TOWN MEETING WARRANT
SB2
TOWN OF WINCHESTER
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
To the inhabitants of the Town of Winchester, in the County of Cheshire in said state, qualified to vote in Town affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet in the Town Hall in said Winchester on Saturday the 7th of February next 2009 at nine o’clock in the forenoon to discuss, debate and amend warrant articles #1 through #40 and to receive the reports of the selectmen, town treasurer and other town officers including the agents and committees and act thereon. Final vote will be by the official ballot on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.
You are hereby notified to meet in the Town Hall in said Winchester on Tuesday, the 10th of March next 2009 at eight o’clock in the forenoon to act upon the following subjects. The Polls not to close an hour earlier than seven of the clock in the afternoon.
ARTICLE 1. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of up to Three Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,400,000.00) for the purpose of preparing plans and specifications, and for the reconstruction of the Winchester Wastewater Treatment Plant, that will qualify the Town for federal and state funds, such sum to be raised by serial bonds and notes, under and in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (NHRSA 33:1 et seq as amended) and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes, to determine the interest rate thereon, and to take such actions as may be necessary to effect the issuance, negotiation, sale and delivery of such bonds or notes as shall be in the best interest of the Town of Winchester; and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, accept, and expend grants, donations, and gifts, and to participate in the State Revolving Fund, established pursuant to RSA 486:14.
To be enacted, this article requires a 3/5 vote.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 9-2
ARTICLE 3. Shall the Town of Winchester raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $3,555,071.00? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $3,564,362.00, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Winchester or by law or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 10-1
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $40,000.00 for the Town’s share of State road grant reconstruction costs for bridges and place it in the non-lapsing Capital Reserve Fund established at the March 2006 Town Meeting under Article 19 for that purpose?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $28,677.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund established under Article 16 at the 2006 Town Meeting for the purpose of performing the assessing update or revaluation of the real estate in the Town of Winchester scheduled for 2009-2010?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate $24,800.00 as the fourth of five lease-to-purchase payments for the 2004 International dump truck, plow, and sander package?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Account under the provisions of RSA 35:1 III for the purpose of future upgrades and/or purchase of the town’s computers and networking system, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be placed in this fund with the Board of Selectmen being the agent of said fund?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 9-1, 1 abstention
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for promoting commercial and industrial development in the Town, and name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend said funds? This is to be a non-lapsing account.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be placed in the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Fund established in 2006 at the Town Meeting under Article 14?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 10-1
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,340.00 to payoff frozen sick time for Town employees?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 10-1
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to hire a professional firm to prepare an impact fee schedule?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 to support the annual Pickle Festival?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an amount not to exceed $18,000.00 to be deposited in the Evergreen Expendable General Care Trust Fund established by an affirmative vote by the 1998 Town Meeting as Article 11; the source of these funds to be withdrawn from the surplus generated by the perpetual care funds already established for the care and maintenance of lots within the Evergreen cemetery, and not from taxation.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 11-0
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 for the purpose of subsidizing youth recreation in the Town to be paid to the E.L.M. Memorial Community Center on a contractual basis?
Inserted by petition
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 9-2
ARTICLE 15. Are you in favor of raising and appropriating the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for the support of The Winchester Learning Center, provided that the Winchester Learning Center raises an equal or greater amount from other sources?
Inserted by petition
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 3-0, 2 abstentions
Recommended by the Budget Committee 6-5
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate up to $10,000.00 to reimburse the Conant Public Library Investment Account at Ocean Bank for the purchase a new boiler for the Conant Public Library?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
Recommended by the Budget Committee 9-2
ARTICLE 17. Shall the Town vote to discontinue the Class 6 portion of Fullam Pond Road?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
ARTICLE 18. Shall the Town vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 36-A:4-a, I(a) to authorize the conservation commission to expend funds to purchase interests in land outside the boundaries of our municipality, subject to the approval of the local governing body?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will adopt the provisions of RSA 466:30-a which make it unlawful for any dog to run at large, except when accompanied by the owner or custodian, and when used for hunting, herding, supervised competition and exhibition or training for such?
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the Reassessment Capital Reserve Fund established by Warrant Article #21 at the May 1987 Town Meeting? These funds were expended in full June 1996. This is a clean-up Warrant Article per the Department of Revenue.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0
ARTICLE 21. “Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 72:37b, for an optional tax credit of $750.00 on residential property for the expanded local property tax relief for all residents who have been declared to be disabled under the U.S. Federal Social Security Act?”
