Warner voters approve 2020 operating budget and a suite of capital reserve funds; sidewalk planning fund passed by paper ballot

Town of Warner voters approved the 2020 operating budget and a series of warrant articles at the annual town meeting held March 10–11, 2020 at Warner Town Hall.

The meeting recorded approval of Article 3, which proposed a $3,471,485 operating budget for general municipal operations; the Budget Committee recommendation on the article was 5–2, and the Board of Selectmen had provided an alternative budget figure of $3,484,270. Moderator read the article and Mike Cutting presented the operating budget. A motion to move the article was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

A slate of capital reserve and appropriation articles also passed by voice votes. Items approved included additions to the Property Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund ($20,000), Police Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund ($15,000), Fire and Rescue Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund ($100,000), Fire Fighter Equipment Capital Reserve Fund ($6,300), Highway Road Construction Capital Reserve Fund ($170,000), Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund ($125,000), Bridge Repair/Replacement Capital Reserve Fund ($50,000), Town records preservation ($10,000), Library building renovation fund ($10,000), Town Hall improvements ($10,000), Transfer Station Equipment Capital Reserve Fund ($25,000), a Parks and Recreation Commission Capital Reserve Fund ($22,000), and other targeted reserves. Article 18 discontinued the 2015 New Fire Station Site and Design Capital Reserve Fund and returned an approximate balance of $827.49 to the general fund.

Article 21 sought to establish a Capital Reserve Fund under RSA 35:1 for engineering design and planning of a sidewalk connecting the downtown village district to the Intervale District and to raise $10,000 for that fund, with the Board of Selectmen named as agents to expend. After a motion to move Article 21 forward and a request by Martha Mical for a paper ballot, the moderator conducted a paper ballot. The result announced by the moderator was Yes 75, No 38; the article passed.

Article 2, a Planning Board–proposed amendment to the Town Zoning Ordinance definition of 'Abutter' (referencing RSA 672:3 and expanding the definition to include properties within 200 feet or shared pond frontage), was approved by ballot with Yes 219, No 92.

Procedural items recorded in the minutes include a motion limiting reconsideration of Articles 3, 4, 5 and 21 (motion by Rebecca Courser; passed by voice vote), an adjournment to March 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. for continuation of business, and final adjournment of the 2020 Annual Town Meeting at 8:15 p.m. The minutes were respectfully submitted by Michele L. Courser, Warner Town Clerk.

Votes at a glance: Article 2 (Zoning amendment) Yes 219–No 92; Article 21 (sidewalk CRF) Yes 75–No 38 (paper ballot). Numerous other warrant articles authorizing appropriations or deposits to capital reserve funds passed by voice vote; where the minutes list specific amounts, those amounts are recorded above.

The town clerk’s official minutes list elected officers and vote totals for Article 1 (select officers and trustees). The transcript records winners and vote counts for several offices (for example, Ray Martin recorded as Moderator with 306 votes; Jonathan K. Lord for Selectman with 284). The minutes do not provide a full roll-call vote tally for voice-voted warrant articles.

The meeting left Article 22 available to transact any other legal business but, with no further business, the moderator adjourned the meeting. The minutes were signed by Michele L. Courser, Warner Town Clerk.