Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Loudon selectmen pick chair, approve grants and appointments and sign off on event permits
Summary
At its March 18 meeting the Loudon Board of Selectmen voted to install a new chair, approved several grants and facility permits, authorized the fire chief to execute a volunteer firefighting grant, and made three board appointments; the fire chief also warned the board about pending ambulance-reimbursement bills at the statehouse.
Selectmen voted Wednesday to name a new chair and approved a slate of routine grants, permits and appointments while hearing department-head updates on public-safety staffing and pending state legislation affecting ambulance billing.
The board appointed Selectman Gilman to serve as chair after a nomination and a unanimous voice vote. Selectman Gilman said he would accept the role so long as other selectmen shared responsibility for the workload: “If I took the chair position, Ineed help with the rest of this,” he said, adding that he wanted to continue initiatives begun during the previous year. Selectman Griffin and Selectman Seth Miller joined the ayes.
The meeting had several administrative votes that the board handled together. The consent agenda passed by voice vote; the board also approved a Department of Safety speed-enforcement grant amendment, authorized the towns fire chief to sign a volunteer fire-assistant grant, approved an outdoor-facility use agreement for an Easter service, and confirmed three appointments to planning and zoning bodies. All motions recorded at the meeting passed by unanimous voice votes.
Police Chief Dana Flanders told the board the department submitted an amendment to a speed-enforcement grant that adds $2,500 in funds and requires a $625 local match; the board approved the amendment to allow the department to accept and record the additional funds in the minutes. Flanders also presented a commendation from Governor Kelly Ayotte recognizing officers who responded to a January mental-health crisis at a hotel, noting their de-escalation and that the individual received follow-up care. He reported Officer Hart ranked 11th in his academy class and that a newly purchased cruiser will be fitted with graphics before entering service.
Fire Chief Blanchett gave personnel and operations updates and described state-level bills that could affect the towns ambulance revenue. He summarized two competing House measures: House Bill 316, which the subcommittee endorsed at roughly 200% of Medicare and would prohibit the town from balance-billing patients (reducing a typical post-service co-pay), and House Bill 725, which would set payment at 325% of Medicare and also prohibit balance billing. Blanchett said passage of the lower 200% rate would reduce the towns emergency-service revenue by an estimated "close to $50,000" and urged board members to contact legislators. He said NHMA and local municipalities were coordinating testimony.
The board approved two border permits for the New England Racing Museums annual events: a car show on May 3 (rain date May 4) and an event on August 16 (rain date August 17). Staff and zoning reported no prior problems with traffic or noise from these recurring events; Police Chief Flanders said the department typically requires a paid police detail only when traffic concerns or alcohol service make it necessary.
On individual appointments the board confirmed Whitney Donnelly as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment; Jeffrey Miller will continue as the planning board ex officio member through March 14, 2026; and Mark Griffin was appointed planning-board alternate through the same date. The board also authorized the chair to sign an outdoor-facility use agreement for Faith Community Bible Church to use the gazebo on April 20 from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
The meeting closed with the board preparing to enter nonpublic session for a personnel matter. Formal votes taken at the meeting were recorded as unanimous voice votes unless otherwise noted.
