TOWN OF STARK
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024
To the inhabitants of the Town of Stark, Coos County and State of New Hampshire qualified to vote in town affairs, you are hereby notified to meet at the Stark Volunteer Fire Department in said Town on the second Tuesday in March, March 12, 2024, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon to act upon the subjects hereinafter mentioned. You are hereby warned that on said date and place, the polls will be opened at 9:00 am and will remain open until 7:00 pm for the reception of ballots under the Non-Partisan Ballot System.
ARTICLE 1: To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
(To be voted on while the polls are open.)
Ballot Vote Results
Town Moderator: Danforth Peel 150, Write Ins 1, Undervotes 19
Select Board Member: Crystal Pelletier 120, James Walsh 45, Write Ins 4, Undervotes 1
Town Clerk: Patricia Peel 154, Write Ins 4, Undervotes 12
Cemetery Trustee: Chris Wheelock 53, Write Ins 8, Undervotes 109
Trustee of Trust Funds: Raymond Perkins 109, Write Ins 11, Undervotes 50
Library Trustee (3 yr. term): Write Ins 19; Undervotes 151
Library Trustee (2 yr. term): Write Ins 13, Undervotes 157
Library Trustee (1 yr. term): Write Ins 10, Undervotes 160
ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $181,662 for General Government.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Lisa Demers Second: Glenn Wiggin
Chris Wheelock: Motion to read articles, with totals only, not details; second by Diane Daley. Motion Passed.
Article 2 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $74,000 for Public Safety.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Jim Walsh Second: Glenn Wiggin
Article 3 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $240,100 for Highways.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Lisa Demers
Article 4 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $61,100 for Sanitation.
Recommended by the Select Board (2 yes-1 no)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Lisa Demers
Jim Walsh : Motion to amend Article 5 to change payroll line to $20,000 with 2nd operator working 50% of the time. 2nd by Ray Perkins. Amendment Failed
Article 5 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,263 for Health Agencies.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Jim Walsh
Article 6 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 for Direct Assistance.
Motion Lisa Demers Second: Jim Walsh
Article 7 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,100 for Patriotic Purposes.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second : Lisa Demers
Article 8 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for Debt Services.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Lisa Demers
Article 9 Failed
ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $52,100 for Capital Reserves, with $10,000 to be taken from Unassigned Fund Balance for the Bridge Account.
Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
4915-Capital Reserves 52,100
Revaluation 7,500
Fire Gear 100
Backhoe 500
Bridge 11,000
Cemeteries 1,000
Compactor 1,000
Fire Department Building 100
Fire Department Equipment & Vehicles 10,900
Town Truck 20,000
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Jim Walsh
Article 10 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000 for the final payment to John Deere Financing for the purchase of the 2021 John Deere Backhoe Loader and authorize the withdrawal of $53,884 from the Backhoe Capital Reserve Account created for that purpose. The balance of $6116 is to come from Unassigned Fund Balance. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second Jim Walsh
Motion 11 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $34,860 for the 2024 Revaluation and authorize withdrawal of $34,860 from the Revaluation Capital Reserve Account created for that purpose. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Lisa Demers Second: Jim Walsh
Motion 12 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $400 for library services from Northumberland Public Library. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggins Second: Lisa Demers
Article 13 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 14: Shall the Town accept the provisions of RSA 202-A:4-c providing that any town at an annual meeting may adopt an article authorizing indefinitely, until specific rescission of such authority, the public library trustees to apply for, accept and expend, without further action by the town meeting, unanticipated money from a state, federal or other governmental unit or a private source which becomes available during the fiscal year? Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Jim Walsh
Article 14 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 15: Shall the Town accept the provisions of RSA 202-A:4-d providing that any town at an annual meeting may adopt an article authorizing indefinitely until specific rescission of such authority, the public library trustees to accept gifts of personal property, other than money, which may be offered to the library for any public purpose? Prior to the acceptance of a gift valued at over $5,000 the public library trustees shall hold a public hearing on the proposed acceptance. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Jim Walsh
Article 15 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to change the purpose of the existing Fire Dept Building Capital Reserve account to include building replacement, major additions, and major repairs, and to appoint the Selectmen as agents to expend from the Fire Department Building Capital Reserve previously established in 1989. Recommended by the Select Board 2-1. (2/3 vote required).
Motion: Jim Walsh Second: Lisa Demers
Vote: 39 No 19 Yes
Article 16 Failed
ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the “Capital Reserve” Capital Reserve account. Said funds, with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, are to be transferred to the Capital Reserve “Bridge Account”. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Lisa Demers
Article 17 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $2730 to be transferred to the Bridge Capital Reserve Fund, with said funds to come from Unassigned Fund Balance (this represents the funds from the dissolution of the “Capital Reserve” Capital Reserve fund). This article is contingent on the passage of Article 17. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous).
Motion: Glenn Wiggin Second: Jim Walsh
Article 18 Passed as Written
ARTICLE 19: Shall the Town modify the provisions of RSA 72:39-a for elderly exemption from property tax in the Town of Stark, based on assessed value, for qualified taxpayers, to be as follows: for a person 65 years of age up to 75 year, $15,000; for a person 75 years of age up to 80 years $20,000; for a person 80 years of age or older $25,000. To qualify, the person must have been a Stark, New Hampshire resident for at least 3 consecutive years, own the real estate individually or jointly, or if the real estate is owned by such person’s spouse, they must have been legal spouse/legal partner to each other for at least 5 consecutive years. In addition, the taxpayer must have an annual net income of not more than $20,000 or, if married as spouse/partner, a combined annual net income of less than $27,000; and own net assets not in excess of $37,500 excluding the value of the person’s residence. Recommended by the Select Board (Unanimous)
Motion : Lisa Demers Second : Jim Walsh
Article 19 Passed as Written
Select Board Chair, Glenn Wiggin, recognized and thanked Sue Croteau for her many years working for the Town.
ARTICLE 20: To transact any other business that may lawfully come before this meeting.
William Joyce: Asked Select Board to require purchase orders for any money spent by the Town.
Wiliam Joyce: Would like Select Board to consider painting Town Hall prior to 250th celebration.
William Joyce: Feels a pole barn should be built at Town Garage to house equipment not under cover.
Cindy Boivin: Reviewed plans for the 250th Celebration, which will be held August 3 & 4, 2024.
Crystal Pelletier: Stark Clean Up Day, August 20, 2024, from 8-10 am. Volunteers should meet at Stark Village School.
Bob Gale: Voiced concern regarding list of unpaid taxes missing from the 2023 Annual Report.
Bill Joyce: Informed those in attendance that the 250th Celebration was being sponsored by the Stark Heritage Center not by taxpayer dollars.
Diane Daley—Thanked Select Board for effort in keeping the budget withing reason, at a significant decrease from prior year.
Jane Ryan—Kudos to Stark Fire Department for response to recent issue at South Pond.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Ron Lunn Second: Sue Fogg
Meeting adjourned by Assistant Moderator, Dan Peel, at 4:03 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia S. Peel, Town Clerk
Stark, NH