Unofficial Results of Yesterday's Town Election

A very poor voter turnout resulted in the following;

BOS:  Roberta Fraser 274

Thayer Library:  Irene Clark  293

            Kim Gordon  235

            Hubert Crowell  228

            (Dianne Skawski-Pride  226)

Thayer Library:  Julia Ferrari 186

Budget Committee: 

            Jack Marsh  395

            Richard Horton  252

            Brian Moser  220

Planning Board:

            Jack Marsh  228

            Dean Beaman 194

Warrants

2. yes 442

3 yes  324

4 yes 333

5 yes 410

6 yes 311

7 yes 419

8 yes 369

9 yes 420

10 yes 285

11 yes 355

12 yes 382

13 yes 349

14 yes 285

15 yes 312

School –

Board :

Wendy Hildreth 272

            Trevor Croteau  256

2 yes 415

               3 yes 264  (no 259)

4 yes 270

5 yes 259

6 yes 462

7yes 410

Censorship and Secrecy Part II

Who is responsible for removing several pages of past, public record, meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Boards and for what reason? Why has someone gone to great lengths to remove these records from the town's website and for what purpose? Is someone who has access trying to hide something from the public, something that would either result in another law suit or provide information and evidence in a case already filed?  Are these public records now being altered, information being removed or added to suit someones agenda? Sure is awful suspicious behavior for a town with a so-called open door policy. None of these things ever took place on Bob Gray's watch. What's really going on downtown and just who is behind all of these strange and unlawful acts?

To the citizens and voters of Winchester

This letter was submitted to the Sentinel and hadn't been published as of yesterday so we thought we'd put it up for the public to read before the election tomorrow:


Tomorrow we go to the polls and by casting our ballots, we choose the direction Winchester takes for the next year or more. As everyone knows, these are tough times for many of us, more so than in the past and our choices of candidates and spending issues will decide whether our town moves forward in a positive direction for the good of all; or whether it remains more of the same and Winchester continues to be a stagnant, sleepy little town, controlled by a few who bask in misinformation and under a veil of secrecy..

This year, more so than in the past an effort has been made to put into process changes that affect the way we as citizens can obtain information from the town; from what transpired at meetings, issues of spending and basically every town function that we as citizens have the right to know and question. Our new town Administrator has ,with the help of the Board of Selectmen, implemented many changes that prevent the free flow of information we once had when Bob Gray cheerily greeted us from behind the window of his office and asked if there was something he could help us with. Now, behind drawn blinds secrecy rules and service is next to non existent. New policy dictates how and who controls public information and when and if you'll receive it sometime in the future. There is really something wrong with people in public office who refuse to have any public contact and who spend countless hours of time changing policies to effectively hide public information from citizens. This is just so wrong !

There's an old saying that comes to mind; "You can always tell who is telling the truth, a liar will eventually change the story they tell, while the truthful person only has one story to tell, the truth."  How many times have you heard numerous versions regarding what happened coming out of Town Hall?

I'm running for Selectman and need your votes to overturn these unjust and unfair policies and to implement the open door policies we had in place when Bob was here. As a former Marine, honesty, integrity and a sense of pride are deeply instilled in me and I am a fierce fighter when it comes to defending the public's right to know, the word quit is not in my vocabulary. I promise to work diligently for you, to carry out my duties fairly and justly and to at all times have the best interests of the citizens of Winchester as the driving force in all of the decisions I make. I will make myself accessible to everyone and provide answers to every question asked and work with you to solve problems and help those that need it, to never turn my back to anyone who seeks me out and to listen with an open mind.

A wise man once said, " The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "

If you do nothing else tomorrow, please join me at the polls and cast your votes. The future of Winchester and yours depend on it.  Don't let someone else make those choices for you.

Mike Towne

If we say YES to the contracts - we get stuck with this

Think before you cast your votes tomorrow, understand these new changes.

