Table Of Content

Off'/i (• Plaistow ®- 2005 Annual Report s. Sd V A 1=1 > PREVIOUS ANNUAL TOWN REPORT DEDICATIONS 1979 1988 1997 Clifton E. Cook Ruth E. Jenne Robert Chooljian 1980 1989 1998 John & Maude Duston Thomas H. Cullen /Agnes Dube 1981 1990 1999 John A. Palmer Stanley T. Herrick Volunteerism 1982 1991 2000 LeRoy S. Dube Norman L. Major Ruth E. Palmer 1983 1992 2001 Irving S. Gilman David C. Hart Donald E. Petzold 1984 1993 2002 George B. Peabody Lyman W. Hill George & EleanorPeabody 1985 1994 2003 Mildred L. Palmer John McSheehy J. Alden Palmer, Jr. 1986 1995 2004 Helen A. Hart Don & Judy Sargent Merilyn P. Senter 1987 1996 Annie Mae Schwaner JerryAssad Town Hallin the Spring. DEDICATION THE PLAISTOWLIONS CLUB Lions Club International's Mission is "To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation." The members of the Lions Club are committed to building a brighter future for their community. Today, there are approximately 45,000 clubs in 197 countries; Plaistow is one of those fortunate communities to have a Lions Club. Founded in 1917, the volunteer organization's motto is "We Serve." Plaistow's Lions Club has certainly lived up to their motto Every year the Lions Club hosts the White Cane tag day and use the proceeds to help the blind. This project began in 1925 when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Through their SightFirst programs, the Lions are committed to eliminating preventable blindness. The Lions provide sight conservation through quality free eye care, eye glasses, braille writers, large print text, white canes, guide dogs, glaucoma screenings and corneal transplants. The Lions Club is also a champion of the disabled. Wearing their bright yellow vests, the Lions conduct their annual Tootsie Roll drive. The proceeds of which are distributed to statewide agencies and organizations which provide services to people who are handicapped. Our local Lions Club has built handicap ramps for Plaistow citizens for their homes at no cost to the individual homeowner. In addition, our local Lions Club joined Lions statewide to build and support Lions Camp Pride on the shores of Merrymeeting Lake. Camp Pride is completely handicap accessible for both campers and staff. This provides children with disabilities the opportunity to have fun and gain camping experiences which many other children enjoy. The Lions Club is an organization that strives to make a difference in their local and worldwide communities. Their goal is to enhance their community's day to day life. The Plaistow Lions Club continues to provide humanitarian support year to year. The Lions Club is responsible for delivering Thanksgiving Baskets personally to approximately 40 homes in Plaistow. This allows less fortunate residents to enjoy a turkey and all the trimmings with their families and friends. During the Christmas Season the members of the Lions gather names of less fortunate individuals and their wish lists. The members of the Lions Club then place the ages and wish of each individual on Christmas Trees in the local Wal-Mart and Post Office. The patrons of these establishments purchase gifts which are given to the Lions Club during an annual ambulance drive. An ambulance is loaded with the gifts and the Lions Club personally delivers the gifts to over fifty households in Plaistow. The members of the Lions Club pride themselves on growing personally and professionally by participating in programs and community services projects. Many of the members of the Lions Club participate financially as well as physically when the call for service is issued. The Plaistow Lions Club annually donates money to the Plaistow Recreation Program to ensure less fortunate children are able to attend. In 2005, members of the Lions Club took over the maintenance work at the Vic Geary Center. And keeping the roadsides of Route 125 clean is anotherjob they cheerfully undertake. The Plaistow Lions have initiated many projects over the years, including the gazebo in Pollard Park erected in 1977 and each year they decorate this gazebo with a tree and lights during the holiday season. They then organize a group of children from Pollard Elementary School to bring mittens to hang on the branches of the trees. These mittens are then donated to the needy. In 2005, an illuminated bulletin board was replaced on Pollard Park. The original sign was donated by the Lions Club and, after an automobile destroyed this bulletin board, they assisted the Town in the installation of the replacement. Annually, the Lions Club provides entertainment for the entire community by orchestrating an outstanding parade and runner's road race on Old Home Day. You will always find a large contingency of members grilling and selling sausage subs. The proceeds are a fundraiser from which the community benefits. Because of the community spirit the Plaistow Lions have shown and the far-reaching effect they have had, the Board of Selectmen is proud to dedicate this 2005 Town Report in their honor. Thank you to each and every one of the Plaistow Lions. Lions Club selling sausage subs during Old Home Day. TABLE OF CONTENTS Previous Dedication inside front cover Dedication i Table of Contents iii Recognition: Theme Description 1 n Memoriam 2 I Employee Spotlight. 