2008 Town Warrant
Bristol, NH Grafton, SS
To the inhabitants of the Town of Bristol in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire qualified to vote in Town affairs: You are hereby notified to meet at the Old Town Hall on Summer Street in said Bristol on Tuesday, the 11th day of March, next, at 8:00 o’clock in the morning at which time the polls shall be opened for balloting on Articles 1 through 12, and shall close not earlier than 7:00 o’clock in the evening; and you are further hereby notified to meet at the Old Town Hall on Summer Street in said Bristol on Wednesday, the 12th day of March, next, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening at which time action will be taken upon the remaining articles in this warrant.
Article 1 To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing,
Article 2 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 1, if adopted, will require that any condominium conversion that does not conform to the zoning, land use and site plan regulations of the Town secure a special use permit, a special exception, or variance, as the case may be, prior to becoming a condominium conversion.
(Planning Board recommends approval)
Article 3 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 2, if adopted, will, in the Lake District, prohibit the expansion of primary structures, in the absence of a use variance, if the nonconforming characteristics of the lot on which the structure is sited are such that no primary structure of any size or location would be allowed under current zoning regulations. Similar restrictions will apply to lots containing two or more structures when, due to insufficient area, the number of structures exceeds the number that would be allowed under current zoning regulations.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 4 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 3, if adopted, will, in the Downtown Commercial District, specify that a change from one non-residential use to another shall not cause any change in the parking requirement.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 5 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the planning
board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 4, if adopted, will create specifications for roadways, minimum lot size and setbacks in long term camping parks. Specific conditions include:
· Minimum Road Width:
o 20 feet (two-way)
o 12 feet (one-way)
· Parking prohibited on all streets
· Minimum area per campsite:
o All districts but Lake District: 5,000 square feet
o Lake District: 10,000 square feet with clustering encouraged on lots as small as 4,000 square feet when the overall density of 10,000 square feet per unit is maintained.
· Setback from campsite boundary: 15 feet
· Setback from camp buildings: 30 feet
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 6 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 5 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 5, if adopted, will modify the buffer protection standards in the Pemigewasset Overlay District to conform with the methods and standards used in the revised Shoreland Protection Act (RSA 483-B), which will apply to the Pemigewasset River as of April 1, 2008. Existing standards regarding lot sizes, frontage requirements and limits on impervious surfaces are retained where they are more restrictive than the standards in RSA 483-B.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 7 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 6 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 6, if adopted, will delete the definition of “Private Way” from the zoning ordinance. This term is not used anywhere else in the ordinance.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 8 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 7 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 7, if adopted, will delete the definition of “Variance, Hardship” from the zoning ordinance. This term is not used anywhere else in the ordinance.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 9 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 8 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 8, if adopted, will explicitly specify that junk yards are not a permitted use in any zoning district. It will allow registered automotive repair shops to store a maximum of six unregistered vehicles at their principal place of business and registered motor vehicle dealers to store an unlimited number of unregistered vehicles at their principal place of business.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 10 Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 9 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows:
Amendment No. 9, if adopted, will clarify the meaning of “airspace” – a term which refers to areas which are included when determining the permissible size of a sign – in the sign regulations by specifying that it does not include space between the sign and the ground.
(Planning board recommends approval)
Article 11 (Petition) Are you in favor of decreasing the Board of Selectmen to 3 members.
Article 12 (Petition) “Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 40:13 (known as SB2) to allow official ballot voting on all issues before the local political subdivision (Town of Bristol) on the second Tuesday of May.” Passage requires a 3/5 majority vote.
