Weare deliberative session on Saturday

Weare voters will gather Saturday morning to debate a $9.6 million town operating budget that includes big increases for the police department and trash disposal.

The deliberative session will begin at 9 a.m. at Weare Middle School. Under SB2 town meeting rules, voters at deliberative session discuss budget and warrant articles and can amend them to an extent, but final approval or rejection will happen at the polling place on voting day, March 10.

As proposed, the operating budget is $9.64 million, which is less than last year’s appropriation of $10 million.

However, last year’s budget included an extra $988,411 for one-time big-ticket items, whereas that line item is zero this year. Without that, this year’s proposed operating budget is about $620,000 higher than last year.

The biggest proposed spending increases are for police, up $185,000 to $2.26 million; solid waste disposal, up $133,000 to $629,417; and insurance, up $111,000 to $757,115.

Other warrant articles separate from the budget include:

• A 3% pay hike for non-union town and library personnel, except the town administrator. The cost for the first year would be $76,372. Weare is in the process of looking for a replacement for Naomi Bolton, who resigned as town administrator as of December, but has been filling in until a replacement is hired.
• A new performance evaluation increase for fire and rescue personnel, which would add an estimated $15,027. Under the plan, personnel would get the increase above and beyond other raises if they score enough on their annual performance evaluation. It is designed to “promote workforce stability” at a time when many towns have difficulty keeping trained first responders.
• A proposal to change the assistant library director from part-time to full-time, at an extra cost of $26,936.
• An agreement to build a solar array on the safety complex using $119,000 already awarded from the New Hampshire Municipal Solar Grant Program.
• A petition warrant article asks the town to support an Independent Redistricting Commission “to ensure fair and transparent voting districts that represent all voters equally and without favor to any political party.”

The warrant includes a number of zoning changes, including those designed to get the town in line with new state laws requiring the acceptance of Accessory Dwelling Units alongside existing properties. Zoning articles cannot be amended at a deliberative session.

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