ANNUAL REPORT for the Town of BRIDGEWATER New Hampshire For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1996 ANNUAL REPORT for the Town of BRIDGEWATER New Hampshire For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1996 Memory In of Patricia Mitchell Town Clerk 1965- 1996 Memory In of MargaretThistle Town Tax Collector 1965-1996 Index Town Officers 2 Selectmen's Report 4 Town Warrant 7 Town Budget Appropriations 10 Town Budget Revenues 12 Tax Rate Computations & Comparisons 13 Auditor's Report 15 Financial Report 16 Public Library Report 37 Police Department Report 39 Fire Department Report 39 NANA 40 Plymouth Regional Clinic 41 Community Center 43 Forestry 44 Grafton County Senior Citizens Report 45 Vital Statistics 46 Conservations Commission 48 TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER TOWN OFFICERS March Town Meeting Town Clerk Kathy Vestal* 1999 Selectmen Terence Murphy 1997 Thomas Curren 1998 Maurice Jenness 1999 Treasurer Marilyn Raymond 1997 Trustees of Trust Funds George Carr 1998 Phyllis Clement 1996 Marvin Lewis 1997 Supervisors of Check Lists Celia Dempsey 2002 Alfred Nickerson 1998 Marjorie Nickerson 2000 Moderator Andrew Denton 1999 Library Trustees Nancy Gray 1995 Catherine Drew 1996 Pauline Havens 1997 * Filling out the unexpired term of Patricia Mitchell 1996 ANNUAL REPORT APPOINTMENTS Deputy Town Clerk Cathy Lyford 1999 Tax Collector Nancy Denton 1999 Rachel Spencer, Deputy 1999 Forest Fire Warden Lawrence Gilpatric Deputy Fire Wardens Creighton Gray John Farro Andrew Denton Donald Atwood Dana Davis Planning Board Elaine MacAdams, Chair Robert Williams Ronald Olszak Richard Brooks Hank Woolner William Delashmit Terence Murphy, Ex. Off Alternates: Col. B. Finkle Maurice Jenness Alt. Ex. Off. James Jeffrey Zoning Board of Adjustment Nils Larson, chm Ronald Towne E Wayne Thompson David Horton . Alternates: Charles Swanson David Cheney Conservation Committee Joseph Allison, Chm Nancy Gray Elaine MacAdam Robert Tucker Alternates: Phyllis Clement William Weir School Board Member Patricia Travers 1999 School Board Budget Comm Mary Ellen Godville 1998 Road Agent Donald Atwood Chief of Police James Gickas Fire Chief Andrew Denton Building Inspector Fred Wilcox Town Forester Creighton Gray :. TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER Selectmen's Report 1997 This was a year of transition and change. We lost two esteemed town officials and friends when Margaret Thistleand Pat Mitchell passed away. Also, two of our oldest and most respected citizens, Amy Townsend and Lillian Clement died this year. Our sincere condolences to all their family members The positions of Tax Collector and Town Clerk have been filled by very capable and hardworking individuals. Nancy Denton and Kathy Vestal bring to these offices exceptional backgrounds and the dedication to duty as did their predecessors. Much hard work and a significant investment of time was necessary to learn the intricacies of each job as well as convert old records to new data systems. We owe a debt of gratitude to Nancy and Kathy for their efforts on our behalf. We also appointed Cathy Lyford as Deputy Town Clerk and Rachel Spencer as Town Secretary and deputy tax Collector. We wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of Eliene Linde who retired as town secretary this year. We will miss her. Finances remain in excellent shape. We ended the year with a modest surplus and the tax rate was level for the third year. Debt remains very low. This reflects the conservative approach to fiscal matters and the assistance of all the department heads The budget recommended this year mirrors . this approach. The municipal tax rate will remain the same. However, we anticipate an increase in taxes due to the School and County portion of the budget. The School portion is largely due to larger enrollments from Bridgewater. Highway: The new truck arrived after extended delays by the manufacturer and is in service. We plan to pave the steep portion of John Smith Hill road this year. Dick Brown road reconstruction is completed after many weather related delays. We will seal that section this year. Hammond Hill paving was completed and new bridge rails were installed. We are revising some matters in this department to allow for more time grading and maintaining summer roads. By subcontracting some hauling of materials, we will be able to spend more time on the roads. Last year we spent 10 weeks hauling construction material for the Dick Brown Road reconstruction and winter sand. The added time will be used to repair culverts and smooth roads and other related tasks. Police We are pleased to hear positive citizen reactions to the present officers' service. We are presenting a budget that allows for creating a full-time position in this department. It will be discussed at town meeting.