Town Meeting: March 2009 Archives

SARAH SCHMIDT

SSCHMIDT@SALMONPRESS.COM

The Meredith News Marfch 19, 2009

MOULTONBORO —

Moultonboro residents voted in favor of creating a new playing field and beginning repairs on an old one, after an amendment shifted the majority of the tax appropriation to a reserve fund. “This is going to allow us to fix the existing field and continue to meet the recreational needs of the community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Donna Kuethe. “I’m happy.” The article called for $337,500 for field improvements, drainage design, and associated design costs for the construction of a playing field on the former Lions Club land.The total sum of the article will come from three places, and originally in these amounts - $87,500 from the Community Center Trust Fund established last year, $137,500 from general taxation, and $107,500 from the Municipal Buildings reserve fund. Selectmen voted 3-2 to recommend the article last month. The first obstacle to passage of the article was in the article preceding it, asking for a rewording of the Municipal Buildings reserve fund. The change expanded the usage of the fund from constructing a building to using it to also design, engineer and equip a building. This article, created in 1993, and carrying a balance of $972,975.10, came with a bit of disagreement of its own, as selectmen voted 4-1 in favor of it. “Changing this fund is not in accordance with what people voted for in the past,” said Selectman Ed Charest. “If there is a new need, get

a new fund.” Selectman Joel Mudgett disagreed, however, asking residents to approve the article to clear the way for its use for other actions besides construction of a building. “We’ve got $972,975 in the fund, and no future plans for it,” said Selectman Chair Karel Crawford. The article passed by secret ballot, in a vote of 212- 78, attaining more than the necessary 60 percent to pass at 74 percent. In the next article, voters debated the issue of constructing a new playing field and repairing the old one on Playground Drive, funded in

part by the Municipal Buildings reserve fund. Of the $337,500, $300,000 would go for field construction, drainage design, and design costs, and $37,500 for construction of a pathway. One resident asked how funds from the Municipal Building reserve fund could be used for construction and repair of a playing field – not technically thought of as a building. Town Administrator Carter Terenzini said that since the fields were associated with a building, the Moultonboro Community Center, the Department of Revenue Administration would allow it. “Thefield needs to be rebuilt – the Master Plan back in 1991s aid that it needed repair,” said Tom Howard, speaking for the article. “During construction,  it will be out of commission, and at best, the school fields could handle only 20 percent of our time slots. No reasonable patchwork of other fields can be used to fill this need.”

Selectmen Charest and Betsey Patten voted against recommending the article earlier in the year. Both selectmen spoke of the uncertain economic outlook, and of future expenses to the

town, questioning whether the field repair and construction could wait a bit longer. “I did not support this as a state representative and a selectman,” said Patten. “If you look at what’s going on at the state level. We’re working hard not to spend so much, and put down as low a percentage as possible. I felt this was something we could put off - there are other factors involved in what we want here in Moultonboro.” Ken Tatro, who coached soccer in Moultonboro last year, called the Playground Field Drive “basically a swamp” and a liability for injuries. In order to negate the economic impact that Patten and Charest had expressed concern over, Tatro offered an amendment that would appropriate an additional $137,500 from the Municipal Buildings reserve fund, instead of raising it through additional taxationin 2009. Terenzini told him that only another $107,500 could be appropriated from the fund for this article, since the pathway phasing could not be associated with a town-owned building. Tatro duly reworked his amendment down to drawing $245,000 in total from the reserve fund. “I know we’re all concerned about our pocketbooks, but we have to help the kids, too,” said Cindy Seaward-Salvati. “This is about them and giving them something to do.” A voice vote approved the amendment, and a ballot vote gave final approval to the article, 246-77. The next article asked the town for $132,500 to re-roof the Moultonboro Muncipal Building, with funds drawn from the Muncipal Buildings reserve fund. Because of improper ventilation, due to a design flaw, the building’s roof continues to leak, according to Mudgett. As part of the work on the roof, Mudgett said an engineer would be looking at improving the building’s ventilation, and the entire roof would be covered in ice and water stripping. He also noted that the town would be going out to bid for a new engineer. “I will be stopping by personally to watch over it,” said Mudgett. “I will guarantee that the person who designed it will not be back to work on it.” Residents approved the article in a voice vote.

