MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, May 11, 2026
Present: Bradford Calhoun, Tom Otterman, Carl Hildebrandt and Jake Thompson, (Select Board), Karen Walker (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Absent: James Bulger
Visitors: Cindy Flannigan, Jim Clark, Nancy Clark, Donna Otterman, James Salinas, Morgan Salinas, Becky Christian, Bill Johnson and via Microsoft Teams Pat Plaisted
Jake Thompson acted as Char in Jim Bulger’s absence.
Meeting called to order at 7:01 pm.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve minutes from meeting of April 27, 2026. Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Executive Session – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to go into executive session to discuss a legal issue. Passed unanimously. Cindy Flannigan, Delinquent Tax Collector, was invited to join the session. Meeting adjourned to executive session from 7:04pm to 7:24pm. No action taken. A Board of Abatement meeting will be scheduled.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment. Grader – Still looking into buying a used grader.
New Garage – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on this project.
Paving – We received a paving grant. The Board discussed which sections of highway to pave. Hazard Identification Survey Results – The Board reviewed. No major issues were identified.
Overweight Permits – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve and for Jake Thompson, Acting Chair, to sign a permit for McElwain Contracting. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Open Positions – NEKWMD Alternate. If anyone is interested, please contact the Town Office or a member of the Select Board.
West Topsham Community Hall – Tom Otterman updated the Board on this project. Ricker’s Excavation will do the septic system work, which includes the leach field for the Community Hall, on the neighboring property, up to the property line of the Community Hall. They will not do septic
system work on the Community Hall property due to lead in the soil as they do not have a lead certification.
West Topsham Community Hall – On June 6, from 10am-3pm, the Hall will begin to be cleared out. There will be unwanted items available for free outside.
Planning Commission Request – The Board gave the Planning Commission written comments on the Energy Section of the Town Plan.
Casella – Representatives met with Tom Otterman to look at the town-owned property on route 302 and the new garage area as possible sites for the solid waste transfer station/trash compactors. More research and discussion is needed before making any decisions.
Dump Permits – The new dump permit cards are ready and may be picked up at the Town Office during regular business hours or on Saturday, May 23, from 7:30am to 12:30pm.
F INANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2609 in the amounts of $44,103.89 for accounts payable and $8,131.78 for payroll.
OTHER
May 25 Select Board Meeting – Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Tom Otterman to cancel the May 25 meeting due to the Holiday. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to adjourn. Passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Emerson
Administrative Assistant