www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com SERVING THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 [email protected] 122ND YEAR, 26TH ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011 75¢ (USPS 315-760) County delegation passes $35.9 million budget By KAYTI BURT putting together this budg- delegation. The executive [email protected] et…and, at the end, there committee voted unani- NORTH HAVERHILL— was a lot of compromise,” mously to recommend the The Grafton County delega- said Representative Rusty budget last week, though tion unanimously passed a Bulis, of Littleton, also head sacrifices were made by both roughly $35.9 million budget of the Executive Committee. sides that left few happy. A Monday. The budget repre- Several representatives majority of the cuts came in sents a $2.7 million increase thanked the executive com- proposed new correctional from this year’s, but a mittee, responsible for tak- staff. The delegation did $900,000 cut from the one ing the commissioner’s vote to restore a deeds clerk recommended by the com- budget recommendation, position eliminated in the missioners. and turning it into some- executive committee’s cut by “We worked very hard in thing to recommend to the SEE BUDGET, PAGE A10 Delegation says no Northern Pass By KAYTI BURT former and supporting restric- Utilities (Public Service of [email protected] tion of the latter. New Hampshire parent com- NORTH HAVERHILL— “It’s like David against pany), citing economic and The Grafton County delega- Goliath, and we are David,” environmental reasons for his tion talked through two heavy, said Representative Rick opposition. He introduced a intertwined subjects at Ladd, of Haverhill. non-binding resolution, stat- Monday’s county delegation Ladd was speaking about ing that eminent domain meeting – Northern Pass and the Northern Pass project, a should not be used for a pri- eminent domain – ultimately transmission project spear- vate, for-profit, participant- deciding to pass a non-bind- headed by Hydro-Quebec, funded transmission line or ing resolution opposing the NSTAR, and Northeast SEE NORTHERN PASS, PAGE A11 KAYTI BURT/THE LITTLETON COURIER Piano man— Executive Councilor and Grafton County Commissioner Ray Burton regales listeners with a few tunes on the piano last Tuesday afternoon. Local business community identifies concerns Health care costs, public sector benefits lead the list By KAYTI BURT week’s roundtable was part of the state over the next two [email protected] a months-long process to help years. LITTLETON— The identify what issues are on the “It’s a significant hit to Business and Industry mind of New Hampshire’s major employers,” said Juvet KAYTI BURT/THE LITTLETON COURIER Association (BIA), in conjunc- business community. in reference to the cut to hospi- Lanterns For Life— Paper bags filled with sand and candles lined the Relay For Life circuit at last tion with the Littleton Area BIA Vice President David tal reimbursement, calling the Saturday’s all-night American Cancer Society fundraiser at Remich Park. Each bag, or luminaria, is in Chamber of Commerce Juvet began the discussion measure a tax on New memory as someone died fighting cancer, for someone who continues to fight, or in general support (LACC), hosted a Littleton with a brief summary of the Hampshire’s hospitals. of the fight to end cancer. Business Roundtable discus- legislative session that ended While hospitals will contin- sion last Tuesday as part of a just last week. The big issue in ue to pay the Medicaid series across the state designed the past couple months has Enhancement Tax, a 5.5 per- to better inform the group been the budget, he said, as the cent on net patient service rev- what issues are of most impor- state works to bridge the enues on all hospitals in the Town office reorganizes tance to New Hampshire’s deficit. The $10.2 billion budget state designed to help the state business community. sent to the governor last week generate federal revenue, the “Our mission is to promote for approval represents an 11 state will not reimburse them Wiggett frustrated with layoff a healthy economy and to percent decrease in state for care of uninsured or watch the business communi- spending, but sees the elimina- Medicaid-insured patients. By KAYTI BURT as the current tax collector three days a week for six ty’s back in the legislature,” tion of more than 1,000 jobs The Medicaid program funds [email protected] prepares to make his exit, and months and four days a week explained BIA President Jim (with many already left vacant, only 50 cents for every dollar the town office drops to seven for six months, on his way LITTLETON—The town Roche to the room of local busi- this translates into roughly 200 of care. This would affect 19 of employees. towards retirement. The