To the inhabitants of the Town of Stratford in the County of Coos qualified to vote in Town affairs: You are hereby notified to meet at Fuller Town Hall on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. to act on Articles 1 through 16. The polls open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.
Article 1. To choose by non-partisan ballot the following Officers: 1 Selectman (3 years); 1 Supervisor of the Checklist (6 years); 1 Library Trustee (3 years); 1 Cemetery Trustee (3 years); 1 Trustee of Trust Funds (3 years); 1 Treasurer (2 years); and 1 Moderator (2 years).
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $617,038 for the operating budget and, if not, to see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate to defray Town expenses for the ensuing year. This article does not include the cost of any other warrant article.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $5,125 in donations to the following groups: $100, Weeks Medical Center Home Health; $100 Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health; $100 Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital; $100 Northern Human Services; $1,625 Tri-County CAP (fuel assistance); $2,900 Tri-County CAP Senior Meals (meals on wheels); $100 Tri-County CAP North Country Transit (bus service); and $100 Stratford Old Home Day.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote to accept the roads within the Wood’s Development since said roads were not brought to a condition that meets both NHDOT and town standards, as required by the 2009 town meeting.
Article 5. I hereby petition to place an article on Stratford’s warrant for the 2010 town meeting requesting acceptance of Wood’s Development roads as approved at the 2009 town meeting with the additional change whereby said road can have grades in excess of 8% but not more than 11%. Present regulations and guidelines governing subdivisions as approved in 2000 and Regulations by the Planning Board prohibit roads in excess of 8%. The road accepted in 2009 must meet NHDOT and town standards and show that it is located within the right of way as designed. (By Petition)
Article 6. We the undersigned registered voters of Stratford, hereby petition the Board of Selectmen to include as a Warrant Article at the 2010 annual Town Meeting the following: To see if the town will vote to approve the following resolution to be forwarded to our State Representative(s), our State Senator, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President. Resolved: The citizens of New Hampshire should be allowed to vote on an amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution that defines “marriage.” (By Petition)
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to withdraw the offer to sell 1.5 acres of land, located in Town Lot R25-29 on the east side of Percy Road, to Two Rivers Habitat for Humanity, as provided for by the 2005 town meeting.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,695 from the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund for the Town of Northumberland ambulance service and authorize the Selectmen to agree to the terms and conditions of and to sign the associated contract.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to dissolve the Ambulance Revolving Fund established at the 2006 annual meeting, with any remaining funds and accumulated interest applied to the town’s general fund.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a three-year agreement with Avitar Associates of New England at a cost of $19,800 for the purchase of software for assessment, tax collection, and town clerk records management, with $6,600 raised and appropriated in 2010 and $6,600 carried as line items in each of the 2011 and 2012 budgets.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a 30-year lease agreement with Tower Resource Management to erect a cell tower on town property to provide cell service and generate revenue for the town.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 to be added to the previously established Highway and Bridges Capital Reserve Fund. (Board Recommends)
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to be added to the previously established Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund. (Board Recommends)
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, for the purchase of firefighting equipment, $3,600 from the Fire Department Expendable Trust Fund established at the 2001 annual meeting and to further see if the Town will vote to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $591 to be added to the previously established Fire Department Expendable Trust Fund, with the full amount to come from the undesignated fund balance. (Board Recommends)
Article 16. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting and to hear reports from any agents or committees heretofore chosen.
Given under our hands and seal this 10th day of February in the year 2010.
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Frances L. Ruch, Chairman
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Larry W. Ladd
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W. Timothy Brooks
Board of Selectmen, Stratford, NH
A True Copy of Warrant Attest:
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Frances L. Ruch, Chairman
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Larry W. Ladd
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W. Timothy Brooks
Board of Selectmen, Stratford, NH