Annual report for the Town of Danbury, New Hampshire

64 Pages·1997·1.7 MB·English

by  Danbury (N.H. : Town)

ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Town
of
DANBURY
New
Hampshire
For the Fiscal Year Ending
DECEMBER
31, 1996
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littp://www.arcliive.org/details/annualreportfort1996danb
ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Town
of
DANBURY
New
Hampshire
For the Fiscal Year Ending
DECEMBER
31, 1996
Printed by P.M. Piper Printing Service
Franklin, N.H.

1996ANNUALREPORT TOWN OF DANBURY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Town Officers 4
The Selectmen's Report 6
Minutes of1996 TownMeeting 7
Danbury TownWarrant 13
Budget 16
BudgetCommittee Report 20
SummaryInventory ofValuation 21
Tax Rate Computation 22
Comparative Statement ofAppropriations and Expenditures 23
Summary ofTrustFundsAccounts 24
Treasurer's Report 26
TownClerk's Report 28
Tax Collector's Report 29
Detailed StatementofPayments 31
MBA
SupplementalSchedule - 42
Auditors' Report 42
Schedule ofLong-TermIndebtedness 43
Schedule ofTown Property 43
Danbury Planning Board 44
NHHumane SocietyReport 46
Police DepartmentReport 47
DanburyRecreation Committee FinancialReport 48
ForestFireWarden & State ForestRangerReport 49
DanburyVolunteerFire DepartmentReport 50
DanburyTransferStation 51
DanburyRecyclingCommittee 52
Old Home Day- 1996 53
Danbury Workshop 53
George Gamble Library Report 54
DanburySeniorCitizens' Group 55
Lake Sunapee HealthCare Report 55
CommunityActionProgramReport 56
BristolCommunityCenterReport 57
KearsargeAreaCouncil onAging, Inc 58
VitalStatistics 59
Page4 TOWNOFDANBURY
TOWN
OFFICERS
Moderator Town Clerk Treasurer
LisaMoran SylviaHill Christie Phelps
Selectmen
James M. Larkin Term expires 1997
Steven D. Gordon Term expires 1998
JamesD. Phelps Term expires 1999
Tax Collector Deputy Tax Collector
Sylvia Hill Margaret Barnett
ChiefofPolice Detective Sergeant
Stephen Corsetti Dale Cook
J. J.
Supervisors ofthe Checklist
Louise Huntoon Term expires 1998
Dorothy McGonnigal Term expires 2000
Maizie Russell Term expires 2002
Library Trustees
Amy Shepard Term expires 1997
Phyllis Wiggin Term expires 1998
Jean Hayes Term expires 1999
Trustees ofTrustFunds
Ruby Hill Term expires 1997
David Szacik Term expires 1998
Debbie DeSantis Term expires 1999
RoadAgent Auditors
RickyMoran Arthur S. Ford
Leo V. Zaccaria
Municipal Budget Committee
Andy Phelps Term expires 1997
Donald Buebendorf Term expires 1997
Jean Corsetti, Chairman Termexpires 1998
John Lavorgna Term expires 1998
Jon Schurger Term expires 1999
Alfred (Duke) Reed Term expires 1999
Steven D. Gordon Ex-Officio (1998)
1996 ANNUALREPORT Page 5
Reprsentative to the Representative to the
School Board School Budget Committee
Wade Heberling Jeremy Opitz
EmergencyManagement Director ForestFire Warden
Andrew L. Phelps James D. Phelps
Deputy Wardens
Merton Austin Lee V. Ford Andrew L. Phelps
James Fifield Robert Ford June Phelps
PlanningBoard
AlbertHopkins Termexpires 1997
Phyllis Taylor Termexpires 1998
J.
