ELECTION RESULTS FROM
&
TOWN MEETING MINUTES FROM
Moderator
William Keefe opened the polls at the
Selectmen – 3 years
Daniel E. Donovan 217
Kellie-Sue Boissonnault 114
William F. Condra 120
Town Clerk – 3 years
Jane Keefe Farrell 435
Treasurer – 1 year
Mark H. Whitehill 392
Trustee of the Trust Funds – 3 years
TBD
Cemetery Trustee – 3 years
Charles O. McGettigan Jr. 368
Supervisor of the Checklist -5 years
TBD
Planning Board – 3 years (2 positions open)
Jeffrey A. Kandt 314
Matthew S. Fish 344
Water Commissioner – 3 years
Robert R. Duquette 357
Sewer Commissioner - 3 years
Robert R. Duquette 352
Sewer Commissioner – 2 years
Darryl Markaverich 141
John A. Jowders 264
2.
Are you in favor
of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the Planning Board for the
Town of
AMEND section 19.3, Permits; to delete the last sentence, which is inconsistent with State Statute (RSA, 676:11, Building Permits Required) that requires submitting plans to the Building Inspector for review and approval for erecting or remodeling any building, where a town has adopted a Building code.
The purpose is to remove text that is inconsistent with State Statute.
Yes 398 No 44
3. Are
you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the Planning
Board for the Town of
AMEND section 25, Impact Fees; to update subsections including Purpose, Definitions, Assessment Methodology, Administration, Return of fees, other Authority, Waivers, and Appeal of Assessment as recommended by an expert impact fee consultant contracted by the Planning Board. No fee schedules are proposed for adoption as part of the proposed amendments.
The purpose is to bring the ordinance up to date with state statutes, clarify the purpose, authority, administration and add a waiver and appeal process.
Yes 391 No 47
Moderator William Keefe began the business portion of the
Town Meeting at the Florence Rideout Elementary School Auditorium on Thursday
the 10th day of March 2011 at
4. (Passage of this article shall override the 10 percent limitation imposed on this appropriation due to the non-recommendation of the budget committee). TO see if the municipality will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one million eight hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred forty dollars ($1,824,840) for the construction of an addition to the present Fire Station and to authorize the issuance of not more than one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) of bonds in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the municipal officials to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; furthermore, to authorize the withdrawal of six hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred forty dollars ($624,840) from the Fire Station, Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve Fund created for this purpose. Two thirds ballot vote required.
(The Budget Committee does not recommend this appropriation – Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Dick Rockwood, seconded by Dan Donavon.
An overview of the proposed Fire Station addition was presented by Architectural Designer Dennis Miers. Mr. Miers explained that the project would bring up to code the existing 57 year old, 4882 square feet, fire station. The work would include removal of asbestos, installing new energy-efficient windows, replacing the heating system, and adding a decontamination area to name just a few points.
The proposed new section, 5515 square feet, would include 3 new bays with AirVac air filtering system. The bays would be higher to allow clearance for current and future equipment requiring 14’ overhead doors. Floor trench drains would properly separate gas, water & oil. There would be men’s and women’s bathrooms with showers and a locker room with space for 33 gear racks. Stairs and an elevator would allow access to future expansion space on the 2nd floor
Budget Committee Chairman, Carey Hughes, next spoke to say that the Budget Committee did not support this article. He stated the Committee felt that the project was just too expensive given these poor economic times.
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Bill Condra, stated how he had worked with the Building Committee for the last 1 ½ years and that he initially had not supported this project. However, after becoming more familiar with the project he saw that this was a good time to go ahead with this proposal.
Serefin Anderson
asked how we can be sure that this project will not go over budget as happened
during the Police Department project. Mr. Miers said the 5% contingency fee built
into their proposal plan would address this problem should it become an issue.
Herbert Hodge wanted to know how we could avoid the construction
fiasco that occurred from the Police Department project. Mr. Miers stated it was the responsibility of
he and his company to oversee the entire project to ensure that proper work is
done to this site.
Fire Chief Ray Dick described the
crowded conditions in the existing station and said because of this problem
some pieces of equipment had to be stored off site up in the Highway
Garage. He also said in some cases, two
trucks occupied the same bay making removal difficult and time consuming. He
further explained that the fire station renovation/addition project had been studied
for 15 years and that he would appreciate the support of the voters on this
proposal.
Many others present spoke both for
and against the project. Ideas discussed,
concerns voiced included: combining ambulance with fire to consolidate costs; wondering
whether waiting another year would cost less money; drainage issues; why a flat
roof in NH; whether an alternate site should still be considered and so on.
