Recently in Meredith Category
This is the weekly update sent out to subscribers from the Town of Meredith. Granted, it is from the desk of the Town Manager, but let’s face it folks, we have a de facto Town Manager in our very own Town Administrator. Or so it would seem, as he acts on his on accord for many different issues, agendas and even ordinances. Why, then, would it be asking too much for an informative weekly update that highlights the many goings on in our town, without forcing citizens to search the town webpage? The town calendar is not all inclusive, nor is it enough to decipher any real information. How ‘bout it folks? Let’s ask our town for more!
Town Manager’s Weekly Message
Keeping you informed about what’s happening in the Town of Meredith
This message is updated each Friday to keep residents informed about town issues and activities.
September 23, 2009
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MEREDITH:
Infrastructure Improvements Project Construction Notice
Sewer repair and road improvement work on Main Street between Waukewan St. and Lake St. began on August 31st. Trench paving is now taking place. Weather permitting, work may be completed by October 2nd however, that date is subject to change.
The roadway will be open to local traffic only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; however access to sidewalks will be maintained. Traffic coming from the center of town will be diverted to Lake St. onto Route 3. Traffic coming toward the center of town from the intersection of Waukewan and Main St. will be diverted onto Mill St. then to Route 3. Although every effort will be made to maintain water and sewer service, temporary interruption of service could occur. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING WILL BE PERMITTED ON MAIN ST. FROM THE HUMISTON SCHOOL BUILDING TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
For more information contact Jerry Cedrone, Resident Engineer, KV Partners, LLC at 496-1282 or the Town of Meredith Water & Sewer Department at 279-3046. You can also click the links below to view the full construction notice and work detour map.
- H1N1 SWINE FLU INFORMATION –
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
We like this editorial by the Meredith News and here’s why. Finally, local representatives that actually keep the very people that they represent informed, without making them spend countless hours researching the happenings in Concord. It’s too bad that this is not happening in our town of Moultonboro. We would like the same here, as well as in Tuftenboro and Wolfeboro that are represented by our own Betsey Patten. We would like to encourage her to do the same for the good folks that elected her.
Fall may not officially be here for a couple more weeks, but with schools starting this week and Labor Day weekend right in front of us, it’s about time to say goodbye to summer. As cooler weather approaches, so will the return of news from the State House, courtesy of our local state representatives. What we’ve seen in the past year from reps like Kate Miller in Meredith, Bill Johnson in Gilford and Belmont, and Liz Merry in Sanbornton is not only willingness, but an eagerness to provide constituents with the lowdown on House debates and votes through their local newspapers. Before the summer break, Johnson had been regularly submitting capsules of pertinent information regarding what he saw happening in the House of Representatives. This has accomplished a couple of things: first, it has made state news more accessible, particularly because Johnson writes in layman’s terms and with a bit of color, so readers aren’t wading through the typical political jargon. Second, Johnson gives us insight into the whys and hows of the House voting process, candidly noting the reasons behind his decisions while acknowledging the other point of view as well. For Meredith, Miller has regularly submitted letters to the editor to keep her constituents informed. Although her district doesn’t cover Moultonboro, Sandwich or Center Harbor, what Miller has to say is pertinent to all of our Meredith News readers. Like Johnson, she provides updates of the goings on in the House and continuously invite conversation from her constituents. Merry has done the same for Tilton and Sanbornton with her letters and updates. At Salmon Press, we’re grateful that our towns’ representatives are readily providing vital statewide information to our readers, because while we pride ourselves on bringing readers news at the most local level, we also recognize the importance of knowing what’s happening at the state level, that the impact of House and Senate votes are often widely felt by the residents of our towns. The downside to being a truly local, weekly paper is that we don’t have the resources to report on state affairs ourselves – we’re busy attending local board meetings – and have to rely on outside sources to gather that information. Until this past year, our papers didn’t have a single state representative from any of the districts we cover actively sending us news we can use. Now, true to their campaign word, reps like Miller, Johnson and Merry are channeling such vital information through us. We hope their updates continue in the coming year, and that you appreciate reading them as much as we do.
By
eplummer@citizen.com
The Citizen February 3, 2009
Cooperation between departments and town administration is credited with keeping Meredith's budget low this year, officials say.
