by admin | Jan 28, 2026 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the December 23, 2025 meeting. Selectman Campbell abstained.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the January 14, 2026 meeting.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Abatement Forms were approved for Charles Marinelli (error in acreage) and Great North Woods Center for the Arts (just cause).
The contract with CAI for the tax maps was approved and signed.
Marcia informed the Board that she would be contacting them sometime next week to come in and sign the 2026 Warrant and Budget.
Marcia told the Board that the Town Report was almost done and that she would be ordering less this year due to having so many left over previous years.
Marcia reminded the Board that the filing period for Town Offices runs until Friday, January 30th, at 5:00 pm.
Selectman Stohl informed the Board that because of the Country’s 250th birthday celebration that the Kiwanis Club would be hosting a larger display of fireworks for July 4th. They are asking for a donation of $2,000 from us this year. The Board discussed it and decided that the warrant article could be amended at Town Meeting.
Marcia told the Board that she had mailed out seventeen letters to assessing companies asking them if they would be willing to take Columbia on as a client. So far she has heard from one company that was a no and another that was a maybe. She will follow up on all of these once she gets the Town Report to the printers.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Jan 14, 2026 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Gary Fournier (Brett Purvis & Associates) entered the meeting at 6:02 pm. The Board discussed the recent BTLA order regarding the revaluation. Gary has provided a contract for finishing up the revaluation. Marcia has forwarded it to Attorney Chris Boldt for review and he will share it with DRA’s attorney. Mr. Fournier informed the Board that he had put a price in the contract of $15,500 but that he knew that would have to be negotiated due to the Town having to pay DRA for doing the general assessing work for 2026. Mr. Fournier is also drafting a “temporary” contract for a term of one month to do the Town’s Land Use Change bills and the equalization. Marcia will run this by Chris Boldt also before the Board signs it. Mr. Fournier noted that there will be no charge for this. Mr. Fournier left the meeting at 6;35 pm.
At 7:00 Selectman Cloutier called the Annual Budget Hearing to order. (There was one member of the public present.) Selectman Cloutier reviewed each line item on the appropriations and revenue sheets. The Board discussed increasing the Elderly Tax Exemptions. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to increase the exemptions as follows: Age 65-70 $15,000; age 70-75 $20,000; age 80 $25,000. Marcia will contact DRA for the exact wording to be used on the Warrant. The Annual Budget Hearing was adjourned at 7;20 pm.
Mail was reviewed.
An Intent to Cut form was approved for Gregory Aarchambault.
A Veteran’s Tax Cred for Kim Wiles was approved.
A Current Use Application was approved for Robert and Laurie Towle.
The Board discussed a name for the road leading into the new Colburn subdivision off from US Route 3. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to name the road “Colburn Lane”.
The Board reviewed an e-mail from the Secretary of State’s office about the new handicapped accessible voting machine that will be delivered to us sometime in February. It will be the Town’s responsibility to have the machine programed for the Town election. Approximate cost will be $650.00. The School District will have to take care of their ballot programming.
An e-mail from the Department of Justice was reviewed. The Town needs to sign a Certification Form stating that we have reviewed any existing contracts that the Town has to make sure that they comply with RSA 21-1:116 (prohibited DEI related provisions).
An Agreement was signed for the 45th Parallel for 2026.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Dec 22, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl. Selectman Campbell was absent.
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 December 10, 2025 meeting.
Marcia informed the Board members that Phil Bodwell and Denice Roy from DRA would be here on Tuesday to finish up he assessing and to do the Town’s MS-1 in preparation for setting the tax rate.
Intent to Cut forms were signed for Carrie Klebe, Megawood and Savannahwood.
The Board discussed the upcoming budget season. It was decided to hold the annual Budget Hearing on Wednesday, January 14th, at 7:00 pm. Marcia will place an ad in the newspaper and put it on the website.
Marcia said that she had spoken to Phil Bodwell from DRA and that he had suggested that the Town look at increasing their Veteran’s Tax Credit and the Elderly Exemptions in preparation for new assessment values next year. Denice Roy had given Marcia a list of the Town’s in Coos County and what they were using for numbers. The Board discussed the impact to the rest of the Town by doing this. These changes must be made at Town Meeting. The Board had a couple of questions:
1. If we place this on the 2026 Town Warrant does it go into effect in 2026 or 2027?
2. Does this change need to be discussed at the Budget Hearing? It is not an actual appropriation but does have an effect on the overall tax rate.
Marcia will contact Jamie Dow at DRA to get answers to these questions.
