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Latest Town Meeting Stories
Hudson school warrant unchanged after meeting
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Tuesday, February 1, 2011
HUDSON – There was a lot of discussion but no action, as voters didn’t change any of the school district’s spending proposals Saturday at its …
3 running for county attorney job
By MICHAEL BRINDLEY Staff Writer | Thursday, October 28, 2010
Three candidates are vying for the position of Hillsborough County attorney, including the sitting county attorney and two local attorneys working in private practice. Democrat …
Merrimack Town Election
Voters decide against saving 5 teaching jobs from elimination
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
MERRIMACK – Voters agreed with putting five teaching positions on the school district’s chopping block – a move that supports the School Board’s attempt to …
Merrimack Town Election
2 new members join board, council
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
MERRIMACK – Voters helped usher in change Tuesday, electing two new members to the School Board and two new members to Town Council. Shannon Barnes …
Cost doomed police contracts
By KATHY CLEVELAND and ALBERT McKEON Staff Writers | Sunday, March 28, 2010
Towns officials across the region are heading back to the bargaining table after voters swatted away police union contracts, despite one town’s last-minute agreement. Officials …
Cost doomed police contracts
By KATHY CLEVELAND and ALBERT McKEON Staff Writers | Sunday, March 28, 2010
Towns officials across the region are heading back to the bargaining table after voters swatted away police union contracts, despite one town’s last-minute agreement. Officials …
Cost doomed police contracts
By KATHY CLEVELAND and ALBERT McKEON Staff Writers | Sunday, March 28, 2010
Towns officials across the region are heading back to the bargaining table after voters swatted away police union contracts, despite one town’s last-minute agreement. Officials …
Cost doomed police contracts
By KATHY CLEVELAND and ALBERT McKEON Staff Writers | Sunday, March 28, 2010
Towns officials across the region are heading back to the bargaining table after voters swatted away police union contracts, despite one town’s last-minute agreement. Officials …
Christiansen keeps Hudson school seat
By JOSEPH G. COTE | Saturday, March 20, 2010
The numbers are new but the results are old following a recount of the Hudson School Board race. Lars Christiansen remained the winner of the …
Mixed results in marriage voting
By JOSEPH G. COTE Staff Writer | Saturday, March 20, 2010
A controversial petition considering the question of who should be married in New Hampshire did a lot worse in towns that considered it during traditional …
Amherst voters say no to bus, fields
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Thursday, March 18, 2010
AMHERST – More than 100 Amherst residents who have been using a low-cost bus service to get to medical appointments or the grocery store will …
Open space crowded out
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, March 18, 2010
AMHERST – A strong majority of voters made it quite clear at the polls last week: They’re just not prepared to spend tax dollars, no …
Citizens’ Hall plan defeated
By JESSIE SALISBURY Correspondent | Thursday, March 18, 2010
LYNDEBOROUGH – Voters at Saturday’s town meeting defeated a measure to establish a capital reserve fund for a future expansion of Citizens’ Hall for the …
Mont Vernon backs SB2
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Thursday, March 18, 2010
MONT VERNON – After approving use of the SB2 format for future meetings Tuesday, 116 Mont Vernon residents saw what would be the last traditional-style …
Wilton warrant gets voters’ OK
By JESSIE SALISBURY Correspondent | Thursday, March 18, 2010
WILTON – Voters at Town Meeting on Thursday approved everything on the warrant, and then added $50,000 to the operating budget to repair storm damage …
District voters OK $11.26m budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 17, 2010
HOLLIS – The voters who packed the Hollis/Brookline Middle School on Monday night for the annual Hollis School District Meeting passed an $11.26 million operating …
Voters OK all but one article at meeting
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Sunday, March 14, 2010
MONT VERNON – After the passage of using the SB2 format for future meetings Tuesday, 116 Mont Vernon residents saw what would be the last …
Voters say no to road bond
By KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
BEDFORD – Voters denied the $30 million road bond, which town council members, the town manager and the director of public works called “high priority.” …
School district moderator, active in town’s affairs since 1973, re-elected
By KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
BEDFORD – Ryk Bullock, the longtime school district moderator, won’t see his term end. Bullock beat Town Councilor Michael Scanlon by a vote of 2,145-1,529 …
Salary increases denied across the board in Bedford
By KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
BEDFORD – Teachers in the district won’t be seeing a salary increase next year. Voters denied increases for teachers, custodial and support staff during Tuesday’s …
Moderator, councilors retain seats
By KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
BEDFORD – Town moderator Ryk Bullock not only held another successful election, but he beat out Town Councilor Michael Scanlon to keep his position. As …
Vote lures only about a quarter of residents
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
BROOKLINE – A lackluster election with only five contests in 18 open town and School Board seats drew a lackluster response: Barely a quarter of …
