Wolfeboro Selectmen approve cyanobacteria protocol, RGGI rebate, sidewalk work and other routine items; trustees seek engineering plan for Libby Museum

Wolfeboro — The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen on May 7 approved a range of administrative and public‑works items and received updates on hazardous‑waste collection and ongoing infrastructure work. Major decisions included adopting an updated cyanobacteria identification and reporting protocol, accepting a proposed RGGI rebate to ratepayers, authorizing sidewalk repairs from the town’s capital reserve, and approving a public‑works vehicle purchase. The board also agreed, as trustees of the Libby Museum, to fund a $5,500 engineering study to inform repairs on the museum’s failing north wall.

The meeting covered many routine permits and minutes but front‑loaded items the board and public said carried the most immediate public interest: lake health, energy bill relief and sidewalk safety.

The selectmen voted unanimously to approve the town’s revised cyanobacteria bloom identification and reporting protocol, written by the Wolfeboro Waters Committee to align local response with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES). The protocol instructs observers to use the DES bloom report form, call central dispatch to trigger town notifications, and deliver samples to DES for laboratory confirmation and classification as a “watch” or “warning.” Linda Redmond, speaking for the committee, said DES is the agency that “will provide all the information on the bloom and whether it is a watch or a warning” and that DES also declares when a bloom has ended.

The selectmen approved a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) rebate plan from Wolfeboro Electric. Barry Muchio of Wolfeboro Electric told the board the utility has accumulated about $565,000 in RGGI proceeds and proposed a customer rebate of 2.8¢ per kilowatt‑hour for June, July and August. Muchio said the rebate would equal about $16–$17 per month for an average customer using roughly 600 kilowatt‑hours. The board voted to accept the rebate plan and the temporary rate reduction.

On public works, the board approved use of sidewalk capital reserve funds to repair and widen roughly 4,500 linear feet of sidewalk on South Main Street to a 6‑foot width. Public Works Director Steve Bridal said contractors would fully rip out the worst 2,500 feet and overlay the remaining 2,000 feet; the wider, deeper sections are intended to improve walking surfaces and provide better infiltration to reduce freeze/thaw damage. Bridal said the town’s estimate for the work was revised on the floor and submitted as part of the meeting packet; the board approved the project financing as amended. Bridal and other board members emphasized the repair is a patch‑and‑strengthen approach rather than a full structural rebuild, which would cost substantially more.

The board also authorized replacing a public‑works vehicle from the vehicle capital reserve; Public Works told the board it located a suitable Ford Super Duty unit and upfit within available funds. The purchase was approved after discussion that keeping fleet vehicles on multiyear warranties reduces long‑term maintenance risk.

On marine permits, the board approved a commercial vessel landing permit for the MS Mount Washington’s 2025 season. A separate landing permit application from mailboat operator Isaac McKenzie (Blue Ghost III) was discussed at length and then tabled because the board said an insurance certificate had not included the town as a certificate holder or included required backside documentation; the applicant was asked to return with complete insurance paperwork.

Trustees of the Libby Museum reported continued concern about the museum’s failing north wall. After discussion the board (acting in its trustee role) authorized $5,500 to pay for an engineer’s site inspection and a stamped working plan to document the wall condition and options for secure, step‑wise repairs. Trustees said the limited spend is intended to produce a priced, actionable plan that can be used to assess repair versus replacement and to respond to the Attorney General’s trust office. The board’s approval was conditioned on town‑counsel review of the engineering contract language.

Other votes included routine approvals of temporary event permits (including a midweek bass tournament, a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Great Strides” walk and a car show tied to the July 4th celebration), acceptance of bulk manifest items (including a school payment noted in the meeting packet), and scheduling a public hearing on short‑term rental conditional‑use permit fees advocated by the Planning Board.

The board was briefed on household hazardous waste: a planned May 17 local collection will not occur because the town’s waste hauler had not confirmed service; the town manager said staff is negotiating buy‑in with a Lakes Region regional collection program so Wolfeboro residents can use other local collection dates and the town can host a June 21 local event if buy‑in terms are finalized. Selectmen asked staff to publicize the change and any instructions for residents promptly.

In his public‑works report Bridal summarized current paving and drainage projects, lane closures tied to South Main regrading and resurfacing, and the status of water‑main and sewer work in the town. The selectmen and staff urged patience from residents as multiple projects overlap this construction season.

Votes at a glance (select items): - Adopted: Wolfeboro cyanobacteria identification and reporting protocol (presented by the Wolfeboro Waters Committee). Motion to approve carried. - Adopted: RGGI rebate of 2.8¢/kWh for June–August (Wolfeboro Electric). Motion to accept carried. - Adopted: Use of sidewalk capital reserve funds for South Main sidewalk repairs (amount as amended in packet; see clarifying details). Motion to authorize carried. - Adopted: Vehicle purchase from vehicle capital reserve (public‑works truck). Motion to authorize carried. - Adopted: MS Mount Washington commercial vessel landing permit for the 2025 season. Motion carried. - Tabled: Blue Ghost III (mailboat) commercial landing permit pending complete insurance certificate. Motion to table carried. - Adopted (Trustees action): Authorize $5,500 for engineering/site inspection and a stamped plan for Libby Museum north‑wall work, with town‑attorney review of the contract. Motion carried. - Adopted: Schedule public hearing for short‑term rental conditional‑use permit fees (Planning Board proposal). Motion carried.

The selectmen closed the meeting after routine committee reports and public comment. Staff said it will post meeting minutes, update the town web pages with changes to the hazardous‑waste schedule and publish details about sidewalk and paving timelines.

Ending — The board’s next regular meeting was noted on the agenda; several items the board discussed will return for follow‑up, including the insurance documentation for the mailboat application, the Lakes Region hazardous‑waste buy‑in agreement and the Libby Museum engineering deliverable.