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TOM OF DORIMER -tSSSiiS ANNUAL REPORT 2002 Jmwu 30M SitrnJiealoc 20C2 Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2009 witii funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries Iittp://www.arcliive.org/details/annualreporttown2002dorc ANNUAL REPORl] OF THE OFFICERS 4a^ OF THE TOWIV OF DORCHESTER. N.H. Year Ended December 2002 31. Selectmen's Report The Dorchester Board ofSelectmen bid afondfarewell toAndrew Houghton, whodecided notto seek anotherterm as Dorchester Selectman, in orderto spend moretimewith hisgrowing family. "Andy" served tirelesslyasSelectman atatimewhen Dorchester needed his architectural expertise, calm demeanorand good'old fashion Yankee common sense". TheTown of Dorchesterelected Albert"John" Franzto fillthevacancyonthe BoardofSelectmen in March. TheTown aswell as the Board ofSelectmen areveryfortunatethat"John" waswillingto serve asSelectmanagain, having servedonthe Dorchester Boardof Selectmenforseveraltermsduring the 1980s. Although, Johnwill be thefirstto admitthatthedutiesand responsibilitiesof aSelectman have double sincethe 1980s, his"no nonsense" approach to problem solving andwillingnesstoexplore new avenueshas resulted in better services, accountabilityandtaxdollarvalueforthecitizensof Dorchester. The BoardofSelectmen have been forced, outof necessity, to wear manyhatsthisyear. With newfederal and statemandatesthrust upon local communities, Dorchester'sSelectmen have spentcountlesshours andtaxdollarsto meetthe requirementsofthesemandates, aswell as dealwiththedaytodayproblemsofthepeopleof Dorchester. The following isabriefoverview ofthe busyandoften hecticyearof 2002. Thefinal phaseofthe replacementof Bridge#132/166, with a QassVtown roadto accessseveral properties, wasfinalized with the purchaseofthe land overwhichthe road wasbuilt. Thenewtown road,forwhichwewill receive Highway BlockGrant Fundsaswellas 80%ofthetotal costofthe project, willto be known as MELANSON WAY. The highwaydepartment added aberm to preventfuture fkxxiing. The projectwill be closed out and reimbursementfrom the stateshould beforth coming in 2003. Asadirect resultoftheState F^ropertyTax, alt New Hampshire municipalitieswill undergo a "Certification" process. Dorchesteris scheduled to becertified in theyear2004. Thecertification requiresacomplete and intensereviewof everyaspectofTown government. Thestatecertificationteam hast>een meeting every3 monthswiththe Selectmento checkon progress. Thisyearthe Selectmen havecontinuedtowori<on thetax map, and review and update elderiy and veterans' exemptions. Perhaps, oneofthe biggest undertakingsofthe Certification process has beenthatof updating Current Userecords. Nearly97% -2- of Dorchesterpropertyisheld in Current Use, resulting inthe majorityof propertytaxesbeing paid bythosewho own buildings, the impactofthisupdate should improvetheequalizationofthetaxbase. Manyofthese properties have not been reviewed sincethe inceptionofCurrent Useduring the 1980s,thisisahugejob. The Town isveryfortunateto haveformerSelectman David Morrill, who is qualified and comeshighlyrecommended bythe State, to complete thistask. He hascompleted approximatelyone-halfofthecun-ent use propertieswiththegoal of completingthe review in 2003. TheSelectmen reviewed and updated thejobdescriptionfor a HighwayMaintainerIII asmandated byTown Meeting2002, aswell as developed a policyforthe useofTown Vehicles. April broughtthebeginning of, whatwouldturn outto beaverylong andcomplicated process, disposingof (4)taxlien properties. The ultimategoal ofthisprocess isfirstand foremostto put properties, held bytheTownfornon-paymentoftaxes, backonthetax rolls. To date, theTown hasdisposed ofoneparcel, withthefinalizatk^nof paperwork leftontwo parcels, and 1 parcel left in limbodueto defectsin thetitle. Hopefully all will beresolved earlyin 