New Durham, NH

Select Board

Select Board

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About the Board

Role of the Board:

Under Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 41:8-b the composition of the Select Board can be three (3) or five (5) members. New Durham’s Select Board is composed of a three-member board.

  • In large part, the Select Board functions as an executive branch or as a Board of Directors, and as agents to carry out the voted actions of the Town of New Durham’s legislative branch also known as “Town Meeting.” The Board’s grant of power comes explicitly from the State Legislature there is no “Home Rule” contrary to popular belief. The Board can only exercise those powers specifically granted by Statute, ordinance or by-law or those powers that are within the authority of their office.

  • RSA 41:8 provides that the Select Board members manage the “prudential” affairs of the town prudential affairs role can be interpreted as carrying out the details of town meeting votes e.g. authorization to spend money, sign deeds, appoint new officials, compose legal ordinances and policies, enter into contractual agreements.

  • The Board acts as a collegial body in making decisions and conduct of town business. One Select Board member has no authority and a unanimous decision is not required for board actions. However under RSA 91-A all business, except those situations specially exempted under RSA 91-A: 3 II a-e, must be conducted in a public session with a duly posted notice to the Citizens.

The Board cannot interfere with the exercise of functions, which, by statute are delegated to other elected officials. However, the Select Board, in the exercise of their budgeting, spending and safeguarding authority, have the right to obtain information from elected officials, to hire personnel and set salaries (subject to appropriation by town meeting), to approve purchasing of supplies, and to set rules governing the safeguarding of all municipal property and financial assets RSA 41:9 VI.

In addition to managing the prudential affairs, the Select Board has other substantive duties, again prescribed by law, but do not require Town Meeting vote, namely:

  • Regulation of Municipal Highways and Commons RSA 41:11
  • Layout of Highways RSA 231: 8-19
  • Order Repair or demolition of Hazardous & Dilapidated Buildings RSA 155-B
  • Junkyard Licensing RSA 236:111-129
  • Health Regulations RSA 147
  • Abatement Requests RSA 76
  • Appointments For Vacant positions
  • Setting Fees providing Town Meeting has adopted RSA 41:9
  • Establish and amend local Welfare Guidelines
  • Financial Accounting and Safeguarding
  • Election Duties: under RSA 658:9-a, the Board is responsible for the physical set up of the polling place for town elections.
  • Property Appraisal Taxation: Selectmen are responsible to assure that all taxable property in town is inventoried, and appraised and that a warrant is issued to the tax collector for the collection of such taxes RSA 75 & 76
  • Litigation: The Board works to resolve claims that may be made against the town and it’s departments with the able assistance of town counsel.

The Role of a Select Board is varied and takes time to know the areas of required knowledge and interaction with other town boards and committees. This is why many communities have Town Administrators to assist the board in carrying out their “prudential affairs” and carrying out the day-to-day operations of local municipal government.

Contact Information

Town Administrator - Cecile Chase

  • Address: Town Hall, 4 Main Street, P.O. Box 207, New Durham, NH 03855
  • Phone: (603) 859-2091 ext 2003
  • Fax: (603) 859-6644
  • Email: ndadmin@newdurhamnh.us

Committee Members

Member - Dot Veisel

  • Term Expires: 2027

Vice Chair - Marc DeCoff

  • Term Expires: 2025

Vice-Chair - David “Swens” Swenson

  • Term Expires: 2026
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Annual Budget

New Durham follows a Fiscal Year (FY) that follows the calendar year of January 1st- December 31st annually. The Budget is Developed by a team of all Departments with guidance by the Finance Department and Town Administrator. That Budget is then presented to the Select Board and the Official Budget Committee for their review and changes. Residents are welcome to participate in this process which typically takes place between October through December of the prior calendar year. Residents can use areas of Public Comment during each meeting to provide suggestions, questions, and ideas. After a final public hearing (In January) the Budget will move forward to the Deliberative Session (In February) through a Warrant Article. Then after the Deliberative Session the Budget moves to the Town Election (In March).

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Town Warrant

The information below is provided to support residents and to provide information to residents during the Deliberative Session and the Town Election. The Deliberative Session typically takes place in the month of February with the Town Election in March. For more information on the date of the next Deliberative Session and Town Election, please refer to the Town Calendar.

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Voter Guide

The information below is provided to support residents and to provide information to Residents for the March Town Election. A draft of the guide will be available for the Deliberative Session typically held in February and will be modified for the March Town Election. For more information on the date of the next Deliberative Session or Town Election, please refer to the Town Calendar.

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Deliberative Session Power Points

The information below is provided to support residents and to provide information to residents during the Deliberative Session. The Deliberative Session typically takes place in the month of February with the March election to follow. For more information on the date of the next Deliberative Session, please refer to the Town Calendar.\

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Tax Rate Comparison

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Board of Selectmen Rules of Procedure

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Public Participation at Meetings

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Open Volunteer Positions

All Board, Commission and Committee meetings are open to public, & encourage visitors and members of the public to come, learn and participate. All are in need of alternate members as well.

Positions available on New Durham boards, committees, and commissions :

  • Planning Board: up to 3 alternate members
  • Zoning Board of Adjustment: Up to 4 alternate members

Appointment Openings:

If you would like to participate, please fill out a Municipal Volunteer Application or contact Town Hall. If you have any questions or know of other vacancies, please contact New Durham Town Hall at 859-2091 Ext 1 (Town Clerk). We look forward to hearing from you!

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Town Lines and Perambulation

The following is from “The History of New Durham, New Hampshire” by Ellen Cloutman Jennings:

The original area, six miles square, in the shape of a rhomoid running north and south, was marked into two divisions having 100 lots in each. The lots in the first division were to be on hundres acres each; those in the second division idntically numbered, to have ” all land belonging to each share repectively.” The lots should be laid out as equally as possible; the highway between the ranges four rods wide and those between the lots, two rods wide. In the spring of 1750, the land was surveyed a plan or map of numbered lots was drawn up.

In 1762, the residents felt that it was time to put in a request to the royal government for recongnaition on the form of a charter which would authorize them to have a town government of their own. Accordingly, this charter was granted with the permission of King George III, and signed by Governor Benning Wentworth of the Province of New Hampshire on December 7, 1762.

Nearby Towns:

  • Alton
  • Barnstead
  • Brookfield
  • Farmington
  • Middleton
  • Strafford
  • Wolfeboro
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