Evergreen law's repeal takes effect

Governor neither vetoes nor signs

By Matthew Spolar / Monitor staff

March 2, 2011

The state's evergreen law has been repealed without a veto attempt by Gov. John Lynch, marking the new Republican-controlled Legislature's first rollback of a law signed by the Democratic governor.
"I think it signifies that the majority has the ability to act quickly on certain pieces of legislation," House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, a Republican from Salem, said yesterday. "I think this is a good indication of things to come."
The evergreen law, signed by Lynch in 2008, continued pay plans for public employees after contracts expired, effectively assuring teachers and other public employees they would receive salary step increases based on years of experience instead of having their wages frozen until a subsequent contract was approved.
The law had heavy support from labor unions, which saw it as keeping a promise to public employees who take jobs under the assumption that they will see incremental raises each year until reaching the top of the pay scale.
But the law quickly became a target of Republican lawmakers on behalf of public employers like towns and school districts, which argued that guaranteeing employees automatic step increases tilted negotiations toward unions and away from taxpayers.
As the repeal legislation - Senate Bill 1 - sailed through the Senate and House, Lynch had remained mum about whether he would attempt to veto it. Primary sponsor Sen. Bob Odell, a Republican from Lempster, said he spoke with the governor when the bill reached his desk last week and was still unsure which way Lynch was leaning.
"The main thing was it becomes law before (annual) school meetings and town meetings (this) month," Odell said. That way, voters could approve or deny contracts knowing whether the evergreen law would apply once the contracts expired, he said.
Lynch decided to let the bill sit on his desk for five days, rendering it law without his signature. Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate, and the prior floor votes in both chambers suggested a challenge by Lynch would have been overridden.
Mark MacKenzie, president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, said the governor "understands the political reality of where he's at with this piece of legislation."
"I think the governor is faced with a number of bills this year that he's going to have to make some decisions on in terms of what he does and his use of his veto," said MacKenzie, who had testified against the repeal. "I understand that is a process that takes a lot of time and thought."
Lynch's spokesman, Colin Manning, said the governor didn't veto the repeal because he "believes that the law hadn't worked out as well as it had intended" in bringing both sides to the table during public employee negotiations.
But the governor also chose not to sign the repeal bill into law, Manning said, because he felt the legislation could have been improved and he was not convinced a full repeal of the evergreen law was needed.
Now that the evergreen law has been repealed, only contracts that contain specific evergreen language negotiated by unions and employers will continue to be subject to evergreen provisions. For all other contracts, whether they were signed while the evergreen law was in place or after it was repealed, public employees will not see automatic salary step increases once the contracts expire.
Rick Trombly, New Hampshire spokesman for the National Education Association, which represents teachers unions, said "we will be looking at what action we might take" with regard to the repeal immediately eliminating evergreen oversight from contracts signed while the law was in place. MacKenzie said he was aware of attorneys meeting on the issue to discuss possible litigation.

Please call the Attorney General’s office TODAY!

Lack of Voter Confidence! 

This will make two years in a row that the Town Clerk has produced two (2) different “Official Absentee Ballots”.

This time last year, voters discovered during the counting of the ballots that there were two “official” ballots and several different count totals. During the election, several voters and checkers of the check-list noted a Selectman opening the absentee ballots and placing them in the machine without following the proper voter certification of the checklist process.

Can you say, “rigged”?

The last election to decide on the withdrawal of the SAU 38 was also flawed. The officials proclaimed that only one person voted against. This was not correct! A recount was requested.

Can you say, “rigged”?

Again, this election – several recipients of the absentee ballots were notified by the Town Clerk that the “Official Absentee Ballot” that they original received in the mail were no longer valid. They needed to fill out a new ballot with Frank Amarosa III under the Thayer Library’s one-year term. You ask, “…how legal is this?” This is NOT LEGAL. Ballots sent out by the Town have to be counted. Once the ballot has been printed and sent out, it cannot be changed!

They were notified just five days before the Tuesday, March 8th, Election Day. For those voters living out of state, there will NOT be sufficient time to insure that they receive and return the new ballots in time for the elections. However, according to RSA 659:46 the Town is required by law to count the original ballot. Are the counting all of the Absentee Ballots?

Can you say, “rigged”?

It is the opinion of this website that our town officials lack the ethics and integrity to run a fair and honest election. Our confidence in the election process no longer exists!

