Carroll County commissioners elect leadership, approve invoices and face public questions about waterline and ARPA funding

Commissioners of the Carroll County Commission reorganized their leadership by voice vote and handled routine financial business during a meeting in Carroll County. The board elected Commissioner Chuck McGee as chair, appointed Commissioner Harold B. Parker vice chair and named Commissioner Terry McCarthy clerk. The body also approved several invoices and multiple accounts-payable and payroll manifests, heard public comment questioning a proposed waterline and annex project, and directed staff to pursue a series of exploratory items proposed by Commissioner Parker.

The leadership changes came during an organizational portion of the meeting. “I would like to nominate Commissioner Chuck McGee of Warrenborough as the new chairman of the Carroll County Commission,” a commissioner said during nominations; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. A separate voice vote approved Parker as vice chair and McCarthy as clerk.

The board approved two invoices by motion and voice vote: a $20,744 refund to Fryeburg Academy for a tax overpayment and a $1,725 payment to Avatar Software for 2025 tax software support. The commission likewise accepted multiple accounts-payable and payroll manifests presented by staff, including accounts-payable totals of $202,065.20 (Dec. 24), $356,212.38 (Jan. 2) and $371,195.49 (Jan. 9) and payroll manifests of $208,289.23 (Dec. 27), $255,222.41 (Jan. 3) and $287,684.10 (Jan. 10). Commissioners moved and approved those items by voice vote.

Public comment focused on a county waterline and an annex project that residents said are being funded from a mix of sources, including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. Rick King of Oakville asked why the county would commit funds to a water line that, he said, will serve fewer than 20 residents. “For 20 residents, I think that that contract should not be signed and we should not move forward on that,” King said during public comment.

Commissioner McGee responded that he had opposed the project previously. “I didn't think it was the best use of money. The waterline isn't broken. The people that are being served by it are not complaining,” he said, and added that the letter of intent on the project has been signed and is “under review at this point.”

Melissa, the commission’s executive coordinator, told residents the county had used ARPA guidance when planning capital and service projects. “Back in 2021, all the counties in the country were allocated a certain amount of ARPA funds. Carroll County received about $9,500,000. ... The commissioners back then came up with a plan and I have a copy of that plan. It's on our website,” she said, adding that some ARPA-eligible categories include water, sewer and broadband and that she is preparing a detailed recap of available funds and allowable uses.

On contracts and procurement, the commission discussed but did not finalize a proposed five-year assessing agreement with Whitney Consulting; the board deferred action and asked for another week to review the contract’s fee terms and any escalator in later years. Commissioners also deferred signing the county audit engagement pending one more week for follow-up questions about prior-year costs.

Commissioner Harold B. Parker offered three motions the commission approved by voice vote: (1) to explore whether funds are available to build a laundry attached to the county nursing home (an exploratory study only); (2) to begin discussions with the Department of Corrections about establishing a recreational trail through county-owned woods at the county complex; and (3) to reaffirm an existing policy banning county officers and employees from purchasing Carroll County product. Parker framed the laundry proposal as an exploratory step to determine funding and feasibility: “First motion is to see if there are funds available to build a laundry attached to the nursing home,” he said.

Late in the meeting the commission voted to enter nonpublic session under New Hampshire RSA 91-A:3, II(c) and to seal the resulting minutes; commissioners conducted a roll-call procedure as required before the closed session and returned to public session afterward.

The board set its next meeting schedule, agreeing to meet next on the 17th at 9:30 a.m. and to shift future meetings to a Monday 9:30 a.m. cadence going forward. Staff were asked to provide the detailed ARPA funds recap and to return with the Whitney Consulting contract and audit engagement for final consideration at the next meeting.