Town of Gorham, NH: 2026 Public Budget Hearing

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

We're going to call the meeting to order
here.
sit down.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you all for coming. We're going to
call the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
like to introduce the members of the
budget committee. We'll start down here
with the
>> Don Lass
>> Karen Wilho.
>> I am Bron Sperry, director of finance.
>> I am Peter Gagman, town manager.
>> Mike Wood, select
>> Judy Blan
selectman.
>> Perfect. So now we'll move right on. Um,
just a couple rules for the public
hearing tonight. Um, essentially, uh, if
you guys can just make sure you guys,
uh, state your name clearly for our
seemingly lone microphone. Um, it's also
helpful for our minute taker to know,
um, who is here and speaking. Um, we'll
allow everyone a chance to comment and
we'll try to limit up to two minutes of
comment.
Um, after the initial comment, we'll
allow others a chance to comment. Uh
generally please be respectful to those
presenting and to the fellow attendees.
Uh so no derogatory, foul or profane
language. Um don't speak over others and
allow those responding the opportunity
to fully respond. Uh we'll try to keep
comment to re keep comments relevant to
the topic and we'll check for comment
after each article that we are
discussing.
Okay. Um just for a quick little uh
preview. Um so for the taxation portion
of our budget um our estimated net
appropriation so this is the portion um
expenses minus any revenues that will be
raised through taxes is expected to be
4,826,477
um that is a rough and that is a slight
typo should be 13,000 uh not 3,000
uh increase which is 28% % um given that
um inflation or CPI is 2.7% for 2025
that means uh with our 28% increase
that's roughly a 2.42%
decrease by not keeping up with
inflation. Um I know everyone worked
very hard through this budget process um
trying to keep you know the burden that
we are putting on to the rate and
taxpayers as low as we could and we feel
that we've done a great job between you
know town staff the select board and the
budget committee. Um so the award
articles that we're reviewing are the
monetary articles. So it starts with
article 8 uh which is for the land
acquisition.
Okay. So, starting with article eight,
um that article reads, uh to see if the
town will vote to raise and appropriate
$157,750
for the purpose of acquiring, I'm just
going to summarize, 27 acres for the
acquisition of land to be added to the
town forest. And um we have currently
secured 137,000 in change um from grants
and other donations for the project. And
we will be encumbering 10,000 from the
town's uh building and purchase and
repair capital reserve fund and 10,000
from um the rep rolling fund which is
from the um AVH um wreck monies that AVH
donates to us um annually for the
purpose of recreation. Um it's not our
rec director's usual recreing fund
annual budget.
um to meet any of our acquisition costs.
There is no tax rate impact. Um I know
the board is fully in favor of this. Um
is there any comments, questions,
concerns about article 8?
Okay. Not seeing any at the moment.
We'll move right along. Okay. So the
next three are relate to the water,
sewer, and library. So article 9 is the
sewer department budget. Um sewer is
looking to raise an appropriate $656,036
for their operating budget. Um this
amount is to be raised uh by user fees.
Um so there's no tax impact.
Um article 10 is for the water budgets
which is 618,625
again through user fees. So there's no
tax impact. And then article 11 is the
Gorum Libraryies 2026
budget of $174,129
uh which is raised in appropriate
through taxation with a tax rate impact
estimated at 34 cents per thousand. Um
all these were um recommended by the
board 3 nothing. Um are there any
questions on articles 9, 10 or 11 for
water, sewer or library?
Okay.
Good. Okay. Not hearing any. We'll move
right along.
Okay. So, now we are at article 12,
which is the town's um operating budget.
Um we are looking at an operating budget
of 5,538,962.
Um there is offsetting revenues
currently budgeted in at1,757,959
meaning our net operating budget will be
roughly $3,781,03.
Um just going through it uh general
government is 1,290,61
public safety is 2,38,94.
Highway, streets and bridges is
1,85,860.
Municipal solid waste and recycling is
355,569.
Airport is 100. Health purposes is
1,700.
Uh welfare is 49,575.
Parks and recreation is 219,745.
Patriot purposes is 7,428.
Conservation Commission is 500 and
long-term debt is 218,980
which gets us that 5,538962.
Um, as I noted, um, our revenues are
revised in the fall with the Department
of Revenue Administration. So, that
number is usually, um, a bit lower
because we don't know our rooms and
meals tax amount right now. Um, usually
that's what raises it come when the
state lets us know what we're getting.
Any um, questions on article 12, the
town's operating budget?
And we did give out a little side sheet
that kind of goes through and a little
bit more specifics um by uh department.
>> Uh one quick comment uh for you,
Bronson. What did we put in for a
number? Was it 150,000 for meals and
rooms?
>> Um historically it had been 150,000 just
to be conservative because we never know
what the state would give us. But this
year um we raised it to 200,000 because
last three years the state has given us
roughly 225 250 and then 267 this year.
>> So
>> So we could expect that this number
could at least be 25 to $50,000 less
>> depending on
>> Yeah. The revenues could be roughly
Yeah. 25 to 50,000 higher.
There are no other questions in the
moment. We will move right along.
Okay. Article 13. Um that is to raise
10,000 for our annual uh fireworks with
the 4th of July committee. Um that has a
tax rate impact of 2 cents. That was
recommended by the board three nothing.
and article 14 which is our annual um
sidewalk and asphalt repaving and
curving that has a tax rate impact of 16
cents. Um this 80,000 is for the more
minor projects in town. Um think like
Union Street last year not Cascade
Flats. Um this was supported by the
board 3 nothing.
>> Can we back up for just one second?
>> Sure can.
>> All right. So article 13,
>> what is the difference or why do we have
patriotic purposes in article 13?
>> Um so our patriotic purposes in our
general operating budget is for our
town's you know police or other supplies
related to the 4th of July and its
subsequent events whereas article 13 is
specifically a warrant article for the
fireworks. So I guess my question for
the patriotic purposes brought is it was
my understanding through our
conversations was 3500 where so did I
miss something? It had been 3500
roughly last year and then this year
we're looking at that roughly 7,000 and
I know we had talked about okay is there
a way to get um reimbursement for that.
