2007 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 13th 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 13, and shall close not earlier than 7:00 o’clock in the evening; and you are further hereby notified to meet at the Newfound Area High School Gymnasium in said Bristol on Wednesday, the 14th 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 To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No. 1, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 modify the restriction on private subsurface sewage systems within 150 feet of a wetland so that this restriction applies only to leaching portions of the system. It will also apply the same standards used to issue a Special Use Permit within a wetland to the setback areas around a wetland.
Article 3 To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No. 2, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 give the Code Enforcement Officer authority to enforce the regulations in the Wetlands Conservation Overlay District in place of the selectmen. This will make the enforcement authority consistent throughout the Zoning Ordinance.
Article 4 To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.3, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 revise the definitions of “Setback” and “Setback Line” to make clear that these definitions are not limited to front setbacks and that they apply to any structure, not just the principal structure.
Article 5. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.4, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 clarify the existing regulation prohibiting more than one main residential building on a lot, by prohibiting more than one primary structure on a lot, except for lots which are entirely devoted to non-residential uses. The Downtown Commercial and Village Commercial Districts are exempt from this regulation.
Article 6. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.5, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 definition of “Abutter” to require that state standards apply in cases where properties are condominiums or are under other collective forms of ownership or are under a manufactured housing park form of ownership.
Article 7. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.6, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 replace the current definition of “Recreational Camping Park” with definitions of “Recreational Camping Park; Short-Term” and “Recreational Camping Park; Long-Term”, based on the length of occupancy. The permitted districts for either type of park are unchanged. The amendment will require septic connections for long-term sites in any recreational camping park and exempts long-term parks from the current dumping station requirement. It will also require trash collection facilities in all recreational camping parks. The term “Recreational Park Trailer” is defined.
Article 8. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.7, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 replace the definitions of “Dwelling Unit” and “Residential Dwelling Unit” with a single definition of “Dwelling Unit” to eliminate redundancy in the Ordinance.
Article 9. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.8, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 amend the Town of Bristol Floodplain Zoning Ordinance as necessary to comply with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Article 10. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.9, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
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 allow municipal off-street parking to be counted in meeting the off-street parking requirements for residential development with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the town meeting.
Article 11. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.10, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 10 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows?
Amendment No. 10, if adopted, will revise the boundary of the Pemigewasset Overlay District to be the center line of Merrimack Street rather than the existing 500 foot distance from the river’s ordinary high water line.
Article 12. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.11, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 11 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows?
Amendment No. 11, if adopted, will replace the specific (and outdated) criteria for granting a zoning variance with a reference to state law and the most recent decisions of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Article 13. To see how the town will vote on Zoning Amendment No.12, as proposed by the Planning Board. The complete text of the amendment is available for review at the Town Office, with copies also to be available the day of the election. The following question will appear on the ballot, and is not subject to further amendment:
Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 12 as proposed by the planning board for the town zoning ordinance as follows?
Amendment No. 12, if adopted, will allow for the use of interim signs in the Historic District pending Historic District Commission approval of permanent signage and for sixty (60) days after approval.
Polls close at 7:00 pm
and further action on the following articles at the Newfound Area High school Gymnasium in said Bristol at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2007.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars ($2,250,000)(gross budget) to construct Central Street Bridge, and to authorize the issuance of not more than the amount of Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars ($450,000) 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; with the balance of One Million Eight Hundred Thousand dollars ($1,800,000) coming from the State Aid Bridge grant, as part of the 80/20 grant program. The first semiannual bond payment is included in the operating budget (article 27). [This amount represents 1/2 of the total cost to construct the Central Street Bridge, the other half to be paid by the Town of New Hampton.] (2/3 Ballot vote required)
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate Four Hundred and Seven Thousand dollars ($407,000) (gross budget) for Waste Water Treatment Facility Plant upgrades, and to authorize the issuance of not more than the amount of One Hundred and Four Thousand dollars ($104,000) 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; with the balance of Three Hundred and Three Thousand dollars ($303,000) coming from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services grant funding. First annual payment to occur in 2008.
(2/3 Ballot vote required)
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget committee)
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand dollars ($668,000) for the police building project property acquisition, renovations, engineering and architect fees, and/or construction costs, and to authorize the issuance of not more than the amount of Six Hundred and Sixty Eight dollars ($668,000) 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.
(2/3 Ballot vote required)
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget committee)
Article 17. To see if the town will rescind Thirteen Million Four Hundred and One Thousand Nine Hundred dollars ($13,401,900) in bonding authority granted to the selectmen for the design and construction of the waste water system improvements by warrant article #3 of the 2002 annual meeting. (Majority vote required)
Article 18. (By Petition) To see if the town will go on record in support of effective actions by the President and the Congress to address the issue of climate change which is increasingly harmful to the environment and economy of New Hampshire and to the future well being of the people of Bristol.
