r F ^ v • Town and Annual Report M*I«Ts New Epping? Hampshire Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofto2006eppi Town and School Annual Report New Epping, Hampshire ^Q_Jfri» Fiscal Year Ending December 2006 31, TownofEpping 2006AnnualReport Table of Contents Town of Epping General Information 38 ElectedOfficials 38 Dedication 3 AppointedOfficials 38 Town Meeting Minutes 4 School DistrictOfficers 39 Committee Reports 12 40 Area Statistical Information BoardofSelectmen 12 TownOwned Properties 42 CemeteryTrustees 14 44 Marriages ConservationCommission 14 46 Births BudgetCommittee 14 Deaths 49 FireDepartment 15 2007TownWarrantArticles 51 GeneralAssistance(Welfare) Department... 17 2007Town Budget 56 Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library 17 HistoricDistrictCommission 18 Epping School District Planning Board 19 PoliceDepartment 19 School DistrictOfficers2006-2007 ....66 Recreation Department 20 LetterstotheCommunity 67 TownClerk'sReport 22 School Board 67 Water&SewerCommission 22 SuperintendentofSchools 68 Zoning BoardofAdjustment 23 AssistantSuperintendent 69 Financial Reports .24 BuildingCommittee 70 TaxCollector'sReportMS-61 24 ElementarySchool 72 SummaryofValuation MS-1 26 MiddleSchool 73 StatementofAppropriationsMS-2 26 HighSchool 75 Revised Estimated RevenuesMS-4 28 DirectorofSpecialServices 77 ReportoftheTrustFundsMS-9 30 2006 Ballot Results 78 ReportoftheCommonTrustFund 2007-2008 School District Budget 79 InvestmentsMS-10 33 2007-2008WarrantArticle Info 89 SalariesofTown Employees 34 Deliberative Session Minutes 92 2006TaxRateCalculation 35 2007 Sample Ballot 95 Auditor'sReport 36 Auditor'sReport 96 DesignandLayoutby: ^Wfrccphics POBox894• Epping,NH 03042 • (603) 679-8317•www.jlmgraphics.com 2006AnnualReport TownofEpping Dedication The Goodrich Family 1887,WilliamGoodrichfounded the In Goodrich Brickyard andlaterserved as Selectman. Ralph Goodiich built the first fire station in Town. The first Little League field was built by the Goodrich's andlocatedontheirland.DexterGoodrich was one ofthe co-founders ofthe Epping Community Bank. Robert Goodrich served twelveyears on the Planning Board and is currently the Town and the School Moderator. Over the years, many individuals from our communitywere involved in the brickmakingprocess.Thiscontinueduntil 1976 when, due to the rising cost ofener- gy, brickmakingwasdiscontinued.Today, fifteenlocal employees assist insellingthe DexterGoodrich,thethirdgeneration BobGoodrich,currentownerof ownerofthecompany GoodrichBrickandStone stone and bricks originating in locations farafield. Buildings using original Goodrich bricks include: Exeter Hospital, St. Ans- lem's College, Fanuiel Hall, the library at UMass-Amherst, the original Town Fire Station and many ofthe buildings at the UniversityofNewHampshire. Whenever our Town embarks on a building, or reconstruction endeavor, the Goodrich family has been there to assist us. Thatassistance has not been limited to the supplies theystock. There is a sense of servicethatmatchesthehighqualityofthe products. This sense ofservice and fairness has been their watermark. As a Town, and neighbors,wethankthem. Willie5.Goodrich(right),founderoftheGoodrichBrickyard,andhistwosonsRueland — Ralph Circa 1900. TownofEpping 2006AnnualReport Town Meeting Minutes — March 14,2006 LibraryTrustee 3years Z—oningBoardofAdjustment Votefornotmorethan2 3years The deliberative session of the 2006 TeresaKucera-776 Votefornotmorethan2 EppingTownMeetingwasheldatthe SylviaNollet-669 BobJordan-673 EppingMiddleHighSchoolGymna- TeresaKuceraandSylviaNottetwere RonLaChance-282 siumonWednesdayFebruary8, 2006. The elected PaulSpidle-553 meeting was called to order by Moderator — BobJordanandPaulSpidlewere Robert Goodrich at 7:05 p.m. Adiscussion Moderator 2years elected ofthe