APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion: I make a motion to approve the Minutes from the Board of Selectmen meeting on February 12, 2024
Litchfield Police Department - Swearing in Ceremony
Promotions: Slade C. Rasmussen and Brian D. Morgan to Sergeant
New Officers - Jarrod MacDonald and Michael Richardson
Recommendation for Rozay Medina to the Litchfield Planning Board
Motion: (M. Croteau / K. Queenan) Motion was made to recommend Mr. Medina for the Planning Board position to the Board of Selectmen
Vote: (4-2-0) The motion carried. (Mr. Robitaille and Mr. Terrill voted “No”)
Corning Farms Demo Permit - R. Moreau
Litchfield Fire Department - Chief Nicoll
EMS Budget Request - CERT Team - Background Checks
Hawkers and Peddlers Requests
Town Events -
Fishing Derby May 18th , Conservation Committee
& Easter Scavenger Hunt March 13th, Spirit of Litchfield
Sign Use Request Easter Scavenger Hunt March 13th Spirit of Litchfield
Economic Development Committee Survey to be released - Online, At Town Hall, Library and Transfer Station. Will have available March 12th at Elections, approved by Moderator
Survey Closes March 22nd
Economic Development Committee Request - Renew Members for additional one-year term:
Chair: Selectmen Kimberly Queenan
Members: Peter Ames (Recreation), Dianne Plansky (Conservation), Jeremy Robitaille (Planning), Lauura Gandia (ZBA), Peter Plansky, (School Board)
Community Member - Connie Jackson, 1 opening
Staff: Jay Minkarah (NRPC), Kim Kleiner (Town Adminstrator)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Schedule being set for Pennichuck Consolidation case DW-23-101, City of Nashua has now filed Petition to Intervene
Pennichuck has filed DW 24-029 for an increase to the QCPAC of an additional 2.37% on top of the 1.35% approved in DW-23-013. This would raise the 6.31% cummulative QCPAC to 8.67% as of September 2024 - if approved would result in a QCPAC cumulative surcharge 8.67% or a total surcharge of about $7.31 per month on the average single family residential bill of $84.31 (which does not include the current QCPAC you are paying of $4.18 per month) resulting in a total average single family residential monthly bill of $91.62
Leadership meeting held - Volunteer award and recognition event in August sponsored by the Board of Selectmen, staff and Town of Litchfield
First Special Events committee with residents held last Wednesday, February 21st
Department Heads are working on Fee Schedule changes for proposal in March
Guidance on Signs : Litchfield Sign Ordinance states:
1504.00 Prohibited Signs.
a. No signs except Town and State highway direction and regulatory signs may be used on
Albuquerque Avenue.
b. No off premises signs are allowed. (Amended March 2016)
(Adopted March 10, 1981; Amended March 8, 1983, March 1987)
Town Report and Voter Guide
Request Impact Fee session with Counsel, Planning Chair and NRPC
Political Advertising and Political Signs
Concord, NH – Political advertising and political signs are one of the treasured traditions of New Hampshire elections. They are also a physical expression of people's First Amendment right of free speech. With the General Election upcoming on November 8, 2022, Attorney General John M. Formella is releasing the following information regarding political advertising and political signs to assist the public in understanding the election laws related to political advertising and political signs:
Removing, defacing, or destroy political advertising without consent is a crime, and individuals also may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. See RSA 664:17 and 664:21.
Political advertising may not be placed on public property but may be placed in a state right-of-way if the private property owner gives permission. Private property owners may remove signs on their property, even if they are in a state right-of-way. In addition to owners of the property, persons authorized by the owner of the property, or a law enforcement officer may remove advertising placed without permission. Political advertising on any public property may be removed by state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel. See RSA 664:17.
Political communications and political signs— "express advocacy" communications—are required to have information identifying the person or entity responsible for the advertising, known as "paid-for" disclaimers, under New Hampshire law. New Hampshire RSA 664:14 requires that all political advertising must be signed with the name and physical or mailing address of a person responsible for the advertising.
For groups, committees, or entities, the statute requires that an individual be named along with the entity responsible. Under RSA 664:14, II, the "name of the enterprise or organization shall be indicated, and the chairman or treasurer of the enterprise or organization shall sign his name and address."
An Internet address for a website is acceptable as long as the website immediately and prominently displays all of the disclaimer information required. That is, it must clearly identify the name of a contact person for the person responsible or the group responsible for the advertising and a physical or mailing address where the contact person can be located.
Paid-for disclaimers are required for advertising that is considered "express advocacy," which means communications that expressly advocate for or against a candidate or ballot measure at an election. Courts have also held that, even if the advertising does not say "vote for" or "vote against" a certain candidate, if the only reasonable interpretation of the communication is as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate, then it is express advocacy. As a result, in general, when a communication mentions elections, candidates, or political parties, it must include a paid-for disclaimer. See RSA 664:14
SELECTMEN REPORTS
Recreation Commission Representative - Steven J. Webber
School Facilities Improvement Committee - Kevin A. Lynch
Budget Committee Representative - F. Robert Leary Sr.,
Planning Board Representative - Kimberly M. Queenan
Capital Improvement Committee Representative - Kimberly M. Queenan
Conservation Commission Representative - Kevin A. Lynch
Heritage Commission Representative - G. Steven Gannon
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 unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting, and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
RSA 91-A:3II(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.
TABLED ITEMS BELOW:
TABLED - Needs new meeting date
New Proposed Farmers Market Ordinance and Application
DRAFT ONLY - Tabled 2/12/2024 - committee formed to review
Permit Request - 4th of July Parade
Litchfield Fire, Police and Highway have not responded as available staffing and event details need further confirmation.
Tabled 02/12/2024
1st meeting of the Special Event committee held Wed. 2/21/24