Annual report of the Town of Merrimack, New Hampshire

2012·12.2 MB·English

by  Merrimack (N.H. : Town)

Town Merrimack, NH
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Important Information 2011
Town Hall Complek Hours
Assessing Monday - Friday 8:30am -4:30pm
Community Development Planning & Zoning Monday - Friday 8:00am -4:30pm
/
Finance Monday - Friday 8:30am -4:30pm
Media Monday -Thursday 1:00pm - 9:00pm
Public Works Administration Monday - Friday 8:00am -4:00pm
Town Clerk /Tax Collector Monday - Friday 9:00am -4:30pm
Town Manager's Office Monday - Friday 8:30am -4:30pm
Welfare Monday - Friday 9:30am - 2:30pm
**Visit ourwebsite at merrimacknh.gov for <i complete list of all Town Department hours**
Town Hall Complex Hours 2012 Town Hall Holidays -- Town Hall Offices will be closed on these davs
New Year's Day Monday, January 2
Martin Luther King, ,.)r. Civil Rights Day Monday, January 16
Presidents' Day Monday, February 20
Memorial Day Monday, May 28
Independence Day Wednesday, July 4
Labor Day Monday, September 3
Veterans Day Monday, November 12
Thanksgiving Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23
Christmas Tuesday, December 25
Important Dates to Remember
March 1,2012 Last dayto file Abatement Application fortax year 2011, per RSA 76:16.
April 1,2012 All real property assessed to owner of records this date.
April 15, 2012 Last day to file for elderly, disabled, handicapped, and blind exemptions and veteran tax credits.
Last day to file current use applications, per RSA 79-A.
Last day for filing applications for tax-exempt properties and for special assessment of residences
in industrial or commercial zone, per RSA 75:11.
April 30, 2012 Dog licenses expire.
May 15, 2012 TimberTax Report ofCut due.
June 30, 2012 Fiscal year ends.
July 1,2012 Fiscal year begins.
December 1,2012 Last day to pay final installment of2012 property taxes without interest penalty.
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ANNUAL REPORT
2011
Merrimack Town Hall
6 Baboosic Lake Road
Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2012 with funding from
in
Member
Boston Library Consortium Libraries
http://archive.org/details/annualreportofto2011merr
Table of Contents 2011
Parks and Recreation Committee 112
Introduction 5
Planning Board 13
Town Council's Report 6 1
Technology Committee 14
Donations Accepted 7 1
Town Center Committee 15
Town Manager's Report 8 1
Watson Park Committee 16
Elected and Appointed Town Officials 10 1
Zoning Board ofAdjustment 17
Town Employees 14 1
Employee Recognitions 18 Department Reports
In Memory 19 Adopt-A-Road / Adopt-A-Spot 118
Assessing Department 19
2011 Town Meeting 1
Community Development Department 120
Deliberative Session Minutes 22
Finance Department 121
Town Meetings Results 30
Fire Department 122
2011 Financial Reports andSummaries
Library 125
Auditor's Report 33
Media Division 130
Expendable Trust Funds 78
Parks and Recreation Department 131
Long-Term Debt Information 82
Police Department 133
Tax Rate History 84
Public Works Department 136
Net Assessed Valuation History 85
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Department 139
Statement of Appropriations, Estimated
& Welfare Department 141
Revenues Property Tax Assessed 86
Summary ofInventory Valuation 88 VitalStatistics
Tax Collector's Report 89 Births 142
Town Clerk's Report 92 Deaths 145
Treasurer's Report 93 Marriages 148
Trustees ofthe Trust Funds Reports 94
2012 Town Meeting Guide
Capital Improvement Program 99
Sample Official Ballot 151
Boards, Commissions and Committee Reports Voter's Guide 153
Agricultural Commission 104 Town Warrant 165
Conservation Commission 105 Budget ofthe Town/City (MS-6) 70
1
Economic Development Committee 106 Default Budget 177
Heritage Commission 107
Lower Merrimack River Advisory Comm 08
1
Nashua Regional Planning Commission 109

Introduction 2011
Merrimack Town Council
First Row (L to R): Vice Chairman Bill Boyd, Chairman Finlay Rothhaus, Councilor Jackie Flood
Second Row (L to R): Councilor Tom Mahon, Councilor Dan Dwyer, Councilor Dave Yakuboff,
and Councilor Tom Koenig
We, the Merrimack Town Council and Town Manager, are pleased and proud to present you
with the 2011 Annual Report for the Town of Merrimack. This Annual Report was compiled
through the efforts ofyour local public officials to serve as a permanent record for the year 201 1.
