ANNUAL REPORT Town of Nelson For the year Ending December 31, 2014 A well deserved lift after years of service Front view of Town Hall fully raised to receive new foundation Rear view of Town Hall in fully raised position Clerk of the Works – Russ Thomas Russ making notes in Library Lower Level Memorial Tribute George Nelson Warner Sr. 1933-2014 George Nelson Warner, Sr., 81, died Sunday November 9, 2014 at his home in Nelson following a period of declining health. George was born in Nelson, on September 18, 1933, the son of Don L. and Grace (Towne) Warner. After attending Nelson schools he went to work helping his family in their firewood business. At the age of sixteen, he began working part time for the State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation on the Road Recovery and Improvements crew. On February 23, 1958 George married Joan A. Murdough in a service in Nelson. That same year George was hired as a full time employee of the NH DOT. He retired in 1991 after serving for more than 42 years as a member of the road crew in the Nelson District. After his retirement from the NH DOT, George served as Town Sexton and custodian for the Nelson Congregational Church. He also kept busy doing odd jobs for folks in town. He was always working to support his family. The members of the Nelson Select Board wish to acknowledge with appreciation the many years of dedicated service that George gave to the Town of Nelson. Those of us who knew George will all agree that he was a good neighbor and a good man. Memorial Tribute Leonard Frazier 1930-2014 The Town of Nelson and the Village of Munsonville lost longtime resident Leonard Frazier this year. Leonard Frazier and his wife Marion are longtime Trustees of the Chapel by the Lake in Munsonville. The Chapel has been the main historical gathering center for the Munsonville District, as well as the place for United Methodist Church services for well over 100 years. The Fraziers have played a key role to the survival of the Chapel for almost 65 years. In a day and age where small town Churches have such difficulties, Leonard and Marion‟s contributions to the Munsonville Community are the main reason the Chapel has survived to date and will continue to do so. Leonard served the Town of Nelson starting in the Fire Department as the “Traffic Controller”. He was around when the first Nelson fire truck was donated to the Town by Mr. Coutu. This fire truck was a station wagon car. Leonard taught the other volunteers how to drive that first fire truck. If there was a fire in the Munsonville District, Leonard was the first to arrive at the firehouse, have the doors open and the truck ready, and would point the direction the truck would take immediately to address the issue at hand. When Joe Dobson ran the Village Store, Leonard & Marion would stop to get their mail and say hello to neighbors. The Chief of the Fire Department at the time was Mr. Wilder, and he had some severe back issues. Leonard always stopped at his home next to the Munsonville Fire Station to “give him a hug”, a big squeeze to help eliminate his back pain for the day! To know Leonard was to experience his joy in telling stories of Munsonville, where he lived his whole life. You could feel the times, the way life, and the priorities of the Village of Munsonville. We salute Leonard for his many years of service and dedication to Nelson and the Village of Munsonville. He will truly be missed by all who knew him. ANNUAL REPORT Of the Town Officers Nelson, New Hampshire For the year Ending December 31, 2014 Table of Contents Nelson Town Hall Rising to the Occasion………….………………………………………………………. Front Cover Well deserved lift and Clerk of the Works……………………………………………………………..... Inside Front Cover Memorial Tribute – George Nelson Warner……………………………………………………………… i Memorial Tribute – Leonard F. Frazier..……………………………………………………………………. ii Introduction Cover Page – Annual Report of the Town Officers of Nelson, NH….…….. iii Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………………………………. iv Town Officers…………………………………………………………….……………………………………...……. 1 Selectmen's Certificate…..……………………………..………………………………………………………… 4 Auditor's Certificate & Report…………………………………………………..……………………….……. 4 Town Warrant with MS-636…………………………………...……………………………………..…….…. 6 Proposed 2015 Warrant Articles and Budget Summary 2014……………………….………….. 20 Budget Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 2015 Budget’s Contributing Factors…………………………………………………………………………. 25 Article #5 Operating Budget Comparison Report and Expense Summary………….……… 26 Article #7 Library Support Comparison Report and Expense Summary…….………………. 39 Article #14 Fire Department Comparison Report and Expense Summary….…………….. 41 Article #25 Police Department Comparison Report and Expense Summary……………… 44 Article #28 Highway Department Comparison Report and Expense Summary…………. 