NEWS, UPDATES, & NOTICES
| NOVEMBER TOWN CALENDAR | |
| DATE | EVENT |
| 3 | Selectmen’s Meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall |
| 3 | Conservation Commission Meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall |
| 10 | Selectmen’s Meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall |
| 10 | First Day To Accept Petitions to Amend Zoning or Building Codes |
| 11 | Veterans Day, Town Hall Closed |
| 14* | Supervisors of the Checklist Session, 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm, Town Hall |
| 17* | Selectmen’s Meeting, Time Change 5:30 p.m. Town Hall 2nd Floor |
| 17 | Surry School Board, 7 p.m. Surry Charter School |
| 17* | Selectmen Workshop, meeting with Avatar, 4 p.m. Town Hall 2nd Floor |
| 19 | Planning Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall |
| 20* | Surry School Board Special Meeting, 7 p.m., Surry Charter School |
| 20* | Selectmen’s Meeting, 7 p.m., Surry Charter School |
| 24 | Selectmen’s Meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall |
| 27 | Thanksgiving Day, Town Hall Closed |
* Indicates change or update
- All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2
MEETING NOTICE: School Board — Surry School Building Renovation Plans & Town Feedback on Potential Project
The Surry Elementary School, constructed in 1950, has served the community well, but is showing its age. The Surry School Board authorized a professional building condition assessment study, which identified repair and replacement needs, necessary upgrades, and preliminary cost estimates. The Surry School Board is currently discussing renovation plans, estimated costs, and funding options.
The Surry School Board invites the Surry community to attend a meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7 pm, to be held at Surry School Building, 449 Route 12A, Surry, to hear the results of the study. A building tour and public comment period will follow.
For more information, please contact Caroll Lothrop, 603-381-8189.
All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2.
MEETING NOTICE: Select Board
The Select Board will be attending the Special Meeting of the Surry School Board on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7 pm, to be held at Surry School Building, 449 Route 12A, Surry.
All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2.
GM2 / NH DOT BRIDGE PROJECT: Gilsum Road over Thompson Brook
GM2 Associates, Inc. recently met with the Select Board to present the NH DOT’s early design work for replacing the existing corrugated metal pipe culvert on Gilsum Road (Thompson Brook) with a poured concrete bridge.
The current metal culvert has multiple structural deficiencies and is at the end of its service life, making replacement necessary. The new structure would expand the hydraulic opening from 12 feet to 30 feet, improving flow capacity and aquatic organism passage.
GM2 outlined two construction approaches:
- Temporary Bridge (Two-Season Approach)
Traffic remains open using a temporary bridge
• Construction spans two seasons - Accelerated Construction (One-Season Closure)
Gilsum Road would be closed at the bridge for roughly one month
• Bridge completed within a single construction season
Those attending the meeting expressed their support for the accelerated construction option.
The project is scheduled to begin in 2028. Next steps include scheduling a Public Informational Meeting several months from now, where updated design details will be presented and additional feedback will be gathered.
Click the following link to view the full presentation GM2/NH DOT Bridge Project Presentation
TOWN MEETING: Petitions to Amend Zoning or Building Code
Monday, November 10, 2025, is the First day to accept petitions to amend zoning ordinance, historic district ordinance, or building code for consideration at the 2026 town meeting. [RSA 675:4-120 days before town meeting]
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, is the Last day to accept petitions to amend zoning ordinance, historic district ordinance, or building code for consideration at the 2026 town meeting. [RSA 675:4- 90 days before town meeting]
NH MUNICIPAL TAX RATES: NH Department of Revenue
The Department of Revenue has released the 2025 Municipal Tax Rates for all cities and towns in NH. To see how Surry’s tax rate of $16.82 compares across the state, click on the following link NH Municipal Tax Rates 2025
BUILDING PERMITS & CODES: Why do They Matter?
Building permits ensure construction in Surry is safe, legal, and protective of property values.
