WE ARE MOVING!!

CAMPTON TOWN OFFICES

 We are moving to our new quarters on April 4^th and April 5^th.  The Town Office will not be opened those two days.  We will reopen on Monday morning, April 8^th at 9 a.m.

The Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office will be located at 10 Gearty Way.  The Selectmen’s Office, Planning, Zoning, Assessing and Welfare offices will be located at 12 Gearty Way.

Gearty Way is off of NH Rte. 49 behind the Campton Fire Station.  Phone numbers will remain the same.

We look forward to seeing you in our new offices.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Town of Campton

    To the inhabitants of the Town of Campton, in the County of Grafton, in said State, qualified to vote in Town Affairs:

 

You are hereby notified to meet at the Campton Municipal Building at 12 Gearty Way (new location behind Fire Department) Campton on Tuesday, the 12^th day of March, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. to act on Article 1.   The Business Meeting will reconvene at the Campton Elementary School on Wednesday, the 13^th day of March, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. to consider the other warrant articles.

Art. 1:  To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year:  Selectmen for Three Years – Two Positions,– Supt. & Sexton of the Cemeteries for One Year – One Position, Trustee of the Trust Funds for 3 Years –Two Positions, Library Trustee for Three Years – One Position, Supervisor of the Checklist – One Position  for Five Years.

         

      The following articles will be taken up during the Business Meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the 13th of March, 2013 at the Campton Elementary School.

 

Art. 2:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,376,094.00 for general municipal operations during the ensuing year.  This sum does not include amounts set forth in individual or special articles contained in the warrant.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $461,355.00 for the operating budget of the Police Department.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for the purpose of funding Police Details.  This amount will be offset by revenues received for these services.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 5:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,692.00 for the purpose of purchasing a new police cruiser.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art .6:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $674,877.00 for the maintenance of highways  and bridges, said sum to be offset by approximately $112,765.00 from Highway Block Grants and the remainder to come from general taxation.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 7:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund established for the purchase of heavy highway equipment.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 8:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund established for Bridge Construction and/or Reconstruction.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 9:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund established for the purpose of future Road Construction or Reconstruction.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 10:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of  $53,500.00 for the maintenance of Blair and other cemeteries in Town and to fund this appropriation by authorizing  the withdrawal of  $760.00 from the Cemetery Trust Funds for Perpetual Care with  $52,740.00 to be raised by taxes.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

 

Art. 11:   To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of

$404,845.00 for the support and maintenance of the Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Departments.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

 

Art. 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $28,418.00 for fire dispatch services and dues provided by the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association.   Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 13:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for fighting forest fires. Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 14:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,000.00 for the purchase of a utility truck for the Fire Department.  This represents Campton’s share (60%) of the purchase and the Town of Thornton paying their share (40%)   Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 15:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,192.00 for the Town’s share of services provided by Pemi-Baker Community Health, formerly known as Pemi-Baker Home Health Agency.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 16:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,995.00 for Advertising and Regional Expenses. Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 17:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to be placed in  the Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of the upkeep and maintenance of  the Campton Historical Building.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 18:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund for Office Technology including computers, printers, software, copy machines, scanners or servers.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 19:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund for the purchase of a fire truck/rescue truck ,ambulance or a command vehicle.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 20:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund for Fire Equipment Capital Equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus or defibrillator. Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 21:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund for  restoration and proper storage of vital Town Records.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0

 

