Did you know that it is called a warrant as a carryover from the time long ago when all citizens were required to come to the annual meeting, and this was the "warrant" to compel their attendance?
Articles 1 through 8 will be voted on by paper ballot at the Town Hall in Walpole and at St. Peters Church in North Walpole on Tuesday, March 11. The remaining articles will be discussed and voted on at the in-person, deliberative session Saturday afternoon, March 15 in the gymnasium of Walpole School on Main Street. Note that change in the usual venue! CCB
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Town Meeting – March 11, 2008
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Walpole qualified to vote in Town Affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet at the Town Hall, 34 Elm Street, Town of Walpole, on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 8:00 A.M. to act on ARTICLES 1 - 8, which are the Articles to be voted on at the polls. Polls at the Walpole Town Hall and at North Walpole St. Peter’s Church will be open at 8:00 A.M., and will retain open until 7:00 P.M. Following the counting of the ballots, the meeting will be recessed until Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 1:00 P.M., at the Walpole Middle School on Main Street, at which time the balance of the Articles will be acted upon.
ARTICLE 1: To elect the necessary Town officers for their respective terms.
ARTICLE 2. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #1, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Walpole Zoning Ordinance as follows:
To amend Article VIII. Rural Agricultural District - B., Uses Permitted 2) by adding wording to allow home occupations in residences limited to the owner plus two employees and to provide adequate off street parking. Purpose is to match wording that currently allows home occupations in the Residential and Commercial Districts.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 3. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #2, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Walpole Zoning Ordinance as follows:
To amend Article IV - General Provisions - E. Removal of Sand and Gravel by adding wording to clarify that commercial excavations as described in the ordinance and as currently allowed in the Industrial, Rural Agricultural and Timberland Districts are to be considered an industrial manufacturing and commercial operation and shall be subject to a special exception review as outlined in Article VIII Rural Agricultural District C. Special Exceptions and may be subject to a Site Plan Review by the Planning Board.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 4. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #3, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Walpole Zoning Ordinance as follows:
To amend Article IV. - General Provisions: by adding new “K. Protection of Town Water Supply: 1. Proposals or developments located within the Well Source Protection Areas are subject to the provisions outlined in the Well Source Protection Ordinance as established by the Town of Walpole March 9, 2004 pursuant to NH RSA 674:21, Innovative Land Use Controls. Please also see: Town of Walpole Well Source Protection Ordinance and Maps.” Purpose is to reference the Well Source Protection Ordinance to the Zoning Ordinance to prevent it from being overlooked.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 5. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #4, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Walpole Zoning Ordinance as follows:
To amend Article IV. - General Provisions: by adding new “J. Telecommunications Facilities are subject to review under the provisions outlined in the Telecommunications Facilities Ordinance as established by the Town of Walpole on March 12, 2002 pursuant to NH RSA 674:15 and 21, II. Please also see: Town of Walpole Telecommunications Facilities and Ordinance.” Purpose is to reference the Telecommunications Facilities and Ordinance to the Zoning Ordinance to prevent it from being overlooked.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 6. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #5, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Walpole Zoning Ordinance as follows:
To amend Article V. - Residential District B. Uses Permitted by adding “5. Retirement community developments are subject to review under the provisions outlined in the Retirement Community Overlay District as set forth by the Town of Walpole pursuant to NH RSA 674:21, Innovative Land Use Controls. Please also see Article IX - 1 Retirement Community Overlay District in the Town of Walpole Zoning Ordinance.” Purpose is to reference the Retirement Community Overlay District to the Zoning Ordinance to prevent it from being overlooked.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 7. Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment #6, as proposed by the Planning Board for the Well Source Protection Ordinance as follows:
To amend Section 4. Conditional Uses A. Permit Required by adding “Procedure on Application: a. The Planning Board shall act upon the application in accordance with the procedural requirements of the Site Plan Review Regulations and NH RSA 676:4, Boards Procedures on Plats.” Purpose is to establish a review procedure in the Well Source Protection Ordinance.
