No money would be raised at the meeting. This money has already been raised and appropriated to the Town Buildings therefore the process would be a simple posting procedure.

The DRA suggests this is the only special fund to consider using to cover the project as it is already specifically for the Buildings. You are invited to bring your questions and concerns to this Town Meeting.

Pair of Canada Geese

At 1900’, Cobb Hill is one of the area’s highest points. It is flanked by two old roads that join Nelson and Harrisville which run on the east and west sides of the hill. The Harris Center already maintains the Jane Greene Trail that comes up from Hancock to a lookout on the east side of the hill with a beautiful view of Mount Monadnock.  We hope to extend the Jane Greene Trail so hikers from all three towns can enjoy visiting the lookout and the high bush blueberries growing on the windy summit and loop back to their starting point.  Further work with the landowners must be complete before a trail can actually be laid out. The trails committees of Nelson and

Eric Sandberg spots proud parents with 5 goslings

Harrisville are co-operating with the Harris Center for Conservation Education on the project.

Further along is the development of a trail that explores the wetland across Granite Lake Road from the Nelson School.  This opportunity offers a visit to an old gristmill site and bird habitat long of interest to the Audubon Society.  The trail will be laid out so as to afford opportunities to enjoy this important piece of habitat without intruding unnecessarily on bird life.  Troy Tucker has already started to clear the portion of the trail that runs through his property. Kathy and

Julia Lennon and Kathy Schillemat spot spring flowers

Duane Schillemat have generously offered their driveway as the access point.

The Committee has been learning about trail making from the experts. Tom Duston, chair of the Chesterfield Conservation Commission, has spoken to the group and recently spent a rainy morning walking Cobb hill to share tips on good trail layout and construction.  He’s produced a six-page guide on the subject to help inform our work.  On May 12^th, committee members Susan Hansel, Julia Lennon, Kathy Schillemat, Eric Sandberg and I walked the Audubon Society’s Cove Trail at the Sucker Brook Sanctuary to observe good trail making practices in wetland bird habitat.  The views of Mount Monadnock over Silver Lake were beautiful. A pair of Canada Geese announced their landing in the cove with loud honking. Another pair paddled by with their five youngsters.  A plethora of  wildflowers including numerous painted trilliums graced the side of the path.

Painted Trillium

I can recommend the Sucker Brook Sanctuary for anyone wanting a comfortable walk through hemlock groves, past boulder strewn landscapes and rock outcrops with beautiful forest flowers, water foul and song birds to add to your enjoyment. Parking is on Breed Pond Road. Directions and a trail guide can be downloaded from New Hampshire Audubon .

Before any final change is made the Board would like some feedback. Please respond to:
execadmin@nelsonnh.us

The Agricultural Commissions of Nelson and Harrisville are collaborating to bring you a local Market this Summer. The Markets will begin on Friday, June 8, in Harrisville, and alternate towns every other week, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The last Market is scheduled for Nelson on Saturday, October 13 from 10:00 to 2:00. For the complete schedule, please refer to the March 2012 issue of The Grapevine, and watch for the signs to be posted around the town.

For all interested vendors, there will be a public meeting on Saturday, April 14, from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Nelson Town Hall. Members from both Agricultural Commissions will be present to review the respective bylaws, distribute vendor applications, and answer questions. (Interested potential customers may attend, too!)

For more information, call David Voymas at 847-3137 or Scott Oliver at 827-3973.

click on image to see larger display

The town of Nelson has recently received the digitized copies of 5 books containing town records from 1802 to 1885. The contents include tax records and receipts, agreements and expense records for maintaining the town poor and a list of articles furnished by the committee for the poor farm. There is a list of jurors (1845-1875) and records of School District No. 5 (1820-1856), data that can be found nowhere else.

The Selectmen’s records from 1869-1884 list town expenditures and dog licenses issued 1884-1885. In the Selectmen’s book from 1802-1817 tax records are listed giving a clear picture of life in Nelson, naming the town officials at the time. Thaddeus Barker, John Breed, Josiah Robbins and George Tolman are but a few of the names mentioned in the records that span the whole of the 19th century. These volumes reveal how the schools, poor farm and roads were part of the social fabric of the community. They list who lived in the town and who were the tax collectors, selectmen and just ordinary citizens who paid taxes.

There will be a detailed index available for anyone wishing to do research. It will be
based on the index that exists in the Archives Office created by Bert Wingerson, Town
Archivist.

This project was made possible by a State of New Hampshire Conservation License Plant Grant, which allocates money raised from the extra cost of Moose plates to such worthy purposes. The original intent was to post these files on the web,  however due to the size of the files, this is not practical. Copies are available on CD from the library, and it is permissible to copy the files from the CD onto your personal computer.

For more information contact Bert Wingerson or Susan Hansel.

