Town of Gilford, NH - SECOND SESSION ELECTION RESULTS

Town of Gilford, New Hampshire

“Second Session” Election Results

The polling place was readied with instructions in the booths and posting of sample ballots, instructions, and warrants were done. The 2006 Town reports were available. Inspectors of Elections were Barbara Carey, Shirley Snow, Rutha “Betty” Helfrich and Diane Tinkham. Town Clerk – Tax Collector, Denise Morrissette gave Sheldon Morgan, Sandy Beland and Susan Jensen oaths of office as Inspector’s of Elections. Wayne Snow was sworn in with the oath of office as Assistant Moderator.

The vote tabulator machine had been tested on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room B at the Gilford Town Hall. Ballots were counted at the same time and put into sets of 25 for election day. Peter Millham, Denise Morrissette, Jennifer Mooney and Wayne Snow conducted the test and counted the ballots. The testing of the machine confirmed with the hand tally found the machine to be working 100% accurately.

The Inspectors of Elections were instructed to give a full set of ballots to each voter. Morrissette distributed privacy sleeves and magnifiers at each table for the voters to use. The Moderator cautioned about electioneering. The Moderator announced the polls open at 7:00 a.m. Assistant Moderator Snow and voter Cecily Quimby made sure the ballot boxes were empty before locking them for the day.

The Moderator gave Morrissette a receipt for 143 cast (absentee) ballots and 3,568 sets of official ballots. At 1:00 p.m., Snow and Mooney began processing absentee ballots. Snow announced the names and addresses as Mooney opened the envelopes. Millham, Morrissette, Morgan and Kim Varicchio, School District Clerk, placed the ballots in the machine for counting.

At 7:00 p.m. the Moderator announced the polls closed, several voters were in the booth completing their ballots. When all booths were emptied Snow began running the results of the tally machine and emptying the ballot boxes to count the write-in candidates. Teams of officials were put together for counting the write-ins. At 8:15 p.m. the Moderator read the results.

The total number of registered voters at the opening of the polls was 6025; at the close of the polls 40 new registered voters were added to the list for a total of 6065 registered voters. The total numbers of ballots cast were 1989 (including absentees). The results ended with a 30 % voter turn out.

The following are the voting results:

SELECTMAN THREE YEAR-TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

JOSEPH F. HOFFMAN 137

“GUS” BENAVIDES 1072 (Elected)

BUDGET COMMITTEE THREE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN THREE:

TERRY STEWART 876 (Tie for 3^rd position)*

E. SCOTT CRACRAFT 197

WILLIAM F. KNIGHTLY 151

DOUGLAS J. LAMBERT 971 (Elected)

DELORES JEANNE SEAGER 381

DALE DORMODY 876 (Tie for 3^rd position)*

WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS 981

* A drawing was held on 3/14/07 by the Town Clerk at the Selectman’s meeting at 3:00 p.m. at the Gilford Town Hall in Conference Room A. Both candidates were in attendance and Dale Dormody’s name was pulled from the lot; he was declared the winner. A recount was requested and will be held on 3/22/07 at 2:00 p.m.; the minutes with the results of the recount are to follow.

EVERETT MCLAUGHLIN 1

SUPERVISOR OF THE CHECKLIST THREE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

CONNIE P. MOSES 1572 (ELECTED)

TOWN TREASURER ONE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

JOSEPH F. HOFFMAN 214

KAREN SAUNDERS 1611 (ELECTED)

TRUSTEE OF TRUST FUNDS THREE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

RICK MOSES 90 (ELECTED)

WRITE INS FOR TRUSTEE OF TRUST FUND CON’T:

LIBRARY TRUSTEE THREE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN TWO:

“POLLY” SANFACON 1273 (ELECTED)

TRACEY PETROZZI 1281 (ELECTED)

OVERSEER OF PUBLIC WELFARE ONE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

ERIKA JOHNSON 1542 (ELECTED)

FIRE ENGINEER THREE-YEAR TERM VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE:

PHILIP A. BROUILLARD 975 (ELECTED)

“KEN” KNEUER 751

Zoning Ordinance Amendments

Article 2: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

Amend the existing Aquifer Protection District regulations of the Gilford zoning ordinance in the following ways:

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.

