Select Board

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The Select Board is an elected three-member board acting as the governing body for the Town of Surry’s municipal government. According to state statute, “the selectmen shall manage the prudential affairs of the town and perform the duties by law prescribed.” (RSA 41:8).

Authority rests with the board acting as a whole, meaning that one select board member acting alone has no authority (RSA 41:8).  All actions the selectmen take must be voted on by a majority of the board at a public meeting that complies with the Right to Know law (RSA 91-A).

While the Board of Selectmen’s authority to manage is broad, it is not unlimited. For example, the town meeting appropriates money, but the selectmen spend it under the authority given to them in RSA 41:9. If the town meeting votes to buy or sell land, the selectmen sign the deed. Most policy choices rest with the legislative body (town meeting), while the selectmen manage the facilities and personnel and administer contracts to implement those policies.

In addition to its broad prudential functions, the Board of Selectmen is provided substantive authority under several specific state statutes. Those responsibilities include:

• Financial accounting and safeguarding (RSA 41:9)
• Setting fees for regulatory programs such as building permits (RSA 41: 9-a) or use of various town facilities.
• Regulation of town highways and commons (RSA 41:11)
• Manage and regulate use of town property (RSA 41:11-a)
• Enforcement of Regulations (41:11-b)
• Licensing of many different purposes, including community events (RSA 31:100), transient vendors (RSA 31:102-a), and parades and other types of shows (RSA 286)
• Property Appraisal and Taxation: Selectmen are responsible to ensuring that all taxable property in Town is inventoried and appraised and that a Warrant is issued to the Tax Collector for the collection of taxes (RSA 75 & 76)
• Hazardous and dilapidated buildings and excavations (RSA 155-B)
• Establish and amend local welfare guidelines (RSA 165:1)
• Health regulations (RSA 147)
• Layout of highways (RSA 231:28-29)
• Appointing of other officials (RSA 41:18, RSA 41:29-a, RSA 41:38, RSA 128:1) and filling of vacancies (RSA 652:12 and RSA 669:62–75)

The Selectmen are individually elected to office for staggered three-year terms and meet weekly on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. Check the town calendar or bulletin board for any changes or updates to the standard meeting schedule.

Member                             Position            Term Ends

Jay Croteau III                     Chair                     2026

Stevens Goldsmith              Vice-Chair            2028

Ron Profaizer                       Member                2027