Board member recuses himself from New Boston finance director hiring; meeting moves to nonpublic session

The meeting in New Boston opened at 5:30 p.m. The Chair called the session to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance before turning to personnel business. The Chair asked 'Jeff' if he had a statement before the board moved into a nonpublic session.

Jeff, a board member, announced he had a personal conflict of interest regarding the open director of finance division position because his spouse is a candidate. He said, "I'm declaring a personal conflict of interest regarding the open director of finance division position as my spouse is a candidate for the rule." He cited Part I, Article 35 of the New Hampshire Constitution, state guidelines, and the town of New Boston personnel policies and said he would "formally recuse" himself from the recruitment review, interview, and appointment process, step out of the room for discussions and executive sessions on the position, refrain from reviewing applicant materials, and not vote on the appointment.

After Jeff's statement the Chair made a motion "to move into non public per RSA 91-A, code 3 section 2 regarding hiring of any person as a public employee." A second was noted, the Chair called for a voice vote and members responded "Aye." The Chair then indicated the board would enter the nonpublic session. No public votes or hiring decisions were recorded in the transcript; the discussion of applicants and any decisions were moved to the nonpublic session cited under RSA 91-A.

The meeting record shows the board followed standard steps to avoid a conflict of interest in a personnel matter by having the member recuse himself and moving the hiring discussion to an executive (nonpublic) session under state law. The transcript does not record any further public action on the hiring or a timetable for returning to open session.