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Winchester Selectboard approves minutes, abatements and transfers; hires third transfer-station operator
Summary
At its May 13 meeting the Winchester Selectboard approved the May 6 minutes, several tax and sewer abatements, two solar and six veteran exemptions, multiple internal transfers, a catch-basin contract, and authorized hiring a third part-time transfer-station operator (vote 4-1).
The Winchester Selectboard on May 13 approved routine minutes and a slate of financial and administrative items, including tax and sewer abatements, exemptions, transfers and contracts.
Selectman Herbert C. Stephens moved to approve the minutes of May 6, 2026; Selectman Jack Marsh seconded and the motion carried 4-0-1. The board approved a property abatement for Map 4 Lot 66-2&4 (Gunn Mountain Road) for $14.29 because of a billing error and a sewer abatement for Map 22 Lot 23 (Wedgewood Drive) for $357.38 related to a water-break drainage issue. The board also approved two solar exemptions and six veteran exemptions.
Financial actions included a $10,300 transfer from the Transfer Station to the Highway Department to cover highway services at the Transfer Station, and an internal transfer of audit-line funds into the General Government Buildings audit line. The Selectboard approved contracting Catch Basin Cleaning Co. (Bell More) at $250 per hour to clean up to budgeted maximum hours of 68 and instructed Highway Foreman Dan Robinson to prioritize the worst basins first.
Selectman Ben Kilanski noted projected savings of about $60,000 starting June 1 from changes in recycling arrangements and proposed using the savings to hire a third part-time Transfer Station operator. Selectman Trevor Croteau moved to hire the third part-time operator; the motion carried 4-1.
The board also discussed revisions to the Highway Superintendent job description — including adding Roads Scholar certifications, digital-communication duties and raising the experience guideline to "up to 10 years" — and asked Finance/HR Supervisor Amy Bond to research training costs and class availability. The board closed a public hearing on town water rates after hearing no questions or public comment.
The meeting included administrative reminders about a pending RTP grant application of $14,900 for a rail-trail segment behind Monadnock Speedway and requests for volunteer-interest forms for the Budget and Energy Committees.
