TOWN OF ASHLAND

MINUTES OF THE DELIBERATIVE SESSION

ASHLAND SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

FEBRUARY 2, 2008

Moderator Philip Preston opened the meeting at 1 PM as per the posted warrant for the year 2008.

Introductions of the head table were made as follows: Budget Committee Members Roberta Hoerter, Miriam Brown, Dennis Potter, Kendall B. Hughes, David Ruell; Town Clerk Patricia Tucker; Board of Selectmen Glenn R. Dion, Jeanette I. Stewart, Daniel P. Golden, L. Leigh Sharps, Beth Bartlett; Town Administrator Richard J. Alpers; Town Attorney Laura Spector.

On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, Patricia Tucker made the presentation of the Town Report Dedication to Lumina Straw.

Article 1:

To choose all of the following officers for the year ensuing:

          (2)     Selectmen                                       3 Year Term

          (1)     Town Trustee                                  3 Year Term

          (1)     Library Trustee                                3 Year Term

          (1)     Electric Commissioner                      3 Year Term

          (1)     Electric Commissioner                      1 Year Term

          (1)     Town Clerk                                      3 Year Term

          (1)     Town Treasurer                               3 Year Term

          (1)     Town Moderator                              2 Year Term

          (1)     Supervisor of the Checklist              6 Year Term

          (2)     Budget Committee                          3 Year Term

          (2)     Budget Committee                          2 Year Term

          (1)     Budget Committee                          1 Year Term

          (1)     Water & Sewer Commissioner        3 Year Term

Moderator Preston read the article and there being no discussion it was declared that the article would be printed on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 2:

Amendment #1   Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #1 as proposed by the Ashland Planning Board for Ashland Zoning Ordinance as follows: to amend 2.3a by adding “No driveway shall be located within fifteen (15) feet of the side or rear boundary”?

Amendment #2   Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #2 as proposed by the Ashland Planning Board for the Ashland Zoning Ordinance as follows: to amend 2.3b to require that setbacks for wells, septic tanks, leach fields and components comply with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Code of Administrative Rules Chapter Env-Ws 1000?

Amendment #3   Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #3 as proposed by the Ashland Planning Board for the Ashland Zoning Ordinance as follows: to amend 2.4a to clarify that subdivisions with community water systems may benefit from reduced minimum lot size requirements?

Amendment #4   Are you in favor of Amendment #4 as proposed by the Ashland Planning Board for the Ashland Zoning Ordinance as follows: to adopt the following definition of Community Water System – “as defined in RSA 485:1-a”?

Amendment #5   Are you in favor of Amendment #5 as proposed by the Ashland Planning Board for the Ashland Zoning Ordinance as follows: to adopt the following definition of Municipal Water Supply – potable water supplied by town or municipality?

Explanation of the proposed zoning changes found in this article was given by Anthony Randall.  It was explained that this will be a separate ballot to be voted on March 11, 2008.

Article 3:

To see if the town will vote to accept the reports of its boards, commissions, and officers for the year of 2007 subject to corrections of errors when and if found.

Moderator Preston read the article and there being no discussion it was declared that the article would be printed on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 4:

Shall the Town of Ashland raise and appropriate as an operating budget not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amount set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $6,346,385?  Should this article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $6,216,099 which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Ashland or by law; the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13 X and XVI to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. 

Moderator Preston read this article.  Thomas Peters moved to amend this article by replacing the number $6,346,385 with $6, 001,698.  The motion was seconded by Richard Pare.  Following discussion of the amendment Moderator Preston called for a voice vote and he declared that inconclusive.  Moderator Preston declared that the vote on the amendment would be by ballot.  Following the vote the following counters were sworn in - Richard Ogden, Richard Pare, Ann Marie Reever and Harold Proulx.  The results of the vote were that 95 voters cast a ballot and the tally was YES 59 NO 36.  Moderator Preston declared the amendment to have passed and there being no further amendments the article would appear on the official ballot as amended.

