Property Taxes Soar !!

Just as we expected, the town's new property tax rate will put many behind the eight ball and others out in the streets. The bills are in the mail and there's nothing left to do but read 'em and weep.

Winchester's new rate is; ..  $30.03

That's right folks an increase of over $4.00 from last year !

That puts us right up there with the city of Keene  $30.82

We would like to thank the Selectmen and School Board and all of you fools who voted for all of the spending warrants last March, shame on you for putting such a heavy burden on your neighbors.

Budget Committee Minutes 11/22/11

Budget Committee Meeting

November 22, 2011

Members Present:  Jack Marsh, Hubie Crowell (Vice Chairman), Bob Davis, Brian Moser (Chairman), Ken Gardner (Selectmen Rep.), Elisha Jackson, Kathy Hebert, Rick Horton, Rikki Bolewski (Secretary)

Others Present:  Joan Morel, Roberta Fraser (Selectman)

Meeting called to order at 7:02pm

Bob makes a motion to accept the minutes of the April 19^th meeting, Jack seconds.  Motion carries 7-0 with 1 abstention.

Jack makes a motion to accept the minutes of the November 15^th meeting, Hubie seconds.  Motion carries 7-0 with 1 abstention.

Cemetery:

            Ken makes a motion to approve $47,450, Rick seconds

            Discussion regarding the Trust Fund money – where is it being spent and how does it affect the budget?

            Motion fails 3-5

            Rick makes a motion to level fund at $37,225, Bob seconds

            Motion carries 5-2 with 1 abstention

Land Use:

            Bob makes a motion to table Land Use since the department head isn’t present, Jack seconds

            Motion fails 3-5

            Rick makes a motion to approve $67,477, Kathy seconds

·         Discussion regarding zeroed out lines and whether or not they can be expended after they have been zeroed out

·         Discussion regarding breakdown of the budget

·         Historic District was moved out of the Executive Budget into the Land Use budget.

·         Bob initiates heated discussion regarding Land Use Assistant.  Some debate as to whether discussion was related to the budget or related to the individual in the position rather than the position itself.  Margaret Sharra (Land Use Assistant) wants it noted that she feels that Mr. Davis cannot be impartial and that there is a conflict of interest.

·         Continued discussion regarding budget

            Motion fails 3-5

            Bob makes a motion to approve $39,957, Brian seconds

·         Bob proposes to zero out the Land Use Assistant line

·         Continued heated discussion regarding the Land Use Assistant position/person

Motion fails 1-7

Rick makes a motion to approve $67,000, Kathy seconds

·         Rick proposes to reduce the Historic District by $477

Motion fails 4-4

Hubie makes a motion to approve $66,453, Kathy seconds

·         Hubie proposes to make the Historic District line $1

Motion carries 7-1

Town Clerk:

            Proposed budget is actually $146,986 – this lower than the original proposed budget due to the fact that the health insurance cost didn’t go up as much as expected so adjustments were made

            Rick makes a motion to approve $146,986, Elisha seconds

·         Discussion regarding budget

Motion carries 5-3

Rick questions whether or not the board is willing to open the floor to the public for anyone who would like to ask questions to the board regarding the budget.  Brian agrees to open the floor

·         Maureen Curtis questions zeroed out line items - What is the policy regarding this - Can zeroed out lines have money put back into them at the discression of the department heads or not? –

·         Does Budget committee have the power to zero out a line?

·         RSA 32:10 – It has to be voted on and approved by at the Town meeting - understanding is that if the Budget Committee’s proposed budget goes to the voters and they vote on it and there are zeroed out lines, money cannot be put into it

Health Agencies:

            Rick makes a motion to approve $64,167, Ken seconds

Motion fails 4-4

Elisha makes a motion to level fund at $63,174, Rick seconds

·         Discussion regarding budget

Motion carries 6-1

Bob makes a motion to have the pages numbered continuously for all budgets, for the town and the school, for future budgets, Elisha seconds.

