Thin crowd passes all articles at Meredith Town Meeting

MEREDITH — Saying "yes" to everything on the budget would cause an increase in the town’s taxation by 12%, Selectboard member Steve Aiken cautioned the sparse field of voters who attended Wednesday night’s Town Meeting.

Yet that caution did little to change voters’ actions. Those in attendance easily approved every warrant article, including the $21 million operating budget.

First, though, some news.

“It is with excitement and pleasure to announce that we have hired Judie Milner as our new town manager,” said Lynn Leighton, selectboard chair, to enthusiastic applause from the audience. Milner was previously the city manager in Franklin and will begin her new role at the end of March.

Following the actions of voters on Wednesday, Meredith taxpayers will see the town portion of the tax bill increase by $0.41, to $3.76 per $1,000 of valuation. County, school and state taxes will be added to that figure; the total tax rate for Meredith in 2024 was $10.26, among the lowest in the Lakes Region.

The 2025 operating budget of $21 million represented an increase of $943,104 over the previous budget. The largest increase was from the fire department, which added more full-time firefighting positions. The police department, which plans to replace two cruisers this year, was the next largest increase, while increases in health insurance also pushed the number higher.

The budget passed by a vote of 100 to 32, counted in a secret ballot.

That margin, wide as it was, proved the closest contest of the night. Another measure, which asked voters to allocate $740,000 to help inventory water service lines in towns, was the only other article decided by ballot, and passed 111 to 21. All other articles, all but one involving the application of unspent fund balance into expendable trust funds, passed by an overwhelming majority indicating their support by holding up their voter cards.

Though it easily passed, the water line inventory question revealed some anxiety about how tumult in the nation’s Capitol might visit Meredith Town Hall. Article 6 asked voters to authorize the expenditure of $740,000 to excavate and inspect up to 1,000 water service lines, which direct water from main lines to individual residences, in order to complete an inventory of lead water lines.

Though the town is required to commit its own money to complete the work, Meredith is eligible for reimbursement for up to 71% of the cost — $525,400 — through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a federal allocation.

Federal funding under the new Trump administration is hardly guaranteed, though, as President Donald Trump has ordered freezes on distribution of many federal funds, including some already authorized by Congress.

Resident Nicole Gauvreau noted the language of the article described reimbursement as “up to 71%,” and asked the board what their level of confidence was they would see the full level of reimbursement.

“In December, when this was first presented, I would have been 100% confident” in receiving the reimbursement, Aiken said in response. However, he said the town should no longer bank on federal funding. “I think we have to go on the safe side going forward.”

Resident Anne Sprague said that should give the town pause.

“Just to further clarify, do we have to expend the funds first before we can apply for reimbursement?” After receiving nods in answer, Sprague continued, “So there’s a challenge.

"Who knows if we’ll get the money back, because things are a lot different today than they were on Jan. 19.”

Uncertainty aside, the town is under a mandate to complete the survey within a five-year period, Selectboard member Jonathan James told the crowd.

Voters approved of the warrant’s only non-monetary article, which authorized the selectboard to implement the Meredith Community Power Plan. This plan takes advantage of a relatively new state law allowing communities to offer an alternative source for power generation. Electricity transmission and billing would continue to be managed by existing utility providers, and individual residents would have the option to participate in the alternative source or continue with their current provider.

As Rick DeMark, a member of the town’s Energy Committee put it, “We are not obligated to stick with the program, and individuals are not obligated to stick with the program if they determine it’s not in their best interest.”

As a matter of fact, DeMark said he wouldn’t recommend the town implement the plan at the current moment, as the rates offered by Community Power are currently higher than those provided by the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. However, if those positions were to flip in the future, the selectboard will now be authorized to act on the plan and offer the lower rate to residents.

At the conclusion of the meeting, James was thanked for his decade of service to the selectboard and was given a painting of Meredith Bay.

Accepting the gift, James said he was “something of a believer in term limits” and felt 10 years was long enough for him. “It is a privilege, I have totally enjoyed it,” he said.

James will be replaced by Jim Gregoire, who was elected to a three-year term during voting on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s election drew 458 voters, which Town Clerk Kerri Parker said amounted to a turnout of 8%. “That’s sad,” she said at the start of the meeting. Wednesday’s Town Meeting at Inter-Lakes High School attracted even less participation, with 132 voters in attendance.