TOWN OF BRADFORD STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Town Warrant and Minutes of Town Meeting March 13, 2012
The Polls will opened at 8:00 to 7:00 pm on March 13, 2012
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 thirteenth 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.
| Selectman | John “Jack” Meany | 86 | ||
| Delbert “Sonny” Harris III | 369 | Elected | ||
| Town Clerk/Tax Collector | Susan Pehrson | 184 | ||
| Erica Gross | 268 | Elected | ||
| Treasurer | Marilyn Gordon | 410 | Elected | |
| Supervisor of the Check List | Judith Marshall | 423 | Elected | |
| Trustee of the Trust Funds | Thomas “Tim” Rodd | 392 | Elected | |
| Trustee of the Brown Memorial Library | Mary Chris Duncan | 263 | Elected | |
| Beatrice Howe | 298 | Elected | ||
| GarryKalajian | 181 | |||
| Budget Committee | Marlene Freyler | 187 | ||
| G. Richard Keller | 255 | Elected | ||
| Write-in | William Hurley | 193 | Elected | |
| Planning Board | Philip Lamoreaux | 384 | Elected | |
| Write-in | Donald Jackson | 44 | Elected | |
| Zoning Board | Andrew Pinard | 365 | Elected | |
| Write-in | Denise Renk | 25 | Elected | |
| Scholarship Committee | Gilberte “Jill” Pinard | 262 | Elected | |
| Mary Chris Duncan | 148 | |||
| Cemetery Commission | Diane Whalley | 411 | Elected | |
Article Two. The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 1 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the planning board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: to add a Workforce Housing section to the Zoning Ordinance as required by RSA 674:58-61? The proposed ordinance would allow workforce housing in the Residential Business and Residential Rural zoning districts. The Planning Board could approve one or more incentives: smaller lot sizes, reduced setbacks and/ or reduced road frontage only if the applicant demonstrates that the current regulations would make the cost of a project prohibitive for sale or rent to families who meet the guidelines. An assurance of continued affordability would be required for any approved project. (Majority Vote Required)
229 YES 223 NO Article Carried
There was also a School Ballot. The Bradford results were as follows:
Question 1. To see if the school district will vote to raise an appropriate the municipal budget committees recommended amount of $ 36,546,033 for the support of schools, for the payment of salaries for the school district officials and agents, and the payment for the statutory obligations of the district. The school board recommends $36,546,033. This article does not include appropriations voted in other warrant articles. This article asks the voter to raise an appropriate for the support of schools, the salaries of school district officials and agents, and for the statutory obligations of said district, and to authorize the application against said appropriation of such sums as are estimated to be received from the state sources, to gather with other income, the school board to certify to each of the towns of Bradford, New London, Newbury, Springfield, Sutton, Warner, and Wilmot, the amount to be raised by taxation by said towns. (School board approves 9-0) (Municipal budget committee approves 8-0)
A. $36,546,033 for the proposed operating budget recommended by the school board
B. $36,546,033 for the proposed operating budget recommended by the municipal budget committee
A. 234 B. 154
Question 2. To see if the school district will vote to approve the cost item included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Kearsarge regional school board and the Kearsarge regional education Association which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits
Year 2012-13 Estimated Increase $427,483.00
And further to raise an appropriate the sum of $427,483.00 for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, such some representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels.(School board approves 9-0) (Municipal budget committee approves 8-0) YES 190 NO 258 Article Did Not Carry
Question 3. To see if the school district will vote to raise an appropriate the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars $25,000 to be placed in the special education expendable trust fund, established in 2008 within the provisions of RSA 198:20 -c for the purpose of emergency funding for unforeseen special education costs incurred by the district.(School board approves 9-0) (Municipal budget committee approves 8-0)
YES 225 NO 224 Article Carried
Question 4. To see if the school district will vote to raise an appropriate up to fifty thousand dollars $50,000 to be placed in the school buildings maintenance fund for the purpose of repair, unanticipated utility costs, and maintaining the school buildings and equipment, with such amount to be funded from surplus funds remaining on hand as all of June 30, 2012. (School board approves 9-0) (Municipal budget committee approves 8-
0)
YES 252 NO 197 Article Carried
Question 5. To see if the school district will vote to raise an appropriate the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars $35,000 for the purpose of contracting a part-time services of a school resource officer. (School board approves 9-0) (Municipal budget committee approves 7-1)
YES 138 NO 308 Article Did Not Carry
In the Moderator race Brackett Scheffy received 406 Votes
District wide all but the article for the resource officer passed.
Election officials present were Brackett Scheffy Moderator, Fred Hubley Assistant Moderator, Harry Wright, Barry Wheeler, John Meany, Selectmen, Susan Pehrson Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Erica Gross Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Judith Marshall, Ruth Marden, Jacqueline Welch, Supervisors of the Checklist, Robert Toppi, Carolyn Verity, Christopher Small, Marjory Cilley, George Cilley, Phyllis Wilcox, Linda Niven, Denise Renk, Steve Pierce, Mary Dayton, Marcia Keller, Harriet Douglass, Ballot Clerks, Eileen Kelly, Christopher Small, Denise Renk, Mary Dayton, Beth Rodd, Steve Pierce, Robert Toppi, Connie Scheffy, Susan Smith, Tandy Hartford, Marancy Pehrson , Counters
Article Three. At the close of the polls the meeting adjourned until Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Bradford Elementary School on the Old Warner Road. Raising the money and remaining articles in the Warrant will be taken up at the adjourned meeting.
