BRISTOL — Moving forward with plans for a kiosk and informational signs at the former Millstream property, the Bristol Board of Selectmen also decided to give the town-owned parcel a name: Millstream Park.
The town acquired the property in 2011 after the historic food-and-ice cream establishment that gave it its name burned to the ground on April 14, 1999. Today it serves as the location of a summer farmers’ market and the entry to a multi-use trail leading to Newfound Lake, and has become the home of a pumphouse that formerly served as protection to one of Bristol’s mills.
Boyd Smith, executive director of the Newfound Lake Region Association, had approached the selectmen about erecting a kiosk with a large sign to catch the eye of people driving by so they would have access to information about events in the region. Having gained permission to work in partnership with the town, Smith said he hopes to solicit help from volunteers to build and design the kiosk, which would display the NLRA logo as well as the town’s name.
The now-defunct Newfound Region Chamber of Commerce used to operate an information booth at the foot of Newfound Lake, and selectman Les Dion said the town has acquired the booth and might move it onto the Millstream property.
Smith suggested developing a master plan for the park to appropriately site the booth, the signs, and the kiosk. He said he is hoping to have something in place by the Memorial Day kickoff to summer, or at least have it ready for Fourth of July when summer activities really get going.
In discussions with the selectmen on March 1, there were suggestions of getting junior Lions Club members, students from New Hampton School, and others involved in planning and executing the changes, and on a suggestion from Christina Goodwin, the town’s land use manager, the selectmen agreed to give the park a name. They unanimously chose the name Millstream Park.
In other business, selectmen approved the request of Jake Goodrum of Goodrum Enterprises for a tax-deferment agreement at 20 Spring Street. The agreement allows Goodrum to make improvements to the building without having to pay additional taxes for five years after the completion of the work, as an incentive to invest in the property.
Goodrum already had a similar agreement to improve the former Bristol Hotel, which now has tenants on two floors and businesses at ground level, with a nearly complete basement where a brewery will be opening in April.
He said plans for 20 Spring Street include having a business office and residential units. He estimates that he will invest $190,000 into the building, which exceeds the $14,010 threshold for qualifying for the deferral program.
Selectmen also increased the size of the town’s economic development committee from seven to nine members, and it appointed Paul Bemis to serve as one of the new members.
At the start of the meeting, the board held a second public hearing on the petitioned warrant article to adopt the provisions of RSA 40:13, the Official Ballot Act, commonly known as SB2. The second hearing came at the advice of the town’s attorney because of the close notification of the first hearing.
No one in the audience offered an opinion, but selectman Don Milbrand voiced his concerns about the continuing legal issues that arise in SB2 towns and school districts, specifically referring to the current debate about the Newfound Area School District’s default budget, which includes capital improvement items the voters have never approved.
Selectman J.P. Morrison took the opposite view, saying he sees a lot of problems with the traditional town meeting, and he believes SB2 is worth a try.
“I go by my gut, and I’ve got plenty of gut,” Morrison quipped. “I still think it’s a really decent thing.”
8 March 2018
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