3 , Officials, Representatives & Employees: Government Officials & Local Representatives 4 Report of the State Senator 5 Report of the State Representative 7 Town Officials, Elected 9 Town Officials, Appointed with Terms 9 Town Officials, Appointed 10 Town Employees 12 Executive Summary: Report of the Board of Selectmen 14 Excerpts of Previous Town Reports - 1955,1965,1975,1985,1995 18 Selectmen 1924 to Present 27 Report of the Town Manager 28 Town Manager's Goals 30 Deliberative Session Minutes, February 5, 2005 33 Election Results 2005 53 Special Town Meeting Minutes, July 7, 2005 55 Financial Statements: Report of the Treasurer 56 Cash Flow Analysis 61 Bonded Debt Statement 62 Inventory of Assessed Valuation Summary 63 Tax Rate Calculation 2005 64 Tax Commitment History 65 Report of the Tax Collector 66 Current Use Description 68 Current Use Properties 69 Town Owned Property List 71 Report of the Town Clerk 74 Report of the Trustees of the Trust Funds 75 Grants and Donations Received 76 Impact Fees Statement 77 Financial Statements Continued: Impact Fee Schedule for 2005 78 2005 Recycling And Solid Waste Tonnage By Month 80 Independent Auditor's Report 81 Department, Committee & Agency Reports: Animal Control Department 89 Assessor's Agent 90 2006 Assessment Procedure 93 Assessment to Sales History 94 Beede Reuse Committee 95 Building Safety Department 96 Cable Committee 97 Capital Improvement Plan Committee 99 Capital Improvement Plan 100 Cemetery Sexton 103 Conflict of Interest Committee 104 Conservation Commission 05 1 Emergency Management Department 07 1 Family Mediation & Juvenile Services of Southern Rockingham County 108 Fire Department 109 Fire/Rescue Vehicle Replacement Plan 112 Forest Fire Warden and State Forest Ranger 114 Health Department 116 Highway Department 118 Highway Vehicle Replacement Plan 20 1 Questions & Answers Proposed Highway Garage and Salt Dome 121 Historical Society 123 History of the Boston Post Cane 124 Human Services Department 125 Human Services Sponsored Agencies 26 1 Mosquito Control, Dragon Mosquito Control, Inc 128 Municipal Budget Committee 130 Old Home Day Committee 32 1 Old Home Day Budget 133 Plaistow Area Transit Advisory Committee 134 Plaistow Public Library 135 Plaistow Public Library Trustees 137 Planning Department 38 1 Police Department 144 Public Safety Complex Building Committee 147 Recreation Department 48 1 Rockingham Planning Commission 150 Southeastern Hazardous Materials Mutual Aid District 151 Supervisors of the Checklist 153 IV Department, Committee & Agency Reports Continued: Tax Collector 154 Town Clerk 155 Town Clerk's Vital Statistics 156 Town Hall Renovation Committee 158 Questions & Answers Proposed Town Hall Renovations 159 Trustees of the Trust Funds 160 Water Department 161 Zoning Board ofAdjustment 163 Warrant: 2006 Plaistow Town Warrant 164 2006 MS-7 (Budget ofthe Town of Plaistow) 187 Voter's Notes 192 Supplemental Information: Application For Committee Appointment 196 Protecting Our Environment While Maintaining Lawn or Garden 197 Trash, Recycling & Landfill Information 199 Where Plaistow Residents Can Call For Help 200 Index 202 Schedule of Town Boards, Committees & Commissions inside back cover Telephone Numbers outside back cover Pollard Park Gazebo. TOWN REPORT THEME This year's theme for our Town Report is PREPAREDNESS. Preparedness takes many forms - whether it's the Fire Chief giving you tips on preparations for avoiding a disaster in your home to the Planning Board approving a Capital Improvements Plan that levels the future cost (and tax burden) of capital purchases to the Emergency Management Director doing preparation for any large natural (or man-made) disaster that would upset the daily life of our citizens. The Board of Selectmen is proud of the efforts that we have put into preparing Plaistow for the future. Planning and preparation have been important goals for us in the past We few years. think you will see the results of that preparation and planning as you read our Departmental Reports. Some of the places where you can read more about our preparedness: The Health Officer planning now for possible future health issues, just as she did so effectively in the recent past for West Nile Virus and EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis). The Water Department Superintendent ensuring our waterline expansion coincides with the State of NH's planned work on Route 125. The Planning Board implementing and maintaining impact fees so that current development helps to fund the resultant impact to Town Services. The Town Hall Renovation Committee improving and upgrading our