THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN OF EPPING
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
To the inhabitants of the Town of Epping, County of
Rockingham, in the State of New Hampshire, qualified to vote in town affairs:
FIRST
SESSION
You are hereby notified to meet for the First (Deliberative)
Session of the annual town meeting, to be held at the Epping Middle School
Auditorium, Epping, NH on the Second day of February 2010 being Tuesday, at
seven in the evening (7:00 P.M.). The
First (Deliberative) Session will consist of explanation, discussion, and
debate of each of the following warrant articles, and will afford those voters
who are present the opportunity to propose, debate and adopt amendments to each
warrant article, except those articles whose wording is prescribed by state
law.
SECOND
SESSION
You are also notified to meet for the Second Session of the
annual town meeting, to elect town offices by official ballot and to vote by
official ballot on the warrant articles as they may have been amended at the
First Session, to be held at the Epping Middle School Auditorium, Epping, NH on
the Ninth day of March 2010, being Tuesday, at eight o’clock in the forenoon
(the polls are to be open at 8:00 A.M. and may not close prior to 7:00 P.M. to
act upon the following:
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Article 1: To
choose necessary town officers for the ensuing year:
·
Two Selectmen for three (3) years
·
Three Budget Committee Members for three (3) years
·
One Budget Committee Member for two (2) years
·
One Budget Committee Member for one (1) year
·
One Cemetery Trustee for three (3) years
·
One Fire Ward Member for three (3) years
·
Two Library Trustees for three (3) years
·
One Moderator for two (2) years
·
One Planning Board Member for three (3) years
·
Two Board of Adjustment Members for three (3) years
·
One Trustee of Trust Fund for three (3) years
·
One Supervisor of Checklist for six (6) years
·
One Tax Collector for three (3) years
·
One Town Clerk for three (3) years
·
One Treasurer for one (1) year
·
One Water and Sewer Commission Member for three (3) years
CHANGES FOR PERMITTED USES
Article 2: Are you in favor of adopting Amendment 1 as
proposed by the Planning board for the town zoning ordinance to amend the
requirements for permitted uses within Article 3 Section 3.9 Flexible Use
Development and Article 6 with respect to multi-family units. This amendment will eliminate the need for
applicants to hold multiple hearings with two land use boards. Additional
changes are proposed in response to new state laws that mandate workforce
housing opportunities throughout town for multi-family housing. This change limits the ability of developers
to seek “a builder’s remedy” in the Industrial Commercial Zone. The changes are
comprehensive in nature and will affect all aspects of multi-family uses within
Epping. [Recommended by the Planning
Board 4-0] Majority Vote Required
LAND PURCHASE BOND
Article 3:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Million,
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) for the purchase of 61 acres
+/- of land with five existing water
wells at Epping Crossing to include a portion of Tax Map 37, Lot 001, Tax Map
37, Lot 003 and Tax Map 37, Lot 007 and to authorize the issuance of not more
than $2,500,000.00 in bonds or notes for a 25 year term in accordance with the
provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the Selectmen
to negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon
and the maturity and other terms
thereof: and to authorize the Selectmen to take any other action or to pass any
other vote relative thereto. [Recommended
by the Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee
8-0]
3/5 ballot vote required
SEWER PUMP STATION
Article 4:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an additional sum of
Eighty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Eighty Five Dollars ($82,785.00) for the
previously approved warrant article for the construction of a new sewer pump
station to replace the existing 40 year old Mill Street Pump Station, and to authorize
the additional amount in bonds, notes or SRF loans in accordance with the
provisions of the Municipal Finance Act and to authorize the town to issue and
negotiate such bonds, notes or SRF loans and to determine the rate of interest
thereon. Fifty Percent (50%) of the eligible project cost to come from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with the balance to come Sewer
Reserve Funds. Passage of this article
will have no impact on the tax rate.
[Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
3/5 ballot vote required
2010 OPERATING BUDGET
Article 5: To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not
including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriates
voted separately, the amounts 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 Five Million, Five Hundred Fifty Two Thousand, Nine Hundred Sixty Seven
Dollars ($5,552,967.00). Should this
article be defeated, the default budget shall be Five Million, Four Hundred
Forty Thousand, Six Hundred Ninety Dollars ($5,440,690.00), which is the same
as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the town
or by law; or 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. Passage of article #8 will reduce the operating budget by Thirty Eight
Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($38,500.00). Passage of Article #9 will reduce
the operating budget by One Hundred Eight Thousand, Nine Dollars ($108,009). [Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 7-1]
Majority Vote Required
TOWN HALL IMPROVEMENT EXPENDABLE
TRUST FUND
Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the previously
established Town Hall Improvement Expendable Trust Fund. This sum will come
from fund balance (surplus) and no amount will be raised through taxation. [Recommended
by the Board of Selectmen 2-1] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee
8-0]
Majority Vote Required
LANDFILL ENGINEERING
DESIGN/CLOSURE EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND
Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be placed in the previously
established Landfill Engineering Design Study/Closure Expendable Trust Fund. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 2-1]
[Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
REVALUATION CAPITAL RESERVE FUND
Article 8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Thirty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($38,500.00) to be placed in
the previously established Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund. Passage of this
article will reduce the Town’s 2010 Operating Budget by said amount. [Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 3-0]
[Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES BOND
PAYMENT
Article 9: To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Eight
Thousand and Nine Dollars ($108,009.00) from the Public Safety Facilities Fund,
a fund solely financed by revenue from ambulance fees, for the 2010 bond and
interest payments due. There will be no
tax impact for this payment. Passage of this article will reduce the Town’s
2010 Operating Budget by said amount. [Recommended
by the Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee
8-0]
Majority Vote Required
POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE
Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of
Selectmen to enter into a Three (3) Year Lease/Purchase Agreement for Forty
Seven Thousand Dollars ($47,000.00) with a One Dollar ($1.00) purchase option
at the end of the lease term for the purpose of leasing and equipping one (1)
police vehicle for the Police Department; and to raise and appropriate the sum of
Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($15,600.00) for the first year’s
payment. This lease agreement will
contain a non-appropriation clause. [Recommended by the Board of Selectman 4-0]
[Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
ADDITIONAL FULL TIME POLICE
OFFICER
Article 11:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Three
Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($43,500.00) for the hiring of an additional
Full-Time Police Officer including benefits for the first year. Approval would call for a total estimated
cost of One Hundred Ninety Five Thousand, Seven Hundred Thirty Dollars
($195,730.00) in fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012. 100% of said sum to be funded
through an already approved Federal COPS Hiring Grant, thus there will be no tax impact for this position for the
first three years of the grant. The
position must be retained for one year following the expiration of the grant at
an estimated cost of Eighty Thousand, One Hundred Twenty Dollars ($80,120.00).
[Recommended by the Board of Selectmen
4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-1]
Majority Vote Required
HIGHWAY TRUCK CAPITAL RESERVE
FUND
Article 12:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty
Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to be added to the existing Highway Truck Capital
Reserve Fund. [Recommended by the Board
of Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
FULL TIME FIRE CHIEF
Article 13: To see if the Town
will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Seven Thousand, Three
Hundred Eighty Dollars ($47,380.00) for the purpose of hiring a Full-Time Fire
Chief to provide additional coverage and administrative duties required by our
developing town. This amount represents compensation for six months including
benefits. Passage of this article authorizes the inclusion of the appropriation
for this position in future operating budgets. [Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the
Municipal Budget Committee 7-0]
Majority Vote Required
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT REVOLVING FUND
Article 14:
To see if the Town will vote to establish a revolving fund pursuant to RSA
31:95-h for the purpose of the public safety facilities bond payment and for
the purchase of fire and ambulance equipment.
