ANNUAL REPORT for the Town of DANBURY New Hampshire For the Fiscal Year Ending DECEMBER 2000 31, Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportfort2000danb 4H ANNUAL REPORT for the Town of DANBURY New Hampshire For the Fiscal Year Ending DECEMBER 31 2000 , Printed by F. M. Piper Printing, LLC Franklin, New Hampshire We proudly dedicate this issue of the Danbury Town Report to RICKY MORAN (1954-2001) Highway Department employee since 1992 Road Agent 1995 Ricky wasa very hardworkingman, someone who wasalways available — to anyone who needed a helping hand he was a friend to all. Ricky's dedication to his work was such that he insisted on staying on thejob longafterheshouldhave beenguarding hisown health. His records of achievement are many: Senior Road Scholar through the University ofNew Hampshire Technology Center; 1997—2nd place Wing Slalom Plow Team, Canaan Region; 1999—1st runner-up Backhoe Operator Hands-on Opera- tion, Hopkinton Region; 2nd runner-up Backhoe Operator, State Champion- ship; 1st place Hopkinton Region Championship Team; 1st runner-up Hop- kinton Region, Knowledge Evaluation; as well as his completion of many training seminars to increase his knowledge ofpolicy andprocedure. He wasjustlyproudofthe newDanburyHighway Garage which will be dedicated to Ricky as soon as a plaque can be made. Ricky's legacy after far too short a time on this earth is family, faith and freedom and the love and respect ofall ofhis friends and neighbors. GOD BLESS YOU, RICK 2000 ANNUAL REPORT TOWN OF DANBURY TABLE OF CONTENTS Town Officers 4 The Selectmen's Report 6 Minutes of2000 Town Meeting 8 September 26, 2000 Town Meeting Minutes 16 Summary Inventory ofValuation 17 Tax Rate Computation 18 Comparative Statement of Appropriations and Expenditures 19 Summary ofTrust Funds Accounts 20 Treasurer's Report 22 Tax Collector's Report 23 Town Clerk's Report 25 MBA Supplemental Schedule - 27 Auditors' Report 27 Schedule of Long-term Indebtedness 28 Schedule ofTown-owned Property 28 George Gamble Library Report 29 Detailed Statement of Expenditures 30 Danbury Planning Board 39 Danbury Police Department Report 41 Danbury Volunteer Fire & EMS Commissioner's Report 42 Community Action Program Report 43 Lakes Region Planning Commission 44 Pemi-Baker Solid Waste District 45 Forest Fire Warden and State Forest Ranger 46 Blazing Star Grange #71 47 UNH Cooperative Extension 48 Danbury Town Warrant 49 Danbury Proposed Budget 51 Bristol Community Center Report 54 Kearsarge Area Council on Aging 56 Danbury Community Center 58 Lake Sunapee Region VNA 59 Report of Cemetery Sexton 61 Vital Statistics 62 Property Values 2000 63 PAGE 4 TOWN OF DANBURY TOWN OFFICERS Moderator Town Clerk Treasurer Matt Denton Sylvia Hill Christie Phelps Selectmen Steven D. Gordon Term expires 2001 Alfred (Duke) Reed Term expires 2002 James Larkin Term expires 2003 Tax Collector Deputy Tax Collector Sylvia Hill Margaret Barnett Police Department ChiefofPolice Sargeant Special Officer Douglas C. Colby, Jr. Dale Cook Andrew Ware Patrolman Norman Daigneault Supervisors/Checklist Louise Huntoon Term expires 2002 Linda Sargent Term expires 2004 Martha Plaisted Term expires 2006 Library Trustees Phyllis Wiggin Term expires 2001 Anna Tanguay Term expires 2002 Mary Quinn Term expires 2003 Trustees ofTrust Funds Penelope Dusio Term expires 2001 Debbie DeSantis Term expires 2002 Sue-Anne Bourbeau Term expires 2003 RoadAgent Auditors Rick Moran Leo Zaccaria Janet Moulton Municipal Budget Committee April Gness Term expires 2001 Carol Macuch, appointed Term expires 2001 Jon Schurger Term expires 2002 Tricia Taylor Term expires 2002 John Moulton Term expires 2003 James Phelps Term expires 2003 James Larkin, ex officio Term expires 2003 2000ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 5 Representative to the Representative to the School Board School Budget Comm. Wade Heberling (2003) JonJohnson (2003) Emergency Mgt. Forest Fire Director Warden Andrew Phelps Merton Austin Planning Board Phyllis Taylor Term expires 2001 Linda Ray Wilson Term expires 2001 Jon Schurger Term expires 2002 Debbie Phelps Term expires 2002 Steve Whitman Term expires 2003 Donald Buebendorf Term expires 2003 Dale Cook Alternate John Taylor Alternate Steven Gordon, ex-officio Term expires 2001 Recreation Committee Karen Padgett Term expires 2001 Matthew Denton Term expires 2001 Mark Phelps Term expires 2002 Gordon Ordway, Jr Term expires 2003 Steve Gordon, ex-officio Term expires 2001 Cemetery Trustees Phyllis Taylor Term expires 2001 Timothy Martin Term expires 2002 Jeremy Martin Term expires 2003 OFFICERS OF THE DANBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Commissioners Robert B. Ford Phyllis Wiggin Chief Deputy Chief Captain Merton Austin Tom Austin James Fifield Clerk Treasurer Jon Johnson Sharon Austin Lieutenants Tammy Phelps Donald Haynes Jeremy Martin Engineers Lee Ford (Chief Eng.) Andy Phelps Donald Haynes PAGE 6 TOWN OF DANBURY 2000 SELECTMEN'S REPORT One of Danbury's major strengths continues to be its people. Thisyearwe havechosentodedicate ourTown Reporttoourformer Road Agent, Ricky Moran, for his hard work and dedication. The members of the planning board must be recognized for their months of hard work, resulting in the adoption of the Floodplain Devel- opment and Telecommunications Ordinances at the special town meet- ing on September 20, 2000. This board's Transportation Improvement