Meredith Selectboard tables discussion on restructuring planning and development dept

MEREDITH — Deciding on an updated structure for the town's new Planning and Development Department was postponed by the selectboard Monday night. Human Resources and Special Projects Director Chris Janosa had been tasked with creating a new plan for the department, after telling the selectboard he wasn’t fit to lead it last month.

The meeting materials included a memo from Janosa, with two options: promote from within, or hire a new employee.

“The current structure of the P&D department pilot program does not work and this was presented at the June 22, 2026 Select Board meeting,” Janosa stated in the memo.

The memo’s subject was “Planning & Development Leadership Recommendations,” with the two options listed. The first was to designate the senior planner as town planner, which would be the head of the department. The roles of full-time administrative assistant, code enforcement officer and planner I would remain the same. The fiscal impact would be $9,634.89 for the promotion.

The second option would be much more costly to the town, according to the memo, with a fiscal impact of $127,369.72. The proposal would hire a planning and development director with that expertise, and “possibly economic development.” Planner I, senior planner, code enforcement officer, and the full-time administrative assistant roles would be unchanged.

Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester made a point of order at the start of the meeting July 13, requesting the discussion be postponed.

“I know Chris is here; I’m not prepared to talk about it tonight,” Forrester said. “I’m wondering if we could put that off to the next meeting.”

Board member Mike Pelczar said he agreed, and didn’t think the first time this was talked about should be during a public meeting.

“I think it should be in non-public,” Pelczar said.

Board members Lynn Leighton and Jim Gregoire agreed to postpone vocally, and Chair Steve Aiken said “OK,” followed by a nod to Town Manager Judie Milner. Janosa was sitting in the audience, awaiting the item, which was slated to be the second workshop of the meeting, and left once the consensus was to postpone.

At the June 22 meeting, Janosa told the selectboard the department needs a leader who is “fluid, knowledgeable, and experienced in planning and development.

“That is not me,” Janosa said on June 22. “I can handle the management piece of it, but they need further guidance related to their specific duties.”

Janosa fielded questions from selectboard members last month, including Forrester, who asked what he was doing to manage the department. He said he could handle day-to-day personnel management, such as hiring, as well as supervising the office, scheduling, and performance evaluations.

He said he couldn’t answer questions related to planning and development.

At the June 22 meeting, Forrester said the original idea was to have a six-month pilot, and asked if he could have a plan for the meeting on July 13. Janosa agreed he would work with Milner on a new plan.

The decision to restructure what was formerly called Community Development was made at the Dec. 8, 2025 selectboard meeting, with a pilot implemented Jan. 1. The name of the department was changed to Planning and Development, and Janosa was named director.

Janosa and Milner relocated to the Town Hall annex in January, and have been working there since. With the change, the full-time planner I position was filled internally, leaving an administrative position vacant. A hire was made, but the employee resigned, effective July 1.

This left the department short-staffed, and in response, hours for the Town Hall annex have been cut, leaving the office open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as of July 13, instead of open until 5 p.m.

Milner said Forrester and the Lakes Region Planning Commission had been providing “temporary help.” The town website lists the hours change, and says an update will be made as soon as public hours return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During Monday’s meeting, Forrester said she was not keen on the idea of the reduced hours, but it is the prerogative of the town manager.

A voicemail left for Janosa was not returned by deadline.

The selectboard meets next at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, July 27, at the Meredith Community Center.