Meeting report · Selectboard
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Selectboard — May 18, 2026
The meeting featured significant public commentary and debate regarding the burden of new fees and permitting requirements, though it remained civil.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Modernization of Recreation, Alcohol, Vending, and Grilling Ordinances
Establishes new permitting frameworks and potential application fees for use of public land and activities. Affected: All residents using town parks, beaches, and public facilities, as well as local businesses/vendors.
fee change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of May 4th meeting minutes.
Motion made and seconded by a speaker; all in favor.
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
Motion to approve the grilling ordinance as amended, specifically maintaining the requirement for a permit/reservation at a threshold of 25 people and fixing spelling errors.
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
Motion to adopt the Class VI road policy as presented.
Approved
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:01 Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
The board reviewed and moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on May 4th.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 00:43 Consent Agenda Review
Review of the consent agenda including solar exemptions for Burma Road, facility uses for various summer events, check manifests totaling $1,242,543.51, and 18 approved land use permits.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 02:51 Public Hearing: Recreation Ordinance Amendments
Discussion on modernizing the recreation ordinance to resolve conflicts between sections, clarify use of public land for non-profit vs. for-profit activities, and define recreational areas and permitting.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 22:12 Public Hearing: Alcohol Control Ordinance Amendments
Review of proposed updates to regulate alcohol possession and consumption on town property, including clarification of permitting requirements and compliance with NH Liquor Commission regulations.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 30:54 Public Hearing: Vending Ordinance Amendments
Discussion on modernizing vending regulations to create a clear permitting framework for both for-profit and non-profit vendors on town property.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 40:50 Public Hearing: Grilling Ordinance Amendments
Review of a new comprehensive framework for safe grilling on town property, covering town-provided grills and permitting for personal propane or charcoal grills.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 88:17 Class VI Road Policy
Discussion regarding a new policy for Class VI roads following state legislative changes (RSA 633) effective July 1st. The policy aims to allow the town to review and provide standards for road upgrades and drainage to protect town-owned property and prevent damage to downstream town roads.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 108:00 Trust Fund Management Update
Trustees provided a status update on the town's 53 trust funds, totaling approximately $4.28 million. They reported a transition of investment management services from TD Wealth Management to Bar Harbor Wealth Management following a competitive solicitation process to secure lower fees and better reporting.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Grilling Ordinance Amendments
Residents expressed significant pushback regarding the necessity and perceived unfairness of requiring permits/fees for small, personal gatherings using personal grills on public property.
Board position: The board maintained a permitting requirement to manage space and prevent conflicts, though they debated the threshold for when a permit is required.
high concern
02
Alcohol Control Ordinance Amendments
Concerns were raised regarding the 20-day lead time for permits and the ability to obtain seasonal permits for businesses. A community member specifically requested a three-month trial period, which was denied.
Board position: The board approved the ordinance as written, prioritizing administrative review time over a trial period.
medium concern
03
Class VI Road Policy
Relates to the town's ability to review and provide standards for road upgrades following state legislative changes (RSA 633) to prevent damage to town-owned property.
Board position: The board moved to adopt the policy to protect town infrastructure.
low concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Identify and designate specific safe/flat locations for permitted grilling at various town properties (e.g., Dewey Beach, Veterans Field) and create signage/flyers.
Assigned: Town Staff / Recreation Department
Refine the 'group size' number for the grilling ordinance (discussed moving from 10 to 15 or 18) and determine final permit fee structures.
Assigned: Selectboard / Town Staff
Review and potentially remove outdated swimming prohibitions from the town website based on DES guidance and court cases.
Assigned: Town Staff
Fix spelling errors in the approved grilling ordinance.
