity of a Town Administrator.
Board position: The board did not issue a formal response to the critique.
medium concern

Split votes

Approve Consent Agenda, April 28, 2026 Manifests, and April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes
2-0-1

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
9
Total speakers
3
Addressed
0
Partial
6
Not addressed
Ginger Marsh
Addressed
She inquired whether the minute-taking position needed to be officially posted since the Board was creating a new role. She sought clarification on the hiring process for the position. Key concern
Requirement to post the new minute-taking position.
Board response
The Board agreed to post the position and decided to continue contracting with Tracy Doherty as an interim minute taker while following formal hiring procedures.
The Board changed their motion to ensure the position would be posted and followed proper hiring procedures.
Russ Smith
Addressed
He asked for clarification regarding the specific number of hours allocated for the minute-taking position. Key concern
Number of hours for the minute-taking position.
Board response
Alfred Hanson stated he would look into the number of hours required for minute-taking for the various town boards.
The Chair committed to researching the hours needed for different boards.
Rebecca Augeri
Not addressed
She asked if the minute-taking position would be eligible for employment benefits. Key concern
Benefit eligibility for the minute-taker.
The minutes do not record a specific response to the question regarding benefits.
Barb Marty
Not addressed
She read a statement in support of Kathy Frenette. She also expressed disagreement with the Board's previous decision to allow Sarah McNeil to read a statement in opposition to Frenette's reinstatement. Key concern
Support for Kathy Frenette and disapproval of Board's previous procedural decision.
There is no record of the board responding to her statement or her disagreement.
Bill Hanson
Not addressed
He suggested that the Select Board should create and implement a formal town policy regarding the use of the town's legal counsel. Key concern
Implementation of a town policy for legal counsel usage.
The minutes do not show a response from the board regarding this suggestion.
John Leavitt
Not addressed
He reported that he submitted a request for non-public meeting minutes but has not received a response or the documents from the Town. Key concern
Failure to receive requested non-public meeting minutes.
The minutes do not record a response to this grievance.
Hastings Rigollet
Not addressed
He stated that the Select Board is unable to adequately manage the town and argued that the town needs a Town Administrator. Key concern
Need for a Town Administrator due to perceived management failures.
The minutes do not record any response to his critique or suggestion.
Steve Bridgewater
Not addressed
He expressed dissatisfaction with the Board's current decisions. He urged the Board to manage the town like a business with prudent financial decisions and emphasized the importance of town unity. Key concern
Dissatisfaction with Board decisions and plea for financial prudence and unity.
The board did not respond to his comments in the transcript.
Rebecca Courser
Addressed
She asked for clarification on a suggestion to use the Central NH Regional Planning Commission to assist with land use issues at a rate of $70/hour. Key concern
Clarification on using CNHRPC for land use assistance.
Board response
Alfred Hanson explained that the suggestion was an option to cover the Land Use department until the clerk position is filled, but the Land Use Chairs decided not to move forward with it.
The Chair provided a direct explanation regarding the status of the suggestion.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Accept terms of the hazardous mitigation grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement ($185,807 total; Town share $46,451.75).
The Select Board acknowledged the 25% match required for the project.
Passed (Bixby: YES, Smith: YES, Hanson: YES)
Void the motion to hire Tracy Doherty as a part-time employee and instead proceed with standard hiring procedures while keeping her as an interim contractor.
The Board agreed to post the position and continue contracting with Doherty as an interim.
Passed (Bixby: YES, Smith: YES, Hanson: YES)
Approve Consent Agenda, including $1,883 from Transfer Station Capital Reserve for network equipment.
Approved request to Trustees of the Trust Funds.
Passed (Bixby: YES, Hanson: YES, Smith: ABSTAIN)
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests (Accounts Payable and Payroll).
Includes AP checks and bi-weekly payroll deposits/checks.
Passed (Bixby: YES, Hanson: YES, Smith: ABSTAIN)
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes.
Minutes approved as presented.
Passed (Bixby: YES, Hanson: YES, Smith: ABSTAIN)

