Gilford approves all but 1 Town Warrant articles, all 8 school measures

GILFORD — About 20% of Gilford voters hit the polls on Tuesday, approving each of the school district articles, and all but one article on the Town Warrant.

Town Warrant

The operating budget of $22.1 million was approved in Article 3 by a vote of 675-300. The budget is a 5.1% increase from last year, and was recommended by the selectboard and budget committee unanimously.

Article 4 passed 779-198, for the selectboard to enter into a five year lease-purchase agreement of $60,000 for a new breathing apparatus system tank and compressor, with $18,000 for the deposit.

Voters approved Article 5, 698-288, which authorized a five year lease-purchase agreement of $96,000 for a fire-rescue command vehicle, with $23,000 for equipment, accessories, and a deposit.

Article 6 was approved 752-230, and authorized the town to raise and appropriate $281,000 for a heavy-duty dump truck with a plow.

Another big money item was in Article 7, and voters approved using $338,000 to buy a new front-end loader for public works. The funds come from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve fund, and none from new taxation. It was approved 760-243.

Article 8 passed 747-253, and allows the town to add $10,000 into the Sidewalk Capital Reserve Fund. The money is coming from the unassigned fund balance with none coming through new taxes.

Voters approved Article 9 by a tally of 736-263, which added $50,000 to the Technology Capital Reserve Fund. Money is from the unassigned fund balance, with none through new taxation.

Article 10 was approved by a 783-216 vote, and $25,000 from the unassigned balance will be added to the Building Repair Capital Reserve Fund. This is intended for major, unanticipated maintenance expenses.

Article 11 asked for $25,000 from the unassigned fund balance for the Fire Water Supply Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. This is for hydrant repairs at Wild Acres, Watson and Weeks roads, and a new hydrant on Belknap Point Road. It passed with a 798-203 vote.

With a 723-281 vote, Article 12 passed and allowed for $30,000 from the unassigned balance to be added to the Glendale Boat and Launch Ramp Facilities Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. The intention is to repave the lots and maintain the docks.

Article 13 was approved 769-235, allowing for $25,000 from the unassigned balance to be added to the Recreation Facilities Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund.

Article 14 asked for $200,000 to be added to the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund from the unassigned balance. These funds are to be used toward purchasing a new fire engine in 2028, and a tanker in 2030, both estimated to cost more than $1 million each. Voters approved its passage with a 765-235 vote.

Voters approved Article 15, 743-236, which asks for $100,000 of unassigned money to be added to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. This is to be used toward the purchase of a new backhoe in 2028, and sweeper in 2031.

Article 16 passed 791-188, and allows for $50,000 to be added to the Bridge Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. These are for engineering expenses, estimated to be more than $250,000 for the Summit Avenue bridge leading to Governor’s Island in 2027.

Article 17 was passed with a vote of 769-208, allowing for $200,000 to be added to the Culvert Replacement Capital Reserve Fund.

Article 18 was approved with a 784-198 vote, allowing for $10,000 of unassigned money to be added to the Sewer Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund.

Article 19 passed 631-335, and allows for $50,000 to be added from the unassigned balance to the Lakes Business Park Capital Trust Fund.

Articles 6-19 all involved money from the unassigned fund balance, and nothing will be raised through new taxation. They were unanimously recommended by the selectboard and budget committee.

Petitioned articles started with Article 20, which was approved 820-165, and provides $10,000 to the Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association to support hospice care, nursing, therapy, and aid to homebound residents at medical or social risk.

Article 21 passed 780-203, allowing the town to send $23,500 to Lakes Region Mental Health Center. This was a 12% increase over last year.

Article 22 passed 801-179, and allows for $10,000 for services to low-income residents through the Laconia Resource Center of the Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties.

Voters approved Article 23 by a vote of 829-175, allowing for $2,740 to benefit New Beginnings Without Violence and Abuse. This is a 3% increase over last year.

Article 24 passed 785-217, approving $5,000 for the Partnership for Public Health.

By approving Article 25 with a vote of 848-155, $24,000 is going to Granite VNA. The organization provides visiting nurse services, hospice care, and pediatric care.

