Frequently Asked Questions

Call the Fire Department at 603-497-3619.

A multi-purpose fire extinguisher is best for the home. Look for the rating to be at least 2A:10B:C on the label. This extinguisher can be used on any type of fire commonly found in the home. It will often be labeled A-B-C and may be purchased at most hardware retailers.

You Should Become Familiar with How to Test Your Detectors. Instructions Are Enclosed with Every Detector. The Simplest Way to Test the Detector Is to Push the Test Button. This Will Arm the Detector and Cause It to Sound Until You Release the Test Button.

It Is Important to Test Detectors for Many Reasons. The Obvious Reason is to ensure they Are Working. Less Obvious but Equally Important, You and Your Family Members Need to Know What the Sound Is in Order to Plan a Response to Hearing the Detectors. Hearing This Piercing Sound in the Dead of Night Will Cause Confusion and Panic if You Do Not Know What the Sound Is and How to React to It. Children Need to Know the Sound. Parents Need to Arrange with Their Children What Their Exit Escape Plan Is for When the Alarm Sounds. You Can Contact the Fire Department for a Free Pamphlet on Fire Safety Using Edith (Exit Drills in the Home).

Yes. We offer this service free at all fire stations in the Town. Please recognize that, from time to time, our personnel might be absent from the station due to emergency calls or training activities. 

There are various reasons a fire engine will respond with the ambulance on requests for an ambulance.  They include:

1. The fire engine is the closest emergency equipment to your location.  While waiting for the ambulance to arrive these Firefighters/EMTs and Paramedics can render whatever aid is needed.  Along with basic medical equipment, all fire engines are equipped with automatic defibrillators, a device used to monitor the heart and deliver an electrical charge to correct a life-threatening heart rhythm.
2.  A  ‘serious’ or ‘critical’ medical emergency. A fire engine comes along with an ambulance for safety and manpower. We plan for the worst and hope for the best when responding to a call. Also, the closest ambulance is dispatched to answer your call; however, emergency medical help must arrive on the scene as soon as possible. Since ambulances may be transporting other patients or completing duties at the hospital, a fire engine will likely be closer to the call. Therefore, the nearest fire engine (with medical equipment and EMTs) is dispatched with the ambulance.

During emergency operations, all personnel on the scene are trained to function as a lifesaving team with teamwork being essential.

The patient cot has a thin, firm mattress that lays directly on an aluminum frame and provides very little comfort. Unfortunately, the cot must be firm in order for us to perform CPR on critically ill patients. In addition, we try to respond to medical emergencies as quickly as possible in order to provide timely, life-saving treatment. Consequently, this requires vehicles with good road-handling characteristics. If these large, heavy vehicles had a softer, more "spongy" suspension that would provide a smoother ride, they would not be safe to drive to the scene as quickly as possible. 

The difference between an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a Paramedic is a matter of training. A Paramedic goes through more training and can provide a higher level of emergency care than an EMT. A Paramedic is an EMT. There are different levels of EMT training; EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic, and Licensed Paramedic. Each level requires more training than the prior.

The Goffstown Fire Department has Privacy Practices rules, state, local, and federal laws, and which conform to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).  Protection of information for patient privacy and confidentiality is an organizational mandate.  To find out more details about Privacy Policy link here.

The State of New Hampshire Department of Safety has released a form that can be completed and submitted to E911 so that they can supply emergency response personnel with any pertinent medical information in an emergency. Visit the New Hampshire Emergency Services and Communications website on this page.

The library’s mission is to offer access to quality materials and programs to assist community residents of all ages in meeting their personal, educational and professional information needs. This program lets us fulfill our mission and serve the community better by offering our services to residents who, for various reasons, are unable to visit the library.

Yes. Due to limited resources, we cannot offer our services to non-resident card-holders, or to members of other libraries who participate in the common borrower card program.

We can deliver books, movies, magazines and audio books right to your home. The only materials we cannot deliver to home delivery patrons are Hillstown videos, which normally circulate for 7 days.

Before bringing materials to your home a member of the library staff will call to schedule a home or phone interview. At our first meeting we will discuss areas of interest which will help us better understand what types of authors and books you prefer. Specific requests are always encouraged.

Once we have met with you to discuss what you like we will schedule a time to visit your home to deliver materials.  Home visits are usually scheduled once or twice a month.

The lending period for all items through the home delivery program is 4 weeks. You can renew your materials once as long as no other patrons are waiting for them.

No. Our service is free. Also, since we schedule pickup of materials, you cannot accrue overdue charges. You are responsible, however, for any loss or damages to library materials you borrow.

If you or somebody you know are interested in receiving home delivery service, please call the library at 603-497-2102 and ask for Caroline. If you know somebody who might be eligible for home delivery service who doesn’t have Internet access but is interested in learning more, you may give them a Printable Brochure (PDF) document prints three (3) per page). If your browser does not already have a PDF reader, you can download a free version of Acrobat Reader to use.

The Talking Book Program provides audiobooks to people unable to read or handle print books. Special audio players and much of the content is delivered by mail (free of charge) to the patron. This service is available through the New Hampshire State Library.

The fire department does not refill Fire Extinguishers. We even have to send ours out to a vendor to have them refilled. An approved and licensed vendor can be found in the Yellow Pages.

Yes, the Fire Department Apparatus has lights that emit a particular frequency of flashing light that activates a control on the traffic lights to cause them to change to green in the direction of travel. They are called Options. You may see us occasionally driving around checking them by driving through intersections with only one flashing white light. 

Please pull to the right and stop. This will allow fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles adequate and clear lanes to safely and quickly continue their response

The Town of Goffstown does not furnish the firefighters with meals while on duty. We purchase our own groceries to cook meals while at work. Sometimes you may see us out picking up meals at one of the local restaurants and grocery stores.

Recovering from a fire can be a physically and mentally draining process.  When fire strikes, lives are suddenly turned around.  Often, the hardest part is knowing where to begin and who to contact.  The information contained in our After the Fire: Returning to Normal booklet (PDF) is to provide you with initial assistance in your time of need.