Linda Wilson, Chairman Term expires 1998
Nancy Schoeller Termexpires 1999
Jon Schurger Term expires 1999
Eddie Phelps, Alternate
James D. Phelps, Selectman Ex-Officio (1999)
Recreation Committee
Mark Phelps Term expires 1997
Stanley Phelps Term expires 1997
Twila Cook Resigned
Dale Cook Term expires 1998
James M. Larkin, Selectman Ex-Officio (1997)
Cemetery Trustees
Steve Corsetti Term expires 1997
Phyllis Wiggin Term expires 1998
Timothy Martin Term expires 1999
OFFICERS OF DANBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
Lloyd A. West Robert B. Ford Phyllis Wiggin
Chief Captain Deputy Chief
MertonAustin Thomas Austin Andrew L. Phelps
ChiefEngineer Clerk Treasurer
Lee V. Ford JonJohnson Sharon P. Austin
Lieutenants
JonJohnson Jonathan Glines TammyPhelps
Page 6 TOWNOF DANBURY
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
In August, we were notified by the Office of State Planning that Danbury was
awarded$350,000inaCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)fortherenova-
tionandconversionoftheOldBaptistChurchbuildingadjacenttotheTownHall. The
DanburyWorkshop;Inc., anonprofitgroup,planstouse50%ofthebuilding'sspace
to operate a daycare facility and market the remaining space for a variety of other
services,includingindividualrecreation,youthathletics,socialactivities,clinics and
an organized program for the elderly. This center would not only provide much
needed space for community organizations and functions, but would preserve an
importantlocalhistoricallandmark.OurTownisgreatlyindebtedtoLeoZaccariafor
histirelesseffortstomakethisprojectpossible. Currently,weareseekingbidstohire
an administrator to oversee this veryexcitingbuilding conversion.
As authorized at last year's Town Meeting, the Selectmen appointed a five-
membercommitteetodeveloparecyclingplanforthetown.TwilaCook,NancyReed,
AudreyHudak, AudreyPellegrino, Nancy Buebendorfand Deb Phelps (chair) were
appointedtothiscommittee.Thecommitteereportedthatthebestoptionforourtown
would be the separahonofpaper and commingled containers. An agreement to sell
these items was entered into and the town's acceptance and participation has been
excellent. Unfortunately, the market for recyclable materials has collapsed, and it is
much more expensive to recycle than our other method of disposal, so we have
suspended the recycling program until market conditions improve. Much of the
success ofour new recycling programcan also be attributed to Bert Hillsgrove, our
Transfer Station attendant.
FromMayuntilSeptember,theSelectmen,ourSecretary,ChristiePhelps,andTax
Collector,SylviaHill,spentaninordinateamountoftimealigninginformationonthe
newtaxmapswereceivedfromCartographicAssociateswitheachofthetown's1600+
residential property assessment records. This effort has enabled us to correct any
inaccuracies in your assessment records, thus insuring a more equitable tax assess-
ment.
TheBoardofSelectmenisworkingwiththeDepartmentofTransportationinan
effort to acquire theformer railroad station land inSouthDanbury and Danbury, as
wellastheoldwoodyardacrossHighStreetfromtheTownHall,forfuturetownuse.
Priorto 1997, Danburyexperienced aperiod ofthreeyearsinwhichthe taxrate
hasnotincreased.Thisprobablywasnotthecaseforthepastyearforseveralreasons:
theTown's netassessedvaluationincreasedbyonly$549,036from 1995 to 1996, and
we are seeing an increase in the demands for service in such departments as Fast
Squad, Highway, Fire andPolice, andincreasingschool and county taxes.
Sadly,1996wasalsoayearinwhichmoreofourlong-timecitizenspassedon:Lois
Baker,NormanBaker,AnnaClews,DorisMacNeill,HarrietFord, DorothyFord and
RichardMoran.Inaddition,DanburylostaformerSelectmanandBudgetCommittee
member when TonySciucco died inlate May.
We again wish to thank all of the volunteers, town employees and citizens of
Danburywhocontributegreatlytomaking this awonderfulcommunityinwhichto
live and raise ourfamilies.
1996ANNUALREPORT Page 7
TOWN MEETING
1996
Tuesday,March 12, 1996- The Polls opened from 11:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m. -
Election ofTown Officers washeld at the TownHall.
ThefollowingTownOfficers were elected:
James D. Phelps Selectman3 yrs.
StevenD. Gordon Selectman 2 yrs.
LisaMoran Moderator2yrs.
Christie Phelps Treasurer 1 yr.
SylviaHill Tax Collector 1 yr.
SylviaHill Town Clerk 1 yr.
ArthurFord Auditor 1 yr.
LeoZaccaria Auditor 1 yr.
RickyMoran RoadAgent 1 yr.
Steve Corsetti ChiefofPolice 1 yr.
Debbie DeSantis Trustee ofTrustFunds 3 yrs.
Jean Hayes Trustee ofGeorge Gamble Library 3 yrs.
Alfred S. Reed MunicipalBudgetCommittee 3 yrs.
