PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN OF NEWTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
JANUARY 19, 2009
In accordance with RSA 32:5, notice is hereby given to all residents of Newton, New Hampshire, that a Public Hearing for the purpose of gathering public input on the proposed 2009 Town Budget and Warrant Articles.
Chairman Donovan opened the public hearing at 7:04pm. In attendance were Chairman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Selectman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.
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 $2,849,446.00? Should this article above be defeated, the default budget shall be $2,761,410.00, 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 Donovan announced that the Board will discuss each department budget with the proposed increases or decreases and the percentage with a grand total at the end.
Ambulance – No cost to the Town for the Ambulance Contract.
Building Safety – Chairman Donovan announced that this budget reduced by $15,000 for Code Enforcement was removed from this budget into its own line item with a zero percent tax impact.
Cable Committee – Chairman Donovan announced that this budget increased by $500 which will affect a $300,000 property assessment with a tax impact for 2009 of $0.30.
Care of Trees – Chairman Donovan announced that this budget did not increase this year. This budget has a zero percent tax increase.
Cemetery – Chairman Donovan announced that the Cemetery budget went up by $2,310 with a tax impact for 2009 of $1.20 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Cemetery Trustee Bill Landry spoke on the increase to include the repairs of the tomb house at the Highland Cemetery, grave stone repairs and grounds maintenance of the cemeteries. The contract for grounds maintenance for 2009 includes two (2) additional mowing and trimming plus a slight increase in rates.
Conservation Commission – Chairman Donovan announced that the Conservation Commission budget went up by $542.00 with a tax impact for 2009 of $0.30 per year
for a $300,000 property assessment.
Elections, Registrations and Vital Statistics – Chairman Donovan announced that the Elections, Registrations and Vital Statistics budget, which is the Town Clerk’s budget, went down by $2,220.00 with a tax impact for 2009 of (1.20) for a $300,000 property assessment.
Emergency Management – Chairman Donovan announced that the Emergency Management budget increased by $8,850.00 with a tax impact for 2009 of $6.00 for a $300,000 property assessment. Emergency Management Director Larry Foote discussed that the previous budget was for Seabrook drills and the increase for 2009 is to budget for town emergencies and is a direct result of the recent ice storm. Foote added that most of this budget is reimbursed by Seabrook for mandatory drills each year.
Executive – Chairman Donovan announced that the Executive budget increased by $6,221.00 with a tax impact for 2009 of $3.00 for a $300,000 property assessment. Resident Mary Allen asked for an explanation for the increase. Chairman Donovan responded that it has to do with salary increases and short term disability. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley stated that the salaries cover the three office staff, Selectmen pay and Supervisors of the Checklist. Mary Allen asked if the Board has considered no raises this year due to the economy. Chairman Donovan responded that the Board put in a warrant article for a cost of living raise for the town employees this year.
Financial Administration – Chairman Donovan announced that the Financial Administration budget encompasses five budgets; Accounting/Assessing, Treasurer/Bookkeeper, Tax Collector, Budgeting, Planning and Analysis and Board of Appeals.
Accounting/Assessing budget includes an increase of $6,785.00 to include a revised contract with Town Assessor Andrea Lewy to hire a part time clerk to handle data entry and filing, which will take these duties away from the Town Administrator. The 2009 tax impact is $3.00 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Treasurer/Bookkeeper budget includes an increase of $927.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $0.60 for a $300,000 property assessment. The increase is a basic cost for supplies and payroll services.
Tax Collector budget includes an increase of $1,863.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $0.90 for a $300,000 property assessment. The increase is for a merit increase for the Deputy Tax Collector and other small increases within the budget.
Budgeting, Planning & Analysis budget includes an increase of $163.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $.09 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Board of Appeals budget includes an increase of $125.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $.06 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Fire Department budget includes an increase of $4,300.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $2.40 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Gale Library budget includes an increase of $1,470.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $0.90 for a $300,000 property assessment.
General Assistance budget includes an increase of $3,500.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $1.80 for a $300,000 property assessment.