We
would like to extend our appreciation to all ofthe local officials, community volunteers, and
Town employees who have contributed countless hours ofservice to the Town ofMerrimack.
As always, your comments and questions regarding this report are welcome. Please call, write or
just stop by Town Hall and speak with a member ofour staff.
Thank you.
NH
Merrimack Town Hall • 6 Baboosic Lake Road • Merrimack, 03054
Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone] • Website: www.merrimacknh.gov
TownofMerrimack
Town
Council 2011
To the Citizens ofMerrimack:
On behalfofthe Merrimack Town Council, I present to you the Council's annual report. The year 2011
was a busy and productive year in Merrimack. With the completion of the Manchester Airport Access
Road to the north and much ofthe development ofthe mall property completed to the south, Merrimack is
poised to take advantage ofwhat appears to be a gradually turning economy.
Merrimack's new Town Manager, Eileen Cabanel, came onboard with energy and enthusiasm. She
brought a strength in finance, which has been an enormous asset when crafting our annual budget. Eileen
is also having Town departments operate with a focus on customer service, streamlining services
wherever possible. She is a true advocate for Merrimack.
As we welcomed a new Police Chief, Mark Doyle, who brings experience, integrity and proven
leadership to the office, we wished a fond farewell to retired Chief Mike Milligan with appreciation for
his thirty plus years ofservice to the Town.
With the passing of Director Walter Warren, Tim Thompson was hired as the new Director of
Community Development in August. With one ofhis strong points being economic development, he and
Town Manager Cabanel have established a Business Visitation Program. It is their desire to meet with
both large and small businesses in Town to get a better understanding, from a business perspective, what
is good about Merrimack and what might be improved upon and at the same time let them know the
Town recognizes and appreciates their contributions to our community. His Department continues work
on Merrimack's Master Plan Update, a project that occurs every ten years. The update has been focusing
on the Town's vision, land use, economic development and housing.
The Fire and Rescue Department went through a reduction in personnel this past year. The administration
has been analyzing the staffing ofthe Department, looking for efficiencies and improved utilization ofthe
professional staffserving the Town.
The Assessing Department completed the Town-wide assessment update ofall Town properties. Property
values were adjusted to current market value, and overall, with just under 11,000 parcels having been
evaluated, the update went relatively well. The Welfare Department has seen a dramatic reduction in
requests for housing assistance, a possible indication of a turnaround in the economy. The Department
appreciatively receives many donations throughout the year from Community organizations as well as
private citizens.
The Public Works Department has also been very busy. The Woodland Park and Currier Road drainage
projects and the replacement of the Turkey Hill Road Bridge have been brought to completion. Single
Stream Recycling has proven to be a success with an almost 50% annual increase in recycling tonnage. It
is the Council's hope that this trend will continue with more people recognizing the ease ofparticipation
in recycling and the financial benefit to the Town.
It is important to note the Council's deep appreciation of the hard work and dedication of all our
employees. They are a team that takes enormous pride in their work and have been a great help during
the last few years oftightening budgets.
Finally, to the multitude of volunteers, organizations and citizens throughout our Town, the Council is
extremely grateful for your commitment to our community. You are what make Merrimack a great place
to live.