Article 5:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) to be deposited into the River Street Bridge Repair Capital Reserve Fund for the repair of the River Street Bridge over Squam River. The Board of Selectmen does recommend this article. The Budget Committee does recommend this article. (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article and following discussion it was declared that the article would be printed on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 6:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred fifty-seven thousand dollars ($157,000) to purchase a 2008 Highway Truck and Equipment and to authorize the withdrawal of fifty-nine thousand six hundred and fifty dollars ($59,650) from the Highway Truck Capital Reserve Fund, with the balance of ninety-seven thousand three hundred and fifty dollars ($97,350) to be raised by general taxation.  The Board of Selectmen does recommend this article.  The Budget Committee does recommend this article.  (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article and following discussion it was declared that the article would be printed on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 7:

To see if the Town will vote to create a Highway Sidewalk Plow Capital Reserve Fund and to raise and appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to be deposited into that said account for the purpose of purchasing a new sidewalk plow in the future.  The Board of Selectmen does recommend this article.  The Budget Committee does recommend this article.  (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article.  Mark Ober moved to amend the article to read: To see if the Town will vote to create a Highway Sidewalk Plow Capital Reserve Fund and to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty five thousand dollars ($35,000) to be deposited into that said account for the purpose of purchasing a new sidewalk plow in the future. The motion was seconded by Douglas Ober.  Following discussion Moderator Preston called for a voice vote which he found to be inconclusive.  He called for a show of hands with the results being YES 48 NO 27.  Moderator Preston declared that the article would appear on the official ballot at amended.

Article 8:

To see if the Town of Ashland will vote to employ a full time paid fire chief at an annual salary of $49,500 and to raise and appropriate $42,000 to compensate that full time paid fire chief in 2008, instead of continuing to utilize the services of a part time volunteer fire chief.  The Board of Selectmen does recommend this article.  The Budget Committee does recommend this article. (Majority vote required)

Moderator Preston read the article.  A presentation was made by Brad Ober.  Following discussion Moderator Preston declared that the article would appear on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

 Article 9:

To see if the Town will vote to increase the selectman’s salaries from $900 to $1,500 per year per selectman and to increase the chairperson’s salary from $1,200 to $1,800 per year for the chairman.  The Board of Selectmen does recommend this article.  The Budget Committee does recommend this article.  (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article and following discussion it was declared that the article would be printed on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 10:

To see if the Town will vote to adopt the rules and procedures of Municipal Budget Law RSA 32-5 v – a.  (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article.  Glenn Dion made a motion to amend the article to read: To see if the town will vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 32:5, v-a to require that all votes by the budget committee and the board of selectmen relative to budget items or warrant articles shall be recorded votes and the numerical tally of any such vote shall be printed in the town warrant next to the affected warrant article.  – Seconded by Daniel Golden.  Following discussion Moderator Preston declared the amendment passed by voice vote.  Moderator Preston declared that the article would appear on the official ballot as amended.

Article 11:

By Petition:  To see if the Town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representatives, our State Senator, and our Governor:

          Resolved:  We the citizens of Ashland, NH believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair.  The property tax has become unjust and unfair.  State leaders who take a pledge for no new taxes perpetuate higher and higher property taxes.  We call on our State Representatives, our State Senator, and our Governor to reject the “Pledge”, have an open discussion covering all options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes.

Moderator Preston read the article.  He stepped down as moderator, Thomas Peters was asked to stand in so that Representative Preston could offer discussion on this article.  Following discussion Mr. Peters declared that the article would appear on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant. Mr. Preston returned to the moderator position.

Article 12:

By Petition:  To see if the Town will vote to immediately discontinue the Board of Electric Commissioners and return the management, control, and direction of the municipal electric system to the authority of the Board of Selectman.  (Majority Vote Required)

Moderator Preston read the article.  Following discussion Moderator Preston declared that the article would appear on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 13:

By Petition:  I.  Shall the government of the police department of the Town of Ashland be entrusted to a police commission?

                    II. If so, shall such police commissioners be chosen by:

(a)  Popular election at Town election; or

(b) Appointment of the governor with consent of the council?

Moderator Preston read the article.  Following discussion Moderator Preston declared that the article would appear on the official ballot as written in the posted warrant.

Article 14:

By Petition:  RSA 41:47 Election – To have the Town of Ashland vote to elect by ballot the police chief for a term of 2 years and rescind the current process of appointing a police chief by the selectmen?

Article 15:

Announcements - 

Meet the Candidates night on March 6, 2008.

Absentee ballots will be available for the March 11, 2008 official balloting.