The Board of Selectmen's regularly scheduled meetings are on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:00PM in the Selectmen's Chambers, 356 Main Street. This schedule is subject to change so be sure to check the Town Meeting Calandar for actual meeting dates and times. Call the Selectmen's office at 603-755-2208 if you have any questions.
Board of Selectmen
2010 Chairman’s Report
We started off the year hopeful. We hoped that the economy would get better and that the economic challenges of 2009 would be behind us. As time went on and reality set in, we came to the resolution that we were once again on our own to maintain the delicate financial balance of the Town’s affairs. Our job was made easier by all the hard work and diligence that the Town’s Department Heads and staff has shown towards maintaining the bottom line of their budgets. These people are the ones that deserve the “thanks” when it comes to working more efficiently and the wise use of our pennies.
There has been some hope when it came to the status of some of our major projects. One big undertaking was the replacement of the Bay Road Bridge. With its successful completion this past fall, it has gotten us one step closer to our goal of maintaining and/or replacing all of our Town bridges. One let down is that the Collins and Aikman site is still vacant. We continue to work closely with the State’s Trustee. We have had a couple of interested parties but no one has settled in yet.
One success story would be that of the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. This project is well under way. Much of the work in Phase I has been completed and Phase II is right behind it with the construction bid having been awarded. Funding for the project has come through as expected and time lines are being met. There has even been discussion involving Phase III of the project utilizing the CDBG monies that were secured. All seems to be well on this front.
The Landfill closure has given us a problem. As we all know, the closure was scheduled for December 31,2010. The Transfer Station portion of the project was well on its way. We ran into some glitches, then problems, time passed, and we ended up with the extension of the operating landfill for another year. During this time, our intention is to have more of an opportunity to collect money to secure the cost of the capping and closure. There is some disappointment in not being able to fulfill our expectations of closure in 2010. We realize that the change is causing some trepidation but please know that we will do our best to keep it to a minimum.
As this year comes to an end and a new year begins, I will remain optimistic that the economy will improve and things will get better for all of us. The 2011 budget that is presented has had its own challenges. Hard decisions have been made at many meetings with a lot of discussion. We have taken nothing lightly. We hope you find it acceptable.
As always,
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Proulx, Chairman, Board of Selectmen
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