Following the presentation and
extensive discussion the Moderator explained that the vote on Article #4 had to
be done by paper ballot and the polls had to be open at least one hour. Once all those who wanted to vote, and were
qualified had done so, the Moderator explained the meeting would move on to the
next article to be discussed, as there were many items on the warrant.
At the end of an hour, and after
verifying all those who wanted to vote on Article #4 had done so, the ballots were
counted. The yes votes were 103 and the
no votes were 69 but because the vote required a 2/3 majority the article
failed. The Moderator explained that the
vote for approving was 10 votes short of what was required in a bond vote.
5. To see if the Town will vote to raise
and appropriate the sum of nineteen thousand four hundred twenty dollars
($19,420) for the purchase of the following: fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000)
for 30 sets of brush gear and four thousand four hundred twenty dollars
($4,420) for two distributor valves. The monies to come from general taxation,
or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this
article - Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Mark Whitehill, seconded by
Joe Torre.
It was explained that this equipment had been part of the
2010 Warrant Article #6, and had been ordered in December 2010 but it would not
be paid until 2011. In order to
correctly follow Department of Revenue procedures this warrant article had to
be included in our 2011 warrant. Following this explanation the article, as
written, was voice vote approved.
6. To see if the Town will vote to
purchase a truck scale for use at the Recycling Center at a cost of fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) and to authorize the withdrawal of said monies from
the Recycling Capital Reserve Fund previously
established or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Mark Whitehill, seconded by Cary Hughes.
Dick
Rockwood explained that a used 10x35 steel plate truck scale had been located
and that the Board of Selectmen had sent $1,000 to hold it until the voters had
a chance to approve the purchase. He
further stated that a truck scale would ensure that all users at the
Joe
Torre spoke to say he agreed that a uniform procedure for charging would be a
plus. However, he felt that the project
had not been thought through in detail.
First and foremost he explained that a certified “Weigh Master” is
required to be manning a truck scale at all times. This requirement is per NH law. This person or persons who are certified will
only be able to work this area. That
will either leave one less person working at another area or the
Following more discussion the Moderator asked for a vote on the article as written. The voice vote on the article was unclear. The Moderator next asked for a standing vote. The standing vote yes was 66, no 57. The article, as written was, approved.
7. To see if the Town will vote to
purchase a new police cruiser for thirty-seven thousand dollars ($37,000) and to
authorize the withdrawal of seventeen thousand two hundred sixty-three
($17,263) from the previously established Police Equipment Capital Reserve
Fund, nineteen thousand seven hundred thirty-seven dollars ($19,737) to come
from general taxation, or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this
article – Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Steve McDonough, seconded by Paul Levesque.
Police Chief Brent Hauntanen explained that this article
would authorize the purchase of a new SUV cruiser and its necessary new
equipment. He stated that the current
SUV, purchased in 2006, had 97,000 odometer miles and 2,300 idle hours. He said to calculate the “idle mileage” multiply
the 2,300 hours x 33 = 75,900 to determine the usage in addition to the actual
driving figure. He also said he hoped to
keep the 2006 SUV as a backup vehicle for the department.
Following this explanation the article was, as written,
voice vote approved.
8. To see if the Town will vote to raise
and appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand two hundred three dollars ($15,203)
to purchase 30 portable radios of which
seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) to come from the previously
established Ambulance Radio Capital Fund and seven thousand seven hundred three
dollars ($7,703) to come from general taxation.
(Budget Committee recommends this article – Selectmen
recommend this article)
Moved by Mark Whitehill, seconded by Cary Hughes.
The article was then, as written, voice vote approved.
9. To see if the Town will vote to raise
and appropriate the sum of seven thousand two hundred dollars ($7,200) for 8
sets of EMS Protective Gear. The monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other
action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article – Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Moved by Joe Torre, seconded by Mark Whitehill.
Ambulance Director Gary Zirpolo explained this article
would allow his department to purchase 8 sets, in multiple sizes, of EMS
Protective Gear. The gear would be kept
on each ambulance so that if they were needed on a call they would be available
for the responding ambulance crew.
Following his explanation the article was, as written,
voice vote approved.
10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of twelve thousand forty-eight dollars ($12,048) for carbon
monoxide blood detectors to be purchased only if grants, gifts and/or monies
that are raised by fund raising for this purchase are received, or to take any
other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Moved by Mark Whitehill, seconded by
Cary Hughes.
