Peterborough residents received a virtual explanation of the town’s 2020 warrant on Tuesday night, delivered by Deputy Town Administrator Nicole MacStay. The session was held in lieu of a deliberative session per the town’s alternative Town Meeting plan, which complies with COVID-19 guidelines. Residents’ questions about the warrant will be answered at a follow-up virtual session on June 30, she said.
MacStay provided details on the town’s proposed 2021 budget and the financial impacts of the warrant articles, as well as explaining what a yes or no vote would accomplish. If the town fails to pass either Article A, which moves all items directly to a ballot vote, or the budget, Article 3, voters must gather to reconsider, as outlined in the town charter, MacStay said. There are no plans on how that open session would be conducted, she said. The failure of most other articles would result in the corresponding proposed project being delayed or suspended.
If all articles pass, the town will need to raise $7,714,734 through taxation, which is an increase of 2.4 percent, or $182,823 from last year’s amount. The 2021 net operating budget, which includes salaries, supplies, and regular operating costs, is up 0.1 percent, or $6,215 from last year, MacStay said. Capital improvements, which include large one-time purchases are up 20.6 percent, or $43,500 in the proposed budget. Debt service costs, including loan payments for approved projects like the Main Street bridge and library renovations, and ambulances, are up 1.2 percent, or $10,558, she said. Tax abatements, including credits for veterans and people with disabilities, are up 77.8 percent, or $116,750, after the town approved expansion of those credits last year.
“There is no change in staffing costs other than cost of living and merit increases,” MacStay said. “There are no new full time positions.”
A 3.2-percent increase in town employee salary for cost of living and merit applies this year, and health insurance costs went up 5.7 percent, she said. Staffing costs in the highway and IT and GIS departments corresponded with drops in the buildings and grounds and Planning and Community Development departments as staff were reorganized to better reflect their job duties, she said. Hires made after the public hearing on the budget on March 3 are not reflected in the budget, she clarified on Wednesday, which means the Town Planner and Community and Economic Development Coordinator positions are not listed.
The Police Department line items include a $56,000 increase due to promotions, and $15,000 towards a K9 program within the police department intended for searching for lost people. “This is not a trained attack dog,” MacStay said. An additional $5,000 is slated for window repairs at the station.
Other highlights in the operating budget include $25,000 set aside for consultants to oversee the Main Street Bridge project after Town Administrator Rodney Bartlett retires in December. Street lighting costs are down $10,000 due to LED upgrades, MacStay said.
The budget also includes replacing the town’s nearly 40 year-old snow thrower, with a $165,000 cost to taxpayers after an offset, and spending up to $40,000 on a building permit software package that keeps track of the approval checklist regarding building inspections and permits, and also allows online applications, she said.
Although it has no impact on taxes, the PEG station, which supports Channel 22, is spending $48,000 on improvements to the broadcast system, the West Peterborough TIF district is spending $256,000 on infrastructure improvements, and the Greater Downtown TIF district is spending $20,000 on a Main Street corridor study, MacStay said.
This year’s warrant covers the election of 18 town officials. There is one petition zoning amendment, which seeks to repeal the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay Zone 1 in its entirety. The Planning Board does not support the amendment.
■ Article A asks, “Shall this town meeting be conducted by ballot voting on the warrant articles, with no debate on the articles and no proposed amendment to any warrant article?”
■Article 3 asks voters to spend $17,057,941 on general government, water, and wastewater expenses for the coming year, beginning July 1, 2020.
■Article 4 asks voters to spend $73,100 on the following capital reserve and expendable trust funds: $5,000 to GIS, $18,100 to Police Department Fleet Management, $40,000 to Fire Department Apparatus and Equipment, and $10,000 to Winter Operations.
■Article 5 asks voters to spend $194,256 on the Bridge Reconstruction capital reserve fund from the unassigned fund balance, with no amount to come from taxes.
■Article 6 asks voters to transfer $3,000 raised from burial lot deed sales towards the Cemetery expendable trust fund.
■Article 7 asks voters to establish a Public Gardens and Planters expendable trust fund, which will be used to maintain and enhance the town’s public gardens, and to authorize the Select Board to expend it. Funds will be provided in part by proceeds from the Fred and Betty Fry Garden Fund held by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
■Article 8 asks voters to establish a Library Renovation Project expendable trust fund to retain funds that were previously appropriated for the debt service of bonds not yet taken, and to designate Select Board members as agents to expend. It also asks voters to allocate $220,746 to the account from the unassigned fund balance.
■Article 9 asks voters to establish a Transcript Dam Project expendable trust fund to retain funds that were previously appropriated for the debt service of bonds not yet taken, and to designate Select Board members as agents to expend. It also asks voters to allocate $73,976 to the account from the unassigned fund balance.
■Article 10 asks voters to discontinue the following capital reserve and expendable trust funds and return the remaining funds within them to the general fund: Financial Software, Union Street Bridge Reconstruction, and GAR Hall. There is $202.25 in the Financial Software fund and $0 in the other two funds.
■Article 11 asks voters to spend $270,000 to design, engineer and reconstruct the Fly Pond Dam off Summer Street. The article also authorizes the Select Board to apply for and accept grants for the project, such as from FEMA, and to follow all laws applicable to the project.
■Article 12 asks voters to spend $400,000 to put towards the Roadway System Upgrades capital reserve fund.
■Article 13 asks voters to spend $200,000 to develop a conceptual design, cost estimate and construction drawings for a new fire station on town land off Elm Street.
The Select Board and Budget Committee recommend Articles 3 through 13.
■Article 14 is a petition article that asks voters to spend up to $35,000 from the Greater Downtown TIF funds to install, operate, and maintain electric vehicle charging stations in the Riverwalk Parking lot. Implementation will not increase the tax rate. The GDTIF Advisory, and Economic Development authority support the article. The Select Board recommends the article, the Budget Committee does not.
■Article 15 is a petition article that asks voters to support a statement calling on state and federal representatives to enact carbon pricing legislation to mitigate the effects of climate change. The results of the vote will be forwarded in writing to state and representatives via the Select Board.
■Article 16 is a petition article that asks voters to adopt a resolution in support of Medicare For All, which, if supported, will result in the Select Board notifying New Hampshire congressional delegates of the vote.
■Article 17 is a petition article that asks voters to urge the new Hampshire General Court to redraw political districts in a way that ensures fair and effective representation of New Hampshire voters following the 2020 Census. Record of the vote will be transmitted to Peterborough’s state legislators and the governor.