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Speakers question explanation and legality of consolidating town offices; statute cited
Summary
Attendees raised concerns that a prior vote to move or consolidate town offices may not have complied with statute (referenced as RSA 4145) and urged clearer public explanation and possibly placing the change on the ballot next year.
Several speakers questioned whether a prior vote to move or consolidate town offices complied with state law and said insufficient explanation had been provided to the public.
One speaker said that if anyone believed a past vote to move the tax collector’s office was “not legitimate,” the town must follow statutory requirements, citing what the transcript records as “RSA 4145.” The speaker explained that, under the statute as described in the meeting, the annual meeting after a vote should select an individual for the office and that the town should choose one individual as the officeholder unless an alternate process was expressly provided.
Speakers urged placing the question on next year’s ballot if the legal status is uncertain, and noted concern about combining assistant or top positions into a single role without fully explaining budgetary and operational effects. Multiple commenters asked for clearer written materials on pros and cons so voters could evaluate tax and administrative impacts.
The board did not take a formal legal determination during the meeting; the discussion concluded with a recommendation to provide more information to the public and consider a ballot measure or committee review next year.
