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About Me
- the Winchester Informer
- I am part of a group of Winchester citizens completely opposed to dirty and hazardous businesses, like asphalt and wood burning plants wanting to come into town at the expense of our quality of life. I am concerned about preserving the rural character of Winchester. These types of development have no benefits for Winchester citizens and they create many health hazards and will cause the destruction of green space. Our Winchester is known for its precious natural resources; dramatic rocky slopes, unique wetlands and abundant wildlife. I feel there are many questions concerning these proposed projects that outweigh any benefits. The increase in traffic along existing streets and noise and air pollution would be very significant. I am also concerned that the town infrastructure cannot cope with the problems these types of businesses will demand. Furthermore, I am very discouraged with the Planning Board and Zoning Boards and feel they have been negligent in their duties to protect neighboring residents from health hazards and safety issues that will surely arise and affect the lives and livelihoods of many citizens.
11 comments:
Typical of our new administrator hiding public information under her new policy's. The BOS doesn't want anyone to know what's going on so they have her not posting current info on the web site. Wish someone on the budget committee would post some info here or send it to the Informers to post so we know what's going on.
Town's new policy is to hide all information detrimental to the bs they tell us. We can all thank our new administrator for the censorship that prevails the town now. The good people of Hinsdale had enough sense to send her packing and so should we if we want to know what's going on at town hall.
I do not think she is worth the $55,000.00 wages we pay her when so many people can not afford their property taxes. She can be removed the way John Stetser was.
Town of Winchester, NH
Budget Committee Meeting
November 1, 2011
(sent in two parts)
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 7th 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
N
So where's the minutes from September and October? Why isn't any of this on the Town's website for all to see?
What was this all about? Sounds like Gardner has a personal agenda against Bob Davis.
"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."
What in hell is wrong with these people who voted "no" to cut this bloated over funded budget by $80,000, are they nutz? Over half a million dollars for a highway budget for Winchester, you gotta be kidding me, especially when all those guys do is ride around wasting fuel and Dale subs out work all the time. We should save the town all of this money and their salaries too and fire the bunch of loafers.While we're at it we need to vote in some people willing to make hard choices and say NO once in awhile too.
What is John Gomarlo's job? This a question that has pledged tax payers for many years.
Now after Thursday's budget meeting and thanks to Bob Davis' motion to zero out Mr. Gomarlo's line item, his job will be unemployed. After the meeting Mr. Davis stated, "we must cut the budget and if that means cutting jobs to help home owner, then we must cut jobs just like other town and state government has to cut.We are no different. Mr. Gomarlo gets a pension from the town and now wants to double dip by receive wages from the town. This is a good place to start. There will be a possibility others will have be cut. Everyone must make sacrifices"!
Earlier Mr. Davis tried to cut the selectmen salary from $10,000.00 to $2,000 but fail to get enough support.
After the meeting Chicken Little (Selectman Gus Ruth) proclaimed, the ski is falling, the ski is falling. "We will have to close the land fill April 1, 2012" without Mr. Gomarlo. Gomarlo has duked the town long enough....
The most asked question in Winchester for years has been, what does John Gomarlo do. Well if the budget committee can make this stick, the answer will be nothing. Mr. Gomarlo is retired, let him stay retired. We have plenty of employees that can take up the slack if need be.
I was told by a good source the reason Gomarlo is keep on is he keeps saving the selectman's a$$es when they make such stupid decisions.
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