Jennifer Morin, Allenstown Budget Committee Chairman, called the meeting to order. She introduced the members of the Budget Committee that were in attendance. They were: Tom Gilligan, Henriette Girard, Gabby Daneault, Bill Barnett, Tom Irzyk, Brian Duchesne and the Selectmen’s representative Ben Fontaine.

Shall the Town of Allenstown raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriates by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the Budget posted with the Warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein. Totalling $3,090,376. Should this article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $2,915,811, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40;13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee).

As always this warrant article does not include any other warrant articles beyond that.

Shall we modify the optional elderly exemption from property tax? The optional exemptions based on assessed value, for qualified taxpayers shall be as follows: for a person 65 years of age up to 75 years, $10,000: for a person 75 years of age up to 80 years, $15,000: for a person 80 years of age or older, $25,000. To qualify, the person must have been a new Hampshire resident for at least five years; own the real estate individually or jointly, or if the real estate is owned by his/her spouse, they must have been married for at least five years. In addition, the tax payer must have net income of less than $30,000 or if married a combined net income of less than $42,000 including Social Security; and own assets not in excess of $85,000 excluding the value of the person’s residence. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee).

To see if the Town will vote to enter into a ten (10) year lease purchase of a 780 gallon/1500 gallons per minute Rescue Pumper and a 1500 gallon/1500 gallon per minute Pumper at a cost of Six Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Dollars ($649,000), and to further raise and appropriate the sum of Seventy Eight Thousand Three Hundred Sixty Four Dollars ($78,364) for the first year payment. (This article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen and not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 37 cents).

Dave Eaton asked if this would replacement any equipment? Chief Chaput stated it would replace the 1976 American LaFrance, 1981 American LaFrance and a 1986 Rescue truck. This would replace three vehicles that are in bad shape with two new vehicles.

Dan Murray asked the last time the 1976 truck had been refurbished, Chief Chaput stated that it had been refurbished in 1987.

To see if the Town will enter into a five (5) year lease purchase agreement to purchase a new backhoe for the Highway Department at a cost of Sixty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($67,500) and to further raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($13,500) for the first year payment. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 6 cents per year for a period of 5 years.)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) to be placed in the Fire Department Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 35 cents)

Dave Eaton asked why the Budget Committee had not recommended this article. Jennifer stated that the Committee voted on this warrant article three times in the same evening. The vote was not unanimous, it was a majority vote. We were not comfortable having a warrant article for a new fire truck plus $75,000 going into a capital reserve account.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Four dollars ($50,684) which comprises salary and benefits for the hiring of two (2) new full time fire fighters. The above salary and benefits is for six months only. (This article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen and is not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 24 cents)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) to undertake a Feasibility Study to undertake a study to review all Town buildings and look at the feasibility and cost of remodeling, rehabilitating or replacing said buildings. The buildings under review will primarily be the Town Hall, Police Station and Highway Garage. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 18 cents)

Jim Boisvert asked if the Town was going to hire someone to do this survey? Art Houle this is a result of the master plan. This would be a committee of people who would look into replacing the Police Station, the Town Garage and they would be looking at Town Hall also. The Town Hall is old and there are space needs there. In 2005 the landfill could be capped and then we cannot build on it.

Jim Boisvert stated that we are not hiring anyone. No. It would probably be better to place this money in a capital improvement fund where we would at least be getting something from the money. Jim stated that we already know that the Police Department, Highway Department and Town Hall are in sad shape. Take $40,000 and putting it into savings would be better. Art stated that we the funds will be savings until needed. If anyone would like to join this committee, please see Art.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) to be placed in the Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and is recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 9 cents)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($18,000) to purchase and install a digital repeater system for the fire alarm system. (This article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen and not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 8 cents)

Jennifer stated that it is the actual fire alarm system where the boxes come in. Chief Chaput stated that this year Concord decided to charge our businesses $150 per year to monitor their boxes. Since Allenstown joined the Capital Area Fire Compact in the 1970, our boxes have been transmitted to the City of Concord, it is received there on their digital interface system, they read the box, push a button and dispatch us accordingly. The Town and Fire Department felt that it was not in the best interest of the businesses to charge the businesses $150. Currently, the boxes are being monitored by Capital Alarm, when they receive a signal, they call Concord and inform them that they are receiving a box in Allenstown but they do not know what the box is. Concord then informs us which box alarm is going off.

The digital system would do the same thing, except it would go wherever we want it to go. Capital Alarm would then know which box alarm was going off, they would call dispatch and inform them which box was going off and the fire department would then be dispatched.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be placed in the Special Revenue Dare Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 5 cents)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Dollars ($9,950) to purchase (8) sets of protective fire fighting gear. (This article is not recommended by the Board of Selectmen and not recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 5 cents)

Dave Eaton asked why the Fire Department was asking for this. Chief Chaput stated that they needed to replace 8 sets of gear, we actually need to replace more than that, but we decided on 8. The gear usually has a lifespan of five years, we are trying to replace a certain number of gear each year. Chief Chaput stated that this was actually in the Department budget, but the Board of Selectmen and the Budget committee had asked them to place this amount in a warrant article.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($9,400) for the replacement of the compressor located at the Fire department. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 4 cents)

To see if the Town will vote to create an Expendable Trust Fund to be known as the Allenstown Meeting House, and to further raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) to be placed in this fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) to be placed in the Fire Department Safety Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to be placed in the Police Safety Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to be placed in the Police Computer Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to be placed in the Cistern Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to be placed in the Hazmat Capital Reserve Fund. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee). (Estimated tax impact is 1 cent)

To see if the Town will vote to deposit 100% of the revenues collected pursuant to RSA 79-A (the land use change tax) in the Conservation Fund in accordance with RSA 36-A: 5 III as authorized by RSA 79-A: 25 II. (This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee).

Does anyone have any idea how much money this will generate? David Jodoin stated that it fluctuates. It could be $1,000, could be $5,000, and could be $0. It all depends on whoever takes their property out of current use.

Someone asked if they would be reviewing the other articles on the ballot such as the Planning Board recommendations. David Jodoin stated that they are reviewed at the Planning Board hearings.

Jennifer informed everyone that the Deliberative Session would be held at ARD on January 31, 2004 at 9 a.m.

The Allenstown Revitalization Association will be having a business meeting on Wednesday, January 21 at 7 p.m. at the Allenstown Town Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend.