The Warner Select Board will meet Tuesday for the first time with its newly appointed member, Faith Minton. 

Earlier this month, Warner town government was brought to a halt after Christine Frost and Jody Sloane resigned on July 12. Minton, who was tapped to join the board following the resignation of two of the three members, was confirmed by Judge Brian Tucker in Merrimack Superior Court. 

The resignations followed a meeting on July 11 where board members debated a town contract with Warner Connects, the local food pantry, to lease the space they currently occupy in the Old Grade School building. 

On the agenda is a contract for Warner Connects, which has been in limbo since initial conversations in June. 

The food pantry has never paid rent as a tenant in the building prior. That’s the same standard for other food pantries in the area, according to the organization, given the services they provide to a community. 

However, this spring the select board decided they would charge the tenants of the building, which also includes the Community Action Program, Gear Up and the Boys and Girls Club, based on the square footage each organization uses, to help offset building costs. 

The annual cost to run the building is $58,000, according to select board meeting minutes from May 16. This equates to almost $10 per square foot for tenants. 

In the most recent lease between the town and Warner Connects, which has yet to be signed, rent would be $400 per month. 

The lease will be discussed at the meeting Tuesday, along with an outline for appointing new select board members and a report from the trustee of the trust funds on the state public deposit investment pool.

Upon resigning from the board, Sloane and Frost stated that “administrative dysfunction” in the town prevented them from being able to effectively fulfill their responsibilities on the select board. 

Following their resignations, the select board was unable to meet due to the lack of a quorum. Harry Seidel was the lone member on the board from July 12 through July 24. 

As the sole member on the board, Seidel petitioned Merrimack Superior Court to appoint Minton as a board member until Town Meeting in March.

Yet, prior to Minton’s confirmation, both Frost and Sloane attempted to rescind their resignations. At a July 18 meeting, both women stated that they would like to rejoin the board, and had a purpose for doing so: to fire town administrator Diane Ricciardelli.

Depsite passing a motion to remove Ricciardelli, it was unclear whether or not the two were allowed to rescind their resignations and conduct business as select board members. Ultimately, Tucker ruled in Superior Court the could not rescind their resignations. 

Once Sloane and Frost resigned it was effective immediately. 

Now, Seidel and Minton will convene in the basement of Town Hall for their first bi-weekly public meeting at 5 East Main St starting at 6:30 p.m. Among other topics of business, Minton and Seidel will select a third member. 

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