Committee approves sales of multiple state parcels and Monadnock Mill building

The Long Range Capital Planning & Utilization Committee voted to approve a series of state property disposals and the sale of a historic mill building during its session, including multiple parcels in Troy and Conway, a small roadside parcel in Guilford, and the Monadnock Mill in Claremont.

The most substantial proposed sale approved was the Department of Administrative Services’ recommendation to convey the Monadnock Mill Building at 17 Water Street in Claremont to the City of Claremont for $700,000, which includes the required $1,100 administrative fee under RSA 440:3‑a. Jared Niland, real property asset manager for the Department of Administrative Services, said the building is a four‑story historic mill with roughly 32,000 square feet of gross area and that the state had previously invested about $1.6 million in renovations. “The department proposes to sell on behalf of the State of New Hampshire to the City of Claremont,” Niland said. Karen Mantimecki, director of plant and property with the Department of Administrative Services, said DHHS and other tenants vacated earlier this year and that DHHS moved into leased space at the end of June.

Committee members approved a series of smaller property disposals presented by the Department of Transportation. Steve Labonte, legislative liaison and senior hearings examiner at the Department of Transportation, described a direct sale in Guilford of 3,350 square feet (0.077 acres) along Route 11 to abutter Richard Zagman for $61,400 plus the $1,100 administrative fee. He also presented two Troy parcels: one described in the transcript with inconsistent acreage language (earlier reference to “approximately 5 acres” and later description of “1.50 acres”); Labonte said the department will enter a one‑year listing agreement with HKS Associates, list one parcel at $52,500, charge an $1,100 administrative fee, and pay a 6% commission to HKS if they complete a sale. He noted the sales will be subject to coordination with the Division of Historical Resources because of archaeological sensitivity.

Labonte also presented a larger Troy parcel described in hearing materials as about 35.58 acres; staff said a certified general appraiser reviewed marketing analyses and set a recommended figure around $145,000 after considering other appraisals that produced higher values. One committee member questioned why the state's appraisal was lower than some realtor estimates; staff explained the higher professional standard used by the certified appraiser in setting the department’s figure.

The committee approved a conveyance related to the Conway bypass corridor made up of several small, irregular remnants and sold directly to abutters Sean and Caitlin Baldwin for $235,000 (administrative fee $1,100 already paid). Staff explained the parcels’ complex history, earlier swaps and purchases, and that a licensed survey and a trail easement to be held by DNCR are conditions of sale. A separate group of Conway parcels totaling about 32.23 acres was approved for sale to James and Jean Drummond for $175,000 plus the administrative fee; that sale is also conditioned on a boundary survey and any required local and state approvals.

Committee procedure: the committee moved, seconded, and voted on each item; acceptance of the June 10 minutes passed with one abstention by Representative Cloutier. For several items members explicitly moved and seconded motions (for example, motions by Lang and seconds by Pearl or Mills were recorded in the transcript). Several items passed unanimously.

What the approvals mean: committee members and agency staff said sale proceeds are used to replenish funds previously used to satisfy federal repayment obligations associated with some projects, and that surveys and coordination with DHR, DNCR, and any other permitting or FAA requirements are prerequisites for closing. The committee asked staff to continue tracking proceeds and balances for the Conway bypass disposals.

Next steps: sales that require listing agreements or direct conveyances will proceed subject to the recorded conditions — boundary surveys, local and state approvals, archaeological or environmental reviews, and agreement finalizations with buyers. The committee scheduled a tentative next meeting for November 12 at 9:30 a.m. and then adjourned.