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Henniker voters adopt RSA 41:14‑a, clearing path for police facility land purchase
Summary
At a special town meeting May 20, Henniker voters approved adoption of RSA 41:14‑a, giving the Board of Selectmen explicit authority to acquire or sell land and buildings; the move authorizes the town to proceed with steps toward buying a Davidson Road lot identified for a future police facility.
Henniker voters at a special town meeting on May 20 approved adoption of RSA 41:14‑a, a statutory authorization that the select board said is required to allow the town to acquire property for a future police facility.
The article — moved by Leo O'Coyne and seconded by Bill Marco — was read aloud and recommended 5–0 by the Board of Selectmen. Cordell Johnston, the moderator, called for discussion and then a voice vote; after residents answered “aye,” he declared the article passed.
Why it matters: Town and committee members told the meeting the town previously created and funded an expendable trust for a police facility but discovered during closing and document review that the select board lacked the explicit RSA 41:14‑a authorization needed to spend those funds on land acquisition. Adopting the statute now, speakers said, ratifies the 2022 intent and allows the board to proceed with negotiations and any required closing steps.
The board and committee clarified the fiscal picture during discussion. A committee speaker initially described the fund as “in the approximate number of $2.40, some odd thousand.” Diane, the town administrator, corrected that figure and said the expendable trust contains $375,000, and stressed that no new tax was proposed: “All the money is already there,” she said, and the vote would only permit use of existing funds.
What comes next: The select board expects to continue negotiating for the Davidson Road parcel identified by the Police Facility Assessment Committee. The board also scheduled additional public hearings on the possible acquisition and said it will seek the planning board’s and conservation commission’s input on subsequent steps, including site‑planning and required 60‑day notices if construction moves forward.
Votes at a glance - RSA 41:14‑a adoption (Article 1, special town meeting): moved by Leo O'Coyne; seconded by Bill Marco; voice vote; moderator declared the article passed.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 035; topfinish SEG 209
