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.cH-n 2006 ^^V^UAL REPo^^ '"O^/gnb^j,„^^^^.^^^^^^Charleston" Town of Charlestown New Hampshire DEDICATION The Town of Charlestown's 2006 Annual Report is dedicated, with deepest gratitude and appreciation, to PatriciaJ. Royce. After 28 years oftireless service in the Town Office, Pat has announced that she will be retiring as the Selectboard's Office Manager this spring, in order to spend more time with her family and her many other interests. She will be sorely missed and impossibletoreplace. Pat's professional expertise, cheerful demeanor and extensive knowledge of our Town and its people have made heran invaluable asset in theTown Offices and in the community asa whole. Her willingness to "go the extra mile" in every task she undertakes is truly remarkable. One need only drive by the Town Office late some evening to see the lights on, as Pat "burns the midnightoil",togetasense ofherdedication. Inaddition tothe countless hours she regularly devotestotheTown Office, Pat has still managed tofind time to dedicate to numerous other areas ofcommunity service as well. She is an active member of St. Catherine's Church, serves on the Board of the Fall Mountain Educational EndowmentAssociation and is a driving force in the CEDA-T group that publishes the monthly Our Town community newspaper, to name just a few. She truly represents the very best our community hastooffer. While we will deeply miss Pat's dedication, loyalty, experience and character, we can only wish herthe very bestin herfuture sparetime. Noone hasearned itordeserves itmore! SPECIAL THANKS WeofferaveryspecialthankyoutoJillandTimHansonforthebeautifulcoverthatadornsthisyear's TownReport. JillandTimnotonlycreatedthelovelyphotocollageofCharlestownlandmarks,but alsomadeagenerouscashdonation,allowingustoprinttheirworkinlivingcolor. ANNUAL REPORTS Of the Selectboard And Other Town Officers CHARLESTOWN. N.H. For the Year Ending December 2006 31, "TheTownofCharlestown prohibitsdiscrimination in all itsprogramsand activitiesonthebasisofrace, color, national origin,age,disability,andwhereapplicable,sex,mentalstatus,familialstatus,parentalstatus,religion,sexualorientation, geneticinformation,politicalbeliefs,reprisal,orbecauseallorapartofanindividual'sincomeisderivedfromanypublic assistanceprogram. (Notallprohibitedbasesapplytoall programs.) TheTownofCharlestown isanequalopportunity providerandemployer." TABLEOFCONTENTS Abatements 24 AmbulanceDepartment 48 Auditor'sReport 20 Births 59 Budget2007 09 BuildingInspector/HealthOfficer 49 CemeteryDepartment 50 ComparativeStatementofAppropriations&Expenditures 17 ConservationCommission 47 Deaths 61 DepartmentofRevenueAdministration-2006TaxRate 15 DetailedStatementofExpenditures 30 FireDepartment 51 GeneralFundBalanceSheet 17 Health&HumanServices 52 HeritageCommission 53 HistoricalSociety 54 HomeHealthCare,Hospice&CommunityServices 58 Librarian'sReport 46 LibraryTrustees'Report 43 LibraryTrusteesTreasurer'sReport 44 Marriages 63 OfficeHours/MeetingDates/HolidaySchedules 02 PlanningBoard 55 PoliceDepartment 56 RecreationCommittee 57 ScheduleofTownOwnedProperty 19 Selectboard 01 StatementofDebt 18 SummaryInventoryofValuation 11 TaxCollector 22 TownClerk 21 TownMeeting2006Minutes 12 TownMeeting2007DeliberativeSession 08 TownOfficers&Committees 03 TownWarrant-2007 05 Treasurer'sReport 27 TrusteesofTrustFunds 38 WastewaterDepartment 68 WaterDepartment 66 Water/WastewaterFundBalanceSheet 70 WaterAVastewaterSuperintendent'sReport 71 REPORT OF THE SELECTBOARD Thisyear'sTown Meetingwarrant includes avery modestincrease inproposedTown spending with the proposed general fund operating budget up less than 1.3 percent over last year. While the several recommended warrant articleswouldaddto