These actions include: 1. The establishment of a national program requiring reductions of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the U.S. economy. 2. Creation of a major national research initiative to foster rapid development of sustainable energy technologies thereby stimulating new jobs and investment.
In addition, the town of Bristol encourages New Hampshire citizens to work for emission reductions within their communities, and we ask our Selectmen to consider the appointment of a voluntary energy committee to recommend local steps to save energy and reduce emissions. The record of the vote on this article shall be transmitted to the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, to the President of the United States, and to declared candidates for those offices.
Article 19. Shall we modify the elderly exemptions from property tax in the town of Bristol, based on assessed value, for qualified taxpayers, to be as follows:
for a person 65 years of age up to 75 years, $25,000;
for a person 75 years of age up to 80 years, $30,000;
for a person 80 years of age or older $45,000.
To qualify, the person must have been a New Hampshire resident for at least 3 years, own the real estate individually or jointly, or if the real estate is owned by such person's spouse, they must have been married for at least 5 years. In addition, the taxpayer must have a net income of not more than $25,000 or, if married, a combined net income of less than $45,000; and own combined net assets not in excess of $40,000 excluding the value of the person's residence.
Article 20. Shall we modify the disabled, deaf and blind exemptions from property tax in the Town of Bristol to be $30,000, taxpayer must have a net income of not more than $25,000 or, if married, a combined net income of less than $45,000; and own combined net assets not in excess of $40,000 excluding the value of the person's residence.
Article 21. To take a sense of the meeting as to whether the voters of the Town of Bristol urge the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager to seek additional sources of revenue (besides taxation and fees on taxpayers) and cost savings by means not limited to the following: the sale of municipal real property deemed non-essential to the public interest; public private partnerships which yield income and are in the public interest; recycling; the leasing of town owned equipment, property and facilities; and other cooperative ventures with neighboring municipalities which result in mutual benefit and overall savings.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to restructure the Capital Improvement Program Committee as a Committee of five (5) members appointed by the Selectmen as provided under RSA 674:5.
Article 23. Whether the Town will vote to discontinue the current budget process under RSA 32:14 (Municipal Budget Act), in favor of a budget advisory panel of five (5) elected members charged with assisting the Town Manager, Department heads, Capital Improvement Program and Selectmen with the creation of an annual operations budget and short/long term capital investment plan. (Ballot Vote required) Note: Under the statute the moderator must accepts ballots on this question for a period of at least one hour.
Article 24. Whether the Town will vote to establish the Budget Committee is comprised of five (5) elected members. This will result in a reduction of the current membership of (13) members to (5) members and if adopted will take effect beginning with the 2008 election and members will be elected for staggered three year terms. If Article 23 passes by majority vote this article is to be passed over.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate One Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Four Hundred dollars ($198,400) for the preliminary design of the sewer to the lake project, with the entire amount coming from an EPA grant.
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommend sum of $188,000 to fund the following capital items; the selectmen recommend the sum of $262,500:
Budget committee Selectmen
Floating Multipurpose recreational platform............. $0 $30,000
Police Speed Board.......................................................$0 $5,000
Ballot Counting Machine.............................................$0 $6,500
Highway One Ton Truck.............................................$85,000 $85,000
Study Sewer to the lake-seek funding....................... $15,000 $15,000
Police Cruisers(2).........................................................$28,000 $56,000
Fire Department energy upgrade...................................$25,000 $30,000
Water & Sewer Truck..................................................$35,000 $35,000
and to authorize the withdrawal of $41,851 from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund established for this purpose and to further withdraw $11,670 (1/3 cost) from the Sewer capital reserve fund and $23,330 (2/3 cost) from the Water capital reserve fund for the purpose of purchasing the water& sewer truck; the remaining sum to be raised by taxation.
Pursuant to RSA 32:7, VI, these will be nonlapsing, nontransferable
appropriations and will not lapse until the earlier of
2012 or when the respective project/purchase is complete.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the budget committee recommended sum of $4,547,533 for general municipal operations; the selectmen recommend the sum of $4,566,928 . This article includes the first of a semiannual payment for the Central Street bridge project in article #14 .
(Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to be added to the existing Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1.
( Recommended by the Selectboard) (Recommended by the Budget Committee)
Article 29. To transact any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
Given under our hands and seal this 22nd day of February, in the year of our lord two-thousand and seven.
A true copy of Warrant-Attest: Bristol Selectmen,
Richard Alpers, Chair
Bruce Van Derven Steve Favorite
Joe Denning Paul Fraser