Voters to decide co-op budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
HOLLIS – Voters who attend the annual Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District meeting on Wednesday will be asked to approve an operating budget of $18.45 million, …
Town meeting election results
Friday, March 12, 2010
This chart shows results for many races in area elections Tuesday. Not all races are shown, if the seat was relatively minor or uncontested. Results …
Voters deny Melendy Pond homeowners lease extension
By KELLY McGRATH and HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writers | Friday, March 12, 2010
BROOKLINE – There will be no extension for people who want to stay in their private camps on town owned land along Melendy Pond a …
Voters to decide co-op budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
HOLLIS – Voters who attend the annual Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District meeting on Wednesday will be asked to approve an operating budget of $18.45 million, …
Proposed school budget 2.3% less
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
HOLLIS – When they gather at Hollis/Brookline Middle School on Monday, voters will be asked to approve a Hollis School District operating budget that’s 2.3 …
All but 1 Hollis zoning amendment passes
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
HOLLIS – A controversial attempt to change zoning laws to allow mulch and compost to be stored and sold at private businesses drew much of …
Town meeting election results
Friday, March 12, 2010
This chart shows results for many races in area elections Tuesday. Not all races are shown, if the seat was relatively minor or uncontested. Results …
Voters approve Town Hall repairs
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Friday, March 12, 2010
HOLLIS – Town Meeting voters on Wednesday night approved repairs to Town Hall and some cleanup around Flints Pond, but rejected a collective bargaining agreement …
Voters pass amended $1.9m budget
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Thursday, March 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – Gay marriage, budgets and fire trucks dominated Town Meeting on Tuesday night for the more than 100 residents who showed up at …
Amherst passes $15m road bond
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, March 11, 2010
AMHERST – Voters have apparently had enough of bouncing and banging their way along Amherst’s roads, as 1,939 of them – 160 more than the …
Amherst OKs $23.4m school operating budget
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, March 11, 2010
AMHERST – Voters on Tuesday filled an open, uncontested Amherst School Board seat with more than 200 write-in votes for longtime resident Lucienne Foulks, who …
Lyndeborough voters approve historic district
By JESSIE SALISBURY Correspondent | Thursday, March 11, 2010
LYNDEBOROUGH – Donnie Sawain is the town’s new selectman. He defeated incumbent Lorraine Strube 169-92, in town elections Tuesday. Paul Martin got 74 votes. In …
Election ballot has been set
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Thursday, March 11, 2010
MERRIMACK – The filing period closed Friday in Merrimack, with plenty of contested races on tap for school and town positions. Dan Dwyer, Jacqueline Flood, …
Candidate’s night forum scheduled
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Exchange Club of Merrimack has announced that a candidate’s night for the School Board and Town Council will be at the Merrimack High School …
$1.7 million Milford school addition approved
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, March 11, 2010
MILFORD – Voters approved an addition to the Jacques School but turned down the School District’s operating budget Tuesday The $1.7 million four-classroom addition, which …
Fire/ambulance buy shot down
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, March 11, 2010
MILFORD – Plans to build a fire/ambulance facility on School Street suffered a setback on Election Day as voters rejected a $850,000 warrant article to …
Mont Vernon OKs budget, SB2
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Thursday, March 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – Gay marriage, budgets and fire trucks dominated Town Meeting on Tuesday night for the more than 100 residents who showed up at …
Zoning amendments get nod in Wilton
By JESSIE SALISBURY Correspondent | Thursday, March 11, 2010
WILTON – Steven J. McDonough is the new selectman, defeating Robert R. Duquette 255-203, in Tuesday’s election. …
Write-in snags board seat
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
AMHERST – Voters on Tuesday filled an open, uncontested Amherst School Board seat with more than 200 write-in votes for longtime resident Lucienne Foulks, who …
Amherst paves way
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
AMHERST – Voters have apparently had enough of bouncing and banging their way along town roads, as 1,939 of them gave the town the green …
Brookline voters fail to turn out at polls
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
BROOKLINE – A lackluster election with only five contests in 18 open town and school board seats drew a lackluster response: Barely a quarter of …
Voters turn down compost change
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
HOLLIS – A controversial attempt to change zoning laws to allow mulch and compost to be stored and sold at private businesses drew much of …
Approval of articles may put end to fence fight
By ALBERT McKEON and JOSEPH G. COTE Staff Writers | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
HUDSON – When the results were finally tallied Tuesday night, Joanne Radziewicz was excited and relieved. Voters approved two zoning articles that Radziewicz sees as …
