Select Board
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Meeting Minutes

Select Board: Andrew Maneval, Andrea Hodson. Absent: Kathy Scott
Attendees: Cathy Lovas, Steve LaMears
Recording Secretary: Mary Ann Noyer

Agenda, Minutes of 3/5 – With the additions of review of the pay letter roster, discussion on access to town property for events, an update on the South Road Bridge, and an inquiry from Pamela Worden, the board approved the amended agenda. The SB also approved the meeting minutes of March 6. The board noted that, while the SB met on town meeting day, there was no action or deliberation on any town business.

SB assignments to boards/committees – Andrew Maneval will stay on as ex-officio member of the Planning Board. Subject to further discussion with Kathy Scott upon her return, the SB supports her serving on the ZBA.  Also to await attendance of the full SB is a vote on the SB chair position and consideration of whether a SB representative should, even if not required, continue to serve on the Historic District Commission or the Conservation Commission.

On the Safety Committee, Ms. Hodson will consult with committee chair Matt Perry. She also will continue as chair of the Energy Committee. Mr. Maneval will remain on the Records Retention Committee, the Ordinance Review Committee and the Underutilized Properties Committees.

Personnel Policies Manual – Andrea Hodson will resume updating the town’s Personnel Policies. She will also review NHMA’s handbook for municipal volunteers to ascertain whether this is worth printing and distributing.

Warrant Article follow up – Warrant Article 6: Steve LaMears confirmed the lease interest rate for the new pick-up truck is firm at 7.3%, the lowest Ford Motor Credit will go. The final truck cost came in slightly lower than originally quoted.  Warrant Article 7: Based on the loader finance rate, Mr. Maneval will contact the Caterpillar rep to discuss. Warrant Article 4: Capital Reserve Fund transfers will wait until first half tax payments come in. Warrant Article 9: The costs for road improvements are expected in the next month. Article 10: Steve LaMears will get quotes from different vendors on culverts.

Fencing by Canal – While the board agreed the area by the library is the priority and the board authorized Steve LaMears to oversee a temporary fix there for safety, the board considered the wider question of what is desirable on the Prospect Street side or elsewhere along the canal. They agreed a committee of interested parties should be formed, and a public meeting held, to identify the goal of the fencing, proposed timeframes, and the design and extent of the fencing.  The committee would then make recommendations to the SB, taking into account historic factors and safety.  Potential representatives could come from the Historic District Commission, Historic Harrisville, the Transportation Committee, the Planning Board and Select Board. Andrew Maneval will discuss with the Historic District Commission next week and with the PB and Historic Harrisville. Andrea Hodson will reach out to the Transportation Committee. The SB will continue discussion on this at its next meeting.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – The SB will consider how the 2014 CIP can be updated or adapted and asked Steve LaMears to review it and offer recommendations. The goal is a document that is informational for townspeople and is a guide for department heads and boards. The SB’s goal is to review and update the 2014 document for dissemination this year.

Drug/Alcohol Testing – Steve LaMears connected the Highway Department with OnSite Drug Testing for screening and random testing, important for insurance and liability. The company that had done random testing has not contacted the town in a couple of years.   Separately, Andrea Hodson raised the idea of training opportunities. Steve shared the courses that have been taken or are in progress, with more to be done as possible given the distance required to travel for many of the offerings.

Energy Committee – Andrea Hodson noted that $145K from the HeatSmart+ rebate program has been distributed so far to 36 Harrisville homeowners. Income eligibility criteria were lifted; all detached single-family homeowners are welcome to apply. Funding for 2026 is available and has to be spent by year-end. Separately, the Electrify Monadnock Fund is to be launched, offering $7K for projects that include solar and electric vehicles.

Public Works – Steve LaMears noted the lines on Hancock Road will hopefully be repainted before Memorial Day. The Recycle Center staff are considering which day of the week could be added to the current schedule for the facility to open for 4 hours to spread out the busy season volume.  The SB is in favor of the idea to obtain an enclosed trailer to house all the Town Meeting and Election furniture and supplies to facilitate the logistics of transporting, setting up, and breaking down.  On whether the Highway Department can keep the bridge components on the South Road when it is replaced, Andrea will check into whether this is possible given the restrictions surrounding federally funded projects.

Access to town property – Upon the request to use the triangle in the village in front of the brick church for a public event on April 11, the SB will review the form drafted by Andrea Hodson and consider whether or what type of policy should be set forth for use of town property. The SB in the meantime will notify the Police and Fire Chiefs of the event.

Correspondence and other business
-Windy Row Bridge, Peterborough.  The SB acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Hancock SB notifying us of the imminent closing to vehicles of Windy Row Bridge due to its poor condition. The bridge is located north of the intersection of Sargent Camp Road and Windy Row.

-The SB signed the MS-232, Report of Appropriations Actually Voted, for submission to the DRA.

-The SB signed two applications for Veterans Credits.

-On the PB request to add a link to the school district on the town’s webpage the SB agrees.

-The board signed the pay warrant for $229,824.05 and the payroll warrant for $28,613.98. The board also signed off on the pay roster for 2026 pay letters.

-On the correspondence from Ms. Worden, the board noted it will provide contact information for new town counsel or she can choose to hire her own.

-SB calendar – The board scheduled a tentative meeting for 3/26 at 6pm, and otherwise will meet Thur 4/2 @ 7pm.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.