Annual reports of the selectmen, road agents, school board and Haynes Library of the Town of Alexandria

2004·2.9 MB·English

by  Alexandria (N.H. : Town)

ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Town
of
Alexandria
New Hampshire
FortheFiscalYearEnding
December31, 2003

F
v-^'f 2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF
ALEXANDRIA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FORTHE FISCALYEARENDING
DECEMBER31, 2003
Front cover Patten Brook Bridge circa 1900
LEFTT..RI..H, WilliPatten,FrankTenney,GeorgePattenandFredTennevRoadagent
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
Dedication
Ithasbecomeatraditiontoshowourappreciationtoanindividualwhohasmadeoutstanding
contributionstothetownbydedicationoftheTownReport. Itgivesusgreatpleasuretodedicatethis
year'sTownReporttoAlbertBean.
AlbertwasbominBelmont,NewHampshireandplayedbaseball forBristolHighSchoolwherehe
graduatedin 1944. UpongraduationheenlistedintheU.S.Navywhereheservedtwoyears.
HemarriedEdithBucklinin 1955 andmovedtoAlexandriathefollowingfall. Hebecameinvolvedin
politicsshortlyafterbecomingaSelectmanin 1961. Heservedinthatcapacityforthefollowing24
years. Duringthoseyears,therewasnoofficesupportstaff Edithcanrecallbeingcalleduponto
volunteertoassistwhenneeded.
AlbertalsoservedontheSchool Boardformanyyears. AlbertandEdithhavetwosons,JoelandJames.
AlbertspentmanyhoursonthefieldcoachingLittleLeagueBaseball.
ManyofusrememberAlbertasamechanicatBartlettAutoandFred'sAuto.
AlbertisalsoamemberoftheAlexandriaVolunteerFireDept.andtheAlexandriaHistorical Society.
ThankyouAlbertforyourmanycontributionstoourTown.
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
Foreword
2003hasbeenayearoftransition. TheTownClerk/TaxCollectorwasremovedfromofficeinAprilafterbeing
electedbackintooffice. BeckyOlneywasappointedtocompletetheyear. Wewerefortunatetohaveanindividual
thathadspentatremendousamountoftimebecomingacquaintedwiththejobqualificationstofilltheposition. We
apologizeforanyinconveniencewhileBeckybecamecertifiedtoserveinthesamecapacity. Theofficehourshave
beenextendedtoincludeWednesdaysandthelastSaturdayofeverymonth.
BillBucklinwasappointedRoadAgentuponDaleRobie'sresignation. Bill,havingbeenalong-standingemployee
wasofferedtheposition. WeweresaddenedtoloseDale. Hebroughtwithhimanabundanceofknowledgeand
dedicationthatcannotbeduplicatedandwethankDaleforhisyearsofservice. Hewasapleasuretoworkwith.
DeborahKniskernwasappointedforasecondtimetofillthevacancyofSelectmenleftbyRobertRamseyuponhis
resignationinMarch. Deborahbringswithherabackgroundinmunicipalgovernmentinadditiontoknowledgein
businesspractice. Shehasworkeddiligentlytooverseethehighwaygarageprojectandhasbeenanassettothe
Board.
InJuneweacceptedtheresignationofBonnieFletcher,Secretary. WehaveBonnietothankfortheawardreceived
for2""^placeintheAnnual2002TownReportContest! WewelcomeRachelTwomblywhowashiredinJulyto
replaceBonnie.
JeffMushenoservesaspart-timePoliceChiefandRandyShieldshasbeenhiredasafull-timepoliceofficer.
Propertysalescontinuetosoar. OursalesratioisbeyondtheboundssetbytheDepartmentofRevenuejustone
yearafterwecompletedarevaluationandwemustaddressthissituation. Thisisastatewidephenomenonasour
regioncontinuestooutpaceNewEnglandingrowthescalatingpropertyvaluesandchangingforeverthelandscape
ofNewHampshire. Asgrowthcontinuesinoursmalltown,areasthatneedaddressingistheincreaseduseofthe
transferstationandfutureplanning. Weareproposingmoniesberaisedtobringforthaproposalforamunicipal
buildingnextyearandthePlanningBoardhasestabhshedasub-committeetoaddressthematterofamasterplan.