Certain limitations apply. Call the Fire Department at 603-497-3619.

Unfortunately, no. We are no longer allowed to trade, sell, or donate patches. We discontinued making patches available to anyone, even our own firefighters, following the 9-11-01 terrorist attacks because our US Department of Homeland Security formally requested that ALL police, fire, and medical agencies discontinue that practice. We have checked with DHS and they still ask that we abide by their request.

Since September 11, 2002, all community members should be vigilant for any suspicious activity. If you should see anything suspicious, please call your local law enforcement agency.

When calling, please be prepared to communicate:

• What it is that is suspicious
• Where is it located?
• Did you see anyone apart of the suspicious item or nature?

Federal Resources

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Victim Notification Service - ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are committed to protecting the public and ensuring that the rights of victims are carefully observed. HSI administers a Victim Notification Program which allows eligible victims and witnesses to obtain reliable and timely information regarding a criminal alien's release from custody. However, victims and witnesses are required to register with HSI in order to receive notification of a criminal alien's release.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security - The federal agency charged with disaster preparedness, immigration and border patrol, travel and transportation security, and threats and protection.
• Be Prepared, Stay Informed - Protecting America, together. Information on how citizens, businesses, and government can work together.
• Preparing for the Unexpected - A readiness plan to help you prepare.
• Emergency Planning for America's Schools - A resource to help school officials plan for any type of emergency situation.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) - A program that educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.

State Resources

• Department of Safety - Homeland Security and Emergency Management - The state agency charged with disaster preparedness, natural hazards, technical hazards, terrorism, and training.

The Goffstown Police Department does not maintain a drug disposal box to accept unused medications. Currently, we do not have the storage space required to safely secure a large quantity of unused medications. If you are looking to dispose of unused medications prior to the next Drug Enforcement Administration-sponsored Drug Take Back Day, the following locations accept unused medications year-round:

• New Boston Police Department
• Bedford Police Department
• Manchester Police Department
• Catholic Medical Center

You must complete an application consisting of current and past employment, work and residence information, and the names and addresses of three references. Once submitted, the process takes approximately 14 business days. A $10 fee is due upon approval and receipt of the permit. You must print out the form and drop it off at the PD. Please fill out the form completely. References: They should NOT be a relative, if possible. They should know that you're using them as a reference. Picking up Your Permit: This must be done in person - you must pick up your own permit. If you cannot pick up the permit on a weekday between 8:15 am and 4 pm, please call the Records Division at 497-2900 to make other arrangements. Bring a photo ID (i.e., driver's license) Please bring exactly $10 cash or a check. We cannot make a change. We do Not accept credit or debit cards.

Only you can request a copy of your Criminal/Motor Vehicle record. All criminal and motor vehicle record checks are done at the NH State Police Criminal Records Department 10 Hazen Dr. Concord, NH 271-2538. They are open Monday through Friday 8:15 to 4:15, require a $25 fee and they're done while you wait. A photo ID is required to obtain the information.

Any and all adult criminal convictions will be reported. Any motor vehicle convictions for the previous 10 years will be included. You may want to verify with the requesting agency if a statewide check is needed. This would then need to be done through the NH State Police.

The organization requesting fingerprints from you will supply a fingerprint card. You must bring the completed card(s) to your resident police department. Fingerprints can be taken Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Requests must be made in writing either by request forms obtained at the Police Station or by a letter from an individual or Insurance Co., etc. The fee is $15 for the first 5 pages and $2 for each additional page. Incident reports are individually reviewed for release. Incident reports cannot be released if there are suspects, accused, or arrested parties mentioned in the report. Edited copies may be released in certain cases. Any questions pertaining to the release can be answered by our record clerks.

You need to apply at the District Court in your City or Town.

The order can only be served in hand (in person) by a police officer. The order can be served at a place of employment or residence. The order will be served as timely as possible. All reasonable attempts are made to locate the defendant. The petition is Not in Effect until served to the defendant. If problems arise prior to service being made, the plaintiff should contact their local authorities and advise them of the problem at hand. Service of the petition will be attempted at that time.

The temporary restrictions must be followed by the defendant and plaintiff until the appearance in court. You need to appear in court on the date listed on the petition to address charges. The court then decides whether or not the order will continue or be revoked.

After 36 hours, the initial fines go up and notices are sent out on any unpaid parking fines. You do not have 30 days to pay parking citations, these are not bills, these are fines. If not paid within 14 days of the letter, a summons for Must Appear in Court is issued to the registered vehicle owner.

The Winter Parking Ban is in effect between November 15 - April 15, from 2 am to 5 am. It is a town ordinance that has been on the books for a number of years. The town does not put up signs when the ban goes into effect. Rather, in early November, there is extensive information about the ban in the "Manchester Union Leader-New Hampshire Sunday News", on local radio stations and on WMUR-TV Channel 9. Also, we do post a reminder on this website as well as the Goffstown Police Association's sign which is out front of the Police Department.

Whenever you move to a new area, it's a good idea to check with the local police department about parking regulations, or any other rules and regulations for that matter, especially if parking is not provided where you live. Check with your landlord about where to park in the area if parking is not provided to you. It's also a good idea to at least occasionally check local news stations, radio stations, and newspapers. Boston area news stations and papers do not always give local Goffstown news information.

According to NH. RSA 264:25, Reporting Requirements: In the State of New Hampshire, any Motor Vehicle Accident causing death, personal injury, or combined damage in excess of $1,000 must be reported in writing to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days. This can be accomplished by calling the Police to the scene so that they can file a report. If the police file a report this meets the above requirement, and you as the driver are not required to notify the Division of Motor Vehicles. An alternative to calling the Police is to obtain a State of New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Accident Report form complete it yourself and then mail it to the State. These forms are available at the Goffstown Police Department, as well as at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. By Town Ordinance any accident, no matter how minor, must be reported to the Goffstown Police Department by filling out a Town Accident Report form.

