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Resident urges documentation on discontinued spending fund and questions 79E exemption, police certification and committee process
Summary
During public comment Rob Christie requested documentation about the 2018 discontinuation of the Colonel Town Spending Committee Fund and raised concerns about a 79E exemption tied to the Parker J. Noyes building sale, police officer certification status, and exclusion of the Spending Committee from Community Camp ad hoc discussions.
Rob Christie used the Select Board’s public-comment period on Feb. 2 to raise several concerns and requests for documentation. He said the December 15, 2025 minutes record Eli and Megan as attending a Community Camp ad hoc meeting even though Eli told him he was not present, and Christie asked that the minutes be checked and corrected if necessary.
Christie also asked how many town police officers are certified and whether any certifications are suspended, saying he was concerned about potential town liability if an officer’s certification were suspended. Selectman Leon Rideout responded that personnel questions would not be answered by the board; no departmental response was recorded in the minutes.
On municipal finance and oversight, Christie said the Spending Committee is seeking documentation for changes made in 2018 when the Colonel Town Spending Committee Fund, established by voters more than a century ago, was discontinued and leftover funds were transferred into the capital reserve and later deposited into the general fund. Christie said auditors had identified issues with internal controls; Rideout said his recollection was that auditors raised concerns but he could not point to specific official action.
Christie also raised concerns about the town’s engagement with the Northern Forest Center and the Parker J. Noyes project: he questioned whether the 79E exemption granted to an organization should extend to a buyer that immediately resold the building to a company in Concord, N.H. Rideout said he was not certain whether 79E benefits should carry over to a subsequent purchaser and could not confirm that at the meeting.
Finally Christie said the Spending Committee wants the Investment Committee to research whether it can change its contribution rate from 4% to 5%.
The minutes record Christie’s requests and Rideout’s uncertainty on several points but do not record documentary follow-up or definitive answers; the committee did not take action during the meeting.
