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Selectmen approve grants, permits and rate changes; sample ballot to be printed
Summary
At its Feb. 19 meeting the Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen approved an aquatic-plant control grant for the town milfoil committee, issued an alcohol-permit and several landing and bulk-vote items, adopted a 2% water and 7% sewer rate increase and authorized distribution of the sample ballot ahead of March voting.
Wolfeboro — The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen on Feb. 19 approved a cluster of routine and policy items, including acceptance of a state grant for milfoil removal, the issuance of an alcohol permit for a nonprofit event, a commercial landing permit, the town’s weekly manifests and a water-and-sewer rate increase tied to a consultant recommendation. The board also decided to distribute the town’s sample ballot through local print channels and post an online voters guide.
Why it matters: The roll of administrative approvals and rate changes affects town operations, short-term project budgets and what voters will see in their March billing and on the election materials they receive.
What the board approved
- Acceptance of an unanticipated grant of up to $8,550 from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to the Wolfeboro Milfoil Committee for 2025 exotic aquatic plant control. The motion, which referenced state RSA language in the public hearing notice, was amended to authorize Town Manager Jim Penaio to sign the grant documents and carried with no recorded opposition.
- An alcohol-beverage permit for the Lakes Region Curling Association for an end-of-season ceremony March 30 at Abenaki Ski Lodge, 390 Pine Hill Road. The applicant’s insurance was filed with the town’s Parks & Rec office before the vote; the permit was approved unanimously.
- A commercial vessel landing permit for a program called Big Sandy 2 (a recurring camp usage) was approved. The board discussed how landings are counted and noted a prior overpayment; the permit was approved with no recorded opposition.
- A bulk-vote package, including the weekly manifest dated Feb. 14 totaling $264,801.06 and three other routine items (property tax abatement/refund and a timber-related item), was approved.
- Water and sewer rate changes proposed by consultant Underwood were approved: a 2% increase to the water rate and a 7% increase to the sewer rate, with the town’s staff programming the new rates to appear on March 1 bills (billing effective March; billed in April). The board recorded the new unit rates as $12.44 for water and $20.37 for sewer as presented. Members asked for additional analyses on coverage and long-term capital funding but approved the rate motion at the meeting.
- The board authorized staff to print and distribute the sample ballot in local print circulation and to put a voters guide on the town website. Staff said presses could be scheduled as soon as the board gave final approval.
Votes at a glance (motion text condensed from minutes): • Accept acceptance of unanticipated funds (NH DES aquatic plant control grant) up to $8,550; authorize Town Manager Jim Penaio to sign — Outcome: approved (motion amended to add signer). • Issue alcohol-beverage permit to Lakes Region Curling Association for 03/30/2025 at Abenaki Ski Lodge — Outcome: approved. • Approve commercial vessel landing permit for Big Sandy 2 (camp landings) — Outcome: approved. • Approve weekly manifest dated 02/14/2025, total $264,801.06, and related bulk items — Outcome: approved. • Accept water rate increase of 2% and sewer rate increase of 7%, to be effective on the March billing cycle (new rates cited in the presentation: water $12.44; sewer $20.37) — Outcome: approved. • Insert sample ballot into the Granite State News print run and publish a voters guide online — Outcome: approved.
What wasn’t decided: Several operational details and requests for follow-up analyses were left to staff: (1) a detailed budget-projection model Underwood quoted for a fee, (2) a breakdown of capital-versus-operational funding for enterprise funds, and (3) additional public-facing documentation on fund-balance policy (see separate article on the fund-balance discussion).
Meeting context: All votes above were formal motions recorded during the public meeting; in most cases the board recorded unanimous “ayes” with no roll-call tallies recorded in the meeting minutes. No ordinance or long-form policy change was enacted; the approvals were primarily permit, grant acceptance and rate-authority actions.
Ending: Staff will post the sample ballot and the voters guide materials online and proceed with contract administration for the grant and permits after required signatures and documentation are completed.
