Interviews with the 2025 Candidates for Selectman

Meet Charlotte Fyfe and Adam Ryan

In this year’s town election the only contested race is for one seat as Selectman for a three-year term. This is a non-partisan position responsible for making the town’s major decisions. It involves not only serving on the Board of Selectmen, but also each Selectmen serves as the board’s representative on one of the other committees, such as the Budget Committee, and as the board’s liaison to one of the town’s departments, such as the Police Department. In addition to these duties, the Selectmen also have responsibilities at the polls on election days.

We should thank the candidates for stepping forward to volunteer their time and effort in service of Nottingham.

The candidates are:

• Charlotte Fyfe

• Adam Ryan

Each candidate has been asked to provide a candidate statement (limited to 400 words) and to answer two questions:

1. Are there any decisions the Board of Selectmen has made in the past one to three years that you would have decided differently from what the board ended up deciding? If so, what are they, and why would you have decided differently?

2. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Nottingham over the next few years? What do you think Nottingham should do to face these challenges?

The candidates’ responses here are reprinted verbatim.

Candidate Statements

Charlotte Fyfe

• I spent my formative years in Manchester, NH, where my father was a Combat Readiness trainer for the NH National Guard. Later, my father’s assignments took us throughout the US and Europe where frequent change helped me become flexible, resilient - and interested in the world outside myself.

• I hold a BA in Biochemistry and History from Mount Holyoke College

• I earned a graduate degree in Maternal/Child Health from Boston University of Public Heath.

• I’m married to Stu Fyfe, a public school teacher, football coach, wooden boat builder and licensed Master Mariner. We have four adult children, of whom we are very proud, and five hilarious, active “grandboys”.

• My professional work experience includes: Clinic Coordinator for a Prenatal & Family Planning Health Center; Parenting & Childbirth Educator for teen and disabled parents; Senior Nutritionist for the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program; Director of a regional “Family Support Program”. These satisfying jobs gave me the opportunity to work with families who were dealing with every sort of challenge a family can deal with - and I was educated to do it in a non-judgemental, supportive and problem-solving way.

• I’m presently employed as the Administrator & Direct Service Provider of a million dollar municipal charity for low income families.

• Small business ownership: my husband and I owned a successful 10 room inn and

  restaurant for 13 years. I managed staff, taxes, payroll, and facilities maintenance.

• During that time I was also a Board Member of our local Chamber of Commerce, and Treasurer of the Board of Trade.

Since moving back to New Hampshire 10 years ago, I’ve been elected to the Nottingham Budget Committee, and served on the Capital Improvement Fund and the Town Facilities Committee. I’ve had the opportunity to listen, learn, and do a deep dive into Nottingham’s assets as well as its challenges.

I enjoy bringing people together to help solve problems.

Like so many of us in Nottingham, I’m active outdoors on our conservation spaces and hiking trails. I’m a gardener of vegetables and flowers, and have fun caring for my two rescue ponies.

I enjoy being a Food Pantry volunteer, Friend of the Library, an election worker, and a member of the Historical Society.

Nottingham is our beautiful home and a special place to live - I’d like to be a part of retaining and increasing our sense of community as a member of the Select Board.

Adam Ryan

Greetings, I am Adam Ryan, a Republican, and candidate for the board of selectmen. Over the past three years, I have called this town home and grown to admire its peaceful ambiance. As a dedicated husband and father of five, I am passionate about maintaining our town's unique charm. Professionally, I am a licensed General Contractor and owner of Ryan & Greene Construction.

Question 1: Are there any decisions the Board of Selectmen has made in the past one to three years that you would have decided differently from what the board ended up deciding? If so, what are they, and why would you have decided differently?

Charlotte Fyfe

This is a challenging question to answer. In general, I dislike second guessing or being a “Monday morning quarterback” about decisions made by others, when I myself am not privy to all the facts - some of which may be confidential, and rightly so.

Nottingham has had a period of profound change over the last few years: the turnover of Town Adminstrators; loss of key Town employees, and the difficulty of attracting, retaining and supporting qualified staff in all departments.

But change is inevitable, and I believe the Select Boards have done their best, as citizen-volunteers, to help manage the town. If there is one thing that stands out to me it would be improved communication between the Boards, Committees and the public - as well as more participation by voters. But I commend the Select Board and our present TA for their efforts to improve access to public meetings through the soon-to-be installed recording and audio equipment, internet and WiFi - making meetings and participation in Town Government more accessible to all.

Adam Ryan

Looking back, it is unclear whether I would have made different decisions over the past three years. As a new resident, I did not have access to the complete picture surrounding the choices made. However, after speaking with community members and attending town meetings, I believe the board should focus on fostering stronger relationships with town employees. This can be achieved through regular meetings and open communication with the individuals responsible for our town's daily operations, including maintenance personnel, educators, and administrative staff. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they encounter, address potential issues before they escalate, and ensure they have the necessary tools and equipment to perform their duties effectively.

Question 2: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Nottingham over the next few years? What do you think Nottingham should do to face these challenges?

Charlotte Fyfe

Communication / hiring, retaining and supporting qualified Town and School employees /

maintaining infrastructure / relieving the increasing tax burden on property owners / planning for growth and affordability of housing.

• We’re facing challenging times, but also opportunities to create modernized, efficient, and cost effective services.

• I’d like to see our Town website improved and updated.

• I’d like to reach out to our State Representatives to help stop the downshifting of costs onto the backs of local taxpayers. Business and growth are important, but must be balanced with the real world needs of working class and middle income residents.

• I want to help create Town and School budgets that are lean and efficient, but realistic.

• I have ideas about creative incentives to attract well-qualified Town and School employees such as: childcare assistance; safe, attractive facilities; and supportive work environments.

• Explore responsible, affordable housing solutions for seniors and working families by expanding ADUs and the rehabilitation of existing housing.

• I’d like to use my professional grant writing skills to research creative funding and investment sources.

Thank you for your interest in Town Government! ! You can reach me at www.Charlottefyfe.org

Adam Ryan

Our town's most significant challenges are financially driven. We are too small to sustain ourselves but too large to neglect maintenance on our buildings and infrastructure. We face substantial expenses with limited revenue streams. This will necessitate considerable effort and strategic thinking to prioritize our expenditures effectively. We must maintain our existing infrastructure without overburdening our residents. Attracting new families is crucial, but we must do so in a manner that preserves the character of our quiet, rural town. If I were to propose a solution, I would recommend assessing our current financial allocations and exploring opportunities for reallocation before considering additional funding requests.

In conclusion My intent is to offer a fresh new look at our small town. It will be a privilege to volunteer my skill sets with an eye on keeping our town rural.

Adam Ryan

Candidate

Nottingham Board of Selectmen