Select Board
Friday, July 25, 2025
Meeting Minutes

Select Board: Andrew Maneval, Kathy Scott. Absent: Andrea Hodson
Attendees: Nelson Select Board members Mike Blaudschun and Brenna Kucinski; Municipal Services Director Steve LaMears; Cemetery Trustees Chair Sonja Bianchi; Transportation Committee Chair Mary Day Mordecai; Leslie Voiers, Erica Saunders, Don Scott

Agenda, Minutes of 7/3 – The board approved the agenda as drafted and deferred a vote on the minutes until the next meeting.

Recycling Center – Nelson SB members followed up with Nelson’s interest in exploring collaborative use of the Harrisville Recycling Center. The group discussed potential options for cost sharing and how Nelson residents might be accommodated and how the Harrisville staff and facility could manage the additional traffic, waste and recyclables that would result. Options suggested include a “pay as you go” or “per bag” model for waste or a flat annual fee charged to the Town of Nelson based on population or operating budget metric. Nelson noted it would prefer a “pay as you go” model and wouldn’t expect to share revenue from recyclables, but asked if Harrisville could provide a cost for a flat fee.

The SB and Mr. LaMears noted that issues for Harrisville to consider include the limited size of the facility, additional vehicles and staffing and the fact that we continue to work through the transition back to a full recycling center. The SB added it will discuss this further and thanked Nelson for the follow up conversation. The two boards aim to reconvene at the end of September.

Public Works update – The granite curbing work on Church Street begins Monday, July 28. This is the final phase of the village road project. The Highway Department has attended to lots of equipment repairs. They’re looking at options for loaders for a warrant article in 2026.  Street sign replacement is in the works, with a new sign for Blood Hill Road to be ordered.  Mowing of the landfill is being scheduled.

Steve LaMears noted that, because safety standards have changed considerably since the town got its glass crusher for the Recycling Center, we currently lack adequate space and ventilation to operate it; however, material storage, paving and glass are at the top of the priority list for that facility. Mr. Maneval asked if Mr. LaMears could please seek the RC staff’s input on the possible idea of a pay-as-you-go model.

Wetland permit for work on the town rail trail – The Trails Group, in continued work to upgrade the town rail trail between Main Street and Brown Road, requires a Wetland Permit from the state to repair a culvert and build up wingwalls on either side of the headwall to create a pocket park on the section of trail overlooking Sanford Pond. The Trails Group previously funded upgrades to trail bed and is asking the Town to cover the $400 application fee for the permit, which requires signatures from the Select Board, Town Clerk and Conservation Commission.  The Trails Group is raising additional private funds to do the work.  Mr. Maneval subsequently moved to approve the Wetland Permit by Notification. Kathy Scott seconded. All voted in favor.

Draft Dog Ordinance – The SB will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance requiring leashing of dogs and removal of dog waste in cemeteries and on public property. Fines would be set at $50 for each violation.  The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 7, at 7:00 pm.

Transportation Committee – Mary Day Mordecai shared updates from the Transportation Committee (TC). The TC believes the lines around the curves on Hancock Road will need repainting, and with fluorescent paint for night visibility. The committee will recommend that a few more curves get painted and will ask the Highway Dept. about more brush clearing given the vegetation growth. Their recommendations for traffic calming and safety on Church Street will follow the completion of construction around St. Denis/the community center, likely early fall. A resident has requested a 25mph speed limit on Main Street in the village. The TC will reach out to the DOT about this.  Separately, Southwest Region Planning Commission installed the traffic strips for traffic counts on Main Street as part of their annual data collection. Officer Perry will take over collection and analysis of the speed radar sign data.

On the Town/Historic Harrisville exploration of a walking path in the village, which would lie partly on HHI property, partly on town property and partly along right of way, the Transportation Committee and Historic Harrisville are pleased with the report of the engineering firm and with the process with the DOT.  The TC is now looking at what’s required to apply for a MAST grant this fall, and what, if any, maintenance, ADA, or liability questions need resolving in order to proceed. The TC will discuss this further and delineate questions that would need answering.

Affordable Housing Team – Ned Hulbert shared a proposed scope of work from SWRPC and the Affordable Housing Team to collaborate on an application to NH Housing and Finance for a mini-grant.  The grant would commit the town to roughly $3,500 for consultant work to advance the goals of creating affordable housing opportunities in Harrisville.  Mr. Maneval recommended that the AHT meet with the Planning Board and Ordinance Review Committee members. The AHT will reach out to the PB for agenda time at their August meeting.

Correspondence and other business
–The SB signed the pay warrant for $278,897.23.
-Community Power rates – Mr. Maneval noted the new rate is 13.419 per kW, for the first time higher than the Eversource rate, which also is increasing.
-Draft SB agenda for Thursday, 7/31, at 7 pm – Dog ordinance follow up for August 7 hearing; Recycling Center, continued discussion on Nelson request; Finance, expenditures to date against budget.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 am.