The 3500 is roughly for the actual wages
but there's also supplies and other
stuff tied in. It's not a ton. I guess I
I I mean I knew we were I knew we were
looking at 3500 for the police, you
know, to cover that weekend, but uh that
just was $4,000 more than I had recall.
>> Yeah. So the 2025 budget was $3,978.
So roughly a $3,450 increase. Um part of
it is that this year we had a budget for
NHS into that line that we hadn't
before. um partly because our new system
requires us to have that in there for
that benefit. Um but otherwise um we
budgeted for our own internal staff um
and then also for external agencies to
help provide security which that went up
um $1,800.
So that's really where the bulk of it
came from was from having a budget now
for an interest in this budget plus
1,800 more for um personnel from outside
of our own staff.
But thank you. Those are good questions.
>> Yes.
>> Article 13, how much do we usually
budget?
>> 10,000. It's been 10,000 every year.
>> And what is so special about this year?
Anybody know?
>> Very good. This is a big year and a big
celebration. Shouldn't the town do a
little bit more? I mean, this is one of
the only towns there's parades,
fireworks, mechanicals.
I would I would hope that we might want
to deepen, you know, one cent on the tax
rate to maybe go 15 or something. I just
throw it out there. Uh, this is going to
be a big year, guys. Come on. This is
Goring
Pi.
>> Oh, I'm Roger Blood, by the way.
>> Thanks, Ro.
>> Would the board or budget committee like
to add anything because I know this was
a point of discussion in a lot of
meetings for both of you.
So Bronson, the my understanding
um that you've been in contact with
Nathan
Corgan who is kind of the lynch pin of
this entire thing and
and I would hope but I was certainly led
to believe that he was asked if this
number should be increased. So,
what did he say when he was asked?
>> The 10,000 this year is fine, but he was
very clear and like everything else
things are going up. Maybe because it's
the 250th everywhere in the country, um
getting somebody to do fireworks on the
4th is gotten very expensive. So 10,000
covers
not even half of what it's going to be
down the So down the road there could be
increases in this just to cover the
fireworks. Um there are other income
streams that are used. You know they
sell the book. Um the um Miller
Amusements also, you know, they lease
and we get a cut of some of those. But
it is something Mr. Oregon was very
clear that this 10,000
won't be enough down the road and I
don't know if the town like other
communities
you can get less expensive fireworks if
you do it the week after you know or the
week before but we're said we're going
so the 4th of July is actually 4th of
July so I don't see us doing that.
>> Yeah. So 10,000 that's going to be the
regular 15 20 minutes like we usually
have. I mean, we used to be half an
hour. We used to go up here. Wow. Wow.
Wow. Wow. Now it's time to cut back. Cut
back. You know what I'm saying? Let's do
a wow year, you know, to another 10
minutes or something. I mean, so the the
fireworks
are partly on the fourth of July
committee to reject as well. But
fireworks are 25,000 this year, I think,
is what? So, they're actually paying
25,000, but the fourth of July committee
using money that they had left over. Uh,
plus there they got some petition one
articles out to other towns and to
Berlin. Um, I I don't think the length
of the show is going to increase. I just
think the cost of everything might
>> but it won't decrease. It won't it won't
be a you know.
So, and I if I may, Scott Newton budget
committee uh and Roger I agree you know
this is our 250th year for this country
and it's a great you know it's a great
celebration however I think we probably
should have been preparing for this
maybe two years ago three years ago and
you know to start to help but to help
with July committee you know we're kind
of uh under the under the gun right now
this is the last ditch so Maybe this
should have been started two or three
years ago. So this is what we have. Uh
like you said, it's $25,000 if I heard
Phil correctly roughly. Um so you know,
maybe we should have paid for this for a
couple years ago and helped you know the
Fourth of July committee. So this is
pretty much what we feel is
>> is acceptable to keep the
>> Do you think Do you think if anybody
comes in gives the Fourth of July
committee $5,000 that would increase the
length of the fireworks? You'd have to I
mean I have they already signed a
contract for this year. Not to say that
it couldn't be added but um I don't
know.
>> I mean they're going to be here they get
more money. I'm sure they can spend more
fireworks. I don't know. I would think
so. I mean I think there's also and
correct me if I'm wrong and if I'm
misspeaking Phil please tell me so. But
I think we've also gone to budget. You
know the budget committee spoke to
Nathan and we s we made some suggestions
and some recommendations. Uh this is a
this is an event that's you know people
come from all over we'll say Kas County
for sake of argument you know our
surrounding communities you know we have
I think they have reached out to uh some
of the surrounding communities and I
think they've also reached out to some
of the businesses that they might not
have reached out to to try and raise
some of that money to maybe give us a
better show. Uh it's roughly about 18
minutes long if I understand Nathan
right.
So there were there were there were some
efforts made. Um they you know might
have been too a little too late but
there were some efforts made.
>> So Nathan is a person of contact.
>> That's the that's the that was our
contact.
>> Yeah because the fourth of July
committee has its own separate
>> sure
I understand what you're saying. We're
looking to blow back the people. My
suggestion would be to maybe the uh for
Nathan to contact or to contact the
folks that put the fireworks on to see
what it would cost the town or committee
uh to add another 10 minutes or 15
minutes to the program and bring it up
on that town meeting and amendment to
the $10,000.
>> Right. It's only February. I mean we got
fundraisers I'm saying can be
possible.
>> We should we really should tell you.
>> Yes disagree.
>> Oh no.
>> Okay. Thank you. Perfect.
Okay.
We will move on. If there's no questions
about 14.
Okay. So, quick note before we get into
this
there. Okay. So, before we get into the
um CRF related articles, just wanted to
let you guys know that this year we're
doing it a little differently where we
are preemptively having all the CRF
appropriations and um trust fund
articles um in their own separate single
article. So instead of at has been on
town meeting floor, you know, voting to
combine articles for whatever it is.
Now, article 15 is all the capital
reserve funds. Article 16 is all the
trust funds. Um so the next couple
slides are on just cap reserves. The
following slide after that would be on
just um the trust funds.
