Jeanie Forrester: Meredith hires two new department leaders

The Jan. 12, Meredith Selectboard meeting included a meet and greet for residents, a public hearing on the authorization of a bond, approval of a grant, and information about legislation impacting our community.

With the retirement of two long-time employees, Department of Public Works Director Mike Faller (28 years of service) and Parks & Recreation Director Vint Choiniere (26 years of service), the town manager acted swiftly to fill these two critical positions. The board was pleased to host a meet and greet for residents to introduce Department of Public Works Director Craig Hale (formerly the assistant director) and Parks & Recreation Director Krystal Alpers (from the City of Franklin). Director Hale assumed his new position immediately and Director Alpers will be joining Meredith in March. The town manager also hired an executive secretary, Lisa Harbour, who will be cross trained with the administrative assistant in the newly titled Planning & Development Department and shared between both offices. Over the next few weeks, the Town Manager’s Office including Chris Janosa, human resources and special projects, will be relocating to the Town Hall Annex.

As required by RSA 33:8-a, a public hearing was held as part of the process of issuing a bond with a value greater than $100,000 to fund the rehabilitation of the four filter units in the Water Treatment Plant. The Water & Sewer superintendent advised that the 40-year-old filters are at the end of their useful life and require major rehabilitation to avoid reduced water quality and shorter filter run times.

The $900,000 cost of the filter rehabilitation will be shared between the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund and the General Fund (69%/31% split respectively). The town will seek to mitigate this cost with a low interest loan available through the state and a state grant with 30%-50% principal forgiveness. This bond will appear on the warrant in March.

The town was awarded a $30,000 strategic planning grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to perform a study of filtration/removal of total organic carbon (predominately cyanobacteria) from raw water and to investigate the possibility of recycling most of the wastewater generated from backwashing the filter beds. Removing TOCs from raw water and recycling backwash water will generate cost savings from reduced testing and wastewater discharge. The project requires a 50% match ($15,000) from Meredith, which will come from consulting and water treatment budget lines of the proposed 2026 budget. The timing of this grant coincides well with rehabilitating the filters at the treatment facility. Kudos to our Water & Sewer superintendent for his thoughtful and proactive management of our system.

There is a great deal of activity in the Legislature this year that has the potential to impact Meredith as well as other communities around the state. One piece of legislation that will have a dramatic negative impact on Meredith is House Bill 1474, which proposes to change the distribution formula for meals and rooms tax revenues to communities. A spreadsheet provided by the bill’s sponsor — nhmunicipal.org/sites/default/files/uploads/legislative-bulletins/2026/hb_1474_am_distribution.pdf — illustrates the impact to Meredith. Currently we receive $678,235 annually but HB 1474 would reduce Meredith’s allocation to $0. For more information on bills that impact our community go to nhmunicipal.org. Under the Advocacy tab, click on Legislative Bulletin, Jan. 16, to learn more. The NH Municipal Association represents all 234 NH cities and towns and advocates on our behalf.

Other information:

• The Community Master Plan has been adopted by the planning board. It can be read and copies can be obtained on the website via meredithnh.gov/365/Community-Plan.
• All short-term rentals in Meredith are required to hold a valid STR license. The licensing program is now operating, and letters have been sent to short-term renters informing them of registration requirements. A portal has been created to allow license holders to conveniently manage their licenses: portal.deckard.com/nh-belknap...town_of_meredith-str-portal.

The next meeting of the selectboard is Monday, Jan. 26, and will begin at 5 p.m. There will be a space needs presentation and discussion on warrant articles.

Important dates:

• Jan. 21-30, filing period for open positions in Meredith
• Feb. 3, deadline for petitioned warrant articles
• March 10, Election Day at the Community Center, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• March 11, Town Meeting at Inter-Lakes High School, 7 p.m.

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Jeanie Forrester serves on the Meredith Selectboard.