David Thorpe is inaugural Meredith Citizen of the Year

MEREDITH — David Thorpe has spent decades serving the Town of Meredith, and at Thursday’s zoning board of adjustment meeting, he was presented with the first ever Citizen of the Year Award by the selectboard.

Selectboard member Mike Pelczar, who represents the board on the ZBA, presented Thorpe with a plaque honoring him as inaugural recipient. He was joined by selectboard members Jeanie Forrester, Lynn Leighton, and Jim Gregoire, who all stood with Thorpe as he accepted the award. The plaque will be hung at Town Hall, and there are nameplates for future recipients for years to come.

Thorpe said he knew something was going on when he saw four members of the selectboard show up to the ZBA meeting, but didn’t expect the recognition, and was completely surprised.

“I am truly honored and I am sure there are other people more suitable for this, but thank you,” Thorpe said.

Tom Girard, chair of the zoning board, said Thorpe has always been a great resource, level-headed and someone they all enjoy serving with.

The town is starting a tradition of recognizing outstanding individuals who give back to their community. Pelczar said these are selfless residents, who can be found at many of the town’s civic and nonprofit organizations, including Altrusa, Greater Meredith Program, the American Legion, the Meredith Rotary, and “many more.”

“We are blessed with community members who are committed to the betterment of Meredith,” Pelczar said, noting in the moments, earlier Thorpe had been appointed to another committee.

The selectboard wanted to make the presentation at Town Meeting, but Pelczar said the ever-present Thorpe had been somewhat elusive. Instead, they recognized Thorpe at the zoning board meeting, a body of which he's been a member for many years.

“Dave has combined service for more than 50 years,” Pelczar said. “It’s just countless. He serves on many committees. He’s been a scholar from water, to ZBA, to this. You just can’t say enough about him. He’s what we all want to be like, and what I want to be like.”