The count ended at 10:45. Winners were announced and information was e-mailed.
Meeting reconvened at 7 PM at the Bradford regional elementary school.
Brackett was pleased to be back as our moderator.
Bob Selig led us in the pledge of allegiance.
There were 209 voters present.
It was announced that a recount was going to be held for one of the budget committee
openings. The date to be chosen at a later time.
Mr. Scheffy thanked the many volunteers for their faithful work
Article Four. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Million Nine Hundred Ten, Six Hundred Forty Five Dollars and Thirty Four Cents ($1,910,645.34) for the general municipal operation. This article DOES NOT include amounts appropriated by other warrant articles. (Majority vote required) article carried
| Selectmen | Budget Committee | |
| 1. Executive | 128,612.00 | 127,623.28 |
| article carried | ||
| 2. Elections and Vital Records | 9,689.00 | 9,689.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 3. Financial Administration | 92,968.30 | 91,261.00 |
| proposed amendment to reduce by $20,000. | Amendment did not pass | |
| article carried | ||
| 4. Revaluations | 25,555.00 | 25,555.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 5. Legal | 16,000.00 | 16,000.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 6. Employee Benefits | 298,975.00 | 286,775.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 7. Planning | 8,050.00 | 8,050.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 8. General Government | 68,463.33 | 54,097.00 |
| amendment to decrease to 36,713. | Amendment carried | |
| article carried | ||
| 9. Cemetery | 25,141.00 | 25,141.00 article carried |
| 10. Insurances | 76,700.00 | 76,700.00 article carried |
| 11. Other General Gov | 8,800.00 | 8,800.00 article carried |
| 12. Police Department | 316,746.69 | 315,163.00 article carried |
| 13. Fire Department | 59,250.00 | 59,250.00 article carried |
| 14. Rescue Squad | 70,860.00 | 70,860.00 article carried |
| 15. Building Code Dept | 30,125.00 | 29,951.52 article carried |
| 16. Emergency Management | 250.00 | 250.00 article carried |
| 17. Highway Department | 507,131.50 | 425,684.00 |
| hand count | 80 yes 126 no | article not carried |
| proposed to raise $400,000 for this article | article carried | |
| 18. Bridge Account | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 19. Street Lighting | 4,700.00 | 4,700.00 |
| article carried | ||
| 20. Solid Waste Collection | 49,470.00 | 48,615.00 |
| article carried | ||
Article Five. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000) to obtain architectural services to evaluate the Bradford Town Hall and complete design recommendations to restore the building to code compliance, safety and utility for the town.
Article carried
Article Six. Town Hall Restoration Resolution: In anticipation of Bradford’s 225th anniversary, to see if the town will vote to support renovation of its Town Hall – with origins dating to 1797 -to revitalize the community and serve future generation, thereby furnishing the key ingredient of community support to win outside grants and matching funds for this project.
Article carried
Article Seven. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand ($25,000) to retro fit the downstairs of the Community Center for the Town Offices. This will be a non lapsing appropriation to continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2013. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend.
Amendment made to reduce to $15,000. Amendment carried. Paper ballot requested. Yes 37 no 182. Article did not carry
Article Eight. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund, (next recertification to be in 2015). Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Nine. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) to be placed in the Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Ten. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred Forty Dollars ($35,240.00) to purchase and outfit with equipment a new all wheel drive police cruiser.
Hand count 114 yes 60 no article carried
Article Eleven. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to be placed in the Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Twelve. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Seven Thousand Dollars ($37,000.00) to purchase replacement communications equipment to accommodate new federal regulations for the Fire and Highway Department, and to fund this appropriation by authorizing the withdrawal of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) from the Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund and to raise Thirty Two thousand dollars ($32,000) by taxation.
Article carried
Article Thirteen. 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.
Article carried
Article Fourteen. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Six Thousand Dollars ($106,000.00) for the ambulance service for the town and to fund this appropriation by authorizing the transfer of $106,000 from the unreserved fund balance as of December 31, 2011. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (No effect on the tax rate)
article carried
Article Fifteen. 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 Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Request to address this article after article 17.
Article Sixteen. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be placed in the Salt and Fuel Emergency Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article not carried
Article Seventeen. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a Five Year lease/purchase agreement for a new grader. The total cost of the grader is $297,705.00 less $25,000 trade allowance for a price of Two Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Dollars ($272,700.00) and to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) for the first year’s payment for this purpose. This expenditure will be funded in part by a Sixty Eight Thousand Dollar ($68,000)grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The balance of Thirty Two thousand dollars ($32,000) will come from the fund balance as of December 31, 2011. The Thirty Two Thousand Dollars in fund balance is the closeout amount of the 2011 non lapsing Warrant Article 16 -grader repairs. The estimated annual lease payment is $38,000 per year. This lease agreement contains an escape (fiscal funding) clause. Article not carried. Request to restrict reconsideration. Request carried.