this total,the Board feelsthatthesearticlesareall worthy of voter support. The Selectboard wishes to extend its appreciation to the various department heads and to the Finance Committee forassisting us in preparing abudget that meets the Town's needs as efficiently andcosteffectivelyaspossible. One article of note on this year's Warrant is Article 7 which requests $25,000 for preliminary architectural, engineeringandrelated services forthedesignofanew public safety complex to housethe Fire, Police and Ambulance Departments. This projecthas been the subjectofmuch study overthe last several months by a citizen committee which has gathered infomiation on theneeds ofthe town's public safetydepartmentsandhowtobestmeetthoseneeds. Thecommitteehasreachedthepointwhereitneeds professional architectural andengineeringassistancetocontinueitsworktowardanewsafety facilityfor thebenefitofallCharlestownresidents. The Highway Department continues to make major improvements to our roads. The reconstruction of Calavant Hill Road, started lastsummer, will be completed in 2007. The dry bridge overtherailroadhas beenre-deckedandtherepairofflooddamageonScottsDrivewasalsocompleted. The Water & Sewer Department had another successfijl year with the last offour water booster pump stations being completed. Approximately 900 feet ofsewer line was replaced on Springfield Road and East Street and a new sewer line was installed under Clay Brook near the Fling Road Bridge. The Department's primary focus in 2007 will be the removal of arsenic in the North Charlestown water system. The Selectboard is also in theprocess ofreviewingwaterand sewerrates, which have notbeen adjustedinover 12years. WecontinuetopursuetheexpansionofourrecyclingprogramattheTransferStationandhaverequested $40,000 in Warrant Article 6 for an addition to the building, providing much needed space to keep our recyclables under cover. The mandatory recycling of cardboard, initiated in 2005, has proven very successful, resulting not only in a reduction ofour solid waste disposal costs but also a significant new source of revenue for the Town. In 2007 the mandatory recycling of glass and electronics will be introduced. The Board urges residents to cooperate in these recycling efforts and will take appropriate stepsifnecessarytoensurecompliance. The Town wide revaluation was completed in the fall of 2007 with the Town's new value listed at $278,168,977,up$99,111,767overthepreviousvaluation. Whilemanyresidentssawanincreaseintheir fall tax bills this was attributable more to an increase in school spending than on the revaluation itself Theprimarybenefitoftherevaluationistoensurethatourpropertytaxburden issharedequitablyamong alltaxpayers. In closing the Board wishes to express it thanks to the Charlestown Women's Club and the many individualsandbusinesseswho contributedto theirStreetLightProjectonMain Street. Wealsowishto thank Whelen Engineering for the donation of the light poles which have been installed around the municipalbuildings. Thesetwoprojectshavecertainlygivenourdowntownabrightnewlook. 1 11 OFFICIAL OFFICE HOURS/MEETING DATES SELECTMEN'SOFFICE(BakeryBuilding) Weekdays:8:00A.M.to4:00P.M.,exceptholidays Tel.826-4400 MEETINGS:firstandthirdWednesday,7:00P.M. Fax826-3709 TOWNCLERK/TAXCOLLECTOR'SOFFICE Monday:8:00A.M.to 1:00P.M.and 1:30to6:00P.M. Tel.826-582 TuesdaythroughFriday: 8:00A.M.to 1:00P.M.and 1:30to4:00P.M.,exceptholidays-Library/MunicipalBldg BUILDINGDEPARTMENT(BakeryBuilding) MondayandWednesday: 1:00P.M.-2:00P.M.