Students get lesson in civic responsibility
By JOSEPH G. COTE Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
HUDSON – Most towns would kill for the turnout Alvirne High School delivered this year. About 110 Alvirne students were bused to the Lions Hall …
Teachers union granted 4-year deal
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
HUDSON – Teachers reversed their fortune at the polls this year, securing, on a second try, taxpayer approval of a new contract. Voters on Tuesday …
School budget OK’d
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
LITCHFIELD – Voters on Tuesday were in a more generous mood than last year. They approved a teachers contract after rejecting a similar proposal last …
Voters approve town administrator
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
LITCHFIELD – Residents welcomed the idea of a town administrator but rejected the concept of a committee that would investigate complaints of unethical behavior by …
Marriage article stays on town ballot
By TOM WEST Correspondent | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MERRIMACK – It took two secret ballots and two failed amendments, but voters at Tuesday’s Deliberative Session ultimately left a petition article unchanged asking residents …
Milford rejects School Street fire station expansion
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MILFORD – Plans to build a fire/ambulance facility on School Street suffered a setback on Election Day as voters rejected a $850,000 warrant article to …
School addition accepted, operating budget not
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MILFORD – Voters approved an addition to the Jacques School but turned down the School District’s operating budget Tuesday. The $1.7 million four-classroom addition, which …
Brookline approves $9m budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Saturday, March 6, 2010
BROOKLINE – Brookline voters approved an increase of about $500,000, or about 6 percent, in the Brookline School District budget on Thursday night. The $9 …
2 Hudson selectmen candidates don’t foresee cutting programs
Saturday, March 6, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Telegraph has asked candidates in major contested races in area towns to provide short biographies and answer a question. Answers from Souhegan …
Teacher raises, school fix call
BY KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 5, 2010
BEDFORD – Voters on Tuesday will decided on teacher and staff salary increases, along with a proposed $7.85 million bond to fix McKelvie Intermediate School. …
It’s for voters to decide on budget
BY KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 5, 2010
BEDFORD – Election Day is almost here. After two public hearings, a budgetary town meeting and lots of discussion, residents will finally cast their votes …
Councilor vies for 2 seats of moderator’s
BY KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 5, 2010
BEDFORD – On Tuesday, the town and School District moderator takes on a town councilor for his open seats. Ryk Bullock, who has held the …
Two running for Brookline seat
Friday, March 5, 2010
Two people are running for one three-year term on the Hollis/Brookline Cooper from Brookline. They were asked to answer one question: “Does this bad economy …
3 vying for 2 board seats
Friday, March 5, 2010
Three people are running for two three-year seats on the Brookline Board of Selectmen. They were asked to discuss the effect of the economy on …
Where to vote Tuesday
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hollis: Hollis/Brookline High School, 24 Cavalier Court, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Brookline: Douglass Academy, 24 Townsend Hill Road, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. …
Flints Pond cleanup at issue for town
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, March 5, 2010
HOLLIS – Voters who attend the annual Town Meeting Wednesday will be asked to decide whether to let the town take $106,000 from a reserve …
Where to vote Tuesday
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hollis: Hollis/Brookline High School, 24 Cavalier Court, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Brookline: Douglass Academy, 24 Townsend Hill Road, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. …
School board candidate gets chance to weigh in
Friday, March 5, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Telegraph neglected to include the response from Ralph Boehm among candidate biographies and answers to one question, printed in Thursday’s Telegraph. He …
Councilor vies for 2 seats of moderator’s
BY KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, March 5, 2010
BEDFORD – On Tuesday, the town and School District moderator takes on a town councilor for his open seats. Ryk Bullock, who has held the …
The bond is back in Amherst
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, March 4, 2010
AMHERST – Of the two dozen or so articles on this year’s town warrant, none is as visible – and indeed, palpable – to residents …
Guest commentary
Answers to road bond questions
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Editor’s Note: Bill Overholt, chairman of the Amherst Road Commission, has submitted the following answers to frequently asked questions about the road bond facing voters …
Budgets, contract to voters
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Thursday, March 4, 2010
LITCHFIELD – Voters will consider a new teachers contract and whether to form an ethics committee or change the style of town government, among various …
Litchfield School Board hopefuls weigh what to cut, leave uncut