Okay. So, first part of article 15,
we're looking um and the board agreed
with the um work session recommendations
from the budget committee um to raise
and appropriate $780,936
to our capital reserve funds for 2026.
Um so that kind of outlines as follows.
So, the first six are $47.5,000
to the firetruck CRF, 225,000 to be
added to the road resurfacing and
reconstruction CRF, 8,000 to be added to
the SCBA CRF, and that stands for
self-contained breathing apparatus.
Uh 45,000 to be added to the ambulance
cap reserve fund. 25,000 to be added to
police cruiser cap reserve fund. and
then 18,818
to be added to the police equipment
capital reserve fund with 8,818 of that
appropriation to come from um fund
balance from a 2025 grant reimbursement.
So that 8,000 and change has no tax rate
impact. Um before I move on to the
second half of article 15, are there any
questions on this first half? Sub
articles one through six, we'll call
them the fire truck, rotary servicing,
seba, ambulance, police cruiser, police
equipment.
>> So since the firework, could I resurface
before the fireworks?
>> You can certainly request and we can
talk with our DPW director and the
board.
>> Okay. So there no other questions on the
first six and we can always come back
here to the back six. Okay. So article
or sub article 7 uh 13,000 be added to
dispatch equipment.
Uh 52,818,000
be added to town building purchase and
repair CRF um with those funds coming
from fund balance related to a uh grant
reimbursement. So there would be no tax
rate impact. But if we don't have the
available fund balance, uh we will not
make that appropriation. Um again, so
there's no tax impact from sub article
8. Um $225,000 to be added to the
highway heavy equipment CRF.
333,500
to the sanitation and recycling capital
reserve fund. uh 2,300 to be added to
Medallion Opera House CRF with funds to
come from our unassigned fund balance
which is from um rental receipts that we
get throughout the year. Um so there's
no tax rate impact from that. 70,000 to
go into the assessment CRF and then
15,000 to go into our information
technology creserve fund. So all in
total all 13 sub articles as approved um
and recommended by the board select in
three nothing would have a tax rate
impact of $1.40.
Any questions on the this back seven of
articles andor all six of the priorments
that we talked about
just as an updated cycle when we started
looking at this it was we cut to $4,000
out of it. It was that much higher.
We've cut quite a bit out
of this.
They're going to have to get
out of this.
>> Oh,
>> that's a good point, Terry. Because the
um budget committee did cut 50
>> 545,000.
Um, so that $54
plus,000
was adjusted and they went through and
it was, you know, surgical and
thoughtful, which I appreciated and the
board saw that recommendation and they
also
um concur concurred. Thank you. So, this
is a combined budget committee and board
of selectman agree with this note.
Uh any other questions relating to
articles or sub articles one through 13.
>> Number two
for that. Um, so we have roughly 4 I
want to say 75,000 already earmarked for
our main street pedestrian improvements
project and our route to uh Lancaster
Road pedestrian improvement project. So
really of the 656,000
that's currently in there as of the end
of last year only likeundred my rough
math 30 200,000 roughly is actually
available to be spent on major road
projects. Um, so that's why we're
looking to put the 225 in there to help
get that back up and available to use on
any sort of major projects. Um, the
major project we did this year was
Cascade Flats.
>> Cascade Flats um, Soup to Nuts was a
little bit over 300,000 and we're going
to be doing a little bit of a cleanup
beautifification um, under our old
contract. So that's kind, you know, that
was a fairly major project that was
scaled back. Originally, Cascade Flats
ran everything from a three plus million
dollar project and we it got a a major
improvement,
but that's about as skinny as you can go
um 300,000. So, if this number gets
drawn back, there won't be any major we
won't be able to do any major road work.
So
that was cut back from 250 to a 225
um by the budget committee and agreed to
by the board as well with that intent to
tighten our buds.
>> But great question. Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh any other questions?
>> Okay, move along. Article 16 is for our
expendable trust funds. Uh we're looking
to raise $193,600.
Um $7,000 to be added to the Kates Hill
um landfill expendable trust fund.
159,000 to be put into our river
maintenance expendable trust fund with
all 159,000 to come from unsigned fund
balance from FEMA and other grant
reimbursements. So there's no tax rate
impact. uh 20,000 to be added to our
special insurance expendable trust fund
and 7600 to be added to our longevity
and severance expendable trust fund. So
all in all, article 16 has a 7 cent per
thousand tax rate impact. Any question
on article 16?
Yeah,
>> Scott, if I may just ask, I know we've
asked a couple of times um and we
weren't really sure who to talk to about
the Kill landfill, the $7,000 that we
can further
>> of course.
>> Okay. Okay. So, um talking with the city
manager, um we have Kates Hill and East
Milan. Um the monitoring for uh Kates
Hill
in Phil's words were indefinite. When
you have a landfill, you have monitoring
and that monitoring goes to the state.
As an environmental attorney, I can tell
you it's it's not forever, but it's
beyond our lifetime typically because
you keep testing and until things come
up like spring water and strawberries,
you keep testing. So, as long as you
keep finding things, you keep going.
Once you find that this is a clean site
below detection limit,
three or four quarters in a row, then
you can talk to the regulatory agency
and say, "Look, we've got a year or a
year and a half of clean data. Let's do
the full close out and have it be done."
But that is nowhere inside. So, it's
going to go on for a while.
>> Thank you. You're welcome.
Okay. Uh, any other questions on article
16?
Okay. Hearing none, we'll move right
along.
Okay. So, now we have uh now we're
moving into our petition warrant
articles. So, all these have been
submitted by petition. They all got
their um at least 25 verified uh
signatures. So article 18 is our first
one um to see if the town would raise an
appropriate 14,000 for the purpose of
supporting uh the residents of Gorum
require professional home care support
as provided by Andrew Valley Homeare
Services that has a tax rate impact of 3
cents
and article 19 to see if the town will
raise an appropriate $6,745
for Tri Handicap and their associate
services to support form residents which
has a tax impact of about a penny. Um,
any questions at this point for articles
18 and 19? I know that we have
representatives in attendance for
>> Do we want to give the representatives a
chance to
address these?