JonC. Schurger Municipal BudgetCommittee 3 yrs.
Don Buebendorf Municipal BudgetCommittee 2 yrs.
DaleJames Cook RecreationCommittee 3 yrs.
Twila D. Cook RecreationCommittee 2 yrs.
Timothy R. Martin CemeteryTrustee 3 yrs.
Maizie L. Russell Supervisor ofChecklist6 yrs.
JonC. Schurger PlanningBoard 3 yrs.
Nancy Schoeller Planning Board 3 yrs.
RECONVENED FOR BUSINESS MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH
14,
1996 at 7:00 p.m. at the DanburyTown Hall.
Meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. Moderator Wiggin welcomed
everyone to Danbury's 200th Town Meeting. Prayer was led by Rev. Charles
Hibbard of the Danbury Christian Church, followed by the salute to the
AmericanFlag.Moderatorintroducedtheheadtables,andannouncedtherules
ofconductforthemeeting.
ARTICLE 1: To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
(Moderatorannounced the results ofthe Election as shown above.)
ARTICLE 2: ToseeiftheTownwillvote toraise and appropriate the sum
of$372,818whichrepresentstheoperatingbudget. Saidsumdoesnotinclude
special articles to be addressed. (Recommended by Budget Committee -
$372,818.00; RecommendedbySelectmen -$380,275.00) Article 2 was readby
SteveGordonexplainingdifferencesandreasoningforthosedifferences.Select-
menwerepleasedtoannouncethatnomoneyhadtobeborrowedinanticipa-
tion oftaxes during 1995 forthe first time in recent memory. Motion made to
acceptarticlebyJamesPhelps, secondedbyDorothyMcGonigle. Amendment
#1 made by James Phelps, seconded by Walter Morrison, "to amend the
appropriationforWelfareDirectAssistancefrom$750to$1,500."Amendment
Page 8 TOWNOFDANBURY
#1 passedwithavoicevote. Amendment#2madebyJamesPhelps, seconded
byJonSchurger, "toamendthe appropriationforHighwaysand Streets from
$141,610 to$143,910. Theadditional$2,300is for the replacementofthe dump
body on the 1987 International Dump Truck." Amendment passed by voice
vote. Amendment #3 made by Sylvia Hill, seconded by James Phelps, "to
amendArticle2 toincrease Election,Registration &Vital Statisticsby$40 to
$8,623, forpostage, andFinancial Administrationby$100 to $14,920, also for
postage." Amendment passed by voice vote. Amendment 4 made by Twila
Cook, secondedbyStanleyPhelps, "toincrease the appropriationofthe Parks
andRecreationby$900tomakethetotalamount$2,600."Amendmentpassed
by voice vote.
Article#2 Passed as amended with Total of$376.908 Operating Budget.
ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to amend the "Building Permit
Ordinance" adopted atTownMeetingin 1987to read as follows:
Applications for saidpermit shallinclude the following:
(1) PublicUtilitiesCommissionEnergyCodeapprovalasrequiredbyRSA
155-D.
(2) N.H. Water Supply & Pollution Control Commission approval for
septic systemconstruction.
(3) A sketch of adequate detail to show the location of the proposed
dwelling and its relation to roads and property lines.
(4) State or localdriveway permits.
(5) Anyotherinformationthatmayberequiredtoensurethatthedwelling
shallcomplywith all state and localregulations.
TheSelectmenshallissue ordenythispermitinwritingwithin 15 days of
its receiptofapplication.
This ordinance shallbe administered and enforcedbythe Selectmenwith
penaltiesfornon-complianceasprovidedinTownordinance. (Recommended
by Selectmen)
Motion made by James Phelps, seconded by George Stitt, to adopt the
article.AmendmentmadebyJamesPhelps,secondedbyGeorgeStitt, "toseeif
the Town will vote to adopt the following ordinance: Building Permit Ordi-
nance:Nopersonshallerectanybuilding,locateanymobilehome,orlocateany
camper or travel trailer for a period of greater than 30 days; or construct any
other structure without first obtaining a permit from the Selectmen." This
amendment strikes the words "for purposes of human habitation" from the
prior ordinance for clarification, and changes the word "dwelling" to "struc-
ture."Thisisnotintendedtochangetheenforcementproceduresasinplacefor
thepastnine years. Amendmentpassed with a show ofhands, 48 in favor, 40
opposed.
Article#3 Passed as amended.