Manchester Water Works elects officers, affirms operating rules and approves finance payments

The Manchester Water Works Board of Water Commissioners elected new officers, approved the board's operating rules and authorized routine finance payments during its Jan. 23 meeting.

The board voted to elect its president and clerk for the new term and unanimously approved the operating rules, which staff said were unchanged from the prior two years. The finance committee reports were adopted and the board approved the monthly invoices, advance drafts and P‑card payments for both December and January. The board also approved four watershed event permits and voted to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A to consider litigation and real estate matters.

Board members said there were no public commenters signed up for the 30‑minute public comment period. A motion to receive and file any written documentation presented during public comment passed on a roll call (Commissioner Brown, Commissioner Hayworth, Commissioner Sapienza, Commissioner Twombly and others were recorded “yes”).

The board moved on to organizational business. Nominations were taken and closed for president and clerk. The motion to elect the nominated president passed on a roll call that recorded yes votes from Commissioner Brown, President Haymer (recorded as present during the vote), Commissioner Hayworth, Commissioner Sapienza and Commissioner Twombly. The subsequent vote to elect the clerk likewise passed on a roll call (Commissioner Brown, President Haymer, Commissioner Hayworth, Commissioner Sapienza and Commissioner Twombly recorded “yes”).

On operating procedures, staff stated the operating rules had not changed in two years and recommended approval. The board approved the operating rules on roll call (no “no” votes were recorded).

Finance committee items were next. The board approved the finance committee's December report and authorized payment of monthly invoices, advance drafts and P‑card payments listed for December (finance staff reported totals in the meeting materials). The board then approved the January payments, which staff listed at $963,805.42; the motion to approve January payments was moved by Commissioner Brown and seconded by Commissioner Cornell and passed on roll call.

The board approved four annual watershed event permits (two by the Dairy Trail Riders, one by Hidden Pond Rescue and one by the Granite State Carriage Association). The four events were taken as a single consent vote after staff explained each event's size (about 15–30 participants depending on the event) and cleanup procedures.

A motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Cornell, moved the meeting into nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A (as cited during the meeting) to discuss pending litigation and acquisition/sale matters. The board subsequently voted to seal nonpublic minutes; that roll call included one recorded “no.” The meeting adjourned after a final motion to adjourn passed on roll call.

Votes at a glance - Motion to receive and file any written documentation presented during public comment — outcome: approved (roll-call yes votes recorded for multiple commissioners). - Election of president — outcome: approved (roll-call yes votes recorded: Commissioner Brown; President Haymer; Commissioner Hayworth; Commissioner Sapienza; Commissioner Twombly). - Election of clerk — outcome: approved (roll-call yes votes recorded). - Approval of operating rules — outcome: approved (unanimous roll-call “yes” recorded). - Approval of December finance payments (monthly invoices, advance drafts, P‑card) — outcome: approved (roll‑call yes recorded). - Approval of January finance payments ($963,805.42) — outcome: approved (mover: Commissioner Brown; seconder: Commissioner Cornell; roll‑call yes recorded). - Approval of four watershed event permits — outcome: approved (roll‑call yes recorded). - Motion to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A — outcome: approved (mover: Commissioner Brown; seconder: Commissioner Cornell). - Motion to seal nonpublic minutes — outcome: approved (one recorded “no”). - Motion to adjourn — outcome: approved (mover: Commissioner Brown; second recorded).

The board flagged a personnel settlement that had been resolved out of arbitration; details were said to be discussed in nonpublic. Staff also distributed committee assignments and asked commissioners to notify staff of any desired changes.

The meeting ended after the board completed the listed votes and moved into nonpublic session.