After brief discussion the article
was, as written, voice vote approved.
11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for partial renovation
of the interior of the Town Hall Meeting Room and to authorize the withdrawal
of said monies from the Town Hall Repair Project Capital Reserve Fund previously
established, or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this
article - Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Dick Rockwood, seconded by
Mark Whitehill.
Road Agent Steve Elliott asked if this money would
resolve the ongoing mold issue inside the Town Hall. Dick Rockwood explained this money would be
used to fix the drainage problems behind the Town Hall. He said that this problem has to be fixed
before any work can be done inside the building. To do otherwise, the problem will just
continue and ruin any interior repairs.
Following this discussion the article was, as written, voice
vote approved.
12. To see if the
Town will vote to raise and appropriate ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
for minor repairs of the Wilton
Reservoir Dam and to authorize the withdrawal out of the Wilton Reservoir Dam
Project Capital Reserve Fund previously established.
(Budget
Committee recommends this article – Selectmen recommend this article)
Moved by Dick Rockwood, seconded by
Mark Whitehill.
Dick Rockwood explained that DES (Department of
Environmental Services) has now reclassified the Wilton Reservoir Dam as a “non
menacing dam” and that this money would allow repairs on the dam. Following this discussion the article was, as
written, voice vote approved.
13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be put in the previously established Library Renovation/Repairs Capital Reserve Fund. The monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget
Committee recommends this article - Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Cary
Hughes, seconded by Mark Whitehill.
Gerry
Wroe next read a letter written by Stanley Young, who
was away traveling, reiterating the wonderful
attributes of our Library and his hope the voters would support this
article. Following the reading of the
letter the article was, as written, voice vote approved
14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of twenty five thousand two hundred eighty dollars
($25,280) to be added to the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund previously
established. The monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other
action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Moved by Cary Hughes, seconded by
Mark Whitehill.
As no discussion was requested the
article, as written, was voice vote approved.
15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to be added to
the Fire Department Vehicle Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously
established. The monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other
action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Moved by Mark Whitehill, seconded by
Cary Hughes.
Again, as no discussion was requested by anyone, the article
was, as written, voice vote approved.
16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be added to the
Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established. The monies to
come from general taxation, or to take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Moved by Cary Hughes, seconded by
Mark Whitehill.
Steve Elliott made a motion to table this article for now
and to look at it later in the meeting.
Motion to table article seconded by Mark Whitehill. Motion to table voice vote approved.
17. To see if the Town will vote to establish
a new Capital Reserve Fund for the paving
of
(Budget
Committee recommends this article – Selectmen recommend this article.)
Moved by Dick Rockwood, seconded by
Steve McDonough.
Bill
Condra explained that this article referred to the section of Isaac Frye that
runs from the top of
Following
this clarification and several questions from the floor the article was, as
written, voice vote approved.
18. To see if the
Town will vote to place $1 into the Fire Department
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve
Fund to be used as a place holder, money to come from general taxation, or to
take any other action relating thereto.
(Budget Committee recommends this article – Selectmen
recommend this article)
Moved by Joe Torre, seconded by Mark Whitehill.
Scott Thompson made a motion to
amend the article to place five hundred thousand and one dollar ($500,001) in
to the Fire Department
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve
Fund. Budget Committee Chairman Cary Hughes spoke to say that dollar amount
would exceed the 10% rule per Department of Revenue requirements. He stated that the most that the actual limit
of expenditures could increase would be three hundred thirteen thousand dollars
($313,000). He went on to explain that
eight thousand dollars ($8,000) was needed to be applied towards a missed
expenditure for the Cemetery Department. Scott Thompson then asked to have his
motion withdrawn. The motion for withdrawal
was seconded by Joe Torre.
Scott then made a new motion to
place three hundred five thousand dollars ($305,000) in the Fire Department
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve Fund.
Motion seconded by Ray Dick. This
amendment prompted Dick Rockwood to say, very heatedly, “that the Fire
Department grabbed everything they could and he was sick of it”.
Following this outburst and other brief
discussions the Moderator asked for a voice vote on the amendment to place
three hundred five thousand dollars ($305,000) in the Fire Department
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve Fund.
The motion to amend the article was then voice vote defeated.
Cary Hughes next made a motion to
amend the article name from the “Fire Department Renovation/Addition Capital
Reserve Fund to the “Fire Station
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve
Fund” in order to match the name of the existing capital reserve fund. The
motion was seconded by Joe Torre.