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X / Twitter — by angle

Hiring procedure course correction
During the April 28 Select Board meeting, the Board initially moved to hire a specific individual as a part-time minute taker before voiding the motion to follow proper hiring procedures. Transparency in town hiring matters. #WarnerNH... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-04-28/ #MeetingWatch
311/280 chars
Split votes and board internal dynamics
At the 4/28 Select Board meeting, Michael J. Smith abstained from votes on the Consent Agenda, payroll manifests, and previous meeting minutes. This repeated pattern of abstention on routine items warrants resident attention. #WarnerNH... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-04-28/ #MeetingWatch
312/280 chars
Fiscal impact of infrastructure decisions
The town is moving forward with the Ballard Brook culvert replacement. Total cost: $185,807. The town’s share is $46,451.75. The Board accepted the grant terms on 4/28. #WarnerNH #TaxpayerAlert https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-04-28/ #MeetingWatch
267/280 chars

X thread

1
What is the future of management in Warner? During the April 28 Select Board meeting, public comment highlighted growing tension over how our town is run. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
180/280
2
Residents challenged the Board’s ability to manage town affairs, arguing that the current structure is inadequate and that Warner needs a professional Town Administrator to run operations more like a business. The Board did not issue a formal response.
252/280
3
The meeting also saw a mid-session course correction regarding the minute-taker position. After a motion to hire a specific individual was made, the Board voided it to ensure the position is properly posted and follows standard hiring procedures.
246/280
4
Finally, we noted a pattern of abstentions from Board member Michael J. Smith on routine administrative items, including payroll and previous minutes. We will continue to monitor how these internal dynamics affect town business. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-04-28/
252/280

Facebook — long form

At the April 28 Select Board meeting, several issues surfaced regarding how Warner is managed and how town business is conducted.

Public comment highlighted significant resident dissatisfaction with the current management structure. One resident explicitly stated that the Select Board cannot adequately manage the town and argued for the appointment of a professional Town Administrator. The Board offered no formal response to these concerns, which touch on the fundamental way our community functions.

There was also a notable discussion regarding town hiring. The Board initially moved to hire an individual for the minute-taker position, but realized the need to follow standard procedures and voided the motion. The position will now be publicly posted to ensure transparency and compliance with hiring protocols.

Lastly, residents should note that while the Board was unified on major infrastructure projects—like the $185,807 Ballard Brook culvert replacement—Board member Michael J. Smith abstained from several routine administrative votes, including payroll and the approval of previous minutes. We will continue to track these developments to ensure Warner's government remains transparent and responsive. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-04-28/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Schedule a public hearing for the culvert project once final approval is received from the Governor and Council.
Assigned: Herm Blanchette · Due: Post-approval
Conduct site visit/work session at the Transfer Station regarding the cell tower.
Assigned: Select Board · Due: 2026-05-06 3:00 PM
Post the minute-taking position.
Assigned: Select Board
Investigate the number of hours required for minute-taking for various town boards.
Assigned: Alfred Hanson

Member ⁠positions

11 issues · 5 explicit · 0 inferred
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Cell Tower Update ✓
Land Use Position ✓
Gibson vs Town of Warner ✓
Ambulance Committee ✓
2027 Budget Season ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion to hire and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda YES ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests YES ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda YES ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests YES ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Michael Smith
Member
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda ABSTAIN ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests ABSTAIN ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes ABSTAIN ✓
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda YES ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests YES ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes YES ✓
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda ABSTAIN ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests ABSTAIN ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes ABSTAIN ✓
Present
Hazardous Mitigation Grant YES ✓
Supported the grant for Ballard Brook culvert replacement.
Delegation of Deposit Authority ✓
Minute Taker Employment Status YES ✓
Supported voiding the motion and following standard procedures.
Approve Consent Agenda YES ✓
Approve April 28, 2026 Manifests YES ✓
Approve April 14, 2026 Select Board meeting minutes YES ✓

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”

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Report composed by grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.