Town of Winchester, NH Budget Committee Meeting December 18, 2012

Members Present:  Kathy Hebert (Vice Chairman), Jacqui Beaman
(Chairman),Bill McGrath, Jack Marsh, Hubie Crowell, Ken Cole,
Harvey Sieran, BrianMoser, Elisha Jackson (School Board Rep.),
 Ken Gardner (Selectmen's Rep.)

Members Absent:  Sue LaPoint
Others Present:  Roberta Fraiser (Selectman)

-Jacqui makes a motion to approve the minutes from the
Dec. 11th meeting,
Bill seconds
-Motion carries 7-1 with 2 abstentions

-Jacqui makes a motion to approve the minutes of the Dec. 13th
meeting with the correction that it should be 4 full-time and 2 part
-time positions with the addition of a custodian in the building
maintenance section, Ken G. seconds
-Motion carries 6-1 with 3 abstentions

-16 Warrant Articles are discussed and voted on to recommend
or not recommend by the Budget Committee. The votes and
motions, along with the Warrant Articles, are attached.

-Discussion of 1st Warrant Article concerning third phase of up
grades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 50% from the
Federal and State funds is for this year and cannot be guaranteed
for next year.

-Discussion of 2nd and 3rd Warrant Articles concerning Sewer
and Water Departments respectively. Questions arise as to what
happens if the Warrant Articles do not pass and they are not in the
 towns' operating budget. Questions as to whether, if the Budget
Committee does not recommend these Warrant Articles, does it
need to be put into the operating budget? Jack will look into this.

-Discussion of 4th Warrant Article concerning funding the
Transportation Enhancement sidewalk project. Concern over the
fact that money is added each year and seems like a never-ending
project.
-Brian makes a motion to adjourn, Hubie seconds
-Motion fails 2-8

-Jacqui questions whether the board, as a majority, still wants the
lines involving the Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the
Brattleboro Drop-In, in the Health Agencies budget, to be zeroed out
as, if this is the case, Joan will need to send letters to these agencies
letting them know that it has been voted on not to help fund these
 agencies.

-Bill makes a motion to revisit the Warrant Article involving the
Water Department, Ken G. seconds
-Motion carries 7-3

  -Discussion regarding having it as a Warrant Article rather than
in the operating budget. Jack explains that having it as a Warrant Article,
it takes control away from the Budget Committee in determining their
budget.

  -Ken G. explains that it was always done as a Warrant Article in the
past  and had been put into the budget so that, if necessary, as the
budget is a  bottom line budget, monies can be moved aroundto help
fund if necessary, this is no longer needed. He also explains that their
budget doesn't affect taxes as it is funded by user fees so only those
who use it are paying for it.
  -A new vote is not called for; original vote stands

-Bill makes a motion to revisit Thayer Library, Ken C. seconds

-Motion carries 9-1

-Discussion regarding necessity of Library and looking forward in its
necessities.
-A new vote is not called for; original vote stands

-Ken C. makes a motion to revisit Personnel Administration, Ken G.
seconds

-Motion carries 9-1

 -Ken C. questions the Land Use Administrator that was part-time and
was budgeted to be full-time for next year. He did some research and
saw that that position had become full-time this year. He questions
 how they were able to fit that extra cost in this year's budget and still
stay within the budget yet they are asking for more money to pay for
 that extra cost for next year.

  -Ken G. defers to Roberta who explains that there was a full-time
position that was budgeted for in the police department's budget that
they knew they weren't filling and, as the operating budget is a bottom
line budget, they used that money to fund the full-time position change.

