Rye Select Board recommends petitioned $1.4M bond to replace DPW fuel island amid public questions

Acting Chair Rob Wright said at a Jan. 20 public bond hearing that the Select Board recommended a petitioned warrant article asking voters to authorize up to $1,400,000 in bonds to replace the town Department of Public Works fuel station at the Grove Road Transfer Station and move it further from the Rye Water District wellhead protection area.

The article—read into the record under New Hampshire RSA 33:8-a and 40:13—would require a three-fifths vote on the ballot. After the warrant article was read, several residents questioned why the item was a petitioned article rather than one initiated by the Select Board, as well as the $1.4 million figure and the article’s nondefinitive language about relocating the fuel island.

"Why this is a petitioned warrant article and why the Select Board did not put this forward?" said Tom King of 533 Wallis Road, who told the board the $1.4 million number appeared to be out of date and said the phrasing that the station would be "moved back from its current location and further away" was vague.

Acting Chair Rob Wright responded that the Select Board cannot alter the language of a petitioned article before the Deliberative Session and that the board did not sponsor the item because there is "zero probability" the work would be completed in 2026. He said DPW’s assessment is that the current fueling system is contained and functioning, though it is about 40 years old and will need replacement in the future.

"The first time the Select Board saw this petitioned article was two days before the deadline to post a public hearing," Wright said, noting state law required the board to schedule the hearing. He said the board is not opposed to the project in principle but preferred addressing it in the 2027 cycle with updated cost estimates and tighter language on siting.

Joe Cummins of 990 Washington Road asked whether a public hearing should precede any board recommendation and sought a clearer definition of the town’s Wellhead Protection Area. Cummins said the proposal felt premature and urged the town to explore alternatives and relative priorities.

John Tuttle urged the board to consider fueling arrangements outside town—such as at the harbor or in Portsmouth—or to explore shared fuel purchasing, noting that some municipal fleets fuel out of town. Acting Chair Wright said fueling at the harbor was a nonstarter because that fuel is not road fuel and is more expensive; he added that the Police Chief, Fire Chief and DPW Director had argued against fueling vehicles out of town for operational reasons.

The Select Board confirmed it had recommended the petitioned article; Acting Chair Wright said the language and dollar amount would be open for discussion at the Deliberative Session scheduled for Saturday the 31st. The public bond hearing was closed at 6:28 p.m. Rob Wright moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:28 p.m.; Scott McQuade seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor.

The article will be considered by voters at the town meeting ballot if it survives the Deliberative Session; details on final cost estimates, a precise relocation plan and any intermunicipal fuel agreements were not specified at the hearing.