TheTownReporthasgrowntoapointwherethesmallbookletisnolongeradequate. Thisyearweintroducethe
largerbooklet. Thiswillalsoallowforeasierreading.
Plodzik&SandersonAuditingFirmcompletedamuchmoreextensiveanddetailedauditthisyearbasedonthenew
standardssetforconductingaudits.
Wethankyouforyourongoingsupportandwelcomeyoutobecomeinvolvedandattendpublicmeetingsand
becomeinfomied.
DeborahKniskern
PaulDesmarteau
NickPanaggio,Jr.
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
TableofContents
TOWNOFFICERS 7
2003TOWNWARRANT 8
TOWNBUDGET2004(IVIS-6) 16
SUMMARYINVENTORYOFVALUATION(MS-1) 22
2003TOWNMEETINGMINUTES 23
2003TOWNBUSINESSMEETING 24
STATEMENTOFAPPROPRIATIONS(MS-2) 30
ESTIMATEDREVENUE(MS-4) 33
MUNICIPALTAXRATEBREAKDOWN 35
TAXCOMPUTATIONANDCOMMITMENT 35
COMPARISONOFAPPROPRIATIONSANDEXPENDITURES 36
ADMINISTRATIVEPAYROLL 38
SUMMARYOFREVENUESANDEXPENDITURES 38
SCHEDULEOFTOWNPROPERTY 39
SCHOOLAPPROPRIATIONBYCOMPARISON 41
2003INDEPENDENTAUDITOR'SREPORT 49
TOWNCLERK'SREPORT 50
TAXCOLLECTOR'SREPORT 53
TOWNTREASURER'SREPORT 53
INVENTORYOFTHETRUSTFUNDS 54
SUPERVISOR'SOFTHECHECKLIST 56
REPORTOFTRUSTFUNDS 59
HIGHWAYDEPARTMENT 56
POLICEDEPARTMENT 58
TRANSFERSTATION 60
PLANNINGBOARD 61
HAYNESMEMORIALLIBRARY 62
ALEXANDRIAVOLUNTEERFIREDEPARTMENT 64
THEALEXANDRIAHISTORICALSOCIETY 65
VITALSTATISTICS 66
HEALTHOFFICER/OFFICEOFEMERGENCYMANAGEMENT 69
TAPPLV-THOMPSONCOMMUNITYCENTER 69
WELLINGTONSTATEPARK 70
NEWFOUNDAREANURSINGASSOCIATION 71
BRISTOLAREASENIORSERVICES 72
GRAFTONCOUNTYSENIORCITIZENSCOUNCIL,INC 72
TRl-COUNTYCOMMUNITYACTION 73
VOICESAGAINSTVIOLENCE 74
LAKESREGIONCOMMUNITYSERVICESCOUNCIL 75
NEWHAMPSHIREHUMANESOCIETY 75
PLYMOUTHREGIONALCLINIC 76
REPORTTOTHEPEOPLEOFDISTRICTONE 77
CONGRESSIONALDELEGATION 78
COUNTYANDSTATETELEPHONENUMBERS 79
UNITEDSTATESGOVERNMENTSERVICES INSIDEBACKCOVER
DIRECTORYFORTOWNSERVICES BACKCOVER
) )
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
TownOfficers
Moderator
ShermanWadhams(04)
BoardofSelectmen
DebKniskem(04)
PaulDesmarteau(05) NickPanaggio(06)
Highway DepartmentRoadAgent
DaleRobie (Resigned3/2003)
WilliamBucklin(Appointeduntil05)
TownTreasurer
MerryRuggirello(04)
LaraCogswell,DeputyTreasurer(appointed)
TownClerk/TaxCollector
CharlotteP.Barron(removed4/18/2003
Rebecca-Becky"Olney(appointed4/18/2003)
MelanieShokal,DeputyTownClerk/TaxCollector(appointed)
ChiefOFPolice
JeffMusheno(appointeduntil07)
TrusteesofTrustFunds
ArthurN.Barron(04)
DouglasC.Benton(05)
SuzanneM.Cheney(06)
SupervisorsoftheChecklist
GeorgeG.Whittaker(04) LorettaN.Brouillard(06)
SuzanneM.Cheney(08)
HealthOfficer
GeorgeG.Whittaker
SextonofCemeteries
TimFlanders(04)
PlanningBoard
HaroldPlatts(04) MerryRuggirello(04)
JamesAkerman(05resigned) LynnKenney(appointeduntilnextelection)
JohnWihshire(05) GlenCopatch(appointed/resigned)
RogerBedard(06) DanielMcLaughlin(06)
DaryllEllis,Alternate TerryWillette,Alternate
MelanieMarkiewitz,Clerk(appointed)
BudgetCommittee
AlbertBean(05) SusanHunt(06
JosephSantamaria(07,resignedVirginiaDuggan,appointed)
JamesTelsey(09) WilliamGrout(08)
ArthurBarron (10)
ForestFireWarden
ArthurN. Barron
DeputyWardens
FrancisButler KennethPatten FrederickPlatts BrentTucker
EmergencyManagement
GeorgeG.Whittaker,Director
EdwardS.Skroback,Asst.Director