Polls close at 7:00 pm
and further action on the following articles at the in said Bristol at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-two Thousand Four hundred dollars ($2,992,400)(gross budget) to renovate the existing town hall building for the police department and renovate the historic town hall to be used for town offices, and to authorize the issuance of not more than the amount of Two Million Nine Hundred Ninety-two Thousand four hundred dollars ($2,992,400) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the municipal officials to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. The first bond payment will be included in the 2009 operating budget. (2/3 Ballot vote required)
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommended sum of $584,382 (gross budget) to construct the Borough Road Bridge project. Of this amount, the sum of $467,512 is to be received from a state aid bridge grant, with the remaining $116,870 to be raised by taxation. These amounts represent one half of the entire cost of the project and the other half is to be raised by the Town of Hill.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee
recommended sum of $100,000 (gross budget) for the construction of the Central Street Bridge project. Of this amount the sum of $80,000 is to be received from a State aid bridge grant, with the remaining $20,000 to be raised by taxation.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee
recommended sum of $12,000 to fund a fixed asset inventory for the town. This inventory is necessary to comply with Governmental Accounting standards.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee
recommended sum of $245,000 for an Erosion prevention project along Smith River Road. Of this amount, the sum of $183,750 is to be received from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, with the remaining $61,250 to be raised by taxation.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee
recommended sum of $25,000 for Transfer station design/ improvements.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to fund a preliminary
plan for Downtown improvements.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $30,000 for library building
improvements as part of the towns share of the overall library improvements project.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommend sum of $28,000 to fund the purchase of a Police cruiser as part of an ongoing replacement/rotation plan.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommended sum of $14,000 for a police radar trailer. Of this amount, the sum of $7,000 is to be received from a Highway Safety grant, with the remaining $7,000 to be raised by taxation.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $7,380 for the purchase of a
ballot counting machine.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a two year
lease agreement for $125,000 for the purpose of lease/purchasing a highway six wheeler truck for the Highway Department, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $62,500 for the first year’s payment for that purpose. This lease agreement contains an escape clause. (Majority vote required)
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 25. To see if the town will authorize Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand dollars ($575,000) for the purchase of an aerial ladder truck for the fire department, and to authorize the Selectmen to enter in to a long term lease/purchase agreement payable over seven years beginning in the year 2009. This lease agreement is subject to a non-appropriation clause which means that the lease purchase agreement may be terminated if a future town meeting fails to approve the funding. No tax rate impact to the 2008 budget.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget committee)
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $56,290 to fund the
following items:
Fire Breathing apparatus $21,000
Fire-Tools and equipment $11,100
EMS-Tools and equipment $3,000
Fire-Protective clothing $10,650
Fire-Radio Equipment $10,540
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, this will be a nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriation and will not lapse until the earlier of
2013 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to establish a Sewer to the Lake Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 and raise and appropriate $15,000 to be placed in said fund.
( Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 28. (By Petition) To see if the voters wish to discontinue the Sewer to the Lake Project. As there is no clear plan, as to how this will effect the future of our Town, both financially and developmentally.
Article 29. (By Petition) To see if the Voters will direct the Selectmen and the Town Manager to do a simple cost analysis of the increase of services over the last 10 years. This report would be corrected for inflation. This report would include all Town offices and Town Departments. The purpose of this report would be to give the Town’s people a clear picture of why the Town feels we need more Town Facilities and employees when according to the Town’s official website. Bristol has grown in population by 94 people in 6 years, from 3,033 people to 3,131 people from 2000 to 2006.
Article 30. (By Petition) To see if the voters want to schedule Town Meeting on a Saturday during the day. To see if voters think it would make it easier for the elderly and working voters to participate.
Article 31. (Petition) To see if the Town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor:
Resolved: We the citizens of Bristol, NH believe in a New Hampshire that is just and fair. The property tax has become unjust and unfair. State leaders who take a pledge for no new taxes perpetuate higher and higher property taxes. We call on our State Representatives, our State Senator and our Governor to reject the “Pledge”, have an open discussion covering all options, and adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommended sum of $5,398,431 for general municipal operations; the selectmen recommend the sum of 5,398,431.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 33. To transact any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
Given under our hands and seal this 14th day of February, in the year of our lord two-thousand and eight.
A true copy of Warrant-Attest: Bristol Selectmen,
Richard Alpers, Chair
Bruce Van Derven Steve Favorite
Joe Denning Paul Fraser