-Ken C. Makes a motion to reduce the budget by $27,000
 (the additional costs of making this a full-time position)to $597,115,
Brian seconds
 -Motion fails 5-5



-Jacqui goes over the agenda for the next meeting
-Jack makes a motion to adjourn, Hubie seconds
-Motion carries 9-1

-Meeting adjourned at 9:30pm
Respectfully Submitted,

Rikki Bolewski, Secretary

Selectmen candidate not fazed by legal, financial issues

Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2013 8:00 am By Meghan Foley Sentinel Staff

WINCHESTER — A local man isn’t letting legal and financial issues get in the way of his quest to become a town selectman in March.
John E. Pasquarelli, a 35-year resident of the town and owner of P-Square’s Country Store, is involved in civil litigation brought against him and his wife, Regina, by the town. He recently filed for bankruptcy and owes the town more than $11,000 in local property taxes.
Despite these issues, Pasquarelli said Saturday they won’t get in the way of his ability to represent the townspeople.
“Whatever personal issues I have, I certainly won’t drag them into the governing body,” he said.
He is very proud of the fact that during the time he has served on other town boards and committees, he has recused himself from decisions when personal feelings were involved, he said.
“A lot of people try painting black labels on me that don’t exist. I have heritage in this town. I have reasoning. I have all the good qualities you would need for this,” he said. “All I need is opportunity.”
Pasquarelli is one of five people seeking election to two, three-year terms on Board of Selectmen. The other candidates include Brian Moser, Herbert “Chan” Stephens, Jennifer M. Bellan and incumbent Theresa G. Sepe. Selectman Gustave “Gus” Ruth isn’t seeking re-election.
The only other contested race on the March 12 ballot is for two, three-year terms on the Planning Board. Vying for the seats are Ruth, Arthur Charland and Michael Doherty.
James Tetreault, Winchester town clerk and tax collector, confirmed Thursday Pasquarelli is behind in his taxes. He said Pasquarelli owes the town $11,091.87, for 2011 and 2012.
Pasquarelli said he is no different than any other citizen who is struggling financially. In 2004 and 2005, he and his wife invested heavily in the Keene Road property where P-Square’s is located, but the business has lost money every year, he said.
His January bankruptcy filing was a last resort, he said.
“The bankruptcy is for the loss of eight years of money I was never able to recoup,” he said.
Besides his financial situation, Pasquarelli and his wife have been involved in litigation since August 2009 centered on what activities are permitted at his business according to town regulations. While the matter was resolved in December 2009, the town of Winchester filed a motion for contempt in November 2012. A contempt hearing scheduled for Feb. 8 in Cheshire Superior Court in Keene was postponed.
David M. Scanlan, N.H. deputy secretary of state, said Friday he isn’t aware of any state laws preventing someone involved in litigation with a town, or being behind on their taxes, from running for selectman.
“It becomes a political issue, but there is nothing that says because you don’t pay your taxes, you can’t run for selectman,” he said.

Meghan Foley can be reached at 352-1234 extension 1436 or mfo ley@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @MFoleyKS.

Years later, SB2 still spurs debate

Nearly 20 years after legislators permitted towns to let residents make major town decisions by paper ballot, officials still are trying to tweak the law that sparks debate over its fairness every year.

Rep. Frederick Rice, R-Hampton, has submitted a bill this year to protect warrant articles submitted by residents from being amended during deliberative sessions to prevent "shenanigans and tomfoolery" of past years from squashing the article's original purpose.

About a third of the state's residents and more than half its student population live under Senate Bill 2 rule, where warrant articles dealing with budgets, town purchases and zoning articles are discussed - and potentially amended - at a deliberative session required in early February before the final articles get voted on at the polls on the second Tuesday in March.

"There is more legislation filed every year to change or alter parts of Senate Bill 2 than almost any statute that we would follow over at the State House," said Judy Silva, deputy director for legal, advocacy & communications services at the New Hampshire Municipal Association.

Next month, Temple for the ninth straight year will vote on whether to adopt SB2, in an effort for voters to have a say in town affairs without sitting through a multihour meeting with their neighbors.

"The core group in town believes in a town meeting where you deliberate and also vote on it," Town Clerk Wendy Drouin said. Last year's warrant article to adopt SB2 received 48 percent support, shy of the 60 percent needed.

