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WEARE
Middle school, 60 warrants go before Weare voters

By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Weare residents will vote on 60 articles in the upcoming election, though town clerk Evelyn Connor said the election of a new police chief will be the issue that will drive most voters to the polls.

“A lot of people are interested in who is going to be their new chief,” she said.

In last year’s election, residents voted to elect a new chief and this year will decide between five candidates – Peter R. Bailey, Gregory C. Begin, Walter L. Foote, Timothy “Tim” Galvin and Kevin D. Rautenberg.

Weare’s previous chief, Myles Rigney, was placed on administrative leave by the board of selectmen in November 2004. Voters decided to make the position an elected one because of controversy surrounding Rigney, who had a long-term contract with the town.

Also on the March 8 ballot is this year’s proposed town operating budget of $3.7 million. The anticipated tax impact per $1,000 of assessed valuation is $2.63.

If the budget is voted down, the default budget – last year’s budget plus obligated town costs – is approximately $3.6 million. Approval to spend $100,000 for a used fire department ladder truck is another article on this year’s ballot. If the vote passes, selectmen will take $75,000 from a vehicle replacement fund and raise $25,000 through taxes for the truck.

Although voters approved to tear down the old center fire station last year, no funds were appropriated. This year, voters will be asked to spend $30,000 to tear down the station and relocate the town well.

Zoning amendments
There will be 21 zoning amendments on this year’s ballot, including an article to institute growth management ordinance. The article, established by a citizens’ petition, asks residents to vote for ordinance that would establish a residential growth-rate to allow the community to provide services, such as education, systematically without overburdening taxpayers.

Other ballot items
Other items on the ballot include a $348,000 road reconstruction and resurfacing article, in which $226,000 are provided by highway block grant funds, and an article asking voters to put $250,000 into the town’s conservation fund to acquire conservation land. This article would add 64 cents to the tax rate.

Running for town office
Two seats are open for selectmen in the March election. James D. Blouin, Joseph Fiala, Charles Metcalf, Donna Osborne and Janet M. Snyder are the candidates.

Leisa S. O’Brien is running for checklist supervisor for a six-year term. Raymond J. Kelly is running for the three-year term library trustee position.

The cemetery trustee position is a three-year term position, for which Matthew Pelletier is running. Frank Farmer is the nominee for the three-year position of trustee of the trust funds.

Tiffany William is running for the board of fire wards, nonmember, for a three-year term, while David P. Hewey Sr. is running for the board of fire wards, member, for a three-year term.

Middle school is top issue on school district ballot
Connor said the proposal for the new Weare middle school will be the issue between both ballots that will draw the largest number of voters.

“The biggest issue for the town is the school,” she said. “Just the turnout at the deliberative session proves that.”

A record turnout of 251 people, according to Connor, crowded the gymnasium of Center Woods Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 8, for the school district’s deliberative session.

Standing ovations and roaring applause greeted the school board’s middle school proposal presentation. The new school will cover 131,000 square feet and house 920 students.

The estimated cost for the school is $18.5 million, which includes construction costs, demolition of the current facility where the new school will be built, asbestos abatement and furnishings, said School Board Chairman Matt Thomas.

The middle school will be paid for through a 20-year bond with a fixed principal of $900,000 per year. The board is planning on 5 percent interest on the bond, costing taxpayers $1.27 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for the first year, 2005-06; $3.66 per $1,000 during 2006-07, which is the proposed startup date for the school, and then declining over the next three years.

The tax rate figures also take into account 30 percent state building aid. Thomas praised the proposal for the new middle school.

“Every year we get a chance to change the course we have been on,” he said. “The problem is here with us until we solve it. There is no other solution for the community. That is the solution.”

A three-fifths vote is required to pass Article 1 for the building of the proposed middle school.

Parents of potential students of the new middle school praised the proposal at the February 8 deliberative session.

Many of them said the current Weare Middle School is unsafe and a poor facility for education.

“The current school is in disarray,” said Bruce Slabinski, whose daughter will attend the new school if it passes. “It’s a money pit – a very poor learning atmosphere. I’ve always been for the new school. One of the most important things for me is my children getting educated in a proper learning atmosphere.”

Other items on school ballot
Also on the school ballot, which contains seven articles, is the $9.2 million operating budget, which requires a majority vote. Other articles include one asking the district to raise and $25,000 to be added to the district’s buildings and grounds and playing fields expendable trust fund to provide for future upgrading, maintenance and development of grounds and fields. There’s also a ballot item to place 50 percent of surplus remaining at the end of the year, up to $25,000, in a capital reserve fund to provide for any future expansion of school facilities.

Running for school offices
Two seats are open on the Weare School Board for threeyear terms.

Helen Dutton and Judy Lamont are candidate on the ballot. Paul Levandowski is running for the one-year term school board member position.

Tina Pelletier is running for the school district clerk position, which has a three-year term.

School district treasurer has a three-year term. Naomi Bolton is running for that position.

No one has filed for the position of school district moderator in this year’s election.

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