Table Of Content

Town Ashland of New Hampshire Annual Report lNC0RP0ff4rf0 1868 1997 1998 Dates to Remember January 1 Fiscal Year Begins April 15 Last dayto file Inventory ( Taxable Property March 7 Annual School District Meeting April 30 Dog tax due. Licenses ava Ashland School Gymnasium able from the Town Clerk -1:00 PM with proofofrabies vacci- nation and spaying/neuter March 10 Annual Town Meeting- ing ELECTIONS Ashland School Gymnasium July 1 First halfofsemi-annual t - 9AM to 7PM biUing commences to dra interest at 12% March 14 Annual Town Meeting - DELIBERATIVE SESSION December 1 Unpaid real estate and pe Ashland School Gymnasium sonal taxes commence to -1PM drawinterest at 12% March 21 Annual Report of the Officers of the Town OF Ashland For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31 1997 Index Dedication 4 In Appreciation 5 Town Officials and Boards 6 Selectmen's Report 9 Town Manager's Report 10 1997 Town Warrant 13 Election Results for 1997 20 1997 Town Meeting Minutes 26 Police Department Report 34 Fire Department Report 37 Firemen's Association Report 38 Forest Fire Warden's Report 39 HighwayDepartment Report 41 Water and Sewer Department Report 42 Electric Department Report 47 Electrical Inspector's Report 50 Plumbing Inspector's Report 51 Safety Committee Report 52 Parks and Recreation Department Report 53 Memorial Park Report 54 Fourth ofJuly Report 56 Health Officer Report 58 Enhanced 911 59 Planning Board Report 61 Housing Standards Board 62 Zoning Board ofAdjustment Report 63 Conservation Commission Report 64 Grafton County Commissioner's Report 66 Building Inspector's Report 68 Town Welfare Report 69 LibraryTrustees Report 70 LibraryTrustees Financial Report 72 Scribner Trustee's Report 74 Town Clerk's Report 75 Grants Administration and Development 76 Grafton CountySenior Citizens Council Report 77 Recycling and Transfer Station Report 79 Pemi-Baker SolidWaste District 80 NH Humane Society Report 81 Lakes Region Planning Commission Report 82 Historic Commission Report 84 Historical Society Report 85 Vital Statistics 87 Births 88 Marriages 89 Deaths 90 Raymond Burton, State Representative District One 91 Pemi-Baker Home Health Agency Reports 93 Pemi-BakerYouth & Family Services Council, Inc., Report 95 Tax Collector's Report 97 Inventory ofTown Owned Property 100 Annual Treasurer's Report 101 Summary Inventory ofValuation 102 Statement ofAppropriations and Taxes Assessed 103 Tax Rate Computations 105 Statements ofDebt Service 106 Schedule ofTown Property 109 Town Deeds List 110 Statement ofAppropriations and Expenditures 112 Report ofthe Trust and Capital Reserve Funds 121 Green Section 1998 TOWN WARRANTS 1998 TOWN BUDGET The 1997 Town Report Dedicated to is Doris Smith Bavis Tatham 1909 - 1997 A lifelong resident ofAshland, Doris graduated from Ashland High School and Plymouth Normal School and entered a career of teaching in nearby towns. After her marriage to Clifton Bavis, she conducted a kindergarten in her home, one of the first in town. Many years later, she concluded her teaching at the New Hampton Central School. After being widowed and marrying Leonard Tatham, she helped present the gymkhana events at horseshows at several state fairs. However, she is best known for her hfelong interest in the history, and especiallythe genealo- gies, of Ashland. Anyone seeking information on family connections was always referred to Doris. Shewas achartermemberoftheAshland Historical Society, foundedin 1968 afterthe centen- nialofthetown'ssecessionfromtheoriginaltownofHoldemess.Withherbrother,JohnSmith, she compiledtheAshlandCentennialBook,whichwas distributedwidelyandis the onlyprint- ed history of the town. In 1976, she collaborated with David Ruell andJames RoUins on the book "New Holderness in the Revolution." She also wrote an unpubhshed history ofthe Owl Brookarea. ForseveralsummerssheservedasthehostessatthenewlyestabUshedWhippleHouseMuseum, oftenwearinga 19thcenturycostume.Shewrotethecommentaryforhistoricalbustripsaround thetownandareafortheSociety'spleasure. Herinterestinarcheologyalsobroughthertopar- ticipatein alocal "dig" sponsored bytheUniversityofNew Hampshire. Since her death, her voluminous notes and notebooks have been accepted by the New Hampshire Historical Society, which has opened a section under her name. Thus the work of her hfetime is guaranteed a place in the archives ofthe historyofthe state and its people. We regretthatwe are no longerable to "askDoris." -writtenbyMaryRuell The 1997 Town Report is in Memory of Floyd S. Mills Jr. Former Electric Department Superintendent Floyd was a lifelong resident ofthis communitywhom his neighbors and fellowAshland resi- dentswill rememberasaquiet, friendlymanwithadrysense ofhumor. Floydwasaselftaught electricianwho servedthecommunityastheElectricDepartmentSuperintendentfrom 1955 to 1961. Town of As] Appointed Officials - 1997 Town Manager Rosemarie McNamara Tax Collector Fire Department Superintendent - Electric Department Superintendent - Water/Sewer Dept Police Department Planning Board Lakes Region Planning Commission Zoning Board ofAdjustment