2003 Annual Town Report FREMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE LiBerty Square 1909 Main Street andSandozvn 'Rgad . DEDICATION The 2003 Annual Town Report is dedicated to WILLIAM HOGAN Bill was a faithful participant in many Fremont Athletic Association activities. He served as a basketball coach from 1989 until 1995. He was also a minor league and Little League coach, taking several teams to championship games. He was active in many youth sport activities and was a great coach and there for all the kids; dedicated to children and to youth sports in Fremont. He will be fondly remembered. I love America because. She is respected and stands for greatness throughout the generations. George Washington became a leader in the cause of American Independence and earned the title "Father of his country." The Washington Monument shows Americans' gratitude and serves as a tribute to the first President of the United States. "The destiny of America was proclaimed in words of prophecy spoken by our first President in his first inaugural in 1789 - words almost directed, it would seem, to this year of 1941: "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered. .deeply. .finally, staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people." ~ President Franklin D Roosevelt The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We . .spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too Utile, watch TV too much. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~ Excerpts from a post - 9/11 message from George Carlin, whose wife recently died. Cover Photo from the Collection of Matthew Thomas p,ot3 ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE SELECTMEN, TREASURER, SCHOOL BOARD, AND ALL OTHER OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR THE TOWN OF FREMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 3 1 , 2003 INDEX OF REPORTS Dedication Inside front cover Appreciation 1 Historical Notes 2 - 4 Office Hours and Phone Numbers 5 • 6 Town Officers Boards & Committees 7 - 9 Warrant for the 2004 Annual Town Meeting 1 - 20 Town Budget for 2004 (Form MS-7) 21-29 2004 Town Meeting Warrant Article Narrative 30 - 35 Minutes of Town Meeting 2003 36 - 48 Summary of Inventory Valuation 49 Statement of Appropriations & Taxes Assessed 49 Comparative Statement of Appropriations & Expenditures 50 Balance Sheet 51 -52 Tax Collector's Report 53 - 54 Town Clerk's Report 55 Treasurer's Report 56 - 57 Auditor's Report 58 - 59 General Obligation Long Term Debt Schedule 60 Amortization of Governmental Fund Debt 60-61 Detailed Statement of Receipts 62 - 63 Detailed Statement of Payments 64 - 68 2003 Payroll Register 69 - 70 - 2003 Vendor Payments 7 1 79 Schedule of Town Property 80-81 Report of the Budget Committee 82 - 83 Report of the Building Inspector 84 Report of the Conservation Commission 85 - 87 Report of the Exeter River Local Advisory Committee 88 Report of the Fire Department 89 - 90 Report of the Forest Fire Warden & State Forest Ranger 91 Report of the Food Pantry 92 Report of the Health Officer 93 Report of the Town Historian 94 - 99 Report of the Library 1 00 - Report of the Library Trustees 1 01 1 02 - Report of the Parks & Recreation Commission 1 03 1 04 - Report of the Planning Board 1 05 1 09 Report of the Police Department 110-112 Report of the Rescue Squad 113-115 Report of the Road Agent 116 Report of the Board of Selectmen 117-118 - Report of the Southeast Regional Refuse Disposal District 1 1 9 1 20 - Report of the Trustees of Trust Funds 1 21 1 22 A Look at the Year in Review - From Town Office 1 23 - 1 26 - Report of the Zoning Board of Adjustment 1 27 1 28 - Report of Social Service Agencies serving Fremont 1 29 1 40 Vital Statistics 141-144 REPORT OF THE FREMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT Officers of the Fremont School District 1 45 Fremont School District 2004 Meeting Warrant 1 46 - 1 49 Fremont School District 2004 Election Warrant 1 50 - 2004 - 2005 Fremont School District Budget (MS-27) 1 51 1 57 - Fremont School District Meeting Minutes 2003 1 58 1 66 - Report of the Fremont School Board 1 67 1 68 Ellis School Statistical Data 1 69 - Fremont School District Three Year Plan 1 70 1 72 Report of the Ellis School Principal 1 73 2002 - 2003 Expenditures by Account 1 74 2002 - 2003 Special Education Expenses 1 75 Report of the Superintendent 1 76 - 1 77 2002 - 2003 Fremont School District Payroll 1 78 - 1 79 - 2002 - 2003 Vendor Payments 1 80 1 83 SAU 1 4 Budget & District Apportionment 1 84 - 1 85 - Independent Auditor's Report 1 86 1 87 APPRECIATION Commencing with the 1991 Town Report, the Town has annually recognized a resident who has given much of their time to the town. THE 2003 APPRECIATION RECOGNIZES PHILLIP PETERSON Many Fremonters know Martin Road farmer Phillip Peterson. His family farm stretches most of Martin Road in Fremont. The animals are visible in every pasture (and sometimes in the roadway!) Many years ago Phillip and his family were snowed in for days at a time when the winter weather was bad. They had to wait for the old Morrison plow to get there to break down the snow drifts that were mighty high in those days. Phillip loves to have people stop by his shop and talk about the good old days of Fremont, and what's happening now and for the future. Phillip is always willing to share his land for local people to enjoy themselves, like for flying planes and the annual snowmobile races. Philip was a Selectman in Fremont from 1970 to 1973. Thanks, Phil, for sharing your hearty values and work ethic, your wisdom and thoughts. Thanks for all you have done for Fremont and the people who are your neighbors and friends. Phillip contributed to our Town Report this year with photographs and a story of the 1927 Mead-Morrison Tractor. We hope you enjoy this trip back in history! 1 Thanks to Phillip Peterson for contributing these history tidbits. He is writing about the 1927 Mead-Morrison tractor that was the Town's first snow plow. Mead-Morrison . before the repairs Dear Folks, I am the Meade Morrison tractor that started out in around the year of 1927 as the snow plow for the Town of Fremont, and my home was in the Town Hall down cellar near the river, my breath is still on the ceiling down cellar. Well folks, the Town boys had no more use for me. They said I dug these fancy roads up too much and sold me to a fellow named Charley Page to work in the woods, so I left my warm home after all the years I spent in Fremont, and all the storms and keeping the towns people happy, and that was all the thanks I got, so they got rid of me. After a few years in the woods Charley wanted a bigger machine than me, so back on the road I went again and I ended up in the Kingston dump, pushing the dump. Conrad Magnusson was good to me, but after a few years of that Conrad decided he needed a bigger tractor with heaters and air conditioners, so there I went again. I thought I was on my way to the junk yard, but no I was parked on the side of a path and there I sat for another number of years, with the trees growing up all around me, bullet holes, engine is struck and in plain words, all gone. One day this oddfellow zvalked by me and a little way down the road he turned around and came back and just stood there and looked at me. While he was looking Conrad came by and asked him if he could buy me and Conrad said no, the oddfellow said if you ever want to part with me to let him know, so there I sat for a few more years.