Jeanie Forrester: Meredith partnering with Gilford on foam recycling, studying stormwater infrastructure

The June 22 Meredith Selectboard meeting included a public hearing on commercial boat launch fees, updates on a stormwater management grant, Styrofoam recycling, cigarette litter, a status report on the reorganization of the planning & development department, and approvals for tax abatements and a park & street closure policy.

Another public hearing was held regarding the implementation of a commercial marine operator launch fee. After hearing remarks from the public, the selectboard voted unanimously to implement a pilot program in January 2027, requiring a $350 fee and permit application. Funds generated from this fee will be dedicated to the waterfront infrastructure account for repairs or replacement of boat launches. The selectboard also directed the town manager to research the expected life span and maintenance and replacement costs of boat launches.

The public works director gave an update on the $60,000 Clean Water Asset Management Program Grant provided by the NH Department of Environmental Services. This program supports improvements in the management of the town’s waste and stormwater infrastructure systems assets. It is designed to help municipalities strengthen long-term planning, improve system efficiency, and protect water quality resources that are vital to the community.

While most of the stormwater operations and maintenance budget is included in the road maintenance budget, the plan recommends the highway division budget of $3.5M be increased to reflect the full cost of operating and maintaining the stormwater system. These increases include new budget line items of $30,000 for engineering inspections of culverts and bridges, and $10,000 for outfall dredging (cleaning out accumulated sediment and material where stormwater leaves the drainage system). Also recommended is increasing the catch basin cleaning budget from $30,000 to $50,000, and the street sweeping budget from $37,500 to $50,000. For more information, visit public records at Meredithnh.gov under “studies.”

The Meredith Rotary Club has been spearheading a quarterly Styrofoam Recycling Program with the goal of reducing the volume of material entering landfills. The club has now requested the town take over the program. The public works director commented that by diverting the Styrofoam, it reduces valuable space in the trailers hauling waste for disposal. The program will have designated containers at the Meredith Transfer Station for Styrofoam which will be regularly emptied and material stored onsite by Meredith town personnel. The collected Styrofoam will be transported weekly to the Gilford Department of Public Works for disposal. At this time, there would be no financial compensation provided to Gilford for accepting and processing Styrofoam. The cost-benefit, as well as an estimate of how much Styrofoam the town would collect, is unknown and requires further research.

The public works director requested the purchase of three receptacles to reduce significant cigarette litter at Hesky Park and the Town Docks. The selectboard approved the purchase of these receptacles at a cost of $133 per receptacle plus shipping costs.

A couple years ago an audit of the Community Development Department was implemented. Based on that audit, the town manager recommended several reorganization options, including having the human resources director manage the department (now called planning & development). After serving in the position for the last six months, he advised that he is not the best fit, saying the department needs someone who is fluent, knowledgeable and experienced in land use and planning. The director and town manager will bring forward a suggested plan to accomplish this at the next selectboard meeting.

The selectboard approved the Park & Street Closure Policy and six of nine 2025 abatement requests as recommended by the town assessor.

There will be a Fourth of July Parade celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, on Main Street.

The next meeting of the selectboard is at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13.

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Jeanie Forrester serves on the Meredith Selectboard.