Town of Gilford, NH - 2007 Warrant Articles

You are hereby notified to meet for the first session of the annual meeting, to be held at the Gilford High School Auditorium, Gilford, NH on the sixth day of February 2007 being Tuesday at seven o’clock in the evening (7:00 pm). 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.

You are also notified to meet for the second session of the annual town meeting, to elect town officers 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 Gilford Middle School on the thirteenth day of March 2007, being Tuesday, at seven o’clock in the forenoon (the polls are to be open at 7:00 am and may not close prior to 7:00 pm) to act upon the following:

1. Delete the existing Section 2.2.7, Aquifer Protection District, and replace it with a new Section 2.2.7, Aquifer Protection District, which is a revision and update of the existing wording, and which describes this special district and its purposes which are to protect, preserve, and maintain potential groundwater supplies and related groundwater recharge areas within known aquifers identified by the Town.

3. Delete the existing Section 5.2.6, Aquifer Protection District, and replace it with revised and updated Aquifer Protection District regulations proposed to be a new Article 19, Aquifer Protection District, which describes uses that are prohibited within the district (including fuel dispensing stations), describes the district boundary, provides definitions of terms, describes how one may challenge the presence of the aquifer on a parcel and more accurately determine the precise boundary of the district if the boundary is disputed, and describes under what conditions pre-existing, non-conforming uses may or may not continue; and renumber the existing Article 19, Administration and Enforcement, and subsequent Articles as Articles 20 through 24 respectively?

Amend Section 8.8, Signs Not Requiring a Permit, by creating a new Section 8.8.7, Charitable/Non-Profit Organization Event Sign, creating regulations permitting limited display of signs that advertise events conducted by charitable and non-profit organizations, establishing how and when such signs may be posted and removed, and establishing the size and number of signs that may be displayed?

Amend Article 11, Special Exceptions, by changing Section 11.1, Application, to authorize the Director of Planning and Land Use to issue letters of denial which would allow applicants to apply for special exceptions before applying to the Planning Board, and to rewrite the requirements of this section for clarity including arranging the requirements in individual paragraphs?

Amend Article 12, Variances, by changing Section 12.2, Application, in subparagraph a. to authorize the Director of Planning and Land Use to issue letters of denial which would allow applicants to apply for variances before applying to the Planning Board; correct the name of the Historic District and Heritage Commission in subparagraph c.; and clarify that a public hearing may be held by the Board of Adjustment once an application is accepted as complete?

Amend Article 14, Historic District, by changing Section 14.3 to say “Department of Planning and Land Use” rather than “Planning Board office”; changing Section 14.7, Certificates of Approval, to correctly tell applicants where to obtain application forms and to make it clear that a review by the Historic District and Heritage Commission may be required even if no permit is required by the Zoning Ordinance or the Building Code; correcting the name of the Historic District and Heritage Commission throughout the Article; and making other minor grammatical corrections?

Amend Article 15, Wetlands District, by changing the first paragraph of Section 15.4.2, Special Exception, in regards to what boards and committees staff is to notify when an application for a wetlands-related special exception is submitted and when to notify them, and to make other minor grammatical changes?

Article 10: To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $1,025,000 to purchase the development rights on the Bean property (map & lot numbers 228-012 & 210-034), which borders Saltmarsh Pond and to authorize the issuance of not more than $1,025,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. (Passage of this article shall override the ten percent limitation imposed on this appropriation in the event of non-recommendation by the Budget Committee) (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee) 3/5 majority vote required.

Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a long-term lease/purchase agreement with no non-appropriation clause, to purchase a new fire truck in the amount of three hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($325,000) payable over a term of three years and to withdraw one hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) from the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund for the first year’s lease payment. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee) 3/5 majority vote required.

Article 12: To see if the Town will raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations 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 $10,658,122. Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $10,449,495, 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. This operating budget warrant article does not include appropriations contained in ANY other warrant articles.