Selectman:
Maury Collins 183
Duane Schillemat 53
John Cucci 36

Schoolboard:
Jessica Walker 134
Maureen Lord 112

Moderator:
Rick Church  185
Bud French 92

Trustee of the LIbrary:
Tom Tolman  250

Trustee of the Library:
Linda Cates  246

Emergency Management Officer:
Richard Lothrop  262

Treasurer:
John Shea 230

Planning Board: (2 positions)
Eric Sandberg 218
Michael LeDoux 46

Trustee of the Trust Funds:
Tom Newcombe 249

Cemetery Board:
Marty French 242

Road Equipment Committee:
John Bunce 67

Zoning Board of Adjustment:  (2 positions)
Michelle Lange 87
John Cucci 12

Supervisor of the Checklist:
Hope Lothrop  245

Auditor:
Terry Mednick  139
Joy Birdsey  102

ARTICLES OF A GENERAL NATURE

1: To choose necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.

2: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $301,876 to be raised by taxes. This is to defray Town charges for the year ensuing. The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. 3-0 [an amendment - vote, NO]  [vote on the article YES]

3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,600 for support of the town library with all expenses above that amount to be paid directly by income from the Library Memorial Fund or other sources.. (In 2011 the total amount raised by taxes was $20,600). The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. 3-0 [vote YES]

4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,481 for support of social service agencies which provide assistance to Nelson residents. The agencies chosen to receive funds are: Home Health Care ($550), Monadnock Family Services ($831), The Keene Community Kitchen, Inc. ($1,500) and Southwestern Community Services ($600). The Selectmen recommend these appropriations. 3-0 (In 2011, these same agencies received contributions from the town in the amount of $3478). [vote - YES]

5: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be added to the Town Buildings Capital Reserve Fund. No withdrawals may be made from the fund except by vote of the town. The selectmen recommend this appropriation. 3-0 (The 2011 appropriation was $10,000). The fund balance on 12/31/2011 was $73,117. [vote - YES]

6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 to be added to the Milfoil Prevention and Treatment Expendable Trust Fund. The Conservation Commission approves this article. The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. 3-0 The fund balance as of 12/31/2011 was $17,372. [vote - YES]

7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $823 used for hazardous waste collections for 2012 and 2013 consisting of 24 collection dates. The Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - YES]

 
ARTICLES DEALING WITH SERVICE AND PROTECTION

8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $14,500 as subsidy for ambulance service for the ensuing year, it being understood that residents will still be charged for individual calls. (The appropriation for 2011 was $10,428.29). Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - YES]

9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,338 for the proper expenses of the Fire Department and Rescue Squad. (The 2011 appropriation was $15,000). Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - YES]

10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the purpose of fighting forest fires. This sum to come from reimbursement from the NH State Fire Warden and no amount will be raised through taxation. The Department of Revenue Administration recommends this method of accounting so as not to impact the Fire Department’s operating budget. The Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - YES]

11: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be added to the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, for the purpose of Fire Apparatus for the fire department. No  withdrawals may be made from this Fund except by vote of the Town and upon recommendation of  the Fire Chief. The Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 The fund balance as of 12/31/2011 was Approximately $181,490 [vote - YES]

12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the proper expenses for Emergency Management. This article is recommended by the Nelson Emergency Management Director and by Board of Selectmen. 3-0 [vote - YES]

13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $41,400 for the proper expenses of the Police Department. (The appropriation for 2011 was $37,000). The Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - YES]

14: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000 for the purpose of patrols performed by the Nelson Police Department for the State of NH, Cheshire County, Sheriff’s Office and other authorized municipal entities. This sum to come from offsetting grants and no amount will be raised through taxation. The Selectmen recommend this article 3-0 [vote - YES]

15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the Police Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. No withdrawals may be made from this fund except by vote of the Town and with the recommendation of the Police Chief. The selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 The fund balance as of 12/31/11 was Approximately $10,552. [vote - YES]

16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the proper expenses of the Agricultural Commission. The Selectmen recommend this article 3-0 [vote - YES]

17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,200 for maintenance of Head Stones in the Town’s Cemeteries. The total sum to be raised by taxes. The Selectmen recommend this article 3-0 [vote - YES]

ARTICLES DEALING WITH ROADS

18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $243,150.00 for the purpose of maintenance of highways and bridges for ensuing year’s budget with $37,390.67 anticipated coming from Highway Block Grant Aid. The rest ($205,759.33) to be raised by taxes. In 2011 the sum of ($175,816.98) was raised by taxes. The Selectmen Recommend this appropriation 3-0 [vote - YES]

19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be added to the Road  Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. It is understood that no withdrawals may be made from this fund for the purchase of road equipment except by vote of the town upon recommendation of the Road Equipment Committee. The fund balance on 12/31/11 was Approximately $11,706 The Road Equipment Committee (which includes the Selectmen) recommends this appropriation The Selectmen recommend this article 3-0 [vote - YES]

ARTICLES DEALING WITH PLANNING & ZONING

20: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $802 for dues to belong to the Southwest Region Planning Commission. ($731 in 2011) The Selectmen recommend this article 3-0 [vote - YES]