Art. 22:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,500.00 to purchase two computers to replace 2004 models from the Selectmen’s Office and the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office, an additional laptop for the Supervisors of the Checklist, a new version of QuickBooks for the Town Administrator.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 23:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,300.00 for the purchase of a photocopy machine for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s new office.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 24:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 to be used for renovating and upgrading the current Town Office building located at 1307 NH Rt 175.  This said sum shall be used for the initial renovations of the building located at 1307 NH Rt 175 so the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office can continue to occupy and use the entire building.  (By Petition)  Selectmen do not recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 25:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 for renovations for the Town Office Building presently occupied so that the Town Clerk and Tax Collector’s office may remain in the entire existing building.  (By Petition)  Selectmen do not recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 26:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an additional sum of $1,000.00 for shelter, support and services for formerly homeless veterans living at The Bridge House.  The Bridge House has a unique commitment to veterans and never turns a vet away no matter how full.  It is also the only shelter that will accept a vet with a dog.  Nineteen veterans were served this past year.  Seven currently live at the shelter.  Three have dogs.  All are from New Hampshire.  The Bridge House is located in Plymouth and offers shelter, food and critical programs to veterans, families and individuals to help them move from homelessness to independent housing.  30% of funding is from state and federal agencies; private grants, individual donations, multiple annual fundraisers and appropriations from Grafton County Municipalities help to keep our doors open.  During the past year, June 30, 2011-July 1, 2012, the Bridge House provided shelter and essential services to Campton residents for a total of 343 days.  The Bridge House invoices Towns at $15.00 a day per bed night.  The cost to the Bridge House of delivering these services to Campton residents was $5,145.00.   (By Petition)  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 27:  Are you in favor of continuing the combined office of Town Clerk/Tax Collector?  If the majority of those voting do not vote in favor of continuing the combined office, at the next annual Town Meeting when the election of the Town Clerk/Tax Collector is to be held (2014), the voters shall choose one individual as Town Clerk and another as Town Tax Collector. (RSA 41:45-a, II) (Ballot vote required). (By Petition)  Selectmen do not recommend this article 4-1.

 

Art. 28: If a majority do not vote in favor of continuing the combined office of Town Clerk/Tax Collector, are you in favor of changing the term of Town Tax Collector from three years to one year, beginning at the end of the current three year term of the Town Clerk/Tax Collector (2014) and further to discontinue the election of the Town Tax Collector and instead allow the Selectmen to appoint the Tax Collector for a one year term?  (Ballot vote required) (By Petition) .Selectmen do recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 29: To see if the Town will vote to delegate the Town Clerk/Tax Collector under the authority of RSA 41:11-a to operate, regulate it’s use, manage and maintain any said real estate that the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office occupies. (By Petition) Selectmen do not recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 30:  To see if the Town will vote to require the Campton Board of Selectmen to follow the original intent of Article 3 which was voted on at the March 14, 2012 Annual Town Meeting by the voters of Campton.  The original intention voted on at the annual meeting was for a building specifically designed for the Selectmen’s Office, Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office, and a shared Meeting Room space to be used for voting.  (By Petition) Selectmen do not recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 31: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to adopt the following Town Ordinance 13-0001 Relative to Registered Offender Restrictions:

1.  Definitions

 

1. Registered Offender — This chapter shall apply to offenders who

have been convicted of the crime against a person under the age of 18 and as a result, are required to register pursuant to RSA 651-

B: 6 I.

 

2. School/Day Care –Any public or private educational facility that

provides services to children in grades K-12 or licensed day care

facility that is clearly marked. This shall include all property owned, leased or controlled by the educational or day care facility.

 

.

1.   Restrictions

 

1. Any person who is a registered sex offender involving a minor, and is required to register with the State of New Hampshire as defined above is prohibited from entering upon the premises of a school or day care facility unless specifically authorized by the Chief of Police, school administration or day care center administration.

 

1. Penalties

 

Any person violating the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine not less than $250.00 and any subsequent violations of this chapter by the same person shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00. The Town may also seek injunctive relief to require compliance with the provisions of this ordinance. The Town shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if it is the prevailing party in any action to enforce this ordinance.  Selectmen recommend this article 5-0.

 

           

 Art. 32:  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to adopt the following Ordinance No. 13-0002 Ordinance Restricting Certain Activities:

 

FINDINGS:

The Town of Campton recognizes that a diverse population that coexists in the town has a variety of work hours, as well as leisure time. The making, creation, maintenance or continuation of such loud, unnecessary, or unreasonable noises which are prolonged, unusual, unreasonable or unnecessary in their time, place, use and effect are a detriment to the public comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare, and prosperity of the residents of the Town of Campton. Therefore, it is the intent of the town to respond to these by establishing an ordinance that specifically addresses unreasonable noise, as well as hours that certain noise is unlawful. The town relies upon NH RSA 31:39 to enact the following ordinance:

 

CERTAIN NOISE RESTRICTED:

