2025 Community Survey Presentation

2025 Community Survey Results

If you could not attend the meeting or have a question regarding the survey, please email townoffice@centerharbornh.gov. Your question will be directed to the appropriate department.

View the James E. Nichols Memorial Library Strategic plan.

Again, thanks to all that participated in the survey and the meeting.

Regards,

The Master Plan Workgroup
David Nelson
William Ricciardi
Helen Altavesta
Gary Mellinger

Elections and Article 1 Voting

• Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
• Time: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: Cary Mead Room, Municipal Building, 36 Main Street

For complete information regarding the elections and to view the sample ballots for the Town of Center Harbor and the Inter-Lakes School District, click here.

Business Session

• Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
• Time: Starting at 6 p.m.
• Location: Center Harbor Fire Department, 36 Main Street

The 2026 Town Warrant and 2026 Budget, as of February 4, 2026, is now available for review by clicking here.

The 2025 Town Report is now available.

Residents that are not able to conduct business with the town during business hours, now have an option to drop off paperwork after business hours for their convenience.  Residents can conduct business with the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office through the drop box as if they would during business hours. Paperwork (ie. Applications, Permits, etc.) for the Planning/Zoning Department may also take advantage of the drop box.  The drop box is located on the wall to the left of the Town Office main entrance.

Correspondence for the Board of Selectmen should not use the drop box.

If providing a payment, please pay with a check only and adhere it to the paperwork the payment is associated with.

Contact the Town Office at 603-253-4561 or townoffice@centerharbornh.gov if you have questions regarding these visits.

“After my retirement earlier this year, I found myself missing interaction with the public,” Jannelle said, “so I was excited to find the job posting with the Town of Center Harbor, a town I reside in and adore.”

Chief Chase said, “When I envisioned the person who would help in the day-to-day operations of the department, I never imagined the role being filled by a person with Janelle’s experience. It is truly a great match for what this town needs and what Janelle can provide.”

Janelle appreciates the outdoors and likes to keep active by biking, walking, and gardening, and recently learned to play Pickleball.  She enjoys spending as much time as she can with her husband, five children, and two grandchildren.

The town has procured trash bags, safety vests, and gloves for volunteers who decide they would like to do some roadside cleanup.  People are more than welcome to cleanup All public town roads on ANY day and we will pick up the bags.

Contact the Road Agent at dpw@centerharbornh.gov or 603.279.8689 to schedule a time to pick them up.

To volunteer and coordinate with the town contact the Town Office at townoffice@centerharbornh.gov or call 603.253.4561 asking for the Gary regarding roadside cleanup.  He will coordinate with you the number of bags, vests, and gloves that you need for the cleanup.

Thanks for helping to keep Center Harbor beautiful!

Take the Regional Transportation Survey and share your thoughts on safety, accessibility, traffic, and future improvements.

“I got into law enforcement because I’m drawn to camaraderie and the chance to work with a dedicated team.” Jason said about the reason for getting into law enforcement. “I want to solve problems and make a tangible difference daily. This includes stopping crimes in progress and building healthy connections within the community”.

“When I first met Jason, I was drawn to his strong sense of community.” Chief Chase said, “Pairing that with his dedication to law enforcement, made Jason the ideal person to join the Center Harbor Police Department”.

When not working, Jason spend as much time as I can with his family and occasionally play a pickup game of hockey.

For your protection, consider subscribing to their FREE “Property Fraud Alert” website for real-time monitoring and notification of any potential fraudulent activity of interest to you.  

To sign up for this free service for Belknap County, click here.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission website on how to recognize, avoid, and report scams.

If you have a question or concern that communication that you received from the Town of Center Harbor, please contact us at 603-253-4561.

Important Renewal Information:

Registrations that are due in January, February, or March: If you chose to renew early (processed in 2025), the new fee structure will not apply.

Registrations that are due in December 2025: If your renewal is processed after December 31, the new fees will apply.

Examples of state fee increases (this is not an exhaustive list but ones that will affect most residents)

The town is looking for residents to join the Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA) as alternate members for a 3-year term. The ZBA review applications from residents that fall beyond the scope of the Zoning Ordinances. Read more about the process of through the Zoning Board of Adjustments bylaws.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member, email planningzoning@centerharbornh.gov

Heritage Commission

The town is looking for residents to join the Heritage Commission for a 3-year term. The Heritage Commission mission is to strengthen and stimulate the local economy by recognizing the use and protection of resources and by encouraging the preservation and revival of historic buildings, structures and places.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member, email selectmen@centerharbornh.gov.

Dr. Morrill Memorial Park Committee

The town is looking for a resident to join the Dr. Morrill Memorial Park Committee as alternate members for a 3-year term. The Dr. Morrill Memorial Park Committee mission determine a plan to re-vitalize the park, create fundraising opportunities, and plan for future update and maintenance of the Park.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member, email Sandy Frost, Committee Chair at sandyparksandrec@gmail.com.

Closer Than You Think

Your local government isn’t in some distant office building. Your select board or council members, planning board volunteers, and town clerk are your neighbors: they shop at the same stores, send their kids to the same schools, and drive the same roads you do. That closeness is exactly what makes local government work; your local officials are not just representing the community–they are part of it.

When the state passes a law in Concord, it’s your local elected officials and municipal staff who figure out what that actually means for Main Street. They’re the ones translating big-picture policy into something that works for your community, whether you live in a small rural town of 800 or a city of 45,000.

Local government gives residents direct access to decision-makers, real say how their community is run, and someone who will actually pick up the phone. In turn, local government can be the voice of its residents in Concord or Washington.

What Your Local Government Does for You

Here are some tangible examples of what your municipal leaders manage every day on your behalf:

• Your Roads: When potholes appear after a brutal New Hampshire winter, it’s your town that fills them. Local officials plan road maintenance years in advance using capital improvement plans to spread out costs and avoid sudden tax spikes.
• Your Water: Clean drinking water and working sewer systems are an often invisible, but vital, service. Local governments maintain this infrastructure and are responsible for funding costly upgrades when state or federal standards change, often without state dollars allocated to support municipalities in the transition.
• Your Safety: Police, fire, and emergency services are locally funded and managed. When you call 911, the people who show up work for your town, and their staffing levels are decided at town meetings. The Cause and Effect You Need to Know

Here’s something many residents don’t consciously realize: decisions made in the State House can directly affect your property tax bill.

When the state shifts costs to municipalities without providing any funding for operational needs like road maintenance or one-size-fits-all housing mandates, your town has limited options. It can cut services or raise property taxes. Although that is a direct consequence of state policy, it must be managed and paid for at the local level.

Leaning Into Local Government

At the state level, your senator or representative makes decisions for thousands of people. At the local level, your governing body members make decisions for your neighborhood, and you’ll see them around your community.

Local officials are required by law to hold public hearings, post meeting minutes, and open their budgets to public scrutiny. You can attend a select board meeting or council meeting and ask questions directly.

At Town Meeting, you can: Vote on your municipal budget; approve or reject warrant articles; elect your local officials; and, at the deliberative session or business session, ask tough questions about where your tax dollars go. Every vote is your direct say in how your community is run.

Provided by the New Hampshire Municipal Association