In Article 26, voters affirmed 906-91 to increase the optional veterans tax credit from $4,000 to $5,000.

Article 27 passed 896-101, and allowed the town to increase the optional all veterans tax credit from $500 to $750.

By passing Article 28 with a 917-74 vote, the town voted to change the length of the supervisor of the checklist term from six years to three years, starting in 2027.

Article 29 passed 598-394, which asked the town to establish an energy committee to advise the selectboard and inform residents of cost saving benefits of solar energy installation in town buildings.

Article 30 was approved with an 857-124 vote. It calls for the state Legislature to protect local taxpayers by ensuring adequate state revenues for essential services, and avoid policies that shift costs onto the taxpayer. While there was no consultation from the selectboard, it was noted in the materials provided at the first deliberative session the selectboard supports any initiative calling upon the Legislature to reduce property taxes.

One article voted down

Rob and Ellen Sargent are the property owners of 20 Mitchell Road, the subject of Article 31, rejected 391-586.

The article asked the town to authorize the planning board to release any interest the town may have in a restrictive covenant related to land on the property. According to information provided by the Sargents — who own the property but are not registered voters; they live in Haverhill, Massachusetts — the article would have authorized the planning board to release a 46-year-old “restrictive covenant” granted to the town by Rob’s aunt in 1980, to restrict subdivision. Denise Sargent does live on the property, and is a registered voter, who asked residents to vote “yes.”

Rob said, outside the poll, that the 33-acre property has been in the family for more than 100 years, and they would like to subdivide 17 acres that are now woodland. A partial release of the covenant was approved by town vote in 1996, using the same process. If approved, it would have resulted in 11 year-round, single-family homes on Dockham Shore Road, which would benefit the town through $160,000 in tax revenue and an estimated $200,000 annually in future property tax revenue.

The selectboard voted 3-0 against recommending it, and Clerk Gus Benavides told the Sargents' attorney at the deliberative session last month they were not provided enough information ahead of time. Until that day, he said nobody representing the Sargent Family Trust had come to them.

At the deliberative session, Chair Kevin Hayes felt it would violate what the former owner wanted. Vice Chair Chan Eddy added that having the planning board be able to do away with a covenant is a “dangerous precedent” he doesn’t want to touch.

On Election Day, the Sargents handed out information, and spoke with voters outside the polls.

It was ultimately voted down on Tuesday.

School Warrant

The school budget of $32.2 million was included in Article 2, approved 684-327. The budget was a 2.8% increase over last year. It includes $31 million in the general fund, $434,055 in the Federal Projects Fund, and $736,355 in the Food Service Fund.

Article 3 is the teacher’s union collective bargaining agreement, and passed 733-277.

It called for increases of $485,810 this year; then $471,629 and $474,356, over the next two school years. With the approval of Article 3, as well as the proposed operating budget, the total budget will come to $33.1 million, a 4.4% increase.

Article 4 was moot with the bargaining agreement's passage.

Article 5 passed with a vote of 692-290, asking the district to raise $300,000 for the school buildings maintenance and improvement capital reserve fund for repairs, maintenance and upgrades to buildings, grounds, and facilities. This is intended for future repairs of heating and cooling system controls, stage rigging updates at the high school, and bathroom and concession stand renovations at the Meadows. The projected total costs of these projects are $909,550.

Article 6 passed 753-231, adding $100,000 to the School Buildings Roof Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. It is intended for roof repairs at the middle school, estimated to be $1.7 million, and to be done by 2038.

Article 7 was approved 751-233, to appropriate $25,000 to the school buildings technology infrastructure capital reserve fund.

Voters approved Article 8 with a vote of 790-186, which was a petitioned warrant article asking the district to oppose state-mandated caps on school district budgets.

Gilford resident Shannon Wright has two children in the district, ages 13 and 9, and she was at the polls specifically to vote on the school warrant.

“With kids in the schools, it is important to me that we raise the appropriate funds for the infrastructure and everything for the school,” Wright said.