NOTICE OF TOWN MEETING
Date: March 9, 2011
Place: Kearsarge Elementary School at Bradford; Old Warner Road, Bradford, NH
Time: 7:00 pm
Elections occur on March 8, 2011. Kearsarge Elementary School at Bradford; Old Warner Road, Bradford, NH.
Click here for a PDF file of the 2010 Town Report (1.405MB).
2011 Warrant Articles
Town of Bradford
State of New Hampshire
Town Warrant
The Polls will open from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on March 08, 2011.
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 eighth of March next, at eight o’clock in the morning to act on Articles 1-6. You are further notified to meet on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Bradford Elementary School on the Old Warner Road to discuss, debate and act upon the remaining Articles.
Article 1. To choose all necessary Town officials for the ensuing year.
Article 2. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 1 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: to add a Workforce Housing section to the Zoning Ordinance as required by RSA 674:58-61? The proposed ordinance would allow workforce housing in all zoning districts except the Conservation District and would allow the Planning Board to approve one or more incentives: smaller lot sizes, reduced setbacks and/ or reduced road frontage if the applicant demonstrates that the current regulations would make the cost of a project prohibitive for sale or rent to families who meet the guidelines. An assurance of continued affordability would be required for any approved project.
Article 3. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 2 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: to change the definition of Buildable Acre to read: Buildable Land: For the purposes of calculating the minimum lot size: each lot shall contain a minimum of 1 contiguous acre of land, exclusive of wetlands, steep slopes, and floodplains (as defined in the ordinance).
Article 4. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 3 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: to add a definition of Enlarge – to increase in any dimension – length, width, height, overall area or occupied floor area.
Article 5. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 4 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance that would allow building permits to be issued for specific lots that have no road frontage (those lots served only by the East Shore Footpath and the three islands on Lake Massasecum) and to require an acknowledgement of the limits of municipal liability to be recorded in the registry of deeds prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Article 6. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 5 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 5 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: allow wireless telecommunications facilities in forested areas to project 20 feet above the average tree canopy height in a one hundred and fifty (150) foot radius of the mount; exempt antennas that are free standing and 35 feet or less in height from the zoning ordinance; and allow new tower construction and co-location of wireless telecommunication in all districts by special exception subject to all applicable local, state and federal regulations and Site Plan Review approval by the Planning Board.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Million Forty two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars ($2,042,799.00) for the general municipal operation. This article DOES NOT include amounts appropriated by other warrant articles. (Majority vote required)
Selectmen Budget Committee
a. Executive 122,921.00 122,921.00
b. Elections and Vital records 6,030.00 6,030.00
c. Financial Administration 90,262.00 89,179.00
d. Revaluations 25,555.00 25,555.00
e. Legal 22,000.00 22,000.00
f. Employee Benefits- 297,492.00 297,442.00
g. Planning and Zoning 8,100.00 8,100.00
h. General Government Bldgs 50,400.00 50,400.00
i. Cemetery 18,065.00 18,065.00
j. Insurance 76,700.00 76,700.00
k. Other General Government 10,100.00 8,800.00
l. Police Department 315,163.00 315,163.00
m. Fire Department 59,250.00 59,250.00
n. Rescue Services 176,940.00 176,940.00
o. Building Code Department 10,325.00 9,325.00
p. Emergency Management 500.00 500.00
q. Highway Department 446,964.00 446,964.00
r. Bridge Maintenance 25.00 25.00
s. Street Lighting 4,500.00 4,500.00
t. Solid Waste Collection 47,850.00 47,850.00
u. Solid Waste Disposal 52,000.00 52,000.00
v. Inoculations 250.00 250.00
w. Welfare Administration 3,914.00 3,914.00
x. Welfare Vendor Payments 31,386.00 31,386.00
y. Parks and Recreation 1,725.00 1,725.00
z. Library 62,525.00 62,525.00
aa. Patriotic Purposes 14,500.00 14,500.00
bb. Community Center 52,050.00 52,050.00
cc. Other Conservation 740.00 740.00
dd. Long Term Notes 35,000.00 35,000.00
ee. Interest on T.A.N. 3,000.00 3,000.00
Total 2,046,232.00 2,042,799.00
Article 8: Shall the town adopt the Disabled Exemption under the provisions of RSA 72:37-b as follows: The exemption from assessed value for qualified taxpayers shall be $10,000. To qualify, the person must meet the criteria under Title II or Title XVI of the federal social security act, must occupy the property as their principle place of abode, must own the property individually or jointly, must have been a resident for at least five years or if owned by a spouse, they must have been married for at least five consecutive years; in the calendar year preceding April 1 must not have had a net income from all sources, of more than $25,000 if single or $35,000 if married; and must not own net assets not in excess of ($50,000) excluding the value of the person’s residence. Majority Vote required.
Article 9. Shall the town of Bradford modify the elderly exemptions from property tax, based on assessed value for qualified taxpayers, to be as follows: for a person 65 years of age (effective April 1st of each year), through 74 years of age $25,000; for a person 75 years of age up to 80 years $40,000; for a person over 80 years of age or older $50,000.00. To qualify, the person must have been a resident of New Hampshire for at least three (3) consecutive years, own real estate individually or jointly, or if the real estate is owned by such person’s spouse, they must have been married to each other for at least five (5) consecutive years. In addition, the taxpayer must have a net income of not more than $25,000 or if married a combined net income of not more than $35,000; and own net assets not in excess of $50,000 (excluding the value of the person’s residence). Majority Vote required.