Temple, a town of 981 registered voters located between Nashua and Keene, sends its children to the ConVal School District, which follows SB2. "Unfortunately at the polls, uneducated voters show up," Drouin said.

But others, including Jim Adams, chairman of the Granite State Taxpayers, said the SB2 method has "proven to be a very good way of governance" to allow greater participation.

"This is an excellent vehicle, so everyone who votes in the election has a say in their ... taxes in their community," Adams said.

Ken Grant, who heads the Barrington Taxpayers Association, saw his submitted warrant article about voting on who pays for roads and sewers amended at the deliberative session in 2007, stripping everything but the article's first two words, "To see."

After the state Supreme Court in 2008 sided with the town, the Legislature in 2011 changed the SB2 law to better protect petition warrant articles, according to Silva. Added in the law: "No warrant article shall be amended to eliminate the subject matter of the article. An amendment that changes the dollar amount of an appropriation in a warrant article shall not be deemed to violate this sub-paragraph."

Grant said he thinks the town "took away the rights of the voters who were working hard for this petitioned warrant article" to get before voters.

He backs Price's attempt to change the law but he also likes that SB2 gets more people voting on town issues than under the old town meeting format. He acknowledged there is a cost to that.

"I think the low-information voter speaks for the country," he said. "They go from watching game shows down to the ballot box."

The state municipal association examined 27 towns and found that an average of 2.4 percent of registered voters attended the deliberative sessions in 2010 and 25.5 percent of registered voters voted on the budget at the polls.

Silva said many voters in SB2 towns don't recognize their full responsibilities.

"One of the things I always say to people, I think that to the extent that people feel under the SB2 form of government they only have to show up and vote, they don't have to go to the deliberative session, I think they're missing out on half the meeting and a critical step of the process," she said.

"It really is much the same process you have at a traditional town meeting, but you put off the final vote," Silva said. "If you want a say in the final question that gets voted on, you have to come to the deliberative session."

More than 65 towns and around 80 school districts operate under SB2. It requires 60 percent support to adopt or repeal the SB2 official ballot format.

"It's still a very popular form of government and it remains popular," said economist Dennis Delay, who has done research on the topic for the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies in Concord.

"Some towns, it becomes very argumentative on whether it's a good idea or not," he said.

The Legislature passed SB2 in 1995, towns began adopting it the following year and the first towns started using the ballot format in 1997.

More than 40 towns that have tried to adopt SB2 have failed. And more than 30 towns have failed in their attempts to repeal it, according to the state Department of Revenue Administration.

Between 1996 and 2006, three communities repealed SB2 - Enfield, Dorchester and Orange, according to a report by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. No school districts repealed the measure during that time.

About a third of New Hampshire residents live in a town with a traditional town meeting, another third under SB2 rule and the remaining third in communities with a city council, according to Delay. He also analyzed the per-person spending for town expenses among SB2 and non-SB2 communities.

"I couldn't find any data that says SB2 towns spend more or less," he said.

SB2 towns and school districts "tend to be larger, they tend to have more people in them than the traditional town meeting towns and school districts," Delay said. "I think that speaks to again, as the town grows, there is a form of government that works better than the traditional town meeting."

Winchester School Board

The Winchester School Board is currently accepting letters of interest to sit on the Planning Committee.
The Committee is being formed to study the withdrawal from Keene High School as voted on last March 12, 2012.
All interested persons should send a letter of interest to:
Winchester School Board
Attn:  Jim Lewis
85 Parker Street
Winchester, NH 03470
If you have any questions please call (603) 239-8061 x552
Deadline is March 1, 2013