NewfoundAreaSchoolDistrict
BudgetCommitteeMember
DouglasC.Benton(04resigned,VirginiaDuggan,appointeduntil04)
SchoolBoardMember
SuzanneM.Cheney(04)
. ))))))))))
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
TheStateOfNewHampshire
Town ofAlexandria
2004TownWarrant
TotheInhabitantsoftheTownofAlexandria, intheCountyofGrafton, insaidState,qualifiedtovotein
TownAffairs:
YouareherebynotifiedtomeetattheTownHallinsaidAlexandriaonTuesday, theninthdayofMarch,
2004,ateleveno'clockinthemorningtovote,byofficialballot,onArticles 1 and2.
The Polls will beopen forvotingonArticles 1 and2 from 11:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. onTuesday,theninth
dayofMarch,2004:
1 TochoosefortheensuingyearthefollowingTownOfficers:
BudgetCommitteeMember (1 Forsevenyeartemi
(1 Forthreeyearterm
Moderator (1 Fortwoyearterm
PlanningBoardMembers (2) Forthreeyear term
Foroneyearterm
(1
Selectman (1 Forthreeyearterm
SextonoftheCemeteries (1 Foroneyearterm
SupervisoroftheChecklist (1 Forsixyearterm
TownClerk/TaxCollector (1 Forunexpired2yearterm
Treasurer (1 Foroneyearterm
TrusteeofTrustFunds (1 Forthreeyearterm
2. Toelectofficersandtovoteonquestionsrequiredbylawtobe insertedonsaidofficialballot, andto
vote on all Warrant Articles from the first session ofthe Newfound Area School District by official
ballot.
You are further notified to meet at the Newfound Memorial Middle School in said Bristol on
Thursday,theeleventhdayofMarch,2004,atseveno'clockintheevening,toactuponthefollowing
subjects:
3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Ten Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Five
Dollars ($10,525) to implement the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued
Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for State
and Local Governments to comply with reporting requirements for all state and local governments.
TheTownisrequiredto implementthis standardfortheyearending December31, 2004. The Board
ofSelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
4. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate Four Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Four
HundredEightDollars($472,408)forGeneralGovernmentexpense.TheBoardofSelectmenandthe
BudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
Selectmen'sSalary $7,200
Treasurer 2,650
Trustees(3) 240
AdministrativeAssistantSalary 39,061
AdministrativeAsst. SickPay 687
SecretarySalary 24,465
SecretarySickPay 462
SelectmenOfficeVacation 2,387
1
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
PropertyAssessment 94,015
Auditing 7,000
DataProcessing 1,500
Printing 2,990
MapMaintenance - 2,500
ComputerSupport 1,600
TrustAdministrativeExpense 2,500
GeneralOperatingExpense 11,200
Legal Expense 24,000
Retirement 18,515
FICA/Medicare 30,761
HealthInsurance 76,67
Unemployment 500
WorkersCompensation 10,083
GeneralGovt. BuildingExp. 11,900
LiabilityInsurance 12,600
BristolEMS/Ambulance 17,262
FireDispatch 9,696
ForestFires 1,000
StreetLighting 1,800
AnimalControlGeneral Expense 2,100
GeneralAsst. (Welfare) 9,500
PatrioticPurposes 175
BankandInterestCharges 600
Bond-DebtService 44,788
$472,408.00
To see ifthe Town will vote to have the Salary oftheTown Clerk/Tax Collectorraised to $36,000.