When you apply for a permit, your project is reviewed under the New Hampshire State Building Codes, along with any locally adopted building codes and zoning ordinances, to confirm that it:
- Meets local zoning and setback requirements.
- Complies with current safety and health standards.
- Preserves structural integrity and energy efficiency.
- Protects your investment and your neighbors’ property.
Obtaining a permit is a required and essential step in helping ensure your project meets state and local standards before work begins. Working without a permit can lead to fines, stop-work orders, removal of unapproved work, or problems when selling your home.
A new page has been added to the Town’s website answering questions such as:
- When is a Permit Required?
- What is the State Building Code?
- How does Surry’s Zoning Ordinance Come into Play?
- How to Apply for a Building Permit?
- What does the Construction Phase Look Like?
Here is the link to the new page: Building Permits – Information & FAQs
All meetings are open to the public and subject to the provisions of NH RSA 91-A:2
MUNICIPAL TAX RATE: 2025
| Municipal Tax Rate | ||||
| Expense Type | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Change (2025 vs 2024) |
| Municipal | $2.53 | $0.69 | $2.31 | $1.62 |
| County | $2.26 | $2.22 | $2.48 | $0.26 |
| Local Education | $9.98 | $12.77 | $10.90 | ($1.87) |
| State Education | $1.25 | $1.14 | $1.13 | ($0.01) |
| TOTAL | $16.02 | $16.82 | $16.82 | $0.00 |
Good news – Surry’s property tax rate for 2025 remains unchanged from last year. This year’s municipal expenses more accurately reflect their actual costs, while education expenses have decreased due to fewer students enrolled — allowing the overall tax rate to remain flat.
RADAR SPEED SIGN: New Location
The radar speed sign has been moved to Surry Dam Road. The sign is currently in “spy mode,” where the speed of the approaching car is not displayed. The idea is to gather data on current traffic and speed patterns before displaying the oncoming car’s speed to the driver. Once both sets of data are available, we’ll be able to determine whether any behavior change occurred.
MEETING MINUTES: Stay Informed
After approval, meeting minutes are posted on the town website for review.
NH’s OFFICIAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM: NH ALERTS
Given what unfortunately appears to be the all too common news about weather events impacting a community and the importance of rapid notification, we thought it was critical to ensure you are aware of NH’s official emergency notification system, NH Alerts.
NH Alerts is the State of New Hampshire’s official emergency and public notification system. This multi-channel platform enables public safety officials to quickly share critical information with the public using phone calls, text messages, emails, and app-based notifications. Whether it’s an emergency that requires immediate action or a community update, NH Alerts helps ensure that residents and visitors are informed and prepared. To learn more about the program, you can click on the following link NH ALERTS.
Create an account and register for NH Alerts athttps://stateofnewhampshire.genasys.com/portal.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Division of Emergency Services and Communications’ Database Unit at desc.database@desc.nh.gov.
An additional resource to be aware of is the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The FEMA Mobile phone app allows you to receive real-time weather alterts, locate emergency shelters in your area, prepare for common hazards, and more. The following link will direct you to the FEMA page, where you can find more information and download the application. FEMA Mobile Products | FEMA.gov
NEWSLETTER REGISTRATION: Action Needed
To stay informed about important updates and events impacting the community, you will want to register for the Surry Newsletter.
Email townemail@surry.nh.gov from the email account where you would like to receive the newsletter. Please include your name (First and last) and your mailing address in the body of the email. Your phone number is optional.
Your email will trigger an automated response to confirm you’ve registered. If you don’t see the email in your Inbox after a few minutes, please check your Spam folder and flag it as “Not Spam” to prevent future emails from going there.
REED FREE LIBRARY, SURRY NH: Opportunity – Seeking a new Library Director
The Reed Free Library seeks an enthusiastic person to help build dynamic engagement between the library and the community.
The position is permanent, part-time, 6-8 hours per week. You must be available on Mondays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 to 1:00 p.m. and attend some meetings.
Further information regarding the pay, role, and requirements can be found by clicking the following link: LIBRARY DIRECTOR POSTING.
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