The form must be filled out and returned to the police department within 48 hours of the accident. The penalty for not doing so may require an appearance in court to answer why the Town Ordinance was not honored.

Yes. RSA 417-A:11, Conditions Under Which Collision Coverage Deductible Shall Not Apply, states "When an automobile insurance policy contains coverage for physical damage by reason of collision, the deductible amount of such coverage shall not apply if the damage is caused by an uninsured motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle which is uninsured within the definition of RSA 259:117, and the operator of the uninsured vehicle had been positively identified and is solely at fault."

You have to contact the State of New Hampshire's DMV. Due to the Driver's Privacy Act, our agency will not release an accident report.

You have to contact the State of New Hampshire's DMV. Due to the Driver's Privacy Act, our agency will not release an accident report.

Yes. Give us a call and with your name and the date/location of the accident, we should be able to get this information for you. Police reports, photographs, and other related items are available to the public for a processing fee. Requests for incident reports and other items can be made in person at the police station or through the U.S. Mail. Public assistance for obtaining reports is available from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. The following information is necessary to identify the requested report.

• Report Number
• Parties Involved
• Location of Occurrence
• Date of Occurrence

Reports must be paid for at the time of pick-up, or prior to mailing or electronic transfer. Make all checks payable to "Town of Goffstown" Mailing address: Goffstown Police Department 326 Mast Road Goffstown, New Hampshire 03045

For further information contact the Records Division, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, at 603-497-2900

You can sign up for press releases via Notify Me.

You can sign up for press releases via Notify Me.

Books, magazines, audiobooks, and music CDs are checked out for 3 weeks. Most movies circulate for 3 weeks, but those with waiting lists are due in one week.  Some picture books on summer reading lists circulate for one week during summer months. Hot Spot titles and video games circulate for 7 days with no renewals.

Yes, renewals may be made over the phone, in person, or you can do it through our web-based catalog with your library card number and password. Items on hold for another patron, and materials that were inter-library loaned from other libraries may not be renewed.

Library cards are available to any Goffstown resident (including minors 6-16 with a parent or guardian), landowner, person working full-time in Goffstown, or student attending a Goffstown public school. To get your card, stop by the Library with a form of identification showing your address or affiliation. Non-residents can purchase a card for 1-year. See Circulation Policy : At-a-Glance in our Policies.

Per NH RSA 201-D:11, all cardholders of the Goffstown Public Library, no matter what their age, have the right to strict confidentiality; however, effective January 1, 2026, in compliance with RSA 201-D:11 II-a, all library records related to a minor’s current borrowing of printed library materials and/or audio-visual materials, such as DVDs and CDs, shall be made available to either parent or to the legal guardian of the minor when requested by either parent or the legal guardian of the minor.

There is no limit to the number of fiction, picture books, audios, movies or magazines that may be borrowed.

Visit or call the library at 603-497-2102. We will be happy to assign a password of your choosing as your PIN. You can use this PIN to reserve and renew items through our online catalog.

Yes, depending on the potential appeal of the book, we will either purchase it or borrow it from another library. If the item is within our catalog you can place the request yourself!

We get the New Hampshire Union Leader and the Concord Monitor. Newspapers are located on the 3rd floor of the library, along with some comfortable seating.

The library does have public Internet access. Several websites on the Internet (such as hotmail and yahoo!) offer free e-mail.

The library has a conference room for library sponsored activities and meetings. Due to its limited size, however, and because it doubles as a staff work area, it is no longer available as a meeting place for outside groups. (per the Library Board of Trustees, October 20, 2004)

We are happy to proctor exams for individuals in need on a case-by-case basis. Please call ahead to make arrangements. We have limited space and staffing for exam proctoring and no private, quiet areas in our library. Companies in need of testing for multiple employees cannot be accommodated.

Yes, the Goffstown Public Library offers free notary services to Goffstown residents, cardholders, and employees. Library notaries are on staff during the library’s hours of operation, and it is recommended to call ahead to ensure a notary will be available at that time. Notary service is available until thirty (30) minutes before closing. Please continue reading how to prepare for your visit, and the limitations of our notaries.

 Check our Policies

The road network represents the largest asset owned and maintained by the Town of Goffstown. Roads are vital components of our way of life. Good road access is very important to public safety. In today's world of on-time delivery, the road network is critical to commerce and economic development. Roads deteriorate over time no matter how well they are constructed, so it is critical to have a good plan for timely maintenance. The current road plan was adopted in 2001. Prior to the road plan, Goffstown's roads were not well maintained. Since 2001, Goffstown has continually updated roads to provide residents with good road access.

There are 286 individual roads in the database; however, they are broken into 383 different sections, because some roads change width along their length, or are quite long, they are broken into multiple sections for pavement management purposes. There are approximately 130 centerline miles of paved road owned by the Town. All costs and estimates are based on the cost per square foot. The DPW maintains over 15.7 million (yes million) square feet of pavement that are owned by the Town of Goffstown. At a cost to reconstruct of $7 per square foot that represents an asset with a value of over $110 million.

The DPW utilizes a computer program called MicroPAVER which was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Every summer, college interns drive the roads of Goffstown and measure and assess their conditions. All the data is entered into the computer. MicroPAVER then calculates the condition of each segment of the roadway and prioritizes the repairs based on condition, traffic load, and available budget. DPW then takes that data and considers other factors such as upcoming sewer or water projects, bridges that need to be replaced, and disruption to traffic. DPW maintains two lists that are approved by the Select Board at DPW's recommendation. One is a long-term Capital Improvements List (CIP) that represents the major reconstruction projects that get spread out over future years. These are very costly projects that are coordinated with other major projects and utilities. The other list is an annual work plan that is reviewed and approved each spring. This list details what will be done each season including all maintenance activities and major work for that year.

In 2001, when the Town adopted the original road plan, the budget was based on the cost of slowly improving the condition of the existing road network. The budget assumed a 3% escalator in the budget each year to account for inflation. The budget did not account for new construction (ie. bridges, equipment purchases, roundabouts, or upgrading dirt roads to paved roads) only the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing pavement.

