Farmington board agrees to seek Town Meeting approval to sell select town-owned parcels

The Farmington Board of Selectmen voted Jan. 12 to pursue a warrant-article path at Town Meeting to authorize the sale of select town-owned properties, rather than immediately conducting the multi-step review process required under RSA 41:14.

Nick Johnson raised interest in purchasing one town parcel and the board asked staff to produce a shorter list of properties that are reasonably saleable. Interim Town Administrator Paul Sanderson told the board that RSA 41:14 requires Planning Board and Conservation Commission comment and a sequence of public hearings before the Selectmen could sell non‑conservation property under that statute. He said a warrant article naming specific parcels would let voters authorize sales without repeating that longer hearing process for each lot.

Selectman Charlie King and Selectman John Scruton both recommended narrowing the town’s master list to parcels that are buildable or otherwise clearly transferable; Scruton outlined three practical categories to aid selection: unbuildable parcels that abutters might want, buildable lots with clearable title, and parcels that would be sold only by quitclaim (no title warranty).

The board voted (King moved; Scruton seconded) to pursue a Town Meeting warrant article listing the parcels they want authority to sell and to return a shorter candidate list for the March Town Meeting. The board did not set prices at the meeting and agreed staff will notify Mr. Johnson once Town Meeting authorization is secured.

The warrant‑article approach preserves voters’ final say at Town Meeting while avoiding multiple rounds of hearings under RSA 41:14 for each parcel. The board also discussed tax‑deeded properties separately as immediate sale candidates.