Library trustees and selectboard spar over Warrant Article #12 wording, trustees propose funding amendment

At the March 3, 2026 Colebrook Select Board meeting, Colebrook Library trustees raised a dispute over the wording and fund designation in Warrant Article #12, which the trustees say misstates the elevator work and how library capital funds may be used.

Rob Maxwell told the board that a document from Pine State Elevator, given to Town Manager Tim Stevens around Feb. 5, is headed "modernize existing elevator" and does not describe a new elevator. "A perusal of that document would have shown in the heading, 'modernize existing elevator' and said nothing about new," Maxwell said. Trustee Julie Colby said the language "went right over my head" at the public hearing and that trustees only later learned of the scope difference.

Selectboard member Sue Collins said the board intends to amend the warrant article based on legal counsel and to correct wording. Collins told trustees that the board learned about the difference after the public hearing and that DRA (the state Department of Revenue Administration) required a name change for the fund when it reviewed the warrant language.

Trustees also challenged the warrant's presentation of a $25,000 withdrawal and the naming of the fund. Maxwell said he spoke with Pam Bunnell, a trustee, who told him the trustees do not need a public hearing to withdraw from their capital fund because "it is our money, and we take care of how it is spent." The trustees pointed to an apparent inconsistency between the fund name in last year's town report (identified as the Building & Repairs Capital Reserve) and the fund name as it appears in the warrant article after DRA review.

As a compromise the trustees proposed an amendment to the warrant authorizing withdrawal of $44,700 from the Building & Repairs Capital Reserve, and said the library has a $15,000 grant that would reduce the taxation impact to $37,700; trustees cited a total project cost of $97,400 when combining reserve funds, grant money and other sources. Ray Gorman suggested trustees pursue additional grants such as from Eversource and seek donations to reduce tax impact.

The Select Board did not take a formal vote on the amendment at the meeting; members agreed to address the proposed amendment at Town Meeting. The board and trustees also discussed how the fund name will appear in the Town Report and that the warrant article language will be updated in conformance with counsel and DRA guidance.

What happens next: The Select Board will discuss the trustees' proposed amendment at Town Meeting; no formal change was recorded during the March 3 session.