We ask that all of you take a few minutes today and please contact:

Attorney General's

Toll Free Election Line:

1-866-868-3703

1-866-VOTER03

Ask them to fully investigate this matter and have a representative from their office at the polls on Tuesday to insure a fair and equal election process.  Let them know you no longer have their vote of confidence. Please follow the links below for further information -

http://www.doj.nh.gov/elections/
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxiii/659/659-mrg.htm

To the Voters of Winchester and Ashuelot:

My daddy taught me that if I want to initiate change, I can’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do it—especially if I expect results.  It’s one of the reasons I decided to run for Thayer Library trustee.  The quaint little library is located just across from the covered bridge in Ashuelot.  For those living in the community, there is confusion about the purpose of this public library.  If you’ve ever been there hoping to find a good read, you were probably directed to the Conant Library in the center of Winchester, much as I was when I stopped there for the first time about eight years ago.  Over the years I have fixated on this library because it’s a resource in the community not being used.
Last year when I first decided to run for the trustee position out of my concern to try to find a way to revitalize the library in the village, I was told by the current librarian that the reason the library wasn’t being used by anyone is because kids today don’t read.  Ironically, I was told this information last March, during the same time that the school where I work in Brattleboro was conducting the March Reading Challenge.  Many of my freshman and sophomores participate in the program every year because reading is a priority for everyone.
The children of Winchester and Ashuelot aren’t any different from the kids living in the Brattleboro area.  On March 1st I had the opportunity to visit the Winchester School where I happened to witness the joy of kids celebrating reading, not just for the day, but throughout the whole school for the entire week.  People from the community had volunteered to come in and read to students and were just leaving when I had arrived.  I noticed the paper chain strung throughout the halls, each link identifying a specific book title.  Principal Jim Lewis later explained that students were asked to pick their top three favorite books and write them on a strip of paper that was later assembled into the colorful chain I was now looking at.
Anyone who works with kids, whether it be teenagers, middle school students, or elementary level students, knows that our job as adults is getting kids excited about reading.  There are so many amazing people living in our community that work hard to make sure kids are excited about school, sports, after school programs, etc.  What saddens me is the attitude of some associated with the Thayer Library that it’s perfectly acceptable to go around and tell people that kids just don’t ready anymore.
On Tuesday, March 8th there will be an opportunity for voters in Winchester and Ashuelot to decide the future of the Thayer Library.  Don’t just sit on the sidelines and complain.  Bring the Thayer Library into the 21st century by voting for people who see what the library could be rather than what it is.  Vote for Julia Ferrari, Kim Gordon, and Dianne Skawski-Pride for Thayer Library trustees.
Sincerely,
Dianne Skawski-Pride
Ashuelot

Ferrari’s good for library

In a short while, Winchester voters will have the opportunity to return Julia Ferrari to another term as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Thayer Public Library.

Julia has worked diligently and with great dedication to meet the goals envisioned by Julia B. Thayer when she established a trust fund for the maintenance of the “Free Reading Room and Library in Ashuelot.”

In her capacity as a library trustee, Julia Ferrari’s efforts resulted in obtaining a $10,000 grant from the N.H. Moose Plate Program for the painting and preservation of the historic structure that is the Thayer Public Library.

It is efforts and due diligence such as this that will restore the library to its proper function, ensure its longevity, and once again be a jewel in the Ashuelot community and the town of Winchester.

Please join me in voting for Julia Ferrari on March 8, 2011.

HARRIET CHARLAND
Trustee
Thayer Public Library

Official Annual Ballot For 2011

Click your mouse on the page for a larger view if you are having trouble reading.

