What Newfields boards are doing

Conservation Commission · Mon, Nov 16

Commission meeting protocols

The agenda lists the commission's meeting protocols, which are the rules for how its meetings run, as item 2.

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Conservation Commission · Mon, Nov 16

Treasurer's report

The treasurer is scheduled to give a financial report to the commission.

Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Nov 16

Daley easement report and invoice

The commission is scheduled to consider approving a monitoring report and an invoice for the Daley easement. An easement is a legal agreement that limits how land can be used to protect it. Monitoring means visiting the land to check that the terms are being followed.

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Conservation Commission · Mon, Nov 16

2027 budget draft

The commission is scheduled to review a draft of its 2027 budget.

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Conservation Commission · Mon, Nov 16

SELT forestry in Piscassic Greenway

The agenda lists an update on forestry work by the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) in the Piscassic Greenway.

Source document

Elections · Tue, Nov 3

Constitutional Amendment Question 1 results

Decided: Yes 680, No 292. Undervotes 125, overvotes 0.

Newfields voters cast 680 Yes votes and 292 No votes on Constitutional Amendment Question 1. There were 125 undervotes (ballots with no choice marked on this question) and 0 overvotes (ballots with too many marks).

Meeting summary · Source document

Elections · Tue, Nov 3

Statutory Question 2 results

Decided: Yes 493, No 560. Undervotes 44, overvotes 0.

Newfields voters cast 493 Yes votes and 560 No votes on Statutory Question 2. There were 44 undervotes (ballots with no choice marked on this question) and 0 overvotes (ballots with too many marks). On the form, the word "Statutory" is handwritten above a struck-through "Constitutional Amendment" label.

Meeting summary · Source document

Zoning Board of Adjustment · Wed, Oct 28

Variance request for covered rear deck on Main St lot

Decided: The variance was denied. A motion was made and seconded to deny it because the spirit and intent of the ordinance would not be observed and there was no unnecessary hardship. The motion passed; the vote count was not given. Separately, the board voted to postpone filling the vice-chair or alternate position.

On October 28, 2026, the Zoning Board of Adjustment heard a request for a variance (permission to break a zoning rule for one property) from the 25% maximum building coverage rule. The owners wanted to build an 18 by 7 foot roofed rear porch or deck on a 0.212-acre lot in the Residential Village District (Map 102 Lot 21). The lot is smaller than the one-acre minimum and already goes over the 25% limit. The applicants' lawyer said a contractor began the work without a permit, and work stopped once the problem was found. A survey showed the deck would add about 251 square feet, or about 2.7% more coverage. The lawyer corrected an earlier figure of 1.45%. The lawyer argued the lot's small size, its spot beside town hall and across from a church and store, and a realtor's opinion on property values supported the request. A member of the public opposed it. That person said approving work done without a permit could encourage others to skip permits, and that many village lots are small and similar. Board members said the hearing was only about the building-coverage variance, not a separate issue about expanding a nonconforming use. They said hardship has to come from special conditions of the land itself. Several members found the lot was not unique compared with other small village lots. They also raised concerns about drainage and more roof and deck area, and cited existing coverage in the 46% range. The board agreed the request was not against the public interest. It found two of the five variance tests were not met: the spirit and intent of the ordinance, and unnecessary hardship. After the vote, the board also discussed filling the empty vice-chair seat and possibly adding an alternate member. No one was appointed, and the matter was postponed to a future meeting. Follow-up tasks: issue the formal denial in writing and fill the vice-chair seat.

Meeting summary · Source document

Select Board · Tue, Oct 27

Water and Sewer District geophysical survey request

Decided: Referred back to the Water Department to review the easement restrictions.

The Water and Sewer District asked permission to run geophysical surveys on town-owned land between Hilton Field and the railroad tracks, near the cemetery, to look for possible water sources. The work would include ground-penetrating radar, temporary markers or rods, and other testing. Two attendees raised concerns that a conservation easement requires the land to stay mostly natural, including whether drilling or well work would be allowed. The Select Board sent the request back to the Water Department to review the easement limits and decide if the testing is allowed.

Meeting summary · Source document

Select Board · Tue, Oct 27

Audit services bids

Decided: Approved the five-year contract with Plodzik Sanderson. All in favor; motion carried.

The Select Board compared five-year audit bids from Plodzik Sanderson and CLA. Plodzik Sanderson's first-year cost was about $16,500, and CLA's bid was about $57,000. The Board was satisfied with the current audit services and saw no need to change firms. It approved a five-year contract with Plodzik Sanderson.