Thursday, March 4, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Telegraph has asked candidates in major contested races in area towns to provide short biographies and answer a question. Answers from candidates …
Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-op School Board, 3-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three candidates are running for a three-year seat from Wilton on the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board. The Telegraph asked them to answer a question: “How …
Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-op, 1-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three candidates are running for a one-year seat from Wilton on the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board. They were asked to answer a question: “How do …
Lyndeborough selectman, 3-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three people are running for one three-year seat on the Lyndeborough Board of Selectmen. The Cabinet asked them to answer the question “Given the money …
Voters to decide fate of fees
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Thursday, March 4, 2010
MILFORD – Milford voters go to the polls on March 9 to decide on a myriad of issues ranging from land purchases to sewer upgrades …
Milford School Board, 3-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Four people are running for a pair of three-years seats on the Milford School board. The Cabinet asked them to answer this question: “Given the …
Wilton voters discuss funds at town meeting
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Thursday, March 4, 2010
WILTON – Voters at Town Meeting on Thursday, March 11, will address a number of topics in addition to the usual contributions to capital reserve …
Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-op School Board, 3-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three candidates are running for a three-year seat from Wilton on the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board. The Telegraph asked them to answer a question: “How …
Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-op, 1-year seat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three candidates are running for a one-year seat from Wilton on the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board. They were asked to answer a question: “How do …
Petitions pass to restore teachers
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 3, 2010
MERRIMACK – Two resident-driven petitions to restore teaching positions in the Merrimack School District passed untouched at Deliberative Session on Tuesday night. That means the …
Brookline will weigh proposed $9.02 million district budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Tuesday, March 2, 2010
BROOKLINE – The town’s annual School District Meeting, slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Captain Samuel Douglass Academy, is the season opener for a …
Towns could switch methods of voting
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Sunday, February 28, 2010
To SB2, or not to SB2? In several New Hampshire towns, including Amherst and Mont Vernon, that is the question this election season. Ever since …
Towns could switch methods of voting
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Sunday, February 28, 2010
To SB2, or not to SB2? In several New Hampshire towns, including Amherst and Mont Vernon, that is the question this election season. Ever since …
Budgetary meeting slated
By KELLY McGRATH Staff Writer | Friday, February 26, 2010
BEDFORD – Community members will discuss a $30 million road bond and a $5 increase in town motor vehicle registrations at the upcoming Budgetary Town …
Meet budget committee candidates
Friday, February 26, 2010
Two people are running for one three-year seat representing Brookline on the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District budget committee. They were asked this question: In light …
Towns will decide, is SB2 for them?
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
To SB2, or not to SB2? In several New Hampshire towns, including Amherst and Mont Vernon, that is the question this election season. Ever since …
Wilton-Lyndeborough two-year seat from Wilton
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How do you see the new combined school district as compared to the old system of three districts? James Tuttle: The new district should help …
File for office before March 5
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
The filing period for candidates in Merrimack opened Wednesday, Feb. 24, and closes Friday, March 5, at 5 p.m.. Here is the list of open …
Voters get say on town budget
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
MERRIMACK – Residents at the town deliberative session on March 9 will consider a town budget that has so far moved pretty quietly through the …
Petitioners force vote on positions
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
MERRIMACK – The school deliberative session on March 2 is likely to center on five teaching positions that were initially cut from the budget but …
State funding touted by backers of school addition
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
MILFORD – The need for an addition to the Jacques School is like the need for proper auto maintenance, School Board Chairman Peter Bragdon said …
Milford Board of Selectmen
Thursday, February 25, 2010
John Cass Sr. is challenging incumbent Tim Finan for a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen. How should the town deal with today’s financial …
Towns will decide, is SB2 for them?
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
To SB2, or not to SB2? In several New Hampshire towns, including Amherst and Mont Vernon, that is the question this election season. Ever since …
Towns will decide, is SB2 for them?
