What is the Select Board planning to accomplish in 2025?

At their April 16 meeting, the Select Board publicly read its ambitious 2025 Annual Work Plan. Below, you will see what they decided to do (taken from the meeting minutes).

As of May 16, the public has not yet been updated with deadlines for these goals or about how they are being prioritized.

I. Discussion: Select Board Work Plan (edited slightly for clarity)

Mr. O’Brien: The work plan was developed in December 2024 and reviewed in January.

Mr. Pineo commented that there is a lot in the work plan.

Mr. O'Brien: Without a work plan, you don't have a rudder. You don't know where you are going, and you are interrupt-driven. The work plan is a rudder to guide the work.

1) Review town fees and the yearly timeline for review. Review fee structures for Enterprise Funds; surpluses to be used for future investments.

2) Establish a database for all licenses/lease agreements; review the timeline for renewal; examine and renew external leases at market-based rates.

3) Work sessions on how to support Wolfeboro Community TV.

4) Update the town’s financial policies to improve operating metrics and improve its financial and budget reporting to the public.

5) Work with Heritage Commission to address Libby Museum building issues.

6) Review and publish water/sewer capacity data, obtain the required information, and ensure that the data delineates town-wide capacities.

7) Emphasize water quality issues with all projects; review the Wolfeboro Bay Watershed Management Plan; move forward with plan recommendations.

8) Address chronic losses at Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center; set a plan to return it to levels promoted by the Select Board to voters at the 2022 deliberative session. (Link to 2022 deliberative session, discussion starts at 8:48)

9) Continue to educate the public on the Route 28 NHDOT project.

10) Address ambulance services

Mr O'Brien: This list should rise to the top to convince voters we are at work and can help avoid another default budget.

Mrs. Murray: States that the ambulance service is being addressed, and a lot of time has been spent on educating the public on route 28; Water quality issues addressed and taken on by Wolfeboro Waters – and reviewing watershed management plan. Wolfeboro Waters working on plan’s first area: Pleasant Valley Rd. to Abenaki Estates community on Route 28 to address drainage. SB keeping a close eye on Pop Whalen Ice/Arts Center; looked at sewer rates. Other items still need to be addressed.

Mr. Deshaies: To-do list should be prioritized; dates/times deadlines should be established or shown as ongoing to be updated occasionally.

Mr. Senecal: Suggest board members prioritize and come back for discussion. Consider target dates.

Mr. Thurston: Reviewing fees is vital, along with leases/licenses. If businesses are doing well, the town needs to do a better job of generating revenue. A facilities manager position should be developed to review projects. The library drainage job was terrible. Police/fire drainage may not be very good; Buildings fall into disrepair unchecked. Piling onto Steve Randall (The Director of the Department of Public Works) is not the way. Calls for as-built plans from the planning board; people should oversee stormwater projects. Conditions set by the planning board are unchecked. There is no follow-through.

Link to Meeting Video (this discussion starts at 2:00:25)

Link to Full Meeting Minutes