Recently in Issues Category
A fairly long discussion regarding two warrant articles that seek to raise $100,000 in new taxes and changes also occured at this meeting. The MCA was there and the following is what was discussed ( not in the Selectmen workshop minutes)
MCA
Article 17: An a appropriation of approximately $100,000 in new tax dollars (of a total cost of about $450,000) to partially fund a new soccer field next to the Lion’s Club and repair the Playground Drive soccer field. To fund this would require changing the Municipal Building Fund ( approx. $972,000) from a fund intended for building future buildings to a fund that would allow monies to design, site develop, equip and construct and make capital improvements. This was proposed solely to take about $107,000 to partially fund the new soccer field construction. Selectmen Charest was not in favor of changing the meaning of the
The MCA was there....
A hearing was held today @ 11:30am in
You will recall that HB0072 would increase by ten fold to 50 the amount of people required to sign a petition and also be present at Town Meeting to request a secret ballot. The rule that requires the current five persons necessary to request a secret ballot was put in place way back in 1971 and amended in 2006 to requiring them to be present.
Since this would effect Town Meetings throughout NH including SB2 Towns, the public including the MCA showed up to voice opposition.
There were so many speakers in opposition, the hearing ran longer than scheduled.
ALL SPEAKERS WERE OPPOSED. NOT A SINGLE SPEAKER SPOKE IN FAVOR OF HB0072!
Who spoke? Well, two citizens from Moultonboro, but many more from around the state who are adamantly opposed to this bill including:....
Is Moultonboro moving toward a Town Manager?
In order to have a town manager, the voters must adopt the provisions of RSA Chapter 37 at an annual meeting. The question must be included on the warrant.
In the following minutes from the Selectmen budget workshop of 1/9/2009, it is being suggested that the “Town Administrator being delegated day to day line authority over the CEO (Code Enforcement Officer) and Director.” Carter Terenzini proposed in the 12/10/2008 workshop to create an Office of Development & Inspectional Services (ODIS). At that meeting the CEO expressed his strong feelings that the CEO be independent and report only to the Selectmen. We would agree. The Selectmen are after all elected officials and ultimately should have authority directly over this important function. A Town Administrator serves at the whim of the Selectmen and unlike a Town Manager has no statutory authority (RSA Chapter 37). Most importantly the voters of Moultonboro have not been heard.
MCA
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The Citizen Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The townwide revaluation is nearing its end as taxpayers will be able to have informal hearings and information will be available. On Monday, the town released a statement that the state-required townwide revaluation of Moultonborough is about to enter its final stages, Moultonborough announced that Vision Appraisal Technology will shortly be mailing out informational letters to property owners of the town's approximately 7,250 parcels of land. The letters will state the property assessed value of land and buildings as of April 1.
Informal hearings will be available to property owners to ask questions about their assessments. Property owners who would like an informal hearing to discuss the proposed values should call Vision Appraisal at 1-888-844-4300 from Monday, Aug. 11 through Friday, Aug. 29, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The last scheduled day for hearings is Sept. 2. Topics of discussion can include an explanation of valuation, information on the property record card and the market data used to determine the proposed value. The town stresses that the notices being mailed out are not tax bills and Vision will not be able to discuss or predict the actual amount of the tax bill that will result. Informal hearings will be by appointment only and will be held at the town hall. If a property owner will not be able to attend one of the five hearing days available during August and early September, they can submit evidence they would like considered to Vision Appraisal, c/o Assessor's Office,
The Citizen July 12th. 2008
The Moultonboro Citizens Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to public involvement in town government, is pleased to announce that beginning on July 15th, 2008 at 7pm, the Moultonboro Selectmen’s meetings as well as other public meetings, will be broadcast in their entirety on Time Warner Cable’s public access channel. The first meeting to be broadcast will be the most recent Selectmen’s meeting, July 10, 2008. In addition and soon after broadcast, the meetings will also be available on the Moultonboro Citizens Alliance website: (Http://www.MoultonboroCitizensAlliance.org). This service is provided at no cost to the taxpayers of Moultonboro. It is completely a volunteer effort. We wish to thank all those who made this possible by contributing their valuable time and resources to this effort. The Moultonboro Citizens Alliance believes that providing this service to the public will greatly enhance citizen involvement and participation in local government. We are confident that our selectmen ,school board members and other public bodies will welcome this increased access to local government for the citizens they serve. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting our organization, please contact us via email at : MoultonboroCitizensAlliance@Yahoo.com or via regular mail : Moultonboro Citizens Alliance,
Note from the MCA:We have included additonal information to the Meredith News article covering this issue from the last selectmen's meeting so our readers can see this issue in proper context. Article 12 as well as the entire excerpt from the Selectmen meeting in February 2008 where the article was approved preface the newspaper article.
