Jeanie Forrester: Meredith Selectboard considers electronic signs to advertise Town Meeting, other events

The July 28 Meredith Selectboard meeting topics included property tax credits for veterans, an electronic sign proposal, and a discussion about solid waste hauling.

The Town of Meredith offers two tax credits for veterans who qualify. The optional Veterans’ Tax Credit is $500 and the Service-Connected Total Disability Tax Credit is $4,000. Currently if a veteran qualifies for both, he or she receives a total tax credit of $4,500. Meredith has 31 veterans who qualify and are receiving $4,500 in combined tax credits.

During the 2025 legislative session, legislation was signed into law which amended the Service-Connected Total Disability tax credit so that veterans could no longer claim both credits. The legislation also increased the limit for the Service-Connected Total Disability Tax Credit from a maximum of $4,000 to $5,000. This law goes into effect for the 2026 tax year.

The town manager recommended a warrant article be drafted for the 2026 Town Meeting to raise the Service-Connected Total Disability Tax Credit from $4,000 to $4,500. This would allow the 31 veterans to continue receiving the same tax credit amount that they have been receiving. There will be no additional fiscal impact because the total amount of the Service-Connected Total Disability Tax Credit will be the same amount as the previously combined tax credits.

At last year’s Town Meeting a request was made that the town better advertise Town Meeting to encourage more participation. The Department of Public Works director followed up with that request by recommending the board consider installing up to four electronic signs with locations at Hesky Park, the community center, the library, and the downtown fire station. Having these electronic signs installed would provide more information to the public not only about Town Meeting, but also other activities in the community. The signs would be controlled remotely and messages easily changed. These signs would be similar to the one installed at Inter-Lakes High School. The expected cost would be approximately $148,000 ($37,000 each). The director will come back to the board in September with final designs for consideration to be included in the 2026 budget.

The next topic up for discussion was the solid waste transportation contract. When the town’s hauling contract went out to bid, only one response was received and recently the winning contractor advised that he wanted to end the contract with Meredith. The DPW director recommends the town purchase a new truck to haul our trash and demolition waste. Additionally, he recommends that we enter into a municipal agreement with the Town of New London to haul their trash trailers to offset expenses. His proposal included a lease-purchase over a five-year period with the town owning the truck at the end of five years. In the event our truck was out of service, New London indicated they would step in and assist hauling trailers for both towns during the breakdown period.

The 2025 Solid Waste Budget is $175,000. The total cost per year for a new truck would be $190,400 (annual truck expense, driver with benefits, service and tires, and fuel). Assuming we enter into a municipal agreement with New London for $80,000 (what they are now paying another hauler) the town would receive $80,000 thereby reducing the Solid Waste Transportation expense and providing a savings of $64,600. The DPW director advised an additional full-time DPW person will be required to operate the new truck.

The next meeting of the selectboard is Monday, Aug. 11.

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Jeanie Forrester serves on the Meredith Selectboard.