Meeting summary · Source document

Select Board · Tue, Oct 27

Eversource new pole license

Decided: Approved the Eversource pole license. All in favor; motion carried.

The Select Board voted on a license for Eversource to install a new utility pole.

Meeting summary · Source document

Select Board · Tue, Oct 27

Accounts payable manifest

Decided: Reviewed and approved.

The Select Board reviewed and approved an accounts payable manifest (list of bills to be paid) of $21,721.55, with checks dated 10/30/26.

Meeting summary · Source document

Public Safety Building Committee · Tue, Oct 20

Site plan options, parking and wetland impact

Decided: No formal vote. The committee agreed by consensus to start with the left-hand site option.

The engineer from Yeager Associates showed two site options. The option on the left puts police parking behind the building on the secure side, giving more room and a bigger buffer for neighbors, but it has more wetland impact. The option on the right cuts wetland impact to about 1 acre (45,000 square feet, about 1,113 square feet over the target), but it needs about 10 feet of fill and would put covered police parking near the generator and transformer. The engineer said the state Department of Environmental Services (DES) may reject high impact or ask for a large payment into the ARM fund, a state wetland mitigation fund. A conservation easement on the rest of the land might offset impact at a 10-to-1 ratio. The engineer also said stormwater cannot be treated in wetlands, and the project is not expected to reach the 150,000 square foot alteration of terrain threshold. Committee members said the plan on the left works best for both departments and the neighbors and should be the starting point, with no further shrinking for now. Fire parking is at eight car spaces, and the fire department asked for no fewer. Police need 11 spaces plus six undercover. The plan is to start with the left option, hold pre-application meetings with DES Wetlands Bureau, and pare back if the state requires it.

Meeting summary · Source document

Public Safety Building Committee · Tue, Oct 20

Abutter outreach and possible site walk

Decided: No formal vote on outreach. Members agreed by consensus to post the FAQ and wait to schedule the next meeting. The meeting then adjourned on a motion and second.

The committee talked about reaching out to direct abutters (neighbors whose land touches the site). The architect had suggested this and said he did the same in New Boston. Ideas included a letter inviting them to meetings, an email contact for questions, and a site walk. Members raised that a site walk or gathering with a quorum of members would need public meeting notice. Several said a site walk is premature because the site plan and the amount of disturbance are not set. The committee leaned toward a letter, an email contact, and inviting abutters to a meeting held before the regular meeting, such as 5:00 with the regular meeting at 5:30. A member also asked for a single print of the whole parcel showing nearby houses and driveways. The group also agreed to be copied on emails with the architect for information only, with no deliberation by email. Members agreed to post the updated FAQ on the website and on the bulletin board before election day, and to direct questions about the old buildings to the select board. No date for the next meeting was set. Two weeks out is election day, and a meeting the week after was floated.

Meeting summary · Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Oct 19

Gilmore-Silverstein easement monitoring report and invoice

Decided: Two motions passed 7-0: accept the site monitoring report, and pay the invoice.

A new baseline report (a record of the land's condition) was needed because a nearby property was bought and its acres were added to the easement (a legal limit on how land can be used, to protect it). A 2009 baseline report exists. The 2021 easement deed says the easement grew to 33.548 acres, but the amended plan shows 33.146 acres, a gap of about 0.4 acre. The gap was noted in the report but not resolved. The Commission said maps and reports must be reviewed to decide if follow-up is needed. It voted to accept the report and, in a separate vote, to pay the invoice.

Meeting summary · Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Oct 19

Houghton-Girard monitoring report and invoice

Decided: Motion to accept the easement site monitoring report and pay the invoice passed 7-0.

The Commission accepted the report and invoice. Property boundaries and markers were generally in order. The only issue noted was water blocked by beavers.

Meeting summary · Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Oct 19

Moore-McCarthy monitoring report and invoice

Decided: Motion to accept the easement sites monitoring report and invoice passed 7-0.

The Commission accepted the report and invoice. It talked about direction labels, an old canoe, and small amounts of forest debris. No fix was requested.

Meeting summary · Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Oct 19

Commission bylaw update

Decided: Motion to approve the revised bylaws passed 7-0.

After reviewing and discussing needed changes, the Commission formally adopted its revised bylaws.

Meeting summary · Source document

Conservation Commission · Mon, Oct 19

Operational guide book for working principles

Decided: The Commission decided to put these details in a separate document. No vote count was given.

The Commission decided that details such as how to post minutes and public notices will go in a separate document instead of the bylaws. Members agreed this "guide book" or "handbook" will help new members learn the Commission's procedures. They considered sections for rules of procedure, a member handbook, and a code of conduct.

Meeting summary · Source document