Sunday, February 28, 2010

Important Town Meeting

Meet The Candidates

Sunday, March 7, 2010
 Town Hall @ 1p

*Candidates running opposed will speak.  
*Unopposed candidates will be introduced  
*Questions will be taken from the audience.

Refreshments will be served
~All are encouraged to attend~

Sponsored by the Arlington Grange #139

Friday, February 26, 2010

Come One, Come All, Everyone Invited ..

WINCHESTER
Explain The ballot
Monday, March 1st at 7pm
V.F.W. Winchester
upstairs
All are welcome
Get A sample Ballot and Understand it.
NO CAMPAIGNING
If you can't make it and want a sample,
contact Brian Moser @ 239-8952 or;
Otis50@myfairpoint.net
 

Monday, February 22, 2010

Removing Political Signs is Childish and Against The Law

This is a message to the childish person(s) going around town tearing down the signs of the candidates running for town elections.  It would seem that some of the incumbents and/or their supporters are worried about their positions and that they may come out on the short end come March 9th. We have received reports of several of the new people running for office have had their signs removed from where they place them.

Grow Up, Stop Being So Childish

Removing the signs that someone paid for to announce their candidacy is against the law and punishable by a fine if you are caught. To stoop so low as to tear down someone's political sign really shows just how low someone will go to to get re-elected.

Friday, February 19, 2010

A Town In Deep Trouble .. But The Spending Goes On.

MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
WORK SESSION
Wednesday February 10, 2010

Board Members Present: Gustave Ruth, Chairman; Sherman Tedford; Roberta Fraser; Kenneth Berthiaume; and Kenneth Gardner. Also present Robert Gray, Town Administrator and Ellen Cole, Executive Assistant. Also present is Sharon Haley, Finance Supervisor; Peg Tatro, Treasurer; and Karey Miner, Deputy Tax Collector. The meeting convenes at 10:00AM.
1st Order of Business: Cash Flow/Budget Review
The Board scheduled a work session today to discuss revenues, cash flow and accounts payable to date, and to receive input from the Sharon, Peg, and Karey, who work with these figures on a daily basis. Sharon has prepared a forecast of payroll, school, & contractual obligations, including benefits through June 30, 2010; Peg has prepared the general fund checkbook balance; and Karey has prepared collections as of February 9, 2010, showing what is delinquent for taxes and what she anticipates as a timeframe for revenues to come in through end of June 2010. The Board reviews various paperwork, and believes as of today’s date the Town is short $500,000.00.
Karey created a comparison cash flow chart for February-June for 2008 ($3,488,020.59) to 2009 ($4,240,708.77). Karey informs the Board that in her experience, a lot of money comes in at the end of February because people use their income tax return to pay bills. In April, Karey will lien and deed properties. As of January 31, 2010, the budget printout shows 36.10%, which means the Town has spent 4% more and should have 40.32% remaining in the budget. Peg informs the Board that the Town needs to make four more payments to the school. Peg informs the Board of uncollected revenue as follows: $1,180,573.00 in 2008; $1,383,674.00 in 2009; and $1,503,536.00 in 2010. Selectman Tedford understands that based on Peg’s numbers the Town has $200,000-300,000.00 less cash. Peg says the Town is always playing catch up, but there is always a carry over of funds to the next fiscal year. Bob adds these numbers show a trend in the wrong direction, and believes it is prudent in theory to think we’ll be short on cash. Sharon makes the Board aware that as of February 9, 2010, $200,000.00 has been spent from the General Fund for APs. Selectman Tedford does some calculations with the understanding that there is roughly 20 weeks left of the fiscal year, with $878,000.00 left in the operating budget leaving $43,900.00 available each week. Sharon works the healthcare, payroll and insurance numbers with Selectman Tedford leaving $15,000.00/week available for APs. Sharon anticipates an additional $124,000.00 in revenue for the rest of the fiscal year. Peg says Water and Sewer are keeping up with their own funds and are up-to-date. Karey shows a printout of everything outstanding in the amount of $1,503,536.41, but finds the average monthly cost to be the same as last year.
The Board reviews the budget expenses and Sharon points out the departments which are overspent, to include property records, highway, legal, and building maintenance, to name a few. Bob informs the Board of a heavy stream of purchase requisitions for the highway, and the Board requests Dale to specify the vehicle on each req. The Board asks Bob to advise Department Heads to be more cognizant of what is bought because the numbers tell only $15,000.00/week is available for APs. Sharon explains on average we spend $300,000.00/month ($75,000.00/week). All parties involved are perplexed that the budget projection figure is off by 4%, and these calculations are not adding up. The Board decides the reduction in the operating budget ($80,000.00 less this fiscal year) and collection of revenue down, is creating a cash flow decrease of at least $200,000.00. The costs of doing a business have gone up, but the Town’s revenues are down significantly. At the end of March, the Board would like to be within the 25% available projection range for the budget. If the numbers are not looking good, Chairman Ruth suggests the Board review the budget line by line for each department. Karey reiterates that the Town liens properties in April for unpaid 2009 taxes, and the Board speculates that if she liens more properties, that would indicate the Town is not collecting a cash flow. Roughly 10% is delinquent taxes every year, and $837,547.00 is outstanding for 2009 taxes which were due January 1, 2010. Tax bills will go out in June, and money will be coming in. The Board would like to set a limit on monthly spending for next year, and Selectman Gardner suggests services may need to be reduced to work with the budget that we have in place. Priorities will need to be made for each department to stay within the percentage, and if the numbers don’t work, services and/or staff may be cut. The Board believes they will need to sit down with Department Heads to manage the budget before the next fiscal year. Selectman Tedford makes a motion to revisit this financial discussion at a work session on the last Wednesday (31) in March, 2010. Selectman Gardner seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.

The Town is in need of a revamping of the water department!

       MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
   Wednesday - July 15, 2009

Selectman Tedford reads an excerpt of an email from Gary Puffer to Bob Gray, dated June 19, 2009, which states, “…I NEED HELP! I cannot continue running the office and working in the water department without more help. Every week we fall further behind in our work due to me being in the office more than in the past…” A majority of the Selectmen understand this email to mean Gary is asking for office help. The Board has seen too many abatements due to data entry error, and hope having a secretary in the office will resolve these issues. Selectman Tedford is not in favor of having the Selectmen’s secretary assist with this function. Bob wants to make clear that he is to approach the person, who was laid off, and offer her position back, up to 20 hours/week, based on the prior motion made by Selectman Tedford, which still stands in effect. Selectman Tedford makes a motion to revisit the motion made to rehire the former Water Department secretary. Selectman Berthiaume seconds the motion and it passes 5-0. Selectman Tedford makes a new motion to meet with the Water Department Supervisor on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at a Work Session to see what he needs for manpower, and hours for a part-time secretarial position and office duty work. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.

MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Wednesday - August 26, 2009         WORK SESSION

5th Order of Business: Water and Sewer Secretary
Selectman Gardner is now present at 11:10AM. Selectman Tedford made a motion to rehire the part-time secretary to work up to 20 hours/week based on an email the Board read from Gary Puffer stating he needed the help, and that onsite work was suffering because of too much time spent in the office. Gary Puffer does not want to hire back the former water secretary, and the Town Personnel Policy makes clear that one year from time of layoff is required to offer a person’s job back, which time has expired. Gary explains paperwork in the office has not increased. It only takes 5.5 hours, per quarter to do data entry of water meter readings. Gary has previously asked during budget time to allow for more manpower. Gary thinks he cannot train someone to assist with the technical details of his job.

Rick Meleski says he could use a secretary to assist with updating property records and deficient customer lists, and document manholes because his office is not very efficient right now. Rick thinks you could hire someone with skills, maybe did previous work in water/sewer to do monthly permit requirements, calculations, paperwork for DMRs, and basic computer skills. Rick admits he functions now, but does think a more efficient technique is plausible. Selectman Fraser is concerned about the Water Department not returning customer calls promptly, to which Gary responds he and Ric Brooks check messages a couple of times daily, and Karey has been a great contact person when they are not in the office. Selectman Fraser likes the idea of having set hours for the Water Department, so a customer knows when they can stop by or call to speak with Gary. Again, Gary still feels his need for a secretary is limited. Gary is in favor of purchasing 2 water meter readers from a reputable, local manufacturer/distributor at a cost of $13,000.00 (for two meters). These meters radio read and show leaks, high or low usage, and would eliminate human error. Gary would rather do all paperwork himself, and doesn’t think there is space to put a person. Selectman Fraser suggests restructuring the Water Department’s office because of misuse of space. Gary is busy with well rehab, sewer plant, upgrades, manholes, road, and the Highway, Sewer and Water Departments do not have enough manpower to get these jobs done in a timely fashion. Gary has projects from the State (from before he took over), hydrants need to be replaced, flushing (required to do every 3 years), working wells, and a recent lightening strike.

