PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN OF NEWTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008
Chairman Ulcickas opened the Public Hearing at 6pm. In attendance were Chairman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Selectman Trisha J. McCarthy, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Chairman Ulcickas announced that the Board of Selectmen is holding this Public Hearing in accordance with RSA 32:5, for the purpose of gathering public input on the proposed 2008 Town Budget and Warrant Articles.
Also in attendance were numerous department heads that were invited tonight by the Board of Selectmen in order to answer any questions or concerns from the public regarding their 2008 budget. Chairman Ulcickas stated that the Public Hearing will start with warrant article #7 as warrant articles numbered 1-6 are to elect Town Officers and to adopt amendments to the Newton Zoning Ordinance.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #7 as follows;
7. “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 $2,766,624.00?
Should this article above be defeated, the default budget shall be $2,687,025.00, 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.”
NOTE: This operating budget warrant article does not include appropriations contained in ANY other warrant articles.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. Since there were no questions or comments from the public, Chairman Ulcickas thanked the department heads for their due diligence with preparing a budget that is just over 2% of the previous year’s budget.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #7 as written. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #8 as follows;
8. “Shall the Town vote pursuant to RSA 41:25 & RSA 41:33 to authorize the Board of Selectmen to establish the rate and amount of compensation, to be paid to the Town Clerk/Tax Collector for his/her services?
NOTE: If this article passes, this will allow the way the Town Clerk/Tax Collector is compensated, which will be established by a vote of the registered voters at the 2009 Town Meeting. The Town Clerk/Tax Collector DOES RECOMMEND this article.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. Resident Carol Szot asked how the Town Clerk/Tax Collector is currently being paid. Chairman Ulcickas responded that the position is paid by fees and a salary of $15,000 which was voted on by warrant article some time ago. This warrant article will allow the town to change it to a straight salary determined by the legislative body as many towns are doing today.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #8 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #9 as follows;
9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $9,824 for the purpose of hiring a part-time secretary to assist with the clerical duties for the Board of Selectmen, Assessor, Department of Building Safety and any other duties, as needed.
(If this article is approved, this position will become part of the next years operating budget)
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #9 as written. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Discussion: Selectman Donovan does not feel we need another person in the office. Vote: Chairman Ulcickas and Selectman McCarthy – yes; Selectman Donovan – opposed. Motion passed.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #10 as follows;
10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $50,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called the “FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT FUND” created in 2005.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. Chairman Ulcickas questioned why this warrant article is not proposed by the Board of Selectmen “and the Fire Chief”. Fire Chief William Ingalls replied that he has no problem with changing the warrant article to include “and the Fire Chief”. There were no other questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend amended warrant article #10 to include proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Fire Chief. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #11 as follows;
11. 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 Ulcickas opened it up for public comments. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #11. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #12 as follows;
12. 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” created in 2006.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #12. Second by Selectman Donovan. Discussion: Chairman Ulcickas stated that this fund will help with much needed repairs to the town’s buildings. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #13 as follows;
13. 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” created in 2001 for the purpose of maintenance, repairs and construction.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned that the Board of Selectmen recommend warrant article #13. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #14 as follows;
14. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be paid toward the 2008 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL BUDGET and to authorize the withdrawal of $20,000 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 Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. Resident Steve Cushing asked if this warrant article is for a general offset to the budget or for a specific project. Chairman Ulcickas responded that it is for a general offset against the hauling fees. There were no other questions or comments.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #14 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Discussion: Chairman Ulcickas stated that the town approved a similar warrant article last year to keep the hauling cost down and the balance of the fund as of November 30, 2207 was 212,774.09. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #15 as follows;
15. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 for “Site Improvements” at the Newton Transfer Station, in an effort to help with the layout and operation of the facility, and to authorize the withdrawal of $20,000 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 Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #15. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Discussion: Chairman Ulcickas stated that this warrant article is to offset the site improvements to include the reconfiguring of the entrance way in order to alleviate the traffic and the bottle necking. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #16 as follows;
16. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Police Chief, to raise and appropriate the sum of $49,000 which includes benefits, for a new position of a Full-Time Police Officer. The approval of this article would bring the total number of Full-Time Police Officers to six (6).
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion.
Police Chief Lawrence Streeter spoke on how he has never been credited with impeccable timing but thought this warrant article deserved to be put in front of the voters this year. The last Full Time Officer position added was eleven years ago in 1996 under a cops fast grant which took the town from employing 4 to 5 Full Time Officers. Since then the town has grown by 15% which boils down to new road miles and residents to serve and as a result of the growth the workload has grown. Chief Streeter talked about the average number of officers per thousand of residents and that the Town of Newton is well below the average.
Chief Streeter discussed the need for an additional Full Time Office to help manage the incidents/events that require an investigation that goes beyond the basic routine follow-up. The Police Department became accredited this year by the State of NH Police Standards and Training in which Newton is one of eleven cities/towns in New Hampshire to achieve this goal. Chief Streeter added that the Police Department has an excellent rapport with the schools and yet there is more to be done, therefore this warrant article would help improve and expand the quality of service provided by the department.
Resident Steve Cushing spoke, as a former Selectmen, and urged the Board of Selectmen to support this warrant article. Mr. Cushing stated that the Police Department is an asset to the town and we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated department and Police Chief and he feels that we are moving in the right direction by adding a six full time officer.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #16. Second by Selectman Donovan. Discussion: Chairman Ulcickas thanked the Chief for his hard work and dedication to the town with the department accreditation and asked for the community to support this warrant article. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #17 as follows;
17. 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.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #17. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #18 as follows;
18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $38,873.00 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 1,200.00
NHSPCA 550.00
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION 6,748.00
RVNA-HOSPICE 5,678.00
THE SAD CAFÉ 5,000.00
SEACARE HEALTH SERVICES 2,000.00
VIC GEARY CENTER 2,700.00
$ 38,873.00
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion. There were no questions or comments regarding this warrant article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #18. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas read warrant article #18 as follows;
19. To see if the Town will adopt the provisions of the 2006 NFPA Life Safety Code 24.3.5.1 which states: “All new, one and two family dwellings shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Code 24.3.5.2”. The system shall be installed in accordance to NFPA 13R, (Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and including four stories in height), and / or NFPA 13D, (Sprinkler Systems in one and two family dwellings and manufactured homes), to be effective, immediately, on approval of this article.
Chairman Ulcickas opened it up for public discussion.
Resident Steve Cushing spoke on one of the crushing problems in this part of the state is the affordability of homes and although it is well and good to protect properties, this warrant article will be an added cost of building a home and every time you add a new regulation like this you are adding to the dollar value of the property.
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls responded that he can appreciate Mr. Cushing’s concern but currently all the new homes are installing sprinkler systems and the cost is approximately $5,000 per house. Chief Ingalls stated that he has additional information on this Life Safety Code at the Fire Station for anyone who is interested in learning more about this article.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recommend warrant article #18. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas asked the public if there were any other general comments regarding the warrant articles presented tonight. Since there were no comments …..
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to close the Public Hearing at 6:29pm. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
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