Assigned: Town Staff / a speaker
Notable statements
The biggest change [to the Recreation Ordinance] is the ability for the select board to have a decision over how the REC properties are used. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining the shift in governance authority within the proposed ordinance. ▶ 14:09
Does it help if you change the word permit to reservation? ... permit sounds dirty sometimes. — Unidentified speaker · Suggesting more user-friendly terminology for town facility use to avoid the negative connotation of 'permits' and 'fees'. ▶ 71:00
The fee is for the application, not for the use of the property itself. — Unidentified speaker · Clarifying the distinction to address concerns about charging residents to use public land. ▶ 59:01
The planning board would not be involved in a single family home. ... The change of that RSA truly took the planning board out of it. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining why the Select Board, rather than the Planning Board, is the appropriate body for reviewing Class VI road policies under the new state statute. ▶ 100:10
Member positions
8 issues · 0 explicit · 8 inferred
Suzanne Gottling
Present
Chair
Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
YES
~
Approved
Consent Agenda Review
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Recreational Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Permit
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Vending Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
YES
~
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
YES
~
Approved
Jeremy Hathorn
Present
Vice Chair
Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
YES
~
Approved
Consent Agenda Review
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Recreational Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Permit
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Vending Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
YES
~
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
YES
~
Approved
Present
Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
YES
~
Approved
Consent Agenda Review
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Recreational Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Permit
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Vending Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
YES
~
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
YES
~
Approved
Present
Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
YES
~
Approved
Consent Agenda Review
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Recreational Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Permit
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Vending Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
YES
~
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
YES
~
Approved
Present
Approval of May 4th Meeting Minutes
YES
~
Approved
Consent Agenda Review
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Recreational Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Alcohol Permit
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Vending Ordinance
YES
~
Approved
Approval of the Grilling Ordinance (Amended)
YES
~
Approved
Adoption of Class VI Road Policy
YES
~
Approved
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
20
Total speakers
14
Addressed
4
Partial
2
Not addressed
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Addressed
The speaker asked for clarification regarding the nature of the proposed amendments. They specifically inquired whether the board was amending existing ordinances or proposing entirely new ones.
Key concern
Clarification on whether ordinances were being amended or newly proposed.
Board responseSpeaker a speaker clarified that these are all existing ordinances being amended or rewritten.
The board provided a direct answer explaining the status of the ordinances.
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Addressed
The speaker requested a walkthrough of the specific changes within the documents. They noted that the provided versions did not explicitly highlight the differences from the previous versions.
Key concern
Lack of visibility into specific changes/redlines in the proposed ordinances.
Board responseSpeaker a speaker explained that while not a redline, there is a slideshow with key bullet points to assist.
The board explained how the changes would be presented to the public.
Doug Hemsby
Addressed
As a sewer commissioner, the speaker inquired about the swimming restrictions in Section 8. They expressed concern that swimming might be prohibited in areas near the water intake.
Key concern
Potential conflict between the ordinance and water intake safety/swimming regulations.
Board responseStaff explained that court cases and new DES guidance have broadened swimming rights, but the ordinance maintains restrictions near the boat launch for safety.
The board and staff provided a detailed historical and regulatory explanation regarding the swimming zone.
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Addressed
The speaker asked for clarification on the timeframe required for submitting alcohol permit applications. They wanted to know if 20 days was a reasonable window.
Key concern
The reasonableness of the 20-day advance submission requirement for alcohol permits.
Board responseSpeaker a speaker stated it is a fair timeframe to allow the board time to meet and review.
The board directly addressed the question regarding the timeframe.
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Addressed
The speaker asked if for-profit activities would be permitted under the new ordinance structure as currently presented.
Key concern
The purview of the select board regarding for-profit activity permissions.
Board responseSpeaker a speaker explained the relationship between the recreation ordinance and the vending ordinance.
The board explained how the different ordinances interact to govern permitting.
Peter Fenton
Addressed
The speaker expressed gratitude to the committee for the hard work involved in modernizing the ordinances. They acknowledged that the task was a significant undertaking.
Key concern
Expressing appreciation for the work done.
Board responseThe board acknowledged the comments during the meeting process.
The speaker was making a supportive comment rather than a request or concern, which the board acknowledged.
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Addressed
The speaker asked if the ordinance limits the distinction between profit and non-profit entities.
Key concern
Whether the ordinance treats for-profit and non-profit entities differently.
Board responseStaff clarified that the ordinance does not prohibit for-profit entities, though non-profits may receive certain fee waivers.
The board/staff provided a clear answer on how the ordinance treats different entities.
Speaker SPEAKER_10
Addressed
The speaker inquired if the new ordinance would allow for continuous seasonal permits, such as for a business to serve alcohol across a bridge throughout a season.
Key concern
The ability to obtain long-term or seasonal permits rather than weekly applications.
Board responseStaff confirmed that the board can issue permits for specific timeframes, such as Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The board/staff confirmed that seasonal parameters are possible.
Speaker SPEAKER_08
Not addressed
The speaker recommended that the board approve a three-month trial for the alcohol permitting process.
Key concern
Implementing a trial period for the new alcohol ordinance.
Board responseThe board did not adopt a trial period but proceeded to vote on the ordinance as presented.
The board acknowledged the discussion but ultimately moved to approve the ordinance without the requested trial period.
