Minutes and Notice of Special Town Meeting Sept 1, 2009 –BradfordSchool 7:00pm
Rules governing the special town meeting for ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds must be held only for this purpose. Our meeting will have two sessions. One for the ARRA funds only and the second to consider TIF District and the Municipal and Transportation Capital Reserve Fund issue. They will be held on the same day, with the second session immediately following the close of the first.
Town of Bradford
State of New Hampshire
Town Warrant and Minutes
To the inhabitants of the town ofBradfordin theCountyofMerrimackin 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, September 1, 2009 at 7:00pm to act on the following article:
The meeting convened at 7:00 P.M. with approximately 125 voters in attendance. The pledge of allegiance was led by Jonathan Steiner. The head table was introduced and the rules for the meeting were explained. Voters were cautioned to go to the microphones and to have their ballots handy in the case of a show of hands vote.
Town Meeting session #1
Article 1: Shall the town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $64,511 to rehire a full time officer for the police department with a salary of $38,600 and benefits of $25,911. Said hiring to be conditioned upon receiving a grant for 100% of the officers salary and benefits from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program, said funds to be received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which if awarded would provide salary and benefits for three (3) years and require the town to fund the position awarded under the grant for the 4th year. If approved, funding for this position will be contained in the operating budget for the 4th year.
Annie Ball questioned the wording of the grant and wished to know if it meant that we would simply rehire those officers dismissed at the close ofMarchTownMeeting. Peter explained that the new position would be filled through application, much the same as a new position without the grant. She also wanted to know what would happen if the grant was not awarded. Peter stated that if the grant was not awarded then the extra officer would not be hired. Finally Ms. Ball wanted to know if there was an amount available for the 4th year cost. Cheryl informed her that the cost would be the same as the other three years, with the exception of any insurance increases. Peter explained that we have been having an ongoing problem with the decrease of manpower in the Police Dept. The State Police is on call, but does not always arrived in a timely manner. This creates rescue issues. This is a good way to replace an officer. Steve Patten felt that the decision was made in March and should stand. Expending money at this time could conceivably put a burden on generations to come. Belinda Glennie wanted to know what the formula was for the number of police officers and do they have to live inBradford. It was explained that the number of officers is determined by the need and it was voted by the town that the officers do not have to reside inBradford. Lester Gordon stated that the grant money is already put aside. Its tax money, we‘ve already paid for. Other communities have been receiving monies and he felt that it was our turn. Steve Patten felt that we should say no and maybe other towns would do the same thing.
Perry Teele stated that he felt it was a big government stick and that the town has more police than it needs now. Stop spending money for things we don‘t need. Mark Ashton spoke next in favor of the grant. He feels that a life is worth more than saving money. Laurie Brown a, rescue member, said she was disappointed in the lack of police and the effect it has had on rescue runs. It becomes a dangerous or life threatening situation when an officer is unavailable. Annie Ball wanted to see some police activity figures and was told that they have been published in the local paper. What is the difference between last year‘s figures and this year. Police Chief Jim Valiquet explained that according to the FBI one officer for every 1000 residents is required. That equates to 5 officers being required weekly. Since the change in the amount of officers the State Police are not responding and they will not give the local police department information on the amount of calls to which they respond. This makes comparison figures next to impossible. Currently we are down 1 Full-Timer and 2 Part-Timers. There is an expense now in recouping them.
Article Carried
Session #1 is adjourned.
Town of Bradford
State of New Hampshire
Town Warrant
To the inhabitants of the town ofBradfordin theCountyofMerrimackin said State qualified to vote in town affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet at theBradfordElementary SchoolonOld Warner Roadin saidBradford,NHon Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 7:00pm to act on the following articles:
Session #2 is opened.
Town Meeting session #2
Article 1: To see if the town will vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 162-K relative to Municipal Economic Development and Revitalization Districts so that the Town will thereafter have all the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities set forth in that chapter?
