Resident urges revisions to Select Board rules of procedure; board to review additional amendments

At the Jan. 6 meeting resident David Carle presented proposed amendments to the Select Board's Rules of Procedure and distributed related RSA citations.

Carle said Amendment 10 should clarify that committee and board appointments end at their term expiration unless otherwise determined by the Select Board and that reappointment is at the board’s discretion. He recommended that committees (boards, commissions and committees) be explicitly included.

On Amendment 11 (Resignations – Removal), Carle said the section should not apply to boards governed by controlling New Hampshire RSA (for example, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Conservation Commission) and that failing to attend three consecutive committee meetings may prompt review by the Select Board, which may request a written explanation and consider removal under applicable RSA provisions.

For Amendment 12 (Conduct with other Board Members and Employees), Carle reported that a consultant assisted with the proposed language and recommended striking the provision that committee members should 'Never publicly criticize an employee,' replacing it with a reference to handling performance concerns through the Town Administrator under RSA 91‑A and adding confidentiality and whistleblower protections under RSA 275‑E.

Carle distributed a handout and copies of the cited RSAs and asked the board to review more than three amendments at the next meeting. The Select Board thanked him for his efforts; the minutes show the board will address additional proposed amendments at a future meeting.