Town Meeting 2010

NOTICE OF TOWN MEETING
Date:  March 10, 2010
Place:   Kearsarge Elementary School at Bradford; Old Warner Road, Bradford, NH
Time:  7:00 pm

Elections occur on March 9, 2010. Kearsarge Elementary School at Bradford; Old Warner Road, Bradford, NH.

Click here for a PDF file of the 2009 Town Report (2.7MB).

2010 Warrant Articles

Town of Bradford
State of New Hampshire

Town Warrant of Town Meeting March 09, 2010

The Polls will open at 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on March 09, 2010

To the inhabitants of the town of Bradford in the County of Merrimack in said State qualified to vote in town affairs;

You are hereby notified to meet at the Bradford Elementary School on Old Warner Road in said Bradford, NH on Tuesday, the ninth of March next, at eight o’clock in the morning to act on the following articles:

Article One. To choose all necessary Town officials for the ensuing year.

Article Two. Zoning Ordinance - Shall the Town of Bradford adopt a “Sign Ordinance” under the authority of RSA 674.

The ordinance establishes permitting procedures for signs.  Included is a list of types of signs that are prohibited, a list of types of signs that are allowed without a permit, and general requirements for signage.  If approved, this ordinance will replace section VI Signs, in the Zoning Ordinance.

Article Three.  Zoning Ordinance - Shall the Town of Bradford adopt a “Workforce Housing Ordinance” under the authority of RSA 674:21, and is intended as an “Inclusionary Zoning” provision as defined in RSA 674:21(I)(k) and 674:21(IV)(a), as well as RSA 672:1,IIIe.  The Ordinance provides incentives for the development of workforce housing including increases in density and permits uses consistent with the encouragement and development of workforce housing as stipulated in the aforementioned RSAs.

Article Four. To adjourn the meeting until Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 7:00 pm at the Bradford Elementary School on the Old Warner Road.  The raising of money and remaining articles in the Warrant will be taken up at the adjourned meeting.

Article Five. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Million Eight Hundred Sixty One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Dollars ($1,861,680.00) for the general municipal operation.  This article DOES NOT include amounts appropriated by other warrant articles. (Majority vote required)

1. Executive          $107,827.00
2. Elections and Vital Records      8,864.00
3. Financial Administration            80,918.00
4. Revaluations     20,072.00
5. Legal    15,000.00
6. Employee Benefits        267,854.00
7. Planning            10,000.00
8. General Government     39,982.00
9. Cemetery         17,085.00
10. Insurances        62,882.00
11. Other General Govt      9,600.00
12. Police Department        289,510.00
13. Fire Department           92,500.00
14. Rescue Squad  83,185.00
15. Building Code Dept      10,950.00
16. Emergency Management           500.00
17. Highway Department    383,063.00
18. Bridge Account            100.00
19. Street Lighting  4,450.00
20. Solid Waste Collection 57,675.00
21. Solid Waste Disposal    70,834.00
22. Inoculations      500.00
23. Welfare Administration 4,012.00
24. Welfare Payments         38,377.00
25. Parks and Recreation    1,725.00
26. Library 62,525.00
27. Patriotic Purposes         14,500.00
28. Community Center        69,409.00
29. Other Conservation      780.00
30. Long Term Notes         35,000.00
31. Interest on Tan Notes   2,000.00

Total                                                                $1,861,680.00

Article Six. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000) for the construction of sidewalks on East Main Street and to authorize the withdrawal of Twenty One Thousand One Hundred Sixty Eight dollars ($21,168) from the Main Street Improvement Capital Reserve, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) from the unexpended fund balance as of December 31, 2009 and to raise and appropriate the balance of Forty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Two dollars ($48,832) to be raised by taxation.   This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until complete or December 31, 2015.  This appropriation is conditional on the receipt of a grant from the NH Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant (TE Grant) in the amount of Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars ($480,000) (80% of the project).  The grant awards will be announced in the spring of 2010.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.21 of the tax rate)

Article Seven: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) to be placed in the  Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.09 of the tax rate)

Article Eight.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($15,150) to repair the Town Clock.  Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.07 of the tax rate).

Article Nine.  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Fire Department Building Repair Capital Reserve Fund and to fund this appropriation by authorizing the withdrawal of $5000 from the unexpended fund balance as of December 31, 2009 with no money raised by taxation.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (No addition to the tax rate).

Article Ten. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund and to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in this fund and further to appoint the Selectmen as agents to expend. Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.02 of the tax rate)

Article Eleven. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be placed in the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.04 of the tax rate)

Article Twelve. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to be placed in the Highway Department Heavy Equipment Fund.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends.  (This represents approximately $.13 of the tax rate)

Article Thirteen. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a five year lease purchase agreement for One Hundred and Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($102,500) for the purchase of a backhoe and a six year extended warranty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($2,800) for the Bradford Highway department and to raise and appropriate Eighteen Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty Three Dollars ($18,433) for the first year payment and warranty expense.  This lease contains an escape clause.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends.  (This represents approximately $.08 of the tax rate)

Article Fourteen. To see if the Town will vote to establish the Highway Heavy Equipment Repair Capital Reserve Fund and to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) to be placed in this Fund.  The Selectmen are agents to expend.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.09 of the tax rate)