>> If they would like uh Oh, sorry. 8 Mark
18. Marggo, would you like a chance to
talk?
>> Hello, I'm Margo. I'm the executive
director of the home services. Um we
provide elab care homemade and long-term
care nursing for vulnerable older long
individuals who work independently in
their own homes. Uh services are
possible because we apply for grants
under title three older Americans act
and title 20 social service block grant.
These programs allow us to offer
services at reduced well actually it's
stipen only uh for title 20 and donation
only under title three. So um it's very
important for anybody who um struggles
particularly older people. We're
licensed for the state of New Hampshire
um health.
Last year we provided 1,862
visits to Gora for a total of 3,467
hours.
Can you tell me how many residents that
Yep. There were 37 residents. It doesn't
always equate to that. It varies. Some
residents get
a few visits a week. Um, and some of
them are protracted. Others get only a
few visits.
>> Is this Go ahead. I'm sorry. Is this
money um this $14,000? Is that specific
to Gorum residents?
>> It is.
>> Is it spent in Gor do? No, it is it's
spread across what it we sent and I hope
the budget committee got copies of the
breakdown of our expenses.
I sent that with our letter. Um, so what
we do is we break down what we get the
reimbursement for the state and we in
fact I can read that to you very quickly
um
to show you how the money offsets
um in particular for borum. So the total
cost, this is specific to BOR, the total
cost of services to Borum was 109,68.
And then by the time we factored in the
travel of uh the cost of travel time,
the cost of mileage reimbursement
um and all of what we had um
for what we collected for fees, all of
it. We ended up with Gorum's allocation
factoring in and the agency still lost
over $7,000.
So
I don't know if I'm question
do all the community is this this is co
county right?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Do all the communities who call us
county give you money every year?
>> Not all of them. So um we have received
money every year since I've been back
with the agency for five years. Um we
didn't start um rendering services to
the county until 2019.
I came back to the agency in 2022 and
since then every year except for one in
Lancaster North
reserve
we receive $10,000 from North 5500 from
Whitefield 14,000 from Lancaster and
19,5
>> and those are the so but there are
communities that don't pay
the service. How long are they?
>> They still
has more hours.
>> Does the county itself contribute?
>> I think moving forward it wouldn't be a
bad idea. I'm sorry, my name is Bob
Biano. Um I think it would be a good
idea to approach the county u being that
all of these communities are within Kas
County.
>> So you're in addition to
>> no no deal directly with the county and
let the county provide do you some
reimbursement and that way there it's
equally shared throughout the uh
throughout Col County respective towns.
But this seems like it's more of a uh a
county request as opposed to individual
municipalities
especially, you know, when you're trying
to break out the averages for
participation and what have you and
cost.
>> Yeah. Not to be argumentative, but just
specifically said the line share of the
services that we render are to the
communities that we ask for
reimbursement from. So for example, we
had a really hard time finding anybody
to work in for a couple years. Um we
don't go to town over because of that.
You know, we go to where we do render
the services. We do um expend money for
travel particularly travel to the town.
Last year we spent almost $16,000
just to send our staff
for their travel time and their mileage
reimbursement. that your your re your
allocation didn't even cover that
expense to us and we do not get
reimbursed for that issue
>> but without knowing without speaking to
the county you know they may give you a
portion of this to uh you know so the
the entire burden of the fall of the
taxpayer Laura you know
percentage that would decrease what our
potentially
>> we could look into
They don't know if they if
they will recover.
>> Oh, we don't know. We don't know until
you approach them.
>> Excuse me.
>> We won't know until you approach them
and ask.
>> Thank you.
>> Any other questions, please?
>> Thank you, Margo.
>> Okay. Uh, any question or Jana, would
you like a chance to talk on article 19
first?
Um this year we are asking 600 6,745
um a lot of funds. Last year in 2025,
we served over 372
individuals, 225
households, and we provided 9,562
services in the town of Florida. Um,
which was equaling 400 449,192.
Um,
Tri County Path is great. for everybody.
We have our Head Start programs. We have
um our senior meals, uh senior senior
cis um centers, excuse me, our free DIY
program. We also have um resource um
coordinators that are all throughout Kob
and Carol and War. Um as far as we also
have um weatherization, fuel and energy
assistance programs and also
transportation.
I can answer any questions if anybody
has any.
>> Yes, ma'am.
Um I do know that the first time last
year, Tri County Chapter reimbured forum
about $42,000
>> for um
>> cold weather. weather.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Placement.
Is that something we can count on in the
future?
>> That I do not know, but I can find out
for you, ma'am, and I can send the
email.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Any other questions?
>> I have one.
>> Yes, ma'am. Could you tell me how many
families or homes that TCAP helped for
weatherization? Just
>> weatherization. Yes. 225
households.
>> So you did some sort of work on 225
>> 372 individuals. Yes. Now
>> thank you.
>> You're very welcome.
>> Any other questions?
>> Just a quick question. Um
transportation is very very important to
the north country. Yes. Is Tri County
CAP um looking forward are you going to
be able to expand or are you going to be
contracting or keeping the same those
transportation services?
>> We do have transportation in Graphy
County and in Carol County. So, we're
actually um trying to expand even for
further.
>> So, we're just waiting.
If I may ask just go along the same uh
question we had for the the previous
um and I fig I didn't get your name but
>> Jana okay is this something that you go
to the county to as well is this
something that you go to the county and
ask for some funds to
>> um for municipality for us we go to all
Kell County we asking county our um
numbers never change they won't change
until 2020 when the census come out.
What would we do?
>> So, basically what I'm saying is $6,745
that you're asking for
is
based on the services that you provide.
>> Yes.
>> Very small amount.
>> Yes. And everything that we ask for goes
back into our programs to help
individuals, households, and seniors.
>> Okay, perfect. Thank you, Jana.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay, so now we'll move on. Okay. So,
yeah, we got articles 20, 21, and 22.
