Select Board Addresses Short-Term Rental Permits, Power Reliability, and Infrastructure Projects

calendar Jan 7, 2026 · 7 min read · short-term rentals power reliability infrastructure budget waste management public safety

The Select Board convened on January 7, 2026, for a regular meeting, covering a wide range of topics including proposed changes to short-term rental regulations, an update on power reliability from the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, and ongoing discussions regarding town infrastructure and budget items.

Short-Term Rental Permit Process to Be Simplified

The Board discussed a proposed change to the town’s Short-Term Rental (STR) permit application process. Currently, permits are only required for properties rented for more than 30 days in a calendar year, leading to a complex system. The recommendation from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is to simplify this by requiring permits for all STRs, regardless of the rental duration. This change aims to enhance life safety and ensure all rental properties meet fire codes and other safety standards. Permits are valid for two years, and the Board plans to inform residents of the new requirement via upcoming utility bills, with a target implementation by the end of February (link).

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Discusses Power Reliability

Representatives from the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) provided an update on power reliability in Waterville Valley. The presentation highlighted the recent $3.1 million upgrade to the town’s substation, which became operational on December 17, 2025, replacing 40-year-old equipment (link).

The October 2025 outages, which caused significant disruptions, were attributed to a cable failure in the village area while the system was in an “abnormal configuration” due to the substation upgrade. This meant that protective devices were tied together, causing a wider outage than would typically occur. NHEC explained that while underground cable faults are harder to troubleshoot, the town’s system benefits from loop feeds for redundancy. The Board was informed that momentary power interruptions are often the system’s re-closing mechanism working as designed to clear temporary faults on overhead lines, particularly along the eight miles of line through the National Forest (link).

NHEC presented data showing an increase in “member minutes out” in 2025, largely due to the October outages. The cooperative expressed its commitment to improving reliability through ongoing equipment modernization, strategic capital projects, and the implementation of SCADA equipment for remote control of devices, aiming for a downward trend in outage minutes. Residents were reminded to report outages directly via phone or the SmartHub system, rather than social media, and to stay clear of downed power lines (link).

Budget Discussions for Outside Organizations

The Board reviewed budget requests from several outside organizations:

  • Historical Society: Requested $10,000 for operating costs, including office rent, archival materials, and software subscriptions. The Board also discussed formalizing the gifting of town historical materials to the society, with a provision for their return if the society becomes defunct (link).
  • Rey Center: Requested an annual stipend of $34,000. The Board considered absorbing recurring costs like liability insurance and utilities into the town budget, which could potentially reduce the stipend amount and streamline cash flow for the Rey Center (link).
  • WVAIA: A request for $10,000 was noted, but the Board is awaiting a formal accounting of how the funds would be used (link).
  • Community Power Committee: The Committee requested the Board’s support for a warrant article to fund a solar pilot project. The objectives include negotiating long-term, lower kilowatt-hour rates for residents, establishing a reserve fund from energy savings, and implementing a solar pilot in 2027. The program is voluntary, and the Committee aims to achieve greater energy independence and leverage in negotiations. The Board was asked to facilitate data sharing from NHEC to aid rate negotiations (link).

Transfer Station Placard System Under Review

The Board discussed transitioning from current transfer station decals to a placard system, which was the original intent. A proposed application process for placards was presented, aiming to streamline issuance and tracking. Discussion points included the potential for temporary placards for short-term renters or contractors, and the fee structure for multiple placards. A Board member expressed concerns about over-complicating the process and the potential for misuse of temporary placards. The Board decided to revisit the discussion at a future meeting to refine the system (link).

End of Year Financials Show Strong Fund Balance

The Town’s financial report for 2025 indicated a significant contribution to the fund balance, estimated at approximately $500,000. This was primarily attributed to staffing vacancies in the wastewater and administration departments, as well as unexpected FEMA disbursements. The total fund balance is projected to be around $1.2 million, which falls within the healthy range (7-15% of the operating budget) recommended by the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA). The Board discussed options for utilizing this fund balance, such as offsetting warrant articles or reducing the tax rate (link).

Updates on Major Infrastructure Projects

  • Snow’s Mountain and Boulder Path Road Projects: The wetland permit application for Snow’s Mountain Road has been submitted. The two projects are being combined into a single, larger project for efficiency. Due to anticipated ledge, additional geotechnical exploration (borings up to 15 feet deep) is recommended for Snow’s Mountain Road, with a budget of up to $25,000 from existing road funds. The goal is to obtain more accurate cost estimates by going out to bid before the Town Meeting in March (link).
  • Corcoran Pond Dredging and Landfill Remediation: The Board discussed a plan for the former town landfill remediation. This plan includes accurate mapping, 30 years of water monitoring, and an improved cap. A significant development is the potential to use dredged material from Corcoran Pond for the landfill cap, which could result in substantial cost savings. However, concerns were raised about the effectiveness of proposed sedimentation structures for Corcoran Pond during major storm events. The Board decided to convene a meeting with engineers and state officials to re-evaluate the dredging and sedimentation control options, including alternative locations for structures (link).
  • Valley Road Culvert: Work continues with FEMA and the state to secure funding for the Valley Road culvert project. No immediate failure is anticipated, allowing time for funding assistance to be pursued (link).

Wastewater Treatment Facility Progress

The Board approved a motion for $149,000 for value engineering services for the new wastewater treatment facility by Tie and Bond (link). A special meeting is scheduled for January 22nd to review presentations from legal, technical, and financial consultants regarding the EPA counter-proposal and various funding scenarios. These scenarios range from conservative (no grants beyond 20% loan forgiveness) to optimistic (30% grant forgiveness with USDA loans), evaluating the project’s impact on the town’s capital plan and operating budget (link).

Departmental Updates

  • Public Safety: The Chief reported that public safety officers are wearing commemorative badges for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The new ambulance is in service, and a soft opening for “The Loft” (a resort bar/gaming location) is expected. A multi-agency training session for schools is planned for February during vacation week.
  • Department of Public Works (DPW): DPW is managing winter road conditions with calcium chloride to combat ice. Trash collection has been challenging due to increased volume and unbroken-down cardboard. The Director received positive feedback on recent social media communications.
  • Water and Sewer: The Department is pursuing a no-match $60,000 grant to identify lead service line materials, addressing an unfunded federal mandate and aiming to resolve this issue for the town (link).
  • Recreation: December revenues were slightly down, attributed to successful Christmas market and good skiing conditions keeping people on the mountain.
  • Administration: The administrative staff is focused on closing out the 2025 financials and preparing the 2026 operating and capital budgets.

Miscellaneous Items

Concerns were raised by a Board member regarding a new, unapproved bus stop near Lost Pass and Valley Road, citing safety issues and a lack of proper authorization. The Board will investigate the matter (link).

The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for January 21st.