Table Of Content

1998 HoPKINTON TOWN ANNUAL REPORT About the Cover Picture Photograph of the old Contoocook Village Fountain tak : by Leown H. Kelley during the early 1900's. the photograph was printed from the, glass negative by Bill Finney. The whereabouts of the old fountain remains a mystery with several hypothesis beii put forward at this time. It appears to have an unknown graveyard! After years ofvi ing bare ground, John Richardson and Dick Drescher took it upon themselves to tr to find a cast iron fountain but were discouraged due to prohibitive cost. However, they regrouped and found a company that made replica fountains at a reasonable price, and with a donation of the granite curbing from the Swenson Granite Company, they were on their way. The Town expresses a sincere thank-you to the following individuals who donated their time, supplies and equipment to the raising of the new fountain:- Phil Wise (New England Landscaping) Dick Drescher Jon Richardson Steve Clough Josh Russell (Truck and Crane) John Flolden Doug Kimball (Swenson's Granite) David Story and the Hopkinton Public Works Crew Memoriam In JOHN PREWITT E. SELECTMAN 1985-1998 This Town Report is dedicated to the memory and good works ofJohn E. Prewitt, more fondly known as "J^ck" to many citizens. Jack was Selectman for the Town of Hopkinton for 13 years, a valued Trustee for the New Hampshire Municipal Association Property & Liability Trust from 1980-1998, a Trustee of the N.H. Chapter of Child Abuse and Neglect, and a member of the Concord Exchange Club. The Town of Hopkinton expresses its' appreciation to Mrs. Prewitt and family for allowing us to benefit from Jack's leadership and vision. Hats Off.... HATS OFF It is not often that the Town has the opportunity to thank those who go the extra mile for their town . . . We now take this opportunity ofexpressing our gratitude and appreciation to Owen French. Owen has been Town Treasurer for 40 years ~ an extra- ordinary length ofservice with nary a flaw on the books! The Selectmen's Office view Owen as "one of their own" and extend a sincere "thank you" for keeping us fiscally sound. BOARD OF SELECTMEN HOPKINTON Town Annual ana School Report 1998 Table of Contents Annual Town Meeting 173 Auditor's Report 71 Births 165 Budget 33 Capitallmprovement Program 131 Capital Area Mutual Aid Fire Compact 132 Capital Reserves 65 Cemetery Board ofTrustees 64 Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission 135 Common Fund 69 Concord Regional Solid Waste/Resource Recovery 70 Conservation Commission 126 Contoocook Village Budget 199 Contoocook Village Precinct 198 Current Use Report 50 Deaths 170 Economic Development Report 172 Fire Department Report 108 Forest Fire Warden Ill Forest Fire Warden and State Forest Ranger 113 General Need Assistance 115 Health Officer ,...116 Highway Department Report 117 Hopkinton Community Center 154 Hopkinton Rotary Club 156 Hopkinton Town Library - Financial and Circulation 150 Hopkinton Town Library - Library Director 144 Hopkinton Town Library Trustees 147 Hopkinton Village Budget 206 Hopkinton Wastewater Department 125 4 Hopkinton Woman's Club 162 Hopkinton/Webster Solid Waste Facilities 122 Recycling Statement 123 Hours ofTown Offices 6 Marriages 167 Parks and Recreation Department 140 Planning Board Report 27 1 Building Permit Report 130 Police Department Report 105 Public Assistance, 1998 152 Rescue Squad Report 110 Right To Know 8 Road Committee Report 121 Schedule ofTown/School/Precinct Property 44 Selectmen's Report 42 Statement ofAppropriations and Taxes Assessed 1998 62 Statement of Revenues 1998 63 Summary of Inventory Valuations 47 Tax Rate Calculation 1998 .48 Tax Collector's Report 51 Town Clerk's Report 54 Town Committee Hours 7 Town Employees, 1998 16 Town Officers, 1998 10 How To Contact Your Congressman 15 Town Policy for Winter Maintenance 119 & Town Policy for Winter Maintenance/Sidewalks Parking Lots 120 Treasurer's Report 56 Trust Funds 66 UNH Cooperative Extension 163 Warrant for 1999 Town Meeting 19 Zoning Board ofAdjustment 137 5 11 Hours of Town Offices The Selectmen's Office Hopkinton/Webster Landfill Town Hall, 330 Main Street, is open the fol- 491 East Penacook Road lowing days and hours unless posted other- 746-3810 wise: Monday - Wednesday and Friday Dump Hours 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Monday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. Thursday Wednesday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. 