Francestown Selectmen are holding a public hearing next week to take public comment on the proposed 2020 town operating budget and Town Meeting warrant articles.
The public hearing is planned to take place Thursday, Feb. 6.
Zoning amendments, being voted on by ballot March 10, include an article to eliminate reference to an unofficial map. “Existing official textual description of zoning districts remains unchanged,” according to a draft of the 2020 town warrant.
■Update the “Outdoor Lighting Regulations” to add acceptable light sources “as technology develops cost effective environmentally friendly products.”
■Replace outdated guide reference with current guide reference under definitions for Sedimentation and Erosion Control Plan to algin the town zoning regulations with state regulation requirements.
The Planning Board voted unanimously in favor of all of these proposed zoning amendments.
The final zoning amendment proposed on the draft town warrant would add definitions for “Steep Slopes: under definitions to “provide the method for determination of a steep slope in a land development design or proposal.” The Planning Board voted 6 to 1 in favor of this article.
All proposed warrant articles would ask voters to spend money starting with the proposed town operating of $1,842,858.
Selectmen have also placed a request to allot $450,000 to various town capital reserve funds:
■$10,000 Future Replacement of Fire Equipment
■$30,000 Future Replacement of Fire Trucks
■$150,000 Future Replacement and Purchase of Highway Equipment
■$20,000 Future Replacement of Police Vehicles
■$70,000 Future Town Facilities Improvements
■$170,000 Future Town Road Improvements
This warrant article, if approved, would fund this expenditure with $65,000 from the unassigned fund balance and $385,000 raised by general taxation.
Selectmen ask in another article for voters to approve adding $5,000 to the Expendable Trust Funds and split it:
■$2,000 Master Plan Update Trust Fund
■$3,000 Legal & Public Assistance Trust Fund Said funds to come from the unassigned fund balance.
Also on the proposed town warrant is an article asking voters to spend $65,000 from the Future Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund to complete these town facility projects:
$35,000 Town Hall roof replacement
$15,000 Police station parking lot
$15,000 Horse shed repairs
Selectmen are also asking voters to approve $170,000 to perform necessary engineering, preconstruction and reconstruction activities for that portion of Bible Hill Road which would be funded from the Future Town Road Improvements Capital Reserve Fund. And $215,000 to purchase a new 6-wheel dump truck for the Highway Department with funds from the Future Replacement and Purchase of Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. And $10,000 to expand coverage of the stipend plan for the Fire Department, said funds to come from general taxation.
The last proposed article would ask voters to raise $10,000 through taxation to fund the Town’s 250th Anniversary celebration planned for 2022.
Drafts of the proposed budget and town warrant are available on the town’s website https://www.francestownnh.org/.
The public hearing is planned to take place Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the town offices, 27 Main Street.
Voting on Articles 1 through 5 will be by official ballot at the Francestown Town Hall, 2 New Boston Road, on Tuesday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The second session of Town Meeting voting is planned to take place Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. in the Town Hall.