46 Highway Equipment Report………………………………………………………………………………….….. 50 Treasurer's Report…………………………………………………………………….……………………………… 51 Summary of Inventory Valuation 2014 MS-1 and MS-1V…………………………….…………… 52 Balance Sheet………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 68 Revenue Report……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 69 Tax Collector’s Report 2014………………………………………………………………………….….……… 70 Summary of Tax Lien Accounts 2014……………………………………………………………………….. 71 Town Clerk’s Report 2014…………………………………………..………………………..……………….… 72 Vital Statistics 2014………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 73 Annual Meeting Minutes - March 11, 2014………………………………………………………….…… 74 Continuation of Town Meeting Minutes – March 22, 2014………………………………………. 80 Library Report - Comparative Statement and Proposed Budget 2014……………………… 85 Library Report – Income & Expense………………………………….……………………………………… 86 Library Report – Memorial Funds…………………………………………………………………………….. 87 Librarian’s Report – 2014…………………………………………………………………………………………. 88 Olivia Rodham Memorial Library Statistics for 2014………………………………………………… 91 Tax Rate Calculation with Village District 2014………………………………………………………… 92 Nelson School District Reports…………………….………………………………………………………….. 94 Nelson School Warrant………………………………………………………………………………………….. 95 Nelson School Warrant Election of Officers…………………………………………………………… 96 Nelson School Budget MS-26…………………………………………………………………………………… 97 Nelson School District Compliance Statement……………………………..………………………… 103 Nelson School District Meeting Report…………….…………………………............................... 104 Nelson School District Administrative Report…………………………………………………………… 107 Nelson School District Treasurer’s Report……………………………………………………………….. 108 Nelson School District Officers, Agents and Employees…………………………………………… 110 Nelson School District Principal’s Report….…………………………………………………………….. 111 Table of Contents (cont’d) Selectmen’s Report 2014…………………………………………………………………………………………. 115 Town Office Staff Report 2014…………..………………………………………………………….……..… 122 Town Buildings Committee Report 2014………………………………………………………………….. 123 Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Report 2014……………………………………………………………………..124 Municipal Records Board Annual Report 2014……………………………………………………………..125 Town Archivist’s Report…………………………………………………………………………………………….126 Cemetery Board Report…………………………………………………………………………………………… 127 Trustees of the Trust Funds Report………….……………………………………………………………….128 Conservation Commission's Report…………………………………………………………………………. 131 Police Chief's Report…………………………………………………………………………………………………132 Road Agent's Report…………………………………………………………………………………………………133 Planning Board Report………………………………………………………………………………………………134 Zoning Board of Adjustment Report………………………………………………………………………… 135 Agricultural Commission Report………………………………………………………………………………. 136 Olivia Rodham Memorial Library Trustee’s Report.…………………………………………………. 137 Emergency Management Report……………………………………………………………………………… 138 Fire Department Report………………………………………………………….………………………………. 139 Prevent Forest Fires - Regulation Poster………………………….…………………………………………141 A Quick Guide to Open Burning………………………………………………………………………………. 142 Joint Loss Management Committee Report…………………………………………………………….. 143 Granite Lake Village District Report…………………………………………………………………………. 144 146 Nelson Road Map…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 147 List of Town Properties………………………………….……………………………………………………….. Index…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………160 Inside Back Cover Town Government Schedule……………………….…………………………..……………………………… Nelson Town Hall - Winter 2014-2015 - Post Renovation………………………………………. Back Cover Town Officers Selectmen David Upton………………………………………………………………………….. Term Expires 2015 Susan Hansel…………………………………………………..…………………...… Term Expires 2016 Maury Collins……..…………………………………………………………………… Term Expires 2017 Moderator Richard P.Church……………………………………………………………………… Term Expires 2016 Trustees of Trust Funds Thomas Newcombe…………………………….…………………...…………..…… Term Expires 2015 Patricia Jones, Chair……………………………….………………………..…..…… Term Expires 2016 Elaine Giacomo…..……………………………...………………………………….... Term Expires 2017 Cemetery Board Thomas Newcombe…………………………….…………………...…………..…… Term Expires 2015 Patricia Jones, Chair……………………………….………………………..…..…… Term Expires 2016 Marty French…………………………………………………………………………… Term Expires 2015 Judi Lang………………………………………………………………………………. Term Expires 2016 Elaine Giacomo……………………………………………………………………….. Term Expires 2017 Supervisors of the Checklist Betsey Church…………………………………..…………………………………….. Term Expires 2020 Carol Newcombe……………………………………………………………………… Term Expires 2016 Hope Lothrop………………………………………………………………………….. Term Expires 2018 Trustees of the Library Carol Raynor………..……………………..……………………………….………….. Term Expires 2017