Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Meredith SB-2 petition

fatlazyless · 02-22-2008, 03:11 AM

Quotes taken from the February 14, 2008, Laconia Daily Sun, 'SB-2 debate begins in Meredith,' by Michael Kitch
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Town Manager Carol Granfield set the scene with a staff report which concluded "the SB-2 form of government is not recommended as a positive improvement for the Town of Meredith." She explained that SB-2 was primarily intended to provide voters unable to attend Town Meeting an opportunity to vote on the warrant and to enable voters to cast their ballots in private.

However, Granfield expressed a number of reservations about the process. "Many people voting," she said. "do not understand the articles. (And) Those who don't understand the articles typically vote no." She noted that when voters reject the budget, the default budget taking its place includes contractual agreements with collective bargaining units, which must be honored, sometimes at the expense of positions and services. Granfield suggested that SB-2, by increasing the likelihood of voters rejecting budgets while ensuring that union contracts must be fulfilled, could encourage municipal employees to form collective bargaining units. "SB-2 communities." Granfield suggested "may better assist towns that do not have a professional manager and department heads on staff."
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Fire Chief Chuck Palm, who is running to replace chairman Frank Michel on the Selectboard, suggested that expectations that voters could control the tax rate by adopting SB-2 are misplaced. He recalled that last year the tax rate rose 17 cents, from $10.74 to $10.91, but that the town portion of the rate dropped 9-cents, from $3.79 to $3.70. On the other hand, the school portion climbed 6-cents, the state property tax 13-cents and county tax 7-cents, he said, adding that the largest share of the increase, the state and county taxes, is beyond the control of the town.

"We can control the tax rate with what we have right here." Palm declared.
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Selectman Bob Flanders said that 'my biggest concern is that when the people go to the polls they have the full story," referring to the "warts and pimples" of the SB-2 process. "I've just heard an awfull lot of negatives," he said, recalling that in one town voters endorsed contradictory articles and in another reduced an appropriation for a fire station to $1. Noting that participation in the deliberative meeting is an important part of the SB-2 process, Flanders said that those people wintering in Florida and unable to attend are "disenfranchised," even if they cast absentee ballots. "Is that a more representative form of government? It doesn't seem like that to me," he said.
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The proposal to adopt SB-2 will appear on both the town and school district warrant in March, where it will require a super-majority of 60-percent to succeed. Town Moderator Lou Kahn said that he will invite Bob Ambrose, Senior Deputy Secretary of State, who is well versed in the design and operation of SB-2, to explain the official ballot form of town government at Candidates Night, which is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 28, at the Community Center.
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excerpts all from The Laconia Daily Sun, Feb 14, 2008, "SB-2 debate begins in Meredith' by Michael Kitch

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Hey there, Is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper, or is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper?

02-22-2008, 03:11 AM	#61
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,960 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 308 Thanked 1,061 Times in 774 Posts	...how town leaders feel about SB-2 Quotes taken from the February 14, 2008, Laconia Daily Sun, 'SB-2 debate begins in Meredith,' by Michael Kitch ............................ Town Manager Carol Granfield set the scene with a staff report which concluded "the SB-2 form of government is not recommended as a positive improvement for the Town of Meredith." She explained that SB-2 was primarily intended to provide voters unable to attend Town Meeting an opportunity to vote on the warrant and to enable voters to cast their ballots in private. However, Granfield expressed a number of reservations about the process. "Many people voting," she said. "do not understand the articles. (And) Those who don't understand the articles typically vote no." She noted that when voters reject the budget, the default budget taking its place includes contractual agreements with collective bargaining units, which must be honored, sometimes at the expense of positions and services. Granfield suggested that SB-2, by increasing the likelihood of voters rejecting budgets while ensuring that union contracts must be fulfilled, could encourage municipal employees to form collective bargaining units. "SB-2 communities." Granfield suggested "may better assist towns that do not have a professional manager and department heads on staff." ........................ Fire Chief Chuck Palm, who is running to replace chairman Frank Michel on the Selectboard, suggested that expectations that voters could control the tax rate by adopting SB-2 are misplaced. He recalled that last year the tax rate rose 17 cents, from $10.74 to $10.91, but that the town portion of the rate dropped 9-cents, from $3.79 to $3.70. On the other hand, the school portion climbed 6-cents, the state property tax 13-cents and county tax 7-cents, he said, adding that the largest share of the increase, the state and county taxes, is beyond the control of the town. "We can control the tax rate with what we have right here." Palm declared. ........................... Selectman Bob Flanders said that 'my biggest concern is that when the people go to the polls they have the full story," referring to the "warts and pimples" of the SB-2 process. "I've just heard an awfull lot of negatives," he said, recalling that in one town voters endorsed contradictory articles and in another reduced an appropriation for a fire station to $1. Noting that participation in the deliberative meeting is an important part of the SB-2 process, Flanders said that those people wintering in Florida and unable to attend are "disenfranchised," even if they cast absentee ballots. "Is that a more representative form of government? It doesn't seem like that to me," he said. ........................... The proposal to adopt SB-2 will appear on both the town and school district warrant in March, where it will require a super-majority of 60-percent to succeed. Town Moderator Lou Kahn said that he will invite Bob Ambrose, Senior Deputy Secretary of State, who is well versed in the design and operation of SB-2, to explain the official ballot form of town government at Candidates Night, which is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 28, at the Community Center. .......................... excerpts all from The Laconia Daily Sun, Feb 14, 2008, "SB-2 debate begins in Meredith' by Michael Kitch ......................... Hey there, Is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper, or is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper? __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store! Last edited by fatlazyless; 02-22-2008 at 03:46 AM.