As the weather forecast began predicting that a “nor’easter would hit the region on the annual Town Meeting Day in New Hampshire, the state Attorney General and Secretary of State were quick to remind towns that it is against the law to postpone town meetings due to weather.
The polls opened at 11 AM and voting was reportedly very brisk during the first few hours with folks trying to get in and vote before road conditions got too bad.
The turnout for voting was good with over 475 people turning out, but the attendance at the Town Meeting, which began at 7 PM was lighter than usual according to Town Manager, Marj Roy. During a hand vote on one article, only 90 hands were counted. Whether the absence of many voters who usually do attend affected the outcome is anybody’s guess.
Warrant Articles one through six were required to be voted on by ballot. See side bar for the results of the election of town officials. Most of these were changes in the zoning ordinances. Article two had to do with buildings that are not on a permanent foundation. The amendment would change the requirement to obtain a building permit for such structures, but would require that they be registered with the town Zoning Administrator. The article passed with 25 in favor and 196 opposed.
Article Three amends the zoning ordinance to allow building permits to be issued for so called “tiny houses” except in Village and Forest Agriculture districts. This article passed with 253 in favor and 174 opposed.
Articles four and five also pertained to the zoning ordinance and were “housekeeping” measures to bring the towns zoning ordinance into compliance with current state laws. Article four passed with 274 in favor and 156 opposed. Article five passed with 262 in favor and 174 opposed.
Article six was the final zoning amendment which does away with a requirement for the Planning Board to find a site to be appropriate for a proposed use before a special exception can be approved. It also changes the wording involving the criteria for special exceptions. This article passed with 281 in favor and 215 opposed.
The operating budget for the town was considered in Article seven. There were lots of questions posed to the select board about how funds were being used. The proposed budget had an increase over the previous year of $10,000. The increases were for repairs at the library and increased costs for sand and for insurance. A motion was made to take $25,000 off the bottom line of the budget. This amendment passed and the budget was adopted with a $25,000 decrease from what had been proposed. The total town operating budget as adopted is $1,804,127.
Article eight was to see if the town would vote to raise the sum of $100,000 to purchase land in order to assure a continuous supply of sand for the town. Part of the reason for this article is that the town’s ownership of the White Oak sand pit is being disputed by the state. After much discussion this article did not pass.
Article 9 was for the purpose of establishing a contingency fund to go toward any unanticipated expenses that might come up during the year. This measure was defeated. The amount requested was $10,000. In last years meeting the voters did establish a contingency fund, which according to the town manager was needed. When asked what the consequences of not having a contingency fund, Roy said that if additional funds were needed the town would need to go to the State Department of Revenue Administration for approval to reallocate funds. With a contingency fund, there is no need to go through all of that process with the state.
The voters were in favor of continuing to fund the previously established capital reserve fund which puts money away for future repair of roads, replacement of equipment and vehicles and bridge repair. The amount publicized was printed incorrectly and the amount approved in article 10 was $273,976.
Article 11 was passed adding the amount of $46,000 to the Expendable Trust Fund previously established. These are for Forest Fire Labor, Town Buildings and Technology. Article 12 was similar and was passed adding the amount of $2,954 to the Solar Energy Capital Reserve fund previously established. The monies for this will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance and will not be raised by taxes. This fund is for the purchase of the solar panels installed on the town office building.
Article 13 was one of the last steps in the merging together of the two fire precincts that was approved by the voters at last years town meeting. The voters were in favor of transferring the deed of the East Andover Fire Station to the Andover Fire District #1.
Article 14 authorized the Select Board to receive the title for the town office building and surrounding land from the Andover School District. The building had originally been a school house and the title had remained with the school district, even though its use and maintenance had been taken over by the town many years ago. The article was approved.
Article 15 would give the Select Board authority to acquire or sell lands or buildings without the approval of voters at town meeting. The measure sets forth procedures requiring proper notice and public hearings before the board can act on any purchase or sale of property. After much discussion, with some voters pointing out examples of where this would have been beneficial the motion was passed.
Article 16 allows voters to bring on the floor any other business that can legally come before the meeting. There were no measures that came up that required a vote. Several people did speak about a variety of subjects from the opening of the cemetery to veteran’s markers for graves, to suggestion for the budgeting process and the town report.
Arch Weathers of the Budget Committee spoke on behalf of Ed Hiller who has put in many years on the budget committee and will be stepping down this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 PM with all of the business being completed in less than three hours.