It shall be contrary to this ordinance to cause loud or unreasonable noise within the town between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. “Loud or unreasonable noise” shall be defined as those activities that would disturb the sensibilities of a reasonable person, including, but not limited to loud music, logging operations including private wood cutting, heavy trucking, live entertainment, amplified music and various construction activities. It shall also include the operation of a mobile refrigeration unit or other types of compressors between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. while the vehicle is not in motion, except for emergency use or while actually loading or unloading. These noises include those made in a public place and those made in a private place that disturbs another in a public or private place. The Town relies upon the Police Chief or his/her designee to determine these “loud or unreasonable noises”. “Loud or unreasonable noises” shall also include, in addition to above, any noise occasioned by any one (1) or more of the following actions of the operator of a motor vehicle operated within the limits of the Town of Campton at any time:

1. Misuse of power exceeding tire traction limits in acceleration, sometimes known as “peeling out”, “laying down rubber” or “burning out”;
2. Misuse of braking power exceeding tire traction limits in deceleration where there is no emergency;
3. Rapid acceleration by means of quick or rapid upshifting of transmission gears with either a clutch and manual transmission or an automatic transmission;
4. Racing of engines by manipulation of the accelerator, gas pedal, carburetor or gear selection, whether the vehicle is stationary or not.

“Public place” means any place to which the public or a substantial group has access. The term includes, but is not limited to, public ways, sidewalks, schools, municipal offices or facilities, and the lobbies or hallways of apartment buildings, hotels or motels.

PENALTY:

A violation of this ordinance is punishable by a fine of $100 for the first offense; $250 for a subsequent offense within 12 months of the previous event.    Selectmen do recommend this article 5-0.

 

Art. 33:  To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of agents and officers hereto chosen:

 

Art. 34:  To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.

Given under our hands and seal this 22nd day of February, 2013.

 

 SELECTMEN OF CAMPTON

_______________________

Craig S. Keeney

_______________________
Sharon L. Davis

 

________________________
Charles D. Wheeler

 

________________________
Charles W. Cheney

 

_________________________

R. Marsh Morgan, Jr.

 

 

A true copy of Warrant-Attest:                                SELECTMEN OF CAMPTON

 

_______________________

Craig S. Keeney

_______________________
Sharon L. Davis

 

________________________
Charles D. Wheeler

 

________________________
Charles W. Cheney

 

_________________________

R. Marsh Morgan, Jr.

 

Polls will open at 10 am. On March 12, 2013 to vote on Article 1 Town Officers at the Campton Municipal Building, 12 Gearty Way (note:  new location)

The other articles to be taken up on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Campton Elementary School.           

Notice to the Tax Payers of Campton

From the Campton Board of Selectmen:

March 4, 2013

The Board of Selectmen made a decision last year, after careful consideration and advice of counsel, to switch out the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office and the Police Department based on facts and needs of town departments.  Please click here to view a PowerPoint presentation that was made at a public session last June to explain the decision that the Selectmen made.  That decision saved the Town of Campton upwards of $500,000 to $1 million so that the town will not have to build or construct additions to town facilities for a very long time.  If the Board of Selectmen did not make the decision it did, the town would have had to had built another building or construct an addition onto the Fire Department to accommodate the Police Department.  By making the tough decision that the Board had the courage and authority to make, the Selectmen have been able to keep the town’s tax rate stable for the foreseeable future.

Speaking of tax rate, your 2012 tax bill revealed a $.46 tax decrease in your town portion of your tax bill.  That could not have happened if the Selectmen were not on their game and making sure every department was kept within budget.  Yes, the tax rate went up overall but that was forced by increases in the school and the county tax rates – not the town.

You should also be aware that the construction of the new Municipal Building is within budget – there will be no tax increase because of the construction of this building.  However, if the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office does not move into its renovated space on Gearty Way in a timely manner, the tax rate could eventually be affected as expenses could be more than what is budgeted by being forced to support the old town office building which is far from being energy efficient. It costs more to heat and have the lights on at the old town office building than it does at the new 8,500 square foot Municipal Building!

The renovated police department space is very nice, professional work space, and has more efficient shelving and storage then the present old office building.  The new space is more than adequate for that Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office needs (3 employees) and there is no wasted space like there is at the old town office building.  The cost of the renovations and remodeling of the new Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office was generously donated by the George Durgin Trust so there is no tax impact to the town.  How better can this get?  Great space – energy efficient – professional – no tax increase!

The deliberative session of the Annual Town meeting is on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the School.  The elections portion of the meeting is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the new Municipal Building on Gearty Way