TOWN OF NEWTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2015 TOWN BUDGET
AND WARRANT ARTICLES
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015 @ 7PM
NEWTON TOWN HALL
In accordance with RSA 32:5, a Public Hearing for the purpose of gathering public input on the proposed 2015 Town Budget and Warrant Articles will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Newton Town Hall starting at 7pm.
Chairman Donovan opened the public hearing at 7:07pm.
Doggett read warrant article #4 as follows;
4. “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 $3,141,939.00? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $3,142,415.00, 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.”
The budget increase from the 2014 ACTUAL budget to the 2015 PROPOSED budget represents a tax impact increase of $.34 per $1,000.00 of assessed value.
Resident Patty Stephan asked for an explanation on the default budget with it being higher than the prior year budget and the 2015 proposed budget.
Doggett explained the premise of the default budget which is the prior year budget remove any one time purchases and the addition of contractual obligations. Increases to contractual obligations include maintenance contracts and other services, insurance and NH Retirement. When the Board approved the 2015 budget it was debated and managed to come up with lower budget. One of the major increases in 2015 is the one time revaluation through a state mandated statistical analysis which alone is a $54,000 increase. This item will disappear next year for it is a one-time expenditure.
Kelly McCarthy questioned the Personnel Administration budget due to the large increase in 2015. Town Administrator Wrigley explained the budget increase is due to combining multiple budgets into one, Personnel Administration, due to a change to the chart of accounts from the State of NH. This is for health, dental, short term liability plus NH Retirement which had a substantial increase for police personnel.
All in favor of warrant article #4 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Foote read warrant article #5 as follows;
5. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h for the purpose of paying Inspector fees for permits. Ninety Percent (90%) of permit fees from the Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector and Electrical Inspector, and One Hundred Percent (100%) of permit fees from the Road Inspector and Health Inspector will be deposited into this fund. 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 balance. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the fund and shall pay out the same only upon the 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.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Patty Stephan questioned the need to create this fund. Town Administrator Wrigley explained that right now the departments that are paid by fees are listed in the article and to budget for them is a guessing game each year. With this account will allow the guessing to be taken out of the equation plus is a way to reduce the appropriations each year from the budget.
All in favor of warrant article #5 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Burrill read warrant article #6 as follows;
6. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h for the purpose of Highway Construction. All monies received from the Highway Block Grant will be deposited into this 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 surplus. 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.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #6 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Melvin read warrant article #7 as follows;
7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $90,549.00 for the repair and maintenance of town roads to be offset by the NH Highway Block Grant. This is a non-lapsing appropriation and will not lapse until the completion of the project or until December 31, 2020, whichever is sooner.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #7 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Doggett read warrant article #8 as follows;
8. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h for the purpose of paying Emergency Management payroll, training and other expenses. All monies received from the State of New Hampshire for Emergency Management purposes will be deposited into this fund. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the fund and shall pay out the same only upon the 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.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #8 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Foote read warrant article #9 as follows;
9. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under RSA 35:1 for the purpose of Engineering and Renovation of the land and buildings located at 8 Merrimac Road, identified in the town’s tax records as Map 12, Lot 6, Sub-lot 11, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,700.00 from the unassigned fund balance for revenues generated from rental fees at this location, to be deposited into this fund, and to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend from this fund.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Patty Stephan questioned the wording of the article as 8 Merrimac Road and recommended changing it to the Police Station. Donovan responded that we are not making any changes tonight but will need to wait to do that at the deliberative session. Doggett cautioned changing the location for you would not want the funds to be specific for the Police Station only.
All in favor of warrant article #9 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Burrill read warrant article #10 as follows;
10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a long term lease/purchase agreement to purchase a fully equipped Tank Truck for the Fire Department at a cost of $350,000.00 and further to raise and appropriate $235,000.00 and authorize the withdrawal of $235,000.00 from the Fire Apparatus & Equipment Capital Reserve Fund for a down payment, and shall include a manufacture discount of $10,606.00, to lower the agreement amount to $104,394.00 payable over a term of 7 years at a rate of $16,946.00 annually and further to raise and appropriate $16,946.00 for the first year’s payment. This agreement does not contain an escape clause. (This new standard Tanker will be replacing the existing 1983 (32 year old) Tanker that has been out
of service due to failing NFPA pump testing and other mechanical issues) (3/5 majority vote required for passage)
This article would result in a $.03 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Resident Sean Feole asked about the existing tank truck. Donovan responded that the truck is being traded in at a value of $5,000 after it has been stripped of its gear.