General Government Buildings budget includes an increase of $7,326.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $3.00 for a $300,000 property assessment.
Health Officer budget includes a decrease of ($3,000.00) with a 2009 tax impact of ($1.80) for a $300,000 property assessment.
Highway and Streets budget includes an increase of $49,992.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $27.00 for a $300,000 property assessment. Road Agent Mike Pivero stated that this budget includes a salary increase given in 2007 that were not carried into the 2008 budget; other increases are directly related to an increase in material costs for sand and salt increased significantly.
Planning Board budget includes an increase of $0.00.
Police Department budget includes an increase of $22,068.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $12.00 for a $300,000 property assessment. Police Chief Streeter stated that this budget includes increases to the Full Time Officers salaries due to personnel raises and a salary plan entered into approximately six years ago to help stop the turnover within the department to become more competitive in the region.
Recreation Commission budget includes an increase of $0.00.
Solid Waste Disposal budget includes an increase of $11,662.00 with a 2009 tax impact of $6.00 for a $300,000 property assessment. Chairman Donovan explained that the increases are due to salary increases, recycling fee increase partly due to the fee free weekend held by the town this past fall.
Code Enforcement budget is a zero impact for it was moved out the Building Safety budget into its own line item.
West Nile Virus budget is a zero impact for there is no increase.
Legal budget is a zero impact for there is no increase.
Personnel Administration budget increased by $37,500.00 and covers, FICA, Social Security, Medicare, and Retirement costs for all payroll of the town. Kim Hughes, Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator discussed that the 2009 budget increases will cover the tax liability and an increase to the employers cost to the retirement system starting in July 2009.
Street Lighting budget increased by $662.00 to cover rate increases anticipated in 2009.
Insurance budget includes an increase of $3,375.00 to cover the town’s insurance requirements.
Chairman Donovan announced that the total 2009 budget is $2,849,446.00 with a total tax impact of $90.00 for a $300,000 property assessment.
The following warrant articles were read by a member of the Board of Selectmen.
10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Newton Police Chief, the sum of Nine Hundred, Twenty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($924,750.00) for the design, engineering, site preparation, building construction and renovation, equipment and furnishing of the Newton Police Department. Said construction, renovation and related references are proposed for the current Police Station location at 2 Amesbury Road, and to further authorize the issuance of not more than Nine Hundred, Twenty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($924,750.00) in the form of bonds and/or notes under and in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act, NH RSA 33 as amended. To authorize the Selectmen to apply for, obtain and
accept federal, state or other aid, if any, which may be available for said project and to comply with all laws applicable to said project; and to authorize the Selectmen to issue, negotiate, sell and deliver said bonds and/or notes, and to determine the rate of interest thereon and the maturity, and other terms thereof.
(3/5 ballot vote required)
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #10, Police Department Building renovations for $924,750.00. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Chairman Donovan and Selectman McCarthy – yes; Selectman Thayer apposed. Motion passed.
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 $2,849,446.00? Should this article above be defeated, the default budget shall be $2,761,410.00, 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 Donovan stated that there is no recommendation required for the article.
12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Town Clerk/Tax Collector, the sum of $51,000 for 35 hours a week plus health and dental benefits as voted in warrant article #27 in 2000, as compensation to the Town Clerk/Tax Collector instead of statutory fees. All fees collected will revert back to the Town as revenue.
Chairman Donovan stated that there is no recommendation required for this article. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley stated that she did a breakdown of the revenues received by the town in 2008 to show the offset to the $51,000; the estimated revenue received by the town in 2008 was $37,364.00.
13. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Newton Police Chief, to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,195 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). The hiring would occur on approximately July 1, 2009.
Chairman Donovan stated that there is no recommendation required for the article. Police Chief Streeter stated that the last time the town added a Full Time Officer was in 1986 and since then the population has grown by 15% which increases the amount of incident calls and then need for more time to spend on investigations.
14. 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 $50,000 to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called the “FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT FUND” created in 2005.
