Belmont board renews one-year public-access contract, appoints Heritage Commission alternate and approves tax-deed waivers

The Belmont Select Board voted to authorize the chair to sign a one-year municipal public access agreement, accepted a Heritage Commission recommendation to appoint Susan Rose as an alternate member, and approved tax-deed waivers for property owners participating in payment arrangements.

On the municipal public access contract, staff described declining cable franchise revenue derived from subscriber fees and presented the FY26–27 charge for the town as $11,260.98, calculated by a 50/50 equalized valuation/population ratio tied to 2022 estimates. Staff recommended renewing for one year and monitoring usage; the board moved, seconded and voted in favor of authorizing the chair to sign the one-year agreement, with the cost to be offset by cable franchise fees.

The board then moved to appoint Susan Rose as an alternate member of the Heritage Commission for a three-year term expiring March 31 (year stated in the transcript was unclear). The motion passed without opposition.

Assessing staff reported nine taxpayers submitted 11 abatement applications this year, with refunds totaling $2,558. Staff noted that last year—eatured more and larger abatements (about $52,000) driven in part by a large commercial case; they confirmed that abatements were signed and mailing that day. The board approved tax-deed waivers for about 10 property owners who were current on their payment arrangements, citing the value of allowing owners more time to remain current and avoid immediate tax-deed actions.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; motions were adopted after voice votes with no opposition recorded.