2. Delete the existing term “Aquifer” and its definition found in Article 3, Definitions, and include this term and a revised and updated definition of “Aquifer” in the proposed new Article 19, Aquifer Protection District.

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?

YES - 1280 NO – 341 PASSED

Article 3: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

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?

YES - 1341 NO – 499 PASSED

Article 4: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

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?

YES - 1301 NO – 459 PASSED

Article 5: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

Amend Article 11, Special Exceptions, by changing Section 11.2, General Rules for Special Exceptions, in the following ways:

1. Change subparagraph (a) from requiring a finding that prior application was made to the Planning Board and notice was sent to various town boards, to requiring a finding that a letter of denial was issued for the special exception;

2. Delete from subparagraph (c) the requirement to find that the proposal is not “offensive” to the neighborhood.

3. Modify subparagraph (f) to require a finding that “the proposal is consistent with the spirit of the zoning ordinance and the Master Plan”?

YES - 876 NO – 849 PASSED

Article 6: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 5 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

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?

YES - 1332 NO – 388 PASSED

Article 7: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 6 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

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?

YES - 1455 NO – 291 PASSED

Article 8: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 7 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

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?

YES - 1429 NO – 306 PASSED

Article 9: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 8 as proposed by the Gilford Planning Board for the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as follows:

Amend Section 2.2, Special Districts, by changing Section 2.2.1, Historic District, to correct the name of the Historic District and Heritage Commission and reference the name “Gilford Village Historic District” by which the District is also known?

YES - 1573 NO – 210 PASSED

Other Municipal Articles

Article 10: To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $980,000 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 $980,000 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.

YES - 1157 NO – 776* DEFEATED

*A recount was requested and will be held on 3/22/07 following the recount for Budget Committee Member (Stewart – Dormody) @ 2:00 p.m.; the minutes with the results of the recount are to follow.

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 three thousand six hundred twelve dollars ($303,612) 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.

YES - 1308 NO – 604 PASSED

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 $10,672,001. 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.

(Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee)

YES - 1223 NO – 657 PASSED

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)

YES - 1305 NO – 555 PASSED

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)

YES - 1309 NO – 576 PASSED

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)

YES - 1299 NO – 582 PASSED

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)

YES - 1044 NO – 806 PASSED

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).

YES - 1356 NO – 509 PASSED

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.

(Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

YES - 1088 NO – 777 PASSED

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).

YES - 1246 NO – 604 PASSED

Article 20: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate sixty three thousand five hundred dollars ($63,500) to purchase a Highway Truck. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee).

YES - 1261 NO – 604 PASSED

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).

YES - 1330 NO – 555 PASSED

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).

YES - 1417 NO – 478 PASSED

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.

YES - 1423 NO – 484 PASSED

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.

YES - 1474 NO – 365 PASSED

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.

YES - 1187 NO – 574 PASSED

Article 26: To see if the Selectmen will appoint a Welfare Director, rather than electing one annually. Appointment to be effective April 1, 2008.

YES - 1030 NO – 769 PASSED

Article 27: Are you in favor of changing the term of the town treasurer from one year to three (3) years, beginning with the term of the town treasurer to be elected at next year’s regular town meeting?

YES - 1381 NO – 442 PASSED

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.

YES - 1638 NO – 199 PASSED

Article 29: To see if the Town will vote to rescind the establishment of the Budget Committee under the provisions of RSA 32:14.(Submitted by Petition; Amended at the First Deliberative Session)

YES - 401 NO – 1366 DEFEATED

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)

YES - 1183 NO – 630 PASSED

Respectfully Sumbitted,

Signature on file – Clerk’s Office

Denise A. Morrissette

Town Clerk – Tax Collector

Telephone: (603) 527-4713