TOWN OF NEWTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2016 TOWN BUDGET
AND WARRANT ARTICLES
MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 @ 7:15PM
NEWTON TOWN HALL
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 2016 Town Budget and Warrant Articles will be held on Monday, January 18, 2016 at the Newton Town Hall starting at 7:15pm. Snow date is Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 7:15pm. The public is encouraged to attend.
Chairman Doggett opened the Public Hearing at 7:43pm.
Doggett addressed the first few warrant articles that the public has no authority to change.
Doggett announced that Warrant Article #1 is to elect all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year. Signups for an elected position starts on Wednesday, January 20th and ends on Friday, January 29th.
Warrant Article #2 amends Section X – General Provisions, Paragraph 4: permitted motor vehicles. Recommended by the Planning Board.
Warrant Article #3 amends Section XXXV – Commercial Architecture, Subsection III – Commercial Design Standards, Subsection B – Signs, Paragraphs 1 and 4. Recommended by the Planning Board
Petition Warrant Article #4 amends Section IX General Provisions 4. Not Recommended by the Planning Board.
Warrant Article #5 was discussed at the Bond Public Hearing earlier tonight. Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Warrant Article #6 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
6. “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 $3,181,348.00? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $3,108,696.00 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 2015 ACTUAL budget to the 2016 PROPOSED budget represents a tax impact increase of $0.08 per $1,000.00 of assessed value.
Doggett opened it up for questions with no response from the public.
Foote moved to recommend warrant article #6 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #7 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
7. To see if the town will vote to establish a Cemetery Expendable Trust Fund pursuant to RSA 31:19-a and RSA 289:2-a, allowing all future proceeds received from the sale of cemetery lots in Newton Cemeteries, and any interest gained thereon, for the maintenance of cemeteries; and further to name the Cemetery Trustees as agents to expend from this fund.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Doggett questioned if this article affects the pre-existing perpetual care account. Cemetery Trustee Bill Landry responded that this article is to establish a cemetery expendable trust fund and does not affect anything already in place. In 2014, the State passed SB219 which allows the trustees to take the principal and interest to use for cemetery purposes as they see fit. The regular maintenance of the cemeteries is paid for out of the budget; these funds would be used for larger cemetery projects/repairs.
Burrill moved to recommend warrant article #7 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #8 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
8. Shall the Town accept the provision of RSA 202-A:4-d 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 accept gifts of personal property, other than money, which may be offered to the library for any~public purpose?
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Kathy Meserve, member of the Gale Library Trustees talked about how this article will allow the library trustees to accept gifts of personal property, other than money. The trustees were under the impression that this article was approved in the past but they were unable to locate it on a town warrant. This article will give authorization to accept items such as videos and books; there is no tax impact. Friends of the Gale Library also accepts donations; this article will allow the trustees to accept donations as well. Chairman Doggett added that it is a sad state of affairs when you need permission to accept donations.
Burrill moved to recommend warrant article #8 as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #9 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,700.00 from the unassigned fund balance for revenues generated from rental fees at 8 Merrimac Road, to be deposited into the Capital Reserve Fund created in 2015 for this purpose.
This article would result in no increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.
Chairman Doggett stated that when the town acquired the property at 8 Merrimac Road it had a tenant on the second floor. The town has kept this arrangement in place and this article allows the rent received each month to go into a separate account. The funds could be used to offset costs at 8 Merrimac Road; each year it is required to be voted on by the legislative body.
Foote moved to recommend warrant article #9 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #10 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
10. 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 2016 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.
Chairman Doggett explained that revenue from recycling and fees collected at the Transfer Station are deposited into a special fund and has been used historically over the years to offset taxes.
Burrill moved to recommend warrant article #10 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #11 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,459.00 for the following Community Services:
HAVEN (f/k/a A SAFE PLACE & SASS) |
$ 3,050.00 |
AREA HOMECARE & FAMILY SERVICES |
$ 3,800.00 |
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER |
$ 2,000.00 |
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES |
$ 1,500.00 |
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 |
$ 1,612.00 |
VIC GEARY CENTER |
$ 2,700.00 |
Total |
$30,459.00 |
This article would result in a $0.06 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Resident James Fitzpatrick of Walnut Farms asked how these services are placed in this article. Chairman Doggett responded that the individual community access programs put in a petition warrant article and once approved by the voters then they are added to the community services warrant article each year, if funding is requested.
Foote moved to recommend warrant article #11 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #12 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
12. 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 $0.01 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Annie Collyer, Recreation Commission Chair stated that this same article passed last year therefore there is no net increase in the taxes; this is a way to give back to our seniors.
Gonyer moved to recommend warrant article #12 as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #13 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Recreation Commission, the sum of $9,655.00 for the purpose of sponsoring an “Olde Home Day” similar to the event held in town on October 3, 2015.
This article would result in a $0.02 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Annie Collyer, Recreation Commission Chair stated that Town Day was removed from the budget in order to put forth this article to see if the town wants an Olde Home Day in 2016.
Burrill moved to recommend warrant article #13 as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #14 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Recreation Commission, the sum of $15,000.00 to resurface the Greenie Skate Park. The Commission would like to make these improvements to enhance overall safety at Greenie Park.
This article would result in a $0.03 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Steve St. Cyr member of the Recreation Commission stated that these funds will replace and rebuild some of the structures for overall safety.
Burrill moved to recommend warrant article #14 as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #15 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Recreation Commission, the sum of $19,800.00 to restructure the equipment and replace the “safe fall zones” in the playground area at Greenie Park. The Commission would like to make these improvements to enhance overall safety at Greenie Park.
This article would result in a $0.04 increase per $1,000.00 of assessed value to be raised by taxes.
Steve St. Cyr member of the Recreation Commission stated that this article will help create a safe fall zone and placement of newer playground equipment donated from Amesbury. St. Cyr added that families want to use the park but are turned off by the current condition. This funding will allow the town the funds to rehab the park in a most cost effective way. Selectman Gonyer added that the town does not have much when it comes to recreation for the kids; what we do have we should maintain and get it to a level that is safe and where people want to go.
Foote moved to recommend warrant article #15 as written. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Warrant Article #16 was read by Chairman Doggett as follows:
16. On a citizen petition of 25 or more voters of the Town of Newton, NH, to ask the voters to allow the Board of Selectmen the authority to convey the Town’s interest in a parcel of land, known as MAP 8, BLOCK 3, LOT 4-2 or 74 Smith Corner Road for a fee, to the abutter, Wanda Bilodeau relative of Raymond & Amanda Bilodeau.
Selectman Gonyer asked if there is anyone to speak to this petition article; there was no response from the audience. Selectman Burrill talked about his issue with this warrant article in that is says for a fee and for a specific person.
Gonyer moved that the Board of Selectmen does not recommend warrant article #16 as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Resident Jamie Fitzpatrick asked when the 2015 actual expenditures will be available. Town Administrator Wrigley responded that State law requires that it is posted by January 25th.
Chairman Doggett closed the Public Hearing at 8:22pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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