DRAFT DRAFT
TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING
FEBRUARY 7, 2008
7:00 PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Bob Stewart, Chair called the Public Hearing to order with Jack Meaney, George Morse, Jane Lucas, Marlene Freyler, Peter Fenton, Selectman representative and Cheryl Behr, Administrator present. Gary Wall was absent.
Review and consideration of the February 5, 2008:
Motion was made by George Morse, seconded by Jane Lucas to accept the minutes as presented. Motion carried 4-0.
Warrant Articles:
The following Warrant Articles information was handed out to the Budget Committee members as well as to the public who attended:
The Polls will open from 8:am to 7:00pm on March 11, 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 Old Warner Road in said Bradford, NH on Tuesday, the eleventh of March next, at eight o’clock in the morning to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To choose all necessary Town officials for the ensuing year.
Article 2. To adjourn the meeting until Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:00pm, at the Bradford Elementary School on the Old Warner Road. The raising of money and remaining articles in the Warrant to be taken up at the adjourned meeting.
Article 3. To see of the town will vote to raise and appropriate One Million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,450,000.) (gross budget) to construct a 10,800 square foot highway garage and a 2,400 square foot salt shed on town owned property at map 3, lot 110. (upper site) and to authorize the issuance of not more than One Million Three Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Dollars ($1,365,000.) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the board of selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term, and other details Further, to authorize the withdrawal of Eighty Five Thousand Dollars ($85,000.) from the Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund created for this purpose. The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. The budget committee recommends this appropriation. (2/3 ballot vote required.)
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Six Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($690,000.) (gross budget) to construct a 3,300 square foot police station on town owned property at map 3, lot 110. (upper site), and to authorize the issuance of not more than Six Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Dollars ($644,000.) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the board of selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term, and other details. Further, to authorize the withdrawal of Forty Six Thousand Dollars ($46,000.) from the New Police Facility Capital Reserve Fund created for this purpose. The selectmen recommend this appropriation. The budget committee recommends this appropriation. (2/3 ballot vote required.)
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars ($1,350,000) for the purpose of building a highway garage and salt shed on the lower portion of the transfer station lot. This will also provide for the issuance of not more than One Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars ($1,350,000) of bonds or notes for this purpose. This warrant will also authorize the Selectmen as agents to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. Paper Ballot required. By Petition. Selectmen do not recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend. (2/3 ballot vote required.)
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($201,250.) to construct a road to improve access to the existing transfer station. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until the funds are expended or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to purchase road access from the State of NH for map #3 lot 110 and to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.) for that purpose. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until the funds are expended or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Million Six Hundred Ninety Three Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty Eight dollars ($1,693,528.00) for the general municipal operation. This article DOES NOT include amounts appropriated by other warrant articles. (Majority vote required)
a. Executive 106,170.00
b. Elections and Vital records 11,716.00
c. Financial Administration 86,940.00
d Revaluations 24,400.00
e. Legal 17,000.00
f. Employee Benefits-excludes elected officials 218,069.00
g. Planning and Zoning 23,500.00
h. General Government Buildings 42,432.00
i. Cemetery 18,918.00
j. Insurance 52,800.00
k. Other General Government 20,450.00
l. Police Department 276,110.00
m. Fire Department 92,000.00
n. Rescue Services 14,525.00
o. Building Code Department 14,150.00
p. Emergency Management 1,000.00
q. Highway Department 368,847.00
r. Bridge Maintenance 100.00
s. Street Lighting 3,800.00
t. Solid Waste Collection 52,303.00
u. Solid Waste Disposal 60,600.00
v. Inoculations 2,000.00
w. Welfare Administration 4,155.00
x. Welfare Vendor Payments 25,000.00
y. Parks and Recreation 11,540.00
z. Library 58,480.00
aa.Patriotic Purposes 15,500.00
bb.Community Center 66,278.00
cc.Other Conservation 745.00
dd.Interest on T.A.N. 4,000.00 Total $1,693,528.00
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to authorize the board of selectmen to choose the date for the second session of the town meeting (the business meeting) which may be a date other than the Wednesday after the town election. This article is necessary because the original vote to authorize two sessions of the town meeting included language that requires the second session to be held on the Wednesday following the town election, giving the selectmen no flexibility to choose a different day.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to establish the Rescue Squad as a unit within the town Fire Department under the authority of the Fire Chief, pursuant to RSA 154:1.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500) for the first year of management reviews by an outside contractor to evaluate and improve town department efficiency. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend.
Chris Frey questioned the Budget Committee as to why they did not recommend this Article. Response was “ Seemed $3,500 for each department was too much money to have to be voted on each year to cover all department, one being done each year.”
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.) to provide “on call” and training wages and administrative costs for rescue personnel for the nine month period of April to December 2008.
Article 13. To raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand ($25,000) to begin necessary repairs to the current highway garage. This article will be withdrawn if the bond issue for the highway garage passes. This is a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 31, 2013 or until used. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to fund the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee Recommends.
Article 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) for Road Sealant. This is a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 31, 2013 or until used. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to purchase a parcel of land now owned by Richard and Anne Branch, identified as Map 3 Lot 107 for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00). The purchase of this property is needed to accommodate the Jones Road Bridge reconstruction project, and will replace easement rights to the same parcel previously authorized by the 2007 town meeting and negotiated by the Selectmen. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to complete the paving between the intersection of Jones Road and Cheney Hill road. This will be a non lapsing appropriation to continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve. This article will be withdrawn if the bond passes for the new Highway building. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Bridge Repair Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for the Ambulance Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for the Town Facilities Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for town hall improvements. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until the money is spent or until December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for the Repair of Town Buildings Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) for the Fire Dept. Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for the Fire Dept. Building Repair Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) for the Police Building Capital Reserve. This article will be withdrawn if the Bond passes for the New Police Facility. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of Seventy Five Thousand dollars ($75,000) for the design of Bridge #098-114 on West Road. This will be a non lapsing appropriation until the money is spent or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500) for road signs to complete the 9-1-1 renumbering process. This will be a non lapsing appropriation continued until the money is used or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for the Main Street Sidewalk Improvements Capital Reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) for the Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Dollars ($2,880) to reimburse the Fire Fighters Association for the money originally invested in the forestry truck. This truck was sold at state auction in 2007 and will be funded from surplus. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,750) for the Bradford Newbury Sutton Youth Sports.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000) for the Boat launch.
Article 35. To create a Reevaluation Capital Reserve Fund for the 2010 state determined review, and to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to fund the reserve. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to withdraw Forty Thousand ($40,000) from the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve for the purpose of continuing research and preparation for a new highway garage. This article will be withdrawn if the Bond for a new garage is approved. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to accept the dedication of the private road known as “Chestnut Hollow” as a Class V town road. The road is located adjacent to Forest Street in Bradford, and meets the requirements of the Land Subdivision Regulations for the Town of Bradford as adopted in 1986. By Petition.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor:
Resolved: We the citizens of Bradford, NH believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair. The property tax has become unjust and unfair. State leaders who take a pledge for no new taxes perpetuate higher property taxes. We call on our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor to reject the “Pledge”, have an open discussion covering all options and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes. By Petition.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to accept the reports of the Town Officers. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
The Budget Committee gave a round of applause in thanking George Morse for his tenure of 24 years of serving on the Budget Committee.
Motion was made, seconded and carried to adjourn at 7:20pm.
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary