Plaistow selectmen advance several warrant articles, approve transfers and adopt investment policy

The Plaistow Board of Selectmen on Jan. 13 readopted the town’s investment policy, approved a $25,000 transfer into the cell-tower maintenance capital reserve fund, recommended a warrant article to establish a full‑time communication specialist, and authorized the use of expiring public‑safety impact fees to offset bond payments.

The board voted to readopt the investment policy required by state law. Greg (Town Manager) told the board, "New Hampshire RSA stipulates that the board shall have an investment policy," and said he compared the town policy to the RSA and found only minor typographical changes from prior years. The readoption motion passed (board announced a 4‑0 vote).

The board approved Warrant Article P‑25‑18, a transfer to the Cell Tower Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. Town Manager Greg said the $25,000 (previously discussed as $30,000 then revised) represents revenue from the Dish Wireless site agreement that the town will move out of the unassigned fund balance and into the capital reserve to cover legal costs and future maintenance; the town’s cell‑tower maintenance reserve had about $391,000 as of Dec. 31, 2024. The motion was seconded and the board carried the article (vote announced as 4‑0).

On a related financial motion, the board moved to apply $16,040.71 in public safety impact fees that are due to expire to help offset principal payments on the public safety building bond and the ladder truck bond. Greg said the town has roughly $16,000 in public‑safety impact fees that must be used before they expire; the board approved the application (motion seconded; voice votes in favor recorded).

Separately, the board recommended Warrant Article P‑25‑19 to establish a full‑time communications specialist at town hall with an initial, partial‑year appropriation of $50,000 to cover roughly six months of wages and roll‑up costs. The article text read, in part, "This sum represents the cost of wages and associated roll up costs such as taxes, insurance, and retirement." The board voted to recommend the article (vote announced as 4‑0). Town staff said the annual cost for the position is estimated at about $100,000 for a full year and that the $50,000 would fund roughly a June start if hiring proceeds on the usual schedule.

The board also approved procedural items including nonpublic minutes and a consent agenda. Several other warrant articles and explanatory statements were reviewed during the meeting; the board asked staff to confirm final dollar amounts before printing the town voters' guide and to correct a typographical reference to a cemetery project phase.

What the board did not decide: the meeting contained policy review and motions to send items to the budget committee or to place articles on the warrant, but voters at the town’s deliberative session and the official warrant vote will make the final fiscal decisions.

Votes at a glance - Readopt investment policy — motion carried (board announced 4‑0). - Article P‑25‑18: Deposit $25,000 to cell‑tower maintenance capital reserve fund from unassigned fund balance — motion carried (board announced 4‑0). - Article P‑25‑19: Recommend establishing a full‑time communications specialist; initial $50,000 appropriation to be placed on the warrant — recommendation carried (board announced 4‑0). - Apply expiring public safety impact fees ($16,040.71) to offset principal payments on public safety building and ladder truck bonds — motion carried (voice votes recorded in favor).

Next steps: Items recommended for the warrant will appear at the town deliberative session on Feb. 1, 2025, and several will be discussed at the budget committee public hearing on Jan. 14.