January 29, 2010
 
Summary of 2010 Town Articles

Goffstown residents will gather to discuss the 2010 town warrant Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., at Goffstown High School.  

Goffstown operates under the official ballot law, commonly known as SB2.  The Feb. 3 meeting will be a chance for voters to discuss and amend articles on the Town Warrant, but they will not be voted on until March 9.

The warrant include eight zoning articles.  Residents will vote on these on election day, but there will be no discussion of them at the deliberative session.

Article 9 requests a $948,000 bond to replace a fire engine, 10-wheel dump truck and solid waste collection vehicle. Residents would pay for the bond over five years, paying $119,965 in the first year and $219,965 in the following four years. A three-fifths majority vote is needed for this to pass.

Article 10 asks for $114,514 for the South Mast Road drainage project. $57,257 would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and $57,257 would come from taxation. This also needs a three-fifths majority to pass.

Article 11 requests $19,208,477 for the town operating budget. The proposed budget is $717,497 less than the default budget, and $153,881 less than the 2009 operating budget.

Article 12 reqeusts $360,000 to purchase 25.46 acres of land to help meet the town’s need for sand and gravel.

Article 13 requests $15,000 to support the Goffstown Main Street program.

Article 14 asks for $23,000 to manage the milfoil problem in Namaske Lake.

Articles 15 requests the town to allocate a portion of the land use change tax to the administration of the current use program.

Article 16 requests the town to authorize snowmobiles shared use on the Goffstown Rail Trail for approximately a half mile of it 5.5-mile length.

Article 17 requests the town to authorize the Board of Selectmen to rent or lease municipal property for up to five years without further vote from the town.

Article 18 requests an amendment to the town’s noise ordinance. The article seeks to exempt the Department of Public Works from the noise ordinance while engaged in trash pick up and snow- and ice-removal operations. It also seeks to grant the Board of Selectmen the authority to waive any or all provisions of the ordinance.

Article 19 requests $390,000 for a land conservation easement.

Article 20 is a petition article requesting $600,000 to purchase 106.15 acres of property adjacent to Goffstown High School for playing fields and parking spaces.

Articles 21, 22 and 23 are also all petitioned articles that request no money.


RELATED INFORMATION:

• 2010 Town Warrant 
• Your Guide to Deliberative Session 
• Summary of 2010 School Articles
• 2010 School Warrant
• New Hampshire RSA Chapter 40: GOVERNMENT OF TOWN MEETING