The existing meters would not need to be replaced, as Gary has previously done research on replacing all meters in Town at a cost of $190,000.00 plus. Selectman Gardner suggests it would not be difficult to train a person to read these meters to free up some of Gary’s time. Selectman Fraser still feels a qualified person could be trained to assist with office demands, and suggests Gary comes up with a job description and hours necessary to help out.

Selectman Gardner would like to look at the Water, Sewer and Highway Departments, including John Gomarlo, to look at ways to combine duties and save the Town money. Selectman Gardner has been working on some facts and figures to consider changing the hierarchy by combining the Water and Sewer Departments. The Board briefly discusses the status of Ric Brooks’ CDL-B license, to which Gary responds he failed a written test by one question and could not retake the test yesterday because Gary needed Ric’s assistance with the wells. Selectman Fraser stresses that Ric needs to get with Dale so he can learn to drive the truck and take the test in Concord in that very same truck.
Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to revisit the hiring of the former water secretary for up to 20 hours/week. Selectman Gardner seconds the motion and it passes 4-0. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to withstand hire of the former water secretary for up to 20 hours/week because the Board is revisiting all job descriptions Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 4-0.

MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Selectman Tedford reviewed the proposed Water Department budget and there is no wage line item for a secretary. Selectman Tedford would like to know the status, to which Selectman Fraser responds Gary Puffer does not want a secretary, but Rick Meleski said he could use one. The Board had a lengthy discussion with Gary and Rick and decided to hold off on hiring for this position until a job description is created based on what both superintendents need for assistance. Selectman Gardner is still in favor of combining the Water and Wastewater Superintendent into one position, with one secretary to be shared between departments. The Board also suggests the secretary could be responsible for quarterly meter readings. These ideas will require further research.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

DEMOCRACY IS DEAD IN WINCHESTER UNLESS YOU STAND UP NOW

You be the judge as to what really took place, was this a legal, by the book Deliberative Session of the School warrants under the SB2 rule; or something else entirely. Please take special  notice of attorney Matt Uptown's comments to Tom O'Connor that everything will be straightened out in the minutes. ( Will this be another case of minutes written not to reflect what was actually said or what actually transpired; but that will cover the derrieres of those who would otherwise be caught distorting the truth to cover up the facts? You be the judge. )

The Moderator for the School Deliberative, Henry Parkhurst, began the evening by introducing the school board members seated in the front, the staff members and the elected officials (2 Selectmen & 5 Budget Committee Members) present.  He then asked for a show of hands of parents in attendance.  He proceeded to explain the etiquette of the evening, before stating, “Now, this can be a quick meeting.  If you vote yes we can be out of here in three minutes.  If you vote no, we will be here longer discussing it.”  ( Don't know about you; but this sounds like this meeting was orchestrated in advance )

No sooner had he finished reading the first warrant article than School Board member, Colleen Duquette, raised her hand and stated, “I move that we accept this warrant as written.”  Kevan Whippie (or the “young whipper snapper” that Ms. Pat Kassal fondly referred to him as), raised his hand to second her motion. There was no vote or discussion on this motion. Coleen then asked if this was the appropriate time to ad an amendment to the article.  The moderator informed her that it was and Kevan Whippie stood up, walked up to the microphone and started to read his amendment. "Point Of Order" The moderator interrupted him and informed him that Ms. Duquette had the floor.  She then stated, “Oh, that’s OK, he can read it for me.”
( now does this sound like a complete set-up, a conspiracy to create mischief or an attempt to take complete control of the meeting? ) The moderator then acknowledged Mr. Whippie as having the floor.  Already two signs that the entire meeting was being orchestrated by their script.  Fortunately for them, they had a small audience, since only approximately 40 town’s people bothered to show.

Mr. Whippie amended the first warrant’s dollar amount from the Budget Committee’s $9,747,111.00 back to the School’s original amount of $10,006,293.00.  He then gave an passionate speech about all of the long hours spent creating this budget and he wanted to honor the School for a job well done.  He felt it was a slap in the face not to use the school’s budget as originally requested.  He sat down and new resident Ms. Pat Kassal came to the microphone to give a speech about how wrong it was of the Town's Budget Committee to take away any programs or supplies from the teachers. ( This was not the purpose or intent of the reduction by the Town's Budget Committee .. read on )  She held back tears ( crocodile perhaps ) and apologized for her emotional outburst.  Mr. Parkhurst informed her that we should never apologize for our emotions. 
( What a performance, you'd have thought you were attending a school play, not a serious meeting )

