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Selectboard reviews draft budget; focuses on waterline, sidewalks, EV chargers and new short‑term rental fee
Summary
At a budget review meeting, the Selectboard discussed budgeting and financing for a planned lower Route 3 waterline replacement, sidewalk projects, EV chargers contingent on an 80% state grant, a sewer pump station upgrade covered largely by grant revenue, and a proposal to begin short‑term rental registration as an offsetting revenue source.
At a Selectboard budget review meeting, town officials reviewed draft numbers and highlighted several capital projects they say will be carried into next year’s capital plan.
The town plans to budget for a multi‑phase waterline replacement on lower Route 3 and to seek grants and low‑interest loans to reduce the town share. "We'd like to budget for the waterline replacement on lower Route 3. It takes, like, a year and a half to really get through this process," Michael, a staff member, said. He added that the town will apply for grants and loans over the next several months to defray costs and be ready to proceed in spring.
The Selectboard discussed sidewalks work in town, including a $40,000 segment to extend sidewalk from the stone bridge toward North Lincoln and further spot repairs. "You're going from the stone bridge up to North Lincoln as far as you can go for $40,000," a staff member said during the review.
Officials also discussed installing electric vehicle chargers in the downtown parking area. "There's a very good chance we're gonna get a grant that will cover 80% of it. If we don't get the grant, we wouldn't do it," Mike, a staff member, said, noting the town has budget capacity to cover the anticipated 20% local share. Staff described a likely parking location near Morris Street and said the town could collect fees for charging.
Sewer work was discussed alongside water planning. Town staff said a pump station upgrade has been in planning for several years and that the project includes offsetting grant revenue. "We're coming to the end of [the Northern Borders grant]," a staff member said, and staff said the town expects roughly $392,000 in offsetting revenue and would bring in $242,500 this year toward the project.
The Selectboard also proposed adding a short‑term rental registration line to the budget to generate offsetting revenue. The board discussed a modest annual registration fee and said the program would help the town identify properties and ensure basic safety items such as CO and smoke detectors; fee levels were described as not yet finalized.
Other budget items noted during the meeting included a proposal to pay a deposit to secure next year’s fireworks vendor (the draft includes a 50% deposit for the following year), and a reminder that the town will vote on the draft spreadsheet at a later public meeting. Town staff asked board members to review the draft in advance of the public hearing and the formal vote.
The board also approved corrections to the meeting minutes. A motion to accept the minutes as corrected passed by voice vote.
The Selectboard directed staff to continue applying for grants and to return with specific revenue offsets and project schedules at future meetings; formal approvals for bonding or contracts will come in subsequent votes.