deci- office was the final depart- ness owners, public officials, layoffs) and cuts $230 million the state’s 26 hospitals. The ment to be hard hit by the “It’s going to be a tough sion was made just before the and concerned citizens. Last in subsidies to hospitals across SEE CONCERNS, PAGE A11 ramifications of last budget time,” said Selectmen selectmen made their decision season’s $745,000 reduction. Chairman Ron Bolt of the about whom to layoff, and The selectmen began to pre- “fairly significant degrada- Wiggett addressed the board Community project completes pare Monday, approving tion” in the number of Monday, asking why he was Interim Town Manager Fred employees at the town office. chosen to be fired, and why next round of sessions Moody’s suggestions on how There are seven remaining, no one told him that he would to reorganize the town office two of which are part-time. no longer be serving as health By ART McGRATH arose out of the fighting that The big hit comes in the officer. [email protected] led to town meeting in departure of Tax Collector Joe “It really bugs me because I LITTLETON—The latest March, when $745,000 was Wiggett. Wiggett will be serv- know I have been pretty session of the Littleton cut from the budget and 11 ing his last day as both tax col- devoted to the town of Community Project (LCP) positions eliminated from lector and town health officer Littleton,” said Wiggett. was last week, and partici- the town workforce. The 40 Associate Fellow tomorrow. He was one of the Wiggett, a former select- pants are tasked with going people are from various fac- town employees laid off fol- man, zoning board member, into the community to pro- tions within the community Hubert W. Hawkins IV lowing the $745,000 reduction school board member, and mote the project and how it and have been split into D.D.S., M.P.H. voted on and approved by the energy conservation commit- can help the town. three sub-groups, each with taxpayers, though he was the tee founder, among other The group of 40 people a specific focus. only employee whose termi- things, has been active in has been meeting since late One group is examining (603) 444-4141 nation was delayed until now. town government for a long April in a quest to try and how town government is Wiggett was slated to time. bring harmony to the vari- funded; another looks at DrHughsDental.com begin working part-time, SEE OFFICES, PAGE A10 ous factions in Littleton. It SEE PROJECT, PAGE A20 Littleton, N.H., 42 pages INSIDE 33 Main Street LOCAL INSIDE SPORTS . B1 COURT . .A6 Simons family Skateboard EDITORIAL . .A4 FROM THE FRONT . .A10 CARTOON . .A4 SPOTLIGHTS . .C1 honored for park planned REAL ESTATE . .B6 OBITUARIES . .A18 LETTERS . .A4 military service for Littleton POLICE . .A6 CALENDAR . .C7 A2 A8 CLASSIFIEDS . .B11 BUSINESS . .B14 A2 THE LITTLETON COURIER, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011 Local News Presidential candidates talk Northern Pass By KAYTI BURT eminent domain, making that would restrict the domain. This would, in theo- any level, be able to use emi- “We shouldn’t have that [email protected] some references to Northern state’s power to seize public ry, prevent the Northern nent domain for major proj- power given to the govern- NORTH COUNTRY— Pass, during a televised land for the use of a power Pass project from putting a ects that will reduce ment where they can take The presidential race is start- debate hosted by CNN and plant or transmission facili- 180-mile transmission line of America’s dependence on private land and transfer it ing to gain momentum, and WMUR at St. Anselm’s ty,” said Union Leader 90 to 135-foot towers foreign oil?” asked Distaso, to a private industry,” said with it comes more focus on College in Manchester. The reporter John Distaso, refer- through New Hampshire to specifically to Paul and the Texas Congressman and the Granite State and its project, a joint venture by ring to House Bill 648, funnel hydropower down Romney. former Libertarian presiden- issues. At the forefront of Hydro-Quebec, NSTAR, and which would prevent for- from Quebec to southern Paul’s short and defini- tial candidate. many New Hampshirites’ Northeast Utilities (the par- profit utilities from seizing New England. tive answer to Distaso’s Paul said that eminent minds in this race is the ent company of Public private land by eminent “Should governments, at question was “no.” SEE CANDIDATES, PAGE A10 Northern Pass project, and Services of New Hampshire) presidential candidates are is hugely unpopular, partic- beginning to weigh in on the ularly in northern New Simons family honored for military service issue. Hampshire where new Just a few weeks ago, rights-of-way would have to By ART McGRATH Burton, who himself served [email protected] Republican presidential can- be created.