&4:30P.M.to6:00P.M. Tel.826-4400 HEALTHANDHUMANSERVICES(Library/MunicipalBldg) TuesdayandThursday:8:30A.M.to 1:00P.M. Tel.826-5266 Otherdayson-call: 1-800-894-8400 PLANNINGBOARDOFFICE(BakeryBuilding,downstairs) MondaythroughFriday-8:00A.M.to4:00P.M. Tel.826-5368 MEETINGS: firstandthirdTuesday,7:00P.M. Fax826-3709 TRANSFERSTATION Tuesday-Saturday:8:00A.M.to4:30P.M. Tel.826-320 Wednesday:9:30A.M.to6:00P.M. CONSERVATIONCOMMISSION(CommunityRoom) ThirdMondayofeachmonth:7:00P.M. RECREATIONCOMMITTEE(TownHall) FirstTuesdayofeachmonth: 7:00P.M. EMERGENCYPHONENUMBERS Police,AmbulanceandFire-91 (PoliceDepartment-non-emergency-826-5747 2007 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE MondayJanuary 1 - NewYearsDay ThursdayNovember22 - ThanksgivingDay MondayMay28 - MemorialDay FridayNovember23 - DayafterThanksgiving WednesdayJuly4 - IndependenceDay MondayDecember24 - Christmas Eve MondaySeptember3 - LaborDay TuesdayDecember25-ChristmasDay TOWN OFFICERS Selectmen JonLcClair 2007 SteveNeill 2008 BrendaFerland 2009 Health & HumanServices CommunityAlliance ChiefofPolice EdwardC.Smith Appointed AnimalControlOfficer BarbaraBlanchard Appointed Treasurer JoanKuncik 2009 TownClerk/ TaxCollector DebraJ.Clark 2008 HealthOfficer/ BuildingInspector BudVonAhnenJr. Appointed DeputyHealthOfficer/ BuildingInspector JonLeClair Appointed Moderator AlbertSt.Pierre 2008 SupervisorsofChecklist PatriciaPickul 2008 DorisBlodgett 2010 JoanKuncik 2012 AdministrativeAssistanttoSelectboard/ Planning&ZoningAdministrator DavidM.Edkins Appointed TrusteesofTrustFunds DavidT.Henry,Chair 2007 BarbaraM.Jones 2008 ErnestParsons 2009 CemeteryTrustees VictoriaSargent 2007 Elizabeth "Betty"Bascom-resigned 2008 JeffLessels 2009 EdgarBenjamin-appointed 2007 Librarian SandraPerron Appointed AssistantLibrarian HollyShaw Appointed LibraryTrustees MishaYakovleff 2007 JamesFurman 2007 EricLutz 2007 DianaBushway-Chair 2008 RobinForsaith 2008 SheilaBeck-ViceChair 2009 DianeOrecchio 2009 Trustees-Medical EricLutz 2007 Association KennethPlace 2008 JohnMurray 2009 FireChief GaryStoddard 2007 AmbulanceDirector JerryBeaudry Appointed EmergencyMgt.Dir. GaryWallace-resigned Appointed 3 TOWN COMMITTEES ConservationCommission SteveNeill Ex-Officio JamesFowler 2007 GaryBascom 2007 RuthPratt 2008 CharlesSt.Pierre 2008 DickHolmes-Chair 2009 TravisRoyce 2009 Alternates: LaureleeJudd 2008 WoodrowProuty 2009 FinanceCommittee ThomasMinickiello 2007 BarbaraAnnBlanchard-resigned 2007 SusanLaware 2007 ElaineVanVelsor 2008 RogerThibodeau 2008 JoyceHiggins 2008 RichardSt.Pierre 2009 DavidRichardson,Chair 2009 DanChampney 2009 RecreationCommittee ScottBushway 2007 WilliamMacDonald 2007 KerryJohnson-resigned 2007 LynneFisk,Sec. 2007 DavidMix 2007 CherylRavlin-Chair 2008 RichardPaskertaJr. 2008 CraigFairbank-resigned 2008 MonicaScott 2009 ShaunChase,Asst. Dir. 2009 RecreationDirector Tracy Fairbanks Appointed HigliwayAdvisory BrucePutnam-Chair 2007 Board ThomasMinickiello 2007 RobertDavis 2008 FrankMcKane 2008 DavidA.Richardson 2009 BarryMetcalf 2009 PlanningBoard BrendaFerland Ex-officio GailFellows-ViceChair 2007 FredPoisson 2007 KennithChampney 2008 RobertFrizzell-Chair 2008 DavidSussman 2009 SharonFrancis 2009 Alternates: LindaStewart 2007 RogerThibodeau 2008 EricLutz 2009 ZoningBoardof BarbaraJones,Sec. 2007 Adjustment KenArkell 2007 AndyJellie 2008 KennethPlace-Chair 2009 TerriFisk-ViceChair 2009 Alternates: HaroldAmes 2007 PatriciaCormack 2007 RobertFrizzell 2008 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN 2007 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE whoarequalified tovotein Town affairs, TAKE NOTICE AND BE WARNED that the First and Second Sessions ofthe Annual Town Meeting ofthe Town ofCharlestown, New Hampshire, will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 commencing at 6:30 P.M. in the Town Hall at 19 Summer Street and on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 commencing at 8:00 A.M. in the Community Room at the Silsby Library/Municipal Building. At the second session, voting, on