SELECTMEN’S REPORT -- 2009
The sudden and untimely passing of long-time employee Michael Clemons, a truly wonderful person of outstanding character saddened us all. This Town Report is thereby dedicated to Mike with a deep appreciation for his many years of service to our town.
During 2009, the Selectmen/Board hired a Road Agent and crew led by Jay Henry; a new Office Administrator, Diane Falcey; Deputy Tax Agent, Jeanette Heidmann; and Linda Dresch to round out the team. These employee changes have led to rapid improvements in the operation of the town. The changes have enabled the Selectmen to get a much better handle on the town operations and have allowed your elected officials to more quickly and efficiently address errors and potential pitfalls and then correct them once uncovered. Moving forward, the improvements will enable future select bodies to have greater faith in the accuracy of the associated costs and dissemination of town information. During the past year, many residents who gave their valuable time aided us in the performance of our duties. Among these were the
town treasurer, moderator, the planning and zoning boards, conservation commission, supervisors of the checklist and the trustees of library and cemetery.
The five-year reassessment process was completed this past year updating the valuation of the town by an increase of 47 million dollars. These increases mainly took place during 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2008 and 2009 values stayed flat or went down somewhat.
The Selectmen are solidly behind the bond request for a new town garage located on the town owned land commonly called the Gray’s Inn property. This garage, if approved, will enable our road crew to bring all vehicles indoors for repairs and maintenance. Its setting on the Gray’s Inn land at 400 feet from Main Street will free-up the current location for potential needs of the Fire Department. The site for the new Public Safety Facility and Salt Shed will be unseen from Main Street and nearly the same to businesses in the area. There will be special sound devices installed on equipment to lower noise levels; lighting in the garage yard will be as unobtrusive as practical. Special thanks to the committee who spent many hours in the field and office working on the project.
The warrant asks for an additional $125,000 commitment for the new town library. These funds will come from the unreserved fund balance, which does not require an increase in taxes. This will help complete the job and will enable the facility to be ready for operation by late 2010 or early 2011. This state-of-the-art building will be a credit to Jackson residents of today and long into the future. The budget you are asked to approve is nearly identical in dollar expenditures to last year’s and is in keeping with continued efforts to hold the line on municipal tax increases.
It is hoped that by the time of the annual meeting, the town will have settled its problems with the transfer station partnership with Bartlett. Our efforts have been redoubled the past few years to gain adherence to the contract.
We continue our commitment to upholding the zoning requirements of the Town of Jackson. The town decided over 50 years ago to have a building permit process and over the years, the Select Board and townspeople have continually budgeted tax dollars to uphold the process. We observe state law first, last and always and do not have a choice in this matter. As elected officials, the Selectmen take these laws seriously and do all we can to uphold them, as our sworn oath requires. To do less would be illegal. The outpouring of support by many in the town for the select body and its decision-making processes was much appreciated.
As we all go forward, we trust the will of all the people and follow the dictates of our conscience and the laws of the State of New Hampshire and ordinances of the Town of Jackson. We don’t have to always agree, but we should make an attempt to be agreeable.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Selectmen
Gino Funicella, Chairman
David Mason
Beatrice Davis
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