The Woodstock Board of Selectmen on Feb. 5 approved the town warrant and moved forward with several bond articles and the town’s MS-7 budget summary, including a $1,000,000 bond to replace a main drinking-water line and a proposed NHDES-funded sewer-inspection project.

The board approved the final warrant and voted to submit Article 2 (an E-1 rescue truck), a $1,000,000 bond for replacement of the main town waterline along Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3) from the top of North Station Road to just south of South Station Road, a bond tied to Lead and Copper Rule improvements that would allow withdrawal of $50,000 from the Water Department Capital Reserve, and a sewer-collection inspection project using the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Clean Water State Revolving Fund with principal forgiveness.

The warrant approvals included a motion accepting the final MS-737/MS-7 forms summarizing the operating budget and special warrant articles. The board summarized figures on the MS-7: operating appropriations of $5,728,134, special warrant articles totaling $3,498,808 and total appropriations of $9,226,942. Revenue was listed at about $5,000,797 (the transcript included an additional figure that was not clearly read aloud); the estimated amount to be raised by taxation was stated as $3,429,042.

Board members discussed how the $1,000,000 water-main replacement would be funded. A board member asked whether the cost would be paid by all town taxpayers or only water customers. Administrative staff answered, “It’s funded by the water users. Just the water users,” and clarified that the whole town votes on the warrant article at town meeting but only water users would pay the debt service through water rates.

On repayment structure, staff explained the town uses a base rate plus a per-thousand-gallon charge: when rates are increased, both the base rate and usage charge are adjusted proportionally. The board discussed the difficulty the town has had in establishing a separate water commission or filling local board seats to allow a dedicated water board to handle such matters.

For the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)–related bond, the board noted the proposal would authorize raising the appropriation and allow withdrawal of $50,000 from the Water Department Capital Reserve Fund. For the sewer project, the board described a proposed Clean Water State Revolving Fund application to CCTV-inspect approximately 20,000 linear feet of sewer main and to authorize bonds, notes or lease agreements not to exceed $55,000 in accordance with RSA 33. The board noted NHDES would provide principal forgiveness on that loan, effectively reducing the town’s long-term cost.

Several routine motions to accept previous minutes (Jan. 15, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 joint budget minutes) were made and approved by voice vote. The board also moved to accept the final MS-7/MS-737 summary and recorded “aye” votes to approve the warrant and associated documents. The meeting record shows motions adopted by voice vote (recorded as “aye”) but does not list a roll-call tally by name in the transcript.

The board closed public participation for each bond hearing after questions were addressed and directed staff to proceed with required loan applications and town-meeting procedures for the warrant articles.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to file and approve the warrant (including Article 2 E-1 rescue truck and listed bond articles): approved by voice vote (recorded as “aye”).
- Motion to accept the final MS-7/MS-737 budget summary: approved by voice vote (recorded as “aye”).
- Motion to authorize placement of a $1,000,000 bond for water-main replacement on the warrant: approved by voice vote (recorded as “aye”).
- Motion to authorize application for NHDES Clean Water State Revolving Fund financing (CCTV inspection of ~20,000 lf; authorization not to exceed $55,000): approved by voice vote (recorded as “aye”).

Why this matters: The water-main and sewer-inspection projects involve capital spending and financing that will affect utility customers and appear on the town-meeting warrant. Some costs would be borne directly by water users through rates, while other appropriations affect the town operating budget and the amount to be raised by taxes.

Looking ahead: The warrant articles will go to the town meeting for final voter approval. Several financing steps described in the meeting — including state revolving-fund applications and the withdrawal from the Water Department Capital Reserve — are contingent on procedural approvals at town meeting and, for the NHDES loan, on the agency’s underwriting and forgiveness terms.