Belmont to celebrate America250 with flags donated by local American Legion

BELMONT — The town will celebrate America’s 250th in style this year, thanks in part to a donation from American Legion Post 58.

The donation, of up to $100 worth of small flags on sticks and commemorative America250 flags, will be displayed throughout several areas, including the Belmont Mill, downtown, and the bandstand.

“Downtown Belmont is going to be very festive, probably from Memorial Day to Old Home Day,” said Alicia Jipson, town administrator, during the May 20 selectboard meeting.

The celebratory beautification efforts are just one way the Town of Belmont plans to participate in the America250 events discussed at the meeting, at the Belmont Mill.

The American Legion will hoist a special America250 flag soon, and town grounds crew members have made sure flowers are being planted in red, white and blue colors.

“We are very grateful for this donation and the service of the American Legion Post 58 members,” Jipson wrote in an email to The Daily Sun.

In other meeting news, Director of Public Works Brian Jackes told the board he is beginning research on funding opportunities to help lessen the financial burden of replacing some of the town’s aging water systems.

He filled out a pre-application for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, to potentially partially fund the replacement of the cast-iron water line on Concord Street, one of the oldest lines in Belmont.

“I’m just kind of getting my feet wet with this, no pun intended,” Jackes said. “I just feel like we have to start doing something to address the older water lines in town.”

“Concord Street needs to be rebuilt, and I couldn’t justify rebuilding Concord Street without doing the water line. So this is a funding opportunity,” he said.

Once the pre-application is submitted, Jackes will wait to hear if the project is approved to advance to the application stage.

Lastly, the selectboard saw a brief overview of the GoGov software app. It wouldn’t be used for code enforcement, but as a notification tool to keep residents informed.

Town leaders have not made a formal decision on whether or not to contract with GoGov notification services. The current price point for a one-year contract and no  start-up fee is $4,680. Voice and text is an additional $1,000. Residents would be able to opt in to one or all features.

“I also like the fact that for someone who doesn’t want apps, they can still opt-in for the text, the voice or the email,” Jipson said in the meeting.

The software would streamline the mechanism for town employees to send push notifications, and allow them to be moderated if oversight is needed. The app would work for both iPhone and Android users.

The selectboard will next meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2. For more information, visit belmontnh.gov.

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