Board of Selectmen Minutes of 2-9-11

	MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING Wednesday February 9, 2011 Board Members Present:  Acting Chairman, Roberta Fraser; Theresa Sepe; Kenneth Gardner; and Gustave Ruth. Also present, Joan Morel; Town Administrator, and Executive Assistant Shelly A. Walker. The meeting convenes at 7:04 PM. Chairman Sherman Tedford arrives late. 1st Order of  Business: Open Meeting and Acceptance of Minutes Selectman Gardner makes a motion to accept the work session minutes of January 26, 2011.  Selectman Ruth seconds the motion.  Motion carries 4-0.   2nd Order of  Business: Other Business The Mt. Pisgah Sportsman’s Club has asked permission to use the Town Beach for their Ice Fishing Derby to be held on February 19, 2011 from 8 AM to 12 PM.  The Board was in agreement to grant this request. An application for Veteran’s Tax Exemption has been submitted for Map 8, Lot 85.  Selectman Gardner makes a motion to approve this application.  Selectman Ruth seconds the motion.  Motion carries 4-0. Chairman Tedford arrives at 7:08. Previously, The Town Clerk came before the Board to discuss a Bill in the House that would allow auto dealers to register cars.  The Select board asked the Town Administrator to draft a letter of non-support in the strongest terms possible to be sent to Senator Molly Kelly and State Representatives Butynski, Smith, Carr and Parkhurst.  Selectman Gardner makes a motion to sign the letter.  Selectman Fraser seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0. Four copies of the revised Warrant from the Deliberative Session were signed. Kristine Carle the leader for the 4-H Showtime Club has requested permission to use the gazebo located next to the Police station to sell flowers on Sunday February 13, 2011.  The Board was in agreement to grant this request. Two Intents to Cut Timber for Map 11, Lot 18 and Map 5, Lot 8 were signed. Previously, a petition letter from residents of Winchester and surrounding communities concerning the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee and it’s effects on its employees and neighboring towns and cities was submitted by Jennifer Bellan.  The Safe and Green Campaign had composed the form letter to be presented to neighboring communities. The intent of this letter was for Towns and Cities to review the letter, change it as they wish, and decide to support it or not. The Board was in agreement to make revisions to this letter and submit a copy to Jennifer Bellan.  The Chairman read the Board’s revised letter.  Selectman Sepe makes a motion to sign the revised letter of support, and direct the Town Administrator to send a copy to Jennifer Bellan.  Selectman Ruth seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0. The Chesterfield Board of Selectmen has sent an invitation to the Winchester Board of Selectmen to meet with them and other surrounding towns to discuss the 15.4% increase in the County budget. After a brief discussion, the Board was in agreement to invite our State Representatives and the Budget Committee to discuss the County Budget increase before meeting with the Chesterfield Select Board. The Chairman gave a brief update of the progress on the Old Westport Bridge project. Backfill work has begun, and should be done on Monday. Selectmen Fraser cited an article in the Keene Sentinel that stated State Education Aid may be cut as much as 41% for some New Hampshire towns. The Chairman reminded everyone that the School Deliberative Session is tomorrow night at the Winchester School Gym and will be held at 7 PM. 3rd Order of  Business: Open to the Floor (15 minutes) Theodore Whippie came before the Board to discuss the history of the VA property exemption. Mr. Whippie noted that back in 1943 VA exemption was $1,000, and today this same exemption is only $300. 4th Order of  Business: Office Documents A Capital Reserve Request Bridge Funds Manifest in the amount of $9,972.32 for November 26, 2010 through January 1, 2011 has been submitted.  Selectman Fraser makes a motion to approve this manifest.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries 4-1. An Ambulance Billing Manifest for October through December in the amount of $6,317.00 has been submitted. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to approve the manifest.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries 4-1. An Ambulance Billing Manifest for January has been submitted in the amount of $1,366.13. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to approve the manifest.  Selectman Sepe seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0. 5th Order of  Business: Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A: 3II Selectman Fraser makes a motion to enter non-public session under (a) and (e). Selectman Sepe seconds the motion. Selectman Gustave Ruth requests discussion of his BTLA abatement case in public. The motion and the second are withdrawn. 6th Order of  Business: Avitar’s Recommendation on a BTLA Case Selectman Ruth steps down as a Selectman for this discussion. The Chairman reads a letter from Avitar stating their recommendation for a settlement for Map 15 Lot 15.  The Chairman noted that Avitar clarified some corrections to data on the property card, that are reflected in the settlement amount for tax year 2009, and in the value changes for tax year 2010. There was some discussion on Avitar’s assessment and a private appraisal. The Board settled on an amount to be offered to the property owner. Selectmen Gardner makes a motion to offer a settlement of $325,782 assessment for tax year 2009.  Selectmen Fraser seconds the motion.  Motion carries 4-0.  Selectman Ruth rejoins the Board. 7th Order of  Business: Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A: 3II Selectman Sepe makes a motion to enter non-public session under (a) and (e). Selectman Gardner seconds the motion. A role call vote is taken and all members vote “yes”, and the Board convenes in non-public session at 8:37 PM.    8th Order of  Business: Reconvene Public Session The Board reconvenes in public session at 9:39 PM. The non-public minutes under (e) have been sealed. Two non-public minutes under (a) have not been sealed. 9th Order of  Business: Any Other Business Selectman Fraser  makes a motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the Settlement Agreement for the Map 15, Lot 15 BTLA case.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0. 10th Order of  Business: Adjournment Selectman Fraser makes a motion to adjourn.  Selectman Sepe seconds the motion and it carries 5-0.  The meeting adjourns at 9:41 PM. Respectfully recorded, Shelly A. Walker Executive Assistant February 9, 2011 BOS Regular Minutes approved by:                           Sherman Tedford, Chairman               Gustave Ruth, Selectman          Theresa Sepe, Selectman         Roberta Fraser, Selectman                          Kenneth Gardner, Selectman

