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Bartlett police chief signs NCIC policies, announces leave; Selectmen approve minutes, direct staffing hires
Summary
Chief Chris Keaton said an NCIC audit required written SPOTS policies, which the Selectmen signed; he announced two weeks (possible three) of leave and staff will split his administrative duties. The board approved minutes and directed hiring for a part-time police secretary and a full-time administrative assistant.
Chief of Police Chris Keaton told the Selectmen that his department is undergoing an NCIC (National Crime Information Center) audit and that auditors required written policies governing officers' use of SPOTS terminals. Keaton said he obtained Carroll County Sheriff's policies as a template and drafted policies for Bartlett; the Selectmen signed them and Keaton will forward the signed policies to NCIC to satisfy the audit requirement.
Keaton also announced he will begin planned leave next week, initially for two weeks but possibly extending to three, and said department personnel will divide his administrative tasks in the interim. Selectman Gene Chandler asked who would cover secretarial tasks; Keaton explained how responsibilities will be reassigned among staff.
On routine business, Selectman Vicki Garland moved to approve the Selectmen's meeting minutes from Feb. 25, 2026; Selectman Gene Chandler seconded and a roll-call vote recorded all three Selectmen voting yes. The Selectmen signed a letter drafted by TA Lynn Jones informing Town Clerk/Tax Collector Cheryl Nealley that the Town will move to semiannual tax billing and asked staff to publicize the change.
TA Jones also reported a reporting error in the annual Town Report concerning Bartlett Jackson Ambulance Service payroll figures; she forwarded the source file to the printer and the Selectmen discussed issuing corrected pages or an announcement at Town Meeting. Jones said the town received several broad RTK requests that could require staff time to process and that she would consult HEB Engineering regarding RFP records from Feb. 2024 to Feb. 2026. The board discussed a petition from the Hurricane Mountain Association seeking removal from the Kearsarge Lighting Precinct; the board indicated it does not support a boundary change and directed Jones to forward questions to Town Counsel about legal implications and possible fees.
The Selectmen discussed staffing as TA Jones plans for eventual retirement: they directed the town to advertise for a part-time Police Secretary and a full-time Administrative Assistant so Amanda R. Gagnon can be trained and eventually move into the TA role.
Next steps: Keaton will submit the signed NCIC/SPOTS policies to auditors; TA Jones will coordinate public notice of the tax-billing change, consult counsel on the lighting-precinct petition, and post job announcements for the two positions.