Budget Committee member, Richard Horton, stood up to defend the amount of $259,182., that they came up with as only being an estimated figure of “fat” that the School Board padded the budget with each year and “returned” to the town every year.  Technically this amount never comes back, but is deducted from the following year’s budget.  The committee agreed that it was not necessary to continually give them an interest free loan of the tax payers money.  But his comments were lost on Middle School teacher,  Ms. Stephanie Tommilla who stood up next and said that all she needed this year was rulers for her students and to please allow this amount to go through, so she could get her rulers.  ( These are going to be very expensive rulers, I hope the students take very good care of them. )

Selectman Sherman Tedford, asked if the school board had met and  discussed, how they voted on the Budget Committee’s amount.  Colleen stated that they had not and the rest completely skirted the issue and started to provide answers to his question that had nothing to do with the question.  School board member, Brian Moser, held up his hand the entire time to respond and be acknowledged but was completely ignored.  The moderator then had SAU 38 Tom O’Connor respond and then asked Mr. Tedford if his question had been answered adequately, and he mumbled, “No.  They completely skirted the question.”  The moderator finally allowed Mr. Moser to speak,  “We voted 4-1 against the Budget Committees amount, with me in favor of it.”  The Chairman of the Board, Gary O’Neal then grabbed his microphone and corrected him by saying, “We strongly voted it down.”  Hard to give up free money, especially when you already have your greedy hands on it and spent some of it.

Theresa Sepe then inquired about the Special Education funds and how much money was deposited this year into that account - she wanted to know so that she could make an educated vote on Warrant Article No. 4.  Colleen Duquette did not know what the exact amount was, but thought that it was around $100,000.  Mr. O’Connor also did not know what the exact amount was - all the while the Budget Committee members (who appeared to have spent more time studying the numbers) said that it was $150,000. 

Town Clerk, James Tetreault, took the floor to ask if there were any purchases made in June of 2009.  He was informed that fuel was pre-purchased for this year and the 39 computers purchased.  He asked if the budget then showed a surplus for the fuel.  He too received a run around to finally hear that NO there was not a surplus. He then went to explain his reason for the questions and was cut short by the Moderator, “we are not here for your opinion.  Please sit down.”  He respectfully obliged. 

The moderator became incensed with Mr. Horton when he stepped up to the microphone to say that the amounts they had given were a lie and that the amount was $150,000.  Parkhurst informed him that he was not following the etiquette and to avoid using such language.  

Colleen then moved that the public input be closed and proceed to vote on the issues. ( This was illegal, there was already a motion on the floor to amend and seconded; but no vote taken, you can't make another motion until you vote on the one already before you )  There were three votes ( illegal ) and a great deal of confusion on what was being voted on.  In the end, Mr. Whippie/Colleen Duquette’s amendment passed and the meeting was suddenly over with no one ever discussing the remaining seven (7) warrant articles. 

Questions have been raised that the vote was illegal and the other warrants can not be on the ballot because they were not allowed to be discussed.  The attorney, Matt Uptown will have some explaining to do.  According to his conversation with Tom O’Connor, everything will be straightened out in the minutes.
( If no motion was made to accept and none to second, then they are null and void and will not be on the ballot. That is if these conspirators follow the written law )

When asked about the closed call on the last vote, Mr. Parkhurst explained that he never makes that call, he looks to the lawyer.  Several budget committee members spoke with Kevan following the proceedings and learned that he had no idea what the money he added was for (other than Colleen had asked him to present it for him).  He received kudos from the moderator on a job well done. 

So there you have it folk, the whole meeting was pre-orchestrated by Colleen Duquette, Kevan Whippie and Moderator Henry Parkhurst who screwed up right from the beginning when he let the cat out of the bag with his comments that " we'll be out of here in 3 minutes" That this crap was condoned by the board's attorney and a member of SAU 38 makes this smell even worse.

Are you going to stand for this kind of crap when it comes to spending your money? This has nothing to do with the education of your children, this is a fleecing of the taxpayer and a mockery of our rules of democracy.