articles took place. The deliberative Votefornotmorethan 1 sessionwasadjournedat9:25 p.m. RobertGoodrich-854 Article2:PLANNINGAMENDMENT1 Finalvotingon the articleswas byof- RobertGoodrichwaselected AreyouinfavoroftheadoptionofAmend- ficialballotatthepollsonMarch 14,2006. — ment No. 1 as proposed by the Planning The polls opened at 8:00 a.m. and closed PlanningBoard 3years Board for the town zoning ordinance to at 7:00 p.m. Ballot ClerkswereAnn Marie Votefornotmorethan2 change Article 2 Section 3, West Epping Gomez-Amaru, Barbara MacDonald, An- RobGraham—605 Commercial Business Zone as follows: To drew Vallone, and Patricia Sutliffe. There MikeMorasco-723 remove certain uses as permitted uses that were938 regularballotscastand45 absen- RobGrahamandMikeMorascowere the planning board feels are incompatible tee voters for a total of 983 voters. There elected with the scale, uses, and lots in the area. were 32 new voters who registered at the — The following uses are proposed to be re- polls. Theresultsareasfollows. Selectman 3years moved: wholesale establishments, motel/ — Votefornotmorethan2 hotel,shoppingmallsandplazas,recreation BudgetCommittee 3years JeffreyF. Harris-632 establishments/campgrounds, and gasoline Votefornotmorethan3 RonLaChance-306 stations. [RecommendedbythePlanning MichaelKing-466 JerryLangdon-716 Board4-0-0] 'RonLaChance-352 JeffreyF.HarrisandJerryLangdon Discussion: A motion was made by AmyRandall-611 wereelected ThomasGauthierandsecondedbyDianne LaurileeShennett-485 — Gilbert to accept the article as written. GregoryTillman-384 SupervisoroftheChecklist 6years Planning Board member GregoryTillman MichaelKing,AmyRandalland Votefornotmorethan 1 explained that the area is primarily a resi- LaurileeShennettwereelected PamelaHolmes-816 dential area and this article would remove PamelaHolmeswaselected uses thatwould be incompatiblewith cur- — BudgetCommittee 1 year rentuses. Votefornotmorethan 1 W—ater&SewerCommissioner Results: YES-563 NO-367 MichelleCromarty-765 3years Article2PASSED MichelleCromartywaselected Votefornotmorethan 1 — JosephFoley-822 Article3:PLANNINGAMENDMENT2 CemeteryTrustee 3years Joseph Foleywaselected AreyouinfavoroftheadoptionofAmend- Votefornotmorethan 1 ment No. 2 as proposed by the Planning DanielW.Harvey-843 TrustFundTrustee-3years Board for the town zoning ordinance to DanielW.Harveywaselected Votefornotmorethan 1 change Article 2, Section 6 Residential — DanielW.Harvey-824 ZoneandSection7RuralResidentialZone FireWard 3years DanielW.Harveywaselected by changing the following parcels from Votefornotmorethan 1 Residential to Rural Residential: Map 7, CharlesGoodspeed-840 Parcels 1 and2. Map 13: Parcels 1 through CharlesGoodspeedwaselected 16. Map 19: Parcels 1 through 3. Map 20: Parcels 1 through 19. Map 26: Parcels 43 through 45 and 87 through 93. The amendmentwillchangethepermitteduses and raise the minimum lot sizes. [Recom- mendedbythePlanningBoard4-0-0] 2006AnnualReport TownofEpping Discussion: A motion was made by Brentwood. Theproposedamendmentwill Town ofEpping, based on assessed value, ThomasGauthierandseconded byDianne increase buffer requirements for thesewet- forqualifiedfull time resident taxpayers to Gilbert to accept the article as written. lands and mitigation requirements for im- beasfollows:foraperson65yearsofageup Gregory Tillman explained that the land pacts. The proposed amendment will also to 74years, $40,000; foraperson 75 years affectedbythisarticleiswestofBlakeRoad limit water withdrawals from wetland re- up to 79 years, $50,000; for a person 80 andthis articlewill makethezoningcom- sourcestopublicsafetyanddrinkingwater years ofage or older $60,000. To qualify, patiblewithwhatiscurrentlyinthisarea. purposes. [Recommended by the Plan- the person must have resided in the State Results: YES-589 