All revenues received from ambulance services will be deposited into the
fund, and the money in the fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to
year, and shall not be considered part of the town’s general fund unreserved
fund balance. The town treasurer shall
have custody of all moneys in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon
order of the governing body (Board of Selectmen) and no further approval is
required by the legislative body (town
meeting vote) to expend. Such funds may be expended only for the purpose for
which the fund was created. Passage of this article will rescind said revenues
from being deposited into the previously established Public Safety Facility and
Equipment Fund. [Recommended by the
Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority vote required
COMPENSATION FOR RESPONDING PARAMEDICS
Article 15:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000.00) to allow the Epping Fire Department to compensate local,
highly trained paramedics and EMT intermediates to respond to serious emergency
medical calls with EMT’s. It is expected that, for every One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
paid in compensation, the Town will be reimbursed Three Hundred to Five Hundred
Dollars ($300.00 to $500.00) by the patient’s insurance carrier for the higher
level of service. [Recommended by the
Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee
8-0]
Majority vote required
BY PETITION: LAMPREY RIVER YOUTH SOCCER
Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) to support the Lamprey River Youth
Soccer Program. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget
Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
EPPING YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to support of the Epping Youth
Athletic Association. [Recommended by
Board of Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by
the Municipal Budget Committee 8-0]
Majority Vote Required
ROCKINGHAM NUTRITION & MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM
Article 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Three Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Eight Dollars ($3,988.00) to support
the Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels Programs service providing meals
for older, homebound and disabled Epping residents. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal
Budget Committee 5-3]
Majority Vote Required
LAMPREY HEALTH CARE
Article 19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($3,800.00) to support the Lamprey
Health Care Program. Lamprey
provides senior transportation and affordable medical care to the residents of
Epping. [Recommended by Board of
Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 5-3]
Majority Vote Required
ROCKINGHAM COMMUNITY ACTION
Article 20: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Eleven Thousand Three Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($11,314.00) to defray
the costs provided to Epping residents by Rockingham Community Action, a
private, non-profit, multi-service, anti-poverty agency. [Recommended by Board of
Selectmen 3-0] [Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 5-3]
Majority Vote Required
BY PETITION: THE RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN’S CENTER
Article 21: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Four Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($4,200.00) for the Richie McFarland
Children’s Center. The Ritchie McFarland Children’s Center provided services
for fourteen (14) Epping children during the last program year at a cost of
$300.00 each. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 0-4] [Recommended by the Municipal
Budget Committee 5-2-1]
Majority Vote Required
BY PETITION: CHILD
AND FAMILY SERVICES
Article 22: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) for Child and Family Services. Child and Family Services provide accessible
and affordable programs to children, youth, and their families leading to stronger
family connections, improved school performance, and better citizenships. From July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009, thirty
(30) Epping residents received 618 units of service valued at over $71,000 from
Child and Family Services. [Recommended
by Board of Selectmen 2-2] [Recommended
by the Municipal Budget Committee 6-2]
Majority Vote Required
BY PETITION: FAMILIES FIRST HEALTH & SUPPORT
CENTER
Article 23: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for the Families First
Health & Support Center, a private, nonprofit community health center. This
request will defray the estimated $100,000 cost of providing affordable health
care and family services to approximately 120 Epping residents each year. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 0-4]
[Recommended by the Municipal Budget Committee 1-7]
Majority Vote Required
BY PETITION:
RESCIND
5-MEMBER BOARD OF FIRE WARDS
Article 24: To see if the Town of Epping will vote to rescind the March
1978 Town Meeting vote, specifically article 30, which established a 5-member
Board of Fire Wards pursuant to chapter 154 of the RSA’s. Said article shall become effective one year
from the date of its passage. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 3-1]
Majority Vote Required
.
BY PETITION:
RETURN
OF LUCT (Land Use Change Tax)
Article 25: To see if the Town will vote to return half of the Land Use
Change Tax (LUCT) revenues, per RSA 79-A:25, III to the General Fund for the
purpose of relieving property taxes as intended/passed by the New Hampshire
Legislature (RSA 79-A),and deposit half in the Conservation Fund for present
and future conservation needs, with a cap of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars
($75,000.00) per year. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 1-3]
Majority Vote Required
BY PETITION:
AMENDING
THE ELDERLY EXEMPTION
Article 26: To see if the Town will vote to modify the Elderly
Exemption from property tax in the Town of Epping, based on assessed value, for
qualified full time resident taxpayers to be as follows: for a person 65 years of age up to 75 years,
$120,000; for a person 75 years up to 80 years, $130,000; for a person 80 years
or older $140,000. To qualify, the
person must have resided in the State of New Hampshire at least three
consecutive years preceding April 1, own the real estate individually or
jointly, or if the real estate is owned by such person’s spouse, they must have
been married or a domestic partner for at least five years. In addition, the taxpayer must have a net
income of not more than $30,000 or, if married, a combined net income of not
more than $40,000, and own assets not in excess of $70,000; excluding the value
of the property this exemption is applied to and which is the persons primary
residence. [Recommended by Board of Selectmen 4-0] [Recommended by the Municipal
Budget Committee 7-0-1]
Majority Vote Required
Given under our hand and seal and ordered posted this 25’th day
of January, 2010:
THE EPPING BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
______________________________
Tom
Gauthier, Chairman
____________________________
Karen
Sott, Vice-Chairman
_____________________________
Diane
Gilbert, Selectman
_____________________________
Rene
Archambault, Selectman
_____________________________
James McGeough,
Selectman
A TRUE COPY
ATTEST:
__________________________
Tom Gauthier, Chairman
____________________________
Karen
Sott, Vice-Chairman
_____________________________
Diane
Gilbert, Selectman
_____________________________
Rene
Archambault, Selectman
_____________________________
James
McGeough, Selectman