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Select Board — June 9, 2026

Warner board passes financial items 2-0-1 and 2-1 after member cites late agenda materials on June 9

Multiple split votes and public-process complaints created measurable division, though most substantive items were routine or deferred.

Date Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Public comments 2 Decisions 4 Lively
📄 Minutes

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Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.

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

At the June 9 Select Board meeting, member Mike Smith abstained on the consent agenda and voted against the June 9 manifest because he received materials too late for proper review. Alfred Hanson and Rick Bixby approved both items. The same notice problem surfaced on the raffle permit request. Smith also raised the Town Administrator position, which has remained vacant for a year despite voter approval to fill it. No timeline was set for posting the job. The board voted 2-1 to enter non-public session on hiring, with Smith dissenting.

Jun 9, 2026 2 public comments 4 decisions Lively
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“He receives only 1 email a month and did not receive agenda or materials in timely fashion; information must be provided 3 days in advance.”

— Mike Smith · Multiple agenda items including raffle, consent, manifest, and non-public notice 00:00

“Town Administrator position has been vacant for a year; advertisement should have been written months ago and board needs to work faster.”

— Mike Smith · Other Business discussion 00:00
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

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

Approximately $827k in repairs plus extras

What happened

Board scheduled June 16 work session to review extras; no final decisions on fund use.

Topics ⁠discussed

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

Herm Blanchette reported insurance-funded building repairs totaling ~$793k plus $34.5k extras from CRF; vehicles mostly repaired or awaiting parts.

What happened

Board agreed to hold work session on June 16 at 7 PM to review extras.

Speakers: Michelle Courser
What was discussed

Town Clerk Michelle Courser presented warrant for 90 unlicensed dogs and annual civil forfeiture process.

What happened

Presented for board consideration; no immediate action recorded.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson
What was discussed

Alfred Hanson stated updates on Land Use and Human Services Director positions will be ready at next meeting.

What happened

Deferred to next regular meeting.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby, Mike Smith
What was discussed

Liability waiver for resident volunteer mowing discussed; Rick Bixby needs more review time.

What happened

Added to June 16 work session agenda.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Mike Smith
What was discussed

Knights of Columbus raffle permit for June 20 approved unanimously.

What happened

Motion passed: Hanson YES, Bixby YES, Smith YES.

Speakers: Mike Smith, Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby
What was discussed

Mike Smith pressed for faster action on year-long vacancy; repeated complaints about late email delivery of agendas and materials.

What happened

Alfred will take under advisement; no immediate timeline set.

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby, Mike Smith
What was discussed

Consent agenda (trust fund withdrawal and tower account transfer) and June 9 manifest approved with split votes.

What happened

Consent passed (Bixby YES, Hanson YES, Smith ABSTAIN); Manifest passed (Bixby YES, Hanson YES, Smith NO).

Speakers: Alfred Hanson, Rick Bixby, Mike Smith
What was discussed

Board voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) to discuss hiring.

What happened

Motion passed (Hanson YES, Bixby YES, Smith NO); entered non-public at 6:47 PM.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Timely agenda and materials distribution

Mike Smith repeatedly stated he receives materials only one day in advance or not at all, violating the 3-day requirement and preventing informed votes on consent agenda, manifest, raffle, and non-public session.
Board position: Alfred Hanson agreed to take the complaints under advisement; no binding process change adopted.
Internal dissent
Mike Smith abstained or voted no on multiple items citing lack of notice; Hanson and Bixby approved.
medium concern
02

Town Administrator vacancy handling

Position vacant for a year despite town vote to fill it; Smith argued advertisement should have occurred months earlier.
Board position: Hanson stated the posting is not yet ready; action deferred.
Internal dissent
Smith pressed for faster timeline; Hanson and Bixby did not commit to one.
medium concern

Split votes

Approve Consent Agenda (trust fund and tower account withdrawals)
2-0-1
Approve June 9 Manifest (AP and payroll)
2-1
Move to non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b)
2-1