NO-311 ningBoard4-0-0] ofNew Hampshire at least 5 consecutive Article3PASSED Discussion: A motion was made by Su- yearsprecedingApril 1, owntherealestate san McGeough and seconded by Thomas individuallyorjointly,oriftherealestateis Article4:PLANNINGAMENDMENT3 Gauthier to accept this article as written. owned by such person's spouse, they must AreyouinfavoroftheadoptionofAmend- GregoryTillmanexplainedthatthisarticle havebeenmarriedoradomesticpartnerfor ment No. 3 as proposed by the Planning would increasetheprotectionnearthePis- at least 5 years. In addition, the taxpayer Board for the town zoning ordinance to cassicRiverdueto thedevelopmentinthat must have a net income ofnot more than amend Article 3, Industrial Commercial area. $19,000 or, ifmarried, acombined net in- Zone and Article 2, Section 6 Residen- Results: YES-703 NO-222 come ofnot more than $29,000, and own tial Zone and Article 2, Section 5 High Article5PASSED assets not in excess of$50,000; excluding DensityResidentialZone bychangingthe the value of the property this exemption following parcels from their existing zon- Article6:REAFFIRMTHEADOPTION is applied to andwhich is the person's pri- ing to be included in Article 2, Section 4 OFTHEPROVISIONSOF mary residence. [Recommended by the Central Business Zone: Map 29: Parcels RSA41:14-A:ALLOWINGTHEBOARD BoardofSelectmen4-0] 178, 186 through 193, 198 through 202, OFSELECTMENTOACQUIREORSELL Discussion: A motion was made by Su- 205, 206, 208 through 216, 285 through LANDORBUILDINGS san McGeough and seconded by Thomas 291, 293, 294, and 296. The amendment ToseeiftheTownwillreaffirmtheiiadop- Gauthier to accept this article as written. will change the permitted uses for these tiontheprovisionsofRSA41:14awhichau- Don Sisson spoke about the end result of properties in an effort to encourage more thorizes the Board ofSelectmen to acquire the revaluation which showed that prop- non-residential development in areas near or sell land, buildings, or both, provided ertyvalues in Epping increased an average the core ofdowntown and promote high- that the Selectmen first submit the pro- of250%, but the proposed elderly exemp- density mixed uses in downtown. This posed acquisition or sale to the Planning tionamounts areonlydoubled. Hemadea changeseekstoencouragerevitalizationof Board and Conservation Commission for motionto increasetheexemptionamounts Epping'sdowntownandmakeitadestina- review and recommendation, and further to thefollowing: tionfortheTown. [Recommendedbythe provided that they first hold two public For a person 65 years ofage up to PlanningBoard3-0-1] hearings on the proposal. Then Selectmen 74years, $50,000;foraperson75years Discussion:AmotionwasmadebyThom- may proceed, provided that if 50 or more upto 79years, $65,000;foraperson80 as Gauthier and seconded by Christopher registered voters petition the Selectmen, yearsofageorolder$75,000. Murphy to accept this article as written. the acquisition or sale shall not proceed Themotionwas seconded byChristo- GregoryTillmanexplainedthatthisarticle until it is approved by the voters at town pher Murphy. There would be no change will create a triangle ofland east ofRoute meeting. [RecommendedbytheBoardof intheincomeorassetlimits thatwould be 125 to Main Street and south ofthe Lam- Selectmen4-0] needed to qualify for the exemption. Se- preyRiver.Thepermitteduseswillbecom- Discussion:AmotionwasmadebySusan lectmanMurphyexplained thatdiscussion patiblewiththeexistinguses. McGeough and seconded by Dianne Gil- onthisarticlestartedbeforethe Selectmen Results: YES-604 NO-311 bentoacceptthisarticleaswritten. Select- had all the data from the revaluation, and Article4PASSED man Gauthierexplained that this articleis the goal had been to make the elderly ex- nodifferentthanwhatwaspreviouslyvoted emption give the