all warrant articles will be by Official Ballot commencing at 8:00 A.M. andconcluding at 7:00 P.M. unless the Town Meeting votestokeepthepolls opento alatertime. ARTICLE 1. ToelectthenecessaryTownOfficersfortheirrespectiveterms. ARTICLE 2. To see ifthe Town will vote to accept the reports ofthe various Town Officers andtotakeproperactionthereon. ARTICLE3. To see ifthe Town will vote to appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and otherappropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, the sum of $3,978,019 which represents $3,306,613 for the Town operating budget, $396,521 for the Water Fund operating budget and $274,885 for the Sewer Fundoperatingbudget. Should this article be defeated, the defauU operating budget shall be $3,729,758 which is the sameas lastyear'sbudget*, with certain adjustmentsrequiredbyprevious action ofthe Townor by law, or the governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40:13 X andXVItotakeupthe issueofarevisedoperatingbudgetonly. *The defauh budget represents $3,017,627 for the Town operating budget, $389,370 for the WaterFundoperatingbudget,and$322,761forthe SewerFundoperatingbudget. NOTE: This warrant article (operating budgets) does not include appropriations in ANY other warrantarticle. TheSelectboard recommends this appropriation. TheFinanceCommittee recommendsthisappropriation. ARTICLE4. To see ifthe Town will vote to appropriate, by special warrantarticle, the sum of $75,000 for supplemental highway maintenance and repair work; said sum to be appropriated solely from fund balance with no portion of said sum to be raised by taxes. Note: This sum represents the remaining balance of funds paid to the Town by the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency(FEMA)asreimbursementforexpensesincurredasaresultofthe flooding eventofOctober2005. TheSelectboard recommends thisappropriation. TheFinanceCommitteerecommendsthis appropriation. ARTICLE 5. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate, by special warrant article, the sumof$71,000 forthereplacementoftheFireDepartmentforestrytruck. The Selectboard recommendsthisappropriation. The FinanceCommittee recommends this appropriation. ARTICLE 6. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate, by special warrant article, the sum of$40,000 for the construction ofan addition to the Transfer Station pole bam for the purposeofexpandingandenhancingtheTown's solidwasterecyclingprograms. TheSelectboard recommendsthis appropriation. The FinanceCommittee recommendsthis appropriation. ARTICLE 7. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate, by special warrant article, the sum of$25,000 for preliminary architectural, engineering and related services forthe design ofanewpublic safetycomplexto housethe Fire, PoliceandAmbulance Departments inasingle, centralized facilitytobe locatedontownownedland inthevicinityoftheexistingFire Station. The Selectboard recommends this appropriation. The FinanceCommittee recommendsthis appropriation. ARTICLE 8. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate, by special warrant article, the sumof$1,000 to beplaced in the Capital Reserve Fund established atthe 2005 annual Town MeetingforthepurposeofcompilinganupdatedTown History. The Selectboard recommendsthis appropriation. The FinanceCommittee recommends this appropriation. ARTICLE 9. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of$15,000 to be jointlyadministeredbythe SelectboardandRecreation Committeeto supporttheparticipation of Charlestown children, adults, families and seniors in the services, programs and facilities at the new SouthernVermontRecreationCenterinSpringfield, Vermont. TheSelectboard recommends this appropriation. The FinanceCommittee recommendsthis appropriation.