Town Warrant 2016

March 1, 2016 Karen Hambleton Public Notices 0

Town of Bradford

State of New Hampshire

Town Warrant of Town Meeting March 8th, 2016

The Polls will open at 8:00 am on March 8th, 2016

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

You are hereby notified to meet at the Kearsarge Regional Elementary School on the Old Warner Road in said Bradford, N.H. on Tuesday the eighth day 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:  To adjourn the meeting until Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Kearsarge Regional Elementary School on the Old Warner Road in Bradford.  Raising the money and remaining articles in the Warrant will be taken up at the adjourned meeting.

Article Three:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,300,000.00) (gross budget) for the renovation and restoration of the Historic Town Hall at Map 16 Lot 92.  The project will provide a full basement, completely operational first floor for town offices and meeting rooms, and a second floor that meets building code standards for assembly occupancy.  Further to authorize the issuance of not more than Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($975,000.00) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33).  Further to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes, to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term and other details.  The balance of Three Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($325,000.00) will be raised from donations and grants with work proceeding as commitments are made.  The following funds are currently on hand to offset this balance:

  • $105,000.00 LCHIP Grant
  • ­­$70,700.00 Cash and In-Kind donations

The Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends. This article requires a paper ballot and two-thirds vote.  Passage of this article will have no tax impact in 2016.

Article Four:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($475,000.00) (gross budget) to purchase a new Class A fire pumper truck, and to authorize the issuance of not more than Three Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($386,800.00) in bonds or notes for this purpose.  Further to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; furthermore to authorize the withdrawal of Thirty Six Thousand Five Hundred ($36,500.00) dollars from the Fire Dept Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve, to withdraw Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($16,700.00) from Fund Balance and to raise Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00) by taxation.  The Selectmen recommend.  The Budget Committee recommends.  This article requires a paper ballot and two-thirds vote.

Article Five:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Million Nine Hundred Eighty One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Dollars ($1,981,520.00) for general municipal operations.  This article does not include amounts appropriated by other warrant articles.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Selectmen                    Budget Committee

  1. Executive                                                       189,775.00                        189,775.00
  2. Elections & Vital Records                                  14,400.00                          14,400.00
  3. Financial Administration                                   102,000.00                        102,000.00
  4. Revaluations                                                    42,000.00                          42,000.00
  5. Legal                                                               31,000.00                          31,000.00
  6. Planning & Zoning                                            10,000.00                          10,000.00
  7. General Gov                                                     63,000.00                          63,000.00
  8. Cemetery                                                         25,000.00                          25,000.00
  9. Insurances                                                       66,752.00                          66,752.00
  10. Other General Gov                                              6,500.00                            6,500.00
  11. Police Department                                           454,000.00                        454,000.00
  12. Fire Department                                                55,950.00                          55,950.00
  13. Rescue Services                                               91,900.00                          91,900.00
  14. Building Code Department                                  12,000.00                          12,000.00
  15. Emergency Management                                     2,500.00                            2,500.00
  16. Highway Department                                        505,000.00                        505,000.00
    1. Bridge Account                                                    1.00                                  1.00
  17. Street Lighting                                                    4,850.00                            4,850.00
  18. Solid Waste Collection                                       80,000.00                          80,000.00
  19. Solid Waste Disposal                                         25,000.00                          25,000.00
  20. Inoculations                                                              1.00                                  1.00
  21. Welfare Administration                                        7,000.00                            7,000.00
  22. Welfare Payments                                             30,000.00                          30,000.00
  23. Parks and Recreation                                          2,000.00                            2,000.00
  24. Library                                                              69,230.00                          69,230.00
  25. Patriotic Purposes                                             17,500.00                          17,500.00
  26. Community Center                                             21,000.00                          21,000.00
  27. Other Conservation                                                886.00                               886.00
  28. Long Term Notes                                               49,775.00                          49,775.00
  29. Interest on TAN notes                                          2,500.00                            2,500.00

Total            1,981,520.00                      1,981,520.00

Article Six:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ninety Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000.00) to be placed in the Town Hall Repair and Restoration Trust Fund (established in 2013) for the continuing renovation of the Bradford Historic Town Hall.  This article will be null and void with the passage of Article 3 (Town Hall Bond Issue).  By Petition.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen do not recommend.  Budget Committee does not recommend.