ARTICLE 21. cont. Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 22. Pursuant to RSA 41:8-d, “Are you in favor of decreasing the board of selectmen to 3 members?”
Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 23. In accordance with RSA 231:62 are you in favor of electing a Highway Agent for a three year term?
Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 24. Shall the Town, in accordance with RSA 79-A:25, deposit in the conservation fund up to $4,000.00 of the revenues per year collected in Land Use Change taxes, and deposit the balance of all such revenues in the general fund for the purpose of reducing taxation?
Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town of Winchester will accept the road known as Ashten Rue in the subdivision known as Woodward Heights Subdivision, as a town road.
Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 26. We the town’s people of Winchester, New Hampshire would like to have it put into the town’s policy that the animal control officer position be elected rather than being appointed by town officials.
Inserted by petition
ARTICLE 27. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #1 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article III, Q to read: Uncommon multiple uses of a property will require a special exception.
ARTICLE 28. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #2 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article III, T: Replace paragraph on signage with a new sign ordinance.
ARTICLE 29. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #3 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article III, J: Duplexes and multifamily housing, decrease minimum lot size requirements and density would be calculated by number of bedrooms and not units.
ARTICLE 30. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #4 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article III, K: Delete conversion and accessory apartments terms and consolidate the minimum housing requirements. (Homes are either single family, duplex or multifamily).
ARTICLE 31. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #5 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article XXII(Table of usage): Updates to A4, A5a, A5b, H1 & F5.
ARTICLE 32. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #6 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article XXI (Definitions): Delete A, accessory apartments & H, Conversion.
ARTICLE 33. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #7 as proposed by the Planning Board? Adopt the Small Wind Energy Ordinance.
ARTICLE 34. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #8 as proposed by the Planning Board? To amend Article III, U: Delete existing paragraph and replace with a new Steep Slopes Ordinance?
ARTICLE 35. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #9 as submitted by the Board of Selectmen? To amend Article XXII,(Table of Usage) J3: Change J3 and add J4 & J5; To allow composting facilities by special exception in the agricultural & commercial districts, subject to multiple conditions and still prohibit facilities designed to incinerate or dispose of solid waste, unless owned by the town and continue to allow storage of waste generated on site pending removal, recycling or collected by volunteers.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 36. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #10 as submitted by petition? To amend by removing all the Planned Residential Development Ordinances?
Not recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 37. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #11 as submitted by petition? To request the Planning & Zoning Board to uphold & enforce the Steep Slopes Ordinance?
ARTICLE 38. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #12 as submitted by petition? To amend by removing all the Back Lot Ordinances.
Not recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 39. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #13 as submitted by petition? To amend by prohibiting the installation of any new underground or fuel storage tanks in the downtown business district zone.
Not recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 40. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #14 as submitted by petition? To amend with new language, item #3 under J, Industrial uses, to allow by special exception facilities designed to process, recycle, treat and transport solid waste, refuse and putrescible materials as defined by RSA’s only in the agricultural or highway commercial districts with restrictions.
Not recommended by the Planning Board
We, the undersigned Selectmen of the Town of Winchester, hereby certify on the 26th day of January, 2009 an Attested Copy of the Original Warrant was posted at the place of meeting within specified, at the Post Office in Winchester and the Post office in Ashuelot, New Hampshire being public Places in said Town.
True Copy of Warrant-Attest:
Sherman Tedford, Chairman
Kenneth Berthiaume
Roberta Fraser
Gustave Ruth
Theodore G. Whippie
Then personally appeared, Sherman Tedford, Kenneth Berthiaume, Roberta Fraser, Gustave Ruth and Theodore G. Whippie, Selectmen of the Town of Winchester, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by them is true.
Before me:
Ellen A. Cole
Notary Public
Commission Expires:
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14 comments:
How come our board of selectmen didn't recommend Article #21 for a little tax relief for us disabled people in town. They sure can give out raises to undeserving people ok, what's the story here?
I don't see anything wrong with giving disabled taxpayers a break after all they only get so much to live on and I know it doesn't go far. But the rest of these spending requests are just plain foolishness when the economy is so bad so many people losing their jobs and houses and others can't even afford to put decent food on the table. We surely need new people to run for town government and change this asking for more money every year. Just where in hell do these fools think people are going to keep coming up with extra money for all of this stuff?
