Meredith Selectboard critical of process to install new 9/11 memorial

MEREDITH — Selectboard members said they support bringing a 9/11 memorial to town for the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, but disapprove of the process, including the fact it was ordered without any discussion.

Town Manager Judie Milner said at the selectboard meeting on April 13 the monument placement and process was supposed to be explained by Chief Ken Jones, but he could not attend the meeting. She requested the discussion be postponed, so he could be there to speak.

Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester said this is “all well and good,” but it didn’t address an issue she had. Forrester said she is 100% behind the idea, but there should have been a presentation to the board.

“I don’t know why it didn’t happen,” Forrester said. “I would have thought that he would have come to you, and you would have come to us, so I don’t know where the breakdown was. As far as I know, I think unless you tell me differently, the board is in charge of public spaces.”

Last year, American Legion Commander Al Wilson asked if they would be interested in taking over future 9/11 remembrance ceremonies, and within a few months, a 9/11 committee was established that included Forrester, Wilson and John Dever of the American Legion, and members of the Meredith Fire Department.

Forrester first said she was concerned at the March 30 meeting, noting she was not able to attend a meeting on Jan. 21, where the idea for a 9/11 memorial at Hesky Park was discussed.

“None of us have an issue with it,” said Chair Steve Aiken. “But it skipped over the proper channels to be discussed.”

Forrester again expressed at the April 13 meeting she was frustrated a fundraising letter went out without the selectboard knowing.

The letter from Jones, dated April 1, was included in meeting materials. It states the fire department was asked by the American Legion to honor the 2,977 lives lost in the attacks, and he formed the 9/11 Remembrance Committee.

The committee has designed a granite memorial monument for Hesky Park for the Sept. 11, 2026 event. After the event, Jones wrote, the granite memorial will be moved to the Central Station, at 286 Daniel Webster Hwy, for people to view.

The letter requests a monetary donation to offset the cost of the memorial, and the cost of the remembrance event. The idea was for a 25th Anniversary Memorial Program to be created, and all the sponsors will be listed at the appropriate level. It asked checks to be made out to the Wamesit Engine Company, the relief association for the Meredith Fire Department.

The letter also included the dimensions of the proposed monument, and the materials proposed to be used.

“The letter already says where it’s going, what it looks like,” Forrester said. “I would think that the board would want some input when we talk about being very specific about where benches go, and what we put on the benches to have a permanent structure in town.”

Aiken agreed, saying the board previously said things like this should go before them for a final decision. Board member Mike Pelczar added there has been a discussion about permanent monuments, and they can’t let this slide. Forrester agreed, saying nothing should be done before there is a discussion with the board. She said they need a policy.

“I am 100% supportive, I just don’t support the way it is done,” Forrester said. “I think that is problematic.”

“Me too,” Pelczar replied.

Selectboard members were also unhappy when they found out from Milner the monument had already been ordered, leading to Aiken ask, “Who paid for it?”

“If they can’t raise the money, where’s the money coming from?” Forrester asked.

Selectboard member Lynn Leighton said the monument could have been ordered but not built yet, and instructed Milner to try to stop it immediately, until a discussion with the board takes place. Like other members of the board, Leighton likes the idea, but not the process thus far.

“There’s no pricing either,” Leighton said. “They are asking for money, but there’s no budget information.”

Milner asked for the discussion to be put off until Monday, April 27, but Forrester will not be there, and Aiken wanted her to be there for the discussion. Instead, Milner suggested the Monday, May 11 meeting, where the board is expected to speak about the matter with Jones.