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Sanbornton Selectboard recommends 11 warrant articles, approves personnel pay change and fund transfers
Summary
At its Jan. 28 meeting the Sanbornton Selectboard recommended or approved all 11 warrant-article items presented (including appropriations for capital reserves and a Winnisquam Watershed preservation article) and approved a promotion and fund transfers; all motions passed unanimously.
The Sanbornton Selectboard voted during its Jan. 28 meeting to recommend a package of warrant articles for the 2026 Town Meeting and to approve several administrative actions, including a personnel promotion and fund transfers.
In a series of motions the board addressed Articles 1 through 11. Selectman Ralph Carter moved that the board not recommend the Budget Committee’s operating budget of $6,317,568; the motion passed unanimously. The board recommended the Selectboard’s operating budget of $1,796,125 and recommended appropriations to various capital reserve and expendable trust funds, including $125,000 for a general expendable trust, $100,000 for Winnisquam Watershed preservation, $20,000 for the Sanbornton Recreation Town Park Improvement CRF and $50,000 for the Medical and Dental Insurance Reserve ETF. The board also voted to discontinue certain unused reserve funds and to recommend a warrant article to prohibit Keno in the town.
Personnel and signatures: Fire Chief Paul Dexter said Travis Gosine has been promoted to lieutenant and will remain a per-diem firefighter; the board approved a payroll action increasing Gosine to labor grade 16, step 2 effective Feb. 1, 2026, with a step increase to step 3 after successful completion of a six-month probationary period. Selectman Deacon moved and the board approved a transfer of $15,908.65 from the Employee Severance Benefits Expendable Trust Fund to reimburse the General Fund for unused vacation and sick time for a departing employee. A check for $26,723.71 to HealthTrust and a timber yield form were also signed.
Planning and process: Planning Board Chair Andy Sanborn asked the Selectboard to formally charge the Capital Improvements Program Committee (CIPC) with developing an impact-fee schedule for subdivisions and to issue a letter describing that charge; he said the CIPC will need to work with outside agencies to gather data. Selectman Deacon said he will draft a framework for the CIPC’s charge before a vote is taken.
Votes at a glance: Article 1 — Operating Budget: motion to not recommend Budget Committee budget of $6,317,568 (motion by Selectman Ralph Carter; outcome: not recommended by board). Article 2 — Appropriate to Capital Reserve Funds: recommend Selectboard budget of $1,796,125 (outcome: recommended). Article 3 — Change Employee Severance Benefits ETF: recommended. Article 4 — Appropriate to Expendable Trust Funds: recommend $125,000 (outcome: recommended). Article 5 — Winnisquam Watershed Preservation: recommend $100,000 (outcome: recommended). Article 6 — Sanbornton Recreation Town Park Improvement CRF: recommend $20,000 (outcome: recommended). Article 7 — Medical and Dental Insurance Reserve ETF: recommend $50,000 (outcome: recommended). Article 8 — Modify Optional Service-Connected Total Disability Credit: recommended. Article 9 — Discontinue unused CRFs and ETFs: recommended. Article 10 — Discontinue State Aid Reconstruction CRF: recommended. Article 11 — Keno: board moved to recommend disallowing Keno in Sanbornton (outcome: recommended).
What’s next: The board will continue to refine warrant language and supporting materials ahead of Town Meeting; Selectman Deacon said he will draft the CIPC charge and the Selectboard will decide on the Town Report cover at a future meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
