Water and Sewer

The bids are in and the cost to build a traditional water and sewer system are now known. The bids were constructed to provide several different build out options. One option is to build the entire system. This would cost about $12.5 to $13 M and require town approval of an additional $3M. Within the Business District Development Committee there have been several related discussions including current and immediate future capacity needs and ongoing operational cost associated with a water and sewer treatment facility. The current choices are town employees or a private contractor.

Members of the committee have also identified and talked with three businesses that have plans to build/expand an additional 50,000 square feet of space if there is water. One of these business owners may go public at Tuesday’s meeting.

Yesterday morning at the monthly BDDC meeting we heard from a resident who proposed the town consider using a newer technology for waste water treatment. The claim is that newer type of treatment systems are less expensive to build, have the added advantage of increasing the system only need expands, and producing a more environmentally friendly end product.

By yesterday afternoon the Selectman were sent an email from the town manager with additional details on the newer technology. I have read the materials and have many questions. Does Bow own the land necessary to build such an alternative system? If so, is the land located in the area required by such a plant(s)? What is the continuing operational cost? All will be revealed on Tuesday night.

Town Manager Replacement

The interviews for a new town manager have been held in non-public session to protect the names of applicants who might not want their current employers knowing they are looking for a new job. As many of you know I have a strong commitment to the public’s right to know how their elected officials make decisions and in that way the public can make an informed decision about reelecting or not reelecting their representatives. Once the search has concluded I will ask the Board to vote to release all emails and any minutes to the public.

9-1-1 Committee

AKA/ the renumbering every house in town and the renaming of many streets committee

I anticipate the Select Board will decide on the make-up of the committee. I am proposing a representative from the PD dispatch service, the Fire Chief, a representative from the Heritage Commission and three town members. The issue was bogged down by different data bases for the town and state until I volunteered to help resolve the problem last January or February. By March the State was able to use synced data bases to develop their list of recommended changes for the Town of Bow. Their recommendations (note they do not provide any funding for their recommendations) include renumbering every house and business in town, changing many of the existing street names and taking houses currently on one street, creating a new street and placing these houses on the new street.

The committee will send out notifications to affected residents, hold hearings, develop suggested changes and report back to the Select Board. The Select Board will then decide on what if any changes are to be made.

BOW, N.H. — The town of Bow may have to renumber nearly every home and business in town and rename nearly a dozen streets to improve safety.

Officials said making the changes should improve response time of emergency crews. In one case, officials said, a mail carrier overturned his Jeep, and it took 15 minutes to find the road he was calling from.

Read more at WMUR

Upon arriving home that evening, admittedly somewhat disappointed, I sat at my desk reviewing the final stages of the campaign, when my eyes fell to a packet of literature that an opposing group of running mates had stuffed in citizens’ newspaper tubes near their mailboxes including my own.

The packet was headed by a copy of an official Town of Bow ballot with opponents’ names already selected. There was no indication that this was a sample; in fact, the seal of the Town of Bow appears in one corner, and the signature of the Town Clerk, our senior election official appears in the other making it an official ballot. Nowhere on that ballot is there any indication that this was only a sample, nor is there the attribution statement required by state law. The individual palm cards, or informational fliers for each of those other candidates were also lacking the required attribution notations… you know, the familiar, but in this case lacking indication, “Paid for by Jill Smith candidate for Budget Committee Telephone 603- xxx-xxx.”

Putting aside the disappointment, I researched the State of NH election laws and found RSA 664:14 that specifically requires an attribution statement so that people know who is responsible for campaign advertising and have a clear way to follow up with any questions they might have for the advertisers and candidates.

At that point, I was deeply troubled by the principles involved. First, the misrepresentation of an official ballot with pre-selection of candidates seems to me to be at least cheating – if not fraud. Second, the willful violations of the state law for attribution statements demand that the violators be held accountable. My choices were to:

• let the feeling persist that the citizens of Bow, my running mates, and I had been cheated and set the precedent that Bow candidates for School Board, Select Board, Budget Committee are above the law…that was unacceptable.

• file an election law complaint and let the Justice Department seek a fair disposition.

The latter course was for me the better choice since it takes emotions out of the picture and focuses on the facts. If we hope to raise our children to be law abiding citizens we must set good examples.

- Jim Hoffman, Bow

Related: Article from Union Leader

1. Dean Cascadden, Superintendent $141,633.92 + his son’s free tuition
2. John House-Myers BHS Principal $133,411.68
3. Deborah Gibbens BES Principal $127,964.50
4. Roy Bailey Technology $123,946.14
5. Kirk Spofford BMS Principal $119,013.39
6. Chrisopher Naime Science, BHS $111,346.28
7. Stanley Wawrzyniak Technology, BHS $108,056.45
8. Duane Ford Business Manager $105,872.14
9. Donald Gage Dean, BMS $105,403.88
10. Donna Girard Assistant Principal, BMS $105,216.67
11. Gay Longnecker Assistant Principal, BHS $104,387.51
12. Patricia Manning Special Ed $100,677.85

Notes: The average cost for health benefits is $20,000.00 per employee. Total Benefits for Gibbens and House-Myers is $38,000.00 each.
]]> http://www.bowcitizenscoalition.org/bow/2010/06/23/salary-and-benefits-cost-to-taxpayers/feed/ 7 http://www.bowcitizenscoalition.org/bow/2010/03/23/board-of-selectmen-agenda-march-25/ http://www.bowcitizenscoalition.org/bow/2010/03/23/board-of-selectmen-agenda-march-25/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:30:30 +0000 Admin http://www.bowcitizenscoalition.org/bow/?p=338 Board of Selectmen
March 25, 2010
AGENDA

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Municipal Building located at 10 Grandview Road, Bow NH.