same reliefthat it had in Article5:PLANNINGAMENDMENT4 and what is currendy in existence, but the the past. He agreed that this amendment AreyouinfavoroftheadoptionofAmend- BoardwantedtheTowntobeawareofthis would be better than the original article ment No. 4 as proposed by the Planning provision. and stressed that since the income and as- Board for the town zoning ordinance to Results: YES-645 NO-276 set limits were so low it was trulyprotect- amend Article 10 Epping Wetlands Or- Article6PASSED ing the elderly residents that most needed dinance to provide greater protections to help to keep their homes. Town Adminis- wetland resources that are associated with Article7:AMENDINGTHEELDERLY tratorFournierstatedthatapublichearing the Piscassic River in the triangular area EXEMPTION onthisarticlewill needtobeheldand itis of Epping bounded by Route 125, Route To see iftheTownwillvoteto modifythe scheduledfor February27th. Ahandvote 101, and the border with the Town of ElderlyExemptionfrompropertytaxinthe was taken on the amendment and the TownofEpping 2006AnnualReport amendmentpassed.Thearticleasamend- hearing and information would be given 2005, the Budget Committeeonlywanted ed reads: to newspapersofotheroptionsfor control- to recommendarticles thatweremostnec- ToseeiftheTownwillvoteto modify lingthemosquito population. TomSudiffe essary. Peter Loch asked for a definition theElderlyExemptionfrompropertytaxin was concerned thatwe did not knowwhat of the fund balance. Town Administrator theTownofEpping, basedonassessedval- would be sprayed, where it would happen Fournieransweredthatmoneynotspentat ue,forqualifiedfulltimeresidenttaxpayers or what it would cost. We might be able the end ofthe year could be moved to the to be as follows: for a person 65 years of to get funding for the first year, but need nextyearwithavoteoftheTown. ageupto74years, $50,000;foraperson75 to raise the funds for future years. Select- Results: YES-492 NO-428 years up to 79 years, $65,000; fora person man Murphystated that theselectmenare Article9PASSED 80yearsofageorolder $75,000. To quali- just looking for directionwith this article. fy,thepersonmusthaveresidedintheState The State could come in andsprayregard- Article 10:LANDFILLCLOSUREFUND ofNew Hampshire at least 5 consecutive less ofour vote. Ifthe Town is in favor of To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and yearsprecedingApril 1, owntherealestate this, the Selectmen would put money in appropriatethesumofFiveThousandDol- individuallyorjoindy,oriftherealestateis thebudgetforfutureyears. MikeMorasco lars ($5,000) to bedepositedinto theexist- owned by such person's spouse, they must felt this would be fine as long as it is eco- ingLandfillClosureCapitalReserveFund. havebeenmarriedoradomesticpartnerfor logically friendly. Katherine Cooper asked [NotRecommended bytheBoardofSe- at least 5 years. In addition, the taxpayer ifthe Town would investigate the type of lectmen 1-4; Not Recommended bythe must have a net income ofnot more than pesticidetobeused. SelectmanMcGeough MunicipalBudgetCommittee0-9-1] $19,000 or, ifmarried, acombined net in- statedthattherearestrongfeelingsforand Discussion: A motion was made by Su- come ofnot more than $29,000, and own against spraying, and the Selectmen want san McGeough and seconded by Thomas assets not in excess of$50,000; excluding to knowwhattheTownwants. Gauthier to accept this article as written. the value of the property this exemption Results: YES-764 NO-178 Don SissonstatedthattheTownhadbeen is applied to andwhich is the person's pri- Article8PASSED putting some money away each year to maryresidence. prepare for this and wanted to knowhow Results: YES-772 NO-168 Article9:TOWNHALLIMPROVEMENT muchitshouldcost.SelectmanMcGeough Article7PASSED EXPENDABLETRUST responded that the cost