MCA
“The voters expectations should be followed,” he said. “It was made clear to them what they were voting on.” Hollis Austin, Letter to Selectmen
From Town Warrant 2008 :
ARTICLE 12
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine hundred ninety two thousand dollars ($992,000.00) to reconstruct Ossipee Park Road, a 7,200 linear feet Town road. The sum of Six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.00) to come from a donation already made by CG Roxane to offset the cost of construction the balance of Three hundred ninety two thousand ($392,000.00) to be raised by taxation.
From the Selectmen's Meeting Minutess, February 14th, 2008:
Karel read the article and commented that Ossipee Park Road is a Town road, which is in very poor condition and has not had reconstruction in many years. She feels it is a liability issue to the Town. CG Roxane has donated $600,000 towards the repair of the road, resulting in the Town having to raise $392,000 to pay for the balance. Karel added that LRCT has not offered to pay for any of the cost. Ed expressed his disappointment that LRCT hasn’t offered to pay a share of the repair. Al Hume commented that the Town will continue to be financially responsible for the road which will have a life expectancy and suggested turning it over to CG Roxane. Ed stated that he and Betsey have explored this and as the Town has a cemetery on the road; it still needs to maintain a road or at least a right of way. The Selectmen were asked if there had been an agreement between CG Roxane and LRCT about sharing the responsibilities for the road. Karel stated that she is not aware of any agreement. There was discussion about bonding the road during mud season and the necessary requirements. Natt King expressed his feeling that it is unfair that LRCT is blamed for not funding the road, adding that they contribute by preserving over 7,500 acres of open land in Town. The Selectmen were asked if LRCT pays taxes and they stated that they are exempt as they are a charitable organization. Karel asked for a vote. Recommended by Selectmen, 4-1. (Betsey)
The Meredith News July 3rd, 2008
BY ERIK ZYGMONT
MOULTONBORO — A couple residents have expressed disapproval of the selectmen’s May decision to amend the proposed plan for reconstructing
"It’s an attempt to be transparent and accessible to the
public... It’s better for the people."
Frank Michel . Former Meredith NH Selectmen.
BY ADAM DRAPCHO July 1st, 2008
MEREDITH — As the Inter-Lakes School Board tries to decide if it should record its meetings for broadcast, it will not have to look far to fi nd an opinion on the matter. Bob Longabaugh, an
"This is what it’s all about openness in government"
Denise Beauchaine,
Executive director for Lakes Region Public Access television
BY ADAM DRAPCHO July 1st, 2008
as cable channels 24, 25 and 26. There are twelve communities affi liated with LRPA through Metro-Cast, including
The following exerpts are from the published Moultonborough Selectmen Minutes of May 22nd and May 29th . It is followed by an article in the Meredith News on June 5th, 2008. We encourage our readers to contact/write/email the selectmen with any questions or clarification so as to be fuly informed on this issue.
MCA
From Moultonborough Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 22nd, 2008
Action Re:
From Moultonborough Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 29th, 2008
Cristina Ashjian presented her letter to the Selectmen regarding last week’s meeting Minutes. She asked that it be made a part of the record and proceeded to read her letter into the Minutes (attached). Ms. Ashjian expressed concern that the Minutes of May 22, 2008 did not detail the concerns expressed by her and other members of the audience concerning the reconstruction of
The Meredith News June 5th, 2008
SARAH SCHMIDT
MOULTONBORO — The Board of Selectmen voted for a design amendment to the oft-debated