2003. TheTown of Dorchestercontractsall servrces, withtheexceptwnof road maintenance, from othertowns. Because Dorchesterhas virtuallynocontroloverthecostofthese services, theSelectmen are constantlysearching forserviceswhich will providethecitizensof Dorchesterwiththe most servicefortheirtaxdollars. Thissearch requiresthe Selectmento negotiatewith manytowns ranging from Laconiato Lebanon. The negotiationsforthedispatching of emergencyservrces(fireand ambulance) reached apivotal point when Lakes Region Mutual FireAid Association, who dispatchesfor the RumneyFire Department, infonnedthe Selectmen that itwould no longerbe abletodispatchthe Rumney Fire Departmentto Dorchesterwithout Dorchesterjoiningtheassociation. Thecostof joiningthisassociation wouldfarexceedthecontractsof Canaan, Rumney, and Lyme Fire Departmentstogether. The Selectmen tjegan areviewoftheareacovered byeachdepartment. Itwas discoveredthatCanaan hasbeencovering all of Dorchesterand using Rumney asamutual aid back-up. Although, notyetfinalized it appearsthat Lebanon will t>edispatching emergencyservicesuntil otherarrangementscan bemade. ItIsimportantthatthecitizensof Dorchesteruse911, who haveassured theSelectmenthat emergency personnel will bedispatched! AsSelectmen, acting asHealthOfficersforthetown, wewere requiredto respondtoseveral health and safetyissuesin Dorchester thisyear. The resolutton oftheseissuesrequired numerouscourt ) appearancesand sitevisitatbns, and although several Issuesremain unresolved weare moving towardsa satisfactoryconclusion. The Selectmen have begun investigatingthe procurementof limited policeservicefortheTown of Dorchester. Atpresent, Dorchester receivesitspolicecoveragefrom the State Police. Withthe State Police budget stretched tothe maximum andthefuture not looking much brighter, itwould beto Dorchester's benefitto lookfor coveragefrom othersources. Thissearch ison-going. TheSelectmen have implemented a policyofdealing with complaints againstTown employees. Asinthe past, weappreciatethe publics In-put, butin orderto respond appropriatelyto complaintsinvolving empkDyeesoftheTown of Dorchesterwe need accurate unbiased reports. Asaresultwerequestthat allcomplaintsbeput inwriting, listingtime, placeand description ofthe incident. Wecontinueto encouragethepublicto attend our biweekly meetingsto comment, seek informationorto share infomnation withthe Board. if TheTownof Dorchesterreceived averygenerousgiftfrom a Dorchesterresidentinthefomi ofafire proof safe. Afire proof safe haslong been needed forstorageof infomnation bytheTown Clerk, aswell asothertown officialsand hasprovedavaluableadditionto theTownOfftee. A setofmapfileswaspurchasedforthestorageof Town mapspreviouslystored unsafelyin variouslocations. The Town Qericand her Deputyhave spentcountless hoursfiling these maps. Thankyou! i( Finallyinclosing, theTown of DorchesterHall isnow handicapped compliant. Withfundsappropriated atTown Meeting 2001 and the , approvalofthe DorchesterHistorical Commissiontheaccesswas completed in November2002. Ransfor 2003 includethecompletion of manyprojects. Ifyou are interested in serving in anycapacityof publicservice pleasecontact us. Wearein desperate need of representation inthefollowing areas: (1 Peml-BakerSolid Waste Dislrrct, (2) UpperValley Lake Sunapee Planning Commission (3) Animal Control Officer, (4) CemeteryTrustee. Wearealso kx)king atatown wkle revaluation in eariy2004 asrequired bytheStateof New Hampshire. This, along with theCurrent Use update should, con-ect manyofthe inequitiescurrently present. -4- 8 gelmectmcn's Meemtings 2003 & January 16 30 2, & February 13 27 & March 13 27 & April 10 24 May 8 & 22 June 5 19 «& 17&31 July 3, & August 14 28 & September 25 1 1 & October 9 23 & November 6 20 & December 4 1 Meetings are held at the Town Office at 6:30 p.m. Selectmen are generally ready to meet with the public by 7:00 