couldbea million To see if the Town will raise and appro- dollarsormoreandhopedthattherewould Article8:SPRAYINGFOR priate the sum oftwenty thousand dollars be grant money available when the Town MOSQUITOES ($20,000) to be placed in the previously needs to do the closure. The Selectmen Tosee iftheTownwillvote to supportthe established Town Hall Improvement Ex- voted not to recommend the article this methodofwidespreadsprayingforthetreat- pendable Trust Fund. This sum will come year due to the current tax situation, but mentandexterminationofmosquitoes, in- fromfundbalanceandnoadditionalfunds this article would probably be presented sects and other pests. [Recommended by will be raised through taxation. [Recom- in futureyears. Don Sisson felt the tax in- theBoardofSelectmen4-0] mended bythe Board ofSelectmen 3-2; creaseforthisarticlewouldbeminor. Bud- Discussion:AmotionwasmadebySusan Not Recommended by the Municipal getCommitteememberPaulSpidleagreed McGeough and seconded by Dianne Gil- BudgetCommittee2-7-1] that there is a need forthis article, but the bert to accept this article aswritten. Greg- Discussion: A motion was made by Su- committeeaskedboardstocutanyexpense oryTillmanaskedwhynomoneyhadbeen san McGeough and seconded by Thomas thatwasnoturgentorapublicsafetyissue. allocated for this article. Selectman Mc- Gauthier to accept this article as tead. Se- Hestatedthat 15yearsagoitwasestimated Geoughexplainedthatthisarticlewasrec- lectman Murphy explained the reason for that engineering costs for the landfill clo- ommended by the State to get the feeling including this article. Due to the difficult surewouldbeabout$150,000. oftheTownregardingspraying.Whenitis natureofdefendingtheTownHall against Results: YES-246 NO-678 timetodothesprayingtheremaybegrants fire, hehaswanted to have asprinklersys- Article10FAILED availableto help defraythecost. GregTill- tem installed and money had been allo- man asked where the spraying would be cated for this project. Due to the need to Article 11: COMPACTOR/CONTAINER done and when. Selectman Gauthier re- havethefrontsteps replacedthis pastyear, PURCHASEFORTRANSFERSTATION pliedthattheareaswouldbeswampyareas moneywasusedforthestepsinsteadofthe Toseeifthetownwill raiseandappropriate and catch basins where mosquitoes breed. sprinklersystem.Thisarticlewouldreplen- the sum ofthirty thousand dollars and no The Selectmen would develop a plan and ish the improvement fund and allow us to cents($30,000.00)forthepurchaseofanew work with the State. Michael Morasco go forwardwiththesprinklersystem. Don solidwastecompactorandcontainerandto askediftherewould beapublichearingso Sisson asked why the Budget Committee performanynecessarysiteworkatthetrans- that residents would knowwhere spraying had not recommended this article. Chair- fer station. [Recommended bythe Board would occur. Selectman McGeough re- manJames McGeough replied that due to ofSelectmen 3-2; Recommended bythe pliedthattherewouldbeatleastonepublic the taxshock the residents had received in MunicipalBudgetCommittee7-2-1] 2006AnnualReport TownofEpping Discussion: A motion was made by Su- RecommendedbytheMunicipalBudget the amendment passed. The article as san McGeough and seconded by Thomas Committee6-2-1] amended reads: Gauthier to accept this article as written. Discussion:Amotion was made bySusan To see if the Town will vote to raise Selectman Gilbert explained that this ar- McGeough and seconded by Christopher and appropriate the sum of $42,135.00 ticle was for replacing an existing com- Murphytoacceptthisarticleaswritten. Po- (FortyTwo Thousand One Hundred Thir- pactor that is 20 years old; it is not for an liceChiefGregDodgeexplainedthatthisis ty Five Dollars) for the hiring of one ad- additional compactor. Attendants at the thethirdyearthathehaspresented this ar- ditional full-time Police Officer including Transfer Station have reported that the ticle.EppingwasoneofthreetownsinNew benefits. $17,135.00 (Seventeen Thousand oldest machine could break down at any Hampshireselectedtoreceivethisgrantand OneHundredThirtyFiveDollars) is to be time. Although the Town can limp along wewereeligibleforthreeofficers.Twoyears raised bytaxes. Thebalanceof$25,000.00 with theremaining3 units, wereallyneed ago hesplit thegrant into two articles, one (Twenty Five Thousand Dollars) shall be the 4th due to the increase in growth and askingforoneadditionalofficerandanother provided by an approved three year Unit- trash tonnage. Wewill need to purchase a askingfortwo additional officers. Onlythe ed States Department ofJustice Office of newcontainer, butfunds forthe container article requesting one officerpassed, so last Community Oriented Policing Services are included in the operating budget. Se- year he presented an article asking for one Grantfunded at $25,000.00 peryear. Ap- lectman Gilbert made a plea for residents moreofficer.Atthedeliberativesessionthis proval would call for a total estimated in- to bring to the transfer station only trash was amended to request two officers, and creaseof$132,831.00 (OneHundredThir- that is from Epping. James McGeough thearticlefailed.Thepolicedepartmentap- ty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty statedthatthe BudgetCommitteesees the pliedforthisgrantso thatpoliceprotection One Dollars) in fiscal years 2006, 2007, operation ofthe Transfer Station as a cri- could be provided at the least cost to the and 2008. $57,831.00 (Fifty Seven Thou- sis situation. TheTown is shippingout too Town. ChiefDodge just received a phone sandEightHundredThirtyOneDollars)is much trash and needs to encourage more call from Washington, DC informinghim to beraised bytaxeswithatotal offsetting recycling. The cost ofoperatingtheTrans- that even ifwepass this article, theymight revenuefromthegrantof$75,000.00 (Sev- ferStationismuchtoohigh. not be able to fund the grant forthis addi- enty Five Thousand Dollars). Upon ter- Results: YES-634 NO-294 tionalofficer.Hethereforerequestedthefol- mination ofthe grant period (3 years) the Article11 PASSED lowingamendmenttothearticle: Townwouldfullyfundtheadditionalfull- In the event federal funding ex- time Police Officer position. In the event Article12:POLICECOPSFASTGRANT pirestheTownauthorizesanadditional federalfundingexpires,theTownauthoriz- To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and $6,000.00 (Six Thousand Dollars) be es an additional $6,000.00 (Six Thousand appropriate the sum of$42,135.00 (Forty raisedandappropriatedtofundthead- Dollars) beraisedandappropriatedtofund Two Thousand One Hundred Thirty Five ditionalofficer. theadditionalofficer. Dollars) for the hiring of one additional Thiswouldresultinfundingthesalary Results: YES-519 NO-425 full-time Police Officer including ben- andbenefitsforhalfayear.Themotionwas Article12PASSED efits. $17,135.00 (Seventeen Thousand secondedbyLizConrad. PaulSpidlestated OneHundredThirtyFiveDollars) is to be that the Town would then need to fund Article13:HIGHWAYTRUCK raisedbytaxes. Thebalanceof$25,000.00 theentirecostoftheofficerinfutureyears. EXPENDABLETRUSTFUND (Twenty Five Thousand Dollars) shall be Charlie Goodspeed asked ChiefDodge to To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and provided by an approved three year Unit- listtheneedsthatawardedEppingthegrant appropriate the sum ofTwenty Thousand ed States Department ofJustice Office of originally. ChiefDodge explained thatthe Dollars ($20,000) to beaddedto theexist- Community Oriented Policing Services granthadbeenwritten byLt. Wallaceand ingHighwayTruckCapital Reserve Fund. Grantfunded at $25,000.00 peryear. Ap- was based on the demographics