SEABROOK
BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Promoting
betterment issues to improve the livability of Seabrook Beach
Vol. 6
Issue 1 February
2003
.
What a winter!
I have a guest
towel that reads, “If you are lucky enough to be at the beach, you’re lucky
enough!”
This year, that
beach should be in Acapulco...
For the hardy
souls braving the bone-numbing temperatures in Seabrook, there ARE some
advantages. The stars visible on clear nights have been absolutely breathtaking;
they seem close enough to grasp. The cold is also an excuse to take in a
matinee, catch up on that reading that got put aside in the holiday rush, try
out a new hearty soup recipe, or just relax. You can also rest assured that your
driveway won’t be full of cars belonging to
Peace and quiet
- it’s wonderful!
Remember,
it’s only five months until the start of summer.
Jacqui Lewis
The Board of Selectmen’s
Meetings have yet to begin televising live to the public on Channel 22. Check
at the Town Hall and in your local newspapers for possible schedules.
Town Elections
Voting by Absentee Ballot
Return your
absentee ballots in plenty of time for them to be counted. Last year, there were
many ballots that arrived too late to be included. Election Day is Tuesday,
March 11, 2003. Mark your calendars.
2003 Warrant Articles
Information
from Selectwoman Karen Knight concerning the following warrant articles was
 |
Article
2: To approve an operating
totaling $12,868,479, an 11.6 increase over last year’s budget. Should the
article be defeated, the budget would default to last year’s figure of
$11,525.287. |
|
Article
3: To ratify the financial terms of the collective bargaining agreement
between the board of selectmen and the Seabrook Supervisory Employees’
Association which calls for a three-year agreement. To raise and appropriate
the sum of $61,088 for the 2003 fiscal year, with no additional cost for the
contract year 2002. The increased cost for subsequent years being $32,400
(2004) and $33,177.83 |
|
Article
4: To ratify the financial terms of the collective bargaining agreement
between the board of selectmen and the Seabrook Police Association, which
calls for a three-year agreement. And to raise and appropriate the sum of
$126,541.00 for the 2003 fiscal year, with not additional cost for the
contract year 2002. The increased cost for subsequent years being $51,773.00
(2004) and $52,814.00 (2005).
Selectmen: Yes
Budget Committee: Yes |
|
Article
5: To ratify the financial
terms of the collective bargaining agreement reached between the board of
selectmen and the Seabrook Permanent Fire Fighters’ Association, which
calls for a three year agreement and to raise and appropriate the sum of
$90.085.00 for the 2003 fiscal year, with no additional cost for the
contract year 2002. The increased cost for subsequent years being $49,370.00
(2004) and $50,269.00 (2005).
Selectmen & Budget
Committee - Yes |
|
Article
9: In accordance with RSA 72:37-b to modify exemptions for the disabled, as
follows: Commencing with the 2003 tax year, shall we modify the existing
exemption for the disabled as follows? The exemption based on assessed
value, for qualified taxpayers shall be $65,000. To qualify, the person must
have been a New Hampshire resident for at least 5 years and own and occupy
the real estate individually or jointly, or if the real estate in owned by a
spouse, they must have been married for at least 5 years. In addition, the
taxpayer must have a net income of not more than $20,000.00, or if married,
a combined net income of not more than $32,500.00, and own net assets not in
excess of $125,000.00 excluding the value of the person’s residence. |
|
·
Article
11: To see if the town will
vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,600,000.00 to prepare designs,
permits and construct a stream diversion on the Hampton Falls River in
Seabrook near the town boundary, and to prepare designs and permits for the
construction of a Desalination facility and to install water meters as a
part of a State-mandated water conservation program if the diversion and
permits for the desalination facility are approved by the State. |
OTHER
THAN THE BUDGET, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLE TO BE VOTED ON.
|
Article
13: To raise and appropriate
the sum of $35,575.00 for the purpose of purchasing and equipping one
pick-up style truck with a dog kennel type cap for the use of the animal
control division and to authorize the sale or trade-in of the existing
animal control van. |
|
Article
14: To raise and appropriate
the sum of $5,000.00 for the purpose of purchasing a sound decibel reader.