Recommended by the Planning Board
ARTICLE 8: “Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 40:13 (known as SB2) to allow official ballot voting on all issues before the Town of Walpole on the second Tuesday of March?”
(PETITION ARTICLE ) (3/5 vote required for passage)
ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Million Two Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Sixteen Dollars ($3,288,816) which represents the operating budget for the general government of the Town. Such sum does not include special or individual articles addressed. (Majority vote required.) (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Seven Hundred Twelve Dollars ($30,712) for the purchase of a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe including detailing, lettering, and interior upgrades, to be used by the Walpole Police Department, and to fund this appropriation by withdrawing Twenty Thousand Seven Hundred Twelve Dollars $20,712) from Capital Reserve Fund Police Vehicle and the balance of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be funded by general taxation.
(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote to approve the sale of a 1998 Ford Expedition used by the police department and to place any money from the sale into the Capital Reserve Fund-Police Vehicle. (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) for the purchase of a 2008 John Deere 670-D Grader with wing-ripper and scarifier, for use by the Town Highway Department. The new Grader will replace the 1987 Cat Grader, and to fund this appropriation by trading the 1987 Cat grader (trade in value of $35,000), with the balance to be funded by Forty Five Thousand Dollars ($45,000) from Capital Reserve - Highway Heavy Equipment, and One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000) to be raised by taxes.
(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Seventy Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($170,500) for work to be done on the Old Keene Road Bridge #182/064. Seventy Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($70,500) to be taken out of Surplus and One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) to be raised by taxes. This is the third of a three-year warrant article to complete the project. When the project is complete, the State will inspect, and when approved the state will reimburse the Town 80% of the total cost to replace the bridge. (Non-lapsing for 5 years)
(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to reconstruct the remainder of Elm and Pleasant Streets and replace sidewalks in conjunction with the Water and Sewer Department Project, and to pave Ash Street in North Walpole.
(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) to scrape, prime and paint the East Side of the Town Hall.
(Non-Lapsing for Two Years) (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($5,918) for repairs to 26 headstones in the Old Cemetery on Main Street. Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be taken out of Fund Balance and Nine Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($918) to be raised by taxes.
(Non-Lapsing for Two Years) (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for the Walpole Old Home Days, and to place the One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) in the existing Old Home Day Fund.
(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for the construction and equipping of a 10’ by 12’ shed with cement pad to be used for the storage and handling of used oil. This article is contingent upon receipt of a grant in the same amount from the State of New Hampshire Oil Grant fund.
(PETITION ARTICLE) (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be deposited in the Capital Reserve Fund-Recycling/Transfer Station previously established for purchase of equipment for the Solid Waste Department.
(PETITION ARTICLE) (The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)
ARTICLE 20: To see if the Town will adopt an exemption from taxation for the full value of Solar Powered Energy System Improvements (as defined in RSA 72:61-1, authorized by RSA 72:62-2, and to be administered in accordance with the provisions of RSA 72:33-3, 34-4 and 34-a-5).
(PETITION ARTICLE)
ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will adopt an exemption from taxation for the full value of Wind Powered Energy System Improvements (as defined in RSA 72:65-6, authorized by RSA 72:66-7, and to be administered in accordance with the provisions of RSA 72:33-8, 34-9, and 34-a10).
(PETITION ARTICLE)
ARTICLE 22: To see if the Town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor:
Resolved: We the citizens of Walpole, NH believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair. The property tax has become unjust and unfair. State leaders who take a pledge for no new taxes perpetuate higher and higher property taxes. We call on our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor to reject the “Pledge”, have an open discussion covering all options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes.
(PETITION ARTICLE)
ARTICLE 23: To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
Given under our hand and seal this ______ day of February in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight.
Board of Selectmen
Charles D. Miller Sheldon S. Sawyer Whitney R. Aldrich