Jeanie Forrester: Meredith Selectboard approves parking committee members, police and library projects

The task of the selectboard is “to manage the prudential affairs of the town and perform duties as prescribed by law.” Our duties are wide-ranging from routine to complicated, and sometimes controversial. The April 22 selectboard meeting was uneventful: we held a non-public session, reviewed and approved meeting minutes, held a public hearing on a property lot restoration that had been involuntarily merged by the town, reviewed and approved two items relative to financial impact to the town, and approved committee appointments.

Police Chief Michael Harper appeared before the selectboard to request approval to submit a grant application for two moveable radar/warning type signs that will assist the police department with speed enforcement throughout the community. The grant is offered through the NH Office of Highway Safety, with the state picking up 75% of the expenditure. The total cost for the two solar powered, self-contained units is $8,763 ($4381.50 each), with the town paying 25% ($2,190.75) coming from the police department budget. These semi-permanent speed alert signs would be placed on certain roads to alert drivers of their speed. Once these signs are purchased, the town will have a total of four speed enforcement signs to be placed on town roads when needed. After minimal discussion, the selectboard approved the grant application.

Next on the business portion of the meeting was a request by the Meredith Public Library Trustees for the selectboard to approve a landscaping project at the High Street entrance of the library. This project, initiated and paid for by the Greater Meredith Program, proposes tiered concrete retaining walls with materials to blend with existing pavers and planted with low evergreen shrubs and flowering perennials. The total cost of this project is $7,040 and includes installation of the tiered wall, site preparation, planting, mulch and drip stone. The project installation will be completed by a local landscape business. The selectboard also approved this project.

The final topic of business was voting on the Meredith Neck Lake Access Parking Committee members. The purpose of the committee will be to serve in an advisory capacity to the selectboard to develop a comprehensive parking plan for residents and non-residents specific to the Lovejoy Sands upper and lower parking lots, Cattle Landing parking lot and street parking along Patricia Drive and Lovejoy Sands Road. As per the charge, “the committee shall study and identify ways to address concerns and needs of residents, property owners, and other users of said parking facilities by recommending changes such as, but not limited to, revised or new regulations, ordinances, parking fees, permit fees, parking lot layout, signage and other related issues.” The committee shall consist of seven voting members and two non-voting members. The selectboard reviewed and approved the recommended members for the committee.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13, at the Community Center.

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Jeanie Forrester is vice chair of the Meredith Selectboard.