So, the first one is article 20, which
is 6,000 for the purpose of supporting
uh the ongoing public service of the
Gorum Historical Society, the museum,
and their work to protect and preserve
the history of Gorum.
3,000 for the purpose of supporting
Northern Human Services, the meth mental
health center and providing outpatient
and emergency meal health services for
the dorm and 2,000 for supporting our
local Special Olympics team and
scrogging river athletes. So, we will
start with article 20. I see we have
Ruben in attendance for historical
society. So, Ruben, you want to give a
little background on this article and
answer any questions that may come up
for?
>> Sure. Um, some of you may know this, but
the historical society was founded, I
think, in 1978 or 79. I wasn't involved
in those days, but it was people and
others who were. Um, on our Facebook
page, I think it says how many years
we're up to at this point.
Um, Star was like all historical
societies, very tiny. They were focused
on the depot.
Um they did some initial work really on
the cheap with volunteers and
occasionally contractors to get the
depot fixed up a bit.
There was basically no pain on it. They
needed a roof.
Uh they needed a lot of electrical
upgrade etc. just for the depot which
was built in 1907.
Uh the interior is pretty good, pretty
much like the original.
Uh but the exterior was taking a beating
from 1907 on.
Um
other people got involved in those early
days and then they started collecting
pieces of railroad equip. The first one
was a steam engine. It was slated from a
scrap he
but it was available either for free or
low cost and they brought it into town.
It was a big rust bucket with asbestous
blanket on a on the boiler which got
something Tim Sappington had to wet down
and take off and dispose of it thanks to
Brown company putting it somewhere. Um,
and that was the first piece of railroad
equipment that they got. Over time, they
added six more of the seven pieces of
railroad equipment over there. I think
it's safe to say that five of them came
here as scrap and we're in very rough
shape.
Two of them, the green bars car, which
right now looks rough because the
paint's coming off, but it's solid. Uh
the Russell snowplow which is across the
street was in good shape because it came
from Portland
where the grand trunk or the CN was
actually using it until they donated it
to the historical society. All the other
pieces came in very very rough shape. So
we have the depot and we have the
railroad cutters. As I mentioned to the
group, you know, there's a lot of needs
for both the depot and the railroad
trucks and many of the repairs are quite
costly.
Uh we did an informal assessment of the
depot maybe 10 years ago because we
didn't have the money for a formal
assessment with an outside architect.
some Tim Sapp and I and some contract
looked at what we knew that the the
obvious problems and came up with some
estimates
and um if I remember correctly we we
were guessing maybe around 50,000
or so to get the depot
fixed up. We have a drainage issue.
We have the eaves which are starting to
go bad and some of the repairs that were
done were done with plywood doesn't hold
up and the paint's going bad again. and
roof is pretty stable.
Um,
so on the positive side, there is money
from the grants, preservation groups,
and from Lship,
but you have to have a formal
assessment, and we've never really had
the money in recent decades to pay for
the assessment, which was 5,000, now
it's gone up to 8,000.
Um,
>> so last year
>> I'm sorry. Can I interrupt for just a
second? So the $6,000 that you're asking
for, what exactly is that going to
>> Let me just explain. So So the
assessment for the building
uh went from 5,000 to eight. I didn't
know that change had occurred. I donated
personally $5,000 to get the formal
assessment done
because I was tired of not having the
money and not getting it done. I said,
"If we're going to get that depot fixed
up, we need to do a formal assessment.
I'll pay for the damn thing." And we
started talking with an architect from
Bethlehem.
Um, and the hope was to try to do it in
the fall. Uh, but that got pushed back a
little bit. So, we're going to do it
next spring or summer. So that's what
the money is going to go towards the
assessment.
>> So that's that's for the assessment and
I'm paying for that. Um she was waving
the extra $3,000 which was generous on
her.
>> So you will have process
you that $8,000 you donated $5,000 to
that. So that that assessment's already
>> I donated 5,000. So that that assessment
has nothing to do with the $6,000 you're
asking for.
>> That $8,000
has nothing to do with the $6,000 that
you're asking for. Right.
>> Well, I mean, if she had said we need
three more thousand, then we'd have to
dig for that.
>> But you said that's what I'm trying to
get some likely she said she do.
It's a relatively straightforward
project compared to some buildings that
are assessed. The railroad cars are a
different story. Each of the cars may
require I'm just going to give you a
couple of examples, not the whole set.
The green box car to do it right. I used
to work in the body shop business. My
dad owned the garage.
We'd have to pressure wash that car.
We'd have to sand the whole thing. And
we'd have to use a primer, urethane
primer and paint. And we've got a quote
$14,000
from the guy who does this work.
out of Pennsylvania. He does work
routinely for Conway Scenic River. We
don't have $14,000.
Whether he would do one side and the
times or not, I don't know.
The diesel we put about $20,000 plus
between the DT grant some years ago and
some historical society money to try to
get that started. And that was in
really, really rough shape. It looks bad
on the outside. It needs more outside
work. The inside framing was all
completed
with the idea of it being a walk-in
museum dedicated to the diesel railroad
history.
Um, so those are just two. The other
cars might need
5,000 to $10,000 worth of work because
the wooden box cars are all rotted. They
look decent on the outside.
>> Ruben Paul has a question for you. Well,
I think what everybody is asking is that
um what is this? We know problems that
the historical society has. I think
everybody's pretty much aware of those.
Uh the thing is is that um I think what
the question here is is that of the
$6,000 you're going to how much you
going to use for the assessment and what
are you going to use the aggressive? I
think that's all. I'm going to have
6,000 will be used for the assessment
because I doubt 5,000. Okay.
Right now, beyond that money that I
donated, we have roughly $2,000 in the
account. That's going to get us to next
spring in early summer. And some of
that's going to be gone with annual with
monthly expenses.
>> So, the $6,000 is going towards monthly.
>> $6,000 would go towards operation
and repair of the whole place. You know,
we have to pay for insurance which has
gone up in cost. We need to get that
back in place. We were quoted insurance
costs that were astronomical.
