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Annual Report OF THE TOWN OF RYE NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 1997 AS COMPILED BYTHE TOWN OFFICERS Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofto1997ryen ***************************************************************** The ELECTION portion of the Rye Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 1998, at the RYE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SAGAMORE ROAD from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The BUSINESS portion of the Rye Town Meeting will be held on SATURDAY, March 14, 1998, at the RYE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL commencing at 9:00 AM. ALL RYE RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO ATTEND. ***************************************************************** DEDICATION 1997 ANNUAL REPORT TOMN OF RYE Like a tradition, volunteerism plays an integral part in the Town of Rye, and often times goes unrecognized. Realizing that no one volunteer or volunteer effort could be singled out as "the best", the Rye Board of Selectmen take great pride in dedicating the 1997 Annual Town Report to ALL VOLUNTEERS who serve presently or have served on Town Boards, Committees, Commissions, including those who have served on ad hoc committees addressing specific issues. Living in today's "fast-paced" world, free time is a shrinking commodity. However, it is quite evident in Rye that residents continue to include volunteering as a priority in their day-to-day schedules. Dedicating the 1997 Annual Report to all Rye volunteers for their commitment, skills, and exemplary accomplishments is a small, but sincere token of appreciation. Your talents are crucial to our community. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKl CHARLOTTE AND ABBOT B. DRAKE THE DRAKE HOUSE, RYE, NH IN HEHORIAH 1895-1998 CHARLOTTE MARY DAVIS was born May 23, 1895 in Manchester, NH. She was a graduate of the Wheelock College Class of 1918. She came to the Drake House, a Victorian Era summer hotel in Rye Beach, to work in 1921. Charlotte married Abbot B. Drake in 1923. She had two sons, Herbert and Philip. Never having had a driver's license, Charlotte led a busy life. She was active in the Republican Party. Charlotte avidly volunteered her time in preparing "Bundles for Britain" during World War II, sometimes to the point of including family members' favorite articles of clothing. She and Abbot ran the Drake House established in 1872 by Abram Drake. The Drake House is still operating under the fourth generation of Drakes with the fifth generation residing. Charlotte supported Abbot's efforts in organizing the Rye Beach Precinct established in 1905. She was in effect the "dispatcher" while Abbot served as the Fire Chief for the first Fire Department formed in Rye Beach in 1930, through its incorporation in a townwide volunteer department through 1955. The fire trucks were housed at the Drake House until the current Fire Station was built in 1954. She supported Abbot's serving on the Rye Budget Committee, representing Rye Beach, from the Budget Committee's inception in 1948 through the 1960s. Abbot passed away in 1975 at the age of 86. The Boston Post Cane was presented to Charlotte at age 98 on December 26, 1992. The Boston Post Cane has also been received by two other immediate family members. Abbot's father, Abram J. Drake held the cane for several years before he died, at age 95 in 1940. Charlotte's mother, who resided at the Drake House for many years, held the cane in the late 1940's. Charlotte passed away in January, 1998 at the Edgewood Centre, Portsmouth, NH. Charlotte's life mirrored an era distinctive to family devotion and community spirit. TABLE OF CONTENTS Town Officials 2 Selectmen's Report 5 Budget Committee's Report 7 Treasurer's Report 8 Tovm Clerk/Tax Collector's Report 11 Police Chief's Report 19 Fire Chief's Report 20 Rye Fire Department, Training Sessions Photographs 21 Fire Warden's Report 22 Emergency Management Director's Report JJ23 Public Works Director's Report 24 Lifeguard Supervisor's Report 25 Building Inspector's Report 26 Mosquito Commission's Report 28 Recreation Commission's Report 29 Library Director's Report 31 Libraiy Trustees' Report 32 Planning Board's Report 33 Board of Adjustment's Report 34 Conservation Commission's Report 36 Historic District Commission's Report 38 Historical Society's Report 40 Tovm Warrant, Budget & Auditor's Report 41 Health Officer's Report 77 Welfare Director's Report 78 Trustees of Trust Funds Report 79 Sewer Commission's Report 86 Town of Rye Employees 87 Town of Rye Employee Benefits 90 Report of 1997 Annual Town Meeting 91 Report of October 14, 1997 Special Town Meeting ill 1997 MS 1 Summary Inventory of Valuation 119 1997 Department of Revenue Tax Rate Computation 128 Vital Statistics 129 ***TOWN OFFICIl^S*** FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997 Term Expires MODERATOR (2-year term) Sharon N. DeVries 1998 SELECTMEN (3-year term) Norman C. Katner 1998 Joseph G. Mills, Jr. 1999 Melvin R. Low 2000 TO?™ CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR (3-year term) Jane E. Ireland 2000 TREASURER (3-year term) Barbara J. Flynn 2000 CEMETERY TRUSTEES (3-year term) Edward J. Ireland 1998 Roger O. Philbrick 1999 John W. Patrick 2000 SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST (6-year term) Janet C. Thompson 1998 Norman H. Yeaton 2000 Madeline Chichester 2002 LIBRARY TRUSTEES (3-year term) Mark Epply 1998 Brian Klinger 1999 Bettey Tobey 2000 TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUNDS (3-year term) Brenda J. Semprini 1998 Andrew J. Mahoney 1999 Priscilla Patrick 2000 BUDGET COMMITTEE (3-year term) John W. Moynahan 1998 John B. Tobey 1998 Douglas Abrams 1999 Paula Snyder (filled out term of M. Low) 1998 Gary Chapman 2000 Gary B. Dodds 2000 PLANNING BOARD (3-year term) James D. Brown 1998 Don Philbrick 1998 Gary B. Dodds 1999 Henry M. Cavaretta 1999 Priscilla Patrick 2000 Robert T. Brown 2000