Warner, a small town in New Hampshire, is set to hold a special town meeting on January 7, 2025, following petitions from residents demanding the removal of four town officials. The petitions, which garnered support from over 60 residents, call for the resignation of selectmen Harry Seidel and Alfred Hanson, Finance Director Clyde Carson, and administrator Judy Newman-Rogers.
The petitions, signed between September 27 and October 3, cite various concerns that residents believe necessitate a special meeting to address the governance of their town. The Select Board’s decision to schedule the meeting for early January has sparked frustration among some residents who had hoped for a gathering before the holiday season.
During the Select Board meeting on October 28, resident James Gaffney, a signer of the petitions, expressed his discontent. “The law doesn’t give you guys any wiggle room. You’re spending more money running around in circles than it would cost to just hold the darn meeting,” he stated while addressing the board.
The resignation petition outlines a lack of confidence in the town’s officials, citing issues such as a restraining order against a sitting selectman for alleged assault on a town hall employee, multiple years of problematic financial audit findings, and a pattern of behavior creating a toxic workplace environment.
In addition to the resignation petitions, residents have proposed four other initiatives, including calls for the publication of the town’s financial audit online, outsourcing payroll, restricting the Select Board from meeting with town counsel without a public quorum, and prohibiting the board from accepting funds outside of approved town operations without a majority vote.
To convene a special town meeting, a minimum of 50 signatures is necessary on any petitioned warrant article. Each of the petitions received between 61 and 76 signatures, demonstrating significant community support for these issues.
At the same meeting, resident David Carle presented amendments to the Select Board Rules of Procedures. These amendments included specific language regarding requests from town counsel, resignation protocols, conflicts of interest, and committee organization. The board chose to address each of the nine proposed amendments individually, unanimously agreeing to postpone further discussion until November 18.
“I was very pleased about the reception of the proposed amendments,” Carle remarked. “I felt that it was positive, and I think people understood that this isn’t for just this Select Board, but for future boards.”
While Carle supports the proposed amendments, he does not endorse the residents’ petitions. He contends that many of the issues raised are administrative matters that should be resolved by the Select Board, rather than being brought before the townspeople. Carle noted that his previous attempts to submit warrant articles on similar administrative issues were met with resistance, as they fell under the board’s purview.
None of the officials mentioned, including Seidel, Hanson, and Newman-Rogers, responded to requests for comment regarding the petitions. Carson stated he was not familiar with the articles but affirmed his commitment to serving the town of Warner.
Selectman Michael Smith signed all five petitions and voted against the selected date for the January meeting. He also did not provide any comments when approached.
Residents of Warner are now preparing for the upcoming special town meeting, a significant event that will allow them to voice their concerns and seek resolutions to the issues they believe are impacting their community governance.