On Monday, a public hearing was held for Meredith's proposed 2009 budget. This year's total budget request is $12,679,816.97, a decrease of $250,420.03……
“My concern is for the owner and all the employees and the managers and everyone I know. It's very unfortunate when something like that happens." Peter Brothers, Chair, Meredith Board of Selectmen
By JOHN KOZIOL
jkoziol@citizen.com
The Citizen Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Citing the poor economy and increased local competition, the Avedisian family has decided to close the
The store's 45 full- and part-time employees were informed of the decision last Friday and on Monday Jackson's Star began an inventory-reduction sale that will last until the inventory is gone, after which the doors will be closed for good, said Suren Avedisian.....
"You have to have a meeting. You have to have a discussion and vote on it. I don't think it was ignorance on any of their parts." Hooksett Town Councilor Pat Rueppel on the illegal contract signing of former Meredith Town Manager Carol Granfield.
By LAUREN SAUSSER
Union Leader Correspondent
HOOKSETT – Town Councilor Pat Rueppel is calling for the resignation of five fellow council members who signed an employment contract outside of an official meeting."There are seasoned councilors who signed it. They knew better," Rueppel said. "You have to have a meeting. You have to have a discussion and vote on it. I don't think it was ignorance on any of their parts."Council Chairman Dave Dickson has said he was wrong to solicit signatures for the interim town administrator's contract, telling critics at a recent meeting, "I appreciate your comments. Lesson learned."Dickson initially defended his decision, saying he was acting in good faith and that he was trying to wrap up loose ends during the busy holiday season.
Only five signatures were needed to activate the contract, which was awarded to former Meredith Town Manager Carol Granfield. The contract sets Granfield's hourly rate at......
By
eplummer@citizen.com
The Citizen Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The proposed town manager's budget for Meredith reflects a decrease of less than one percent as the budget was presented to the Board of Selectmen for the first time.
On Monday, Meredith selectmen reviewed the proposed budget compiled by co-interim town managers John Edgar and Brenda Vittner in the first of what will be a series of budget discussions by the selectmen leading up to town meeting.
The 2009 proposed municipal budget is $12,859,355, a decrease of $7,556 or 0.06 percent from 2008.
The departments' operating budget is $10,880,945, an $86,647 or 0.8 percent increase from 2008. Regional association and conservation contributions are $223,077, down $2,100 from 2008. Capital projects, debt service and CIP recommendations are $1,793,649, down $92,113.
Edgar and Vittner said during their presentation that highlights of the 2009 budget included fiscal restraint after selectmen gave direction in July that the budget should not have an increase of more than two percent from last year.
The amount also includes a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5 percent, but merit step increases will be frozen for 2009…..
December 11, 2008
SARAH SCHMIDT
MEREDITH — Formal proceeding to unionize two town departments began earlier this year, but the question of who can join in is yet undecided. Last week, the
who might be considered to have supervisory powers in the unit. The employees who may join a union include 27 members of the Public Works Department, including Assistant Director Al Bolduc, and five of the six employees at the Water and Sewer Department. “The petition is filed, and the discussion right now before the PERLB is about the “community of interest,”” said Jay Ward, SEIU political organizer, speaking on behalf of the association. “The employees are contending that Public Works and Water and Sewer are a community of interest.” Ward confirmed that Bob Hill, a Water and Sewer employee, was one of the first to bring forth the idea of organizing the town’s employees into a bargaining unit. After 17 years as superintendent of the Water andSewer Department, Hill was demoted to the position of operational manager in January, in the wake of the water shortages and treatment plant malfunctions in the summer of 2007. Hill declined any comment, and is currently on paid administrative leave, according to Interim Town Manager Brenda Vittner, who said a “personnel issue” had spurred the action. Town attorney Mark Broth and SEIU official Jeffrey Brown cross-examined several town employees, focusing on the “community of interest” between the Public Works and Water and Sewer Departments. From the testimony the employees gave, the PERLB will have to decide of certain people are ineligible to join the union because of supervisory duties over fellow union members, and if the community of interest between the two departments is strong enough for the employees to form a combined collective bargaining unit. Along with Hill, Public Works Director Mike Faller was subpoenaed to answer questions at last week’s hearing. Faller said that he spoke to the interaction between the two departments, directed by the Capital Improvements Committee, in order to keep things efficient. Faller also testified that in 2007, then-Town Manager Carol Granfield had requested that he set up an organizational plan to merge the Public Works and Water and Sewer Departments, in the wake of the aforementioned
2007 problems at the water treatment plant. “I put together a plan, but I don’t know what became of it,” said Faller, who said that the plan was dropped as Granfield resigned and the town hired on a new Water and Sewer Department Superintendent, Brian Carroll. Neither Broth nor Brown could not be reached for comment. The PERLB will have 90 days to make a decision on the composition of the collective bargaining unit.Once they make their decision whether or not the Water and Sewer Department employees are kept in the unit, the unit will go straight into negotiations with the Public Works Department. “Mostly, it’s to have more of a say on the job,” said Ward. “It’s all about the voice in the workplace. They have some great ideas, and they want to be part of the futureof Meredith.”
