TOWN OF
ANNUAL BUDGET AND WARRANT PUBLIC HEARING
Selectboard Present: Sheldon
Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague
Acting Moderator William Webb
called the Public Hearing to order at
Mr. Webb read the following
notice: “You are hereby notified to meet
at the Town Hall,
Mr. Webb noted that the
Articles to be voted upon should be changed from “Articles 1 – 12” to “Articles
2 – 12” and that “retain” should be changed to “remain”.
ARTICLE 1: “To elect the necessary Town Officers for
their respective terms.”
There was no discussion on this Article as the
elections will be held on March 10, 2009.
ARTICLE 2: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Three Million Two Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Six
Hundred Fifty Six Dollars ($3,267,656), which represents the operating budget
for the general government of the Town.
Such sum does not include special or individual articles addressed.
(Majority vote required)”
Mr. Sawyer advised that at Town Meeting there will be
different people speaking on the various Articles. This proposed budget is considered their
level funded budget. There are no salary
increases for the Town employees but they did not cut any jobs. To recognize that the full-time employees did
a good job the Selectboard gave them a stipend of
$350.00. Some cuts were made in the
Highway Department for large equipment.
If the property evaluations stay the same this budget should result in
less taxes. Mr. Bingaman asked when the
stipends will be paid. Mr. Sawyer said
after the budget is approved.
ARTICLE 3: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for the purchase
of a 2008 S185 Bobcat Skid – Steer Loader with a 61 HP Turbo interim Tier IV
diesel engine, and H51 Option Package to be used by the Recycle/Transfer
Center, and to fund this appropriation by trading the 1997 Bobcat Skid-Steer
(trade-in value of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), Twenty-Five Hundred Dollars
($2,500) from a NH the Beautiful Grant, and the balance of Seventeen Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($17,500) to be raised by taxes. (Non-lapsing for Two years) (The Select Board
Recommends This Article).
Mr. Aldrich explained that the 1997 Bobcat Skid-Steer
has been at the
ARTICLE 4: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) for the
construction of a roof for the 10’ x 12’ shed used for the storage and handling
of used oil. This article is contingent
upon receipt of a grant in the same amount from the State of
Budget and Warrant Public
Hearing –
Mr. Aldrich advised that last year the voters passed
an article for the cement pad for the shed.
They need a place to store the used oil as the DES has rules and
regulations on how it should be done. In
order to use the shed it has to have a roof on it. This will be a matching grant. Mr.
Sawyer advised that the Town has to vote for the $2,500 first, after the work
is complete the State will be notified and they will reimburse the Town. There was discussion regarding the wording of
the last sentence. Mrs. Teague said they
would call the DRA to be sure the wording is proper.
ARTICLE 5: “To see if the Town will vote to approve the
second payment of a three-year lease on the
Mr. Sawyer explained that when the previous truck
burned the Selectboard entered into a three lease
agreement for another truck as they needed a replacement. The insurance company did reimburse the
Town. The first payment was made in
2008. This is for the second year
payment.
Mr. Dion
questioned the Selectboard about the statements as to
whether they recommend or do not recommend the various Articles. Mr. Sawyer explained that the State will no
longer allow this unless it is considered a Special Article.
ARTICLE 6: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
the sum of One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000) for repairs to
Mr. Sawyer said last year in the spring the clay
underneath the headwall gave way and the headwall collapsed. They were able to prevent it from getting any
worse but there were no funds for repairs in the budget. They made the road one-way to traffic rather
than close it but it is well traveled and needs to be repaired.
ARTICLE 7: “To see if the Town will rescind the
following article voted on at the Town Meeting of
Mr. Sawyer explained that when land is taken out of
Current Use there is a 10% penalty. If
this Article is voted upon the Selectboard would take
the Land Use Change Tax and put it into an
ARTICLE 8: “To see if the Town will vote to create an
Unanticipated Town Property Trust Fund to be funded each year by including all
Current Use Change Tax collected for that year.
The Board of Selectmen will serve as agents for this fund. A Public Hearing must be held before any
money will be expended from this fund.”
(The Select Board Approves This Article)
Budget and Warrant Public
Hearing –
It was noted that Article 8 is contingent upon Article
7. Mrs. Teague read the following
explanation of “Expendable Trust Funds” from the New Hampshire Local Government
Center: “In 1983, RSA 31:19-a was
enacted to allow municipalities to appropriate money into non-lapsing accounts
designed as trust funds for operation and maintenance functions. These accounts became known as “expendable
trust funds” (ETFs) because the statute allows both
the original appropriations and accrued interest to be expended by the
appointed agents. RSA 31:19-a, I. Expendable trust funds are subject to the
same provisions concerning custody, investment and expenditure as capital
reserve funds. RSA 31:19-a, III.