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 25, 2010
To SB2, or not to SB2? In several New Hampshire towns, including Amherst and Mont Vernon, that is the question this election season. Ever since …
Wilton-Lyndeborough two-year seat from Wilton
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How do you see the new combined school district as compared to the old system of three districts? James Tuttle: The new district should help …
3 of 4 incumbents on 2 boards stepping down
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Wednesday, February 24, 2010
MERRIMACK – Two major governing bodies in town are bound to have some new faces. Three of four incumbents on the Town Council and School …
Police union negotiations stall
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Sunday, February 21, 2010
The economic climate has many men and women in blue seeing red, as several local police unions have failed recently to reach contract agreements with …
Bills come due on school, Town Hall
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Saturday, February 20, 2010
HOLLIS – An unexpected mold problem at Hollis Upper Elementary School that delayed the opening of school last fall and forced administrators to move students …
Bedford ballot forms available
Friday, February 19, 2010
Absentee Ballot Request forms for the Tuesday, March 9 School and Town election are available at the Bedford Town Office Building and online via the …
H/B co-op officials propose $18.75m budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 19, 2010
HOLLIS – Officials in the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District are proposing 10 warrant articles that voters will decide on at the annual meeting in March, …
Committee offers up warrant articles for school, bell tower and roof repairs
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 19, 2010
HOLLIS – Only a handful of residents attended the public hearing on the school district budget at Town Hall, and only one remained, when about …
H/B co-op officials propose $18.75m budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 19, 2010
HOLLIS – Officials in the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District are proposing 10 warrant articles that voters will decide on at the annual meeting in March, …
Committee offers up warrant articles for school, bell tower and roof repairs
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 19, 2010
HOLLIS – Only a handful of residents attended the public hearing on the school district budget at Town Hall, and only one remained, when about …
Candidates on the economy
Friday, February 19, 2010
Does the current economy change the way a town should negotiate contracts with its employees? Why, or why not? Please be specific. Spencer Stickney: Yes, …
Lyndeborough taxes set to rise
By JESSIE SALISBURY Correspondent | Thursday, February 18, 2010
LYNDEBOROUGH – The town’s operating budget is up about $44,000 over last year, but revenues have decreased by about $123,000. The means the tax rate …
Hearing schedule, open positions
Thursday, February 18, 2010
MERRIMACK – Budget season is in full swing in Merrimack. Here is information about budget hearings and open positions for the town and school district. …
Restaurateur eyes moderator post
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, February 18, 2010
MILFORD – A local restaurant owner is challenging Town Moderator Peter Basiliere for the two-year position. Joseph Oneail, owner of Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen, said …
Vote gives birth to controversy
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, February 18, 2010
MILFORD – Officially, the town Advisory Budget Committee has taken no position on the fire station/ambulance warrant article. But if a telephone vote by its …
Milford School Board: 1-year seat
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Give an example of a school program that could be cut to save money and an example of a school program that should not be …
Mont Vernon school plan unchanged
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 18, 2010
MONT VERNON – Despite more than two hours of sometimes spirited, sometimes heated debate Thursday night among residents and school officials at a public hearing, …
Wilton Board of Selectmen: 3-year seat
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Given the money constraints on local government, give an example of a town service that could or should be cut to save money and an …
Co-op board, budget panel hearing set
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Monday, February 15, 2010
HOLLIS – The town Budget Committee will meet with the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District School Board tonight at 7 at the Hollis/Brookline Middle School to …
Guest Editorial
Deliberative session attains new potency
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A decade-and-a-half ago, the Legislature allowed towns and school districts to replace their traditional annual meetings, during which citizens spent hours talking over budgets and …
Ask for absentee ballots soon
Friday, February 12, 2010
Absentee ballot request forms for the March 9 school and town election are available at the Bedford Town Office Building and online via the Town …
Town Meeting 2010
School board, voters discuss budget proposal at public hearing
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 12, 2010
BROOKLINE – The handful of voters who attended the public hearing on the proposed Brookline School District budget for fiscal 2011 received a cut-and-dried briefing …
Committee holds tight to frugal budget
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 12, 2010
HOLLIS – Anyone who thinks democracy isn’t an endurance sport hasn’t attended a New England town meeting, or the public hearings that precede them. On …