Winchester warrant heads to March vote unchanged

By KAITLIN MULHERE 
Sentinel Staff

WINCHESTER — Voters gave their stamp of approval to the school district’s proposed budget Tuesday, less than 10 minutes after the meeting was called to order.
About 40 residents, or about 1.5 percent of registered voters, showed up for the school district’s deliberative session to discuss the warrant prior to March’s vote.
The proposed budget is $11,086,540, up 2.3 percent from this year’s $10,835,480 budget. Should voters turn down the budget at the polls, a default budget of $11,030,349 will take effect.
The $251,060 budget increase is due in part to decreased revenue from the state and increased costs for items such as retirement payments. But the budget also includes a couple of new positions in special education and an additional kindergarten teacher at Winchester School, according to board Chairman Trevor S. Croteau.
After no questions or comments on the budget, voters unanimously agreed in a standing vote to move on to the rest of the warrant.
And discussion on the other articles followed the same trajectory — quick and agreeable.
Gustave A. Ruth, a selectman, did question an article that would give the school board the power to call a special district meeting if a collective bargaining agreement fails at the polls in March. Ruth said it costs several thousand dollars to host a meeting, and spending the money might not be worth it if residents had already turned down the contract.
The collective bargaining agreement is a one-year contract for the Winchester Support Staff Association that will cost an additional $22,887 for the 2013-14 school year.
A similar article regarding a one-year contract with the support staff association failed last March.
School board Vice Chairman Kevan D. Whippie said it was his understanding that the school board would judge the need for a special meeting based on whether the contract failed by a wide margin — in which case it would be clear voters won’t support it — or a narrow margin.
The warrant also includes an article asking to add $100,000 from any surplus money to the special education expendable trust fund and another to raise $25,000 for the building improvements reserve fund.
Business Administrator Lori Schmidt said the special education expendable trust fund has no money in it this year, which means there’s no buffer if the district runs into any unforeseen special education costs.
As for capital improvements, Croteau said the school board wants to change the water faucets in school bathrooms, finish upgrading the sprinkler system and install a key fob system for some of the school’s entrances that limits access to certain people.
Voters will weigh in at the polls at Winchester Town Hall March 12.

Some Elected Officials Have a Conscience

Too bad certain elected officials here don't have one.

Dummerston Selectboard chairman to resign; cites conflict of interest 

By MIKE FAHER / Reformer Staff

 