            Motion carries 6-2

Emergency Management:

            Bob makes a motion to approve $7,750, Brian seconds

·         Bob proposes to reduce the Director’s Salary by $500, reduce expences by $500 and phone by $1,000

·         Discussion regarding Emergency Management policy and how it works

Motion fails 4-4

Hubie makes a motion to adjourn, Jack seconds

            Motion carries 8-0

Meeting adjourns at 9:05pm

Store is not the right fit for our town

Once again the actions of Margaret Sharra has a negative effect on others. One has to ask themselves would this Zeremba Group even be here in this area if it wasn't for Sharra's get rich quick scheme and her contacting them in the first place? Too bad our ZBA didn't have the common sense to uphold the HDC's decision and do what was right. Now it seems they have opened a very wide door which will affect surrounding communities with their biased decision and stupidity costing others to fight this group from turning quaint downtown  Marlborough into another strip mall community.


Marlborough dollar store or educational farm?

Talk about the mistake of paving paradise to put up a parking lot!
As many town of Marlborough residents now know, the Zaremba group has proposed to raze the farmhouse and barn on the William Thomas property on Main Street, and put in a dollar store, complete with commodious parking lot. A petition is being circulated, asking the Marlborough zoning and planning boards to reject this proposal.
Many residents feel that a dollar store would be a mistake. Besides the obvious facts that a dollar store is unnecessary (such a large, modern, commercial building would be out of character with Marlborough’s charm and less than compatible with the small businesses our town master plan encourages), there are many better uses for this beautiful property. The land, with a charming house, barn, and ample open, flat, flood-plain land, is adjacent to the Marlborough School playing fields. With the addition of a bridge to safely cross the river, the property could become a wonderful Cornucopia-type school farm, where students and town residents could produce vegetables, eggs and perhaps keep small livestock. Community interface with students would be encouraged, and our children would learn about producing food and caring for the earth.
Would this not be a better use than another dollar store? Keene already has one. Even cluster housing would be a higher use. Once the flat floodplain is paved, it will be difficult or impossible to restore.
It seems that this could be a golden opportunity for Marlborough School and residents. Let’s seize this opportunity. Please sign one of the petitions, available in many Marlborough locations, and plan to attend the public meeting on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., at the Marlborough Community House.
We gave our children a beautiful school. Now let’s show them that we really care.


GEORGE ISELIN

Marlborough

*note to the the following

'smokin joe' , Winchester Ed,  John P,  Sue and the rest of you who continue to act in a really juvenile and childish manner by attempting to post the most asinine comments on this blog, stop wasting your time and ours., it isn't going to happen. Provide facts with your wild statements, stop with the personal attacks and stay on subject and we may consider allowing you to post again. You all have been warned several times and you have ignored those warnings constantly, so until you can all act like responsible adults, your posting privileges on this blog have been revoked.

What does a quick trip to the town’s finance office reveal?

 The following letter was sent into the Informer by someone who had attended the Budget Committee meeting this week and felt people should know what really went on that night. They asked us to publish this letter anonymously for fear of retribution;

 
When asked for the town attorney’s invoices for the past year for the land use department, the conclusion and findings are the misuse of town funds by the land use assistant.  You will find that there is already  a charge of over $5,000 in legal advice for the property at 71 Main and an another $5,000 was spent on legal advice on the removal of Kim Gordon from the planning board’s vote of no confidence. ( Sharra instigated this on her own and convinced her two amigos; Beaman and Blodgett  to sign on. Blodgett has since resigned as a result of being duped )

 Bob Davis asked the board to eliminate the assistant land use position and boldly attempted to get these invoices into the budget committee minutes Tuesday night as evidence of abuse of her position of contacting and seeking legal advice on personal matters. Something we are all faced with paying for. Unfortunately, he was fiercely fought by Selectmen Ken Gardner who strenuously and constantly objecting to everything Mr. Davis had to say.  What was Mr. Gardner afraid of? Was it disclosing this information to public record and hiding it from the tax payers?

Knowing Mr. Davis had this information in hand Selectman Gardner was prepared to not let Mr. Davis ask any questions directly to the land use assistant. All questions were intercepted and answered by Mr. Gardner who made it apparent that he was sheltering his queen bee by being the land use assistant’s advocate and spokesperson.  Mr. Gardner, along with a room full of Ms. Sharra friends and supporters tried to discredit Mr. Davis in his attempt to discuss the incriminating invoices. This hearing turned into a farce, it was clear what their agenda was right from the start .. protect Margaret Sharra!