CENSORSHIP & SECRECY; IT NEVER ENDS IN WINCHESTER

We received several emails requesting information on a story published in the Keene Sentinel today in regards to the Historical District Commission meeting minutes that were removed from the Town's website and the bulletin boards at the Town Hall, asking what was in them that would prompt such action by Town officials. After doing some research on the matter; as the late Paul Harvey would have said ..... and now for the rest of the story ( the real one );
Seems once again the Keene Sentinel has gotten some of it's "facts" twisted around. According to sources (in the know) the real story goes like this;

Our Code Enforcement Officer is up to his usual antics – attempting to cover his butt!  This time he had some help and it did not come from M. Haman, chairman of the HDC, as the Sentinel reported; but from the Town's Administrator.  Leroy requested that the minutes be removed.

The Historic District has had numerous occasions over the years, in which Leroy has handed out building permits in the Historic District - which is not the proper protocol.  Anyone wishing to build or remodel their home in the historic district have to come before the board before any permit can be issued.  Apparently, after reading the HDC's meeting minutes, posted on the Town's website Leroy pulled the copies of the minutes from the town bulletin boards and marched up to Joan Morel’s office and requested that she pull the minutes from the Town’s website (which constitutes a misdemeanor under NH State Law).   He told her that he would take full responsibility for this action.

If the Town won’t post the minutes, we will! -  We believe in transparency and honesty and that the people of Winchester have the right to see these minutes. - You decide for yourself:

Meeting Minutes of the Town of Winchester

Historic District Commission

Monday, November 22, 2010

Attendance:  Michael Haman (Chairman), Mary DePina, Julia Ferrari (Vice Chairman), Harvey Sieran, Kim Gordon (Planning Board Rep & acting Secretary), and Absent: Penny Chagnon, Gene Park & Selectman’s Representative.    Public Attendance:  none

M Haman called the meeting to order at 6:58 pm. 

First Order of business:  M Haman reads the minutes from the previous meeting held on Monday, October 25, 2010. H. Sieran moves to accept the minutes as complete, M. DePina seconds. J. Ferrari made a friendly amendment.  All in favor.  

Second order of business:  One week ago, M. Haman and K. Gordon met to view the renovations being made by M. Ambrigio at 19 High Street.   The board discussed what kind of measures to take, since he has done this numerous times in the past and had agreed to come before the board in the future.  M. Haman read a draft letter requesting that M. Ambrigio cease all exterior construction until he has come before our board for review.  K. Gordon made the motion to send the letter certified mail, Julia seconded.  All in favor. 

The board discussed measures that they could take to insure that the Building Inspector, Leroy Austin does not continue to give out building permits in the Historic District.  H. Sieran will check with the Town Administrator, Joan Morel, to see if Avitar can include this in their information/cards; along with all properties in town listing which zone(s) they are in.  This would help to insure that all historic properties would bring up a red flag on the Land Use computer system.  It was also decided that K. Gordon & M. Haman would come up with a mailing list of all historic district owners that L. Austin could use as a quick checklist. 

