Bristol plans $300,000 town match and $700,000 erosion proposal for beach grant; restrooms to be funded regardless

During the Jan. 29 meeting the Select Board reviewed the Parks Department budget and discussed a proposed grant application to fund beach restrooms and erosion control.

Board members described a preliminary budget split of $300,000 in town funds for a new bathhouse/restrooms and $700,000 for erosion‑control work, a combined $1,000,000 project that would rely on a matching grant. The board noted the grant program operates on a fiscal‑year cycle; if awarded the town expects notification in late August or early September and would then move forward with final design and bidding.

A Parks speaker told the board that the restroom project will proceed regardless of grant outcome and that the town would fund the restroom out of capital reserves if necessary. On erosion control, the speaker emphasized the work is contingent on receiving the matching grant: “we're going to be doing [the restrooms] regardless — Grant or no Grant the restrooms we're going to be doing so we're going to fund it,” the speaker said.

Select Board members discussed the town's capital reserve balances and whether the erosion work could be afforded without grant assistance. One board member said they did not want to “push that hard on taxation” to cover large erosion costs, noting the town’s budget overall is down but taxation levels could rise if reserves are used.

The board asked staff to prepare a breakout of estimated town costs for the affected beach parcel and to include the proposed match amounts on the warrant so the grant application meets authorization requirements.