The town of New Ipswich is set to receive more than $125,000 in state funding for road improvements, which the Selectmen would like to use for additional paving on Temple Road.
Board chair David Lage said during Tuesday’s meeting that the town is anticipating $127,554.54 from the state after Governor Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 38, which sends $30 million to towns and cities throughout the state to be used for infrastructure projects.
“This is good for New Ipswich,” said Lage.
Town Administrator Joanne Meshna said Wednesday morning that the town typically anticipates $150,000 to $160,000 in Highway Block grants in a given year for infrastructure projects from the state.
The board has scheduled a public hearing on the matter on Aug. 8.
Purple Heart veteran and New Ipswich resident Kevin Willette approached the Select Board about making the town of New Ipswich part of the Purple Heart Trail, a series of roads, bridges, highways, and other monuments and trails to honor the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military medal, and is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who are wounded, and posthumously to the next of kin of those who died as a result of being in action.
The Selectmen unanimously supported the proposal, which includes putting up signs at the entrances of town, and having the town honor Purple Heart Day annually on Aug. 7. Willette said he hopes to plan a ceremony on Aug. 7 to unveil the signs.
Willette said that New Ipswich will be the first Purple Heart town in the state of New Hampshire. The signs placed will be cost-neutral, according to Willette.
Town moderator Robert Romeril approached the board about the potential for the town to purchase a back-up Accuvote machine.
Romeril said the machine would cost $750 to purchase. LHS Associates, the company that sells the voting machines, said they are selling refurbished systems to New Hampshire municipalities. The machines being offered are about five years newer than the town’s current machine.
Selectmen did not take any action on LHS Associates’ offer, with Lage saying the town didn’t budget for the expense.
The Selectmen decided to schedule a site visit of Fairbanks Road prior to holding a public hearing about the town taking over the road.
Selectmen will meet at Fairbanks Road next Tuesday at 6 p.m. to do the site walk. After a public hearing is held, the board can decide whether or not to accept the road as a town road.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.