Third order of business:  Matt Abbott contacted the board earlier in the month with their concerns about their attorney not being able to get a clear title on the Back Ashuelot Road property.  The board will inform them know that it is important that they meet with the Board of Selectman on this matter.  There was discussion on property deeds & titles and how could the Town sell properties that do not have a clear title.  Members will inquire about this. 

There was discussion on Deano’s Pizzeria.  No one has heard anything about the remodeling taking place.  M. Haman will check to see if they will be doing any exterior work and if they were issued a building permit also.  This lead into a discussion that was brought up during a R.E.D. committee meeting by H. Sieran - the matter of the incomplete A-1 Pizza building. There was a lengthy discussion on this issue.  K. Gordon informed the board that approved projects before July 1, 2009 had only one year to complete active or substantial development (as long as the development remains in compliance with public health regulations).  At this point the project is no longer “vested” and is well beyond the deadline and no longer has an approved site plan. They are required to go before the Planning Board for a new site plan review or tear down the building.  The Planning Board should have reviewed this several years ago and L. Austin should have issued the owners the appropriate warnings and instructions.

H. Sieran was reminded about the additional funding request (to the Budget Committee) needed for a mass mailing to all historic homeowners. He reminded the board that these funds would not be in place until after July 1, 2011.  

J. Ferrari contacted the State’s Historic Department and was informed that they do not keep records of Historic Districts, just historic buildings throughout the state.    There was another discussion about expanding the historic districts on the March ballot.  Will discuss this issue at the December meeting.

Next meeting date scheduled on Monday, December 27 at 7:00 PM.  Meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm.  H. Sieran announced that he wouldn’t be able to attend. 

Minutes respectfully submitted:
Kim N. Gordon, HDC Secretary
Minutes approved by the board on: 01/20/11
Minutes signed by: Michael Haman, HDC Chairman



Also illegally pulled from the website and the bulletin board –

Meeting Minutes of the Town of Winchester

Historic District Commission

Monday, July 26, 2010

Attendance:  Michael Haman (Chairman), Harvey Sieran, Kim Gordon (Planning Board Rep & acting Secretary) and alternates Gene Park.  Absent: Penny Chagnon, Mary DePina, Julia Ferrari, & Selectman’s Representative.     Public Attendance:  none

M Haman called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

First Order of business:  M. Haman gave a brief summary of the minutes of the last meeting held on Monday, June 26, 2010.  H. Sieran made a motion to accept the minutes and G. Parks seconded.  All in favor.

M. Haman informed the group about his correspondence with Jane Sheeran about the approval of the metal roof on the rail station.  Ms. Sheeran then sent an email that stated, “…any future building repair, your request for HDC permit may conflict with Mr. Austin’s authority and the exemptions detailed in the HDC guidelines.”  She was then notified by email from M. Haman, “I have spoken at length with Leroy Austin in regards to your reply to my mail requesting you file a new application with the HDC for continued work on the train station.  Leroy and I are in agreement that you need to make a new application to the HDC to continue your work.”

According to the commission’s ordinance, M. Sheeran does need to come before the committee about the removal of trees.  Not only is the property in the 250’ Shoreland Protection buffer, but trees are listed twice in the ordinance as a requirement to come before the committee to receive approval. 

H. Sieran, as a Budget Committee member, will research the budget for our committee.  Also, where do the funds go from the monies received for an application?  An amount was discussed to present to the budget committee as a budget.  He will also speak with the town clerk Jim Tetreault about our committee submitting a summary in the annual report.  K. Gordon made a motion to approve and G. Parks second.  All in favor. 

Selectman Gus Ruth had suggested that signs be made to distinguish the historic districts.  Considerations are being made to extend the district to include the entire block of Richmond Road to Parker Street.  There was further discussion on improvements to the ordinance and a summary to be given to all households within the historic district.  It was agreed that all members should be present to discuss this further.  There were questions about the “Certificate of Approval” mentioned in the ordinance.  Will check with Bob Gray if one exists, otherwise one will be designed by the secretary before the next meeting.  Discussion on organizing an Advisory Committee that would include local business people with knowledge in construction, architecture, engineering, real estate, legal, etc.

