Residents have plenty of opportunity this week to have a say in their government. The Londonderry School District Deliberative Session will be held Friday, Feb. 7, at the Londonderry High School cafeteria, and the Town Deliberative Session will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the above location. Both sessions follow the same format, with the Moderator setting the rules of the meeting and moderating the proceedings.
Each article on the respective warrants will be read, and the public will be able to speak to them. A vote will then be taken to move each article to the ballot, unless an amendment is proposed, in which case it would be discussed and a vote taken.
All articles will be moved to the warrants, and will be voted on by secret ballot March 11.
Friday Night School District Session
The school warrant has nine articles, the first of which is election of officers, which takes place by secret ballot March 11. Article 2 is a $4 million bond for renovations to all buildings in the district, with an estimated tax impact of $0.02.
Article 3 is the general fund operating budget of $66,240,583, with an estimated tax impact of $12.66, or the default budget of $66,545,528, with a tax impact of $12.75.
Article 4 is to approve the cost items associated with the collective bargaining agreement with the Londonderry custodians. Tax impacts are $0.02 each for the next three fiscal years.
Article 5 is to approve the cost items associated with the collective bargaining agreement with the Londonderry school support staff, with a tax impact of $0.03 each for the next three fiscal years.
Article 6 authorizes the school district to call a special meeting if articles 4 or 5 fail.
Article 7 asks voters to accept federal grants and other funds to support the school lunch program, with no tax impact.
Article 8 asks voters to raise $500,000 for the School Building Expendable Trust Fund, with tax impact of $0.14.
Article 9 asks voters to raise $100,000 for the Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, with a tax impact of $0.03.
Saturday Town Session
The town warrant has 15 articles, the first of which is election of officers, which occurs under secret ballot March 11.
Article 2 would change the elected position of Town Clerk/Tax Collector to two separate posts – Town Clerk, elected, and Tax Collector, appointed. If approved, the newly elected Town Clerk/Tax Collector will serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting, at which time a Tax Collector will be appointed. The separation of this position is expected to save the Town approximately $110,000 annually, as the Town Clerk position, which is elected, will not be eligible for retirement and medical benefits and will work part time. A tax decrease of $0.03 in FY 15 is anticipated if the article passes.
Article 3 raises and appropriates $100,000 for the Town’s Maintenance Trust Fund, with a tax rate impact of $0.03.
Article 4 is the fiscal year operating budget of $28,054,908 and a default budget of $28,086,186. Approval of the budget requires the town to raise $17,084,566, with a tax rate impact of $4.86.
Article 5 would raise and appropriate $490,322 from the Police Outside Detail Fund, with no tax impact.
Article 6 would raise and appropriate $2,629,815 for newly constructed sewer systems. Funded through user fees, there is no tax impact.
Article 7 would raise and appropriate $180,000 to upgrade the Highway Garage, with a tax rate impact of $0.05.
Article 8 would raise and appropriate $145,500 to complete a comprehensive review of all commercial, industrial and utility properties for the purpose of the state-mandated property assessment update, with a tax rate impact of $0.04.
Article 9 would approve the cost items in the extension of the collective bargaining agreement for 56 full-time police officers and 13 telecommunications and support staff police positions, and would raise and appropriate $102,473, or $0.03 on the tax rate for the increase in salaries and benefits.
Article 10 would authorize a special meeting to be called on cost items if Article 9 were defeated.
Article 11 would raise and appropriate $275,000 for the Roadway Maintenance Trust Fund, with a tax rate impact of $0.08.
Article 12 is a citizen petition to transfer supervision, management and responsibilities for the Town Forest from the Conservation Commission to the Town Manager. No tax impact is projected.
Article 13 is a citizen petition concerning political contributions and instructing state and federal representatives to amend the U.S. Constitution to say only human beings, not corporations, have constitutional rights, and money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech. This has no tax impact.
Article 14 would allow the Town Council to call one special meeting, at its option, to address cost items included in a collective bargaining agreement if one is reached between the Town of Londonderry and the local firefighters’ union. This article would have no tax impact.
Article 15 would allow the transaction of any other business.