Meredith SB-2 petition

[fatlazyless]

The Citizen of Laconia
by Erin Plummer
January 23, 2008

Meredith will vote on SB2 for town, school
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A petitioned article calling for the implementation of Senate Bill 2 will be on the warrants of the town and the Inter-Lakes School District.

The petition, generated by resident Richard Juve, would change the town's form of government to the Official Ballot Act, commonly known as SB2, which would eliminate the traditional town meeting process and replace it with a deliberative session to amend articles, while voting would take place by secret ballot.

Petitions with 174 signatures were submitted to the town and school district calling for SB2 after they were circulated around town and were available to voters during the primary on Jan. 8.

Town Manager Carol Granfield told the selectmen during Monday's budget workshop that she had spoken with Inter-Lakes Superintendent Phil McCormack about the possibility of having a joint public hearing between Meredith and Inter-Lakes. Granfield said a joint hearing would be best to differentiate between the effects it would have on the two different groups.

Other board members said the joint meeting might not be the best idea, as Inter-Lakes also includes Center Harbor and Sandwich, which are not facing SB2 petitions, and that further discussion should be held with McCormack to determine the process.

Granfield said the passage of SB2 in Meredith would be unique for the town as it would be one of the few with SB2 that does not have a union. SB2 requires communities to fulfill all contracts and without a union "if you're not obligated to something, some people might want to be obligated."

An SB2 article cannot indicate whether the boards approve or disapprove of it.

"I don't think we should promote it or hide from it," said Board Chair Frank Michel.

Selectman Collette Worsman said the petition for SB2 was a sign voters are fed up with town spending. Worsman advocated methods of cutting around $500,000 from this year's budget by trimming some department line items.

"The community has had enough of tax increases," Worsman said. "I truly believe there are a lot more out there who are tired of seeing the increases (and the taxation on money) they have worked so hard to get."

"I do hear the consensus of the community that we need to conserve the money that we spend. It should be on necessities, not luxuries."
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by Erin Plummer
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Citizen of Laconia
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The two SB2 ballot questions for town & school will take place on Wednesday, March 12, and be a paper ballot, private vote held in the Community Center from 7am - 7pm.

I believe there's another ballot question as well that has to do with a zoning issue.

The annual town meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 in the evening, as usual.



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