The Meredith News March 19, 2009

Editorial

At almost every town meeting we covered this year, there were debates about whether town employees and/ortown officials should get raises. The results were mixed.In Tilton, an amendment to cut the 3.5-percent raises allocated to all town employees – a total of more than $14,000 – was voted down. An amendment in Moultonboro that would have nixed 2.5-percent raises, plus step increases, for town employees was defeated. On the flip side, two towns’ residents voted down raises of much smaller doses. In Northfield, the only article that didn’t pass would have given a $300 raise to each of the town's selectmen. Residents cited concerns with the economy and mentioned that few people they knew were getting or expecting raises at this time. In Sandwich, there was an amendment to tack on an additional 1.5 percent to the 1.5 percent salary increases recommended by the selectmen for town employees. After much debate, the amendment was voted down, with the majority agreeing that now is not the time to be giving excessive raises. Residents took the middle road, and town employees got the recommended 1.5 percent. We agree with the residents of Northfield and Sandwich, though we particularly like Sandwich’s approach. No, it’s not the time for the typical 3-percent raise, because times aren’t typical, and Sandwich selectmen and residents agreed with that. However, the townspeople felt obligated to give their employees some sort of monetary recognition and so compromised by meeting them halfway. We have to wonder if the Tilton and Moultonboro votes would have gone the same way if they were done by secret ballot. If we lived in all these towns and could have voted, we sure would have wanted to say “nay” to any and all raises, not because the employees don’t deserve it, but because desperate times call for desperate measures. The argument that these towns risk losing valuable employees is null and void this year, we think, because no one in their right mind is going to quit a good job in this economy. However, would we have wanted to stand up among our neighbors and the people who work for us to say that? Probably not. Taking away money from neighbors or perhaps even friends is not the PC thing to do. So it comes down to,would you rather save $14,000 or save face? A ballot vote could have done both.

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Editor: The Citizen  March 18, 2009

On Saturday afternoon shortly before 3:30 p.m., 194 of the approximately 4,000 registered voters in Moultonborough (less than 5%) cast their vote on the $8,249,747.00 town operating budget. Such apathy is inexcusable. Those voters who were UNABLE to attend (work, health, travel,etc.) have my understanding. Those who CHOSE not to attend have no right to complain about EXCESSIVE SPENDING in these economic times.

Would I have preferred to be doing something else on a beautiful Saturday? - ABSOLUTELY! Sometimes you just have to do the right thing.

Penny Morrison

Moultonborough

To the editor, Laconia Daily Sun March 17, 2009

We just came back from the Moultonborough Town Meeting. It was a joke. The selectman are still

snaking all the ball field at the Lions Club, which they should hold off on. The economy is falling apart

and people are hurting. Ball fields are NOT needed at this time. What are the selectmen thinking?

Now they say the Town Hall needs a new roof because the roofer who put it on did not do a good job and it isleaking. So why not take the money you want to use for the ball fields and use that for the Town Hall roof? Now that makes more sense. The ball field proposal is a joke. Where is the reason for this? Don’t you think the roof is the towns first concern and NOT the ball fields. Next you will be telling us the safety building needs a roof and the library. Where does it end? Our hard-earned tax dollars are being wasted. The selectman snake anything and everything they want. Our votes do not mean much. This is another reason why SB-2 should have gone through. We need to take the power back to the taxpayers, not the special interest. They know who they are. Someone needs to tell

them we are in a bad state of the economy.

Anna DeRose, Moultonborough

Library closing for town meeting

Editor, The Citizen: March 12^th, 2009

Gentlemen, I see that the selectmen have closed the library this Saturday so the employees may attend town meeting. I had intended to go to meeting too but must work and so my right to vote on matters that affect me is denied. I have been disenfranchised. I went to the town office to talk to someone from the selectmen's office, no one was in. I did talk with the town administrator, he suggested I take a "personal" day off from my job at Aubuchon Hardware. He must not have worked in the private sector for some time as one does not just do that. I tried to find someone to trade days with, no luck. There are only four of us working that day so if I just didn't go to work they would be put in a bad bind and I wouldn't get paid.