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls stated that this article has been on the ballot since 2005 and is self explanatory; it is part of the Capital Improvement Plan to purchase Fire Apparatus and Equipment and will bring the Capital Reserve Fund to approximately $250,000.00.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #14 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Fire Chief, the sum of $2,650 to replace the two overhead doors on Fire Station II in Newton Junction.
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls stated that he is not sure how old the doors are but you can look right outside where the door meets the building and the plan is to replace them with insulated doors which will cut down on the heat loss.
16. To see if the Town will vote to create an Expendable Trust Fund under the provisions of RSA 31:19-a, to be known as the EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND for the continuation of town services during an emergency and to raise and appropriate $10,000 for this fund.~ This sum is to come from the unreserved fund balance (surplus) and no amount to be raised from taxation and~further to appoint the Board of Selectmen as Agents to expend. [Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes]
Selectman McCarthy discussed that this funding request is to support an Emergency Operations Center, for it was clear as we went through our most recent extended power outage that the supplies needed were not available to handle this emergency such as flashlights, vests, batteries and many other things needed to support the citizens during this time.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #16 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
17. To see if the Town will vote to create an Expendable Trust Fund under the provisions of RSA 31:19-a, to be known as the TOWN DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND for the repair and maintenance of town property and to raise and appropriate $10,000 for this fund.~ This sum is to come from the unreserved fund balance (surplus) and no amount to be raised from taxation and~further to name the Board of Selectmen as Agents to expend. [Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes]
Road Agent Mike Pivero discussed his part with this article for each time a disaster such as the tornado that came through this past July, repairs to the roads or culverts were necessary and the cost was paid out of the Highway budget. This article puts a mechanism in place to raise and appropriate funds for necessary repairs for any future disasters. Many weather related disasters are reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) to the town at 75% of the total cost.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #17 as written. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
18. To see if the Town will vote to appoint the Selectmen as Agents to expend from the “ROAD SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT FUND” Capital Reserve Fund previously established in 2001.
Selectman Thayer asked how much money is currently in the fund; Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley responded approximately $75,000.00.
19. 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 $15,000 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 and to appoint the Selectmen as agents to expend from the fund.
Selectman McCarthy added that in the past couple years; this same article asked for $25,000 but when speaking with the Road Agent this year it was decided to ask for only $15,000 due to the economy.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #19 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $87,235 for the repair and maintenance of town roads and to authorize the use of the NH Highway Block Grant in the amount of $87,235 to offset this appropriation. This is a non-lapsing warrant article and will not lapse until December 31, 2014 or until the project is completed, whichever comes first.
[Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes]
Chairman Donovan questioned the wording in the article that states that this is a non-lapsing warrant article. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley responded that the Department of Revenue allows the funds to be carried over for five years and can be used for large projects by accumulating from year to year until December 31, 2014. Town Administrator added that the grant money will be kept in a special fund and the Board of Selectmen would vote to spend or at the end of the year would vote to carry forward the funds.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #20 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Town Administrator, the sum of $7,200 for the purpose of hiring a Part-Time Secretary for 20 hours a week to assist with the clerical duties in the Selectmen’s Office.
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley discussed the need to hire a part time Secretary for the town has grown substantially over the years and would help the current staff to complete projects without the interruptions of the phone, typing letters and filing. This person would handle the day to day routine jobs and allow the Town Administrator to search for grants and to write policies and for the Office Manager to work on many outstanding projects within the office. Additionally this is a more cost effective measure for the town will be paying someone at $10 per hour that can come in to assist the staff.
22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum not to exceed $18,964.00, to provide a 2½ percent Cost of Living Wage Increase for non-elected employees of the Town of Newton; said increases to become effective April 1, 2009.
23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $5,000 to revise the 1987 “Pay and Classification Study” (MATRIX) for the Town of Newton employees.
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley stated that the current matrix was established in 1987 by the Local Government Center and is very outdated. The Local Government Center has been contacted and will come in to write job descriptions and to update the matrix to be used to help guide the Selectmen when merit increases are proposed.
