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***Presentation of the Town of Litchfield’s 2026 Top Dog - Lacey****🐶

For your consideration at the next meeting.

Under Article 5 - Agenda Management:

Current language:

The Town Administrator shall be authorized to exercise discretion and judgment in scheduling agenda requests with the goal of efficient and effective board operations.  Requests may be referred to appropriate departments or boards to allow investigation or development of background material to facilitate the Board’s decision-making process prior to being scheduled on the agenda.

Proposed language:

The Town Administrator shall be authorized to exercise discretion and judgment in scheduling agenda requests, in consultation with the Board Chair, with the goal of efficient and effective board operations. Requests may be referred to appropriate departments or boards to allow investigation or development of background material to facilitate the Board's decision-making process prior to being scheduled on the agenda.

Under Article 3 - Duties, Section Primary Duties:

Add language:

All members of the Board of Selectmen shall review and sign the weekly accounting manifest no later than the close of business on Tuesday of each week. It is the responsibility of each Board member to complete their review and signature by the established deadline. The Town Administrator shall be responsible for ensuring the manifest is made available to all Board members in sufficient time to allow for review prior to the Tuesday deadline.

11.  Memorial Day Parade, Event Attendance & BOS Meeting

12.    Police Chief/Police Captain Contracts Negotiations

Town Administrator's Report

1.  2027 Budget  Schedule - draft.  Sent to department heads for review.  Department Heads overall prefer night meetings including a longer meeting one eveving of  the week or perhaps a day presentation during the week.

2. Congratulations to Heather Snaman, our accountant, who earned  her certificate in  NH Government Finance last week the the NH Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference.   This is a program over the course of two years, multiple classes in a wide array of  content related to Government Finance.   

3. The performance bond for Olsons MHP was received today.

4. The check from the Clean Fleets Grant for the Pumper Truck was received $283,500.  

5.  Request for Memorial Day Parade has been approved by the State and permit was provided to Mr. Calawa and Chief Jones- May 25th

6.  State Legislation Update:

HB1064 - Senate finance hearing Tuesday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. in State House (SH) Room 103 -  bill modifies the liability standards for governmental units regarding negligence that results in personal injury or property damage. It repeals and reenacts RSA 507-B:2, which now allows governmental units to be held liable for damages caused by their officials or employees acting within the scope of their authority, with specific provisions for bodily injury and property damage. The bill increases the liability limits from $325,000 to $475,000 per claimant and from $1 million to $1.425 million per incident, or the proceeds from any insurance policy, whichever is greater. Additionally, it clarifies that the provisions do not apply to claims based on acts of employees exercising due care or performing discretionary functions.

Creates serious financial risks for cities and towns. Significantly raising liability caps will increase insurance and risk pool costs, which will lead to a combination of property tax increases and reductions in municipal services. Additionally, HB 1064 limits a municipality’s ability to claim immunity as a defense in negligence claims, meaning municipalities will have greater financial exposure.

HB1505 was added to SB643   The new amendment requires municipalities to submit documentation to the department of revenue administration proving they are in compliance with local budget and tax caps.  

HB 1010, relative to multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, is on the regular calendar as OTP-A. As amended by the House, this bill made significant positive updates to the 2025 universal zoning mandate, requiring municipalities to permit multi-family residential uses on all land zoned to permit commercial uses, and representing a balance between land use regulation and development. 

Tuesday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. in SH Room 103 - SB661 as amended. First, it bans HealthTrust’s non-assessable model and fixed-cost coverages. Second, it prohibits HealthTrust from holding the reserves recommended for long-term stability and sustainability. SB661 would essentially codify a failed model. The response to two health risk pools depleting reserves is not to ban HealthTrust’s model, which has never depleted reserves even as it managed the same catastrophic wave of claims as the other two.

 HB 1491   Keeps assessable pools under the Secretary of State, consistent with their existing practice.  Moves non-assessable health pools under the Insurance Department, with modern solvency oversight and risk-based capital standards similar to those used for other insurance entities.  Explicitly allows non-assessable pools to maintain adequate reserves, rather than forcing them into artificially low caps that have already proven inadequate.

Thursday, May 14--Deadline to act on all bills from the other chamber.  

PASSED - going to Governor   Governor Signed 26 Bills into Law and 1575 was not acted upon.

HB 1575 was passed. The bill transfers the determination of the default budget to the budget committees. As of today, there is no public record that Kelly Ayotte has signed New Hampshire HB 1575 (“relative to the determination of the default budget by the budget committee”).

7. Kim Vacation  - May 14, 15 , 29 and June 1st

8. 
   

SELECTMEN REPORTS

1. Recreation Commission Representative - F. Robert Leary Sr.

2. School Facilities Improvement Committee - John Brunelle

3. Budget Committee Representative - John Brunelle

4. Planning Board Representative - Steven G. Gannon

5. Capital Improvement Committee Representative - Kimberly M. Queenan

6. Conservation Commission Representative - Dianne Plansky

7. Heritage Commission Representative -    

8. Emergency Management Team - John Brunelle

9. Energy Committee - Steven G. Gannon

10. Economic Development Committee - Kimberly M. Queenan

Non-Public Session

 RSA 91-A:3, II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the  disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the  employee affected (1) has a right to a public meeting, and (2) requests that the meeting be open,  in which case the request shall be granted. 

RSA 91-A:3, II(b) The hiring of any person as a public employee. 

  RSA 91-A:3, II(c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation  of any person, other than a member of this board, unless such person requests an open meeting.  This exemption shall extend to include any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of  a fee, fine or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant. 

 Adjournment