Town Meeting 2010
School board, voters discuss budget proposal at public hearing
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 12, 2010
BROOKLINE – The handful of voters who attended the public hearing on the proposed Brookline School District budget for fiscal 2011 received a cut-and-dried briefing …
School budget recommendations still up in the air
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 12, 2010
HOLLIS – After four hours of debate at the public hearing on the school district budget the Budget Committee decided to reconvene next week after …
Voters to discuss $29.34m budget
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Friday, February 12, 2010
MERRIMACK – Next year’s town spending proposal went through with hardly a peep from residents at the official budget hearing Thursday night. Just two residents …
Fact-finder’s report up for vote at election
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
AMHERST – Voters will choose on March 9 whether to accept a fact-finder’s report filed last month in connection with the impasse in contract negotiations …
School district deliberative session quiet
Thursday, February 11, 2010
AMHERST – A brief debate over cost of living raises for non-union and support staff and a short discussion on the funding formula for the …
Budget panel also rejects contract for fire, police
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
HOLLIS – Count members of the town Budget Committee among those who think a proposed contract for police and firefighters isn’t in the best interest …
Voters to decide on school addition for 3rd time
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
WILTON – At the request of the Lyndeborough Budget Committee, a plan for an addition to the Central School will go before voters for the …
Cooperative school district meeting draws budget confusion
Thursday, February 11, 2010
WILTON – The first budget hearing for the new, combined Wilton/Lyndeborough Cooperative School District saw lots of confusion and lots of attempts to hold down …
Voters to decide on school addition for 3rd time
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
WILTON – At the request of the Lyndeborough Budget Committee, a plan for an addition to the Central School will go before voters for the …
Youth activities funding on deck again
By KAREN LOVETT Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MERRIMACK – Funding for youth activities in Merrimack has been a popular topic during recent budget discussions. Those talks may heat up again tonight at …
Town Meeting 2010
Milford voters put land buy question to ballot
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MILFORD – Voters will see 29 warrant articles on the ballot when they go to the polls in March, following the Milford Deliberative Session at …
Voters increase school budget to return cut positions
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MILFORD – Saying they want to avoid cuts to teaching hours, voters last week added money back into the district operating budget. The School Board’s …
Voters in Mont Vernon discuss town budget
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – A handful of residents bantered back and forth about the town’s proposed operating budget and several other articles on this year’s town …
Budget is shaved $10.5k at hearing
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – A handful of residents bantered back and forth about the town’s proposed operating budget and several other articles on this year’s town …
Voters in Mont Vernon discuss town budget
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – A handful of residents bantered back and forth about the town’s proposed operating budget and several other articles on this year’s town …
Budget is shaved $10.5k at hearing
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
MONT VERNON – A handful of residents bantered back and forth about the town’s proposed operating budget and several other articles on this year’s town …
Cooperative school district meeting draws budget confusion
Thursday, February 11, 2010
WILTON – The first budget hearing for the new, combined Wilton/Lyndeborough Cooperative School District saw lots of confusion and lots of attempts to hold down …
Voters to decide on school addition for 3rd time
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Thursday, February 11, 2010
WILTON – At the request of the Lyndeborough Budget Committee, a plan for an addition to the Central School will go before voters for the …
Town Meeting 2010
Voters voice their concerns
By TOM WEST Correspondent | Sunday, February 7, 2010
HUDSON – Voters at Saturday’s annual Deliberative Session overwhelmingly endorsed an amended warrant article that would give local police a 3 percent cost of living …
Town Meeting 2010
Milford to decide on $850k land buy
By ANDREW SYLVIA Correspondent | Sunday, February 7, 2010
MILFORD – Voters will see 29 warrant articles on the ballot when they go to the polls in March following the Milford Deliberative Session at …
Town Meeting 2010
Litchfield school budget left as is
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Sunday, February 7, 2010
LITCHFIELD – Voters who attended the school district budget deliberative session on Saturday could have altered the proposed $20.53 operating budget, but after close to …
Town Meeting 2010
Amherst: Operating budget will go on warrant as proposed
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Saturday, February 6, 2010
AMHERST – A brief debate over cost of living raises for nonunion and support staff and a short discussion on the funding formula for the …
Town Meeting 2010
Brookline increases kept minimal
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Saturday, February 6, 2010
BROOKLINE – The handful of voters who attended the public hearing on the proposed Brookline School District budget for fiscal 2011 received a cut-and-dried briefing …
