Peterborough was at the epicenter of a region-wide trend of petition warrant articles urging towns to become de-facto “sanctuary cities” but will be the last to take the vote.
The issue isn’t only prominent on the town’s ballot this year — with petition articles making up a third of the articles townspeople will vote May 9 — but is also a core issue for many voting on select board candidates this year.
Incumbent Tyler Ward, who has his first term as a Selectman under his belt, is being challenged this year by Andrea Cadwell, who is one of the group that originally authored two of the petition warrant articles, including one that requires town officials not inquire into a person’s immigration or citizenship status except in particular circumstances.
Cadwell holds a position with the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success in Manchester, which assists resettled refugees. Her involvement in the creation of and staunch support of warrant articles 9 and 10 are a key point in his decision to vote for Cadwell this year, said Peterborough resident Seth Chatfield.
“That is the issue to me this year, and that’s the other part of what’s motivating my vote this year,” said Chatfield — the other part being his belief that Cadwell will stand up for what’s right.
Cadwell entered the ring after the Select Board issued a statement asking residents not to vote for articles asking for Peterborough to become a sanctuary city, as it has the potential to threaten federal funds.
Ward said although he signed that letter as part of the board, it was only after it was amended to remove terminology that asked for voters to vote no on any article that asked “directly or indirectly” for Peterborough to be a Sanctuary City. The only petition article that calls for that specific language is article 11. The other relating to town officials asking about immigration status more specifically outlines the requirements, without using the phrase specifically — although “Sanctuary City” does not have a legal designation and are generally identified by similar policies to those outlined in both articles.
Ward said that personally, he supports articles 9 and 10, particularly after the town’s first deliberative session in April, when Police Chief Scott Guinard gave his blessing to them.
“I think they’ll pass,” said Ward. “And I have stated that if they do, I will work to make sure that they’re put into place if I’m on the board.”
One of Ward’s supporters, Terry Reeves of Peterborough, said Ward’s mindfulness was part of what made her support him three years ago, and again this election.
“I feel like he does his homework, he takes the job seriously, and he brings a calm and measured approach to things,” said Reeves. “I may not know all the issues that go through the Select Board’s office, because I just don’t have the time to follow it that closely, but the biggest thing is that I trust his judgment, and how he approaches decisions with thoughtfulness.”
But while Ward and Cadwell agree on their stances on the petition articles, they do have differing stances on the single largest monetary warrant article barring the town’s budget: A $1 million bond to rehabilitate the Town House — with the majority of that going to repairs to the roof.
“It’s a scary number,” said Ward, “but in reality that’s a fair number. The roof is leaking, plaster is dropping on people’s heads and that’s a building that we cannot afford to ignore.”
Cadwell, on the other hand, said she’s “not real comfortable” with the cost of the renovation, particularly when looking at the budget and proposed warrant articles as a whole this year. If the budget and all articles pass, it represents up to a 10 percent increase in taxes. The budget itself is set at $12.4 million for this year, which represents about a 5.8 percent increase from last year’s budget of $11.6.
“I’m worried about the rise in taxes and spending,” said Cadwell.
Ward said that having sat through the budget process, he found the budgets proposed by the town’s department heads to be “responsible” and that many of the increases and articles this year have to do with the town’s capital assets.
“We have assets and we have to take care of them,” said Ward. “I think most people can relate to this: Ignore that check engine light, and eventually it doesn’t work anymore.”
Along with the Town House bond, the town will be considering several leases during its Town Meeting on May 10, following the ballot vote on most other issues on May 9 — including a lease for new self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Fire Department, a new Police Department cruiser and a new sidewalk plow.
For both candidates, they said their future focus would be continuing ongoing work to find solutions to make Peterborough a more affordable place to live, particularly for younger people.
Ward said he strongly supported this year’s zoning amendment, which extends a village district allowing for smaller lots and frontage everywhere there is water and sewer in town, which he hopes will lead to smaller and more affordable development.
He would also like to continue to explore and support through the town’s Master Plan — which is in the process of being updated — ways to foster entrepreneurship.
Cadwell, too, said she was looking to be a voice of all classes in the community. Though the current conversations around housing and economic development are in the right direction, said Cadwell, she would like to see more outreach to the people that are most struggling to find housing and establish businesses.
“Talk to the people you’re interested in helping, instead of asking people who have already made it,” said Cadwell. “I think that already exists in town, but a lot more has to be done to bring more people on board.”
Ballot voting, which includes the budget, most monetary and petition articles, as well as voting for town offices, will be held at the Town House on May 9 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The third session of Town Meeting, which will include voting on bonds and leases, and a budget if the proposed budget is turned down at the polls, will be held at the Town House at 7 p.m. on May 10.
Official ballot articles for May 9 vote
Article 1. Election of Officers (Contested races)
Selectman (pick one):
Tyler Ward
Andrea Cadwell
Library trustee (pick two):
Marcia Patten
Ronald C. Bowman
Christopher J. DiLoreto
Article 2. Zoning Amendment: Traditional Neighborhood Overlay Zone II
Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment A as proposed by the Planning Board for the
Peterborough Zoning Ordinance as follows: To create a new section §245-15.4 “Traditional Neighborhood Overlay Zone II” to the Peterborough Zoning Ordinance, the purposes of which are to allow for higher density infilling of lots and additional residential housing in close proximity to the currently developed areas of Town where there are established subdivided neighborhoods, to allow for the creation of additional housing opportunities adjacent to the developed core of Peterborough, and to allow certain small-scale businesses as accessory uses to a residence.
Article 3. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the $14,847,037 for the support of general government, water and wastewater.
Article 4: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the $10,000 to be placed in the previously established “Geographic Information System Capital Reserve Fund.”
Article 5: To see if the town will collect a maximum fee of $5 and authorize the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund (pursuant to RSA Chapter 35) to be known as the “Transportation Improvement Capital Reserve Fund” for the purpose of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements, but not to be used for general road improvements, and to designate the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $3,000. This amount is funded 100 percent by the sale of deeds for burial lots.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the establishment of the Winter Operations Expendable Trust Fund and raise $23,500. The purpose of the trust fund shall be to support winter operations such as plowing, sanding, salting, snow removal, and other similar activities.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the following Capital Reserve Funds with said funds accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund:
Union Street Bridge Reconstruction, date of establishment Aug. 2, 2006, approximate balance of $50,376.72.
Financial Hardware/Software Upgrade, date of establishment Aug. 29, 2012, approximate balance of ($0)
Article 9. Resolution to Protect the Rights of Individuals (By Petition)
Peterborough Town Officials shall not inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of an individual, except where the inquiry relates to a legitimate law enforcement purposed that is unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law, or where required by state or federal law to verify eligibility for a benefit, service or license, conditioned on verification of certain status.
Article 10. Resolution to Protect the Rights of Individuals (By Petition)
The town of Peterborough affirms its commitment to the rights ensured by the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America and declares that in the town of (Peterborough) no person shall be required to declare their religious or philosophical belief or affiliation, nor to sign a registry for any belief or affiliation.
Article 11. Warrant Article (By Petition)
In order to ensure that Peterborough remain a safe and welcoming community for immigrants and be a Sanctuary City, the Town will direct that police officers and other town officials, in the performance of their routine duties in Peterborough will not ask any person about his or her immigration status and will refuse to share such information regarding any person with the United States Immigration and Customs(ICE) except in cases involving violent criminal activity or for violation of NH felony laws
The objective of this Town policy is to:
a) Reserve resources of local law enforcement to the functions properly assigned to them.
b) Encourage cooperation with law enforcement personnel by victims, witnesses and suspects of criminal activity, irrespective of their immigration status.
c) Serve the interests of economic development of our Town.
d) Preserve our diverse local cultural characteristics.
e) Avoid undermining community relationships and family breakups.