PUBLIC HEARING
2007 TOWN BUDGET AND WARRANT ARTICLES
JANUARY 16, 2007
In accordance with RSA 32:5, notice was given to all residents of Newton, New Hampshire, of a Public Hearing for the purpose of gathering public input on the proposed 2007 Town Budget and Warrant Articles. The public hearing on the 2007 Town Budget and Warrant Articles was held on the snow date of Tuesday, January 16, 2007 for on Monday, January 15, 2007 the Town experienced an ice/sleet/freezing rain storm.
Chairman Nelson motioned to open the Public Hearing at 6:45pm. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous. In attendance were Chairman Gary F. Nelson, Selectman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Mary Winglass.
Chairman Nelson read the following information notifying the residents of Newton of the First and Second Session of the Annual Town Meeting:
THE POLLS WILL BE OPENING FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
To the inhabitants of the Town of Newton, N.H. in the County of Rockingham, in said State, qualified to vote in Town Affairs; you are hereby notified to meet for the first session of the annual meeting, which shall be for the explanation, discussion and debate of each warrant article and the transaction of all business other than voting by official ballot to be held at the Sanborn Regional Middle School on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 7:00 PM; the second session to be held at the Memorial Elementary School, in said Newton, on Tuesday, the thirteenth day of March next, at eight o’clock in the forenoon, to choose all necessary Town officers for the ensuing year by official ballot, and to vote on all issues before the Town of Newton on the official ballot; the polls to be open at eight o’clock in the
forenoon and to close not earlier than eight o’clock in the evening.
Chairman Nelson asked Selectman Ulcickas to read the proposed warrant articles for he was not feeling well.
Warrant Article #1
To elect all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year. First day for candidates to file for candidacy is January 24, 2007 with the last day to file is February 2, 2007.
Warrant Article’s #2 - #9 - are all Planning Board articles and will not be discussed tonight.
Warrant Article #10
The Board held a separate Public Hearing for the bonding of a Public Safety Complex prior to this Public Hearing. Refer to the meeting minutes for more information on this warrant article.
Warrant Article #11
“Shall the Town of Newton raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $2,704,395.00?
Should this article above be defeated, the default budget shall be $2,550,826.00, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Newton or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.”
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #11 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
The Board discussed that the 2007 budget is 8.25% over the 2006 budget which includes a 12% increase to the health insurance, increases in fuel and a 2.5% cost of living increase for the town’s employees.
Another increase to the budget is to the General Government Buildings budget to cover the cost to repair/shingle the Town Hall roof totaling approximately $40,000.00.
The Board discussed another increase to the budget is for a Code Enforcement Officer in the Department of Building Safety budget totaling $15,000.00; the Board stated that they have been using Town Counsel to work on many Code Enforcement issues at $150 per hour and the town will be able to save money and work more efficiently with a part time dedicated employee.
Chairman Nelson added that he is working on a power point presentation to show at the Deliberative Session.
Warrant Article #12
Shall the Town discontinue mailing the Town Reports each year, thereby reducing the cost of printing and the cost of mailing? (The Town will continue to make the Town Reports available on the Town Website at www.newton-nh.gov and at the Newton Town Hall.)
The Board discussed the reason for this warrant article is to ask the voters if they want to continue to pay for the printing and mailing of 2,000 town reports. The town last year was able to save money and trees by printing only 1,000 Town Reports and making them available to be picked up at the Town Hall. If a resident wanted a report mailed to them they only had to contact the Selectmen’s Office and ask for one to be mailed. Also, the Town Report is available on the town’s official website.
Warrant Article #13
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Trustee of Trust Funds, the sum of $250 to increase the salary line from $500 per year to $750 per year.
As the warrant article reads, this article was proposed by the Trustee of Trust Funds.
Warrant Article #14
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $25,000 for the preparation of a SITE PLAN and the CONSTRUCTION of a PUMP HOUSE on the Town Hall property, needed to house the Sprinkler System equipment. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the site plan and construction is completed or by December 31, 2009, whichever is sooner.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #14 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Discussion: Chairman Nelson discussed the need to work on the upkeep of the town’s buildings and a sprinkler system will protect the Town Hall. Vote: Unanimous.