24. Shall the Town pursuant to RSA 31:39-n, adopt the Town of Newton “NOISE ORDINANCE”? Copies of the Ordinance are available at the Selectmen’s Office, Town Clerk’s Office and Town Library and on the Town Website at www.newton-nh.gov.
25. Shall the Town vote to require that the numeric tally of votes by the Board of Selectmen, relative to recommending the operating budget and all warrant articles, be printed on the warrant next to the affected warrant articles?
Chairman Donovan spoke on this article in that he tried to put this warrant article in place last year but ran out of time. The reason for this article is to show to the voters how the Selectmen vote, individually, to either recommend or not recommend a warrant article. As it is now, the majority vote either to recommend or not recommend is listed under the warrant article.
26. 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 $50,783 for phase II of the installation of a “SPRINKLER SYSTEM” in the Newton Town Hall and to further withdraw $1,516 from the Sprinkler Capital Reserve Fund created in 1997. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the sprinkler system is completed or by December 31, 2014, whichever is sooner. (Per Selectmen’s Bid Policy)
Chief Building Official Ron LeMere spoke about this article and urged the Selectmen to recommend phase II of the installation of the sprinkler system at the Town Hall. LeMere discussed that presently we have a system in place but in order for it to work we need to complete phase II. Our current system in place does not protect the building until the Fire Department shows up. Phase II does not include a generator but does include the placement of the water storage tank, pumps and some updates to the electrical system. Town Hall is an old building and the town has a lot invested in this building and we need to protect it. LeMere added that some concerns he has with installing a generator system is the need to conduct an electrical audit to better understand what types of
electrical upgrades are needed.
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley stated that the funds appropriated for phase I were not fully expended and the Selectmen voted to carry forward the balance of $34,892.08 from the appropriation approved in 2006 and lapses on 12/31/2011. These funds will be used to offset the cost of phase II, therefore the funding needed will be less than the sum of $50,783, as proposed in the article.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #26 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
27. 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 Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #27 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
28. Shall the Town accept the provision of RSA 202-A: 4-c providing that any town at an annual meeting may adopt an article authorizing indefinitely, until specific rescission of such authority, the public library trustees to apply for, accept and expend, without further action by the town meeting, unanticipated money from a state, federal or other governmental unit or a private source which becomes available during the fiscal year? RSA 202-A: 4-c, I, (a)
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley explained that this article gives the Library Trustees the same benefit as the Selectmen have to accept and expend unanticipated money from a state, federal or other governmental unit or a private source. If the funds are under $5,000 then they discuss it at the Trustees Meeting as posted on their agenda; if over $5,000 then they would need to hold a Public Hearing.
29. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 for the purpose of a ”Fee Free Solid Waste Disposal Weekend” in 2009 and further to authorize the withdrawal of $15,000 from the Transfer Station/Recycling Special Revenue 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 Donovan stated that this article is to help fund a fee free weekend this year. Selectman Thayer added that the town took in 1,600 tires during the fee free weekend. Selectman McCarthy stated that we removed approximately 140 tires out of the Conservation land and the town received thank you notes for making this weekend available to the residents.
30. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 for a “10’ High Fence” at the Newton Transfer Station, in an effort to replace the existing fence, add new fencing along Dugway Road down to the Fire Pond and to include a gate at the Fire Pond Entrance, and to further authorize the withdrawal of $20,000 from the Transfer Station/Recycling Special Revenue 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 Donovan asked Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley to explain why we must “raise and appropriate” when the funds are to be withdrawn from the Transfer Station/Recycling Special Revenue Fund. Town Administrator Wrigley responded that the town must “raise and appropriate” anything that the town wants to expend regardless of whether you have revenues to cover the cost. That is the wording handed down by the State Department of Revenue Administration and we are required to follow the State rules and laws.
31. 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 2009 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL BUDGET as an offset to the disposal costs and to authorize the withdrawal of $20,000 from the Transfer Station/Recycling Special Revenue Fund created in 2003 for this purpose.