 With Gardner's continued  loud out bursts and Sharra's  foolish supporters laughing loudly in the front row, along with Irene Ruth, who was busy scribbling notes and jumping up and down recording everything Mr. Davis was saying in an attempt  to intimidate him. But despite all of these distractions, Mr. Davis was undeterred in his attempts to place the facts on the public record.  At one point, Mr. Davis suggested calling the police to have Mr. Gardner removed, to which he replied that he would leave first. Chairman Brian Moser attempted to get Mr. Gardner to calm down and to allow Mr. Davis the floor, but with all of the outbursts and intimidation from other board members, the truth was squashed.  Mr. Davis agrees some of his prepared statement were a prelude to setting-up the facts to ask the tough questions but he was never allowed the opportunity to speak uninterrupted.

 The land use assistant denied that she had asked the board of selectman for a full-time position and refused to answer why she thinks the job should be full time with benefits (see BOS minutes from Sept 13,2011).  Margaret admits that she has a dual role capacity, but this is a direct conflict-of-interest and in violation of policy that was passed by the voters in 2010.  Not only has she been the chair person of the planning board for many years, an employee of the town of Winchester, and paid to take minutes for three boards, we say it is unfair to the tax payers and these cost are unjustified. The town being charged for her personal legal fees, her interactions with the BOS who defend her every action and other questionable conduct is a detriment to the town and that her immediate removal from office would be our only recourse.

After the meeting Mr. Davis said, “I knew the facts were a can of worms and controversial, but I also know that it was the finance office that tipped off the BOS as to what I had requested and they where waiting for me!” This is deplorable conduct by all involved in making last night's Budget meeting a joke. "To me this is not a laughing matter and I'll bet the folks I represent aren't laughing either

Historic home’s saga not done yet

Does anyone find it starnge that this group would allow an appeal from an outside entity; but not even bother to hear from from concerned citizens in their own town? Talk about bias and indifference. So here we go again with the "take us to court " attitude displayed too many times by the people we trust to follow regulations and ensure fair and just hearings.

Historic home’s saga not done yet

WINCHESTER — It’s a no-go for a redo.
The town’s Zoning Board of Adjustment met Nov. 17 and decided against reconsidering its decision regarding the house at 71 Main St.
The panel voted not to have a rehearing on its decision to overturn a controversial ruling by the historic district commission, according to Selectman Gustave Ruth.
Members of the zoning board could not be reached for comment.
The 200-year-old house is unoccupied and lies in Winchester’s historic district.
The owners would like to sell it to a developer that would demolish it and build a Dollar General store, but special permission is required to demolish a building in a historic district.
The historic district commission denied that permission in July, only to have its decision overturned last month when the developer, Zaremba Group of Cleveland, appealed to the zoning board.
On Oct. 31, attorney Kelly Dowd of Keene submitted a motion for the board to rehear that appeal on behalf of a group of five property owners, citing a number of alleged procedural errors.
Now that the zoning board has denied the motion the applicants could take their petition to Cheshire County Superior Court.
If there is no appeal, Zaremba still has work to do before the building can be torn down.
When the zoning board gave permission for the building to be demolished it was on the condition that the historic district commission first approve the design of the new building that would take its place.

In Winchester, a fine-line budget

WINCHESTER — The town’s budget committee is feeling frugal, and deep spending-cut proposals are raising eyebrows.

“We have some people on the budget committee who are very, very concerned with people in town being able to afford things,” said Brian Moser, committee chairman.
“With the economy the way it is and the number of poor people in Winchester, we really have to ask: ‘can we afford to do this?’ ”
But Selectman Gustave A. Ruth Jr. is worried the committee is proposing cuts with little regard for the government functions the budget supports.
The budget committee has been reviewing town departments’ 2012 spending proposals since September.
“Every time someone’s budget comes up they just cut it. It’s automatic without listening to what they need the money for,” Ruth said.
The committee recently voted to eliminate a part-time town employee at the transfer station, arguing the station is already staffed by employees of Monadnock Disposal Services, Moser said. The selectmen responded by saying the station would have to be closed without a town employee assigned to its operation, he said.
Ruth believes the committee will propose a budget down as much as 20 percent from last year. Voters will be able to increase the proposal at the town’s deliberative session by no more than 10 percent — making a proposal of a 10 percent reduction inevitable.
Moser said the committee’s proposal is unlikely to be a 20 percent reduction, but he does expect it will be lower than the selectmen have requested.
A budget reduction will mean that “some services will be cut, and I don’t know if the people want that,” Ruth said.
The budget committee proposes a total budget number that is submitted to voters for approval, but it is the selectman who decide how the approved money is ultimately spent.
If the budget is reduced, the first cuts will most likely be to snow removal and road maintenance, Ruth said.
The $3.5 million 2011 budget that voters approved in March represented a 1.9 percent increase over the 2010 number.
The budget committee is required to hold a public hearing where voters can express their opinions before the committee makes its final proposal.
The 2012 hearing is tentatively scheduled for the second week of January, Moser said.

