Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Francestown Select Board reorganizes leadership, approves $3.14M appropriations report, grants protest permit
Summary
At its March 16 meeting the Francestown Select Board nominated Karen Kitzgerald as chair, confirmed several appointments, accepted an MS‑232 appropriations report of $3,141,317, granted a charitable tax exemption to Francestown Village Water Co., and approved a permit for a March 28 protest on the Commons.
Francestown — The Francestown Select Board on Monday, March 16, 2026, reorganized its leadership, approved a $3,141,317 Report of Appropriations Actually Voted (MS‑232), granted a charitable tax exemption to the Francestown Village Water Co. and authorized a peaceful protest on the town Commons.
Chair Charles M Pyle III opened the meeting at 5:31 p.m. and moved to nominate Select Board member Karen Kitzgerald as Select Board chair; the motion was seconded by Scot Heath and passed. The board also approved a slate of committee appointments, including Gary Paige as Road Agent (three years) and three library trustee alternates for one‑year terms, as well as two members to the Budget & Advisory Committee.
The board accepted the MS‑232 report showing appropriations actually voted totaling $3,141,317 and approved routine financial actions including the manifest dated March 18, 2026 and acceptance of a $50 donation to the Recreation Trust Fund. The board granted a charitable tax exemption for Francestown Village Water Co. (Map 5, Lot 82‑1).
Citizens requested permission to assemble on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a "No Kings Protest" on the Commons; the board voted to grant the request and said the Police Department would be notified. A resident also requested to purchase a tax‑deeded parcel (Map 5, Lot 52); the minutes note the parcel is largely wetland and that Town Administrator Jamie A Pike will consult the Planning Board and Conservation Commission for input. The minutes do not identify a prospective purchaser.
The board held two non‑public sessions under RSA 91‑A:3: one at 5:58 p.m. to discuss personnel (RSA 91‑A:3, II(a)) and another at 6:08 p.m. to discuss pending litigation (RSA 91‑A:3, II(e)); in both cases the board voted to seal the minutes on the stated basis that disclosure would likely render the proposed action ineffective. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Votes at a glance: all of the motions listed in the minutes passed. Noted motions and makers included: nomination of Karen Kitzgerald as Select Board chair (moved by Charles M Pyle III, seconded by Scot Heath); nomination of Scot Heath as Planning Board Ex‑Officio (moved by Charles M Pyle III, seconded by Karen Kitzgerald); nomination of Charles M Pyle III as Ex‑Officio to the Heritage Commission and School Committee (moved by Karen Kitzgerald, seconded by Scot Heath); approval of the manifest dated 03/18/2026 (moved by Scot Heath, seconded by Charles M Pyle III); acceptance of a $50 donation to the Recreation Trust Fund (moved by Charles M Pyle III, seconded by Scot Heath); acceptance of the MS‑232 in the amount of $3,141,317 (moved by Scot Heath, seconded by Charles M Pyle III); charitable tax exemption for Francestown Village Water Co. (moved by Scot Heath, seconded by Charles M Pyle III); approval of listed committee appointments (motion recorded and passed).
The board noted a hearing on fee amendments scheduled for Monday, March 23. Administrative Coordinator Sarah Morin is listed as the meeting's recorder in the minutes.
