[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6097685,"mediaKeyId","2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c","parentId",2827645,"title","Votes at a glance: Woodstock selectmen approve minutes, policies, appointments and a contractor payment; drop‑off clothing bin request denied","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1320000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c&start=1320&end=1320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097685/Woodstock/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Votes-at-a-glance-Woodstock-selectmen-approve-minutes-policies-appointments-and-a-contractor-payment-dropoff-clothing-bin-request-denied","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097685-d877d0e59a2fbe6c70318da4f0e143fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175422&Signature=lm2MiYy4yC0nIWgAKwRlQ3zPybdbq7pm4p4HrPDqICeFzydQ3c0ZLurhsbqd9GdBF72TPbTQQMT2KRT3TaXhiBrV~aSs3ejY2rq~w1M511ORq0Ir7iNkPzKOIAsN5tYZ7PI8i8KyLE~9JDl1ZuvHUmaC-57VZYc2R7TwsqZDtPpIrzjLiSIKS6U7024n8mkG4VZ~5QEQRmLe5SdbPoRyfP30HURm2ghdKN3-ZFAQLcXTT~-atiOvKoe92WxfVRlqsfLTm3L0QhmgTMxX4ed4BLWKkoqnGh~~xStC330CQKGXlW4-gsWgDWWWb2mhXFqvD88jhGb8-gwUWlCREPUlVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Woodstock NH","date","2025-04-01T01:03:42.393Z","article","At the February meeting the Board of Selectmen recorded several formal actions and approvals.

Minutes and administrative approvals: The board approved and signed minutes from the Feb. 11 meeting and from Feb. 25. It also signed the required delegation of deposit authority form that authorizes specific town staff to make bank deposits. The board accepted an annual package of policies — the capital asset depreciation policy, credit card policy, financial management plan, fund balance policy, investment policy and the purchasing policy — by motion and voice vote.

Appointments: The board appointed Eleanor Harvey as Town Treasurer, Cheryl Voorasa as tax collector (with oath of office) and Julian Welch as deputy tax collector; motions to appoint each candidate were made and approved by voice vote.

Payments and contractor work: The board authorized issuance of payment number 3 for the Route 112 Seward substation (Seward's pump house upgrade) and authorized the selectman (chair) to sign the payment documentation.

Permits and requests: The board discussed a nonprofit request to hold a butterfly release and indicated they typically waive fees for nonprofits; in that case the applicant will provide a certificate of insurance and the board expressed no issue with the request. A low‑budget film permit application for riverfront filming was tabled pending clarification of the exact filming location and whether state park permits are required. A proposal to place a 24‑hour clothing drop‑off bin in Woodstock was considered and the board voted to decline that opportunity at this time, citing concerns about duplication with the transfer station and potential overflow if pick‑ups are missed.

Adjournment: The board adjourned at 9:14 a.m.

Notes on votes: The meeting record did not include roll‑call tallies for the voice votes; motions were moved, seconded and passed by voice in each case as recorded in the public minutes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Select Board Meeting, March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Selectmen approved meeting minutes, a package of financial and purchasing policies, several town appointments and authorized payment on a Route 112 substation contractor application; the board declined a proposal to place a clothing‑drop bin in town and tabled a low‑budget film permit pending location details.","taxTitle","Woodstock, Grafton County, New Hampshire","taxId",68297,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6097691,"Woodstock selectmen require full names for Zoom attendees; public raises access concerns",2245,3000,2248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c&start=3&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c/thumbnail_3000.jpg","/articles/6097691/Woodstock/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Woodstock-selectmen-require-full-names-for-Zoom-attendees-public-raises-access-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097691-f4ee0a0ce1f735e3936f7003ef578b0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175422&Signature=g6~s8rrPJGiuSqqUYCwQQTDGahNIDe~~oxbWj55lyO9d6Ln57-4ESEczA2o3eHFGzgDBx6Jc~u4QhLBzPIU0n8InCdP3kFQmgK-wPoxyizqm3dpH~VeuSAPrnbO~pgK36lM0x4tj2204GU6LEJ~~TDM9UmRISgTH5hT8kUm5WmmPJipmdI4Oge~AHMd0h~kcd2OcM7J1~iLSzvNbINoK1zbySaToy5gZu2l9q53m6OUQmx1ttXIlNEUrZw5nF1PaTdog3FvxFVwtsi~wOyozMm-q00dBGE0gfsnd~I7AaSc4-tS1kYlWXhL6qqFFNJYChnQHA~c59o0OqNwGfSyc0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the start of the meeting the Board of Selectmen announced a new attendance rule for virtual participants: anyone joining board meetings by Zoom must present a full first name and last name when they enter the meeting or they will be returned to the waiting room until they comply.

“Starting today, if you plan to attend a board of selectmen's meeting via Zoom, you'll be required to enter your full first name and last name upon joining,” the Board of Selectmen Chair said. The chair said the town had consulted the town council and decided to treat online and in‑person attendees the same to avoid perceptions of unequal access.

The meeting’s public‑participation segment included several residents who said they understood the transparency rationale but worried the rule could discourage people who only want to watch. One resident said, in effect, that people who only want to view and not speak should not be required to identify themselves. The chair said the town would check with the town attorney about whether passive watchers must supply names and noted that recordings of meetings would remain available for later viewing.