>> Ruben, if I may ask you, now when you
met with the budget committee here, I
don't have the date, but a couple weeks
ago, you stated that uh you had no
insurance on
>> We didn't have insurance because of
long story short, the two things
happened. our elderly treasurer didn't
pay a bill quickly enough and our
insurance company in Lancaster cut it
off. But I think the real issue was
some of other board members had called
the insurance company about a mold issue
in a file cabinet which I had opened up.
It was all full of black mold and I said
this is not good. We got to figure out
how to deal with it. And the quick
response was call the insurance company.
they have insurance and I said don't do
it because my brother works for
insurance and they're not going to fund
it and they're probably red flag and I
think that's what happened
which doubled the price we also about
the same time had a discussion with the
railroad because they were doing a lot
of day traffic
and they were
fearful of visitors to the museum
walking out and get run over. So they
said, "You need to expand your insurance
to give us total indemnity."
We asked a lawyer about that. We asked
an insurance agent about that and they
said, "Forget it. That's not even
sellable at New Hampshire."
>> Ruben, can I ask a question?
>> So we got stuck. So we needed to get a
basic policy back in place.
>> How long have you been without
insurance?
>> Probably four or five years because we
haven't had the money.
>> Oh boy. Um, we've had other expenses
that we've had to take care of just to
be open.
>> And uh,
>> and you don't have the money to get
insurance.
>> Like I said, we have $2,000 in the
account beyond the money that I donated
for the assessment.
If if the town boast to not fund us at
all, then we're dead in the water. We'll
just shut the doors down.
You know, we won't operate. We can't
operate unless we take the assessment
money and kill that idea and plow the
$7,000 into operation for this year.
>> I think what everybody's asking is
what's the possibility of getting the
insurance that you need and how much
would it cost?
>> We need to get another quote from the
insurance company and not for the policy
that the railroad
and not.
Is there anyone else that has any more
questions for Ruba? We need to move on
to article 21. Anyone have questions?
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh so for article 21, uh Northern
Human Services.
>> Hello, I'm Amy Ner. I'm the director of
behavioral health at Northern Human
Services. Um most of you probably are
aware we've been around for quite a long
time. Uh we do most of the mental health
uh and substance use treatment here in
the community. At any given time, we're
serving around 700 residents between
Milin, Berlin, Forum, Shelurn, Randolph.
Um, and at this point in time, we're
serving around a hundred residents in
Borum. At our when we closed out last
fiscal year, we wrote off about $5,000
for clients in the Borum area. So, we're
asking you guys for 3,000. We typically
ask for a dollar per resident. We did
raise that by about maybe 300 depending
on numbers at this point in time. Um
just for the many people are without in
health insurance at this moment in time.
Their co-pays have increased or their
deductibles are higher at this point in
time as well. If anybody has any other
questions about what we do or any of
that information here to answer all of
that.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Okay. So, article 22, uh, Special
Olympics,
>> I could answer any questions from that.
Uh, the
person with all the money figures would
had sent something in with the position,
but uh, but she couldn't be here
tonight. Um
we serve
between 20 and 30 individuals with
disabilities uh in a variety of sports
where we do that in year round. Um we
have the state summer games that we
attend at the University of New
Hampshire. Um which is quite expensive
uh transportation to get the athletes
there. Uh and because they start very
early on the first day of competition,
we have to be done the night before. So,
uh the university charges uh our team
um for housing. Um
years ago when we first started Special
Olympics, we had individuals uh or
groups that would help pay the costs
associated with running local Special
Olympics. Uh we used the White Mountain
distributors, for example, used to do um
an annual golf tournament and back then
they would raise enough to cover the
budget for the year. that's no longer
the case. Uh
so um we asked Gorm and Berlin also um
to help contribute to that and we have
done a lot of fundraisers
um to get the expenses that are needed.
Yes.
>> Yes. Thank you for your explanation. I
think that we all agree that the Special
Olympics is a worthy cause in a massive
amount and you do provide services to
our residents.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
Any other questions?
Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. So,
we'll move on.
Okay. Article 23 proceeds the town will
raise and appropriate 3,000 for the
purpose of marketing in our area for
Anders Valley Chamber of Commerce plan
which is less than a penny tax rate
impact. And then article 24 to raise and
appropriate uh 5,000 for the purpose of
um supporting services of North Country
Home Health and Hospice Agency for Warm
Residents.
Um
Paula or Chamber of Commerce res or
someone in attendance.
Okay, I guess not seeing
um we'll open up to uh North Country
Home Health and Hospice for yours.
>> Hi, I'm Nicole Gross from North Country
Home and Hospice Agency. Um we are a
nonprofit organization dedicated to
delivering compassionate home health
hospice and long-term care services
throughout co and northern adoption
counties. Our mission is to improve
lives by caring for patients and
families as they navigate their
healthcare journey at home. Um for many
rural communities like ours, we are more
than a healthcare provider. We can be a
lifeline. Um, in 2025 for the town
forum, we visited 89 patients 1,920
times for home health, hospice, and
long-term care. Um, our home health
nurses help individuals heal and recover
in the comfort of their own homes. Our
hospice care focuses on comfort,
dignity, and compassion, providing
physical, emotional, and spiritual
support for patients and their families
during life's final chapter. and our
long-term care services assists with
daily activities, empowering individuals
to maintain independence and aid safely
in familiar surroundings. Um, the
support from Gorum allows us to respond
with flexibility and compassion where
it's needed most. Whether it's helping a
patient remain at home, easing the
burden on a caregiver
or giving our team the tools they need
to provide exceptional care. So, your
support ensures that no one is left
behind and that compassionate
high-quality care remains accessible for
years to come.
There no questions.
Thank you. Okay. So, um in summary, you
know,
that little update itself passage. Um
so, thank you everyone for attending
tonight's meeting. Um, town meetings
business session will be on Tuesday,
March 10th at 7 p.m. in the Dor Middle
High School gymnasium. So, thank you
everyone for coming. We appreciate it.
Bronson.
>> Yeah,
>> it I know that technically these three
articles should
aren't up for being recommended by the
budget committee and others, but just as
a housekeeping thing, you have um
the article that could change the date
of the town meeting for next year. I
think that should be brought forward to
everyone who's present here and why it's
there. And then we have a change to our
elderly exemption.