Applicationforimprovementstothetowncommon, intersectionofRoutes 4 and 104, North Road and High Street, and the creation of a sidewalk pathway to the Danbury Elementary School received high marks from the Lakes Region Planning Commission's review committee. This is a first step toward funding these activities through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Justin Welles ofour highwaydepartmentplaced first inthe Munici- pal Backhoe Championship, Canaan Division, on September 21st. This competition was held by the New Hampshire Municipal Association in various regionsthroughout the state. TomAustin, our Deputy Fire Chief, received Firefighter of the Year Award given by the Lakes Region Busi- ness Women's Association on November 15, 2000. We are also grateful to the group of volunteers that assisted Town Clerk, Sylvia Hill, with the records preservation project. Ifyou have traveledalong the North Road near Riverdale Cemetery in the past year, you would have noticed the magnificent stone wall constructed there by Noel and Andy Phelps. It certainly adds to the beauty of the cemetery and to the greater Town Square. There has been a dynamic increase in the use of our community center, thanks in large measure to the Board of Directors, Debbie Phelps and Kathy Colby. We wish also to recognize the members ofthe Andover Lions Club for theirverygenerous gift ofthe "Jaws of Life" forthe Fire Department. Publicrecognitioncannotbe completewithoutmentioningthe 125th birthday of the Blazing Star Grange #71. This organization has a rich history of dedicated service to our community. The selectmen are sin- cerely grateful for receiving the Grange's "Citizen of the Year" award on December 16, 2000. Please take a moment when visiting the town of- fices to look at the award plaque hanging in the hallway. Many of you took the opportunity to attend the Independence Day open house at the new highway garage. Refreshments were served and people also had a chance to see our new fire truck and fast squad ve- hicles. There will be a dedication of the highway garage this summer once a sign honoring Ricky Moran is made. At the last town meeting, townspeople voted to put $10,000 aside in a property assessment capital reserve fund. This year, you will be 2000 ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 7 asked to approve an appropriation to fully fund a town-wide property assessment. Earls & Associates of Concord has been awarded the con- tract to begin work this spring subject to your approval on March 15th. This company has four fully-certified assessors formerly employed by the NH Department of Revenue Administration. It is anticipated that this activity will be completed prior to mailing second half tax bills. Finally, this Board and the Danbury Budget Committee are work- ing hard to minimize the impact ofyear2001 budgetsontaxpayers. How- ever, as of the writing of this report, Merrimack County's' proposed budget includes a 22% increase over last year, and it is anticipated that the school budget for the coming year will include a 16.7% increase. This will result in a $2.02 per thousand-dollar increase on your tax bill for schools. Additional monies may be needed once a teacher contract is ratified. Thank you all for your hard work and we look forward to working with you throughout this year as well. Respectfully submitted, Steven D. Gordon James M. Larkin Alfred S. Reed Selectmen, Town of Danbury PAGE 8 TOWN OF DANBURY 2000 DANBURY TOWN MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, March 14, 2000 polls were open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town Hall for Election ofTown Officers and Newfound Area School District Officers and Official Warrant Ballot. Town Meeting reconvened for the Business Meeting on Thursday March 16, 2000 at the Town Hall to vote on the posted warrant. Meeting was called to order by Moderator, Matthew Denton, with the pledge ofallegiance to the flag. Chairman ofthe Board of Selectmen, Steven Gordon, addressed the meeting with a thank you to all of the many volunteers in town. A special thank you to retiring Supervisor of the Checklist, Dorothy McGonnigal, who is retiring after sixteen years ofservice. An announcementwas made that therewill be an open house when the new town garage has been completed by Carl Huntoon and Stanley Phelps. In addition, he recognized outgoing Police Chief Steven Corsetti for his 20 or so years of service to the community and the im- provements to the department over that period. 1. To vote on all items appearing on the official ballot. Moderator, Matthew Denton, announced the results of Tuesday's voting: There were 388 voters, a 55% turnout of the 704 voters now on the checklist. The following Town Officers were elected: Selectman, 3 yrs James M. Larkin Moderator, 2 yrs Matthew L. Denton Treasurer, 1 yr Christie Phelps Tax Collector, 1 yr Sylvia Hill Town Clerk, 1 yr Sylvia Hill Road Agent, 1 yr Ricky L. Moran Chief of Police, 1 yr Douglas C. Colby, Jr. Auditors, 1 yr Leo V. Zaccaria &Janet Moulton Cemetery Trustee, 3 yrs Jeremy Martin Library Trustee, 3 yrs M. Mary Quinn Mun. Budget Committee 3 yrs James Phelps &John Moulton Mun. Budget Committee 2 yrs Tricia Taylor Mun. Budget Committee 1 yr April Gness Planning Board Member, 3 yrs Steven W. Whitman & Donald Buebendorf Recreation Committee Member, 2 yrs Gordon Ordway, Jr. Supervisor ofthe Checklist, 6 yrs Martha R. Plaisted Trustee ofTrust Funds, 3 yrs Sue-Anne Bourbeau