21: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000 to be used to fund a Condition Assessment with Preservation Guidelines for the Nelson Town Hall and Old School House. The total cost of this project not to exceed $7,000 with $3,500 being raised by taxes and $3,500 coming in the form of a matching grant from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.  Nelson has been approved for the grant but the money will not be awarded without matching funds from the town. The Selectmen recommend this article. 3-0 [vote YES]

OTHER ARTICLES
WARRANT ARTICLES BY PETITION

22: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate up to $1500 to support the expenses of three Nelson School students @ $500 each from grades five or six to attend Summer Village 2012 (in Nelson Village). This money would only be spent for children who actually apply to and attend the program. The Selectmen do not recommend this article. 3-0 [vote - amended change capital S to small s in "School", YES]

23: To see if the Town will vote to require the Selectmen, and all Town Officers and Employees to provide to the Auditor, for the purpose of examination and audit required by law, all town financial records (including digital data in that format) as requested by the Auditor. If direct  access to original documents is required by the Auditor, an appointed time will be scheduled for  that access. No original documents shall be required to leave the town offices. Copies of the documents requested by the auditor may be provided instead of original documents, provided  the auditor agrees. Privacy and confidentiality laws (RSA 91-A:5) will be adhered to by the Auditor. [vote -YES]

24: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to permit Town Residents to use the Common Room in the Safety Building for meetings and small gatherings; it being understood that should an emergency arise such that the room is required, Residents scheduled to use the room would be contacted by the person designated by that group to cancel their meeting or event as would be necessary. Permission to use the space would use the same policies that are currently in place for other Town spaces.  [vote - NO]

25: To see if the Town will vote to require the selectmen to deposit the official records of the town, not immediately needed in the course of their duties, with the town clerk as required under RSA 41:58 by April 1, 2012. The town clerk shall have access to the records independently of any other persons or governing body. Further that the town clerk shall establish procedures that allow reasonable access for the public at least during the hours the clerk is ordinarily available to the public in the town office. [vote - (written ballot) 64 - YES / 54 - NO

26: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a Study Committee of not more than 4 Nelson residents to do the following:
* Attend all meetings of the board of selectmen.
* Record the proceedings of those meetings for the purpose of understanding the activities and associated time requirements of the office
*Recommend efficiencies to the board of selectmen as they may come to the attention of the committee.
*Report to the Town of Nelson, at the March 2013 Town Meeting, making recommendations for any changes in administrative staffing or in the number of members of the board of selectmen, that it believes to be in the best interests of the Town. The term of the Study Committee will end at the adjournment of the 2013 Nelson Town Meeting.
[vote NO]

To transact any other business or discuss other warrant proposals as may legally be brought before the meeting.

Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 13th.  Please remember that voting for candidates occurs from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.  At that time the polls close, and subsequent voting is for items on the Town Warrant, which will be presented during the Business Meeting, starting at 7:00.

Click here for a list of candidates running for town offices.

• 6:30 – 7:00 PM Meet and greet the candidates for Nelson Selectmen.
• 7:00 – 8:00 Candidates for Selectmen will answer questions submitted by the audience.
• 8:00 Time for one on one with the candidates

The following individuals have filed to run for a selectmen’s position for the town of Nelson

Selectman (3 years)  – one position available

• David Upton
• Margaret Schillemat

Selectman (2 years) – one position available

• Duane Schillemat
• Maury Collins
• John Cucchi

As well as this being a great civic occasion, the library is also providing refreshments!
Any questions? – Call the Library at 847-3214
Everyone Welcome!

(click here to see a list of candidates for all offices)

[move your mouse over the picture to display caption]

Hikers gathered at the Nelson Common and carpooled to Maury Collin’s.  The group walked up and over the hill behind Maury’s house, the area of a new conservation easement and looked across the valley toward Osgood Hill and more land protected by the Harris Center.  The hike followed a logging road back to the Old Stoddard Road where we turned east. Meade Cadot pointed out black bear markings on most of the telephone poles along the road. These are territorial markings.  Most of the poles showed teeth marks and one had bear hair imbedded in the pole itself.

Passing the site of John Sprague’s house (1784) the group entered the woods near the lower waterfall on Bailey Brook and entered the Bailey Brook trail, dedicated to the memory of Carol Raynsford whose home is nearby. The brook’s rocky banks were coated in beautiful ice formations that glittered in the mid-winter sun. The bass roar of water under the ice made music to accompany the occasion.

When we reached the upper falls with the foundations of the saw mill built by Stephen Osborn in the early nineteenth century, Rick Church and Martha Pinello helped the group understand what the old sawmill had looked like and how it operated.  When we reached the house and barn foundations, Martha discussed how to determine what the buildings would have looked like based on the foundations that remain.  It is an extensive set of old foundations with several barns and two wells.

The Tails Committee is working in two areas for further trails:  Cobb Hill on the border with Harrisville and a loop starting across the brook from the Nelson School that should afford walkers with good wetland and bird habitat along the wetland and a few old mill foundations on the brook below Granite Lake.

Anyone wishing to join the fun should contact Rick Church at 847-3206