p.m. -5- DORCHESTER TOWN OFFICERS 2002 - BOARD OF SELECTMEN Robert R. Eslabrook 200A (C) AlbertJohn Franz2005 John A. Cote 2003 MODERATOR Henry L. Melanson 2003 TOWN TREASURER TOWN CLERK Brian A. Howe 2003 Brenda Howe 2003 JenniferGrace, Deputy DarleneOaks. Deputy TAX COLLECTOR ROAD AGENT DelbertG. Pratt 2003 George C. Conkey. II 2005 Marilyn Pratt, Deputy ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER FOREST FIRE WARDEN Vac»it JayLegg WELFARE DIRECTOR Alice E. Melanson TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUNDS BrendaHowe2003 DarleneOaks2004 CarolTowne 2005 AUDITORS MarthaL. Walker2003 Cindy Azotea 2003 SUPERVISORS OF CHECKLIST Marilyn Pratt2004 Christine Morgan 2005 DarleneOaks2006 PLANNING BOARD DavkJ Monill 2003(C) Linda Landry 2003 David DeVall 2005 E. JamesScott 2004 DarleneOaks 2004 John A. Cote, Sic. Rep. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT David Monill(C) BrianHowe StuartRoss CEMETERY TRUSTEES Robert Brown 2005 LouisA. Delsart2003 Vacant -6- REPRESENTATIVE TO PEMI-BAKER SOLID WASTE DISTRICT Vacant REPRESENTATIVE TO UVLS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Robert R. Estabrook HISTORrC DISTRICT COMMISSION Robert Pon (C) Christine Morgan PatriciaFranz DarleneOaks Linda M. Landry MarthaWalker SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER NadineA. Conkey 2CX)5 REPRESENTATIVES TO MASCOMA HEALTH COUNCIL Vacant MEETING TIMES Board of Selectmen: EveryotherThursday, 6:30 p.m. Phone: 786-9476 Town Clerk: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, 9:00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. Fourth Sat. 9:00a.m.- 11:00a.m. Selectmen's Office. Phone 786-9476 Tax Collector: Town Office Phone: 786-9476 Planning Board: 2nd Wednesdayof each month, 7:00 p.m. Selectmen's Office Phone 786-9476 Board of Adjustment: As required. Selectmen'sOffice TransferStation: Wednesday 12:00noon - 6:00 p.m (until 9/8) Wednesday 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m (after9/8) Saturday9:00a.m. -4:(X) p.m. Sunday9:00a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Notary Public: Select. Meetings and upon request (523-7119) Freeofchargeto Dorchester Residents EMERGENCY NUMBERS In any emergency^ please call 911 F.A.S.T. Squad Canaan 911-448-1212 POLICE: State Police 1-800-525-5555 State Police (F-Troop) 1-271-1170 Grafton County Sheriff's Dept. 1-800-552-0393 . TOWN WARRANT The State of New Hampshire To the inhabitants oftheTo^ivn ofDorchesterin the County ofGrafton in said state, qualified to vote in Town affairs: You are herebynotified to meet atthe Town Hall in said DorchesteronTuesday, the 11thdayofMarch2003, polls to be open forvoting on Article 1 at 1 1 o'clockin the forenoon, and to close not eariier than 7 o'clockin the afternoon, with action on the remaining articles to be taken commencing at 1 o'clockin the forenoon on Saturday, March 15, 2003. 1 To chcx)se by nonpartisan ballot all necessaryTown officersfor the ensuing year. 2. To see if the Town will vote to approve a raise in the Selectmen's salaryfrom one thousand, five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) per year to one thousand, eight hundred dollars ($1,800.00) per year. 3. To see if the Town will vote to approve the establishment of a Conservation Commission to have responsibility for the proper utilization and protection of the Town's natural resources and protection of the Town's watershed resources. A commission shall consistof three (3) members, appointed for terms of one, two or three years, so that the terms of one third of the members will expire each year, and their successor shall be appointed for terms of three years each. The commission is to have the full powers and duties authorized by RSA 36-A. 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred thirty-six thousand, six hundred twenty dollars ($236,620.00), to defray Town charges.