Jeanie Forrester: Meredith residents, staff will soon benefit from new software

While the July 8 Meredith Selectboard meeting was light on topics, it was heavy on financial impacts to our residents with the most significant item being the software implementation project.

The administrative services director presented an update on the progress of this $1 million project which will provide a more seamless, user-friendly system for our residents and others who need to interact with the town. The new system will increase functionality, provide more readily digestible and transparent information on finances and budgets and make problem reporting easier, e.g., a downed tree, a broken sidewalk or a hazardous condition.

The benefits to town staff include easier access to data, better planning functions and operational efficiencies. Also included will be an asset management module providing the ability to track all town assets including vehicles, equipment, land, buildings, etc., a capability we currently do not have in any organized and comprehensive form.

Total cost of the multi-year project is currently estimated at slightly over $1.1M which, for the current year, includes approximately $500,000 for one-time conversion from the old system and $125,000 for the first year of the annual five-year subscription. Remaining project costs are primarily due to the annual subscription.

Funding for the first year is coming from a variety of sources including $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, $60,000 from the Municipal Technology Expendable Trust Fund, and $265,000 from unexpended 2023 health insurance funds. To date, the town has spent $250,000.

Unfortunately, unusually high legal expenses will exceed the 2024 budget of $75,000. Expenditures to date are $104,355 and it is currently expected the budget will be exceeded by $135,000. The larger expenses are related to short-term rental lawsuits and personnel changes.

More positive news comes from our water and sewer superintendent who reports savings of over $20,000 this year thanks to owning our own equipment, rather than using private contractors for various projects. To reduce expenses related to the Route 25 sewer main replacement, the superintendent is investigating relining instead of replacing existing piping. He will report his findings back to the town manager and selectboard.

The Lake Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee will be hosting two interesting and informative events soon: an outreach program on Thursday, July 25, and a public information event on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The outreach program is designed to educate all who are interested about cyanobacteria in our lakes. It is being held Thursday, July 25, at the Meredith Community Center with doors open at 4 p.m. for light refreshments and the program beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a presentation by the LWA conservation program manager and the assistant director of the NHDES water division.

The public information event on Saturday, Aug. 10, in conjunction with the Meredith Water & Sewer Department, will promote lake water quality. The event will be held at the Water Treatment Plant on Waukewan Street and will include information sessions, plant tours and a hamburg and hot dog cook-out by the Advisory Committee. For more information about the Aug. 10 event, visit meredithnh.org/water-sewer.

•••

Jeanie Forrester is vice chair of the Meredith Selectboard.