Selectmen: Yes
Budget Committee: No |
Note this equipment is used for measuring motorcycle noise.
|
Article
18: To raise and appropriate the sum of $45,000.00 for the purpose of
purchasing and equipping a medical response vehicle for the fire department.
This vehicle would be used as an ambulance follow-up vehicle or a
stand-alone medical/emergency response vehicle. The selectmen and the budget
committee recommend this appropriation. |
|
Article
21: To raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 for the purpose of
purchasing protective turn-out gear for the fire department. The selectmen
and the budget committee recommend appropriation. |
|
Article
32: To raise and appropriate
the sum of $200,000.00 to design a water treatment facility at Bedrock Well
5. The treatment facility will be designed to remove arsenic in order to
meet state and federal mandates. |
|
Article
33: To raise $750,000 to establish a Water Resources Capital Reserve
Account, which could be used to purchase equipment, land, buildings and
contract services for the development of additional water resources. |
Note:
This would be an interest bearing savings account to avoid having
to
pay for Bond or Mortgage Expenses in the future to fund major water resources.
|
Article
34: To raise the sum of $7,500.00 for the Conservation Fund to be used for
funding projects, acquiring grants, purchasing lands, etc. This will be a
non –lapsing account per RSA 36-A: 5. |
Note: the Conservation Fund has contributed to expenditures for paying
the town’s share of the Sustainability of Groundwater Resources Project and to
the cost of installing the stream gauge on the Hampton Falls River at Mill Lane.
The stream gauge is an essential part of the proposed water diversion from the
river to increase our municipal water supply.
|
Article 36: To raise and appropriate the sum of $14,000.00 for the
purpose of constructing a 5-foot wide reinforced 6” thick concrete
sidewalk from the Community Center entrance to the traffic lights at the
Taco Bell.
|
Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Report
By
Suzanne Manzi
As a result of the longest drought this town has experienced and a
dangerously low groundwater supply, the town was required by the state to
develop a plan for new water resources. The
town has been mandated by the state to install water meters as part of the water
conservation program. The state
will not allow any other sources of water until this requirement is met.
This committee was appointed by the town and has been meeting by weekly
or weekly since September 2002. At several meetings, the Earth Tech, Inc.
engineers who were hired as consultants on the project, presented voluminous
information on the town’s water resources and the options to consider for
future needs.
The first objective for the committee was to recommend a plan to the
town selectmen that could provide a quick water resource and then to establish
plans for a long-term water supply. The
committee submitted the warrant articles required to move forward with the plan.
First, the quickest and least expensive resource of water is the
diversion plan taking the excess water from the Hampton Falls River during high
flow periods and sending to the town holding ponds.
Second, to provide the funds to prepare designs and permits for the
construction of a
desalinization facility. The town needs for the future are far more than any
underground water supply can provide. The committee will continue to pursue the
most efficient means to obtain more water.
Third, to install water meters as part of the state-mandated water
conservation program. If the voters do not approve Article 11 then the town will
have to pursue installing residential meters. The tax impact would be more
favorable if they approve the meters on the March ballot. The average cost of
this important article for all three portions would be $1.75 per $1000 property
evaluation. The average household would be approximately $300. Currently, all
business are required to have water meters and the businesses which account for
80-85 percent of the tax base, would cover a larger part of the cost if meters
are approved by ballot. Otherwise,
the cost of the meters would fall directly on the residents of town. This could
cost as much as $1600 per household and would be billed on the water bill not
through taxes.
It is essential that we approve this article in March so that the town
can move forward to benefit all of us for our future water needs. The mandatory
“Water Ban” will go on indefinitely if we don’t act now.
My husband and I have lived here for 33 years, and we were always amazed
that our water bill was only $40 for years and then increased to only $60. The
reality of what our water bill will cost us in the future will be to the extreme
increase if we don’t appropriate the tax funds now.
The Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Members are: Susan Foote,
Chairperson, Sandy Beaudoin, Bruce Casassa, Dick Dodge, Warner Knowles, Water
& Sewer Superintendent, Owen Latham, Suzanne Manzi, Linwood Norton and
Carrie Fowler, Secretary.
For more information on the activities of the committee, visit the
following web site: www.rsdodge.info/Seabrook/Water_Conservation.htm
The following
editorial appeared in the Hampton Union on January 28, 2003:
Meter should point to yes on water
article
It’s
a vision thing.
