Requests for Additional Items / Other Business- see below

                   Public Input (will occur no earlier than 6:45 pm)

Section 2 :  Business

 5. Abatement Denial for Map 12, Lot 31

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

1. May 8th - Town Clerk offices closed due to mandatory training.

2. Important upcoming State Legislation:

Tuesday, April 9, at 2:10 p.m., the Senate Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1279 in State House Room 103. HB 1279 would permanently reinstate a 7.5 percent state contribution toward the employer’s cost of the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) contribution for teachers, police, and firefighters beginning on July 1, 2024. The fiscal note prepared by the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) indicates that enactment of this bill would reduce local government (municipal, school, county and village district) retirement costs by an estimated $27.13 million in fiscal year 2025, $27.78 million in fiscal year 2026, and $28.46 in fiscal year 2027.

ZONING PROPSED CHANGES:

  Tuesday, April 9, starting at 9:40 a.m. in LOB Room 103, the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee will hear testimony on two important zoning-related bills: HB 1215 and HB 1399.

HB 1215, as amended by the House, significantly alters RSA 674:39, by extending the time period a subdivision plat or site plan is exempt from subsequent changes in subdivision regulations, site plan regulations, impact fee ordinances, and zoning ordinances. Currently, recorded plats and plans are exempt for a period of five years, as long as “active and substantial development” began within 24 months of the approval. The bill would change this period to ten years, and extend the ‘active and substantial development’ period to five years.  HB 1215 would also alter the local appeal process for building and fire codes when the zoning board of adjustment serves as the local building code of appeals. When the appeal is of a locally adopted amendment to either the building or fire code, the appeal would stay with the zoning board of adjustment. However, when the appeal is of the state code – i.e. where there is no local amendment – the appeal would go to the state building code board of appeals. (Municipalities, such as Manchester, with a separate local building code board of appeals would continue to hear appeals of the state code.)

HB 1399 is the more concerning of the two bills. It is inaccurately titled “allowing municipalities to permit two residential units in certain single family residential zones,” but would actually require municipalities to allow duplexes. The bill creates a formula that requires that municipalities allow duplexes for all lots that are two acres or less in size, and for at least 50 percent of all lots in a municipality zoned for single-family residences where a “proposed development” meets certain criteria.

2. The Zoning Ordinance has been updated on the website to reflect amendments passed at Town Meeting (Updated: 2024)

 3. New Website :

 LAST UPDATE TO CURRENT SITE - except for minutes and public meetings is 3/29/2024

Design concept approval 5/3/24

Planned website reveal (internal )  5/7/2024

Website corrections due by 5/17/2024

Training of Staff 5/14,15 and 16th - Pre Launch meeting (internal) 5/27/2024

Website Launch  5/30/2024

 4. Stormwater :  Meeting Held at the April 2, 2024 Planning Board of updated Stormwater Regulations drafted with the assistance of CEI, our engineering consultant. Will require a Public Hearing tentatively scheduled May 7th.

5. PFAS/Saint-Gobain : The Town received notice of letters to over 40 Town residential properties from NH DES. (see below)  The NH DES is recommending well sampling for these homes.  In order to protect your interest in receiving free bottled water or  a permanent water alternative you must respond to the letter.  Well testing is free and anyone wanting more information can contact Andrew Fuller, the project manager at 603-271-6573 .

6.  Cemetery Trustees - The Cemetery trustees issued a new RFP for Property maintenance earlier in April. The public opening of sealed proposals was conducted at 3:00 PM on March 29, 2024 at 2 Liberty Way, Litchfield, NH. The awarding of the bid was done at a publicly noticed meeting at 5:30 PM on April 1, 2024.  The contract was awarded to Mark K. Coulomne & Sons LLC.

Chief Jones,  Litchfield Police Department

On April 2, 2024 at 10:00am, The Litchfield Police Department switched our record management system and dispatch software from IMC to CSI Technology Group. As with any change, there will be some growing pains, but the transfer went seamlessly. This new software will allow us to be more efficient and retain better records. CSI is more user friendly and easier to modify to suit our needs. Thank you for supporting this much needed change!

SELECTMEN REPORTS

1. Recreation Commission Representative - Steven J. Webber

2. School Facilities Improvement Committee - Kevin A. Lynch

3. Budget Committee Representative - F. Robert Leary Sr., 

4. Planning Board Representative - Kimberly M. Queenan

5. Capital Improvement Committee Representative - Kimberly M. Queenan

6. Conservation Commission Representative - Kevin A. Lynch

7. Heritage Commission Representative - G. Steven Gannon

8. Emergency Management Team - Kevin A. Lynch

Non Public Session 

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.

and 

RSA 91-A:3, Il(d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a

 party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community. 

and 

RSA 91-A:3, II(i) Consideration of matters relating to the preparation for and the carrying out of emergency functions, including training to carry out such functions,

 developed by local or state safety officials that are directly intended to thwart a deliberate act that is intended to result in widespread or severe damage to property or

 widespread injury or loss of life. 

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