Marcia informed the Board that there is $11,694.92 remaining in the Summer Road budget. At the present time, we have contracted with Asplundh to cut some trees along the Town’s roads. It is unsure if they will be finished before December 31st. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to “encumber” $11,694.92 from the 2025 Summer Road budget to be paid to Asplundh. If the Asplundh bill is more than this amount, the remainder of the money will be taken from the $11,396.47 one-time Class V road money that the State of New Hampshire gave us in 2024.
The Board spent the remainder of the meeting working on the 2026 budget.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Dec 10, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl the Board approved the minutes of the November 26, 2025 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
A contract with Asplundh for tree trimming was signed by Chairman Cloutier.
A contract with Clerkworks was signed by Chairman Cloutier.
Selectman Campbell informed the Board that the “per call” cost for Dispatch will be going up $.96 due to insurance rate increases in Colebrook. It was noted the next Dispatch Center meeting will be held in Columbia.
It was noted that our appeal to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals has been filed by Attorney Chris Boldt. This appeal is asking for a one year extension on our revaluation order.
Personnel from DRA hope to be here next week to finish up our assessing. Denice Roy will let Marcia know when they are coming.
Selectman Campbell told the other two Board members that he had spoken to Michael Lynch about cutting brush at the Columbia Bridge Cemetery. He will be getting a quote for us.
The Board voted to change the next meeting to December 22nd due to the Christmas holiday.
Columbia School Board Chairman Stacey Campbell entered the meeting. She said that she had recently met with SAU staff and the bus contractor regarding bus issues. The Columbia School Board has decided to ask Monique Washburn if she would be willing to have the school bus turn around on her property. This will mean that the bus will no longer turn around at Schoolhouse Road. Stacey will get in touch with Mrs. Washburn to see if she is agreeable to this. This area is the area that the plow truck currently turns around. Mrs. Washburn will also have to sign a waiver. Mrs. Campbell left the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Nov 26, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were signed.
Road Agent Dominic Westover entered the meeting to discuss the following:
1. Gave Marcia a list of road signs to order
2. Cutting brush along Town roads. Dominic said he had spoken with Asplundh and then gave him the following quotes for work:
Daily – $1,400.23
Hourly – $158.67
The Board discussed where to have them cut. It was decided to do three weeks’ worth and see where we stand.
3. A letter was received from DOT regarding signs missing on the south end of the bridge on Bungy Road. They are requesting that we correct this and send them pictures showing that it has been done. Dominic will look at it.
4. Ronald Magoon on Meriden Hill Road called last week regarding the catch basin across from his house. He is worried that when things start to thaw in the spring that he will have water on his property again. He would like someone from the Town to stop by and speak with him about this. Marcia gave Selectman Cloutier Mr. Magoon’s phone number.
We have $14,849 left in Summer Roads as well as an additional $11,396 that was a one-time State payment last year to be used for Class V roads only. Mr. Westover left the meeting at 7:06 pm.
Intent to Cut forms were signed for Jacob Pfaff and Terence Pfaff.
Marcia explained to the Board that our County Tax is due on December 17th and we also have a school payment of $150,000.00 due. Marcia has spoken with SAU #7 Business Administrator Bridget Cross and the School District has agreed to us paying our tuition payment in January. Currently we have the following monies on hand (approximately):
NHPDIP $515,000
Camden $ 20,000
Citizens $ 37,000
The County Tax of $464,164 will take most of our funds. The only large payments left for the year are a plowing payment, in December, fire calls (if we have any) assessing being performed by DRA and salaries for the Town Officers.
Marcia told the Board that she had signed the Engagement Letter with Cohos Advisors for doing our compilation and the MS5 for 2025. The amount is the same as last year – $11,500.00.
Selectman Cloutier signed a contract with Interware for the Town Clerk’s software for 2026. It was noted that the price has increased $106.00 from 2025.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Nov 12, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
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 October 22, 2025 meeting.
The Board will be presenting the Boston Post Cane to the Town’s oldest resident on Saturday, November 22nd. The newest recipient is Kenneth Parkhurst.
Selectman Campbell informed the other Board members that he had met with Jason Rella’s employees regarding cutting brush at the Columbia Bridge Cemetery. Jason is supposed to be providing us with a quote. Marcia informed the Board that we have around $14,000 in the Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund. Marcia will reach out to Jason to get the quote.
The board reviewed an Order received from the Board of Land Appeals regarding the Town’s revaluation. Marcia reviewed for the Board correspondence she had with the Town’s attorney, Chris Boldt. Mr. Boldt is going to get in touch with Lawrence Gagnon (DRA Attorney) regarding filing an appeal for an extension.
Marcia informed the Board that we have approximately $15,000 left in the Summer Road budget. This amount does not include the State money sent
to the Town in 2023 in the amount of $11,596 which must be used for Class V roads.
The Board discussed a couple of on-going legal matters.
It was decided to not change the next meeting (November 26th) due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