 Friday February 8, 2013 DUMMERSTON -- The chairman of Dummerston's Selectboard says he will resign following a dispute at a Wednesday meeting over his ties to the town's highway department.
Lewis White, a five-year veteran of the Selectboard, maintained that he never has shown any favoritism to the department, which is led by his cousin, Lee Chamberlin.
Several other town officials agreed, and they urged White to reconsider his decision. But White on Thursday said he won't risk the town dealing with allegations of impropriety every time a road-related issue arises.
"This will be thrown in my face," White said. "We're not going to have that. I'm not going to deal with that."
White said he will submit a letter of resignation within days. He also said he does not expect to accept a Selectboard position if he is re-elected at the upcoming Town Meeting -- though he did not completely rule out that possibility.
The highway-department issue came to a head during a sometimes-heated Selectboard meeting Wednesday at the community center in West Dummerston.
But the dispute has roots in a long-running disagreement over a September decision of the town's Development Review Board.
The review board denied a site-plan approval and variances requested by Schoolhouse Road residents John and Lori Thibault for a fence standing more than 6 feet high, a deck, and an above-ground pool.
The Thibaults have appealed the board's decision in Vermont
Environmental Court. And there has been ongoing debate about whether and how the town should be represented in those proceedings. It's become clear that some Selectboard members thought the review board's decision was unfair. In one example, Selectman Tom Bodett said during a Nov. 28 meeting that he felt the ruling was "overly restrictive."
"I thought it overstepped ... I didn't feel I could defend it," Bodett said at the time.
In an interview Thursday, Bodett said he since has gained a better understanding of the board's decision.
"But I still think the perception of that case is doing great damage to the overall perception of our planning and zoning process," Bodett said.
The criticism led Herb Rest, the review board's chairman, to read a pointed letter into the record at Wednesday's Selectboard meeting. Rest said his friendship with a neighbor of the Thibaults had no bearing on the board's review, pointing out that the neighbor appeared at an Aug. 15 hearing but did not testify.
"I failed to conclude that I should have recused myself in this matter," Rest wrote.
Rest added that now that the neighbor in question has filed to appear in the Thibault court appeal, he has withdrawn "my candidacy as a town-appointed resource to the court in this matter" to avoid any appearance of a conflict.
He also said continued criticisms from some Selectboard members are "undermining the functionality of the DRB process," and he objected to any allegations of impropriety.
"I reviewed all of the DRB decisions rendered in the last approximately 18 months. I will state categorically that there is no bias suggested and that the decisions consistently reflect the will of the citizens of Dummerston as expressed in their zoning bylaws," Rest wrote.
"I, quite frankly, am bewildered by any contrary conclusion of the Selectboard if they too researched their allegations."
That led resident Jody Normandeau to angrily denounce the Selectboard, saying Rest and review board member Lew Sorenson had been unfairly targeted.
"I have never seen such abuse of another public body," Normandeau said.
She also pointed out the familial relationship between White and Chamberlin. For White to raise a conflict-of-interest question, Normandeau said, "is like a pot calling the kettle black."
White noted that he had recused himself from any involvement in Chamberlin's hiring. But also said he would leave the Selectboard if residents perceive a conflict of interest.
"If it's seen that way, it's seen that way," White said, adding, "this will be my last meeting."
Later in the meeting, other Selectboard members, Town Clerk Pamela McFadden and meeting attendees -- including Normandeau -- asked White to remain on the board.
"This is an inexperienced board," Selectboard member Steve Glabach said. "We need your experience."
But White said much of the town's business is highway-related, and he said he didn't want his vote to be a deciding vote on such issues.
"That shouldn't happen," he said. "So, it won't happen."
For the resignation to be effective, White will have to submit a letter. The Selectboard then would appoint someone to fill that position until Town Meeting, McFadden said Thursday.
White's departure also would complicate the upcoming election. While there are two candidates for a three-year term, White is the only listed candidate for a two-year term on the board and it is too late for his name to be removed.
If he is elected but does not want the position, White would have to resign again.
On Thursday, White said he likely will search for someone else to seek the office.
"I would like to find somebody who wants to run as a write-in and support him," he said.
Bodett, who also is leaving the board as his term expires, said he hopes White reconsiders. He echoed others in saying he never has seen evidence of bias.
On highway-department matters, "if anything, I have seen (White) exercise more caution than the rest us," Bodett said.
Bodett, who was out of town and absent from Wednesday's meeting, said he regrets any role he played in escalating the dispute with the DRB. And he called for a careful re-examination of what truly constitutes a conflict of interest.
"I would like to see everybody take a breather," he said. "Is this really serving the town? No."

Be safe, Be smart and take heed

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
439 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013
A POTENTIAL HISTORIC WINTER STORM AND BLIZZARD IS EXPECTED 
To DROP UP TO 3 FEET OF SNOW THROUGH SATURDAY...

MAZ002>004-008>011-026-NHZ011-015-081745-
/O.CON.KBOX.WS.W.0002.130208T1100Z-130209T1800Z/
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...ORANGE...
BARRE...FITCHBURG...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...AYER...JAFFREY...KEENE...
PETERBOROUGH...WEARE
439 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHWESTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...AS WELL AS WESTERN
  AND NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...WITH THE POTENTIAL 
FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF MORE THAN 2 FEET.

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY THIS MORNING...BECOMING
  MODERATE TO HEAVY LATE IN THE DAY INTO THE EVENING COMMUTE.
  THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY TAPERING 

OFF LATE SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED WITH VISIBILITIES
  DOWN TO AROUND 1 MILE. WINDS WILL GUST AROUND 40 MPH...
  POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW...IN
  ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE TO TREES AND 
STRUCTURES ALONG WITH ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 20S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE
INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD...OR FOR 8 OR 
 MORE INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST 

ON WELL TREATED SURFACES... AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY 

UNPLOWED OR UNTREATED SURFACES.