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
0
Addressed
1
Partial
1
Not addressed
Ed Mical
Partial
Ed Mical asked for clarification on the unanticipated funds the town will receive from Primex related to the highway garage insurance claim. He specifically inquired whether a public hearing would be required before using those funds. Key concern
Clarification on use of Primex funds and whether a public hearing is needed
Board response
Alfred Hanson stated that additional information will be available after the scheduled work session on June 16.
Board acknowledged the question but deferred any detailed response or decision until after the work session.
Judy Newman-Rogers
Not addressed
Judy Newman-Rogers suggested that board members who are unable to attend a meeting should notify her in advance. She noted this would help avoid situations where a lack of quorum prevents a meeting from occurring. Key concern
Advance notification of board member absences to ensure quorum
No response or acknowledgment from the board is recorded in the transcript.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
00:00
Approve Knights of Columbus raffle permit
Hanson YES, Bixby YES, Smith YES
Passed 3-0
00:00
Approve Consent Agenda (trust fund and tower account withdrawals)
Bixby YES, Hanson YES, Smith ABSTAIN
Passed 2-0-1
00:00
Approve June 9 Manifest (AP and payroll)
Bixby YES, Hanson YES, Smith NO
Passed 2-1
00:00
Move to non-public session (RSA 91-A:3 II (b))
Hanson YES, Bixby YES, Smith NO
Passed 2-1

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X / Twitter — by angle

split votes over late materials delivery
Warner Select Board 6/9/26: Mike Smith abstained on consent agenda and voted no on June 9 manifest, citing materials received too late for review. Hanson and Bixby approved both anyway. 3-day notice rule repeatedly ignored. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-06-09/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
307/280 chars
prolonged vacancy handling
Town Administrator position vacant for a full year despite voter approval to fill it. At 6/9 meeting Smith pushed for faster action; Hanson said draft posting still not ready. No timeline set. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-06-09/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
276/280 chars
split on non-public and transparency
Warner board voted 2-1 on 6/9 to enter non-public session for hiring. Smith voted no and questioned process. Same split pattern on financial approvals that night. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-06-09/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
246/280 chars

X thread

1
Warner Select Board 6/9 meeting showed repeated splits (consent 2-0-1, manifest 2-1) because one member received agenda and backup materials too late to review. Smith abstained on consent agenda and voted no on manifest; Hanson and Bixby passed both. #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH
274/280
2
Smith also pressed on the Town Administrator role vacant for a year despite town vote to fill it. Advertisement still not ready per Hanson. No new deadline set for posting or interviews.
186/280
3
Board approved raffle permit 3-0 but only after Smith noted the 3-day advance notice rule was missed again. Same notice failures affected multiple votes that night. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-06-09/
188/280

Facebook — long form

At the June 9 Select Board meeting, member Mike Smith abstained on the consent agenda and voted against the June 9 manifest because he received materials too late for proper review. Alfred Hanson and Rick Bixby approved both items. The same notice problem surfaced on the raffle permit request. Smith also raised the Town Administrator position, which has remained vacant for a year despite voter approval to fill it. No timeline was set for posting the job. The board voted 2-1 to enter non-public session on hiring, with Smith dissenting. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/warner/select-board/2026-06-09/ #MeetingWatch #WarnerNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Distribute draft Professional Employment Performance Review for discussion
Assigned: Alfred Hanson · Due: Next meeting
Hold work session on highway garage extras and Howe Lane waiver
Assigned: Select Board · Due: June 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Member ⁠positions

5 issues · 22 explicit · 3 inferred · 1 unclear
A split vote in this meeting was recorded without naming the dissenter (e.g. a voice vote). Members whose individual vote could not be confirmed are marked UNCLEAR below — this is not the same as a “yes.” Named votes will be filled in if official minutes record them.
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals YES ✓
Non-Public Session YES ✓
Raffle Permit Request YES ~
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals YES ~
Non-Public Session UNCLEAR
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals ABSTAIN ✓
Non-Public Session NO ✓
Town Administrator Position and Notifications ✓
Pushed for faster hiring action after year-long vacancy and timely 3-day notice on materials
Richard Bixby
Vice Chair
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals YES ✓
Non-Public Session YES ✓
Mike Smith
Member
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals ABSTAIN ✓
Non-Public Session NO ✓
Town Administrator Position and Notifications ✓
Pushed for faster hiring action after year-long vacancy and timely 3-day notice on materials
Rick Bixby
Vice Chair
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals YES ✓
Non-Public Session YES ✓
Howe Lane Resident Mowing Waiver ✓
Needs additional time to review liability waiver document
Michael Smith
Member
Present
Raffle Permit Request YES ✓
Consent Agenda and Manifest Approvals ABSTAIN ✓
Non-Public Session NO ✓
Town Administrator Position and Notifications ✓
Pushed for faster hiring action after year-long vacancy and timely 3-day notice on materials

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.”

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Transcript vs. official minutes

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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.