Number one number.
>> Yes. Thank you.
>> Go through those three. I'd appreciate
it.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Well, Bronson's looking for that. I'll
just make a quick point. Uh normally the
Gor Community Learning Center would um
be here and they traditionally they're
around $10,000. they're not here um
because the town has helped them out and
and they're a good example of a success
story that has taken money and other
grants and bundled things together. Um
so this
bundle of um funding requests um I just
wanted to point out that success and I
don't anticipate them in the future um
asking for that. So I just wanted to
give them credit for for jumping up. And
another quick note, the article 23, uh,
we are a member of the chamber of
commerce, you know, a proud member,
happy member, and we pay our dues. So
this 3,000 is above and beyond our dues
payment and they that won't affect
our standing as a member of chair.
Thank you. Okay. So, uh the first
article, thank you Mike for bringing it
back up. Um is article five. That is to
uh change the um business session um of
town meeting. So, historically we've
always had elections in the morning
here. We come you vote for your slate of
officers and then at night we go over to
the high school and then we vote on the
rest of the line. Um article 5 would
change it. So, um, we would still have
the same you come here, vote on your
ballot during the day, but then the
select board would then choose a date
and time to have the official um,
business session. Um, because as we've
seen in some years, either there's a
very high turnout. Um, there are a lot
of, um, maybe officers or other things
on the actual ballot that take a lot of
time and effort by our great election
workers to, um, count. And so, it delays
when the business session starts. And so
the idea is, hey, let's have this on,
for example, the following Saturday, um,
starting in, you know, the morning
sometime or early afternoon. So that way
we have plenty of time to really go
through it and hopefully increase
attendance versus starting at seven or
eight o'clock on a Tuesday where people
have, you know, work the next day, kids
at home. Um, and so that is why this
article is being brought up.
I I can tell you from experience for our
election
or personally and the ballot clerks, it
is a very very long day
and everybody is tired by the time the
ballots have been counted and having to
rush over to um the town meeting is is
physically t taxing.
And I would just add to, you know, the
selectmen when we drafted this, they're
thinking of the constituents and the
folks who are frankly kind of getting
tapped out at 8, 9:00, 10:00 at night.
And the idea is to have as much
participation in, you know, democracy
and having a meeting at noon or 1 or you
know, the board's uh decision on a
consistent basis would allow, you know,
babysitters to get set up, family to get
set up. Um, and we wouldn't be losing
people throughout the the night where
they're choosing between,
you know, my babysitter's leaving at
10:00, I have to leave or just
physically I need to leave because, you
know, so I'm in in that group.
>> Paul, you had a question?
>> Yeah, I just want to say this.
>> I'm moderator. Yes.
>> The power will be tied around.
Uh
as anyone knows there aren't many
elections that I haven't gone or been
part of for many many years. Uh I can
understand all your feelings and why you
think this may be an advantage
but from a lot of the sessions I've
attended the thing I'm concerned about
is that you say there's drop offs 8 9:00
and there are I agree that and serving
on art boards I am exhausted at ballot 9
10:00
but however
from what I've seen that's happened in
other towns. When we start doing this,
it ends up confusion because right now
the tradition is the second Tuesday of
the night is the night that we have the
time. It's ingrained in people's feet,
in people's thoughts, in people's minds.
And what I'm afraid of is that if we
open this up, we will see even more drop
off depending upon the knife that you
choose.
And uh I am really concerned about that.
>> I think I think that we're not looking
at choosing a night. We're looking at
choosing a weekend.
>> And that's what I believe is going to be
the issue because once you start
choosing a weekend day, all of a sudden
after the election on Tuesday, people
say, "Oh, town meetings Wednesday."
Well, we got a hockey game. We got a
basketball game. And then there's going
to be less participation. One of the
reasons I think about this maybe
happening is I'm looking at what
happened in SB2 towns and other towns
that have uh uh I forgot what the the
name is deliberate deliberate sessions
that's what I'm looking for and they
have seen drop offs in their attendance
of their town meetings for a number of
years. So I'm concerned and I just want
to voice that. That's my opinion and uh
we'll see what happens.
>> To be honest,
my concern is for the election workers
because I've been here with them and you
know them as well as I do. They are not
young women or men and they're here all
day and then to the town meeting at
night.
I think you know that I realize that
completely with all of them. I've been
stating election workers. I don't think
it would be an issue.
>> So, so could I make a point here? I
asked that this be put on more and um
you know and in in just the last past 10
years nine of them
um this wouldn't have been necessary
but I'll tell you what last year it was
necessary. I escorted the election
workers into the hall. They were
standing out in the crowd waiting in
line. I found them and we um were lucky.
Everyone worked their tail off that
night and you you were there, you know,
you worked your tail off, too. But um we
still started an hour late. So now we're
starting an hour late
with 43 articles.
Pretty daunting. Then on top of that,
there was a faction in town who
exercised their legal right to have a
ballot count on all the money articles.
And they started down that route.
Now, when we got past 9:00, it wasn't
just a few people leaving the room.
There was a steady stream headed out the
door.
And um and when we got I think it was to
11:00
and we had taken a vote and finally
counted a a ballot vote on one of the
more important articles and it it it
went down
3 to one
against what the balloters wanted. I
went to the microphone and suggested
strongly that the people who had signed
that slip come forward and uh and reneig
on it. And they did because if they
hadn't, we'd have been there till 2:00
in the morning.
So So I understand what you're saying,
Paul. I can't I can't disagree with it.
But you know, you just never know when
you're going to have one of these
meetings. And
I know of some towns that do this on
Saturdays and and there really hasn't
been an impact on them. They've gotten
used to it. That's what they do. And
Gorm, you know, we've always done it
this way, but I'll tell you what, last
year stump
and and it's okay to try new things. The
um
the board and and right now we're
following the town of Jackson. if you
wonder where all this stuff came from.
So Jackson's always run a good meeting.