Article Eighteen. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to accept a grant from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for the Clean Air initiative in the amount of Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars ($68,000.00) to be applied to the first year’s payment of a five year lease/purchase agreement to purchase a new Highway Department Grader. This article is contingent upon the passage of Article Seventeen (Grader Lease/Purchase).
article passed over
Article Nineteen. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Forty Eight Thousand Dollars ($48,000.00) for bridge design. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously does not recommend.
Amendment to reduce article to $28,000. Amendment carried. Article carried
Article Twenty. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy five Thousand Dollars ($375,000) for road reconstruction of East Main Street, Old Warner Road, Howlett Road and Greenhouse Lane.
Article not carried
Article Twenty One. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty thousand dollars ($140,000) for the paving of East Main Street following the installation of sidewalks and bike lanes. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. This article will be passed over with the passage of Article Twenty. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Twenty Two. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) for asphalt road repairs and shimming. This will be non lapsing and continue until the project is complete or December 31, 2017. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously does not recommend.
Amendment to reduce article to $20,000. Amendment carried. Article carried
Article Twenty Three. 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. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Twenty Four. 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. Selectmen unanimously recommend and the Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article carried
Article Twenty Five. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to fund the Boat Launch.
Article carried
Article Twenty Six. 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.
Article carried
Article Twenty Seven. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the Main Street Improvement Capital Reserve.
Hand count 87 yes 74 no article carried
Article Twenty Eight. To see if the Town will vote to designate 3.6 acres of town property (Map 17, Lot 12) with frontage on East Main Street as a historic village area. Voted by the town in 2005 to serve as :a cultural center for the town,” this portion of the former Marshall property includes the seventy-five (75) foot right of way along the west side of the lot from East Main Street to the rear north-west corner, assuring the Town of Bradford’s continued access to the rear 18 acre Marshall property. By Petition.
Article carried
Article Twenty Nine. To see if the town will adopt the provisions of RSA 41:14-a to grant the selectmen the authority to acquire or sell land, buildings, or both; provided that they first submit any such proposed acquisition or sale to the planning board and to the conservation commission for review and recommendation by those bodies and hold 2 public hearings on the proposed acquisition or sale and provided that upon the written petition of 50 registered voters presented to the selectmen prior to their vote, the proposed acquisition or sale shall be inserted as an article in the warrant for the town meeting. This authority shall not extend to Town-owned conservation land which is managed and controlled by the conservation commission, any part of a town forest, or any real estate that has been given, devised, or bequeathed to the town for charitable or community purposes except as provided in RSA 498:4-a or RSA 547:3-d.
Article not carried
Article Thirty. To see if the town will vote to authorize the board of selectmen to rent or lease municipal property for a term of up to 5 years without further vote or ratification of the town. Once adopted, this authority shall remain in effect until specifically rescinded by town meeting.
Article not carried
Article Thirty One. To see if the town will vote to extend winter maintenance on Blaisdell Lake Road (which was declared a highway to summer cottages) to the end of Map 3 Lot 48). By Petition.
Article carried
Article Thirty Two. To see if the Town of Bradford, New Hampshire will vote to adopt the following resolution and upon adoption shall have our Select Board Members notify in writing the members of our Congressional delegation of said resolution and to support its contents.
Resolution: Whereas the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes it clear that no person may be owned by another person;
Whereas corporations are often owned by peoples and other corporations and are therefore not people;
Whereas the First Amendment of the United States Constitution was designed to protect the free speech rights of people, not corporations;
Whereas, The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5:4 ruling in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission constitutes a serious and direct threat to our democracy by removing the last remaining legal limits on corporate spending in the electoral process;
Whereas, the people of the United States have previously used the constitutional amendment process to correct those egregiously wrong decisions of the United States Supreme Court that go to the heart of our democracy and self-government;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Bradford, New Hampshire calls for amending the United States and New Hampshire Constitutions to declare that corporations are not entitled to the protections or “rights” of human beings and to declare that the expenditures of corporate money is not a form of constitutionally protected speech.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Bradford, New Hampshire calls on other communities and jurisdictions to join this effort by passing similar Resolutions, applauds actions being taken elsewhere and stands in solidarity with other individuals and communities across the nation currently engaged in this effort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Bradford, New Hampshire does not recognize corporations as being entitled to the protections or “rights” of human beings. By Petition.
Article carried
Article Thirty Three. To see if the town will vote accept the reports of the Town Offices. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
Article carried
Brackett Scheffy swore in the newly elected officials for the town.
Bradford Board Selectmen
Harold Wright, Chairman Jack Meaney, Selectman Barry Wheeler, Selectman
A true copy attest:
Official town warrant and minutes for the election of March 13 and 14 2012.
Susan Pehrson
Town Clerk/Tax Collector