There are many factors that lead to the deterioration of a road. Sunlight (UV Rays) break down the asphalt. Freeze/thaw cycles cause the asphalt to shrink and expand leading to cracks. Frost's action heaves the roads. Traffic loading obviously affects the life of the pavement. Probably the worst enemy that a road can have is water. Getting water away from the roadbed is critical.

The other factor, particularly in New England is many of our roads were never properly constructed. They started as wagon roads in colonial times to get produce to the market. Over time they were widened and upgraded, however, never properly designed for today's traffic loads. There is a great video of the Life Cycle of a Highway that demonstrates this phenomenon.

The road plan is essentially made up of three components; maintenance, reconstruction, and stop-gap measures, which are all incorporated on an annual basis. Good pavement management would dictate that all of the good roads are maintained first with a limited budget. The reason for this is represented in the graph below. Pavement is very similar to the shell of your house. If you paint it regularly and keep it sealed we all recognize the benefit of it. If we allow water to seep into the wood and begin to rot the framing it would jeopardize the structural integrity of the house, which would make for very costly repairs. If you look at the graph below, you see a typical pavement degradation curve. In the first few years after a road is constructed it is easy and inexpensive to maintain it. The trick to good pavement management is to try to keep your roads in this condition as long as possible. Once the cracks become full-depth and too numerous to keep sealed, water will begin to enter the base gravel and break the roads down. At this point, the degradation curve gets steeper, the deterioration of the road accelerates and the repairs become more costly. Once a road is in complete failure the curve begins to flatten out. That road will not get much worse over time.

Because of this, DPW has a good maintenance program. Once a road has been reconstructed or repaved it is added to our annual crack sealing list. The object of crack sealing is to keep the water out of the gravel for as long as possible. The next layer of maintenance is an overlay. Over time, traffic wears ruts into the top coat of asphalt. The top coat is called the wear course. The purpose of this coat is just what the name suggests, it is a thin layer that provides a smooth ride, seals the base (structural) asphalt course, and provides an easily maintainable surface for DPW. Every 7 or 8 years DPW plans to add a new wear course to new and rebuilt roads, to keep the water draining from the surface, the ride smooth and the road maintainable. If left too long, then ruts will form in the road and it will need to be shimmed before it can be overlaid which adds to the cost.

The second component of the road plan is road reclamation. In 2001, the Select Board, DPW, the Budget Committee, and a very positive vote at the Town Meeting decided that the Town could not afford to start from scratch and build all of the roads to today's standards. At that time, a policy of reclaiming existing roads was adopted. See the Road Reclamation FAQ for more information on this process.

The final aspect of the road plan is the stop-gap measures. Stop-gap measures are simply a bandaid and not a true fix to the underlying structural road failure. DPW does not like spending money on stop gaps, however, many of the Town's roads are in such poor condition that they can no longer be maintained or politics dictate that the Town do something to hold the roads together until they can be rebuilt. This is really not a cost-effective measure, however, it is deemed necessary from time to time. "Shims" or "shimming a road" is considered a stop-gap measure that will only last 4 or 5 years at best.

The Town's worst roads fall under the category of road reclamation. These are very large and very expensive projects and take several years to adequately plan and implement. The first step is to design the roads. DPW utilizes our in-house engineering staff and the Town's Geographic Information System (GIS) and survey equipment. Occasionally a licensed land surveyor is hired to delineate the property lines for the project. The drainage system and any changes to the roadway alignment are designed and efforts are made to correct any known maintenance problems such as icing or sight distance.

DPW then works with the abutting residents to obtain any needed easements and address any homeowner's concerns. Once the design is complete a public informational meeting is typically held and all residents within the project limits are invited to attend and ask questions.

The first step in the reclamation process is to install the drainage. DPW also works closely with the water and sewer utilities to correct any defects in those systems at that time, so the roads will not be dug up after reconstruction.

When all the underground work is complete the old pavement is reclaimed (ground) with the underlying gravels to form a new base material. This reclaimed asphalt gravel makes an excellent road base. If the underlying soils are really poor then the reclaimed gravel is removed to place a geotextile fabric between the poor soils and the reclaimed gravel. This will help distribute the traffic load more effectively and extend the life of the pavement. Once the reclaimed material is graded a couple of inches of new crushed gravel is added if needed. This provides a very uniform surface and will minimize how much expensive asphalt is placed. The base course of asphalt is then laid over the gravel. This 2 ½ inch layer is the load-carrying layer of asphalt. Existing drainage structures are then brought up to grade, driveway aprons are tied in, shoulders are graveled and loam and seeding are done. The new road will stay like this through one freeze/thaw cycle to ensure that all the problems with the road have been addressed. The following season the 1 ½ inch wear course of asphalt is placed to seal the finished road and provide a smooth maintainable surface.

The number one cause of roadway deterioration is water in the base materials. Many of our roads were never properly designed and constructed to move water away from the roads. Goffstown is blessed with the beautiful Uncanoonuc Mountains, the Piscataquog River, and Glen Lake. However, our natural terrain means that a great deal of water is moving off our mountainsides and traversing down to the rivers and lakes. As this water travels along our roadsides and down the steep slopes it can cause many problems with our roads. Almost 40% of the road reclamation money actually goes into drainage infrastructure to maximize the life expectancy of the road repairs.

DPW maintains two separate road lists, the long-term CIP reclamation list and the annual road plan. Both of these are public information. Please note the lists are updated and changed regularly due to many factors that are beyond DPW's control. The annual budget process and bid prices affect the amount of work that can be done. The list will change from year to year, therefore it is not accurate information. If your road is several years out, it is highly probable it will shift farther out on the list. The Select Board and DPW are aware of the poor condition of many of Goffstown's roads. DPW travels around the entire road network every day performing maintenance, plowing, and collecting the trash. With your support at voting time, DPW will continue to work closely with the Select Board on improving the Town's roadway system.