Nancy McEachern inquired if there were any other districts now set aside and was informed that there was a Lake Todd Village District so this request would not be precedent setting. Article Carried
Article 2: Assuming the adoption by the town ofArticle1, shall the Town ofBradfordpursuant to RSA 162-K:3 and RSA 162-K:5, vote to adopt the ―Downtown Bradford Improvement Tax Incremental Finance District‖, as approved by the Board of Selectmen on July 28th, 2009 whose boundaries shall consist of the following 122 parcels encompassing approximately 340 acres bounded byWest Main Street, EastMain Street,Old Warner Roadand State Highway 103, resolving that this action will serve public purposes as referred to in RSA 162-K:5? Said district shall be administered by the Board of Selectmen, or by an appointee of the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen will appoint a Downtown Bradford Improvement Tax Incremental Finance District Advisory Committee, a majority whom shall be owners or occupants of real estate within the District, to advise the Selectmen about the implementation and maintenance of the District. Properties will include: Tax Map 3, Lots 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 90, 93, 94 (including sub lots 1-25), 95-99, 101-104, 110; Tax Map 17, Lots 1-15, 21-25, 27–39, 40, 44-45, 47-62, 69-70; Tax Map 16, Lots 75, 83-85, 87–105, 115, 116. The passage of this Article is contingent upon the passage of Article 1.
Mark Ashton wanted to have the proposal explained. Steven Heavener from Capital Regional Development Commission explained the inner workings of having a ―TIF‖ District. Jon wanted to know if the county or school portion changed, would that portion go into the ―TIF‖ He was told no, just the reassessed values within the district. Christopher Frey wanted to know if incremental increases went to ―TIF‖ or into the main stream. Mr. Heavener stated that the incremental increases still go to the same place. Sue McKevitt wanted to know if the town did not establish a plan would there still be a fee. Mr. Heavener replied you only encounter a fee when there is a plan in place. The administrative work could be done within the town. Kimberly Firth wanted to know where the new money went. It was explained that it stayed in the district. Mark Ashton thought it to be an ad valorem tax. We definitely need the improvements. Nancy McEachern wanted to know why we had to have a special meeting and why this map. It was explained that a maximum of 8% property of the town could be involved for the ―TIF‖ District. Cheryl explained that everyone was present anyway so timing was good. John Harris was pleased to see that the issue of sidewalks was going to be addressed. He felt that the proposal was a win-win situation.
Steve Patten didn‘t feel that any changes were necessary as the town had been functioning just fine for over 220 years. Everett Kittredge wanted to clarify the fact that if a new house was built that the entire tax would go into the ―TIF‖ District. In which case all of the expense incurred by that new home would be picked up by the rest of the town. Just the town portion would go into the ―TIF‖ District. Richard Hackman wanted to know if #2 And #3 have to pass together. Jon explained that it was easier to pass both at the same time. Sue McKevitt had the same question. If #3 is not passed at the same time, #2 becomes moot. Jon Marden thought it was too much money. He felt that the town meeting is the better place to raise and appropriate funds. He felt that this divides the citizenry. Cheryl Behr as resident stated the Selectmen do not do the spending town meeting does, also that the district can be amended or voted back into the general fund. Annie Ball wished to check on the fact that the Town Meeting released the funds and not the Selectmen. She was answered in the affirmative. Marcia Keller asked if the plan could change direction if the town desired. Mr. Heavener replied that the plan would be adopted in a year or two. Jon Marden observed that this would be a living document. Steve Patten felt that the town meeting has the same function as this proposal as the voting body decides what does and does not pass at any given meeting. Sarah Hirsch asked if the sidewalks were the only improvement in the ―TIF‖ District. Mr. Heavener replied that any improvement could be addressed and the other boards would continue to function as always. As for individual businesses there is a revolving loan fund available to help them and there are no limitations for those loans. Jon Marden wanted to know if after 10 years there were money in the account and no one wanted to spend it what happens to the money, can it be dissolved. Yes. Could the money be used outside of the District. The money can only be used outside of the district if that new location was made part of this or another district. Multiple districts are a possibility. Andrew Pinard stated that by passing this article we would be making a commitment to Bradford‘s future and helping to develop the Main St. area.