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
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 | 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