I find it insulting that you would give the good folks at the library a chance to vote when the working stiffs in town don't get that opportunity (those of us not working for the town make on average $200 a week less than public employees by the way, I got that from the Moultonboro.gov site). A cynical person might surmise that town workers are free to over represent themselves at meeting while those working to pay their salaries lose our chance to have our voices counted.

Finally I would like to know if the person or persons who mounted a phone campaign telling residents that out of state property owners would have voting privileges should SB2 pass when that is not the case can be investigated for knowingly lying to affect the outcome of Tuesday's election. At least one of the callers might have an official connection to the town. I feel that that person or persons did a dishonorable thing and should at least issue a public apology.

Would like to say "see you Saturday" but I am not allowed to vote.

Michael Brooker
Moultonborough

To the editor,

At town meeting on March 14th, Article 18 is asking voters to approve $50,000 to hire a Town Planner to help enact planning issues in Moultonborough. The article as written does not mention that the $50,000 is for a half year’s salary. The Selectmen estimated the actual annual salary including benefits to be in the $90,000 to $100,000 range, depending on if the benefits package is a single or family plan. Are we at a point where adding permanent fixed staff to our payroll is fiscally responsible? Or should we be looking for other options? I understand the need for good planning and I’m all for Moultonborough keeping its rural charm and beauty. I had the opportunity this past year to serve on one of the Master Plan Committees and know implementing the Master Plans many recommendations will present challenges for the Planning and Zoning Boards. Because of the downturn in the economy, the number of new projects will most likely be reduced thus allowing those elected to the boards to focus more on administrative matters and planning. Moultonborough is a member of the Lakes Region Planning Commission, we pay a fee for its services as do 30 other towns. One of LRPC’s functions is to offer planning assistance. Some towns share a planner called a “circuit rider” and others contract with the LRPC on an as needed basis. In fact, neighboring Center Harbor has it on their Warrant this year to contract with LRPC for a planner for 8-hours a week rather than add a permanent full-time position to their budget. During these economic times, if the Planning and Zoning Boards need professional input perhaps it would be prudent to contract with LRPC for a part-time planner — number of hours to be determined — rather than staffing a new town position complete with all the benefits. Vote no on Article 18 at Town Meeting, March 14.

Nancy Wright

Moultonborough

   40:4-a Secret Ballot. –
    I. (a) At any meeting of a town with a population of more than 500, 5 voters who are present may make a request in writing prior to a vote by voice vote or division vote that the vote be taken by secret written ballot. Upon receiving such a request, the moderator shall conduct the vote by secret ""yes-no'' ballot.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on the request of 5 voters who are present, the moderator shall conduct a recount on any vote taken by secret written ballot under subparagraph (a). The recount shall take place immediately following public announcement of the vote taken providing that the vote margin is not more than 10 percent of the total vote cast. There shall be no fee required for a recount under this section.
    II. At any meeting of a town of a population 500 or less, 3 voters who are present may request secret balloting or recounting as provided in paragraph I.

Editor, The Citizen March 03, 2009

 Its time for SB 2 in Moultonborough!

As a retiree living on a fixed income and watching the money I planned to live on reduced by nearly 40% over the past year, and knowing that most retirees, who make up a large percentage of the town's population, are in the same situation, it makes no sense to me that 3 members of the Board of Selectmen would recommend that residents approve to raise $137,500.00 from taxation for ball field construction on the Lion's Club property.

With the economy reeling you would think that our elected officials would choose to support "needs" over "wishes", but a small group of special interest folks are trying to backdoor the recreation issue once again, and have succeeded in getting 3 of our "spend happy" Selectmen to back them.

What will happen at Town Meeting is this group will show up in force to attempt to sway the passage of Article 16. The people who are against it (probably the majority of residents) might not attend for whatever reason. It's been my experience that people who want something will attend and voice their support, and those against, even if they're the majority will not mainly due to fear of intimidation and confrontation. This is the exact reason SB 2 was created. It would give all of our residents a forum to voice their opinions in the "safety" of a voting booth and send a message to the current "spend happy" board!

Bob Patenaude
Moultonborough

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