Chesterfield selectmen approve Spofford Fire raffle permit, seal nonpublic minutes and set Transfer Station closure

Chesterfield — The Board of Selectmen voted at its May 8 meeting to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A:3, II(b), later to seal those minutes, approved a raffle permit for the Spofford Fire Department and set a temporary closure for the Transfer Station on July 11 at noon.

Fran Shippee, chair of the board, called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM and moved that the board go into Non‑Public Session #1 under RSA 91‑A:3, II(b) at 4:15 PM; Brad Roscoe seconded the motion and the board approved it unanimously. The board returned to public session at 6:15 PM.

After reconvening, Gary Winn moved "to seal the minutes of Non‑Public #1 as disclosure would render the proposed action ineffective." Mary Ewell seconded the motion, and the board voted unanimously to seal the minutes. The motion to seal means the minutes of that nonpublic session will not be disclosed because, the board said, disclosure would jeopardize the effectiveness of the proposed action. The board cited RSA 91‑A:3, II(b) as the legal authority for the nonpublic session, which permits closure for certain matters involving the reputation of individuals and related discussions.

In separate actions, Gary Winn moved to approve a raffle permit for the Spofford Fire Department; Mary Ewell seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The permit approval allows the department to conduct a raffle as described in its application filed with the town.

The board also voted to close the Transfer Station at noon on July 11. Fran Shippee moved the closure; Brad Roscoe seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The board did not provide additional operational details in the minutes about the reason for the temporary closure.

Fran Shippee moved to adjourn at 6:31 PM; Mary Ewell seconded and the motion passed unanimously by roll call. The board scheduled its next meeting for May 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Town Offices and via Zoom.

The minutes include signature lines for Fran Shippee (Chair) and Mary Ewell (Vice‑Chair) and clerical entries for other selectmen and town staff; some signature lines in the published minutes appear garbled and list dates of May 13, 2026.