Appropriations into ETFs are not to be commingled
with privately donated trust funds for the same purpose. RSA 31:19-a, IV.” Mr. Dion stated
that the Trustees of Trust Funds will invest these funds but not make decisions
on how it is spent. There was discussion
about the Selectboard being the agents. Mrs. Teague suggested that at the Town
Meeting someone could make a recommendation that the agents be comprised of one
Selectboard member, one Commissioner and a third member
from the Town rather than the Selectboard. Mr. Sawyer suggested adding the wording that “this
account will be created to fund unanticipated emergency expenses as well as
Conservation Commission expenses”. It
was recommended that “
ARTICLE 9: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be deposited in the
Capital Reserve Fund-Police Vehicle, previously established for the purchase of
a police vehicle.” (The Select Board
Approved This Article).
Every three years the town buys a new police vehicle;
one was bought last year.
ARTICLE 10: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500) to be placed in the
Walpole Old Home Day Expendable Trust Fund.:
(The Select Board Approves This Article).
Cindy Westover feels that the Old Home Day event is a
form of Recreation therefore should become a part of that budget. At this time there is no money in this
account. Mr. Dion
said it is a lot of work for the Trustees of Trust Fund for a small amount.
ARTICLE 11: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500) for payment
to Southwest Regional Planning Commission for 2009. Four Thousand ($4,000) is for an annual fee
for 2009 and Fifteen Hundred ($1,500) is payment for updating of the Town
Master Plan.”
Ben Daviss advised that the
SWRPC assists the Planning Board as they answer technical questions and do
mapping for them. Jeff Miller, Chair of
the Planning Board, said SWRPC has always been there to help them; they are
main stream and help avoid legal consequences.
Their dues are based on each town’s population. Mr. Schupack noted
that the SWRPC is a membership organization so they depend on the member towns
contributions.
ARTICLE 12: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,550) to
pay the town’s portion of the American Red Cross Rural Ride Program expansion
to
Budget and Warrant Public
Hearing –
Mrs. Teague advised that this Article was brought
forward by Tara Sad. The Selectboard did not feel it was right to not give their
employees a raise this year yet to vote to add a new program. Tara Sad will speak to this at the Town
Meeting.
2009 PROPOSED BUDGET:
Revenue: Mr. Sawyer advised that projecting the
Revenue is a guessing game. They try to
be conservative. After July they may not
get the Highway Block Grant.
The 2009 Estimated Revenues
total:
General Fund (Less Property
Taxes) $1,578,720
Water Administration 153,157
Sewer Department 270,952
Total Revenue Anticipated $2,002,829
Revenue From Proposed Warrant
Articles 7,500
Total Revenue Including
Warrant Articles $2,010,329
Expenditures: Mr. Sawyer noted that this proposed budget
represents a .04% increase over last year which is basically a level funded
budget. The difference will be the
Warrant Articles.
The 2009 Recommended Expenditures
total:
General Fund $2,843,547
Water Department 153,157
Sewer Department 270,952
Total Budget Appropriated $3,267,656
Warrant Articles To Be Passed 171,630
Total Budget Including
Warrant Articles $3,439,286
Amount to be Raised by Taxes:
2008
- $1,438,827 2009 -
$1,428,957 Percent Decrease -0.69%
Police Department: Vicky Riggio
advised that when the
Planning Board: Pam Aslinger asked
for clarification on the change over for the Planning Board secretary from an
hourly wage to $60.00/per meeting. At
their next meeting there are three Public Hearings scheduled. Mrs. Teague explained that she did not take
into consideration that the Planning Board schedules several hearings in the
same meeting. Provisions have been made
for an hourly rate of pay for work done outside of the meetings. Mr. Sawyer felt they will look at the set
wage per meeting at the end of this year but recommended trying it for now.
There were 30 people present
at this Public Hearing.
Budget and Warrant Public
Hearing –
Mr. Webb adjourned this
Public Hearing at
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Sheldon
S. Sawyer
_______________________
Whitney
R. Aldrich
_______________________
Jamie
J. Teague
(Note: These are unapproved
minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may
be found in the minutes of the