Selectmen accept $3,500 youth-athletics gift; $20,000 memorial donation requires public hearing

The Henniker Board of Selectmen voted to accept a $3,500 donation designated for the Henniker Youth Athletic program and agreed to schedule a public hearing before accepting a separate $20,000 memorial gift.

The board’s chair read correspondence explaining the donors’ wish to create a named fund in memory of Skip McKeen and to use the trustees’ discretion to close gaps between requested program amounts and what the town budget can cover. The chair described the $20,000 donation as “quite a nice donation” and noted the donors intend to add to the fund annually.

Committee member (S3) moved to accept the $3,500 gift for youth athletics; Committee member (S5) seconded and the board voted in favor. The board’s staff advised that state law requires a public hearing for donations above $10,000, so the $20,000 gift will be considered at a future hearing before the trustees of trust funds would take custody of the money and the board would vote on any disbursement.

Town staff explained that the instrument accompanying the $20,000 did not limit the gift to interest only and that the trustees of the trust funds will hold the donated funds; the board would later make motions to expend those funds in accordance with the instrument and applicable law.

The board also said it would notify the athletic committee, which has a meeting next Monday, and that selectmen expect to post formal notice of the required hearing for the larger donation.