Tax system is flawed

Published in tonight's Sentinel and permission given to reprint here:

For you individuals that belittle this man and his efforts to bring fairness to all of the people of Winchester regarding your tax burden, read his words well and take heed.

In supporting the needs of our local government and schools, the revenue for these expenditures are levied on the property owners. This tax rate is determined by gathering revenue from other sources (vehicle tax, timber tax, permits etc, state revenue sharing) of which is subtracted from the requested revenue by town and school. The difference that remains is levied on the property owner. This means each year as the revenue request increases this cost increases is levied against the property owners only. This way of taxation which is at a flexible rate depending on needs and requests in a certain year. In a period of raising expenditures the tendency is to raise the rate on the property owner faster than any other tax, this tax increase does not take a legislation battle to change year to year. On the other hand the state has a fixed rate of gathering revenue. The state tax rate remains stable except in times of increased needs and requires a legislation battle to change. This is not true with the property tax. Local government relies on the elected officials to be honest about their needs with the tax payers. Greedy local governments, special interest groups and individuals can levy unneeded cost simply by collecting 10 signatures to file warrant articles to be placed on a ballot, well knowing mostly the special interest will show up to vote. This places most property owners at a disadvantage, allowing a few to dictate the increased tax rate for the many when these people know only 21 percent of the registered voters will show up to vote. What a state of disarray we would become if only 21 percent of our state Legislature showed up to vote and pass laws. To get fair taxation with representation at least 51 percent of registered voters must vote on the warrant articles before any increases could be levied on the property owners.
Last year the Winchester Budget Committee became responsible and cut the town’s request to increase the burden on the property owner. The state legislated the towns shall have a balanced budget. Last year, the Winchester Budget Committee worked many hours on the town budgets until finally voting on a budget that was honest to the town’s needs and fair to the property tax owners. Then at Winchester’s deliberative session, the selectmen were furious over the budget committee’s budget, and attempted to nullify the budget committee’s decision. For once, this time the selectmen failed in their attempt to get the voters to fall for their devious and scheming attempt to circumvent the budget committee to accomplish their selfish needs.

The Legislature mandated budget committees to be a independent entity process and not be overruled by five selectmen’s agenda or having to require more oversight. Yes, the budget committee includes a voting selectmen member, and that should be the limit of their influence. The system is broken. The selectmen, in their attempt to get their own greedy way, petitioned the state and had the budget committee decision reversed and the money restored to their town’s budget How fair is this to the voters if their choice of budget committee members can be overruled by a state agency that does not own one piece of property in Winchester or does not understands how manipulating a town government can be.
This year, the selectmen, in another and different approach in their attempts to control the budget committee, are presenting a warrant article to reduce the number of members elected to the budget committee from seven to five. This is still another attempt by the selectmen to eliminate people on the budget committee that push back on spending.
These flexible taxes are unfair and more revenue should come from the state Legislature, instead of being controlled by greedy self-serving people.
Robert Davis
893 Old Westport Road
Winchester

Understanding the Town Budget

Former Budget Committee Chairman, Brian Moser

will hold a meeting at the VFW on Main Street

Monday, March 4th @ 7:00pm

( the meeting will be held upstairs)

"Explaining The Budget"

How the Selectman's proposed increases in 
spending will affect each and every taxpayer in the town of Winchester and what you need to know to make an informed decision before you vote.

Deliberative Results

Voters debate libraries, sewer upgrade project

Posted: Sunday, February 3, 2013 8:00 am   

By Meghan Foley Sentinel Staff

WINCHESTER — A warrant article seeking to move forward with the third and final phase of upgrades to the town’s sewage plant has cleared its first hurdle in getting voter support.

