The Ossipee Town Board of Selectmen voted to request a line-item breakdown of a $7,800 budget request from the town's Economic Development Council on Tuesday, after the council's chair described how the money would be used to maintain operations and support town marketing and events.

Jim Mueller, who identified himself as "chair of the economic development council," told the board the total request is $7,800, of which $300 would pay membership in the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council and roughly $7,500 would fund the EDC's own operations. "We're asking for $7,800 total, which is basically flat from this current fiscal year," Mueller said. He described spending the money on website maintenance, a low-level Zoom account, digital marketing, social media, "business spotlights" for new and existing businesses and community events intended to draw visitors to town.

The board said it wants more detail about how the $7,800 would be allocated. A selectman moved that the board request "a breakdown of the estimated amounts and where they'll be targeted" from the Economic Development Council; another selectman seconded the motion. The board recorded a voice vote of "Aye" and the motion passed. The selectman who made the motion said the requested breakdown should be provided to the town administrator (Matt) for distribution to the board and the budget committee.

Why it matters: The EDC's work touches small-business outreach and town marketing; the board said a clearer line-item estimate will help the Selectmen and the town's budget committee evaluate value for taxpayers.

Details: Mueller told the board the EDC is working with the Chamber on some events, that the council has budgeted for potential annual community events to attract residents and visitors, and that a digital marketing contractor is helping to boost the town's online presence so that searches highlight local businesses. He said the EDC's request is largely level-funded from the current year.

The board's request for a breakdown was explicit: the Selectmen asked the Economic Development Council to return a document showing estimated amounts and target uses for each line of the $7,800 request. The board voted to request the breakdown and directed that the response be provided to Matt for distribution to the Selectmen and Laura (staff) for packet inclusion.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: "Request from Economic Development a breakdown of the estimated amounts and where they'll be targeted." Mover: Selectman (unnamed). Second: Selectman (unnamed). Vote: voice vote recorded as "Aye," motion carried. - Motion: Approval of minutes from Oct. 17 (see below under procedural votes). The board previously approved the meeting minutes by voice vote earlier in the meeting.

Next steps: The board asked that the Economic Development Council send the requested breakdown to Matt, who would then forward it to the board and staff so it can be included in the next packet and reviewed by the budget committee.