Essentially, Seabrook residents must
approve a $3.6 million warrant article this March in order to proceed with a
plan to expand the town’s access to potable water. If residents fail to
approve this measure then it is likely that continued draught conditions will
only worsen the community’s water woes.
We support this article and encourage
the residents of Seabrook to do the same, because it involves not only short
term answers to the town’s water issues, but provides funding to search for
long-term answers as the number of residents continue to grow and water demand
is increased.
Currently Seabrook has a mandatory
ban on outside watering, not that that is much of a problem this time of year,
but it highlights the need for new sources of water. The article - to be paid in
one year - covers three different expenses that will add up to one effort to
meet the community’s water needs. The expenses are installing water meters, a
stream diversion of the Hampton Falls River, and part of an engineering study
for a desalinization plant.
The first of these expenses is likely
to be the most contentious among residents who may fear higher water bills from
the town. However, the state has mandated that the town install these meters in
people’s homes before Seabrook will be able to access any new sources of water
- such as buying water from another town.
And, as Committee Chairwoman Susan
Foote has noted, residents who use the average of 100,000 gallons per year would
pay no more than the $30 every six months they are paying now. When looking at
the need for water within Seabrook and the state’s requirements, which we
assume are in place for good reason, it only makes sense for residents to make
the investment.
It should also be pointed out that
the valuation on Seabrook Station has been decreasing each year. Therefore, the
sooner residents pass this article; the more of it will be paid by Seabrook
Station.
We would also like to add that the
other two initiatives bundled into the article would mean more water for the
town in the short and long-term. Runoff from the Hampton Falls River will be
diverted into the Tri-Town Pond and then pumped into town wells, which should be
a good short-term strategy.
And looking to the future, it makes
sense to investigate the idea of building a desalinization plant. After all,
Seabrook is next to one of the largest water sources in the world - if the ocean
can be used to supply clean, potable and inexpensive water, then residents have
nothing to lose. Imagine a nearly limitless supply of water to keep the lawn
green and the garden lush.
The Selectmen have displayed a strong vision for developing future water
sources for the community, and residents would do well to support that vision.
Candidates
Announced
We will have an opportunity to vote for candidates to represent us on
March 11th. Karen Knight of
Ocean Dr. is running for re-election as a Selectperson. Bruce Casassa and Jim
Fuller are both running for Seabrook School Board. I have worked on committees
with them and find them
worthy of your consideration. Sincerely, Sue Manzi
Seabrook Beach
Management Plan
Report from Suzanne Manzi:
The Beach Management Committee has applied for a grant from the
state’s Coastal Program in order to develop a beach management plan. The total
cost for developing the plan is $30,000. The selectmen have given their approval
of the grant application that asks for matching funds of
$15,000 from the state. The town will provide $10,000 in the town
manager’s budget and the DPW has $2,500 for development of the plan. The Beach
Management Committee will donate 165 work hours, accounting for the remaining
$2,500.
The plan is required by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Service’s Wetland Board, the agency that grants permits for beach grading or
other maintenance activities. Without the plan, beach maintenance jobs, such as
controlling sand dunes or clearing sand away from surge walls, can
“snowball” and add up. A plan would stabilize the beach, which will result
in less maintenance.
The committee hopes that the DES will accept the final copy of the plan
and grant a long-term, open-ended permit for beach management jobs. This would
allow the town to clear sand away from surge walls without having to wait for
permit approval. It would also
allow the town to control the unnatural growth of sand dunes, such as those near
Hooksett St. and Manchester St., which have grown 35 feet high.
The Beach Management Plan also includes: maintenance of the boardwalks;
the cleaning of storm debris; restoration of the North Beach with sand provided
from the harbor dredging and the use of storm fencing to prevent windblown sand
from moving onto private properties and public accesses. This plan will provide
the proper guidelines for the town to schedule annual and seasonal maintenance
activities.
Members of the Beach Management Committee are: Robert Brown, Paul Garand,
Susan Foote, Dick Maguire, Suzanne Manzi, Doug Mullin - Hampton DPW and Paula
Wood.
SBCA Newsletter Editor
Jacqui Lewis
Tel: (603) 474 -9777
E-mail: jcjjlewis@aol.com