In New Hampshire, Class I, II, and III public roads are state-maintained roads. In Goffstown, we have 17.1 centerline miles of state-maintained Class III roads; i.e., NH 13 and NH 114.

Class IV, V, and VI roads are town-maintained roads. Class IV roads are state-numbered highways within a densely built-up portion of the town, often called the "Urban Compact Section". The limit of the Class IV sections is shown by signage indicating you're entering a "Compact Section". By state law, no state money can be spent to maintain the Compact Section roads. Class V roads are the normal road system built and maintained by the town for public travel. A new road, built by a developer and after public acceptance, falls into the Class V category. Until such a road is accepted, it is essentially a private road; the maintenance is the developer's responsibility and the town cannot provide trash pickup or snow plowing. A school bus route cannot use a private road. Class VI roads are old public ways never built to acceptable standards or a stretch of road taken out of public use (such as when a re-routed section is built; i.e., Henry Bridge Road). Class VI roads are essentially left to nature to reclaim. The town and abutters may not take any action to further remove traces of a Class VI road. The town is prohibited from spending money to improve the condition of the road; however, property owners needing a Class VI public way to access their property may seek permission from the Select Blade to perform very limited maintenance at their own expense.

The town has 2.8 centerline miles of gravel roads. These are periodically graded to maintain their crown, drainage, and condition. A decision to rebuild and pave a gravel road would need to be justified by development or other considerations in the area and funding available in the annual road plan.

Property owners are responsible for knowing taxes are due and payable semi-annually.

Goffstown's property taxes are due semi-annually each July 1st and December 1st.*

*Per NH RSA 76:15-a, interest shall not be charged until 30 days after the last bill is mailed. Therefore, if the bills are not mailed out in time for the July 1st or December 1st due dates, the due dates will be advanced to give taxpayers 30 days to make payment.

Goffstown's property tax bills are mailed out semi-annually to the last known owner and last known mailing address on record with the Town. Property owners are responsible for notifying the Town of any address changes.

Fist installment bills are mailed out by the end of May and typically due by July 1st before interest starts accruing.

Second installment property tax bills are mailed out after the Department of Revenue sets the tax rate, which is typically at the end of October, and due by December 1st.

(Per NH RSA 76:15-a, interest shall not be charged until 30 days after the last bill is mailed. Therefore, if the bills are not mailed out in time for the July 1st or December 1st due dates, the due dates will be advanced to give taxpayers 30 days to make payment).

Tax bills are sent to the last known owner and the last known mailing address on record with the Town.

It is the property owner's responsibility to advise the Town of any address changes. If you have a change of address, please contact the Assessing Department at 603-497-8990, ext. 813. If a property tax bill is not received for each property owned, please contact the Tax Collector's Office

The tax bill covers a period from April 1st through March 31st.

The first installment tax bill is mailed out by the end of May and is typically due by July 1st before interest starts accruing. The first bill is an estimated bill calculated on half of the previous year's tax rate multiplied per $1,000 of the current assessed value of the property.

Before the second installment property tax bill is mailed, the Department of Revenue Administration must set the tax rate for the year. This usually takes place at the end of October. The final bill is calculated using the new tax rate multiplied per $1,000 of your property's current assessed value as of April 1st, less any payments made on the first bill.

(Property Taxes are not prorated at the town level due to inaccuracies but closing agencies typically prorate property taxes as July payment is April 1st through September 30th and December payment is October 1st through March 31st of the following year).

The Town of Goffstown accepts payments in the form of cash, personal check, bank check, or money order.

Payments can be made in person, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm at the Tax Office located at 16 Main Street. In addition, payments made by check on current property tax bills may be mailed and will be considered paid as of the postmarked date or payments can be left in our 24/7 drop box located inside the back entrance of Town Hall. Please include the bottom coupon and note your account number on your check to ensure proper credit. If you would like a paid receipt, please be sure to include the entire bill along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mailed payments on delinquent taxes once the lien or deed process has begun CANNOT be accepted by postmarked date.

To make payment of taxes more convenient, the Town accepts partial payments and pre-payments. Partial payments accepted will not prevent interest from accruing on remaining delinquent balances and pre-payments may only be made for no more than 2 years in advance of the due date of the taxes (RSA 80:52-a). When sending in pre-payments or partial payments please be sure to note which property the payment is to be applied to and what type of payment it is, i.e., pre-payment of taxes or partial payment.

Yes, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to forward the tax bill to their mortgage company for payment to be made on time. However, major banks request tax billing information from the Town, which they receive electronically. Therefore, your bank may obtain the necessary tax information without receiving the physical bill. Please confirm with your bank directly on their process.

Past due property taxes start accruing interest per annum on the unpaid balance the day after the due date. Check the picture for Interest Rate Information.

For example, the first installment bill is due by July 1st. If not paid it will start accruing interest on July 2nd until the day the bill is paid in full. The second installment bill is due on December 1st. If not paid it will start accruing interest on December 2nd until the day it is paid in full.

Within 90 days of the final tax bill due date a Notice of Arrearage will be sent out to all property owners who still have a remaining balance, this notice will include all unpaid taxes and is a courtesy notice prior to the start of the lien process which will incur additional costs. Unpaid taxes that go into lien will earn interest at the lien interest rate.

You can make partial payments until your taxes are paid in full. State law requires that the Town calculate and charge interest after the due date of the tax bill. The interest will be added to your outstanding principal balance until the property is placed in the lien.

Interest begins on the unpaid lien balance until the lien is paid in full.

Current Interest Rates

Interest Rate Information

All taxes assessed as of April 1, 2018 and prior.

RSA 76:13 effective until April 1, 2019.

• Delinquent Bills
  12%
• Liened Bills
  18%

All taxes assessed as of April 1, 2019 and after.

RSA 76:13 effective April 1, 2019.

• Delinquent Bills
  8%
• Liened Bills
  14%

If taxes remain unpaid two years after the execution of a tax lien, the Tax Collector shall deed the property to the Town of Goffstown. At least 30 days prior to the deeding, a title search is completed and a Notice of Impending Deed is sent to the current owner and all mortgagees recorded at the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds.

