Belmont Selectboard to discuss Town Meeting articles, retiring police cruisers Wednesday

BELMONT — With elections right around the corner, the Belmont Selectboard meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Belmont Mill, will be full of reminders for voters.

A candidates’ night will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at Belmont High School. The event is hosted by the school’s National Honor Society, and there will be no moderator. Questions were provided to candidates, including those running for the Shaker Regional School Board, ahead of the meeting.

The talking points include:

1. What is your vision for the future of the Town of Belmont? What would you like to see for changes, and what do you want to remain the same?
2. The people of Belmont have voted down the budget for the past two years. How can the town do a better job of communicating the importance of the budget to voters?

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, also at Belmont High School. Hot ticket items include Article 4, the town’s operating budget of $12 million. If the vote fails, the Town of Belmont will operate in a default budget for the third year in a row, which comes in at $11 million.

Also, the fire department will lose its New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ Granite State Clean Fleet grant for $500,000 toward a new fire truck if voters reject Article 13, which asks for $364,823 as the town’s contribution.

There is a contested selectboard race happening in Belmont, too. Article 1 highlights the four candidates vying for two seats on the board, including Russ Greene, Mark Lewandoski, Thomas Murphy and incumbent Travis O’Hara.

Shaker Regional School District Superintendent Michael Tursi will read a letter of support for the district to pursue a USDA Community Facilities grant, which involves the construction of new buildings or renovation of existing ones.

Other agenda items up for discussion on Wednesday include the means of disposal for outdated Belmont police cruisers. Finally, before old business is reviewed, there will be a conversation about code enforcement updates.

The selectboard will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at the Belmont Mill.

To view the agenda for this Wednesday’s meeting, or to attend the meeting virtually, visit belmontnh.gov.

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