Voting "NO" on the School Board budget warrant, will only cost us more money in the long run as the default budget that's over 10.6 million will kick in giving them even more of our tax dollars to spend on whatever they deem needed. Democracy is surely dead when tactics like this are used to get what you want .. more money.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE

Below is a letter written by Brian Moser in response to a letter, written by Bonnie Leveille, that appeared last week in the Keene Sentinel. Bonnie had taken grave offense to a warrant petition that had circulated and garnered 46 signatures, that asked voters if they wanted to do away with our current Conservation Committee. Information had come to light that the commission just wasn't doing what it was intended to do and was just another paper commission with no authority to enforce or enact any regulations. Bonnie even went so far as to hand out fliers she had taken the time to make up, at our Deliberative Session, defending the commission, which she is on and claimed the petition was circulated out of meanness and personal feelings which just was not true. Mr. Moser wanted to make everyone aware of these accusations and the untruthfulness of Bonnie's statements and set the record straight. He makes some very fine points in his response and we felt everyone should have the opportunity to read it and think about what he says. Our SB2 way of doing things has become a complete farce controlled by a few who claim they know what's best for the rest of us. .. read on:

I am writing in response to Bonnie Leveille's letter of Jan. 26. My first thought on reading her letter was of Germany in 1940. If I recall correctly, dissenting opinion and challenges to those in power were not welcome there and then either. I hope the parallel isn't warranted.

As a veteran, I believe that we have the best form of government in the world. I took an oath before I served, similar to the one taken by conservation commission members, to uphold the constitution.

I took my oath seriously, and I know that two of the most important rights we have are free speech and the right to petition our government for redress of grievances.

Accusing people of having "personality" issues when they disagree with you, and attempting to override people's rights to just put questions on the ballot does not seem to conform to the concept of upholding the constitution. 0ur system has worked for a couple of centuries because even people that we don't agree with have a right to speak, and in New Hampshire we can vote on local issues by ballot.

Trying to keep people who have followed all the legal processes to put an article on the warrant from doing so can't be described as anything other than an attack on our form of government.

What do those in power fear in just asking a question of the people? Are they afraid that if given the chance, the majority of people would not agree with them? Put the articles on the ballot and let the people vote!

A11 of us have the right to vote, and encouraging open and honest voting, on any topic is always better than bashing opponents to keep them from having fair and reasonable access to the warrant.

Perhaps some people have forgotten that government even a conservation commission, doesn't have any rights.
The people have rights and government has only authorities granted to it by We The People.

BRIAN MOSER
Winchester

Friday, February 5, 2010

CANDIDATES FOR MARCH TOWN ELECTIONS

NOTICE
RESIDENTS OF WINCHESTER
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES
HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED FOR THE BALLOT
BY THE TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE
FOR TOWN ELECTIONS TO BE
HELD ON MARCH 9, 2010.  
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT
PER THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE
THE POSITION ON THE BALLOT
BEGINS WITH THE LETTER “N”.

SELECTMAN – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2013
VOTE FOR TWO

ROBERT (BOB) DAVIS
JOHN PASQUARELLI
GUSTAVE (GUS) RUTH
THERESA SEPE
FRANCIS (MIKE) TOWNE

MODERATOR TWO YEAR TERM -TERM ENDS 2012
VOTE FOR ONE

KENNETH HARVEY

TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2013
VOTE FOR ONE

JAMES M. TETREAULT

SUPERVISOR OF THE CHECK LIST – SIX YEAR TERM  - TERM ENDS 2016
VOTE FOR ONE

CHRISTY MENARD

TRUSTEE OF TRUST FUNDS – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2013
VOTE FOR ONE

THEODORE WHIPPIE

CONANT PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2013 VOTE FOR THREE

MARILYN BAKER
BARBARA KELLEY

CONANT PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE TWO YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2012
VOTE FOR ONE:

ALICE J. PICARD

THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE – THREE YEAR TERM –TERM ENDS 2013 VOTE FOR TWO

DIANNE SKAWSKI-PRIDE
SHELLY WALKER
LINDA CROWELL
PEGGY CUSHING

BUDGET COMMITTEE – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2013
VOTE FOR THREE

JOHN PASQUARELLI
HARVEY SIERAN
FRANCIS (MIKE) TOWNE
HUBERT CROWELL
ROBERT DAVIS
KATHLEEN HEBERT

PLANNING BOARD – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM END 2013
VOTE FOR TWO

DEAN BEAMAN
ARTHUR CHARLAND
WILLIAM DOURDOUNAS
KIM N. GORDON
JOHN KEENAN
MARGARET SHARRA
FRANCIS (MIKE) TOWNE

PLANNING BOARD – TWO YEAR TERM – TERM END 2012
VOTE FOR ONE:

JOHN PASQUARELLI
BRIAN MOSER

MUSTERFIELD CEMETERY COMMITTEE - THREE YEAR TERM –TERM ENDS 2013 VOTE FOR ONE

KARI CALDWELL
ROBERT DAVIS
CHARLES GREGORY

Respectfully Submitted,
James M. Tetreault
Town Clerk/Tax Collector