Article 10. Shall the town adopt the Blind exemption of $15,000 from the assessed value of a person’s residential real estate for the qualified taxpayers. To qualify, the person must have been determined to be legally blind by the blind services program, bureau of vocational rehabilitation, department of education. Majority Vote required.
Article 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for the design of Bridge #161/145 on Breezy Hill Road. This will be a non lapsing appropriation until the money is spent or December 31, 2016 whichever occurs first. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a seven year lease/purchase agreement for Three Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Nine dollars ($364,739.000) for a grader and backhoe loader for the Highway Department and to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixty Thousand and Eighty Five dollars ($60,085.00) for the first year’s payment. This agreement contains a fiscal funding clause (escape clause). Passage of this article will cause Article 13,14,15,16 to be withdrawn and Article 20 to be reduced to Ten Thousand dollars ($10,000.00) Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend. (3 Yes – 4 No votes ).
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a seven year lease/purchase agreement for Ninety Two Thousand Thirty Four dollars ($92,034.00) for a backhoe loader for the Highway Department and to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixteen Thousand Two Hundred dollars ($16,200.00) for the first year’s payment. This agreement contains a fiscal funding clause (escape clause). Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends. (3Yes Votes-1 abstained).
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a seven year lease/purchase agreement for Two Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Five dollars ($272,705.00) for a grader for the Highway Department and to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Five dollars ($43,885.00) for the first year’s payment. This agreement contains a fiscal funding clause (escape clause). If this article passes article 16 will be withdrawn. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee Does Not recommend. (1Yes vote 2 No Votes – 1 abstained).
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Ninety Two Thousand Thirty Four dollars) ($92,034.00) for the purchase of a backhoe loader for the Highway Department; and to further withdraw Eighty Three Thousand dollars ($83,000.00) from the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve with the remaining Nine Thousand and Thirty Four dollars ($9,034.00) to be raised by taxation. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Thirty Six Thousand dollars ($36,000.00) for the repair of the Town grader. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 2016 or until the money is expended whichever occurs first. If Article 12 or Article 14 passes this article will be withdrawn. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eleven Thousand dollars ($11,000.00) for dust control. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 2016 or until the money is expended whichever occurs first. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends (3Yes – 1 No Vote)
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Four Thousand dollars ($24,000) to slip line a culvert on Davis Road. Selectmen recommend unanimously. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Eight Thousand dollars ($48,000.00) to chip seal East Washington Road. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 2016 or until the money is expended whichever occurs first. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 20: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to fund the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. If Article 15 is passed this article will be reduced to Ten Thousand dollars ($10,000) Majority Vote required. Selectmen recommend unanimously. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Four Thousand Dollars ($24,000.00) to purchase a new police cruiser. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) to be placed in the Winter Salt and Fuel emergency capital reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for Asphalt Road repair and shimming. This is a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 31, 2016 or until used whichever occurs first. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the Bridge Emergency Repair Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for the Ambulance Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for the Town Facilities Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for the Emergency Repair of Town Buildings Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand dollars ($20,000) to insulate and perform other maintenance repairs on the town hall. This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until December 31, 2016 or until the money is spent whichever occurs first. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) for the Fire Dept Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the Communications Capital Reserve Fund. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to fund the revaluation capital reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for the Fire Dept Building Repair Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Five thousand dollars ($45,000) to complete the Transportation Enhancement grant for sidewalks received in 2010. Thirty six thousand dollars ($36,000) will be from NH DOT Transportation Enhancement funds (80%) and the remaining Nine Thousand Dollars ($9,000.00) (20%) will come from Fund Balance. No money will be raised by taxation. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be deposited in the Main Street Sidewalk Improvements Capital Reserve. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee. recommend unanimously.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust. Majority Vote required. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 36. To see if the municipality will vote to discontinue the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve created in 2002. Said funds, with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, are to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund. (Majority Vote required). Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee recommends (6 Yes – 1No vote )
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,750.00). for the Bradford Newbury Sutton Youth Sports. Majority Vote required. Selectmen recommend – two yes votes and one abstain. Budget Committee recommend unanimously.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) for the Milfoil project at the Town Boat launch. Majority Vote required. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends unanimously.
Article 39. Town hall restoration resolution – To see if the town will vote to support continued renovation and restoration of the two hundred plus year old Bradford Town Hall for future generations of town residents. Through grants, matching funds and capital reserves the town will systematically phase improvements to maintain the historic nature of this structure while improving the functionality of the space.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to reinstate the BACC Director position to full time, as had been previously voted by the Town, inclusive of Parks and Recreation activities, and increase the budget by $31,845 to cover nine months of additional wages and employee benefits for the reinstated position. This article will be designated a special warrant article for this warrant. BY PETITION Board of Selectmen unanimously does not recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend (3 Yes – 4 No Votes))
Article 41. To see if the Town of Bradford will vote to maintain the status, mission and operation of the Bradford Area Community Center as a taxpayer maintained building steered by a Governance board comprised of citizens, that building to provide space and social, recreation and educational programs for not-for-profit organizations, community groups, children, youth, families and older adults in the greater Bradford area. That the usage and development of the Bradford Area Community Center continue to be designated as an intergenerational community center that provides needed educational, social, medical, and human services to ALL individuals and their families in the greater Bradford Area and more specifically, that the Bradford Area Community Center available space not be permanently occupied, used or leased to for profit agencies, businesses or others that do not fit into said mission of the Bradford Area Community Center. BY PETITION
Article 42. 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.
Bradford Board of Selectmen
Peter Fenton, Chairman
Jack Meaney
Harold Wright