Jeanie Forrester: Meredith considers addressing PFAS contamination in next budget

At the June 24 meeting of the Meredith Selectboard, town infrastructure, water quality and tax abatements were discussed.

The consultant to the Main Street Improvement Project, VHB, attended to present their proposal to provide planning and conceptual design services to Meredith for improvements to Main Street. The VHB representative explained their proposal would address pedestrian safety issues and streetscape improvements such as lighting, landscaping and sidewalks. As mentioned in the previous selectboard meeting, the cost for this phase would be $157,227, and would be funded through the Main Street Rehabilitation Expendable Trust Fund which currently has a balance of $164,403. After review and discussion, the selectboard agreed to move forward with the proposed services.

Our water and sewer superintendent attended the meeting at the request of the board to answer questions about the town’s drinking water quality as it relates to PFAS contamination. PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl) substances are manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. Because of their widespread use and persistence in the environment, many PFAS chemicals are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. There are thousands of PFAS variants, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. The superintendent advised the board that Meredith water quality is routinely tested and is free of these contaminants.

Selectboard members voiced concerns about new PFAS soil contamination standards being considered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the potential impact of testing and remediation costs to complete municipal projects in the future. Representatives from Resource Management Inc. attended to provide background information on PFAS and how complying with new standards could be very costly. As the selectboard considers next year’s budget, adding funds to municipal project ETFs in anticipation of such costs should be considered.

The superintendent also presented the scope of services from consultants DuBois & King for a preliminary design of a water and sewer infrastructure on Route 25 and answered questions from the board. For the preliminary design phase, the cost will be $84,100, which will come from the water and sewer ETFs. The selectboard approved the scope of services contingent upon final review and approval of the contract language from the town’s attorney.

Another issue important to the economic success of our community is the health of our lakes. The Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee continues to do yeoman’s work educating the public, protecting our natural resource, and advising the board on their activities. On Thursday, July 25, there will be an outreach program at the Meredith Community Center at 4 p.m. Ted Diers, assistant director of the NHDES Water Division, will present information on cyanobacteria in our lakes, an ever increasing threat.

At the recommendation of the town’s tax assessor, the board approved 37 abatement requests and denied 23. The total amount of funds returned to the tax payers was $34,638.41. As the assessor explained, those abatement applications that were denied by the board can be appealed to the NH Bureau of Tax and Land Appeal or the Superior Court.

The selectboard’s next meeting is at 4:30 p.m., Monday, July 8.

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Jeanie Forrester is vice chair of the Meredith Selectboard.