RESULTS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Article #1: 104 yes / 45 no. Article Passed.
Article #2: 70 yes / 89 no. Article Failed.
Article #3: 49 yes / 66 no. Article Failed.
HISTORY & SUMMARY
Since the March 2008 Town Meeting, the Selectmen have voted to petition the Superior Court to allow them to hold a Special Town Meeting to appropriate funds to address serious deficiencies at the Highway Garage. Several public meetings and options have been considered. The initial May 27th hearing before the Superior Court was postponed to allow for a more thorough proposal that will address the needs. At the June 3rd meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Selectmen voted again to petition the Superior Court for a new date for a proposed Special Town Meeting. On July 7, 2008, the Superior Court approved the Special Town Meeting scheduled for July 29, 2008 at 7:00pm to be held at the Kearsarge Regional Elementary School in Bradford.
Under consideration are three warrant articles to:
- Appropriate funds for construction of a new 6,000 square foot Highway Garage facility on the site of the existing highway garage;
- Appropriate funds for construction of a new 2,400 square foot Salt Shed facility on the site of the existing highway garage;
- Appropriate funds for an environmental assessment of the lower transfer station lot.
The existing 3,800 square foot highway garage would be converted to cold storage use. The Town has received a proposal for construction of a new 6 ,000 square foot turnkey metal building on the site and received estimates on the costs to erect a compliant salt shed on the same lot. Total space of the new and converted spaces (combined working and storage) would be 9,800 square feet (does not include other facilities on the site).
SITE PLAN FOR PROPOSED NEW BUILDING
Click for a PDF of the complete site plan.
It is hoped that the Town will be able realize additional savings towards the cost of the salt shed through coordination of volunteer effort for its design, site work & erection.
Work will continue on this project and updates will be posted here and available through the Selectmen minutes posted at bradfordnh.org.
The Warrant Articles under consideration are:
TOWN OF BRADFORD
WARRANT ARTICLES FOR PROPOSED SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
TO BE HELD July 29, 2008
To the inhabitants of the town of Bradford in the County of Merrimack in said State qualified to vote in town affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet at the Bradford Elementary School on the Old Warner Road in said Bradford, NH on Tuesday, the 29th of July to act on the following articles:
Article 1: To see if the town will vote to rescind the votes on Article 15 and Article 37 at the March, 2008 Town Meeting and to raise and appropriate the sum of $350,000 (Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) for the construction of a new Town highway garage on the land currently occupied by the existing garage, and to authorize the issuance of not more than $200,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; furthermore, to authorize the withdrawal of $100,000 from the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund, and to authorize the withdrawal of $50,000 from the Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund for this purpose. The selectmen recommend this appropriation. The budget committee recommends this appropriation. (2/3 ballot vote required).
(NOTE: Article 15 at the March 2008 Town Meeting raised and appropriated the sum of $25,000 to begin necessary repairs to the current highway garage. Article 37 at the March 2008 Town Meeting withdrew $40,000 from the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of continuing research and preparation for a new highway garage and was amended at the meeting to designate a portion of those funds to be expended to conduct a Phase I environmental site assessment, and if necessary, a Phase II environmental site assessment, on the lower dump site to assess the suitability of the area for the future location of town facilities.)
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000 to build a salt shed on property currently owned by the Town of Bradford, on Cilley Lane, Bradford, NH and to authorize the issuance of not more than $100,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. The selectmen recommend this appropriation. The budget committee recommends this appropriation. (2/3 ballot vote required).
Article 3. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to conduct a Phase I environmental site assessment, and if deemed necessary by the Board of Selectmen, a Phase II environmental site assessment, on the lower dump site to assess the suitability of the area for the future location of town facilities. The selectmen recommend this appropriation. The budget committee does not recommend this appropriation.
[NOTE: If all three warrant articles pass, this would reduce the overall 2008 appropriations by $10,000 (by rescinding the article) and a new appropriation of $300,000 which would be a bond obligation and paid for over a period of time (under consideration are 5, 7 & 10 year terms; the first payment of which would not occur until 2009).]
FUNDING
