Atkinson selectmen add RSA 10% override language to bond article and recommend $7.9 million budget

Greg Spero, chair of the Town of Atkinson Board of Selectmen, opened a special meeting on Jan. 20 and led the board through several procedural votes and budget actions.

The board voted to permit Selectman Peter Torosian to attend the meeting by phone after Vice Chair Bob Worden moved and Selectman Wendy Barker seconded the motion; the minutes record the motion as passed with a 4-0 recorded tally, and do not specify which member did not register a vote. Later in the meeting, Chair Greg Spero moved to add the “10% limitation override language per RSA” to the beginning of bond Warrant Article 2026-03; Selectman Barker seconded and the board approved the change by roll call with all five members recorded in favor (5-0-0).

Spero then moved that the board recommend the Budget Committee’s proposed 2026 budget of $7,912,319; Barker seconded. That motion passed on roll call with a recorded tally of 4 yes and 1 no. The public minutes do not identify which member cast the lone no vote.

Selectman Barker moved, and Selectman Bill Friel seconded, to enter a nonpublic session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II(a). The board approved the motion by roll call (5-0-0) and went into nonpublic session; the public minutes do not disclose the substance of the nonpublic discussion. Upon returning to public session, Barker moved to seal the nonpublic minutes for 10 years; Worden seconded and the motion carried on roll call (5-0-0).

The meeting began at 9:25 p.m. and adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The public minutes record the motions, vote tallies, and the budget total but do not record individual roll-call votes by member for the 4-0 and 4-1 tallies, nor do they provide details of the nonpublic discussion.