Jeanie Forrester: Meredith Selectboard votes on short-term rental fees

The June 9 Meredith Selectboard meeting included five public hearings on short-term rental licensing fees, fire permit and inspection fees, an easement, and acceptance of two grants.

Meredith voters passed a new short-term rental ordinance at Town Meeting to regulate annual rental days, overnight and daytime occupancy, parking, trash management and requiring a life safety inspection and special exception by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The selectboard will soon also implement an annual licensing requirement.

The town planner provided a summary of proposed fees and fines associated with this licensing which include a $400 annual fee to owners desiring to rent their property as a short-term rental. Failure to secure a short-term rental license prior to using the property as a short-term rental will be subject to penalties beginning with written warnings and escalating to a $500 fine assessed to the property owner for each day of unlicensed short-term rental activity.

Owners failing to comply with the regulations adopted or the terms of the license will be subject to a written warning followed by escalating fines up to $750 and revocation of their license. After discussion, the Board voted 4-1 to accept the proposed licensing terms and conditions. The program will begin Sept. 1, with notification letters to short-term rental owners prior to then.

The public hearing on the fire department permit and inspection program included a presentation on new and revised fees. Prior to setting fees, a survey was conducted to compare similar fees in other communities. The fire chief recommended a variety of fees to cover expenditures such as administrative costs, vehicle expenses and other equipment used, with a recommended start date of July 1. The selectboard voted unanimously to accept the recommendations.

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) requested an easement to cross town property. A property owner is redeveloping a site and updating the building’s electrical service for three apartments and a new commercial space. The new underground electric connection to the building will cross town land, thereby requiring an easement. The cost of the electrical service and restoring any disturbed land will be at the owner’s expense. Per RSA 41:14-a, one more public hearing is required followed by a subsequent vote, therefore the board took no action.

The next public hearing was to accept a $60,000 grant from the NH Department of Environmental Serivces Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau for the Lead Service Line Inventory project. Our water and sewer superintendent applied for this additional grant which is available to systems with over 1,000 customers. These funds are in addition to the other grant funds previously accepted by the town for the Lead Service Line Inventory project. The total project cost is expected to be $800,000, with $214,600 coming from the Capital Reserve Recovery Fund and the balance being paid with grant funds. The board voted unanimously to accept the grant.

The last public hearing was to accept $10,300 in grant funds from the NH Department of Safety for traffic enforcement initiatives. The required match from the town of $2,575 will support critical enforcement initiatives including speed enforcement, DUI enforcement, and distracted driving (specifically texting while driving). The board voted unanimously to accept the grant funds.

Technology upgrades are complete at the community center and we have transitioned to a new platform, Town Hall Streams. This upgrade includes enhanced video and audio systems to provide better service to residents who choose to watch meetings virtually. You may access Town Hall Streams directly through the town’s website at meredithnh.gov by clicking on "Agendas."

A Community Forum on Cyanobacteria sponsored by the Meredith Cyanobacteria Committee and supported by several other environmental agencies will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at the Meredith Community Center.

The next selectboard meeting is Monday, June 23.

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Jeanie Forrester serves on the Meredith Selectboard.