By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — The Newport Board of Selectmen voted on Monday to waive fees for the use of the Opera House for Richards Free Library Hale Award Ceremony on Sept. 7.
The fees being waived include $250 for a security deposit, $300 for rental and $300 for custodial aspects.
Richards Free Library Director Sally Bernier met with the board on Aug. 5, where she said the award has been a part of the community for many years. In the past, the fees for the Opera House have been waived and this request was once again made. Bernier said that the library staff will be responsible for the cleanup, and Town Manager Kyle Harris said there are no expected overtime costs for employees for the event.
Chair James Burroughs questioned what the demands are on the staff, as they need to be present for the event. This involves being present for the event for final inspection, cleanup and being at the doors. He said the board gets a lot of requests to waive the fees, but there are times where the cost gets deferred back to the town.
“There is a cost to the town,” Burroughs said. “Even though we are reducing or waiving these fees, in all cases they may always not be appropriate. We are taking on responsibilities.”
The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding its block party on Sept. 27, and on Monday they gained selectboard approval to have the road closed off.
This will be northbound Main Street from Central to Sunapee Street from 3 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The event coincides with Newport High School’s homecoming weekend, and there is a day filled with fun and entertainment. Executive Director Shannon MacMichael requested that northbound Main Street be shut down for the car show, as well as Depot Street being closed off for a band set up.
The event will include live music, food trucks, vendors, a farmer’s market and yard games provided by Newport Recreation. This will all be going down on Main Street, and the public is urged to come take part in the festivities.
Also approved at the meeting was a request by the Chamber of Commerce to be allowed the nonprofit rental rate of $150 for the Opera House to put on the ’Twas Just Before Christmas’ event on Dec. 14 from 12 to 8 p.m. MacMichael requested that from 3:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. there be a closure of northbound Main Street between Central and Sunapee Street for the event.
“This is reducing of the fee, not eliminating the fee,” Burroughs said.