Once a property is deeded, the property owner, as well as anyone holding a mortgage, lose all interest in the property. To reclaim that interest the property owner at time of deeding or any mortgagee must notify the Town of Goffstown within 3 years after the deeding. In addition, the property owner must pay all back taxes (including all those which would have accrued had the property owner continued to own the property), all costs assumed by the Town and a repurchase penalty of 15% of the equalized assessed value within 15 days of the notice of intent to repurchase. Should the Town decide to sell the property within 3 years after the deeding the Town must notify the last known owner via certified mail and allow 30 days for a decision to be made on whether or not to repurchase the property.

When the Town places a lien on a property the interest rate charged will be changed from the delinquent interest rate to the lien interest rate. Once the lien is placed, it is recorded with the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds. The property may not be sold or transferred until the lien is paid in full and the lien is discharged. When a lien is placed on a property, it may make it difficult to obtain future loans or mortgages. The Town must notify all lien holders recorded at the Registry when it places a lien on a property. If the lien remains in place on the property for two additional years beyond the first lien year, the property could be taken by the town via the tax deeding process.

If your property is mortgaged, we suggest you talk to your lender. Let your lender know you are having difficulty paying your property taxes. Your lender may be able to make suggestions that will help you avoid a lien on your property.

Verify the information the town has for your property by visiting the Assessors online database. If you determine there are discrepancies please contact the Assessing Office at 603-497-8990, ext. 813.

You can contact the Assessing Office to obtain eligibility criteria and information on Veterans Credits, Elderly Exemptions (beginning at age 65), Blind Exemptions and Elderly/Disabled Deferrals. In addition, you may be eligible for the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief Program available through the State of New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. Their application form number is DP-8 and can be found.

For more information on exemptions or credits, contact the Assessing Department at 603-497-8990, ext. 813

Once full payment of the lien is made, a release of lien will be sent, within 30 days, to the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds.

The Town of Goffstown generally sends their semi-annual tax bills out in mid-May and mid-October. At the time of billing, if your closing is near one of those processing dates, please be advised that you may not receive your tax bill, as it would go to the owner on record with the Town. The Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds generally takes four to six weeks to record a new deed. The Town's Assessing Department is then notified of a change of ownership once the deed is recorded.

Assessments are not adjusted on a yearly basis as market values change. The NH Department of Revenue Assessment (DRA) determines the town's level of assessment every year, which assists us in determining how the town's assessments relate to actual selling prices.

MY DOG - The Town Clerk is required to see proof that a dog has a valid rabies vaccination inoculation before issuing a new dog registration by April 30th each year. Proof of vaccination must include the owner/keeper’s name and address, dog’s name, issue date, expiration date, rabies tag number and name of issuing veterinarian.

Registration Method Options

• Online - We accept payment by checking (ACH) or debit/credit authorization. The EB2GOV vendor online processing fee will apply per transaction along with a per dog charge. Upon receipt of your payment, a new dog license and numbered dog tag will be issued and mailed to your home address.
• In Person - You may register your dog in person at the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 am through 4:00 pm. Please bring an updated rabies certificate from your vet if the dog’s previous vaccination validation date has expired.
• Town Hall Drop Box - After Business Hours - 24/7 Use our drop box located inside the rear of Goffstown Town Hall located at 16 Main Street. Place your information and payment in an envelope. Deposit envelope in the secure drop box and we will mail back your receipt and new dog tags.
• By Mail - You may register your dog by mail. Make checks payable to the Town of Goffstown. Please do not mail cash.
• New Dogs - Please complete a new Dog License Application form and enclose proof of rabies vaccination from your vet along with your check payment.
• Renewals - You may enclose the payment and the Town Clerk issued dog reminder mailer. The reminder notice indicates the dog’s rabies expiration date that we presently have on file. Also, include updated proof of a valid rabies vaccination information, if the dog’s previous rabies tag date has expired.
• OR write the dog’s previous year’s Goffstown registration tag number on the note line of your check payment so that we may locate your dog in our files.

State of New Hampshire RSA 466:1 Every owner or keeper of a dog 4 months old or over shall annually, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, and licensed for one year in the office of the clerk of the city or town in which the dog is kept, and shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar to which shall be attached a metal tag with the following information thereon: the name of the city or town, year of issue of license and its registered number. The tag and license shall be furnished by the clerk at the expense of the city or town. Regardless of when the license is obtained, the license shall be effective from May 1st of each year to April 30th of the subsequent year.

State law requires that before a license is issued, the owner of the keeper of a dog must furnish proof to the town or city clerk that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.

New dog: The owner or keeper will need to produce a valid rabies vaccination certificate showing the dog's information with a valid rabies expiration date. In addition, if the dog has been spayed or neutered, the owner or keeper will need to show a copy of the spay or neuter certificate. Copies of rabies and spay or neuter certificates will be accepted in person, through the mail, fax, or email.

Renewal for an existing dog: The owner or keeper will need to show a copy of an updated rabies vaccination certificate with a valid rabies expiration date. In addition, if the dog has been spayed or neutered since the last registration, the owner or keeper will need to show a copy of the spay or neuter certificate. Copies of rabies and spay or neuter certificates will be accepted in person, through the mail, fax, or email.

By State law, veterinarians are required to notify the Town Clerk when a rabies vaccination is issued. When this occurs, you will then receive a postcard in the mail from the Town Clerk's Office reminding you to license your dog if your dog has not already been licensed.

The Town Clerk's Office mails out yearly reminders to owners with currently registered dogs reminding them that dog licenses are due April 30th.