of the [NotRecommendedbytheBoardofSe- proval would call for a total estimated in- Town, the recent commercial and residen- lectmen 1-4; Not Recommended by the creaseof$132,831.00 (OneHundredThir- tial growth, our location on a major route MunicipalBudgetCommittee 1-8-1] ty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty totheseacoast,andtheamountofcrimewe Discussion:AmotionwasmadebyChris- One Dollars) in fiscal years 2006, 2007, are experiencing. HeatherKyle asked ifwe topher Murphy and seconded by Thomas and 2008. $57,831.00 (Fifty Seven Thou- would eliminate the officer after 6 months Gauthier to accept this article as read. Se- sand Eight Hundred Thirty One Dollars) ifthegrantfalls through. ChiefDodge re- lectman Murphy explained that this is an is to be raised by taxes with a total offset- plied thatwewould not, andwould prob- ongoingfundthatisusedtopurchasehigh- ting revenuefrom thegrantof$75,000.00 ablyincludeitasaline item inthebudget. wayequipment. When theTownwent out (Seventy Five Thousand Dollars). Upon Peter Loch askedwhy the article mentions for bids to hire snowplowing for this win- termination of the grant period (3 years) an "estimated increase". This is because ter, wewere not able to get enough people the Town would fullyfund the additional DRA requires that we must estimate the to apply. This fund will help the Town to full-time Police Officer position. [Recom- full costforthethreeyearperiod. Ahand purchase another vehicle that can be used mendedbythe Board ofSelectmen 3-2; vote was taken on the amendment and by Town employees for plowing. We have TownofEpping 2006AnnualReport been buying used vehicles and equipping Article15:LEASE/PURCHASEOF in on the oldvehicle, so they are planning themwithplowsandsanders. AMBULANCE to keep it as abackup housedin theWest Results: YES-180 NO-766 To see if the town will vote to authorize Epping station. Many ambulance person- Article13 FAILED the Board ofSelectmen to enter into afive nel reside in West Epping and this would (5) yearlease agreement not to exceed one enhance our response time. Also, when Article14:FUNDSFORETV hundred ninety-five thousand dollars and thereisanaccidentresultingintwo people Toseeifthetownwillvoteto raiseandap- no cents ($195,000.00) for the purpose of requiring an ambulance, the town needs propriate the sum of$3,000 to be placed leasingandequippinganambulanceforthe to call aneighboringtownforbackup and in the previously established Epping Tele- Fire Department, and to raise and appro- thisresultsinlostrevenueofapproximately vision Expendable Trust Fund. These priatethefirstyear'sleaseexpenditureofan $500permissedcall.Thereisminimalcost funds represent the difference between the amountnottoexceedthirtyninethousand involved in keeping this vehicle since the Epping Television Operating Budget and dollarsandnocents ($39,000.00) fromthe West Epping station is alreadyheated and theamountofmoneycollectedinfranchise Public SafetyFacilities Fund, afund solely thevehiclewould onlyrequire about $500 fees in 2005. Thissumwill comefrom the financed by revenue from the ambulance to $600 for maintenance over the coming fund balance and will have no impact on fees. This lease agreement will contain a year. MikeKingraisedtheissueofhowex- thetaxrate. [RecommendedbytheBoard non-appropriation clause and will have a cessambulancerevenueshouldbeused.He ofSelectmen 5-0; Recommendedbythe one dollar ($1.00) purchase option at the felt it should be used for purchasing other MunicipalBudgetCommittee9-0-1] endofthelease.Therewillbenotaximpact firefightingequipmentratherthanmaking Discussion: A motion was made by Su- in2006. [RecommendedbytheBoardof paymentsonanewambulance. PeterLoch san McGeough and seconded by Thomas Selectmen 3-2; Recommended by the also had concerns about what the tax