This article is by petition. The Board ofSelectmen and the Budget Committee do not recommend
thisappropriation.
To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate Sixty One Thousand Four Hundred Ninety
Dollars ($61,490) for the operation of the Town Clerk/Tax Collectors Office. The Board of
SelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
TaxCollector/TownClerkSalary $31,21
TaxCollector/TownClerkSickPay 600
TaxCollector/TownClerkVac, Pay 600
DeputyTaxCollector/TownClerk 13,250
DogLicenses 200
Telephone 1.500
OfficeSupply 2,000
Postage 2,200
EquipmentPurchase 3,400
EquipmentMaintenance 300
GeneralExpense 700
Mileage 1,000
Membership/dues 1,200
Advertising 130
DataProcessingCollections 1,500
ClerkDischarges 500
Liens 1,200
$61,490.00
2003AlexandriaAnnualReport
7. ToseeiftheTownwillvotetoraiseandappropriatetheamountofOnehundredSixtyTwoThousand
ThreeHundredFiftyDollars($162,350)topurchaseanewGraderforthehighwaydepartment,andto
authorizetheissuanceofnotmorethanEightyTwoThousandThreeHundredandFiftyDollars
($82,350)ofbondsornotesinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheMunicipal FinanceAct(RSA33)
andtoauthorizethe Selectmentoissueandnegotiatesuchbondsornotesandtodeterminetherateof
interestthereon: furthermore,toauthorizethewithdrawalofEightyThousandDollars($80,000)from
HighwayDepartmentEquipmentCapital ReserveFundcreatedforthispurpose. TheBoardof
SelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation. 2/3 ballotvoterequired.
8. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum ofEight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to
purchase a sprayersystem for ice anddust control. The BoardofSelectmen and BudgetCommittee
recommendthisappropriation.
9. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate Nine Hundred Eight Five Thousand Dollars
($985,000) for the construction costs to build a replacement bridge on Berry Road (80% of this
amount or $788,000 will be reimbursed by the State ofNew Hampshire, Dept. ofTransportation).
Final cost to the Town is One Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Dollars ($197,000). The Board of
SelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
10. To see ifthe Town will vote to raise and appropriate One Hundred Sixty One Thousand Dollars
($161,000) forengineering and permanent repairoftwo bridges on Brook Road. The Boardof
SelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
11. To see iftheTownwill votetoraiseandappropriatethe sumofThree HundredThirty Six Thousand
Sixteen Dollars ($336,016) for the maintenance, sealing, reconstruction and plowing ofall Class V
Town Roads. Ofthis amount Sixty Eight Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars ($68,579)
will be reimbursed by the Highway Block Grant. The remaining Two Hundred Sixty Seven
Thousand Four Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars ($267,437) to be raised by taxation. The Board of
SelectmenandtheBudgetCommitteerecommendthisappropriation.
RoadAgentSalary $37,163
Operator#1 30,571
Operator#2 26,500
Operator#3 25,970
'
Operator#4(new) 20,393
Overtime 15,749
HighwayDepartmentsicktime 2,942
HighwayDepartmentvacationtime 4,728
Heat 2,000
Electric 1,600
Telephone 1,700
OfficeSupply 300
EquipmentPurchase 5,100
Lease/Rent 5,000
EquipmentMaintenance 40,000
General Expense 10,000
Vehicle/EquipmentFuel 17,000
BridgeMaintenance 5,000
RoadMaintenance/Materials 78,800
SafetyMaterials ,500
1
StreetSigns ,500
1
WasteOil 2,500
$336,016.00
10