If you don't get the Keene sentinel, go to the sentinel on line and check out today's editorial. The state is in trouble, and we just keep spending like money grows on trees. The for sale signs will just keep going up if spending is not stopped until we get out of this economic slump.
Just this morning, caterpillar co, announced there will be 20,000 people laid off because of the economy. Pfizer pharmaceutical 8,000. Home Depot 7,000. Texas instruments 3,400. Microsoft 5,000. It doesn't take a rocket scientist of a selectman to figure this one out. Stop spending and help ease the financial pain for the taxpayers for a change. The government is predicting 10% unemployment as this thing unwinds this year. Cut that budget now, before people start to lose their homes.
I have to admit - I don't understand most of this at all .. How can someone like myself who does not understand all the wherefores and whatalls make a true and honest decision when it comes time to vote... could someone please re-write all of this in Lament terms? ... will my going to the deliberative sessions really help make more sense of all this? Or will I still be lost?
Announced this morning again: IBM will be laying off workers in VT beginning today. Corning in NY will cut 3500 jobs. Every day, major companies are cutting workers and that will have a trickle down affect as it gets closer and closer to home. Home values fell 18% in December, but our taxes keep going up. To do nothing will envite disaster on the home front steps very soon. The time for change is now !!
Here's the deal people. We have cut our expenses. Now it's time for the town to do the same. I compare it to going to a party-when refreshments are supplied you enjoy to the hilt but when you have to supply your own for a specific period you take care. We need to tell the selectmen that the party is over and they need to supply their own. We can not afford it.
I agree. This has to stop before too long. The party is over and it is time to clean up
To the person asking for some help understanding what all this means, I'll see if I can answer your questions and clear up some of your confusion.
Citizens have the opportunity to openly discuss and debate the issues affecting them, and by their votes direct how those issues will be managed for the coming year. Thus what you have is the New England town meeting, which is one of the purest expressions of democracy in the world. Since 1969, towns have had the option to divide the conduct of the meeting into two parts, a day for an election of officers by official ballot, and a separate time as set by the selectmen for the conduct of town business. Since 1995, towns, school districts and village districts have had the option of adopting the official ballot referendum town meeting, which calls for a first session for discussing and amending warrant articles ( the Deliberative Session ) and a second official ballot session for final voting ( March Election).
The purpose for the Deliberative Session is to assure that all citizens have an opportunity to know in advance the issues that will be discussed, and also enables the selectmen to create a budget for the community that addresses all of the functions of municipal government that are likely to be conducted during the coming year. The Selectman's warrants are basically proposals for more spending, which will increase the yearly budget and raise our property taxes. The town's citizens also are able to petition the selectmen to place an article in the warrant. Those that read inserted by petition are warrants that people in town have collected signatures on and presented to the Town Clerk for insertion on the ballot. This power of citizen initiative is guaranteed and the selectmen have little power to change the language as proposed as there are checks and balances built in to the process to assure that the selectmen do not have total control over the language used, or the issues that are brought before the town.
At the Deliberative Session, all of these Warrant Articles will be discussed and the language of the original warrant can be amended by the Selectman and voted on by those citizens in attendance to accept or deny the changes. That is why it is so important to attend; to be sure that the Selectmen do not have total control over the articles put on the ballot.
I hope you now have a better understanding of the process and what this discussion is about.
Was reading some national news today that claimed the u.s.postal dept is losing money and they might have to cut out a mail delivery day each week. Must have gotten a hold of the town hall business plan. Charge more , give less.
I hope that the selectmen check the NH news today. The governor is saying that state worker layoffs are probably going to happen in the next state budget. Hello Winchester????????? This budget sure doesn't look like anybody was too worried about the economy. What's the next gig around here? Taking properties for back taxes on Christmas Eve?
If you like living in one of the highest taxed towns in the state, good for you. If you would like to see Winchester run like a business and not a country club than you should support Bob Davis and Brian Moser.Many of the Dept. heads think we work for them, time to turn that attitude around.
Went to union leader.com today,headline,Lynch demands sweeping cuts in state spending. Read the text of Gov. Lynch's 2009-2010 budget address. Our big spenders should take a look.
IM sure the selectmen are all over it but just in case they missed it, Sentinel 21st, NH will receive about $39 million for grants or loans for sewer system upgrades and $19 million for drinking water system upgrades. DES will continue accepting applications from municipalities through Feb. 27.
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