Article Fifteen. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to be placed in the Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents less than $.01 of the tax rate)

Article Sixteen. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Town Building Emergency Repair Capital Reserve Fund and to authorize the withdrawal of that amount from unexpended fund balance as of December 31 2009 with no money raised by taxation.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends.  (No addition to the tax rate)

Article Seventeen. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Town Building and Facility Renovation Capital Reserve Fund and to authorize the withdrawal of that amount from unexpended fund balance as of December 31, 2009 with no money raised by taxation.  Selectmen and Budget Committee unanimously recommends.  (No impact on tax rate)

Article Eighteen.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($24,500) to purchase a new police cruiser and transfer the existing equipment.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.11 of the tax rate)

Article Nineteen. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Bridge Design and Build Capital Reserve Fund and raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) to be placed in this fund.  Selectmen are agents to expend. Selectmen unanimously recommend. -Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.15 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Six Thousand Dollars ($26,000) to replace the roof on the Bement Covered Bridge with a corrugated metal roof.  This will be non lapsing and continue until the project is done or December 31, 2015.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.11 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty One. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) for asphalt road repairs and shimming.  This will be non lapsing and continue until the project is complete or December 31, 2015.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.17 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty Two.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Four Thousand Dollars ($54,000) for road reconstruction of County Road.  Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.23 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty Three.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Ten Thousand dollars ($110,000) to begin the first phase of a three year project to reconstruction and resurface Sunset Hill Road.  This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will not lapse until the project is complete or December 31, 2015. Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.48 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty Four.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty  Thousand Dollars ($40,000) for the 2010 recertification of property assessments as required by the NH Department of Revenue. Twenty five thousand dollars will be withdrawn from the Revaluation Capital Reserve and Fifteen Thousand ($15,000) will be raised by taxation.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.06 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty Five.  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) to make an additional principal payment on the Town Highway Garage long term note and to authorize the withdrawal of this amount from the unexpended fund balance as of December 31, 2009 with no additional money to be raised by taxation.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  -Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (No tax rate increase.)

Article Twenty Six.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to fund the Boat Launch.  Selectmen unanimously recommend.  Budget Committee unanimously recommends.  (This represents approximately $.02 of the tax rate)

Article Twenty Seven. Shall the Town vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 36-A:4-a,(b) to authorize the conservation commission to expend funds for contributions to “qualified organizations” for the purchase of property interests, or facilitating transactions related thereto, where the property interest is to be held by the qualified organization and the town will retain no interest in the property.

Article Twenty Eight.  To see if the Town will adopt the provisions of RSA 72:66 for a property tax exemption on real property equipped with a wind powered energy system which exemption shall be in the amount of 100% of the assessed value of the wind powered energy system up to $35,000 until rescinded.  By Petition.

Article Twenty Nine.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,750) to support the Bradford Newbury Sutton Youth Sports.  By Petition.  Selectmen do not recommend (unanimous).  Budget Committee does not recommend.  (This represents approximately $.01 of the tax rate)

Article Thirty. The Town Clerk/Tax Collector and the Selectmen’s Office will be open to the public 35 hours per week and not to exceed 35 hours.  The office hours for both will be conducted Tuesday thru Friday as follows:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30-12:00pm 1:00 pm -5pm, Thursday 8:00 am-12:00pm 1:00pm-7:00pm.  The lunch hour is unpaid.

The Town Clerk/Tax Collector will be open to the public the last Saturday of the month from 8:00am-12:00pm of each month except on holidays that fall on Saturday they will open the following Saturday.  The office hours for that week will be the same except for morning hours on Thursday and Friday which will be 10:00 am-12:00pm not to exceed 35 hours.  Having the offices open for the same hours will give the residents more opportunity to conduct all their business in person at the Town Hall.  Office hours will be posted for the entire calendar year on January 1.  By Petition.

Article Thirty One.  The Road Agent is an appointed position and the requirement will include the road Agent must reside in Bradford or one of the abutting Towns.  By Petition

Article Thirty Two.  Petition for making Maple View Drive a Town Road.  We the residents of Bradford, New Hampshire request that the privately owned road of Maple View Drive, be converted to a town owned and maintained road.  By Petition (signatures at the town hall)

Article Thirty Three. By Petition:  To see if the Town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representative(s), our State Senator, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President.

Resolved:  The citizens of New Hampshire should be allowed to vote on an amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution that defines “marriage”.

Article Thirty Four.  To see if the town will vote to direct the Selectmen to sell the Caterpillar skid steer loader purchased in 2009 without the approval at Town Meeting.  By Petition.

Article Thirty Five.  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) for the continuation of the Nature’s Circle Summer Camp for youth.  This amount is to be used for payroll expenses for camp councilors, transportation and supplies used to conduct a quality day camp for Bradford area children.  This amount to be offset by fees and donations collected from/for the camp as has occurred in 2008 and 2009.  By Petition.  Selectmen do not recommend (unanimous). Budget Committee does not recommend (3 no, 1 yes,1 abstain) This represents approximately $.04 of the tax rate)