Town attorney outlines new default-budget rules, record-access and meeting procedures

Town counsel Eric Maher, Esq. told the Plaistow Board of Selectmen and the town Budget Committee on July 13 that the recently revised rules governing default budgets and procedural statutes require careful documentation and clear justifications for proposed increases. The workshop focused on which budget materials must flow from department heads to the Selectboard and then to the Budget Committee under state law, and on how attorney–client privilege and nonpublic sessions interact with those duties.

"The expenditure report is the same budget presented to the Budget Committee and voters," Town Manager Greg Colby said during the discussion, underscoring that the committee was reviewing the same figures voters will see. Eric Maher cited RSA 32:4 and RSA 32-10 in describing the statutory sequence (department head → Selectboard → Budget Committee) and advised members to ask department heads for the justification for any increases. Members debated whether the current budget format provides enough detail; Maher noted Plaistow uses more subaccounts than the Division of Revenue Administration minimum and said there are no statutory restrictions on presentation format.

The exchange also covered procedural norms: committee members were reminded to act as a body rather than individually contacting department heads, and that the chair may act on behalf of the committee to request information. The minutes record references to Roberts Rules and a brief review of public-records timing and fees: RSA guidance was noted that requests apply to existing documents (not to force creation), RSA 33-A's five-business-day timing was mentioned, and the minutes record a paper-copy fee of $1.00 per 8x11 page for produced records. The workshop concluded without a formal vote on changes to budget documents; follow-up review by counsel was requested.