Annual Report of the Town of Unity, New Hampshire
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNITY NEW HAMPSHIRE ANNUAL REPORT of the Selectmen and other Town Officers f&°°&\ Year Ending December 31, 2003 OFFICIAL OFFICE HOURS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS Selectmen's Office - Town Office Building Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 543-3102 FAX 542-5922 Selectmen Meet in Meeting Room - Town Office Building Mondays - 6:00 p.m. Public always invited. Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Town Office Building Monday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 542-9665 Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FAX 542-9736 Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Planning Board - Town Office Building 1st Wednesday each month 7:00 p.m. Landfill Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Summer Months - Wed. 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Health Officer - William Walton 863-3552 Building Inspector - William Walton 863-3552 Police Department - Dispatch 542-7040 Fire Department 1-352-1100 Dog Control Officer 542-7040 Library - Town Office Building 543-3253 Emergency Only Fire, Police and Ambulance 9-1-1 The Town Hall is available to rent for special occasions or meetings. Please call the Town Office for fee schedule. ?ug3 ANNUAL REPORT of the Selectmen and other Town Officers UNITY, N.H. Year Ending December 31, 2003 Bring your Town Report to Town Meeting March 9th, 2004 12:00 Noon for Business Meeting March 13th, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS Town Officers 3 Appointed Officers 4 Dedication 5 Selectmen's Report 6 Town Warrant 2004 8 154:1 Organization 13 Budget 14 Tax Rate Calculation 18 Treasurer's Report 19 Tax Collector's Report 20 Town Clerk's Report 23 Vital Statistics 24 Auditor's Report 27 Balance Sheet 29 Statement of Estimated & Actual Revenues 30 Statement of Appropriations 31 Report of Town Hall Project 35 Schedule of Town Property 36 Town Expenses 37 Crescent Lake Assoc. Milfoil Committee's Report 45 Historical Society Report 46 Conservation Commission Report 48 Volunteer Fire Dept. Report 50 Library Report 52 Old Home Day Report 53 Planning Board Report 55 Emergency Management Inventory 56 Current Use Report 2003 57 Landfill/Recycling Report 58 Highway Hours 59 Property Tax List 60 Trust Funds Report 75 Sullivan County Hospice, Inc 80 Sullivan County Nutrition Services 81 Southwestern Community Services 82 Lake Sunapee Visiting Nurse Assoc 84 Community Alliance Report 85 West Central Behavioral Health 87 Minutes of Town Meeting - March, 2003 88 UNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT School District Personnel 103 Unity Tuition Students 104 Unity Teachers 105 Treasurer's Report 106 School Nurse's Report 107 Nutritious Meals Report 108 Auditor's Report 109 Minutes of Elections of School Officials- Mar. 11, 2003 110 Superintendent's Report 116 School Board Report 118 Principal's Report 119 Budget 120 Unity School District Special Election Warrant 127 School District Warrant 128 ELECTED TOWN OFFICERS OF UNITY, NH 2003 OFFICE ELECTED TERM EXPIRES Selectmen - 3 year term Randall H. Bragdon 2003 2006 Mary 'L. Gere 2001 2004 Willard M. Hathaway 2002 2005 Town Clerk - 3 year term Rosemary Heino 2003 2006 Treasurer - 3 year term Mary Hall 2003 2006 Moderator - 2 year term JohnCallum 2002 2004 Supervisors of The Check List - 6 year term Susan Schroeter 1998 2004 Donna Vandegrift-Sweetser 2003 2009 Lois Palmer 2003 2004 Building Inspector - 1 year term William Walton 2003 2004 Library Trustee - 3 year term Martha Morse 2001 2004 Marguerite Hall 2003 2006 Kathy Morse 2003 2005 Planning Board - 3 year term Sandra Franklin 2001 2004 Terry L. Callum 2002 2005 Jeffrey Albright 2001 2004 Sue Schroeter 2003 2006 Randy Bragdon - Ex Officio 2003 2004 Trustee of the Trust Funds - 3 year term Marguerite Hall 2002 2005 Sally Teague 2001 2004 Carol Dombroski 2003 2006 Zoing Board of Adjustment - 3 year term Lyle Guynup 2002 2005 Cheri LeMere 2002 2005 Joy Meadows 2002 2004 Teresa Montieth 2002 2004 Tom Russell* 2002 2003 'Resigned APPOINTED TOWN OFFICERS OF UNITY, NH 2003 Secretary Priscilla Swensen Road Agent Alvin Smith Highway Employees Harold Booth, Anthony Coppola Tax Collector Rosemary Heino Deputy Tax Collector & Town Clerk Louise Chartier*, Brandy Osgood Deputy Treasurer Dorothy McClay Health Officer William Walton Landfill Attendants Vanessa Keith, Clarence Gee Sr., Dustin Vandegrift, Christopher Carrier*, Steven Day Jr., Joseph Lindenstruth*, Everett Baird III, Jeanne Kimberly*, Brandon Michard* James Romer, Warren Gee* Conservation Committee Ethel Jarvis - 2003 - 2006 Bardon Flanders - 2003 - 2006 Jenny Wright - 2001 - 2004 Ernie Bridge - 2001 - 2004 Randy Newton - 2003 - 2006 Stanley Rastallis - 2002 - 2005 Recycling Commitee Scott Nielson - 2000 - 2003 Vanessa Keith - 2000 - 2003 Jim Romer - 2003 - 2006 Sue Lawrence - 2003 - 2006 Alternates Ethel Jarvis, Jenny Wright Planning Board Secretary Ann McMahon Planning Board Alternates Ken Hall, Randy Adams Assessor Earls, Neider, Perkins Forestor Peter Rhoades Ballot Clerks Tyyne Cox, Pearl Verrill, MaryEllen Bellimer, Cheri LeMere, Mary Ruggles, Roberta Callum Animal Control Officer Jason LeMere* Sexton Fred Bellimer Police Officers Jason LeMere*, Aaron Reichert*, Mickey Michael*, Scott Hagar*, Matthew Lockhart Fire Warden George Dunn Deputy Fire Wardens Charles Hudson, Bruce Baker, Ron Cota, Linda Butterworth, Todd Gregory Civil Defense Jason LeMere Assistant Moderator Fred Bellimer Stewardship Commitee - 3 year term Jim Romer 2003 - 2006 Audrey Shepard 2003 - 2005 Mary L. Gere 2003 - 2004 'Resigned Alvin Smith - Road Agent This year, we would like to dedicate the Town Report to Alvin Smith in honor of his 25 years of service to the Town. Alvin has been working for the Unity High- way Department since April, 1978. He has decided to retire as of February 27, 2004. Although Alvin could run any machine or vehicle the town owns, liis favorite job was to run the old (and we mean OLD) grader. .the 1958 Austin grader. He is an avid fan of NASCAR, his favorite driver being the late Dale Earnhardt. In his spare time, Alvin enjoys growing flowers, feeding the birds and spending time with his grandchildren. Ifyou see "Smitty", as he is known by a lot of his friends and co-workers, wish him the best for his retirement. To Alvin...your retirement is well-earned, enjoy it... and keep collecting those Beanie Babies! SELECTMEN'S REPORT TOWN OF UNITY 2003 Reflecting on 2003, it had none of the drama of the move into a new facility, no expansion of the town garage, major road or bridge projects, additions on the landfill building or outward renovations to the town hall, as had been seen in previous years. It was a more subtle year of planning and minor changes, almost unseen, but essential for all the town's present and future functions. We ironed out some problems at the Town Office and were able to reduce some costs by correcting some phone installation errors and by putting our fuel oil and pro- pane needs out to bid. The Board of Selectmen granted preliminary approval for use of the Town Hall for a pre-school, ages 3-6, beginning with the fall 2004 school year. Final details are still being worked out. We were fortunate to have good project coordination between town residents Ray Hull, Phil LaBrecque and Peter Belanger, who added a rear emergency exit door and mini deck to the back of the building with an outside light, an emergency exit sign and a section of radiator removed and re- routed. The lower main section of the basement was completely emptied out. We will be seeking funds to paint the outside of the building and replace some rotten boards. We also will need to do some sill and entry work to the front of the build- ing. We are thinking of paving the walks for easier snow removal, a cleaner build- ing and, most especially, better handicap access. After several conversations with the leadership of the fire department, it looks as though we will be placing a warrant article on the ballot for 2004 to bring the fire department into compliance with RSA 154:1. This was at the request of the fire department to help relieve some pressure on the volunteers that run the department, especially with respect to the accounting and bookkeeping aspects of the department. The Unity Police Department hired a new officer, Mathew Lockhart, who com- pleted training in Durham, NH, and has been learning the ropes and patrolling in Unity part-time since September. Jason LeMere tended his resignation effec- tive Dec. 31st. The preferred course for the board was the hiring of a Police Administrator. This was the position created to hire Nick Picerno, our former Chief of Police. We felt that there wasn't enough money in the budget to cover this hiring and we would have to wait for the Town vote. With the department now having only one part-timer, the board felt there was a need for an interim solution for adequate police coverage until Town Meeting. After reviewing State Police coverage and a contract offer from Sheriff Mike Prozzo, the board voted to contract with the Sheriffs Department for a 14-week period to get the Town through Town Meeting. In addition to the regular Police Department line item in the main budget, an article will be on the Warrant for the voters to decide on the future course of the department. The landfill has continued it's steady move towards being full. The final costs of capping are slowly falling as materials are becoming more common and regula- tions a little easier. The most recent figures from Defrense-Henry total about $500,000 for closure. The Board of Selectmen do not currently have all of the final figures for the difference of trucking our waste to Lebanon, NH, or build- ing our own lined landfill.