Next meeting date scheduled for the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, August 23 at 7:00 PM.  Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted:Kim N. Gordon, HDC Secretary
Minutes approved by the board on:
Minutes signed by: Michael Haman, HDC Chairman

You're A Bad Neighbor -

Dear Winchester,

You’re being a bad neighbor.

I’m not sure how else to tell you this, but we really don’t want your stinky, noisy, toxic asphalt plant in our backyard on top of our water supply.

We’ve asked you repeatedly, but you’ve turned a deaf ear.

And what’s more, you are being completely irresponsible to allow this plant to be built on top of an aquifer and so very close to a protected river.

You’ve manipulated the environmental research to slant in your favor and turned a blind eye to wisdom and caution. That aquifer supplies water to the wells of this whole region! How could there be no risk of anything ever leaking into it?

We aren’t buying it. You are doing this for your own financial interest with no care for how it affects others.

Do you not care that you could be potentially poisoning the wells of many in your own town? If even one person gets cancer, and they find even a trace of any of your stuff in the river or in the wells, you’ll be sued.

If a whole town sees a spike in cancer rates, can you afford that nightmare lawsuit? Can you even afford the lawsuits of people who think they might possibly have had their wells contaminated?

And are you prepared to deal with the plummet of property values of all of the homes near the plant?

Have you taken that cost into consideration?

Those properties will become unmarketable — perhaps even abandoned. The property owners will demand a reduction in their taxes. And the unlucky souls who are trapped there will have the noise of the race track by night and the racket of the asphalt plant by day. (Swanzey should note this as well. A loss of property value is coming their way also. The peasants are furious.)

And so, Winchester Town, you have been very shortsighted in your eagerness to have this particular commercial business in your tax base.

But you’ve been unwise also — unwise, greedy and heartless.
J FINNAMORE
Westport Village Road
Swanzey

VOTERS PILE ON MORE!

By Sarah Palermo
Sentinel Staff
Published: Friday, February 11, 2011

WINCHESTER — Winchester voters added nearly $600,000 to the proposed 2011-12 school district budget at the annual deliberative session on Thursday night, before sending all other warrant articles to the ballot unchanged.

The budget that will appear on the ballot — along with proposed contracts for district teachers and support staff — was set at $11,089,128, up from the town budget committee’s recommendation of $10.5 million.

The addition passed on a standing vote of 53-30. The $600,000 was the amount the budget committee had cut from the school board’s recommendation.

Members of the budget committee tried earlier to move the entire warrant unchanged. That motion failed a secret ballot vote, 53-40.

Committee members said the proposed salaries for administrators at Winchester’s soon-to-be formed administrative unit are too high, and district officials are expecting unrealistic revenues from the cash-strapped state government.

Budget committee member Brian Moser put the Winchester School Board on the spot, asking each member to commit to cutting expenditures if the state falls short of its promises.
“If the state tells us they’re cutting their aid, we’ll make those cuts, but we don’t have to make those cuts today,” board member Kevan Whippie said.

His fellow board members deferred, saying they don’t see it as a yes or no question, and they’ll have to wait and see.

Kenneth Gardner, a member of the board of selectmen, told the voters their answers now don’t matter anyway. Once a budget is passed, the board has authority to spend the amount on the ballot, he said.

“They don’t have to cut ... You will make it up in your taxes unless they decide to cut,” Gardner said.

Whippie went on to make a passionate plea for the voters to support the budget increase, citing recent growth in Winchester students’ achievement.

“Increases in performance only come when kids know they are invested in,” he said, eliciting applause from one side of the aisle in the gym.

Voting will be held on Tuesday, March 8 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Winchester Town Hall.

The Budget Committee's hard work was all in vain!  They were allowing an additional $500,000.00 above last year's school budget by placing the amount at $10,500,000.  But Kevin Whippie was determined to at another $4.60 per thousand to our tax bills.  NICE!

Process Was Flawed

On Monday, Jan. 3, I attended the Winchester Planning Board meeting where one of the items on the agenda was the vote to approve the proposed asphalt plant.

