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Warner Select Board delays vote on Rules of Procedure amendments after public comment on town property policy
Summary
Select Board reviewed proposed amendments to its Rules of Procedure covering conflicts of interest, donations, contract reviews, audit report posting and warrant recommendations but postponed final action to Feb. 17; a public commenter urged the board to adopt a written policy for selling town property.
The Warner Select Board discussed a slate of proposed amendments to its Rules of Procedure on Feb. 3 but agreed to postpone final action until its Feb. 17 meeting to allow members time to review the draft and supporting notes.
David Carle presented amendments 13 through 19. Amendment 13 addresses conflicts of interest and limits on gifts, referencing RSA 15‑B:II; Amendment 14 would implement RSA 31:95‑b and RSA 31:95‑e on acceptance of donations and requires a public hearing for donations of $5,000 or more. Amendment 15 would create a three‑to‑five‑year review by the Town Administrator of ongoing equipment and services agreements to assess competitiveness. Amendment 16 would require a presentation of audit report findings within 30 days of receiving the auditor's Communication to Governance and posting financial statements and the Independent Auditor’s Report on the town website within 30 days, subject to legally required redactions under RSA 91‑A. Amendment 17 would require the Board to place a “Recommended” or “Not Recommended” notation — with the numerical vote recorded — on warrant articles submitted by the Board or by petition when the article contains an appropriation. Amendment 18 would require a five‑year review of property tax exemption amounts. Amendment 19 would require that amendments to the Rules of Procedure be moved at one meeting and not voted on until a subsequent meeting held at least seven days later.
Board members asked questions about timing, responsibility for future updates and alignment with the revaluation schedule. Harry Seidel said he supported the amendments, while Alfred Hanson and Michael J. Smith requested more time to review documents prior to a vote. The board put the amendments on the Feb. 17 agenda for final consideration.
Public comment during the same portion of the meeting included a presentation by David Carle of a draft policy on selling town property. Carle said he could not find minutes that recorded a formal vote adopting a 2021 draft policy and asked the board to consider a clear, Select Board‑driven policy. Mike Smith maintained he had documentation showing a prior vote and offered to share his files; the board agreed to revisit the matter in two weeks and requested that Carle provide his draft.
