Belmont Master Plan

Community Facilities Subcommittee Minutes

September 19, 2001

Present: Michael Cozort, Doralyn Harper, Frankie Pugh, and David Morse

Excused: Kevin Nugent, Jr., Norma Patten

This was the first meeting of this subcommittee. Opening discussions were identifying Belmont's facilities that would be part of the subcommittee's involvement. Two groups of facilities were compiled. The first were clearly apparent as facilities for the subcommittee to review. The list is as follows:

Highway Department- Town Garage Municipal- Town Hall Fire Department- Belmont and Winnisquam Fire Stations Police Department- Belmont Police Station Library- Belmont Public Library Education- Belmont Elementary, Belmont Middle School, Belmont High School and the Gale Building Community- Belknap Mill and Corner Meeting House Solid Waste - Closed Landfill and Future Recycling Center

A second list of community properties was discussed but the subcommittee was left uncertain as to their involvement because the properties were either being addressed by other subcommittees or were non-municipal. The committee decided it would seek advisement from Candace Daigle and the Master Plan Steering Committee before including them with the above list. The list is as follows:

Leslie E. Roberts Beach                                                Town Forest

Town Park in village district                                           Town owned Property‑ Land "`

Churches, Daycare and other non‑municipal community facilities

The committee then established October 11th, 2001 to take the day to tour each of the facilities along with their respected managers/operators. The committee members will meet at 8:30am at the Belknap Mill parking lot to arrange group travel most likely starting with the town garage with group lunch at 11:30 at the Mill. Doralyn Harper is instrumental to making the appropriate arrangements for this full day's activity.

When touring each of the facilities, we will note current accommodations and request to be described current and future potential deficiencies. A question as to "what would you see the needs of the facilities be in five years?" might be typically asked throughout. Further, it will be the place of the committee to gather from each of the facility operators a list of current and future equipment lists.

As part of the discussion of the current and future needs of each of the towns facilities, the future growth of the town and associated usage of each facility became apparent. We shared concerns of the impact of a new subdivision would have on current facilities. The committee discussed current school enrollment increases. We also thought a review of new housing permits approved and existing subdivision plans were important to gather. We also highlighted census report figures recently released. It became obvious that the committee will have to spend time in the land use office to compile this information. When it comes to fire, police and education, each of those departments will be important to gather their respected figures on number of calls or students by grade to understand growth problems and concerns.

Some discussion occurred regarding community surveys. It was the initial census of the members that they would not be a large factor to this subcommittee due to lack of participation by the community in the past.

Respectfully submitted,

David F. Morse, Subcommittee Transcriber