Budget Committee Meeting November 1, 2011

November 1, 2011

Members Present:  Kathy Hebert, Jack Marsh, Elisha Jackson, Rick Horton, Brian Moser (Chairman), Harvey Serian, Ted Ryll, Hubie Crowell (Vice Chairman), Bob Davis, Ken Gardner (Selectmen Rep), Kevan Whippie (School Board Rep), Rikki Bolewski (Secretary)

Others Present:  Joan Morel, Dale Gray

Meeting called to order at 7:00pm

Hubie makes a motion to accept the minutes as presented from September 22, 2011, Bob seconds.  Motion carries 10-0.

There will be no meeting on Thursday, November 3, due to a Zoning Meeting that night.

Discussion regarding the RSA sent from Bart Mayer regarding encumbering funds on a future year.  Brian states that it doesn’t answer the question raised.

            Hubie makes a motion for Brian to send an e-mail to Bart Mayer regarding the legality of encumbering funds on a future year, Ted seconds.  Motion carries 9-0 with 1 abstention.

Discussion regarding the training from the town on November 7^th and who will be going; they need to now ahead of time – Elisha and Brian will be there.  Any others will sign up with Joan

Highway:  Dale Gray

            Brian inquires as to why there is no breakdown for the Block Grant; what will it be used for?  Dale and Ken explain that it will not be used until the summer and that they have not made that decision yet.  They usually wait until after the winter and then see what needs to be done.

Discussion as to what some of the projects that the grant was used for this past year.

            Kevan makes a motion to approve $535,062, Ken seconds.

            Jack questions the contracted services and what it was used for and how it was broken down.

·         Dale explains that that is generally used for Lenny Lawrence who covers additional plowing in the winter.

·         Brian questions whether it is and should be sent out for bid.  Dale explains that it isn’t because it fluctuates and sometimes isn’t used at all and that since he is also a part time town employee, it covers him to be able to drive the town trucks as well.

·         Continued discussion about what is included in the cost - time and trucks, as well as how it’s use

Rick questions why repairs have been consistently over budget for the past few years.  Dale explains that the equipment is old and so requires more repairs.

            Discussion regarding the cost of tar – Used the Block Grant first and then took from the budget.  Jack questions whether the cost might go down with the new local plant.  Dale states that it won’t because their prices are about the same as the company they have been using in the past.

            Bob wants to know if we can get by without doing tarring for a year or two to cut down on the budget.  Dale thinks we are actually starting to get caught up on the paving and it would cause the town to have to play “catch-up” again if we let the roads go without paving.

            Continued discussion about possible ways to lower the budget.

            Ken and Bob get into a heated discussion regarding Ken’s reaction to Bob’s questions and remarks and whether Bob is bringing his personal agenda to the budget committee meeting.

            Brian questions why the town just paved an 800ft road that accesses only one house.  Dale explains that they had to pave it in order to get a smooth surface in order to plow it because it was so bad.  It is a town road and there is a residence there and people are living in it, so the town does have to maintain it.

            Continued discussion regarding the budget.

            Discussion regarding the Capital Improvement Plan Project – can’t do anything without a plan from the departments – Planning Board hasn’t gotten anything from any departments – Dale explains that he has worked on a plan but, somehow, the Planning Board has never seen it.

            After continued discussion regarding the budget, the motion for $535,062 was called for a vote.  Motion fails 5-6

            Bob makes a motion for $455,062, Brian seconds.