• Puppy (4 to 7 months old): $6.50
• Adult Dog (spayed/neutered): $6.50
• Adult Dog (not spayed/neutered): $9
• Dog owned by Sr. Citizen (65+ 1st dog only) $2.25
• Group Dog License (5 or more dogs) $20
• Late charges on renewals: $1 per month beginning June 1st

Failure to license your dog is a violation of State law. In addition to the annual license fee, you will be charged a late fee of $1 per month, per dog for each month (or part of the month) after June 1st. A civil forfeiture fee may also be assessed in the amount of $25, which is payable within fifteen (15) days of the notice of failure to register dog(s). If the forfeiture fee is not paid within that time, a summons to appear in court may be issued in accordance with State law requirements.

Refer to NH RSA 466:13 for State law.

Please let us know. Contact the Town Clerk's Office at 603-497-8990, ext. 109, Email Town Clerk, or Fax at 603-497-5710. We will then update our records so that you do not receive any future notices.

Reserving a pavilion at one of the parks is free of charge but is an amenity that's only available to residents of Goffstown. To reserve a pavilion please read through and fill out our Pavilion Use Policy and fill out our Pavilion Request Form. When submitted the form will be sent to a staff member at the parks department, who will follow up with you about your request. Please note that filling out the request form DOES NOT guarantee use of the pavilion. You must be contacted by a staff member of the department who will confirm or deny usage. 

Pavilion Use Policy 

Request Form

The need for a reservation depends on the nature of the usage. Reservations are required for group gathering. This includes birthday parties, company outings, group gatherings/outings, special events, etc. Patrons who visit the parks and wish to use the pavilions for leisure are welcome to do so.

We take formal reservations of the pavilions to avoid overlap in group gatherings or community events.  We also do so as a way to monitor usage and volume of the parks. 

Please watch the video below to learn how to create an account on RecDesk as well as how to add members to your household. Please note that when you create an account for the first time or when you add a member to the household, the account needs to be approved for residency status before you can register for programs. Depending on when you create the account, the process can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours max to be completed. 

Please watch the video below for how to register for a program on RecDesk. 

To purchase a parking pass, please use our RecDesk registration site. You will find the "Parking Pass" option under the General program category. 

The operating hours for both of the parks, Roy and Barnard Park, are dawn to dusk. These hours will change as the seasons and sunlight hours change. It is not permitted to be in the parks in the night hours. 

Please visit the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail site for more information and maps of the trail. 

The registration for summer camp will open at 12am, midnight, on March 4th (after 11:59pm March 3rd). Registration usually fills up very quickly, so please be sure to make sure that you have access to your RecDesk account before the program opens. If you are having trouble accessing your account please contact, Erin McDonough. Registration for the summer camp program is only for residents of Goffstown. Duplicate accounts will not be approved. Please note: if you have an outstanding balance on your account, the account will be suspended, and you will be unable to register for summer camp until the balance is paid. 

Registration for our summer camp program is done online through our RecDesk website.

If you do not have an account with us, you will need to create one before you can register. A parent or guardian should create an account for themselves, as the head of household. They will then add any children that they want to register in the program to the account. Any time a new account is created, or a new member is added, there is an approval process that occurs. This approval process can take between 24 and 48 hours to occur. If you create an account outside of working hours, we will not see it to approve it until the next business day. Once again, that is why we encourage creating an account before the registration opens, as the program can fill up very quickly. 

Registration for the summer camp program is only for residents of Goffstown.

As part of the registration there will be 2 forms that are to be filled out electronically, an Emergency Release Form and a Health History Form. Below you can view examples of the forms to see the kind of information that you will be asked.

2024 Emergency Release Form Example (PDF)

2024 Summer Playground Health History Form Example (PDF)

No. For this program, participants can sign up for individual weeks that fit their schedule. If they wish to sign up for all 8-weeks, they can. Weeks are labeled on the registration by the dates that the week will occur. 

Our main and most frequently used method of communication is email. We use the emails that are listed on your RecDesk account. If you are not receiving the emails or wish to receive it on a different email address, please go into your RecDesk account and edit the email address. If you wish to add another email, there is an alternate email slot as well so all communication will go to both accounts. 

General Camp Day Breakdown

• 8:30am to 9:00 AM—Drop off and Free Activity Time
• 9:00AM to 10:30 AM—Group Organized Activity or Sport 
• 10:30AM to 10:45 – Snack Time
• 10:45AM to 12:00 PM – Small Group Sports and Craft Activities 
• 12:00 to 12:30 PM – Lunch Time 
• 12:30 to 1:00 PM – Cont. Lunch and Pool Prep Time 
• 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Swim Time 
• 4:00 PM – Pickup Time

Fridays at Summer Camp are “special event” days. These days can include events such as, tie-dye day, a full camp dodgeball tournament, water slide, magician performance, etc. 

Yes, all camp counselors are fully certified in first aid and CPR/AED for children and adults. All parks and recreation staff members are fully certified as well. Lifeguards are fully lifeguard certified which includes CPR/AED and First Aid training. 

It is required that our youngest campers are at least 7 years old OR have completed first grade before summer camp begins. The oldest a camper can be is 13 years old. They cannot turn 14 during the 8 weeks of summer camp.  

Please contact Erin Trnka and inform her. It is asked that there is at least a week notice before not attending a week of camp, so that the spot can be filled by someone on the waitlist. If you have already paid but your child can’t or will not be attending that week, we will issue a refund. However, if you have already paid and wished to remove a week but do not give proper notice, the refund is not guaranteed. All dropped weeks of camp will be zeroed out of the total invoice. The $25 non-refundable deposit will not be refunded. 

Drop-off will begin at 8:30am. Parents may begin dropping off at 8:15am but no earlier than that. The counselors will arrive at 8am and need time to get set up before participants begin arriving. All kids need to be picked up from camp by 4pm each day. While we do understand that sometimes circumstances out of one’s control can happen, please be sure to pick your kids up on time. Parents will be warned about the pickup time the first time that they arrive late. The second time will result in a conversation with the program supervisor and the third late pickup could result in the removal from camp. 

