Without a car, how do residents access Gilford beach?

GILFORD — Not everyone in town registers a car, which can create difficulties when it comes to using town amenities, like the beach and transfer station, as town stickers displayed on windshields grant residents access. Starting on Jan. 1, the selectboard will start a one-year experiment offering an alternative, to alleviate concerns from residents who don't drive.

The selectboard unanimously approved a plan for senior residents or taxpayers, aged 65 and older, can have their name written on a decal instead of a plate number. This would allow for the decal to be laminated, instead of placed on a vehicle.

According to Town Administrator Scott Dunn, the person whose name appears on the decal must be present when using town facilities like the solid waste center, town beach, and Glendale Docks. It allows them to be the passenger in another person’s vehicle, which the selectboard agreed would be beneficial for those who cannot drive themselves.

The issue was brought to the board’s attention by Selectboard Vice Chair Chan Eddy, who said he recently had a discussion with an elderly neighbor who no longer drives. She has an out-of-town relative, and a friend, who occasionally take her to do things around town.

“The problem is, because these folks are from out of town, that means she doesn’t readily have access to the beach,” Eddy said. “She doesn’t readily have access to the solid waste center, or any of the other facilities that do require a town sticker.”

He suggested coming up with a placard for a resident, rather than one tied to a specific vehicle. Eddy had a system like what is used for parking in Glendale in mind for accessing these facilities.

“With our aging population, I think this is becoming more and more of an issue,” Eddy said. “Even if it is something when they are getting a ride share or something like it, at least they’ll have access.”

Since discussing this with his neighbor, he has found “one or two” others who are in a similar situation, he said. They thought it would be a great idea for the board to look at this and ensure residents and taxpayers are getting access to things for which they pay.

Selectboard Clerk Gus Benavides thought if a resident showed up to a spot like the recycling center, they could show identification, and would probably be able to use it with no issue. However, Dunn said, “that has not been the case,” and staff there are looking for town stickers.

“Could it be as simple as grandma or grampa showing their ID, because their grandson has their truck for cardboard and recycling?” Benavides said. “Wouldn’t we just allow them to do that? Same thing, wouldn’t we allow that at the town beach? Do we necessarily need placards?”

Dunn said he is not opposed to his idea, but what they would do is instead of writing a license plate on the decal, they would include a name.

“For an experimental point of view for a year, we thought that would be a good thing to try,” Dunn said.

Selectboard Chair Kevin Hayes admitted when he first read Eddy’s memo, he was opposed to needing the person with the decal present at the time. However, he and Benavides agreed this would avoid of any sort of issue, and the decal would still be utilized.

“Remember when we had beach passes that were a placard that were being massively abused?” Eddy said. “This would prevent that.”

Hayes said he would rather see this plan instead of relying on an identification card, as some elderly residents may no longer have a driver’s license. Eddy also noted some people don’t have their address on their identification for Gilford, but are seasonal residents who pay taxes in town.

“This way, it covers everybody, if you’re eligible for a town sticker,” Eddy said.

At the end of the experiment in 2026, Dunn requested the selectboard make a recommendation on whether or not to make the policy permanent.