Atkinson selectmen accept donated fire gear, approve contracts and appointments; preservation easement renewal tabled

Atkinson — The Board of Selectmen on Monday accepted donated emergency equipment for the town’s Fire Department, authorized applying for a state ambulance grant, approved several contracts and community measures, and tabled a discretionary preservation easement renewal for property at Map 9, Lot 34‑01 until additional information is provided.

Fire Chief Andy Murphy told the board the Knights of Columbus donated a battery vent valued at $6,450 (funds raised via the organization’s golf tournament) and the Atkinson Lions contributed two Stop‑the‑Bleed/MCI bags valued at $5,000. The board voted unanimously to accept the battery vent, the Akron intake valve (valued at $2,067.20) and a fire attack hose (valued at $8,699). "These donations directly support our emergency response capabilities," Murphy said in presenting the items.

Selectman Bill Friel moved and Selectman Greg Spero seconded the motions to accept the equipment; the votes were recorded as unanimous where noted in the minutes.

The board voted 4‑0 with Vice Chair Peter Torosian abstaining to authorize Town Administrator to apply for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) ambulance grant worth up to $250,000. The same 4‑0/1 abstention vote approved the purchase of Motorola radios from Radio Solutions for $7,341.70.

Public works business included a unanimous 5‑0 vote to accept Industrial Traffic Lines’ bid of $21,667.65 for line striping. The board noted that $19,591.65 will be taken from Line 43120.875.00 with the remaining $2,075.35 covered from excess paving funds. The board also unanimously approved allowing DPW Director Ted Stewart to place flags on Main Street for town events.

The Selectmen voted to award the Sprinkler & Extinguisher Inspection contract to Hampshire Fire Inspection; the minutes record a 4‑0‑0 vote on that item (Selectman Paul Wainwright was not present for the vote). The board approved inserting a flyer about the town’s automated tax process into tax bills, and approved a cemetery plot buyback for $1,350.

On land‑use business, Vice Chair Torosian moved to table the Discretionary Preservation Easement renewal application for the property at Map 9, Lot 34‑01 "until further information is obtained," and the board voted 5‑0 to table the item. Resident Justine Corson had spoken earlier during the public hearing on the Maple Avenue easement application.

The board made several appointments: Robin Doyle and Erica Halaby were appointed as alternate members of the Conservation Commission (two‑year and three‑year alternate terms, respectively), and Michael Richeson was appointed to fill an unexpired one‑year term as Trustee of the Trust Fund with Michael Boucher appointed as a one‑year alternate. In assessing business, the board denied two elderly exemption applications as over the income limit (Map 10, Lot 7‑69B and Map 17, Lot 53‑7A).

The board accepted a $230 donation to the Elder Services Transportation Fund, approved the minutes of May 4, 2026 as amended, noted Memorial Day parade and festivities scheduled for May 25 at 10 a.m., set the next meeting for June 1, 2026 at 6 p.m., and adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

Votes at a glance: battery vent accepted (5‑0); Akron intake valve accepted (5‑0); fire attack hose accepted (5‑0); NH DES ambulance grant application authorized (4‑0‑1, Torosian abstained); Motorola radios purchase approved (4‑0‑1, Torosian abstained); Industrial Traffic Lines line striping contract awarded (5‑0); Hampshire Fire Inspection awarded sprinkler/extinguisher contract (4‑0‑0); cemetery plot buyback approved (5‑0); preservation easement renewal tabled (5‑0).