im- Gauthier to accept this article as read. Su- MunicipalBudgetCommittee6-3-1] pact would be for 2007 and future years. san McGeough made a motion to amend Discussion:AmotionwasmadebyChris- CharlieGoodspeedreplied thatwecan'tas this article to change the amount from topher Murphy and seconded by Thomas a Town vote to commit money for a pur- $3,000 to $19,343. The amendment was Gauthier to accept this article as written. pose beyondthe2006year. ChrisMurphy seconded by Christoper Murphy who ex- Fire Chief Brian Toomire explained that agreedthatwe can'tsaywhatwewoulddo plainedthattheselectmenhadnotreceived when department heads were told to con- with future revenue, but felt that this is a their final payment offranchise fees when serve money wherever possible, the Fire gooddealfortheTown. this article was written, but now the final Department reviewed their requests. They Results: YES-600 NO-351 number is known. Mike Morasco ques- returned $56,000 oftheir 2005 budget to Article15PASSED tioned how the amount was determined. the Town and reduced their 2006 budget Selectman McGeough explained that each request from the 2005 level. At the same Article16:CONTRIBUTIONTOADULT year the cable company collects a small time they saw an increase in the volume TUTORIALPROGRAM amount from each resident and turns this ofcalls theyneeded to respondto. As are- To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and money over to the Town. Last year the sult he predicts that hewill not be able to appropriate the sum of Five Hundred TownvotedtousethismoneyforETVand maintain these cuts in the future. He had Dollars ($500.00) to bedistributedto the notkeepitinthegeneralfund.Ahandvote wantedtopresentasecondarticlethisyear, Adult Tutorial Program for services esti- was taken and the amendment passed. but decided to put it offfor another year mated to be rendered to residents ofthe Thearticleasamendedreads: and only present this article which he be- Town during the year 2006. [Recom- Toseeifthetownwillvotetoraiseand lieves isessential. In 1980 the FireDepart- mendedbytheBoardofSelectmen3-2; appropriate the sum of$19,343.00 (Nine- ment instituted a 5 year plan for replacing Recommended by the Municipal Bud- teenThousandThreeHundredFortyThree ambulances. We currently have a 5 year getCommittee7-3-1] Dollars) to be placed in the previously es- old vehicle and a 10 year old vehicle. It is Discussion: A motion was made by Su- tablished Epping Television Expendable timeto replacethe 10yearoldvehicle, and san McGeough and seconded by Thomas Trust Fund. These funds represent thedif- it would not be appropriate to purchase a Gauthier to accept this article as written. ferencebetweentheEppingTelevisionOp- used vehicle for this purpose. Mike King Paul Spidle spoke in opposition to this ar- erating Budget and the amount ofmoney from the Budget Committee explained ticle and all other contribution articles ex- collected in franchise fees in 2005. This thatalthoughthecommitteeinitiallyvoted cepttheonesfortheEppingYouthAthletic sum will come from the fund balance and not to recommend this article, they had Association and the Lamprey River Youth will have no impact on the tax rate. [Rec- received more information from the fire Soccer. Helisted the following reasons for ommended by the Board of Selectmen department andthenvoted to supportthis his position. First, these organizations are 5-0; Recommended by the Municipal article. ChiefToomire provided more in- funded at the county, state, and federal BudgetCommittee9-0-1] formationaboutthedispositionofthe old- levels aswell. Second, there is no statelaw Results: YES-633 NO-309 est ambulance. The Fire Department did that authorizes the Town to raise money Article14PASSED notfeeltheywouldreceivemuchforatrade forthis purpose. Third, due to theprivacy