Laconia Daily Sun August 28th, 2008
Letter to the Editor
This letter is in response to the topic of videotaping the Inter-Lakes School Board meetings, most recently addressed at the school board meeting of August 26 and the Laconia Daily Sun article dated August 27. A simple issue of videotaping the public sessions of school board meetings has turned complicated, now resulting in a proposed public vote on a warrant article in February. What has happened here? The reason the issue has dragged on for months is the board's ability to find fault with every suggestion that is put forth—be it cost, technology, audio quality, inconvenience, unknown viewership, or any number of reasons.
Technology is not the issue. Lack of Cable in
Video is no different than other media outlets (printed minutes, articles in local papers). Capturing a video of the meetings is easy. Ask any parent who brings their camera to a school play or band concert. Quality of the video is not the main concern. This is not Hollywood, The ability to capture information for later viewing is the important point. Cost of distribution via cable TV is being cited as a roadblock. Distribution of the video could be done in a variety of free or inexpensive ways. Free internet video services are available through YouTube. DVDs can be made inexpensively and given to each town office and town library.
The main issue is many parents simply cannot attend the meetings due to busy family schedules, or travel expenses from
I commend some of the board members for suggesting to do a mock video session at the Community Center. Unfortunately this was shot down without further discussion.
Video in general is not the issue — Meredith videos all selectmen meetings — a public forum that deserves public access is the issue. The school board should welcome video as another outreach to citizens who are highly interested in education and the school board topics, but simply cannot attend meetings. If selectmen meetings are made available to those that cannot attend, why shouldn't the school board meetings be made available?
Videotaping school board meetings is not a radical concept. The Town of
The Town of Pelham is exercising its rights under N.H. RSA Chapter 91-A. the NH "Right-to-Know" Law, under the topic: "'What rights do individuals and the media have?", which states, "Any person may record, film or videotape a public meeting so long as it is done in a manner that does not disrupt the meeting."
One reason for this letter stems from the school board meeting format in which the public input sessions are at fixed points in the meeting structure. It is impossible for the public to revisit a topic that is discussed after the public input sessions. After the Board unanimously voted to put the video question before the voters in a warrant article, there was no way for me to speak out because there were no more public input sessions on the schedule. The meeting format has been confusing to a number of residents, and perhaps deserves attention at a later date.
Lisa Merrill
Meredith
Inter-Lakes officials are mulling over the costs and logistics of recording and airing school board meetings.
The board discussed different ideas for airing meetings with District Technology Director Allan Hale during Tuesday's meeting. The taping of meetings has been an ongoing issue as some residents have requested meetings be aired.
The district has spoken with Lakes Region Public Access and the Laconia School District as part of a preliminary look at the logistics of recording meetings as well as contacting various media companies about airing meetings online.Hale said the district would have to contract with a media server company in order to stream video online. The district server does not have enough bandwidth to support streaming video and multiple viewings could paralyze the website....
To add an idea to the growing list of ideas for Moultonboro sponsored by the MCA please click HERE
MCA
Source: http://www.meredithnh.org/
Meredith Ideas
THE TOWN MANAGER FACILITATED A BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON JULY 15, 2008 THAT GENERATED 48 IDEAS. THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF ITEMS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE STATUS. FOR ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT TOWN MANAGER, CAROL GRANFIELD, AT 677-4205
MEREDITH IDEAS
1. WINDMILL AT WATER DEPARTMENT SITE COULD PROVIDE ENERGY
FOR TOWN BUILDINGS/TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
2. PURCHASE A HARVESTER (COST $10,000) TO DISPOSE OF MILFOIL AT
USE OUR LAKES DUE TO MILFOIL).
3. PAINT WHITE LANE LINE AT RT. 25/SCENIC PARK FOR SAFETY (THIS
WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED AND HAS JUST BEEN PAINTED).
4. HAVE A BIKE PATH ALONG
VILLAGE PATHWAY COMMITTEE AND DPW).
(COULD POSSIBLY PAINT - REFER TO DPW).
6. CONTINUE SIDEWALK FROM BARNARD RIGHT DOWN MEREDITH
NECK ROAD (REFER TO DPW TO EXPLORE).
