Budget advisory committee holds $2,500 for possible fire-department consulting, prioritizes bridge camera work

Selectman Joanne Haight called the Budget Advisory Committee meeting to order at 3:59 p.m. and said the board would not seek outside consulting for the fire department until it defines a clear objective and compiles internal data. Courtney Delaney reported 2025 year-end finances are roughly 95% expended and that a few accruals remain to be posted.

The committee tentatively agreed to include $2,500 in non-lapsing funds in the 2026 budget to preserve the option of hiring professional assistance for the fire department if internal review shows a need. Delaney will request operational statistics from the Fire Chief so the board can determine whether consulting is warranted; committee member Derek Meredith emphasized the need for comparative monthly and annual statistics that other towns routinely publish.

The group discussed several capital and budget items. Roger Plimmer presented a revised Capital Improvements Program table and schedule and proposed removing minor equipment items so the public-facing report focuses on material projects. Plimmer and members agreed to publish a seven-year projection (the group noted a statute requires a minimum six-year outlook) and to use current costs for planning assumptions rather than speculative future replacement estimates.

Delaney described a proposal for camera installation at Durgin Bridge. One vendor's quote is close to the expendable-trust budget for the bridge; the board agreed to seek at least one additional bid, attempt a cost reduction through a modified proposal, and prioritize installation to prevent unnoticed damage. On library funding, Delaney said about $14,000 in the library request covers potential health-insurance benefits that are not expected to be fully expended; she will follow up with the Library Trustees and Director to clarify the likely actual expense and whether an internal fund might cover unexpected costs.

On financing, Delaney shared a preliminary New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank interest estimate of 3.24% and noted that a July bond issue's first payment may not be due until 2027 depending on the construction payment schedule for the police building; Jeff Cole agreed to help compare community-bank offers with the bond-bank estimate. Delaney also said she is awaiting information about the likelihood of a stay in the town's 2024 Eversource tax appeals, which could affect near-term legal fees.

Members discussed the fire department's on-call pay structure after Delaney and Selectman Caroline Nesbitt spoke with the Fire Chief. The committee discussed balancing payroll-based on-call pay and chief-level stipends to increase participation while limiting demands on department leadership; Delaney will recalculate the proposed 2026 payroll split to reflect 2025 actual reimbursements.

Roger Plimmer noted that the state's Department of Transportation rated town bridges outside the Notch as in "good" or "very good" condition and asked whether an engineering assessment is immediately necessary. Delaney said the proposed scope would produce a maintenance schedule and capital planning projections; Haight flagged the lapse of time between inspections and release of reports as a planning consideration.

The budget portion of the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m., after which the selectmen signed the accounts-payable and planning manifests and the previously approved 2025–2029 revaluation contract. Selectman Caroline Nesbitt moved to approve a declaration of appreciation for citizens whose efforts averted a significant disaster in the White Mountain National Forest; the board approved the declaration and Haight requested outreach to plan a presentation of certificates. The meeting was adjourned at 6:12 p.m.

Votes at a glance: The board signed the accounts-payable and planning manifests and the revaluation contract as presented; Selectman Caroline Nesbitt moved and the board approved a declaration of appreciation for citizens who helped avert a significant disaster (vote tally not specified in the minutes).