I've done work in Jackson
back when there were still dinosaurs in
the valley down there. And anyway, they
they
do it this way, which oddly enough back
in 1986 when I started this game is the
way we used to do it. So, it's kind of a
a throwback, but I would strongly
encourage Paul that I would hope you
would
you would consider doing this. Um, but
but this is why we put it on here. It's
not for the low attendance meeting. It's
for those meetings where there's
something really important. You're going
to be at it a long time. You haven't got
the time if you're starting at 8:00 at
night. My concern is the more fragile
thing
and the lack less partition that we have
the less the more fragile it is. My
concern is that I would like to have
everyone show up and vote on all these
articles I think is important and I
think that's what it is. It is my fear
that we'll lose people who will lose
more participation.
>> And I think
>> maybe I will be wrong and if I am good.
>> I think at this point this is this is an
article that should be debated on town
meeting.
>> That's up to you.
>> It has to be on the official ballot
though. So
>> yes, it's on the ballot.
>> They're going to vote.
>> They have to vote for it at the on the
actual ballot. So not on the floor.
>> Oh, that's true.
>> So this will be on a ballot.
>> Yeah. So when you're going to the slate
of officers, I believe it is, this will
be one of those where you have to circle
a yes or no
>> because I think I I think to ease some
of and and I understand completely where
Paul's coming from, but and as a you
know, as a budget committee member, I
understand, but as a taxpayer, I guess,
and want to be part of the town
meetings, would it be more beneficial if
we had it like the first Saturday after
the town meeting? So, we had a cap on
it. So, it's kind of too late to put it
in that now in that verbiage. But, I
think that would make that would ease
people's minds a little bit. Maybe if we
said, "Hey, if we're going to change it
up after Tuesday, it's going to be the
first Saturday after the town." We were
restricted. We would prefer that
language. Um, and as you know, there's
SP2 towns and and regular town meetings.
The SP2 language does dictate the
following Saturday. We wanted to use
that, but um our attorneys and the DRRA
and NHMA said use the language that's in
the statute. Do not that that is the way
to have this be legal and clear and the
language is the board of selectmen at
their discretion will choose it. I don't
want to speak for the board, but I guess
I am.
>> Go ahead. You're doing a good job so
far.
>> Oh, thank you. Thank you. Um the the
intention um of this board is to have it
be the following Saturday.
>> Okay. And I think that just eases some
of the people's
>> I think that eases the people's mind if
they're listening to this and people get
out and say that you know that's the
intention. I think that eases
>> everything I don't think I don't think
that the statute would allow it to go
any further than a certain time. you
know, we couldn't have we couldn't have
um voting on a Tuesday and then the
business meeting like three weeks later.
>> So, voting has to be on Tuesday.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Well, I'm not done yet, Mr. Carol.
>> Can't we deputize more people help
ballots? It's just number.
>> Good luck.
>> I I'd love to. Carol was there for
help. I will come to town hall.
>> We'll get you signed up.
>> I'm just going to tell you and I'll say
that I can say that when I was the
deputy town here doing it all in one
day,
I'm exhausted. It makes for a lot. And I
I get what you're saying, Paul,
but even now there are years where I
don't come and vote because you know
what? I don't want to be here until
midnight because I go I go to work every
day and I work every day like every
other bluecollar person. And I I think
it's a fantastic idea and I thank you
guys for even bringing it up. Why can't
we do that? Why not just make it easier
on our working people and especially
people that have little kids? It's
exactly right.
I couldn't imagine my son trying to
bring his three-year-old to a town
meeting because he wanted to vote and
being there until 10. I'm pretty sure
you would already. It wouldn't be him.
I came here and I was convinced of the
mushroom and you guys brought it up so I
spoke and I voiced my concerns because I
am very concerned about participation. I
think we've seen a lot of it come down
and I think uh we need to increase as
much as we can. However, I've stated my
opinions and I've stayed the thought
that I feel we have put it on the
ballot. It is up to the people now to
decide and if they decide in affirmative
I'll continue to do my jobs the best the
way I can
but I wanted to state exactly what I
thought
>> and you did
>> yeah so for that
>> the discussion was over
>> before we move on I know Lee just had
>> yeah Carol I had one comment on this
if this was known be something that
Probably people should have a chance to
discuss. It would have been nice to
select when it had a public hearing.
>> Maybe.
>> We got time for that. We have time for
that. Of course, you know, we to be
fair. Isn't that what this is? So, but
no, we could we could also um post it
and advertise it so that it could be
discussed, you know, at a select
meeting. Um that's a good idea. and uh
and Pete, let's do that.
>> Sure.
>> I don't think you're going to get a
great crowd help.
>> No, I suspect not. But but the reason I
wanted to talk about tonight was because
really most of the people that are
always here at town meeting are here
right now. And
um so what better what better place to
bring it up.
>> Perfect. And then just really quick
before we adjourn, um articles six and
seven are about um updating the elderly
and disabled exemptions. Um it was
caught right beforehand that there was a
um typo in both. Uh so article six it
should be um 50,000
100 thou or yeah 100,000 and 200,000. I
discussed that with Michelle. The board
had approved that option at um a prior
meeting. and article 7 should be 50,000.
Um, but the idea, and Michelle can
always add on to it just real quick to
correct me if I'm wrong, but is to just
help out those in town. Um,
I don't know.
>> We adjusted it for inflation.
>> Thank you. So, we went back to
originally the intent was uh was 100,000
and um and that basically covered uh
most people who were in need from their
property taxes. That was
uh many years ago and when we adjusted
it for inflation, that's where we got
these numbers. It wasn't a a roulette
wheel. So we adjusted for inflation and
that's where we had a discussion about
175 or 200. 200 was the adjusted for
inflation. So that would be the intent.
But that is it for our public hearing.
So we will conclude that here at 7:17.
As I said, our town meeting will be
March 10th, the second Tuesday of March
at 7 p.m. at Gorm Mill High School. So,
we will see you all there. Um, take a
few minutes to start getting set up in
the other room for the board me to make
their recommendations.
>> Thank you everyone.
>> Thank you. Yes, I