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Meredith planning reorganization: HR director to return with plan; short-term rental licensing continues
Summary
After a six-month pilot reorganization of Planning & Development with HR Director Chris Janosa overseeing operations, Janosa said he lacks the land-use expertise to be a permanent department head and will bring the Selectboard a plan; the town continues to process short-term rental applications, with 25 ZBA special exceptions filed to date.
The Selectboard heard an update June 22 on a pilot reorganization of the Planning & Development function and continuing work on short-term rental (STR) licensing.
HR Director Chris Janosa told the board the pilot reorganization, implemented Jan. 1, 2026, was intended as an interim approach. After six months he said he can manage personnel and administrative functions but does not have the land-use expertise needed for a permanent Planning & Development department head. Janosa said he and Town Manager Judie Milner will return with a plan to fill the planning role with someone fluent in land use and planning.
Janosa described a meeting with local business owners who raised concerns about the Conservation Commission and Fire Department involvement late in permit processes. The Town has since reminded the Conservation Commission it has 30 days from application receipt to provide comments to the ZBA and emphasized that requests to applicants should be vetted through Planning & Development staff. Manager Milner said the ZBA chair reported no further complaints after the follow-up discussions.
On short-term rentals, the senior planner continues to receive licensing applications weekly and the town has received 25 special-exception requests to the ZBA; the short-term rental committee will reconvene the week of June 22 to evaluate implementation and potential regulatory adjustments.