            Bob suggest cutting the $80,000 tarring line and only use the Block Grant for tarring projects

            After some discussion, the motion is called to a vote.  Motion fails 2-9

            Jack makes a motion to table this discussion until the board gets the breakdown for maintenance records and line item monies returned, Kevan seconds.

            Brian makes a friendly amendment to also have the requested information to include the breakdown of what the Block Grant money was used for.  Jack and Kevan accept the amendment.

            Motion fails 3-8

            Harvey makes a motion for $483,762

            Harvey suggests dropping welding to $500, drop diesel fuel to $30,000, drop salt to $60,000, and drop tarring to $40,000, Brian seconds.

            After some discussion, the motion is called to a vote.

            Motion fails 4-7

            Rick makes a motion for $513,062 dropping the repair line by $22,000, Elisha seconds

            Motion fails 2-8

            Brian makes a motion to table this discussion until we get the information requested, Bob seconds.

            Motion carries 11-0

Rick makes a motion to adjourn, Kathy seconds

            Motion carries 11-0

Meeting adjourns at 8:58pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Rikki Bolewski

Next meeting to be held Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 7pm

Budget Committee Meeting October 25, 2011

October 25, 2011

Members Present:  Brian Moser (Chairman), Hubie Crowell (Vice Chairman), Ted Ryll, Harvey Serian, Kevan Whippie (School Board Rep.), Kathy Hebert, Ken Gardner (Selectmen Rep.), Rick Horton, Jack Marsh, Elisha Jackson, Bob Davis, Rikki Bolewski (Secretary)

Others Present:  Joan Morel

Meeting called to order at 7:02pm

Discussion regarding the set up of the tables. Ken doesn’t want Joan to have to sit at a table by herself, so he sits with her. Brian states that the table in front of the board members table was set up for presenters to sit at.

1      Bob makes a motion to have the presenters sit at the table in front of the board members, Brian Seconds

2      Motion defeated 5-6

3      Kathy makes a motion to bring the presenters table closer to the board members table, Elisha seconds

4     Motion carries 11-0

Bob makes a motion to open the Police Department budget up for discussion, Kevan seconds

Ken explains that the Police Dept. Budget was not ready until today and not in the requested 7 days in advance and Chief Phillips was not present for the meeting due to this. Highway was available if the board would like to work on their budget instead. A decision was made not to do this.

2      The motion to discuss the Police Dept. budget was called for a vote. Motion carries 8-2 with 1 abstention.

Bob makes a motion to cut the budget 22% from last years budget, Harvey seconds.

3      Brian wants to know about the new youth officer that was hired through a grant – grant pays for salary in the first 4 years, we start paying in the 5^th year. Is it legal to make a commitment for funds for a future budget? Would like to see the RSA that states that this can be done. Ken and Joan will look into this.

4      Questions regarding the Regional Prosecuter – the past budgets have been between $34-36,000, this year is $42,000 – what is the reason for this difference? – Case load is up about 46% - budget is based half on population and half on case load.  The board would like to see the conviction rate.

5      Rick comments that the budget is up only $14,000 since the 2008 budget.

6      Elisha would like information regarding the revenue each department is taking in.

7      Jack makes a friendly amendment to reduce the budget by $55,424, to bring the bottom line budget to $393,991 instead of the flat 22% reduction.  Bob and Brian accept.

8      After some discussion, it is brought to a vote.

9      Motion carries 6-4 with 1 abstention

It is discussed that on Thursday’s meeting (Oct. 27), after the Fire and Ambulance budgets are discussed, we can bring up the Police Budget where Chief Phillips can address the board and answer any questions regarding the budget since he was not at this meeting.

1      Bob inquires whether there is a Budget Book that shows the actual expenditures.

2      Elisha inquires about time frame of receiving the revenue – would the board be able to at least get the information from the Fire, Ambulance and Police departments in time for the next meeting? Joan will e-mail the information to Brian, who will e-mail it to the rest of the board.

3      Jack makes a motion that the Budget Committee receives the same documentation from the School Board as we do from the Town departments regarding monthly reports. Harvey seconds.

  Motion passes 11-0

Kevan makes a motion to adjourn, Rick seconds

Motion carries 11-0

Meeting adjourns at 8:42 pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Rikki Bolewski

Next Meeting will be October