Newmarket meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Newmarket council to hear proposed FY 2028 budget; energy and arts panels also met

Newmarket's Town Council is scheduled to hear the Town Manager's proposed FY 2028 budget at its Oct. 7, 2026 meeting, the most consequential item on the town's recent agendas. No decisions are recorded from any of the three meetings below: all three are agenda-only, and minutes have not yet been published. Nothing in the supplied records shows a vote, a dollar amount, or an adopted outcome.

Town Council: proposed FY 2028 budget

The Council meets Oct. 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall, 186 Main Street, with a 6:00 PM work session on parking. The main substantive agenda item is the Town Manager's presentation of the proposed FY 2028 budget. The agenda summary provided does not include a dollar figure for the proposal.

The Council is also listed for second readings on three annual lease payment resolutions:

• Resolution #2026/2027-04 — Annual Lease Payment for Trackless MT7 Sidewalk Tractor
• Resolution #2026/2027-07 — Annual Lease Payment for 2 International Dump Trucks with Plow Equipment
• Resolution #2026/2027-08 — Annual Lease Payment for Engine 5

A first reading is listed for Resolution #2026/2027-09 — Lubberland Dr & Cushing Rd Stormwater Improvements, Final Design. The agenda does not state lease or project amounts, and it does not state whether adoption votes were scheduled.

Public comment is limited to the Public Forum. Speakers must be residents, town property owners, or representatives of recognized local civic or business organizations, three minutes each.

Energy & Environment Advisory Committee

The committee met Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026 at 7pm in the Town Hall Auditorium. The agenda was mostly discussion and updates: Eversource residential energy efficiency programs, a Community Power update, assessment exclusions for energy storage systems, and renewable energy project and Sol Smart feasibility study updates, including the athletic field, library, and L2 EV charger funding program.

The committee was also set to hear recycling program updates and to confirm its next meeting on Oct. 28, 2026. On the TREX recycling program, the agenda lists 260 lbs collected and a $100 voucher received, with the future of the program to be discussed. No binding votes or dollar contracts are listed on the agenda.

Arts, Culture & Tourism Commission

The commission met Oct. 5, 2026 to coordinate upcoming exhibits and community art projects. Agenda items include the unveiling of the Artist Among Us Pocket Park exhibit on October 23, a Halloween Haunt event on October 24, an Elm Street Mural Project image enhancement agreement with Mary Merrill, a canvas print sale fundraiser, and proposals for Pumpkin People Scarecrows and a Holiday Pop-up.

What was decided

Based on the records provided, no binding decisions are documented from these three meetings. Each is listed as an agenda without published minutes, so what was discussed, proposed, or presented cannot be confirmed as acted upon.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the data provided for the next 14 days. The Energy & Environment Advisory Committee agenda calls for confirming its next meeting on Oct. 28, 2026, which falls outside that window; no agenda for it appears in the supplied records. Residents should check the town's official posting for agendas and any newly published minutes before attending.

All details above come from the supplied agenda summaries. The official agendas and any published minutes are the authoritative record.

Newmarket boards weigh Master Plan, Heritage Commission, and FY28 budget

Newmarket's boards and committees held several meetings over the past two weeks to discuss a new Master Plan, a proposed Heritage Commission, and the FY28 budget. All meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions have been reported.

Planning Board: Master Plan and Exeter Road site plan

The Planning Board held a public hearing on a new Town Master Plan covering 11 chapters, including Vision, Land Use, Housing, and Transportation. The board also considered a minor site plan for 37 Exeter Road to demolish a single-family home and build a three-unit townhouse with a driveway, retaining walls, rain garden, and vegetative buffer. The applicant requested a continuance to September 8, 2026.

Town Council: Joint budget session with School Board

The Town Council met jointly with the Newmarket School Board to discuss the FY28 budget timeline, capital projects including the Carpenter Property and Town Hall/Police Station renovations, and the impact of HB 1300, a school district tax cap and SAU administrative spending cap. No final decisions were made.

Town Council: Heritage Commission and other items

At its August 19 meeting, the Town Council held a public hearing and second reading on an ordinance to establish a Heritage Commission. It also took a second reading on an Investment Policy resolution, and first readings on resolutions for a truck replacement and a pump station evaluation at Creighton Street. The council made appointments to the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee (Carla Ann Romano-Clarke and Alfred Medioli) and accepted a resignation and made an appointment to the Conservation Commission (Andrea Frey).

Zoning Board: Variance at 11 Creighton Street

The Zoning Board held a public hearing on a variance application from the Town of Newmarket to adjust boundary lines, allowing a 3,074-square-foot lot and a rear deck within the setback at 11 Creighton Street (Tax Map U3, Lot 17). The proposal involves associated properties on Tax Map U3, Lots 13 and 47.

Public Transportation Advisory Committee

The committee reviewed minutes from July 8 and discussed public transportation, road typology/complete streets, parking infrastructure, and signing/wayfinding, along with progress on 2026 goals. It also identified items for its next meeting on September 9.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days.