Recently in Municipal Needs Committee Category
"Through the Needs Assessment we are able to see where we are doing a good job and where we need to improve"
Lisa Morris, Executive Director of the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health
The Citizen June 3rd,2008
Area residents are being asked to participate in the Lakes Region Community Needs Assessment. This needs assessment survey is being distributed via postal mail, email and hard copy to residents of
The assessment is completed every five years. This year's assessment will seek to identify concerns in the areas of health, safety, community life, and social and human services. Results will be used to develop new programs and/or alter current services.
"Through the Needs Assessment we are able to see where we are doing a good job and where we need to improve," remarked Lisa Morris, executive director of the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health. "We want to encourage every resident of the Lakes Region to participate in this process."
The Lakes Region Community Needs Assessment survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com or through the sponsoring organizations websites. Beginning June 9, surveys will be available at all town/city halls and libraries for the before mentioned areas, and by calling 528-2145. The results of this assessment will be distributed in local newspapers in late fall.
This assessment is sponsored by the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health, Belknap County Citizens Council for Children and Families, Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Community Health and Hospice, Genesis Behavioral Health, LRGHealthcare, Lakes Region Community Services, Lakes Region United Way and the Taylor Community.
Editor, The Citizen: Previously the Recreational Strategic Planning Team presented a list, claimed to be 300 signatures, attached to the petition to the Moultonborough Selectmen, requesting a $375,000 warrant article (article 9) for architectural, engineering fees, etc. for the possible construction of a "Community/Senior Center" on the Lions Property.
As reported by Hollis Austin, in his 3/13/2008 letter to the editor, the Moultonboro Citizens Alliance checked and found there were only 264 signatures and when you delete five that signed twice, numerous unregistered, illegible or missing signatures, etc., the total was under 200.
Now let's see what happened at the Town Meeting on March 15th. An amendment to lower the dollar amount, of article 9, was defeated by a hand vote of 137 for and 148 against. Then the original article 9 was put up for secret ballot and it was defeated by a vote of 198 for but 256 against. The illusionary 300 signers were nowhere to be found as only 198 voted for article 9.
When the secret ballot was employed, apparently many voters felt comfortable to express their true feeling and voted article 9 down. With SB2 all articles including expenditure articles are voted in the ballot booth and voters are guided by their personal opinion and their conscience.
These same so called 300 signers influenced some of the selectmen to change their vote to 4 to 1 to recommend article 9. It was an illusion and that is something for us all to guard against.
Now I call on the citizenry to refer to and follow the suggestions of the Municipal Needs Committee report entitled Municipal Needs Committee 12 Point Recommendations on RSPT Proposal which is available on the MCA website www.moultonborocitizensalliance.org and it's in category titled Municipal Needs Committee. It's a logical 12 point plan to get answers to questions and proceed to work with other departments to achieve citizen's needs.
Jim Leiterman
Moultonborough
Town of
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Municipal Needs Committee
2008 Town Warrant Supporting Material
Presented to Selectboard
The Municipal Needs Committee had a work session on March 4th and the below two Warrant Articles were a matter of concern and discussion:
ARTICLE 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $375,000.00 for architectural, engineering, and related fees relative to the eventual construction of a community/senior center, fields, and related outdoor improvements.
ARTICLE 10
To see if the Town will vote to establish an expendable general trust fund, with the Selectmen as agents to expend, under the provisions of RSA 35:1 to be known as the Community/Senior Center Fund for the purpose of constructing and/or developing a community/senior center and related expenses and to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000.00 toward this purpose.
To assist the Selectboard and members of the community who ask “What is the $475,000 for?” the MNC has prepared the attached one page summary document. Values are extracted from the RSPT proposal and appendices. The new RSPT promotional flyer omits critical data needed for decision-making.
The warrant requests a specific dollar amount because the RSPT does have a specific concept to buy design plans for and do have specific cost estimates that were the basis for the A&E request. The MNC believes these initial cost estimates should be openly shared with the public. The MNC used the voluminous RSPT documents to produce a chart summarizing projected costs over the ten-year bond period. It identifies areas where costs were omitted demonstrating the burden will be higher than stated. Revenue and fees are not yet disclosed and excluded here.
Given the effort of the MNC to fully grasp the details within the ambitious RSPT proposal, the MNC wanted to share that same level of understanding with the Selectboard, and anticipate you will then share this with the public.
2008 Town Warrant Supporting Material
ARTICLE 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $375,000.00 for architectural, engineering, and related fees relative to the eventual construction of a community/senior center, fields, and related outdoor improvements.
ARTICLE 10
To see if the Town will vote to establish an expendable general trust fund, with the Selectmen as agents to expend, under the provisions of RSA 35:1 to be known as the Community/Senior Center Fund for the purpose of constructing and/or developing a community/senior center and related expenses and to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000.00 toward this purpose.
What is this funding for? What is the anticipated future project cost?
