by admin | Oct 22, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Town Treasurer, Carrie Klebe, was also present.
Mrs. Klebe came to the meeting to see if the Board had any questions or concerns for her. There were none so Mrs. Klebe left the meeting at 6:10 pm.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Intent to Cut forms were approved for William Stefanski and Carlton Lewis.
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the October 8, 2025 meeting.
The Board reviewed the minutes of the recent Dispatch Center meeting and had a few questions for Selectman Campbell regarding issues concerning the Dispatch Center.
The renewal letters from Primex for the Town’s property/liability and workmen’s compensation insurance for 2025-2026 were reviewed. It was noted that the property liability amount went down $45.00 and the workmen’s compensation went up $36.00.
Marcia reminded the Board that the Coos County Recycling Center budget meeting with be held on Friday, October 24th, at 10:00 am at the County Administrative Office.
Marcia informed the Board that NH Broadband is scheduled to install broadband at the office and the town hall on Thursday.
Marcia told the Board that DRA had been in Town last week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) working on pick-ups for 2025. They are supposed to be returning tomorrow and Friday. They will be back the first week of November to complete work on the subdivisions and land use change bills. In addition, they will help us with preparing the MS-1. Denice Roy from DRA informed Marcia that she had already informed DRA that our MS-1 will not be completed until the middle of November. That means that tax bills will be sent out late and probably be due around the Christmas holiday.
Marcia reviewed for the Board a conversation she had with Gary Fournier (Brett S. Purvis & Associates). Mr. Fournier said he had been in touch with someone from BTLA regarding the Town filing an extension on our revaluation. He was informed that it would be better for the Town and DRA to file a joint appeal. Mr. Fournier is waiting for a phone call back from DRA.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Oct 8, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the September 25, 2025 meeting.
Chairman Cloutier signed the MS434, which Marcia will submit to DRA.
The Board opened and reviewed oil bids as follows:
C.N. Brown – $2.92
C. Bean – $2.99
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl the Board voted to award the bid to C.N. Brown.
Mail was reviewed.
An e-mail was received from PNGTS inviting the Board to a luncheon on October 22nd at the Black Bear for Town Officials. Selectman Stohl and Campbell plan on attending. Marcia will “RSVP” for them.
Marcia reminded the Board that members of the DRA staff will be doing the Town’s “pick-ups” beginning Tuesday, October 14th. Marcia has posted a notice on the Town’s website and at the Town Office informing the public of this.
An e-mail and a report were received from Sansoucy Associates with the assessments for the utilities located in Town. It was noted that the assessments were much lower than last year due to the Town’s valuation ratio.
The Board reviewed an e-mail and driveway permit application from Daniel Plourde for a lot off f US Route. It was noted that Mr. Plourde had previously applied for a driveway permit in December, 2024 and that the Board had denied it. Mr. Plourde included with his application a letter from his attorney stating a Supreme Court decision that he says supports Mr. Plourde’s application. After reviewing various documents and maps, the Board instructed Marcia to send this to Attorney Chris Boldt for his opinion.
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Oct 6, 2025 | Public Notices
New Hampshire Law (RSA 85:8-a) and the State Constitution (Par 2, Article 6) requires that each town and city in New Hampshire perform a revaluation for tax purposes, at least once every five years. Based on these requirements, the Town of Columbia has been working on our revaluation by measuring and listing a quarter of the Town during the last four years. In 2025, all property values were to be updated using sales that took place in Columbia during a specific time period. These new values were going to be released this fall and would be reflected in the final tax billing for 2025.
However, due to health issues on the part of our assessor, we are not able to complete the last part of the revaluation process. The Town’s assessing firm is currently filing paperwork with the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals requesting an extension of our revaluation requirement. This means that the new values WILL NOT be going into effect for 2025.
Due to the absence of an assessor at this time, any new construction, new subdivisions, etc. for 2024 – 2025 have not yet been processed. In order to do this before the final tax bill is released, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has been given permission to perform this work on behalf of the Town. During the week of October 14th, members of the Department of Revenue staff will be in Columbia to assess those properties that need to be updated. The individuals will have a State issued identification badge and will be driving a state vehicle.
If you should have any questions or concerns regarding this process and/or your valuation, please contact the Town Office at (603) 237-5255. The office is open Monday – Thursday from 10:00 to 4:00.
Board of Selectmen
Town of Columbia
by admin | Sep 10, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
Meeting began at 6:03 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl. Selectman Campbell was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An e-mail was received from Amanda at the Vermont River Conservancy. Amanda had two requests:
1. They would like to install a sign/map at the Columbia Covered Bridge Site. After discussion, the Board instructed Marcia to e-mail her back and give our permission.
2. They are concerned about the traffic at the Lyman Falls site. The boulder that the Town had placed has been moved and people are driving in. The VRC would like to place a locked gate and the Town would be responsible for giving out the code to people. After discussion, the Board decided that they were not in favor of this idea. The Board will suggest to the VRC that we place “several” large boulders there and see if that solves the problem.
The contracts with NH Broadband were signed by Chairman Cloutier.
The Board asked Marcia if we had heard anything regarding the on-going legal matter. Marcia said that she had e-mailed Attorney Chris Hilson but had not heard back. The Board discussed writing a letter to the State Attorney General and see if he could help resolve this issue. Marcia will draft a letter for the Board to review.
The Board discussed and assessing situation. A letter was reviewed from Gary Fournier (Brett Purvis & Associates) and an e-mail from Chris Boldt. The Board discussed going ahead and having DRA do the 2025 pick-ups so we will be ready to have our tax rate set in the fall. Marcia will call Chris Boldt and Denice Roy (from DRA) to see what our next steps should be.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Aug 27, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Campbell. Selectman Stohl was absent.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the August 13, 2024 meeting.
The Board reviewed and signed the MS-535 for 2025.
The Board reviewed the MS60. Cohos Advisors has already submitted this report to DRA.
Marcia informed the Board that she had requested an extension on the MS-1 until November lst.
Selectman Campbell and Marcia reviewed for Selectman Cloutier the telephone conversation they had this morning with Attorney Chris Boldt regarding our assessing contracts and filing an extension with BTLA of our revaluation. Attorney Boldt had reviewed a draft letter that Marcia had prepared to send to Allison Purvis (Brett S. Purvis & Associates) regarding her company’s completing the contracts. The Board reviewed the letter and signed it. Marcia will send it (via e-mail) tomorrow with a copy to Attorney Boldt. We are asking for a response from Mrs. Purvis within seven business days.
The Board discussed road projects:
1. Paving was done on Wednesday.
2. Marcia passed along a complaint from a Bungy resident regarding ditching.
3. At the end of August, we have spent approximately $86,000 out of the summer road budget.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