Town Meeting 2010
WLC cuts position hours, transportation
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Saturday, February 6, 2010
WILTON – The first budget hearing for the new combined Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District saw lots of confusion and lots of attempts to hold costs …
Town Meeting 2010
Milford moves to reinstate staff hours
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Saturday, February 6, 2010
MILFORD – Last week, School Board member Bob Willette wrote a letter to the editor explaining his opposition to building an addition to Jacques School. …
Town Meeting 2010
WLC cuts position hours, transportation
By JESSIE SALISBURY Staff Writer | Saturday, February 6, 2010
WILTON – The first budget hearing for the new combined Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District saw lots of confusion and lots of attempts to hold costs …
Budget would add 2 cents to tax rate
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Friday, February 5, 2010
AMHERST – Nobody turned into a pumpkin, but there were plenty of droopy eyelids focusing on the exit door when the Amherst town Deliberative Session …
Hollis spending plans to be heard
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, February 5, 2010
HOLLIS – Officials say they are hoping for good turnouts Tuesday and Wednesday nights next week, when public hearings are scheduled on the town and …
Souhegan Co-op session quiet, routine
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 4, 2010
AMHERST – Roughly 40 voters had few comments and proposed no amendments to the three articles on the Souhegan Cooperative School District warrant at Tuesday …
Town’s proposed budget up over ’09
Thursday, February 4, 2010
LYNDEBOROUGH – The town’s operating budget for 2010 is estimated at $1.53 million, an increase of about 3.4 percent over 2009, according to Town Administrator …
Souhegan Co-op session quiet, routine
By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer | Thursday, February 4, 2010
AMHERST – Roughly 40 voters had few comments and proposed no amendments to the three articles on the Souhegan Cooperative School District warrant at Tuesday …
Area candidates are off to the races
By Telegraph Staff | Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Political pundits won’t pay much attention, but the next five weeks will see the most widespread electioneering of the year in New Hampshire as towns …
Ethics, budget hot topics in Litchfield
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Sunday, January 31, 2010
LITCHFIELD – Money, ethics and government were the hot topics of discussion at this year’s town Deliberative Session. Voters discussed but, for the most part, …
Groups ask for money at hearing
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Friday, January 29, 2010
BROOKLINE – Public hearings on the proposed 2010 town budget didn’t draw crowds Monday and Tuesday nights at the Town Hall, but intermittently, special interest …
Spending off 1.15% in budget proposal
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 26, 2010
LITCHFIELD – The School District proposes to spend a little less next year, but because of shrinking revenue, the tax rate would still increase. The …
Another try for school addition
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, January 21, 2010
MILFORD — The School Board will try again this year to get approval for a four-classroom addition to Jacques School. The project, which would give …
2 contracts up for approval
By KATHY CLEVELAND Staff Writer | Thursday, January 21, 2010
MILFORD – Town Administrator Guy Scaife told a sparse audience at the town’s budget and bond hearing Monday night he doesn’t support the latest contract …
Revenue dip forces tax hike in Hudson
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Saturday, January 16, 2010
HUDSON – Saying they’re mindful of the poor economy, town officials have proposed a budget that increases spending by a little more than two percent. …
Revenue dip forces tax hike in Hudson
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Saturday, January 16, 2010
HUDSON – Saying they’re mindful of the poor economy, town officials have proposed a budget that increases spending by a little more than two percent. …
Hudson school budget plan up a bit
By ALBERT McKEON Staff Writer | Friday, January 15, 2010
HUDSON – School officials have offered a budget they say considers taxpayers’ struggles in the recession. Voters will see a proposed operating budget of $42.8 …
‘Dump’ petition on ballot in March
By HATTIE BERNSTEIN Staff Writer | Monday, January 11, 2010
HOLLIS – Voters at Town Meeting in March will be asked to decide whether landscaping-materials businesses will be allowed on certain properties comprising more than …
All other area towns had voting March 9, but Merrimack's schedule is diffierent. It will vote April 13.
What is town meeting and why should you care?
BY JOE COTE EDITOR'S NOTE: This article first ran in 2007, but it's still true today.It boils down to this: If you own property in New Hampshire, you can't afford to ignore Town Meeting.
The thousands of dollars charged on your tax bill don't appear out of nowhere. They're based on decisions made by residents.
In most New Hampshire communities, Town Meeting is where a vast number of decisions, from multimillion-dollar land purchases to several hundred-dollar donations to local charities, are made. Hetting involved and influencing town budget decisions isn't as complicated as it may seem.
"The local voters make the financial decisions that affect them locally," said Barbara Robinson, the director of the Department of Revenue Administration's municipal services division. "The voters choose their services and they choose what they want to pay for. That's their local decision."