Warrant Article #15
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Fire Chief, the sum of $25,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called the “FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT FUND” created in 2005.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #15 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Discussion: Fire Chief Bill Ingalls asked the Selectmen to strike the wording “and the Fire Chief” for he recommended the sum of $50,000. Chief Ingalls added that the reason he recommended $50,000 is due to the fact that the 1984 Tanker 4 Fire Truck housed in the Newton Junction Fire Station will need to be replaced in 2009 or 2010. Chairman Nelson explained that the reason why the Selectmen changed the amount was due to trying to keep down the requested total amount at the 2007 Annual Town Meeting. Chief Ingalls responded that he feels that the residents should be able to make that decision at the Deliberative Session. Chairman Nelson motioned to rescind his recommendation to accept
warrant article #15 as written. Selectman Ulcickas rescinded his second.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #15 with the edit of removing “and the Fire Chief”. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Warrant Article #16
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Gale Library Board of Trustees, the sum of $10,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called the “GALE LIBRARY BUILDING FUND” created in 1982.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #16 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Warrant Article #17
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $25,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund known as the “TOWN BUILDINGS FUND”.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #17 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Nelson announced the need for the upkeep of the town’s buildings for the buildings are getting older and need some work.
Warrant Article #18
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Road Agent, the sum of $25,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called ROAD SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT FUND for the purpose of maintenance, repairs and construction.
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #18 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
The Board discussed the importance of putting aside money for the maintenance of the town’s roads.
Warrant Article #19
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, for the purpose of POLICE SPECIAL DETAILS. All revenues received for police special details will be deposited into the fund, and the money in the fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered part of the town’s general fund unreserved fund balance. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon order of the governing body and no further approval is required by the legislative body to expend. Such funds may be
expended only for the purpose for which the fund was created.
[Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.]
Chairman Nelson stated that many towns are changing the way they receive revenues for Police details by placing them into a Revolving Fund versus the General Fund. A Revolving Fund will not require the town to gross appropriate in their yearly budget for this revenue.
Warrant Article #20
To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to begin to develop a set of digital parcel maps that will assist in a more accurate property assessment process and will be compatible with the Town’s Assessing software.
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley discussed the importance of updating the maps for the town is working with maps created in 1978. Currently the State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation is working on aerial maps and we should be able to get some information and implement some of the information.
Warrant Article #21
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $38,337.00 for the following Community Services:
A SAFE PLACE $ 1,250.00
AREA HOMECARE & FAMILY SERVICES 3,800.00
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER 2,000.00
DRUGS ARE DANGEROUS 2,000.00
FAMILY MEDIATION 5,947.00
LAMPREY HEALTH CARE 1,000.00
NHSPCA 550.00
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION 6,412.00
RVNA-HOSPICE 5,678.00
THE SAD CAFÉ 5,000.00
SEACARE HEALTH SERVICES 2,000.00 VIC GEARY CENTER 2,700.00
$ 38,337.00
Warrant Article #22
To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $40,000 to be paid toward the 2007 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL BUDGET and to authorize the withdrawal of $40,000 from the Transfer Station/Recycling Fund created in 2003 for this purpose.
[Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.]
Chairman Nelson motioned to recommend warrant article #22 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Selectman Ulcickas stated that the intent for this warrant article is to offset the increases to the fuel charge and the hauling. Chairman Nelson added that the increase to the 2007 Solid Waste Budget is $42,844.00 and this $40,000 will help to offset the increase.
Warrant Article #23
Shall the Town establish a Heritage Commission in accordance with RSA 673:1 and RSA 674:44?
Warrant Article #24
Shall the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint five citizens as members of the Heritage Commission pursuant to RSA 673:4-a and RSA 673:5 and to appoint up to five alternate members.
Selectman Ulcickas read the entire wording of the warrant article. Chairman Nelson added that the Planning Board is the driving force to establish this commission as an advisory Board.
Chairman Nelson motioned to adjourn the Public Hearing at 7:16pm. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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