The Trustees of the Trust Funds
The Trustees of the Trust Funds (TotTF) are elected to safely manage money held at a reputable investment firm that has been set aside by the town or has been bequeathed or donated to the town for various purposes. Generally, the TotTF serves only as stewards for accessing accounts and disbursing appropriate amounts to preserve the trusts for the long term, and not as decision makers regarding how the money should be spent.
Many of the trusts are capital reserve funds that, through warrant articles, set aside money for multiple years to help to keep the town budget and taxes predictable from year to year even when some expensive items are purchased only sporadically.
Other trusts serve specific functions. These include perpetual care and general funding for the town’s cemeteries, general funding and building support for the town library, and bequeathed funding for improvements to the village common and town hall. Use of these funds follow requests from the duly elected cemetery trustees, the library trustees, and the select board, respectively.
Finally, there are trusts for the benefit of the public in general as well as resident individuals and families. Civic beautification and education are enhanced by the availability of funds for the town garden club. The town’s visiting nurses association can draw on funds to help support food security and other health-related needs for town families. The TotTF awards first-year monies from four scholarship trusts to graduating Fitzwilliam seniors to further their education at the institutions of their choice and acceptance. And, in cases of extraordinary circumstances, the select board through the town’s welfare officer and department has funds available to assist in the provision of human welfare services to individuals or families in need.
We thank Fitzwilliam’s taxpayers and those whose generous bequests make Fitzwilliam a much better town for all us residents over the long term.
Robert Young - Term Expires 2026
Richard Goettle - Term Expires 2027
Richard Marshall - Term Expires - 2028
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Town of Fitzwilliam Scholarship Applications Announcement Scholarship funds are made available annually to Fitzwilliam residents living in the Town for two or more years. These scholarships are awarded by the Fitzwilliam Trustees of the Trust Funds in support of first-year costs. For MRHS students, application forms are available from the MRHS Guidance Counselor, Bethany Maynard. Instructions for completing the applications are on the form. Applications are due Thursday, March 26th, 2026. For other students, applications are available on the Town’s website (https://fitzwilliam-nh.gov Select Trustees of Trust Funds under Boards & Commissions) and at the Selectmen’s Office in the Town Hall or at the Town Library. The deadline for these submissions is also March 26th, 2026 at the Town Hall. In their wills, generous Fitzwilliam residents created scholarship trusts to enable high school graduates to continue their education in college or in some cases in technical or trade school. These are the Amro Streeter Trust, the Louis J. Petkiewicz Trust, the Thomas B. Lacy Trust, and the Kenneth D. and Jane W. Roberts Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are sourced by combining funds from some or all of these Trusts. The Kenneth D. and Jane W. Roberts Trust provides substantial scholarship funds for Fitzwilliam high school graduates and has done so for many years. The Thomas B. Lacy Trust was funded by Mr. Lacy’s family. Mr. Lacy was community-minded and interested in the Town’s young people and their education. He served on important Town committees, including the Trustees of the Trust Funds and the Board of Selectmen. The Amro Streeter Trust was endowed by Mr. Streeter. Before the construction of the MRHS in Swanzey, Fitzwilliam high school and junior high students traveled by train to either Troy, NH, or Winchendon, MA for schooling. Mr. Streeter was a train conductor and State Line resident who provided money to students completing their high school education in Winchendon. Penny and Louis Petkiewicz funded the Louis Petkiewicz Trust. They greatly appreciated the scholarships given to their two daughters for college expenses and stipulated that their awards be limited to the Fitzwilliam applicant with the highest grade-point average. The Town remains grateful for these donors whose contributions further advance the education of its student residents.