Belmont Selectboard to revive discussion of bank demolition Wednesday

BELMONT — Public hearings about ordinance changes, police business, and easements dominate the selectboard meeting agenda this week.

The board will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Belmont Mill, to discuss six public hearings, along with other items.

Public hearing topics range from changes to the water and sewer ordinance to accepting a K9 grant to the tune of $33,650. Additionally, hearings will be held on two local easements, the upfitting of police cruisers thanks to the sale of municipal property valued at $10,225, and a New Hampshire Department of Safety grant.

In other meeting news, Shaker Regional School District leaders have extended an invitation to the selectboard for a joint meeting, and Town Administrator Alicia Jipson will detail the expectations on Wednesday night.

She’ll also highlight an Employee Appreciation Day, enter a formal request to store a photo of Jeff Marden, and provide follow-up on hiring Belknap County Department of Corrections inmates for town projects, brought up during public comments at the last meeting.

Marden was a quadriplegic who was heavily involved in town business, on the planning board, Lakes Region Planning Commission, master plan committee, the Shaker Regional School District Space Needs Committee and the Save the Gale School Committee. He also was a member of a state commission to oversee Laconia's Ahern State Park, and an active contributor to efforts to improve parks and recreation in Belmont. He died in 2007.

The demolition of the bank building, which yielded much conversation at the Aug. 5 meeting, will be discussed again.

During the last meeting, Jipson shared two quotes received by the town for the project, ranging from $36,000 to $45,000. The board voted 4-1 to move forward with the demolition of the bank, following a lively discussion.

Public comment was largely in support of saving taxpayer funds. Board member Sharon Ciampi agreed.

“I don’t think we should tear it down at all. I don’t understand why now, when money is tight and we’re trying to get this building done and get them moved, why we would spend upward of $60,000 to tear down the building. Especially, because I don’t know that there’s anyone specific reason to tear it down,” Ciampi said. “You don’t know if the building is structurally sound, it if has another use, if it has a historical purpose.”

The outcome of a 2010 Belmont charette suggested demolishing the building. Opening up the land would create more green space near Main Street.

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