beautiful Town Hall to not only accommodate our disabled citizens, but that also provides additional usable office space. The Planning Coordinator keeping our Master Plan updated so that we can ensure the reasonable growth and land use protection that is important to us and future generations. The Safety Complex Committee studying plans and costs for the inevitable growth of our Police & Fire/Rescue departments. The Town Manager successfully negotiating a 5-year contract with our Police Union that controls the future costs of our police protection. The Recreation Director and Commission managing the development of our new Recreation Fields on Old County Road so that we won't have to turn kids away from any future recreation activities. The Cable Committee starting negotiations now for a new cable franchise agreement, well before the current contract runs out, with an eye toward improving costs and services to our residents through provider competition. And many others. We are proud of our Town. We want Plaistow to always be "A great Place to be." To do that, we must not only provide cost-effective services now, but we must also prepare for the future needs of our citizens. We hope you enjoy our 2005 Plaistow Town Report. MEMORIAM IN This page is dedicated to the memory of those Plaistow Residents who passed away during the year 2005. They have served the Town of Plaistow in an elected, appointed or volunteer capacity. Pauline H. Keezer 1911 -2005 Town Clerk Deputy Town Treasurer Municipal Budget Committee Founder of Plaistow Coin Shop Norman A. Marquis 1929-2005 Municipal Budget Committee United States Army Ruth E. Palmer 1931 -2005 Zoning Board of Adjustment Administrative Assistant Police Department Clerk & Dispatcher Plaistow Historical Society Haverhill Gazette Correspondent Bryan M. Richards 1951 -2005 Plaistow Police Department Officer Annie Mae Schwaner 1912-2005 Member of NH House of Representatives 26 years Plaistow Civic Organization Women's Republican Club President American Red Cross Executive Board Charles F. Wheeler 1898-2005 Holder of Boston Post Cane since 1999 Portsmouth Navy Yard during two World Wars EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT John H. McArdle After a series of interviews and practical application tests, John H. : McArdle was appointed Fire Chief in 2001 to fill the opening left by Don Petzold's retirement. Don says that John makes an excellent fire chief and even more, he is a mentor, especially to new members. He encourages questions pertaining to fire and medical ideas. He is very fair and looks at all sides of any disagreement before making a decision. John has shown his ability in handling fires and emergencies and has been most active in teaching fire safety, especially to youngsters of all ages. Each year the Fire Department holds a very successful Open House with free pizza. Kids get to sit in the fire trucks, use the sirens and get a miniature fire hat as a reminder of the day. Chief McArdle presented a program at the Vic Geary Drop In Center on winter safety. He explained what precautions the seniors could take to protect themselves from falls and fires. They all appreciated what he had to say. When Don Sargent moved to Arizona, John assumed responsibility of our Water Department. John was most cooperative in making room available at the fire department for Town Hall staff during the six months it took for repairs to the Town Hall. The Fire Chief also had to make sure all aspects of fire safety were considered and adhered to during the Town Hall Renovations. It is for this dedication to duty that John was chosen for an employee spotlight this year. Laurie Houlihan Since 1984 Laurie has been a most respected Librarian of the : Plaistow Public Library and became the Director in 1985. The Library was located in the Town Hall for many years and moved to Elm Street in 1978. When they started getting squeezed for room, the Trustees, Director, Librarians and Friends of the Library set out on a course to acquire land and build a new Library. The land was purchased in 1998 and by June 2000 they had persevered to have a dedication of a beautiful new building. Laurie was instrumental in making computers available for anyone to use and they have been a delight for adults and students alike. Many programs were expanded for all ages, including Pre-school story hour, Summer Reading Programs, knitting, quilting and a variety of special programs including Adult lectures. Laurie welcomed the Tax Collector, Town Clerk and Assessors to the Library while the renovations of Town Hall were taking place. She is most active with the Merry-Hill-Rock, a group of directors over the state that generates new ideas for libraries. Laurie is committed to continuing the present programs and enlarging the patronage by providing more interesting programs for all. It is for her continued commitment to the Library that she was chosen for an employee spotlight this year.