The board said enforcement will be operational: Zoom participants who do not set their display name will be placed in the waiting room and must either edit their Zoom display name or announce themselves live so the clerk can record attendance.

Why it matters: The policy affects how residents can observe local meetings remotely and balances transparency for meeting minutes against remote‑access ease for passive viewers.

Next steps: the board will consult the town attorney for formal guidance and will consider public feedback about whether passive viewing should require identification.

","The Board of Selectmen adopted a new rule requiring Zoom participants to enter full first and last names or be placed in the waiting room; public commenters said the rule could discourage passive viewers and asked the board to seek the town attorney’s clarity on whether passive watching should require identification.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6097696,"Woodstock residents press town on water contract, hydrant flushing and in‑house operator options",1146,146000,1292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c&start=146&end=1292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827645-5649af52c7fe4de70f8629027b340c7c/thumbnail_146000.jpg","/articles/6097696/Woodstock/Grafton-County/New-Hampshire/Woodstock-residents-press-town-on-water-contract-hydrant-flushing-and-inhouse-operator-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097696-3965698805305db1fab62e9cdb4994c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175422&Signature=e1IreeWHOnqAku30vmZ8g7WEucczS7t9RI-tk1lnD5Y37atc6lMaX8frm~9KoWTVmpUx3WpHjJdNCZuba59VF70R3UkjwVSDF1dLqTKSZF1tSM~EK6TNOrb5RAxAhSC3NetkdKDYRmng4pu0zg3rlQNJ5D5lKc8-ACU0RWcTj272Z0pUqkYqamCDaJ6jvHqm8bMtJruQj5R4tXjirPn9Kn~kVcZLhgX2TPDgM0MJ4ZNiGTJ1Fakscd4pwldgABCC8ly4YCCysZBJEhCUIjSg56pn-u4ynQo6DeZyuCrLZQlhOV5Jii6sEvNce3hcbZbEOh4kqo3tPKnY6bKxXXuNYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Board of Selectmen meeting, resident John McKay raised a series of operational concerns about the town's recent water-operations contract and the condition of hydrants and gate valves in Woodstock.

The discussion centered on a clause in the contract with the outside operator (referred to in the meeting as “Wade in the Water”) that requires “distribution system flushing annually.” McKay said the contract does not define how long crews must flush or what constitutes “clean” water after flushing, and he asked the board to require a measurable flushing standard. “I found 2 of them that were leaking because they were not shut off all the way,” McKay said, describing past problems with hydrants that froze, gate valves full of dirt and parts of the system that could not be flushed at the line end because the line is not looped.

Board members and staff acknowledged prior operational failures and described several recurring causes: sand washing downhill into valve boxes after heavy rains, buried or mislocated gate valves, and an unlooped line that detained sediment at the system end. The chair said the town will ask the resident and public-works staff to meet with the contractor to produce a flushing protocol that specifies expectations. “I think it's a reasonable request,” the chair said, urging John McKay to work with Mike Dunn and the contractor to draft concrete flushing steps.

The meeting included debate over whether Woodstock should employ a full‑time, in‑town water operator instead of contracting operations. Proponents said an in‑house employee can monitor day‑to‑day work, run leak detection equipment and ensure valves and flushes are performed correctly. Opponents and some board members cited prior turnover and liability reasons for outsourcing: training an employee only to have them leave for higher pay can leave the town without licensed coverage. The chair noted the town previously decided to contract in part because contractors assume licensing, insurance and other liability responsibilities.

Town staff told the board that the neighboring town of Lincoln has three certified operators (grade 2 or above in distribution) and equipment such as an excavator that could have been used during past work; selectmen acknowledged Lincoln’s proximity as a potential operational benefit but said coordination was not completed before the contract was awarded. Board members also said the town’s highway department is certified to provide confined‑space entry assistance if needed and that the contract includes language that the town will provide confined‑space entry when required.

Board members agreed to set a follow-up meeting among John McKay, public-works staff (Mike Dunn) and the contractor representative (referred to in the meeting as Courtney) to draft flushing requirements and to identify inspection checkpoints during main and service-line installations. No formal vote to change the contract was taken at the meeting.

Why it matters: The town’s flushing, valve maintenance and operator coverage affect everyday water reliability and emergency response. Residents pointed to prior black water incidents and a winter service disruption when the system lost pressure and crews could not operate certain valves.

Board members said they will revisit the contract at the next review cycle and will “take that feedback” when the contract comes up again, but no new contract amendment was adopted that night.

Next steps: staff were directed to schedule a meeting with the resident and the contractor to draft specific flushing standards and inspection checkpoints for the town to provide to the contractor.

","Residents and selectmen debated requirements in the town's new water operations contract — including flushing standards, frozen or clogged hydrants and whether to hire an in‑house certified operator — and directed staff to meet with the contractor and a resident to draft clearer flushing specifications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Woodstock selectmen approve minutes, policies, appointments and a contractor payment; drop‑off clothing bin request denied

Woodstock selectmen require full names for Zoom attendees; public raises access concerns

Woodstock residents press town on water contract, hydrant flushing and in‑house operator options