Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Right-to-Know fee increase

Approved: the chair moved to raise the fee to $0.80 per page, Cat seconded, and all were in favor.

After talking with Town Counsel, the chair said the Town's fee of $0.25 per page for Right-to-Know requests was low compared with other towns. The board raised it to $0.80 per page for all such requests.

Oil bid award

Approved: the bid was awarded to Palmer Gas & Oil. The motion carried.

The Town got two bids for oil. Palmer Gas & Oil bid $3.889 per gallon. Harris, Franconia Fuel bid $4.509 per gallon. The chair recommended Palmer Gas & Oil.

Emergency Management funds notice

The Town received a letter dated September 2, 2026 from the state's Homeland Security and Emergency Management office. It says $16,480 will be sent to Newfields for Emergency Management resources. The chair said these are reimbursement funds.

Fire Department status and new fire truck

The fire chief and the chair went over calls, staffing and equipment. The department reported 448 calls in 2025 and 429 calls so far this year. The chief confirmed the new fire truck will fit in the current fire station. The board talked about trouble finding volunteers and possibly using per-diem (paid by the shift) or full-time staff, and the need for a suitable building. The chief gave an update on buying the new truck and on options for the old one: sell it or keep it as a reserve. The chair said keeping it would add insurance and other costs.

Planning Board update on subdivision rules

A board member reported on the September 10 Planning Board meeting. The Planning Board talked about changing the Subdivision Regulations to clarify requirements and deal with long, narrow "spaghetti" or "finger" lots. The wording is still under review, and a formal hearing is expected at a future meeting. The Planning Board also talked about the Town Plan update, transportation priorities, impact fees and data centers. Any change to allowed uses in the industrial area would need a zoning amendment.

Public Safety Building project update

The chair reported on the September 2, 2026 Public Safety Building meeting, which about 20 to 25 residents attended. Fire and Police first planned a building of about 17,000 square feet, and a review is underway to see if it can be smaller. The building would serve Police, Fire and Emergency Management and could also be used for emergency shelter, cooling and warming, and power outages. Environmental and wetlands studies are done and are being reviewed with the architect. The proposed site is about 14.2 acres, and 3 to 4 acres may be needed for the building. The group talked about conserving the rest and adding access from Meadow Road. The chair also said the Town may be able to host an ALS (advanced life support, paramedic) response vehicle, which could speed up response and bring rental income.

Resident's concerns about a neighboring property

A resident who lives next to a property on Runaway Road sent emails about a shed and a bridge on wetland. At the meeting the resident said he worried that runoff, vehicle fluids or spills could reach wetlands and the Piscassic River. He also called the bridge unsafe. The chair said the state Department of Environmental Services (DES) had contacted the Town. The chair had called back and also contacted the Rockingham County Conservation District, and is waiting for answers. The Building Inspector will check whether a shed permit was issued. The chair said environmental concerns are DES's job and that sale issues between owners and buyers are civil matters outside the Town's authority. The Town will review the bridge safety concern once it has information. The matter remains under review.

ALS services fees and funding

The chair updated the board on ALS (advanced life support, paramedic) services. The proposed membership fee would start at $15,000 in 2027 and rise each year to about $81,244 in Year 5. The per-call fee would rise from $115 to $250. The Town has about $37,400 in its ALS warrant article fund, and a donor has given nearly $28,000 toward ALS costs. More information and financial charts will come during the budget process, and ALS funding will be discussed again in budget season.

GO NORTH health grant eligibility

The chair said Newfields may be eligible for money from the Governor's Office of New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health (GO NORTH) grant program. He has contacted the Police Department and will tell other Town departments so they can look for grants to pursue.