Article Seven:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to relocate the town offices into the Old Town Hall and to withdraw Thirty Thousand dollars ($30,000.00) from the Town Facilities and Buildings Capital Reserve for this purpose.  No new money will be raised by taxation.  This will be a non lapsing appropriation and continue until December 31, 2021.  This article will be null and void with the passage of Article 3 (Town Hall Bond Issue).  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Eight:  To see if the town will vote to discontinue the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund created in 1993.  Said funds, with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, are to be transferred to the municipality’s fund balance.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Nine:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of  Fifty Four Thousand Dollars ($54,000.00) for the purpose of installing a drainage capture system in the Fire House and to purchase and install a commercial washer and dryer to clean firemen’s protective gear.  This money will be withdrawn from unassigned fund balance and no additional taxes will be raised.  This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until spent or December 31, 2021.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends

Article Ten:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($16,700.00) to be applied to the purchase of the new Fire Pumper.  This money will come from unassigned fund balance with no money from taxation.  This article is null and void if Article 4 (the bond for the purchase of a Fire Pumper Truck) fails. This is a non lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7,VI and will continue until spent or December 31, 2021. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends. (Majority vote required)

Article Eleven:  To see if the town will vote to discontinue the Highway Heavy Equipment capital reserve created in 1960.  Said funds and interest to the date of withdrawal are to be transferred to the town’s fund balance.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Twelve:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Dollars ($772,000.00) for the repair of the Historic Bement Bridge (#140/144) with said funding to come from the National Historic Bridge Preservation program (Six Hundred Seventeen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars – $617,600.00), the NH Municipal Bridge Program (One Hundred Twenty Three Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Dollars – $123,520.00) and the town share (Thirty Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Dollars – $30,880.00) from fund balance (previously raised and held in the Bridge Fund).  No new town money will be used to offset this appropriation. (Majority vote required).

Article Thirteen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to fund the Highway Department Expendable Trust Fund.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget committee recommends.

Article Fourteen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($30,400.00) for the second payment on the Highway Dump Truck lease/purchase approved at the 2015 meeting.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Fifteen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) for repair work on asphalt roads (including Marshall Hill).  This will be a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until spent or December 31, 2021.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Sixteen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for shimming and repairing asphalt roads.  This is a non lapsing appropriation and will continue until spent or December 31, 2021.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends

Article Seventeen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to remove dead and damaged trees from town cemeteries.  This will be a non lapsing appropriation and continue until spent or December 31, 2021.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Eighteen:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Dollars ($8,770.00) for the final payment on the lease/purchase of the Police Cruiser.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Nineteen:  To see if the town will vote to enter into a lease/purchase agreement (with fiscal funding clause) for a Police Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and to raise and appropriate the first payment of Nine Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($9,200.00).  The price of the vehicle and outfitting will be Forty Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars ($40,458.00) on a five year lease.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee does not recommend.

Article Twenty:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,750.00) to support Bradford, Newbury, Sutton Youth Sports.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Twenty One:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) to fund the inspection of watercraft and the educational operations of the Boat Launch on Lake Massasecum.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Twenty Two:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Six Thousand Dollars ($56,000.00) with the following sums to be placed in capital reserve:

Fire Department Heavy Equipment                                                   $35,000.00
(This appropriation will be withdrawn with the passage of the Fire Truck Bond issue – Article 4.)
Fire Dept Repair Expendable Trust                                                     $5,000.00
Repair Town Buildings                                                                       $5,000.00
Revaluation                                                                                      $5,000.00
Town Facilities and Buildings                                                             $5,000.00
Gravestone Repair and Preservation                                                   $1,000.00

(Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Twenty Three:  To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to fund the Bradford School Scholarship Trust Fund.  (Majority vote required.)  Selectmen recommend.  Budget Committee recommends.

Article Twenty Four:  To see if the town will vote to establish a contingency fund as defined in RSA 31:98-a for the current year for unanticipated expenses that may arise and further to raise and appropriate Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) to put in the fund. This sum is to come from taxation and any appropriation left in the fund at the end of the year will lapse to the general fund. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends. (Majority vote required.)

Article Twenty Five:  To see if the Town will vote to adopt RSA 674:40-a (Local Land Use Planning and Regulatory Powers), delegating to the Selectmen the authority to accept dedicated streets; provided however, that this authority shall only be used for the acceptance of interests, including but not limited to slope, drainage or bridge easements, which are appurtenant to already-existing town highways, and the acceptance of any new highway shall remain subject to a vote of the Town.  (Majority vote required.)

Article Twenty Six:  To adopt RSA 79E:3 – Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive to encourage improvement of the residential business district in Bradford.  (Majority vote required.)

Article Twenty Seven:  To see if the Town will vote to accept the reports of the Town Offices.  To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.

Bradford Board of Selectmen

John Pfeifle, Chairman
Delbert Harris III, Selectman
Harold Wright, Selectman