Saturday morning we got up and went to town meeting (link to newspaper article).
The selectmen and department heads (and advisory budget committee) had kept the proposed budget within reason, so that went relatively smoothly. We approved the lease-to-buy of a 10 wheeler for the highway department as the 6 wheeler was in bad shape and was having computer probelms, which would cost us megabucks to fix. The 10 wheeler wil also save us money as we contract some of the hauling for road repairs out, because we don't have enough truck capacity to do it ourselves. Additionally, it will cut down on overtime in winter as it can hold more sand and push more snow than the 6 wheeler.
We approved the purchase of a new police cruiser too.
We bucked the trend as we did not approve a resolution to tell the state legislature that the town wanted a marriage law put on the ballot. It is not that many people don't want that to happen, it is that we believe strongly that town meeting is for town business. State business should be directly taken up with your local representatives by email, phoe or mail (we also voted down a resolution for another issue last year for the same reason).
The library was the big contention - taking up probably over an 75 minutes on 2 seperate lines that came up to less $6,000 total. Another hot button issue was an Article for allowing the use of sludge on farms according the NH state law. Currently we don't allow it, and a farmer wants to use it. That was vvoted down while an Article aimed at having the Planning Committee look into creating stricter laws than the State currently employes.
We authorized the selectmen to negotiate for parks and recreation along with Youth Services. Currently we contract with Hillboro (the contract ran out the end of 2009), but we should look at other options and/or see if we can get a reduction in cost from Hillsboro.
Ignorant statement of the day: "How many times are we going to renovate town hall?" This, when we were voting on the bond payments to be made this year (although bond payments MUST be made, they cannot expend the money unless we authorize them to do so - thus it shows up in the town budget). So it had to be explained that it was a payment on the bond taken out to renovate town hall several years ago.
Ignorant motion of the day: "We have listened to 2 eloquent speakers on the subject, let's call the vote." Um, no, that is limiting the discussion. With 120+ people there, you don't limit it to 2 people!
Town meeting started at 9 and we got out out about 4. it started with such promise of going quickly, but this is the longest town meeting we have had in a while (to my recolection). At least it didn't snow as it does on the majority of town meeting days!
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