I. Call to Order – 5:30 p.m.-Pledge of Allegiance

II. Public Input – All persons addressing the Board shall furnish their name and address.

III. Minutes of past meeting

1. March 2, 2010
2. March 9, 2010

IV. New Business

1. Election of BoS Chair & Vice Chair

2. Community Development Director Bill Klubben & Wright- Pierce Enginee Update on Water/Sewer Projectrs:

3. Yearly Committee/Boards Liaisons:
a. Advisory Task Force Bow/Concord I-93 Project
b. Bow Drinking Water Protection Committee
c. Budget Committee
d. Building Study Committee
e. Conservation Commission
f. Energy Conservation Commission
g. Heritage Commission
h. Highway Safety Committee
i. Planning Board
j. Recreation Commission

4. Appointments of Members of Boards/Committees & Commission

5. Sewer Rate Study

6. Traffic Count Study

7. FairPoint Request for Pole Licenses

8. RSA 155-B proceedings with 8 Old Hill Rd fire ruins

9. Discussion of Search Committee to hire new Town Manager

V. Old Business

1. Addendum to Fire Department Fees

VI. Bottom Lines

VIII. Adjournment

Tonight at 7PM at the High School the town budget will be voted on along with a warrant article to rescind the water & sewer $12 million bond ($10 M. is unspent at this time)and a warrant to let voters vote on the issue of gay marriage.

On Friday night (same time & place) the school district will be voting on the school budget and it is clear that Dee Trybig and Kally Abrams will attempt to increase spending in order to avoid teacher layoffs (Dee is a part-time Bow teacher and sits on the Budget Committee).

With regard to the School District the moderator, Mr. Hatem, has gone on record as saying he saw no problems with last years show of hands, voice votes or having non-voting outsiders protesting inside the polling place (the HS auditorium).

The School Board had asked Mr. Hatem to reconsider but as of this date he has refused. This will undoubtdly lead to motions from the floor to over rule the moderator. I understand many if not all votes will be by secret ballot.

I hope to see all of you tonight and certainly on Friday night.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Tom Keane

School
2 Seats School Board Members for 3 year term
Robert Louf (only vote for Robert Louf)

Town
(2 seats) Selectmen for 3 year term
Thomas Keane
Rick Hiland

2 Budget Committee for 3 year term
James Hoffman (Only vote for Jim Hoffman)

1 Trustee of Trust Funds for 3 year term
Robert R. Blanchette Jr.

1 Supervisor of Checklist for 6 year term
Susan Stevens

1 Moderator for 2 year term
Peter Imse

On this basis alone I could not cast my ballot for either woman. I do commend them for stepping forward but if you are truly interested in occupying a seat on any board in town please do your homework. Come and sit through some of the 4-hour or all day long sessions we have during the select board and budget committee process.

Robert Louf and Jim Hoffman have done just that. Louf and Hoffman have been to many of the selectman and budget committee meetings. They have shared ideas and given input at these meetings and have tried in many ways to find solutions through critical thinking and can speak their own minds. Hoffman brings with him the knowledge of what the retired folks in town are dealing with and listens to them and translates that to the board. Louf is involved in town, he volunteers on Little League and is a member of Rotary. He is out in the community and accessible to listen to townspeople and gathers opinions in this manner to base his voting decisions on the select board.

I urge you to vote for these two men who have shown interest and have already put their time in to hit the ground running when they are rewarded with the budget committee and selectman’s seat they so deserve.

In addition, Tom Keane and Rick Hiland are two gentlemen who have proven track records of understanding the town and where it needs improvement and change. Hiland is a businessman and lives in Bow so he pays not only personal property taxes but business taxes in Bow and has an ear to the business people in town. Tom Keane spends countless hours finding solutions to better the town and the schools as he sits not only on the select board but the school board also. I have personally seen him at numerous budget committee meetings and planning board meetings.

I urge you to vote for the candidates who are fiscally responsible and have put the time in to hit the ground running and who fully understand the workings of the town; Louf Hoffman, Keane and Hiland.

Feel free to discuss the poll here.

The election of Selectman (2), School Board Members (2), Budget Committee Members (2), Library Trustees and other elected positions. I am up for reelection to the Select Board and would appreciate your vote.