8:30 A.M. -12:30 P.M. Friday 1:00 PM. -5:00 P.M. Telephone Number 746-3170 Saturday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Library Hours Adjustment Coordinator will be in the office Hopkinton Town Library Monday through Friday to assist with ques- 161 Houston Drive tions or concerns relevant to planning and 746-3663 zoning. Tuesday 10:00 A.M. -8:00 P.M. Wednesday 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 PM. The Town Clerk's Office Thursday 10:00 A.M. -8:00 P.M. 44 Cedar Street, (Contoocook Grange Hall) Friday 10:00 A.M. -5:00 P.M. is open the following days and hours unless Saturday 10:00 A.M. -3:00 P.M. posted otherwise: Monday - Friday Police Department 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. 53 Houston Drive Telephone Number 746-3180 Non-Emergency 746-515 24-HR #746-4141 The Tax Collector's Office Emergency 911 44 Cedar Street (Contoocook Grange Hall) is open the following days and hours unless Fire Department posted otherwise: 9 Pine Street, 110 Main Street Monday - Friday Non-Emergency 746-318 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. Emergency 911 Telephone Number 746-3179 & Parks Recreation Department Hopkinton Highway Department 330 Main Street 250 Public Works Road 746-2915 746-5118 - Town Committee Hours THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN - Meets every other Wednesday evening beginning at 5:00 P.M. at the Town Hall unless otherwise posted. HOPKINTON CEMETERY BOARD - Meets on the first Tuesday ofeach month at 2:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. PLANNING BOARD - Meets on the third Tuesday ofeach month at 7:00 PM. at the Town Hall. ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT - Meets on the first Tuesday ofeach month at 7:00 PM. at the Town Hall. ROAD COMMITTEE - Meets as needed; the date and time is posted a week ahead oftime. SEWER COMMITTEE Meets as needed; the date and time is posted a week ahead oftime. CONSERVATION COMMITTEE - Meets on the first Tuesday ofeach month at 7:30 PM. at the Kimball Lake Cabins. LANDFILL COMMITTEE - Meets as needed; the date and time is posted a week ahead oftime. RECREATION COMMITTEE - Meets quarterly or as needed; the date and time will be posted a week ahead oftime. RECYCLING COMMITTEE - Meets as needed; the date and time is posted a week ahead oftime. JOINT LOSS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - Meets quarterly; the date and time will be posted a week ahead oftime. 7 Right to Know Law A Guide to Public Access 1. What is the "Right to Know" Law RSA 91-A? It is New Hampshire's Statute which emphasizes that the business ofthe Town is the pubhc's business. It makes clear that, with very few exceptions, the public has access to Town records and meetings held in connection with Town Government. Who 2. does it cover? All ofus, whether we are elected officials, employees, orvolunteers serving on Boards ofthe Town ofHopkinton. 3. What does it cover? It covers all "meetings". A meeting occurs whenever a quorum of a Board, Committee or Subcommittee gathers and discusses or acts upon a matter over which that Board, Committee, or Subcommittee has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power. The law also requires that the business of a Board be conducted at a meeting, rather than by telephone. E-mail, or private gathering ofindividuals. 4. Ifit is a meeting, what does that mean? A notice of the time and place of the meeting must be posted at least 24 hours in advance (excluding Sundays, and legal holidays) in at least 2 public places. The Public is entided to attend and may record or videotape the proceedings with courtesy permission. All votes, with the very few exceptions itemized below, must be taken in open session and not be secret ballot. Minutes must be taken and made available to the public within 144 hours. 5. When can we hold a Nonpublic Session? Rarely - the Right to Know law lists certain limited situations which allow a board to go into nonpublic session. Those situations are: - * Dismissal, promotion, or setting compensation for public employees RSA 91-A:3 II (a). * Consideration ofthe hiring ofa public employee, RSA 91-A:3 II (b) * Matters which, ifdiscussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation ofany person - however, this cannot be used to protect a person who is a member ofyour Board, Committee or Subcommittee RSA 91-A:3 II (c). * Consideration ofthe purchase, sale, or lease ofreal or personal property RSA 91- A:3 II (d). * Discussion ofpending or threatened (in writing) litigation, RSA 91-A:3 II (e). 6. How do we go into Nonpublic Session? A motion must be made which specifically identifies the statutory category which is 8