The majority of voters at the town’s annual deliberative session Saturday morning voted to place the article on the ballot next month after about an hour-long discussion focused on the necessity of the $1.48 million project.

Ryan Cain, an engineer with Tata and Howard, said the scope of work in the third and final phase is everything not included in the first two phases of the project. Those items include putting a rubber membrane roof on the operations building, upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, installing a station to receive sludge delivered to the plant, and upgrading the well water system and laboratory equipment. Developing a plan to inspect the sewer collection system is also part of the project.

Upgrades to the roughly 30-year-old plant have been ongoing since 2010.

Resident William A. McGrath asked if the $1.48 million was enough to fund all the items listed under the third phase. Cain said it was.

In addition, 50 percent of the cost, or $739,050, would be covered by the state, he said.

Resident Harvey J. Sieran pressed Cain for specific numbers on what would be saved in electricity costs if the upgrades are done. Cain said he didn’t have specific numbers, but knew from the first phase of the project that electricity costs did go down for the facility.

Sieran also asked if installing equipment to improve the plant’s ability to accept more sludge from septic systems was cost effective.

Cain said septage currently generates about $4,000 a month, or $48,000 a year, in revenue. That $48,000 offsets the labor and maintenance costs associated with accepting the waste, he said.

Two articles involving the town’s two public libraries, Thayer and Conant, also generated a lot of discussion.

One, establishing a committee of seven residents to study the effects of consolidating the libraries, quickly moved to a conversation of why the Thayer Library shouldn’t be dissolved.

Julia Ferrari, chairwoman of the Thayer Library trustees, said she believed the article arose because of the library’s budget.

“We voted to have the same budget as Forest Lake,” Ferrari said. “Aren’t our children more important, if not as important, than having to take millfoil out of Forest Lake.”

Earlier in the meeting, voters approved warrant articles seeking $2,000 to be put into a capital reserve fund for treating exotic invasive plants like millfoil at Forest Lake, and to appropriate $1,200 for the operation of the boat ramp at the lake. Thayer Library was allocated $3,500 for fiscal 2013, according to the town budget.

Selectman Sherman Tedford said the article wasn’t to dissolve Thayer, but to form a committee to study the two libraries.

Theodore Whippie, vice chairman of the Conant Library trustees, also spoke against the article, saying comparing the two libraries was like comparing “apples and oranges.”

“There is a good reason for two libraries, and I think it would be a mistake to combine them at this time,” he said.

Before voters decided in favor of putting the article on the ballot as written, resident Paul Taylor proposed an amendment that would alter the membership of the study committee. Instead of having five residents and one representative from each of the two libraries on the committee, Taylor suggested the board have two representatives from each library, two residents and one selectman. The amendment was seconded by Kenneth Cole.

“The purpose is to make sure the study is done in a fair way,” Taylor said.

The amendment was voted down.

An amendment proposed by Tedord, and seconded by Selectwoman Theresa Sepe, to reduce the amount placed in a capital reserve fund for the Conant Library from $20,000 to $10,000, also failed. Voters then approved placing the article on the ballot as written with the $20,000.

Sepe said while she would like to support the allocation of $20,000, she would also like to see a detailed explanation from the trustees about what repairs still have to be made to the century-old library.

Whippie said the biggest of those repairs is the roof, which he was told two years ago would cost about $100,000 to repair.

Sepe said the library currently has $45,000 in its capital reserve fund, and she would like to see a warrant article next year asking voters to support a roof repair project.

Sieran, a library trustee, said he strongly objected to funding the project all at once.

“I don’t think people in town will vote for a lump sum,” he said.

Voters approved the remainder of the 31 warrant articles, including one containing the town’s proposed $3.42 million budget, with little discussion.

The deliberative session, which began at 9 a.m., ended at 1:10 p.m. Voting will take place Tuesday, March 12.

Meghan Foley can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1436, or at mfoley@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @MFoleyKS.