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Canterbury board approves permit-fee adjustment, grant match and veterans measures; special town meeting set for Jan. 21
Summary
The board approved a CPI-based building-permit fee increase, a $2,500 town match for a regional two-wheeled tourism grant, advanced a veterans' exemption ordinance to a Jan. 21 town meeting, adopted a surviving-spouse exemption resolution, and scheduled a special town meeting for Jan. 21, 2026.
At its Jan. 2 meeting the Canterbury Board of Selectmen approved several routine and policy-forwarding items.
Permit fees: The board approved the annual consumer-price-index adjustment to the building-permit fee schedule (3.1% for the Northeast CPI), raising the residential fee to $14.18 and the commercial fee to $19.22; the change takes effect after the meeting.
Grant match: The board approved submitting a regional two-wheeled tourism grant ("Ride Shambo") and committed a $2,500 town match toward a one-for-one grant that also includes Scotland and Planefield. Board members said the grant will fund signage, mapping and promotion of a historic two-wheeled route linking several towns and can be incorporated into upcoming 250th-anniversary events.
Veterans measures: The board voted to send a proposed ordinance creating a property-tax exemption for veterans determined by the VA to have service-connected total disability based on individual unemployability to a special town meeting (target Jan. 21) so the exemption can apply to the current grand list if approved. Separately, the board adopted a resolution to implement an exemption for surviving spouses of permanently and totally disabled veterans, while asking staff to verify that the surviving-spouse language aligns precisely with recent state legislation.
Town meeting: The board set a special town meeting for Jan. 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. at Canterbury Town Hall to consider the ordinance and related items.
Votes at a glance (voice approval unless noted): - Building-permit fee CPI adjustment: approved (voice). - "Ride Shambo" grant submission and $2,500 match: approved (voice). - Ordinance to town meeting (veterans exemption): approved to forward to special town meeting (voice). - Resolution adopting surviving-spouse exemption: adopted (voice). - Special town meeting scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026 at 7 p.m.: approved (voice).
Board members flagged minor drafting questions about the exact statutory language for the surviving-spouse exemption and instructed staff to confirm the language and amend if necessary after town meeting consideration.
