Selectboard backs most warrant articles, delays excavator purchase to last position on warrant

The Barnstead Selectboard on Monday reviewed draft warrant articles and recommended most capital and vehicle items for the town meeting warrant while shifting an excavator purchase to the end of the warrant so voters could reject it without affecting other measures.

The board agreed to place $283,750 into the heavy-equipment capital reserve and to recommend leasing or purchasing a second F-600 truck; members noted the town has already placed a down payment of $57,000 on a new ambulance chassis and expects the balance when the vehicle is delivered (currently projected in the third quarter of 2027). Board members also recommended funding for a dump truck and approved $250,000 for road paving and maintenance and $90,000 for municipal building repairs, including boiler work.

Why it matters: several members warned that front-loading multiple large equipment requests in a single year could cause voters to reject the package. To avoid that risk, the board voted to move the excavator item to the bottom of the warrant so it can be pulled if public sentiment looks poor, while proceeding with endorsements for the dump truck, the F-600 commitment and other maintenance funds.

Board discussion: during debate, members cited the heavy-equipment capital reserve balance (noted in the meeting as $152,688) and said a potential clean-diesel grant could cover about 80% of a replacement cost if awarded. Concerns included the cumulative tax impact of several simultaneous purchases and the town’s ability to maintain equipment in winter if dump trucks are not replaced. The board recorded several unanimous recommendations (noted as 5-0 votes for multiple items).

Public safety building funding: the board also discussed asking voters to appropriate $250,000 toward a public safety building capital reserve, with $200,000 proposed from an assigned fund balance and $50,000 from taxation. Several members said using unassigned surplus for building additions will require a clear cost analysis and that the request could draw pushback at town meeting.

Other items: the board set aside $8,000 for the Barnstead 300th celebration, adjusted the fire/rescue expendable trust recommendation down to $30,000 for the year, and confirmed that planning-board items (accessory dwelling units and short-term rental language) and petition warrant articles will be scheduled for public hearings as required.

Next steps: the budget committee will finalize recommendations at its next public hearing; the selectboard’s recommendations will appear on the posted warrant materials before town meeting and voters will decide on each warrant article.