Resident Kathy Meserve asked to confirm the dollar amount for this purchase and the yearly expense to the town. It was explained that the cost to fully outfit this truck is $350,000 with a manufactures discount of $10,606.00, to lower the agreement amount; we are asking the town to use $235,000 from the Fire Apparatus and Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. The balance is paid off over a 7 year period at a rate of $16,946.00 annually.
All in favor of warrant article #10 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Melvin read warrant article #11 as follows;
11. To see if the Town will vote to change the position of the HIGHWAY FOREMAN from a permanent part-time position to a full-time position effective April 1, 2015 and further to raise and appropriate $14,191.00 for the additional costs in salary and benefits. If approved, this appropriation will be included in the operating budget in coming years.
This article would result in a $.03 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #11 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - opposed.
Doggett read warrant article #12 as follows;
12. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000.00 to be paid toward the 2015 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL BUDGET as an offset to the disposal costs and to authorize the withdrawal of $60,000.00 from the Transfer Station/Recycling Special Revenue Fund created in 2003 for this purpose.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #12 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Foote read warrant article #13 as follows;
13. To see if the Town will vote, as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, to raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 to hold a HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY for Newton Residents only and to authorize the withdrawal of $35,000.00 from the Transfer Station / Recycling Special Revenue Fund created in 2003 for this purpose.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #13 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Burrill read warrant article #14 as follows;
14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $29,182.00 for the following Community Services:
A SAFE PLACE $ 2,500.00
AREA HOMECARE & FAMILY SERVICES 3,800.00
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER 2,000.00
DRUGS ARE DANGEROUS 2,500.00
FAMILY MEDIATION 5,947.00
LAMPREY HEALTH CARE 1,600.00
NHSPCA 750.00
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION 5,000.00
ROCKINGHAM NUTRITION MEALS ON WHEELS 1,835.00
SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT SERVICES (SASS) 550.00
VIC GEARY CENTER 2,700.00
$ 29,182.00
This article would result in a $.06 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #14 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Melvin read warrant article #15 as follows;
15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Recreation Commission, the sum of $4,000.00 for Recreational Programs and Trips for Newton Senior Citizens.
This article would result in a $.01 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #15 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Doggett read warrant article #16 as follows;
16. To see if the Town will vote to decrease the Recreation Commission from seven (7) to five (5) members and to establish two (2) alternate positions. ~All members and alternates will be appointed by the Select Board for a term of 3 years, pursuant to RSA 35:B-4.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Burrill explained the need to reduce the number of members in order to hold a quorum due to a lack of volunteers. Anyone who is interested in getting involved with the Recreation Commission, please contact the Selectmen’s Office.
All in favor of warrant article #16 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Foote read warrant article #17 as follows;
17. On a petition of 25 or more legal voters of the Town of Newton, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 to Child and Family Services for the purpose of supporting services provided to residents to access counseling, family support and reunification services, without regard to income from Child and Family Services. Child and Family Services provides accessible and affordable programs to children, youth and their families leading to stronger family connections, improved school performance and better citizenship. From July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014, twenty-eight (28) Newton Residents received 1,226 hours of free and reduced service valued at over $44,000 from Child and Family Services. These services protected children from abuse and neglect,
strengthened families, prevented out of home placements and insured that young women had the comprehensive health care necessary to give birth to healthy babies and the guidance to develop positive parenting skills during their baby’s first years of life.
This article would result in a $.003 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
All in favor of warrant article #17 as proposed; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Before closing the Public Hearing the Board announced the following upcoming events:
Monday, January 26th at 6pm the Board of Selectmen will hold a public meeting in order to meet with Granite State Organics who is asking the town to consider writing a letter of non-opposition. Earlier tonight Todd Fitzgerald presented an option for consideration to the Town of Newton from Granite State Organics a non-profit organization providing medical marijuana products, upon the receipt of a NH DHHS-issued license. If anyone cannot attend the meeting we encourage emails to be sent to selectmen@newtonnh.net.
The Board of Selectmen is forming a “Building Committee” consisting of volunteers to study and propose a building plan for a new “FIRE STATION” to be located in “Federal City” at 8 Merrimac Road. Anyone interested should contact Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley. This committee will study options for advanced future planning and ideas.
Town Deliberative Session is on Saturday, January 31st at the Town Hall starting at 9AM.
School Deliberative Session is on Wednesday, February 4th at the High School.
Donovan closed the public hearing at 7:43pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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