Table Of Content

ANNUAL REPORTS 2004 Loon on Squam Lake PhotocourtesyofNordelGagnon TOWN OF SANDWICH NEW HAMPSHIRE GENERAL INFORMATION TOWN OFFICE 284-7701 Website: www.town.sandwich.nh.us Fax 284-6819 Mondaythrough Friday, 8:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. SELECTMEN'S MEETING 284-7701 Town Hall, Monday, 7:30 p.m. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 284-6950 Winter-Mondaythrough Friday, 7:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Summer- Mondaythrough Thursday, 6:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. TOWN CLERK/TAXCOLLECTOR 284-7113 Tuesdayand Thursday, 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. Monday7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (closed holidays and election Tuesdays) BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Town Hall, Second Thursdayofeach month, 7:30 p.m. CONSERVATION COMMISSION Town Hall, LastWednesdayofeach month, 7:30 p.m. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Town Hall, Third Tuesdayofeach month, 7:30 p.m. PLANNING BOARD Town Hall, FirstThursdayofeach month, 7:30 p.m. RECREATION COMMITTEE Town Hall, FirstTuesdayofeach month, 7:00 p.m. CEMETERYTRUSTEES 284-6428 LIBRARYTRUSTEES 284-6665 Library, Third Wednesdayofeach month, 7:00 p.m. SEWERCOMMISSIONERS 284-6137 Town Hall, Third Thursdayofeach month, 4:00 p.m. TRUSTEES OFTRUST FUNDS 284-6629 Town Hall, Second Wednesdayofeach month, 8:30 a.m. WENTWORTH LIBRARY 284-6665 Monday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday 12:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Tuesday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ANNUAL REPORTS t/ OF THE OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF SANDWICH NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2004 This is to certify that the information contained in this report was taken from official records and is complete to the best of our knowledge and belief. Richard L. Benton, Jr., Chairman Carl H. Hansen Carroll E. Bewley SELECTMEN NOTES TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication 4 List ofTown Officers 6 Selectmen's Report 2004 12 FINANCIAL REPORTS 2004 2005 Budget 15 2004 Detail ofExpenditures 20 Treasurer's Report 29 Report ofThe Trustees ofTrust Fund 31 Schedule ofTown-Owned Property 44 Report ofTown Clerk 46 Tax Collector's Report 47 & 2004 Property Valuation Tax Rate Computation 52 2005 Town Report Narrative 53 SANDWICH TOWN WARRANT 2004 61 Warrant and Minutes: 2004 Town Meeting 69 ANNUAL REPORTS Board ofAdjustment 82 Cemetery Trustees 83 Conservation Commission 85 Fire 86 Highway 90 Historic District Commission 91 & Parks Recreation 92 Planning Board 94 Police 95 Proposed Equipment Replacement Schedule 98 Samuel H. Wentworth Library 99 Sewer Commission 102 REPORTS: OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Sandwich FairAssociation 104 Vital Statistics (Births, Marriages, Deaths) : 106 Tax Exemption/Credits - Town Ordinances 1 10 — A Dedication and Thank You to Our Town Volunteers The business ofrunning a town even as small and neighborly as Sandwich is a complicated and relatively expensive matter. Elsewhere in this year's Town Report, you will encounter financial data tables, selectmen's reports, and other information provided by the paid employees ofSandwich. Those employees, ranging from the selectmen to the town clerk, town hall staff, road crew, recreation department staff, transfer station personnel, librarians and police officers do an admirablejob with the resources supplied by the taxpayers. Their work is appreciated greatly. However, there is a group ofpeople, far more numerous, actually, (although not as numerous as desirable), whose sacrifice oftime and effort year after year helps get the business ofthe town completed Our Volunteers Dozens and dozens oftownspeople . serve on a variety ofcommittees to further the interests ofthe town and do the necessary paperwork, inspections and decision-making that the wheels ofmunicipal governance demand in the 21^' — century. Volunteer work in Sandwich has a great variety some bodies meet only as needed, such as the Town Forest Committee, ZBA or HDC, others meet on a monthly, year-round basis, like the Planning Board and Parks and Recreafion Committee. Other groups, such as the Current Use or Budget Committees, meet for specific annual tasks during a particular season ofeach year. It would be criminal to overlook the twenty-one dedicated members ofthe Fire Department who, while compensated, are done so on a nearly token basis. A very rough estimate ofthe number ofvolunteers active in Sandwich town affairs is possible. It would appear that upwards of 100 citizens sacrifice their time to keep the town operational, although quite a few volunteers pull "double-duty", serving on more than one committee. Another rough estimate can be given regarding the number ofhours dedicated to volunteer town work. It seems our 100 or so volunteers together account for more than 2,000 hours ofunpaid labor on ourbehalfevery year! A common complaint by the committee heads and other volunteers surveyed for this report indicate that there is generally too much to do and too few people willing to do it. hi addition, there is a desire to be able to afford more time discussing important issues facing the town and less time in "boring" meetings. There is also concern that committees often act in some isolation and have trouble communicating with constituencies in town. While each committee or department that is dependent on volunteers faces their own specific problems, it is apparent that the volunteer force that the town relies on has done a more than adequatejob ofhelping to make Sandwich such an attractive and worthwhile place to live. Without their generous sacrifice ofboth time and work, often thankless, Sandwich would be a much — different place they are the lifeblood ofthe town, our volunteers. T0\ TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUNDS Richard L. Benton Jr.