The parents or guardians listed on the emergency release forms, that were filled out as part of the registration, are the ones who are allowed to pick up their kids from camp. We do allow for alternate pick-ups, that is having someone other than a parent or guardian pick up the kids from camp. On the registration there was a spot to list five names of alternate pick-up personnel. These individuals can pick up your kids from camp without prior knowledge to the program supervisor. If you plan to have someone other than a parent/guardian or those listed on the alternate pick-up list pick up your kid from camp, Erin Trnka must be contacted before this person can leave camp with your child. Kids are allowed to go home with each other, given that once again Erin is contact before they attempt to leave camp. 

Kids will be dropped off at 8:30am each morning (no earlier than 8:15am). At one of the picnic tables there will be a sign-in sheet for the kids. Here you will place the time that they are arriving, and you will sign on the line. They may put their belongings anywhere around the outside of the pavilion or under the tent. When a parent comes to pick up their child, they will once again need to sign the sheet with the time that they are picking them up. The latest that a child can be picked up is 4pm. 

Yes, campers can be dropped off any time after 8:30am. They do still need to be signed in at this point, so a parent will need to escort them to the pavilion to sign them in. Kids should never be just dropped off in the parking lot to walk over by themselves. If you plan to pick your child up from camp early, be sure to let the counselors know at drop off. This way the counselors can make sure that the child is ready to go at that specific time with all their belongings packed up. 

Children will need to bring the following to camp: 

• Lunch/Snacks: Lunch will occur each day around 12:00pm. There will also be a break in the morning hours for a snack. Campers are not allowed to share snacks with one another due to allergies and dietary restrictions. So please be sure that your camper is set for the day with their own lunch and snacks.
• WATER: We encourage each camper to come with lots of water for camp every day. There are water refill stations at the parks, but its best if campers have a water bottle to fill up. Coolers are allowed and the large water jugs are good options too.  
• Sunscreen: Kids will be reminded multiple times per day to reapply sunscreen, but they must bring their own. They are not able to share and there will not be any available at the parks. We recommend putting a layer on at home before camp begins each day. 
• Bathing Suit and Towel: Daily, the kids will get to go into the pool to enjoy the cool water. Bathing suits and towels are required every day to swim. Bathing suits must be appropriate in design. 
• Sneakers: Activities can take place on multiple different types of terrain throughout the day. Blacktop pavement, running track, grass, woodchips on playset, dirt for the volleyball area. Due to the nature of camp and bouncing from one activity to another, sneakers are the best footwear option. Sandals, slides, flipflops, etc. could result in injury during group activities. 

What NOT to bring to camp: 

• Medication or medicine: The camp staff is not allowed to dispense medications during the day at camp. This includes: Tylenol, allergy medication, ADHD medication, Benadryl, etc. Please do not send these to camp with your child. Epi-pens CAN be administered, as this is part of their first aid training. Individuals with epi-pens should hand the epi-pens to the counselors on the first day of camp. The epi-pens will be placed in a bag, labeled with the camper’s name, and held in a location that all counselors will be aware of, in the event that they need to be used. 
• Toys from Home: While toys from home can be fun, often times they can be misused, misplaced, or broken at camp. Personal items should be left at home during the day. 
• Cell Phones: Electronics are not allowed at camp and are not to be used. The best way to avoid use, is to not bring it. Electronic device use will result in a warning and further use, will result in confiscation until the end of the camp day. The recreation department is not responsible for any damage to electronic devices while the child is at camp. 

Optional to Bring: 

• Hats: For additional sun protection. Must be appropriate in message and design. 
• Pool Shirts: For additional sun protection.  
• Money: Each day an ice cream truck will come to camp for the kids to enjoy. 
• Flip-flops/Crocs/Sandals: For the pool area. Campers are not allowed to leave the pool area without shoes on, flips flops offer the best solution for entering and exiting the pool area. 

We strongly encourage all items that are brought to camp are labeled with the camper’s name. If an item is lost or misplaced at camp, it will be placed in a lost and found bucket. They may return the next day and look through the bucket to find their items. If they won’t be returning to any other weeks of camp but have left an item at camp, please contact Erin Trnka and she can try to locate the item for you. 

We will check the weather each morning before camp begins. If the forecast looks like thunderstorms or heavy and consistent rain for the entirety of the day, then we will move camp inside the parks and recreation building, located at 155 S Mast St. This alternate location is a much smaller and limited environment. If the weather improves throughout the day, we will walk down the rail trail to Barnard Park. This change in location will be communicated via email. 

The first day of camp each week campers who have not yet attend camp will do a “swim test” in front of the lifeguards. This test just consists of them swimming from one end of the shallow 3’ end of the pool to the other. If they can make it across without touching their feet to the bottom, they have passed. If they do not pass or show difficulty in this task, they will be restricted to the shallow end of the pool. 

Payments for summer camp can be made via cash, check, or online with a debit card. Payments made via cash or check can be for the full balance amount or can be split into weekly payments. Payments made via debit card online are done through your RecDesk account. Payments aren’t due until the week of camp, that your child/ren attend.

• Cash – Payments made via cash can be either mailed or directly handed to the camp staff. If the cash if given to the camp staff, we recommend placing it in an envelope so it can be storage properly in the pavilion. Erin Trnka will collect money from the parks daily. 
• Checks – Payments made via check are to be made out to the Town of Goffstown. These types of payments can also be either mailed or directly handed to the camp staff. Erin Trnka will collect the checks from the park daily. Every Thursday the checks will be run through RecDesk, and you will receive an email notification of this. They will then be submitted to our finance office. Checks will be cashed within a week of the Thursday that they were submitted.
• Debit Card – Payments made via debit card are done through your RecDesk account. Payments can only be made for the full amount on the invoice unless you set up a payment plan. This option is available to all families registered for summer camp, please contact Erin Trnka to set this up. 

PLEASE NOTE that there will be a $25 non-refundable deposit required for each week, due at the time of registration.

We do offer multi-child discounts. We offer this discount to families who register 3 kids for camp, the third child will attend at 1/2 of the cost for the week.

We also offer financial aid to families who receive assistance from the SAU. Please contact Erin Trnka for more information.