[Intent: This proposed article will result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes]
32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Newton Cemetery Trustees, the sum of $2,000 to fill and resurface 300 linear feet of roadway in Highland Cemetery with a gravel and recycled hot top product mix.
Cemetery Trustee Bill Landry explained that there has been an ongoing problem with the roadway in Highland Cemetery, with two days of rain they end up with a problem, a mud hole. Landry explained that if funds are not approved for the roadway then the Trustees will need to shut down the access for it becomes unsafe. Landry added that the sum of $2,000 came from Road Agent Mike Pivero, which is much cheaper than bringing someone in from the outside.
33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Recreation Commission and the Board of Selectmen, the sum of $5,000 for recreational programs and trips for senior citizens.
Chairman Donovan stated that the reason for this warrant article is due to the Recreation Commission wanting to do something for the elderly as well as the children of Newton.
34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $39,677.00 for the following Community Services:
A SAFE PLACE $ 1,500.00
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 750.00
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION 7,102.00
RVNA-HOSPICE 5,678.00
THE SAD CAFÉ 5,000.00
SEACARE HEALTH SERVICES 2,000.00 VIC GEARY CENTER 2,700.00
$ 39,677.00
35. To see if the Town would prefer to vote on the above Community Service articles individually.
Chairman Donovan explained that some residents would like to vote on the Community Service funding requests individually.
36. On a petition of twenty-five or more legal voters of the Town of Newton, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to support Rockingham Nutrition and Meals on Wheels Programs service providing meals for older, homebound and disabled Newton residents.
Chairman Donovan motioned to recommend warrant article #36, as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
37. To see if the Town will vote to establish, as proposed by the Conservation Commission, the entire Town of Newton as a Water District and authorize the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to New Hampshire RSA Chapter 38, to establish a municipal water utility, to accept future dedications of water utility infrastructure and to acquire those portions of existing water utility infrastructure, plant and property which the Selectmen judge to be suitable for establishing a municipal water utility, with the further understanding that any agreement to accept or acquire such plant or infrastructure shall either be paid for from monies appropriated for general government purposes, or alternately, in the Selectmen’s discretion, any agreement to acquire or a determination of acquisition price shall
be presented to a future Newton Town Meeting for approval and ratification prior to final acquisition of water utility property?
(2/3 Vote Required)
Selectman McCarthy explained that the Conservation Commission discussed establishing the Town of Newton as a Water District with the Planning Board to help prevent a company from coming in and tapping into the aquifer. Planning Board Chairman Ann Miles added that she feels that this is an important concept for the town for right now the town has a small project that we are not sure what is happening with it and this will help preserve the town’s water supply.
38. On a petition of twenty five or more legal voters of the town, to see if the town will vote to modify the provisions of RSA 72:28 for an Optional Veteran’s Tax Credit, to increase the amount of the credit to the maximum allowed by the State of New Hampshire.
[Intent: This proposed article will increase each credit from $200 to $500]
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley explained that she spoke with the Department of Revenue Administration and they recommended that at the Deliberative Session to amend the wording so that people will know the tax impact to the town of approximately $42,000.00.
39. On a petition of 25 or more legal voters of the Town of Newton, to see if the Town will direct the Board of Selectmen to convey to Robert L. White, owner of property located at One Deluxe Avenue (Map 11-7-15-1, behind the Gale Library) and 20 foot wide right-of-way over the abandoned railroad right-of-way known as the “Peanut Trail” from Main Street to and onto Mr. White’s property.
Mr. Robert White talked about this article for he is requesting an egress to his property for it has no road frontage.
40. On a petition of 25 or more registered voters to see if the Town will vote to amend the Selectmen’s article #14 of 2005 to read as follows: “That any and all new commercial buildings will comply to the State of NH’s fire code and NFPA 13”.
Chief Building Official Ron LeMere urged the Selectmen, based upon the petition warrant article as written, not to support this warrant article. LeMere added that this article may approve something less stringent than the State and this could be challenged and we need to be careful moving forward.
Chairman Donovan motioned to close the Public Hearing at 8:53pm. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
| 