Respectfully Submitted,
Finlay C. Rothhaus
Chairman
TownofMerrimack
1
Donations Accepted by the Town Council 2011
Date
Department Donor Name Description of Donation Amount
Accepted
Gift Basket ofAssorted
1/13/11 Police Residents of Swift Lane S300.00
Items
&
Christopher Edna
3/3/2011 Police $1,000.00
Conway
4/7/2011 Police Deborah Robinson Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Derrick & Marie Muse Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Sylvia Stevens Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Hubert (Lyle) Swanson Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Steven Maniglia Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Anonymous Donor $1,000.00
4/7/2011 Police Lorna Gonzalez Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Daniel Bittel Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Thomas Prive Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
4/7/201 Police Karen Stetson Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
&
4/7/2011 Police Kathryn (Kay) Murphy Sony Handycam battery $389.98
4/7/2011 Police Annick Bouvier-Selwyn Sony Handycam & battery $389.98
&
Materials Labor
Paul Masry (Auto
5/12/2011 Police Recondition the Radar $2,500.00
Workshop)
Trailer
Memorial Donations for
5/12/2011 Fire and Rescue Diane Reynolds Purchase ofAmbulance $150.00
Equipment
Donation for care and
6/9/2011 Police Merrimack Crimeline $1,520.00
maintenance for K-9 Gunny
Town of MYA Pavilion located at Veterans
9/22/2011 3,000.00
Merrimack Park
Town of Granite Memorial Bench at
11/17/2011 Richard Heidbreder $500.00
Merrimack Veterans Park
Town ofMerrimack
1
Town Manager 2011
201 was another busy, but very productive year that saw a number of improvements completed for the
1
Town of Merrimack. Several Town projects approved by the voters are either underway or have been
completed in 201 1. Those projects include:
• Replacement of the Turkey Hill Road Bridge was completed during the year. During the spring
of 2012, the remaining temporary bridge will be removed and Weston Park will be re-opened to
ARRA
the public. The new bridge was funded primarily through state and federal money.
• Road rehabilitation and paving ofover three miles ofroadway was completed.
• In addition to the three miles of paving, two miles of Daniel Webster Highway was cold planed
and repaved, including widening the road to include a center turn lane between Columbia Circle
to East Chamberlin Road.
The Daniel Webster Highway Sidewalk Project was completed during the year (funding for this
project was 80% Federal and 20% Town).
• A closed drainage system and reconstruction of about two miles of road was completed in 201
for the Currier Drive and Naticook Road area.
• The Manchester Street Bridge replacement project is under way. The initial engineering study is
almost complete and construction is to begin in 2013 (funding for this project is 80% State, 15%
Nashua and 5% Town).
• Culvert Replacements (Wire and Bedford Roads): The 2006 and 2007 floods damaged Wire and
Bedford Roads where both roads cross Baboosic Brook. Both metal plate arch culvert structures
will be replaced with larger concrete box culverts. Wire Road construction is scheduled to begin
in 2012 and Bedford Road project is scheduled to begin in 2013. The Town will be eligible for
State Aid Bridge funding for both projects (80% State and 20% Town).
• Culvert Replacement (Amherst Road): The four Amherst Road metal plate culverts near
Meetinghouse Road are in need of replacement. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2012.
Because oftheir smaller size they are not eligible for State Aid Bridge Funding. Funding will be
provided from the Town's Road Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund.
• The Wastewater Dewatering Project was completed in 2011. This project replaced outdated
equipment with more energy efficient and up to date equipment to dewater the sludge.
The next few years could see substantial growth for the Town due to the Airport Access Road having
been completed two years ahead of schedule in the north end of Town, as well as the completion of the
Merrimack Premium Outlet Mall (MPO) which will encompass 500,000 square feet of retail space and
MPO
house over 100 stores. began construction during the year and will open on June 14, 2012.
In addition to the improvements, the Town saw two severe storms, Hurricane Irene and the October Snow
Storm (Snowtober). These storms provided a challenge to all of those affected by them. During the
October Snow Storm it was projected that 98% ofthe Town was without power. Employees ofthe Police,
Fire and Public Works Departments did a tremendous job clearing roadways, assisting homeowners with
generators and assisting in any way they could to minimize the inconvenience the majority ofMerrimack
residents were exposed to. The Town has applied for and has been awarded Federal Emergency
Management funds from FEMA. The Town will receive 75% reimbursement for each dollar spent on
these storms.
Town ofMerrimack