To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. The board voted to approve the plant, but the reasons for my disappointment stem more from the following:

1. A member of the planning board seemed to abandon any pretense of impartiality as evidenced by his repeated eye contact with (including eye rolls) and nods toward the applicant’s representative (Robert Snedeker) as each issue was discussed. I had the uneasy suspicion the board member was acting as an agent for the applicant. The board member is well entitled to his position, but for appearance’s sake, he could have waited for the vote.

2. At one of the public meetings, the chairperson stressed that the asphalt plant was the matter to be considered and not the existing gravel pit. And yet, at this meeting the gravel pit’s runoff survey was pushed as sufficient guarantee that chemicals or contaminated soil and water wouldn’t make their way into the Ashuelot River. The contention that there should be a new survey done because there would be a new structure on the site was raised by a board member, however, the board still decided to accept the gravel pit’s certification.

Which brings me to my third, and last reason — the blissfully offered “guarantees” that the facility will be safe to the environment and surrounding residents. I continue to be very uncomfortable with language like “chances of (accidental spills) happening are practically zero,” that chemical runoff “wouldn’t go into the river,” that the ground “is impervious, and besides, there’ll be concrete,” or that someone somewhere said that “asphalt isn’t a toxic substance.”

I would hate for these to be famous last words.

JENNIFER MARIE BELLAN

P.O. Box 3

Old Hinsdale Road

Ashuelot

CANDIDATES FOR TOWN ELECTIONS

FILED CANDIDATES FOR TOWN ELECTIONS

MARCH 8, 2011 TOWN HALL

POLLS OPEN 8:00AM CLOSE AT 7:00PM

SELECTMAN – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2014

VOTE FOR ONE:

ROBERTA HEINONEN FRASER

WILLIAM A, (BILL) MCGRATH III

JOHN PASQUARELLI

HERBERT C. STEPHENS

FRANCIS (MIKE) TOWNE

TRUSTEE OF TRUST FUNDS – THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2014

VOTE FOR ONE:

KENNETH COLE

TREASURER – THREE YEAR TERM– TERM ENDS 2014

VOTE FOR ONE

RUTH M. TATRO

CONANT PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE – THREE YEAR TERM –

TERM ENDS  - 2014 VOTE FOR THREE

HARVEY SIERAN

THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE – THREE YEAR TERM –

TERM ENDS 2014 VOTE FOR THREE

  

FRANK J. AMAROS III

IRENE CLARK

HUBERT CROWELL

KIM N. GORDON

JENNIFER D. MARTIN

DIANE SKAWSKI-PRIDE

THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE – ONE YEAR TERM

TERM ENDS – 2012 VOTE FOR ONE

JULIA FERRARI

DONNA HOWLAND

ANNE-MARIE PASQUARELLI

BUDGET COMMITTEE – THREE YEAR TERM

TERM ENDS 2014 - VOTE FOR THREE

 

JASON CARDINALE

RICHARD HORTON

JACK MARSH JR.

BRIAN MOSER

PLANNING BOARD – THREE YEAR TERM  

TERM ENDS – 2014 VOTE FOR TWO

DEAN BEAMAN

JENNIFER-MARIE BELLAN

LARRY R. HILL

JACK MARSH JR.

JOHN PASQUARELLI

FRANCIS (MIKE) TOWNE

MUSTERFIELD CEMETERY COMMITTEE - THREE YEAR TERM –

 TERM ENDS 2014 VOTE FOR ONE

ERIN G. ROBB

FILED CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL ELECTIONS

MARCH 8, 2011 TOWN HALL

POLLS OPEN 8:00AM CLOSE AT 7:00PM

SCHOOL BOARD THREE YEAR TERM – TERM ENDS 2014

VOTE FOR TWO:

VALERIE S. COLE

TREVOR S. CROTEAU

WENDY HILDRETH

WILLIAM A. (BILL) MCGRATH III

James M. Tetreault

Town Clerk/Tax Collector

IMPORTANT TOWN NOTICES

THE TOWN HALL WILL BE CLOSED

ON FEBRUARY 2, 2011

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Board of Selectman's Meeting

for Wednesday February 2, 2011

has been canceled

Deliberative Session for

the Town Budget & Warrant Articles

will be held on February 5th at 9am

at the Town Hall

The Winchester School Deliberative Session

will be held at the Winchester School Gymnasium

on Thursday February 10th at 7pm