The one election that has controversy is for School Board. Mr. Coe is a candidate for a three year term on the School Board. Mr. Coe’s wife is the Dean of Humanities at Bow High School. I have heard from several people in town who believe this is an obvious conflict of interest.

Voting will take place from 7AM to 7PM on at the fire station

Wednesday March 10th – Town Meeting

At this meeting registered voters decide the town budget and every other warrant article, one article at a time.

There is likely to be an extended discussion over the warrant to rescind any unused funds from the $12 million dollar Water and Sewer Bond.

The town budget itself calls for less spending then this year and both the Select Board and the Budget Committee are in complete agreement.

There are more then two dozen warrant articles dealing with issues like new trucks and putting additional money into the town’s multimillion dollar Capital Reserve Fund.

I suspect voters will hear impassioned discussions on the need to reduce spending given the economy, loss of jobs and home foreclosures.

Voting will take place at the High School
The meeting begins at 7PM

Friday March 12 – Annual School District Town Meeting

This is the meeting where voters decide the size of the Bow School District’s annual budget.

This is likely to be the most divisive meeting this year.

Issue 1: Will there be a secret ballot? The answer is yes. Last year both registered and non registered/non-resident people were allowed to sit together throughout the audience. The problem occurred on both voice votes and show of hand votes. There was no way of verifying only legal voters were voting. The process produce many angry residents.

Issue 2: Both the School Board and the Budget Committee voted to adopt a budget that holds the line on increased spending.

The School Board looked at current and projected declines in school enrollment and determined that a teacher reduction was prudent. The board decided to increase core class sizes from around 17 to 22. The Budget Committee agreed with the School Board and defeated several motions by committee members Dee Treybig and Kally Abrams to avoid lay offs by increasing the budget more then a quarter million dollars. This issue will be decided by those registered voter who attend this year School District Annual Meeting.

Voting will take place at the High School
The meeting begins at 7PM

I am running for reelection to the Select Board and am asking for your vote and support.
Please let me know if I can put a sign in your yard. It will be up for 10 days.

Tom

Select Board – Elect 2

**Tom Keane – I have served on a number of town committees and am fortunate to have been elected to both the Select Board and School Board. There is no doubt that I am a fiscal conservative who believes in cost effective and efficient government services.

Rick Hiland – Rick is a long time active member of the Town Budget Committee and as such he has extensive experience with both the School Budget and the Town Budget. I have seen Rick at other committee meetings and he is an active member of the Bow Business group. Rick voting record is that of a fiscal conservative. He owns an automotive engineering specialty company located in Bow. I have not seen Rick at either School Board or Selectman meetings.
Colleen Hunter is a former Bow town employee who managed the town’s day care program. To my knowledge she has attended only one Select Board meeting three years ago to defend her position that town should compete with the private sector and operate a child care program. I can not recall seeing her at any meeting of the School Board or Budget Committee.

Jill Desrochers – Jill is an active member of the recycling committee. She is an adjunct faculty member at the Technical Institute (NHTI). She is a lawyer by training. I n three years I do not recall ever seeing her at one Select Board, School Board or Budget Committee meeting.

Leon Kennison decided NOT to run for reelection.

School Board – Elect 2

**Pansy Bloomfield is running for reelection. She has continuously served on the School Board since before there was a Bow High School.

Robert Louf is heavily involved with Bow youth programs and has attended many Select Board and School Board meetings.

Shawn Coe works for the Londonderry School system. His wife has appeared before the School Board in her role as the Dean of Humanities at Bow High School. I have repeatedly questioned the need for a Dean of Humanities especially when student enrollment has dropped so dramatically. It is apparently Mr. Coe’s judgment that he sees no conflict of interest problem with him sitting on the board. On his face book page he explains that the Superintendent and not the School Board determines administrative salaries therefore there is no conflict of interest. Even given Mr. Coe’s perspective, who hires and fires the Superintendent? The School Board.

Warren Fargo decided NOT to run for reelection.

Budget Committee – Elect 2

**Kally Abrams is running for reelection. In her three years on the Board she has voted most often to increase spending or against proposed reduction in spend. This year she voted to support increasing the School Boards Budget by more then a quarter of a million dollars.

Jim Hoffman is retired and has attended many School Board, Selectman, and Budget Committee hearings. He often presents well researched opinions that suggest a commitment to cost effective government. Mr. Hoffman’s previous experience was in private sector manufacturing.

Ginger Fraser is unknown to me. She and Ms. Abrams share yard signs so I would conclude she also supports increasing town and school budgets. To my knowledge I have never seen her at and Budget Committee, School Board or Selectman meetings.

Rick Hiland decided NOT to run for reelection to the Budget Committee but rather to run for the Select Board

Other candidates
Moderator -2 year term
Peter Imse -A member of Bow Rotary, lawyer and longtime Town Moderator. .

Trustee of Trust Funds 3 year term
Robert R. Blanchette Jr. – Unknown to me.

Supervisor of Checklist 6 year term
Susan Stevens – Has worked on the check list for several years.

Library Trustee 5 year term Select one
Norman Williams
Ingrid White