Article 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred seventy one thousand, six hundred dollars ($271,600) to be added to the Bridge Replacement Capital Reserve Fund previously established. This sum to be raised from taxation. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee)

Article 14: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) to be added to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established. This sum to be raised from taxation. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee)

Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be added to the Ambulance Replacement Capital Reserve Fund previously established. This sum to be raised from taxation. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee)

Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of funding Compensated Absences and to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to be placed in this fund and to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee)

Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1-c for the purpose of funding Building Repairs and to raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to be placed in this fund and to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

Article 18: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of a Police Facility and to raise and appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be placed in this fund and to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend.

Article 19: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1-c for the purpose of funding Sewer Maintenance and to raise and appropriate the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to be placed in this fund and to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

Article 21: To see if the Town will raise and appropriate ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the Laconia Airport Authority to be disbursed upon written notification that the major capital improvements have been approved by the Federal, State and Local agencies, as well as being in compliance with state and local land use and environmental requirements. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

Article 22: To see if the Town will raise and appropriate ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for invasive species management. This shall be used for milfoil removal in Smith Cove. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

Article 23: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to accept the donation from the Friends of the Gilford Library, a non-profit corporation, by deed, of land and buildings~to house a new Gilford Public Library, provided that the building has been substantially completed and a certificate of occupancy has been issued prior to conveyance.

Article 24: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Recreation Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 35-B:2 II. The money received from fees and charges for recreation programs and donations shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered to be part of the Town’s general fund. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all monies in the fund, and shall pay out the same pursuant to the policy developed by the Town (upon order of the Board of Selectmen). These funds may be expended only for recreation purposes as stated in RSA 35-B, and no expenditure shall be made in such a way as to require the expenditure of other town funds that have not been appropriated for that purpose.

Article 25: To adopt the provisions of NH RSA 41:14a to grant the authority to the Selectmen to acquire or sell land, buildings, or both; provided, however, they shall first submit any such proposed acquisition or sale to the Planning Board and to the Conservation Commission for review and recommendation by those bodies. After the selectmen receive the recommendations they shall hold two public hearings at least ten but not more than fourteen days apart on the proposed acquisition or sale; provided, however, upon the written petition of 50 registered voters presented to the selectmen prior to the selectmen’s vote, according to the provisions of RSA 39:3, the proposed acquisition or sale shall be inserted as an article in the warrant for the next town meeting.

Article 28: To see if the Town will vote to designate as part of the Town Forest under RSA 31:110, the Weeks Tract of 236 acres, more or less (part of the tax map 238-005.000) purchased by the Town in 2005, to authorize the Conservation Commission to manage the property as part of the Wilson-Weeks Town Forest in accordance with RSA 31:112, and to authorize the placement of any proceeds that may accrue from forest management in the Conservation Fund to accumulate under RSA 31:113.

Article 29: To see if the Town will vote to rescind the establishment of the Budget Committee under the provisions of RSA 32:14, and in its place establish an advisory budget committee, with authority limited to making recommendations to the Selectmen and School Board on their respective proposed budgets. If approved this advisory budget committee shall have six (6) members, who shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, with input from the Gilford School Board. The members shall serve staggered terms, beginning the year of adoption with 1/3 of such members appointed to hold office for one (1) year, 1/3 for two (2) years and 1/3 for three (3) years, and each year thereafter, 1/3 shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. (Submitted by Petition)

Article 30: To see if the Town will go on record in support of effective actions by the President and the Congress to address the issue of climate change which is increasingly harmful to the environment and economy of New Hampshire and to the future well being of the people of Gilford. These actions include: 1. Establishment of a national program requiring reductions of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the U.S. economy. 2. Creation of a major national research initiative to foster rapid development of sustainable energy technologies, thereby stimulating new jobs and investment. In addition, the town of Gilford encourages New Hampshire citizens to work for emission reductions within their communities, and we ask our Selectmen to consider the appointment of a voluntary energy committee to recommend local steps to save energy and reduce emissions. The record of the vote on this article shall be transmitted to the NH Congressional Delegation, to the President of the United States, and to declared candidates for those offices. (Submitted by Petition)