Item Description Item Cost Comments
|
Article 9: A&E and Fees Town Warrant 2008 |
$ 375,000 |
Approx 8% of estimated project cost to refine projected costs, finalize design plus some additional site analyses |
|
RSPT Estimated Bldg Cost |
$ 5,024,000 |
Pg. 35 RSPT proposal |
|
Interest on 10 Yr Bond |
$ 1,247,500 |
$5 M @ 4.25% for 10 Years |
|
Projected Operating Costs over 10 Year Bond (Adds 4 Full-time plus 4 Part-time employees to Recreation Staff) |
$ 3,198,300 |
RSPT proposal appendix (amount omits annual maintenance costs after year-one warranties expire, and excludes annual inflation factor on salaries, benefits, etc.) |
|
Recreation Fields and Beach Improvements |
$ 1,536,000 |
Pg. 6 RSPT proposal (amount omits any future maintenance costs) |
|
Recreation Feasibility Study |
$ 50,000 |
Town Meeting 2006 authorization |
|
Initial Lion’s Club purchase |
$ 495,000 |
Town Meeting 2007 authorization |
|
Projected Total Recreation Study & Implementation |
$11,925,800+ |
Full RSPT proposal in today’s dollars |
|
Average Annual Cost - 10 Years |
$ 1,200,000+ |
Approx $0.42 per $1000/Assessed Value |
|
Omitted Operational Costs |
$ ??????+ |
Adds approx. 5% - 10% annually |
NOTE: After the bond is fully paid, operational costs will run about $500,000 annually (or $0.25 per $1000/Assessed Value) before any future expansion.
|
Future Site Expansion |
$ ?????? |
Pool ($2,286,000 + interest + annual operating costs and 7 more staff members) pulled from consideration by RSPT Dec ‘07 |
Recommendation and Commentary on the RSPT Proposal
Prepared for the Moultonborough Board of Selectmen
Overview of What We Did
- We had a very good work session with the RSPT – they were very cooperative and helpful. We have sincere respect for the work the RSPT has begun for our community.
- To help us with our part of the responsibility set forth in the 2006 Warrant Article 25, we reviewed the work done by the RSPT, listened to and considered input from the community, developed an initial set of questions to further help us, and analyzed RSPT responses.
- In response to a few of the questions we received summaries of studies to validate some elements in the proposal.
- We held two subsequent work sessions to digest the work product from the joint meeting and finalize our conclusions.
What we Recommend as the Next Step
- Work with RSPT and other committees to lead the development of a set of alternate recommendations that incorporate a step or tiered approach, to be considered and implemented independently of each other, and that lays out a roadmap for satisfying immediate needs, projected needs, and affordable desired enhancements.
- Ensure the recommendations complement the Master Plan Update and input from the community.
12-Point Recreation Action Plan
After reviewing the RSPT proposal, discussing the information in more detail with the Team, and listening to commentary from our community, the Municipal Needs Committee is prepared to offer the following dozen items for your consideration. We acknowledge that the Master Plan, Master Plan Survey, and the Master Plan Update currently underway are key to any action.
The RSPT proposal is comprised of many elements, some with more compelling justification of need than others. It is our recommendation that the Board move slowly on most, and more expeditiously on a few. Our review of all the financials for the proposed development of the former Lions Club property plus proposed improvements at the playground and beach areas, including both the capital outlay and ongoing expense (without the pool), reflect a cost to the taxpayer after the first year to be roughly $0.51 per $1,000 of assessed value.
We will be pleased to discuss these in further detail or answer any questions.
- Put “first things first” – i.e., do not recommend a “community center”, “senior center”, or existing facility modification or upgrade until after the Master Plan Update is completed and further discussion within the community is held. Neither the “need” nor widespread and compelling “want” for a new complex in our town is clearly evident.
- Create a subcommittee under MNC to gather specific knowledge with regard to alternative scenarios and potential funding sources for a community center that, at first, uses the RSPT proposed center as a baseline. Produce a plan for community donation (similar to Moultonborough Library, Meredith Community Center, and Wolfeboro “The Nick” efforts) to lessen our taxpayer burden.
- Create a subcommittee under MNC to evaluate gymnasium and baseball field needs in town. This committee will produce compelling statistical evidence and documentation to support need. School and Recreation will be separate analyses to incorporate the documented trend of 15% reduction in enrollment over the next 5 years. Then, the two analyses combined for a Town-wide recommendation and solution.
- Given the high water table and geotechnical survey results to-date, plus input from abutters, the water issue at the former Lion’s Club property requires further study. Authorize not-to-exceed $25,000 to monitor the water levels at the test pits for a full year. The engineering firm to include a statement as to the limitations of the property, and options for use of the property once test pit results are determined. Then, at that time, informed decisions could be made with regard to not only what is possible at the site, but cost-effective. We are also concerned with run-off.
- Include not-to-exceed $25,000 in the 2008 Town Warrant to begin immediate repair of the drainage at the soccer field and baseball fields at Playground Drive. Create a subcommittee under MNC to work the details, including an alternate location for fall 2008 Soccer. Seek donations and volunteers to implement the improvements.
- Include not-to-exceed $20,000 in the 2008 Town Warrant to hire an appropriate engineer to study for remedy the lake-bottom issues at States Landing Beach.
- Task the Recreation Advisory Board to take on scheduling issues throughout town (Recreation and Athletics), including a system to plan and monitor all needs and wants. Include as output a centralized schedule that is posted on a town-wide website.
- Consider and analyze a relocation of the existing after school drop-in program to the former Lion’s Club facility where space appears to be more than adequate.
- Hold a series of community winter housekeeping days at the current Community Center to better utilize the space at this Town asset, i.e., clear out the large room currently littered with stored materials so it can support active use by the community.
- The Senior Needs Committee, plus others, to prepare a detailed recommendation with regard to specific transportation needs today, plus the next 10 years. Include participant counts, operating scenarios, and destination information. Address how this may or may not be coupled with the Carroll County Transit solution recently presented to the Selectboard. Incorporate into the Master Plan Update currently underway. If prudent and compelling, address at 2009 Town Meeting.
- Create a subcommittee under MNC to work the details and cost estimates, including volunteer and donation scenarios, for a park-like setting at Playground Drive as identified in the RSPT proposal.
- Before granting the go-ahead to the Hockey Dads to begin Ice Rink improvements consider a potential sharing of their building with Building and Grounds Department needs at this location. MNC can coordinate a complete recommendation.
