Belmont Selectboard to discuss Town Hall boiler replacement

BELMONT — Voters at Town Meeting declined an article to relocate Town Hall to the Belmont Mill, and now, the Town Hall boiler needs to be replaced. The expense will be discussed at the selectboard meeting this Wednesday, according to the agenda.

Several newly hired staff will be recognized, including Assistant Fire Chief Matt Famalore, firefighters Josh Huestis and Travis Akerstrom, and Assistant Public Works Director Noel Gourley.

The selectboard will also make appointments to the Cemetery Trustees and Conservation Commission at the meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6. The selectboard meets at the Belmont Mill.

Barbara Binette and Joyce Keegal will join the Cemetery Trustees, and Molly O’Connell, Cora Takantjas, Jane Jordan and Pauline Tessier will join the Conservation Commission.

Also at the meeting, the selectboard will recognize the retirement of Building & Grounds Supervisor Patrick Golden.

Department of Public Works Director Brian Jackes will provide updates on their projects, including the open part-time building and grounds summer laborer position.

It’s Municipal Clerks Week, and the town will recognize its employees while sharing the news of a scholarship award to attend the New England Municipal Clerk Institute Academy.

Finally, the board will hear an update on the recent Belmont High School career fair.

A discussion will also be held on the 2026 Old Home Day event, including the theme, waivers and necessary road closures.

The selectboard will discuss a response from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services regarding the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program, and the Route 140 force main break.

The town is currently facing a $10 million repair for the force main, and would rather replace a portion of it. The state wants to wait to replace the entire main, and leave local taxpayers to foot the bill.

It’s just not something Town Administrator Alicia Jipson wants to pass off to ratepayers, though.

“The sewer system for the WRBP is run and managed by the state, the Department of Environmental Services, but towns pay for it 100%. It’s very complicated, and we don’t have much say,” Jipson said in a previous interview with The Sun. “Our engineers determined, through testing, that there’s only a portion of the line that keeps breaking. The rest of the line looks perfectly fine, and could maybe last another 15 years.”

Public works staff will also review some previous items, including an update on well No. 4, a water main break update on Westview Drive, and a paving update on Knotty Way and Leslie Roberts Drive.

After the successful earning of a Granite State Clean Fleet grant for several town vehicles, public works staff will also give an update on their second truck, as well as discuss display signage.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit belmontnh.gov.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.