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Atkinson selectmen approve routine personnel and budget measures, renew ambulance agreement and fund PFAS study
Summary
The Atkinson Board of Selectmen on April 6 approved routine personnel and budget items, renewed a one-year ambulance agreement with Plaistow amid a cost increase, and authorized a $4,700 PFAS supplemental site investigation; the board also approved multiple tax and donation items and sealed non-public minutes.
Chair Wendy Barker and the Atkinson Board of Selectmen approved a package of routine personnel, budgeting and administrative items during their April 6 meeting, including renewal of an ambulance inter-municipal agreement with the Town of Plaistow and authorization of PFAS site-investigation funds.
Fire Chief Andy Murphy presented the ambulance agreement renewal with Plaistow and reported a cost increase "from $85 to $115." Selectman Greg Spero moved to approve the ALS inter-municipal agreement renewal; Vice Chair Peter Torosian seconded and the board voted 5-0-0 to approve the renewal. The board also unanimously appointed four fire department lieutenants — Jeff Douphinette, Tyler Whitley, Thomas Osborn and Tom Gleason Jr. — as fire wardens at no additional cost, on a motion by Selectman Spero and second by Selectman Bill Friel.
The board approved a series of other motions, including an unmerge of lots as documented and Vice Chair Torosian’s motion to approve warrant 2025-14 for PFAS supplemental site investigation with the Town of Sanborn for $4,700 (motion passed 5-0-0). Chair Barker moved to accept a projected software over-expenditure of $10,500 for server/software purchases, funding $5,000 from line 41501.210.00 and $5,503 from line 41940.430.00; that motion passed 5-0-0.
Other unanimous approvals included hiring Stuart Davis as a probationary Elder Services driver at $16.85 per hour (pending background check); accepting resignations from Hannah Freed (Water Resource Commission) and Elaine Anderson (effective April 28, 2026); renewing Monique Cretien (Conservation Commission) and Library Trustee alternates Linda Jette and Nina Gray; and several tax and assessing actions (a $52,000 abatement, an elderly exemption tied to Map 10 Lot 7 thru 4A totaling $300,000, and a $2,750 veteran’s tax credit).
In donations and routine business, the board accepted $620 to the Elder Services Transportation Fund and $35 to the Elder Services Assistant fund, approved the March 23, 2026 minutes as amended, and noted that Selectman Greg Spero reported Atkinson was mentioned at a Chamber of Commerce meeting as having the lowest tax rate. The board voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a) to discuss personnel matters; upon returning they approved a pay-step increase within Fire Chief Murphy’s contract and voted to seal the non-public minutes for 10 years.
Votes at a glance: - Approve ALS inter-municipal agreement renewal with Plaistow — mover: Selectman Greg Spero; seconder: Vice Chair Peter Torosian; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 007). - Appoint four fire wardens (Jeff Douphinette; Tyler Whitley; Thomas Osborn; Tom Gleason Jr.) — mover: Selectman Greg Spero; seconder: Selectman Bill Friel; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 007). - Approve unmerge of lots — mover: Selectman Paul Wainwright; seconder: Selectman Greg Spero; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 008). - Approve PFAS warrant 2025-14, $4,700 (supplemental site investigation with Sanborn) — mover: Vice Chair Peter Torosian; seconder: Selectman Paul Wainwright; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 008). - Accept software over-expenditure $10,500 (lines 41501.210.00 $5,000 and 41940.430.00 $5,503) — mover: Chair Wendy Barker; seconder: Selectman Paul Wainwright; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 012). - Hire Stuart Davis, Elder Services driver, $16.85/hr (pending background check) — mover: Chair Wendy Barker; seconder: Selectman Paul Wainwright; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 013). - Accept resignations (Hannah Freed; Elaine Anderson) — outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 014). - Committee renewals (Monique Cretien; Linda Jette; Nina Gray) — mover: Selectman Peter Torosian; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 015). - Tax abatement $52,000 (Map 23 Lot 24) — mover: Chair Wendy Barker; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 019). - Elderly exemption (Map 10 Lot 7 thru 4A; $300,000) — mover: Chair Wendy Barker; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 020). - Veteran’s tax credit $2,750 (Map 13 Lot 113) — mover: Selectman Greg Spero; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 021). - Donations accepted ($620 and $35) — mover: Vice Chair Peter Torosian; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 022-023). - Approve minutes of March 23, 2026 (as amended) — mover: Vice Chair Peter Torosian; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 024). - Enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a) — mover: Selectman Paul Wainwright; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 025). - Approve next pay step within Fire Chief Murphy’s contract — mover: Selectman Greg Spero; seconder: Selectman Bill Friel; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 026). - Seal non-public minutes for 10 years — mover: Vice Chair Peter Torosian; seconder: Selectman Greg Spero; outcome: approved 5-0-0 (SEG 026).
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