Voice vote to amend the article by
substituting Fire “Station” in place of
Jim Tuttle next made a motion to
amend the dollar amount from one dollar ($1) to one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000). Motion seconded by Ray
Dick. Voice vote to amend the amount to be
raised from one dollar ($1) to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) voice
vote approved.
Cary Hughes then made a motion to
delete the wording in the original article that said “to be used as a “bid
holder”. Motion seconded by Mark
Whitehill. This motion to delete “to be
used as a bid holder” was voice vote approved.
The Moderator then read the main
article as amended to say “To see if the Town will vote to place one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000) into the Fire Station
Renovation/Addition Capital Reserve
Fund, money to come from general taxation, or to take any other action relating
thereto”
Vote, on the main article as
amended, voice vote approved.
19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of four million seventy-six thousand five hundred
thirty-three dollars ($4,076,533) for the general municipal operation for the
year 2011, or to take any other action relating thereto. Said sum does not
include any of the special or individual articles addressed.
(Budget Committee recommends this
article - Selectmen recommend this article)
Moved by Cary Hughes, seconded by
Mark Whitehill.
Cary Hughes asked to make a motion
to amend this article to add eight thousand dollars ($8,000) to the Cemetery
Department operating budget. Motion
seconded by Mark Whitehill. He explained that the money is intended to help
repair the roads within the Cemeteries.
The omission in their budget as printed was an oversight that now needed
to be addressed by the voters.
Highway Road Agent Steve Elliott
then asked to amend the Highway Department operating budget to add fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) to the Highway Department
Budget for the purpose of leasing a
new John Deer road grader. The motion was seconded by Dan Donavon.
Steve explained that the 1970’s
current grader has repeatedly broken down, including during this past rain
storm. Without this machine his department can’t do the job of ditching and regrading washed out roads within
Lengthy discussion, and at times
heated discussion, ensued as to the pro and cons of buying new equipment versus
maintaining, repairing older equipment.
The motion to increase the Highway
Department budget by fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) was voice vote approved.
The Moderator then read the main article,
as amended, “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of
four million one hundred thirty four thousand five hundred thirty-three dollars
($4,134,533) for the general municipal operation for the year 2011 or to take
any other action relating thereto. Said sum does not include any of the special
or individual articles addressed”. The
article, as amended, voice vote approved.
#16 Dick Rockwood next made a motion to take
Article 16 off the table. Motion
seconded by Carey Hughes.
The Moderator read Article 16 as
written: To see if the Town will vote to
raise and appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be added
to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established. The monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other
action relating thereto”.
(Budget Committee recommends this article - Selectmen
recommend this article.)
Dick Rockwood then made a motion to
amend the article to reduce the dollar amount to be raised to ten thousand
dollars ($10,000). The article would
then read “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ten
thousand dollars ($10,000) to be added to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve
Fund previously established. The monies to come from general
taxation, or to take any other action relating thereto” to instead. Motion seconded by Carey Hughes.
The Moderator then read the motion
to be voted on as follows: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to be added to the
Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, or to take any
other action relating thereto. The
motion to amend Article 16, as amended, was voice vote approved.
Next the Moderator read the main article,
as amended: “To see if the Town will
vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to be
added to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established. The
monies to come from general taxation, or to take any other action relating
thereto”. The main Article 16, as
amended, voice vote approved.
20. To accept the report of Agents, Auditors
and Committees or Officers heretofore chosen to pass any vote relating thereto.
Moved by Don Davidson, seconded by
Mark Whitehill. Mark asked to revise the
following figures shown on the Balance Sheet on page 14:
Line captioned: “Schools Due to
Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-Op from $2,291,317 to $3,496,703;
Line captioned: “Unreserved Fund
Balances from $2,391,317 to $1,365,739;
Line captioned: “Fund Balance
Line captioned: “Change in Financial
Condition from $980,289 to $54,711
The adjustment was necessary to
correctly show the monies paid for the Wilton Schools
Article 20, as amended, voice vote
approved.
21. To transact
any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
Dick Rockwood presented Bill Condra
a plaque in appreciation of his 3 years of service as a Selectman. Bill Condra thanked the Board for their
support.
Jim Cutler spoke to say he was very
upset about how one of our Selectmen attacked the Fire Department and that he
was requesting an apology. The Moderator responded saying that was to be
handled “outside this meeting as this was not the place for such matters”.
Lastly, a motion to adjourn was made
from the floor, the motion was then seconded.
The meeting closed at
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Keefe Farrell
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