The entire scope of what a town can do in a given year is decided upon at the meeting. Many of the decisions are vital to residents because they affect what services they'll receive new buildings, roads repaired, how many police officers are available to respond to an emergency and how it will affect their pocketbooks.
State law gives Town Meeting, meaning the people who show up at the meeting and vote, control of the town's purse strings.
Residents are the so-called legislative body. They act as the town's equivalent of the House of Representatives and Senate. The selectmen basically act like the governor. They make policy decisions and present a recommended budget - although sometimes that's a budget committee's role - and the voters make the only vote that counts: yes or no.
For a little more than a decade, there have been two types of meetings: The "traditional" style and the official ballot, or "SB2" style.
The traditional meeting
The budget is only one portion of the town warrant. The warrant is simply a list of items, called articles, that ask voters whether they're in favor of certain items, most of which involve spending.
Some of the articles are voted on by secret ballot, like the primary vote, ahead of the meeting. Those include election of town officers, bond issues and zoning changes.
The rest are posed to the people who come to Town Meeting. A town official, usually a selectman or budget committee member, will present the article, and residents have a chance to ask questions or argue for or against the article.
The articles, including the operating budget, can also be changed. An article may ask if voters will approve $50,000 to buy or lease a highway truck. A resident at the meeting can suggest amending the article to ask for $100,000 for two highway trucks or for $0, making it impossible to buy any trucks.
If the suggestion, called a motion, is seconded and a majority of voters agree to change the article, the article is changed.
When discussion is over, a vote, usually a voice vote or raised hands, decides the issue. Sometimes, if the vote is too close to call, a secret ballot ensues.
Town Meeting is a voter's last chance, but not the first, to weigh in on the town's finances.
The budget season usually begins around October of the previous year with the directors of town departments sending proposed budgets to the selectmen outlining what they need and/or want for the following year.
What follows is usually an exhaustive series of meetings and workshops of the selectmen, department heads and town manager or administrator to examine each line of the budget and often reduce those amounts as much as possible.
If the town has a budget committee, the selectmen will then send their version of the budget to the committee, which re-examines it and tries to find more savings.
The budgeting process varies from town to town, but the state has a series of deadlines and guidelines towns must follow so the process is consistent across the state and residents everywhere can learn about their town's budget well in advance of Town Meeting.
Towns must hold at least one official public hearing on the budget by Feb. 15, 25 days before Town Meeting day, to give residents a chance to examine and discuss the budget, Robinson said.
A town report, which lists a copy of the warrant, a detailed budget and plenty of other town government-oriented reports and information, has to be made available by March 4, according to the Department of Revenue Administration Web site.
Most town meetings are held March 11. Some are held in April - locally, Merrimack is the only such case - and those towns follow a different set of deadlines.
SB2 - call it "town meeting 2.0"
Some New Hampshire communities, and especially school districts, have eschewed the traditional town meeting format and adopted the official ballot, or SB2, form of Town Meeting.
SB2, which refers to Senate Bill 2, is the 1996 legislation that authorized the newer form of government that allows towns to follow a different way to approve spending.
Fifty-nine towns and 69 school districts adopted SB2 through 2006 (three small towns later shifted back), according to a New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies report.
They include all the larger towns and school districts in the Nashua area; Hollis is the biggest traditional holdout.
Instead of a public hearing on the town's proposed budget and warrant followed by a meeting at which residents discuss and then vote on warrant articles individually, voters in SB2 towns vote on all warrant articles by secret ballot on Election Day.
Towns hold a deliberative session between Feb. 2 and 9 to present the operating budget and warrant articles, giving residents a chance to question, discuss and amend, according to the site.
On Town Meeting day, voters go to polls, which are open all day, and vote on each warrant article, according to the site.
SB2 proponents point to the convenience of all-day voting and to turnout levels that are much higher than in towns where voters are forced to attend a long meeting held at a specific time.
But supporters of traditional Town Meeting often point out that all-day voting doesn't require voters to attend pre-Town Meeting sessions and learn about the articles on which they're voting.
Also, a New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies points out a "fatal flaw" in the SB2 system: A simple majority of voters at a deliberative session can force a change to any article, even reducing a spending item's budget to zero, thereby preventing the rest of the town from voicing its opinion on the matter.
Such "zeroing out" of articles is rare, but not unknown.
That's what happened in Hudson in 2000 when a group of voters changed two petitioned warrant articles pertaining to a school construction/renovation project to zero. That left Town Meeting voters with only the school board's $19.6 million plan, which passed.