Peter Fenton
Partial
The speaker suggested changing the terminology from 'permit' to 'reservation' to make it sound more user-friendly and less negative.
Key concern
The negative connotation of the word 'permit' for residents.
Board responseThe board members discussed the suggestion and agreed it was a good idea, though they did not change the ordinance language in the immediate vote.
The suggestion was heard and discussed favorably by the board, but the actual text was not changed during this specific meeting.
Speaker SPEAKER_10
Addressed
The speaker asked if the vending ordinance includes existing brick-and-mortar shops in the harbor or if it only applies to mobile vendors like food trucks.
Key concern
The scope/definition of 'vending' and whether it affects established shops.
Board responseSpeaker a speaker clarified that the ordinance applies to vending activities on town property.
The board clarified that the ordinance is specific to town-owned property.
Speaker SPEAKER_18
Addressed
The speaker asked if food trucks would be required to undergo fire department inspections under the new regulations.
Key concern
Ensuring food trucks are inspected for safety.
Board responseStaff explained that inspections would be integrated into the 'use of facilities' permit process.
The board/staff confirmed that inspections are part of the existing permitting workflow.
Speaker SPEAKER_10
Addressed
The speaker asked if the ordinance would allow individuals to walk between businesses (e.g., a taco place and a brewery) with an open beverage.
Key concern
Clarification on whether specific paths or seasonal permits allow for moving between establishments with alcohol.
Board responseStaff explained that this would be possible provided the select board issues the appropriate permit to the establishment.
The board/staff provided a conditional 'yes' based on the permitting process.
Speaker SPEAKER_18
Partial
The speaker expressed concern that requiring a permit just to use a personal grill for a small gathering felt unnecessary and 'wrong.'
Key concern
The burden of permitting for small, personal grilling activities.
Board responseThe board discussed the intent of the ordinance (managing space and conflicts) and debated the number of people that should trigger a permit.
The board engaged in a long discussion about the number of people and the necessity of the fee, eventually deciding to keep the number at 25 for the current vote.
Speaker SPEAKER_10
Addressed
The speaker expressed confusion regarding the intersection of the grilling ordinance and the general use of town property (e.g., a birthday party at a beach).
Key concern
Clarification on whether a permit is required for a gathering if no grilling is taking place.
Board responseStaff clarified that if no grilling is occurring, the grilling ordinance does not apply and no permit is needed for the party itself.
The board/staff clarified the specific scope of the ordinance to resolve the confusion.
Speaker SPEAKER_18
Partial
The speaker suggested that instead of a permit, the town could use a simple notification system or signage to inform people of where/how to use grills.
Key concern
Simplifying the process via notification rather than formal permitting.
Board responseThe board discussed the potential for signage and the difficulty of implementing a non-permit system for managing space conflicts.
The idea was discussed as a potential future improvement/tool, but the current permitting structure was maintained.
Speaker SPEAKER_01
Addressed
The speaker agreed with previous comments that the term 'reservation' is better than 'permit' and warned against 'fee fatigue' for residents.
Key concern
The negative impact of excessive fees and the importance of user-friendly language.
Board responseThe board/staff discussed the distinction between a 'property use fee' and an 'application processing fee.'
The board addressed the philosophical concern regarding fees and the terminology suggestion.
Tracy
Partial
The speaker suggested that the permit requirement should only apply to those bringing their own personal gas grills, rather than using town-provided grills.
Key concern
Limiting permit requirements to personal equipment to avoid taxing residents using public amenities.
Board responseThe board/staff discussed this as a way to separate 'reserving a spot' from 'bringing equipment.'
The board debated this logic extensively, but the final decision was to keep the number threshold for the current vote.
Speaker SPEAKER_18
Addressed
The speaker questioned if the permit requirement for grills would apply to even small groups and noted the potential for conflict if multiple groups want the same spot.
Key concern
The practicality of enforcement and the potential for disputes between users.
Board responseStaff explained that the permit/reservation system is intended to prevent such 'ugly' conflicts and provide an orderly process.
The board explained the administrative purpose of the ordinance in light of the speaker's concern.
Speaker SPEAKER_10
Addressed
The speaker asked for clarification on whether the ordinance requires a permit if no grilling is involved in a gathering.
Key concern
Clarifying the scope of the grilling ordinance.
Board responseStaff confirmed that if there is no grilling, the grilling ordinance does not apply.
The board provided a direct clarification.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-05-30.