E E R F Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Peyton a Bronco?
Former Colts QB reportedly working on deal worth $95 million — Page 13
VOL. 12 NO. 207
LacONIa, N.h.
527-9299
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Barnstead votes to keep police dept.
Proposal to contract with county sheriff scuttled by 2-1 margin By Gail OBer
THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
Spring skier Patrick Coughlin of Connecticut approaches the finish line cheered on by his fellow team mates during the Francis Piche Invitational slalom race at Gunstock on Sunday. (Karen Bobotas/for the Laconia Daily Sun)
BARNSTEAD — Voters decided by a nearly two-toone margin against turning over their town’s policing duties to the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department. Two-hundred and twenty-one people cast their ballots at the annual town meeting held Saturday morning at the Barnstead Elementary School after about one hour of floor discussion. Only 77 voters supported the change, while 144 voted to keep things the way they are. Despite the three public hearings held previously regarding the proposed arrangement with the sheriff, people at Saturday’s meeting still had plenty of questions. Sheriff Craig Wiggin was there to answer the questions, as was Chief Kenneth Borgia. Wiggin gave a brief presentation to the voters about what entering into a contract would mean and how the voters came to be deciding what will be the future of Barnstead’s policing. “It’s been a couple of years now,” Wiggin said. “The town came to the county and asked if it was possible. The short answer is ‘Yes.’ ” see BARNSTEAD page 7
Soccer field debate dominates Moultonborough town meeting By rOGer amsden
any another site in town, was defeated by an 87-106 vote. The petitioned article on the reserve fund noted that the fund, which had been established in 2008 as a mechanism for donations for a future community/senior center has yet to receive any donations, and called for transferring the remaining fund balance and any accrued interest to the town’s general fund. Selectmen had unanimously opposed the article out of a desire to retain future options for the town-owned site, which has been the subject of controversy for a decade. In 2002, the Lion’s Club offered to expand its facilities off Old Route 109 for the use of
the community on the understanding that the town would take over the operating and maintenance costs. The offer was rejected by a voice vote at town meeting. Five years later, by a majority of 271 to 69, voters approved the purchase of the 18-acre lot and building for $495,000 and the town leased the property to the club, without charging rent, for 10 years. Soon after the property was acquired the Recreational Strategic Planning Team, chaired by Tom Howard, unveiled plans to construct a community/senior center, with playing fields and a swimming pool, at the see M’BORO page 9
asking the court to stop the delegation from adopting a 2012 county budget that would include funding for any pay raises for union employees without a collective bargaining agreement signed by the commission and ratified by the union. Justice James Barry denied Tardif’s request for an immediate injunction, but ordered that a hearing on the issues he raised be scheduled on an expedited basis. The county delegation schedFuel Oil OIL & PROPANE CO., INC. uled to hold a public hearing 10 day cash price* Laconia 524-1421 subject to change on the budget at the county
complex tonight, beginning at 7 p.m., after which it is anticipated to adopt the budget. Last month county officials openly doubted that collective bargaining agreements with the State Employees Association representing employees of the Sheriff’s Department, Corrections Department and Nursing Home would be ratified before the county delegation votes on the budget, but said that the outstanding issues should not forestall adoption of the budget. The commissioners have included $251,000 to fund a two-percent cost of see COUNTY page 8
FOR THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
MOULTONBOROUGH — Voters overwhelmingly supported the rebuilding of a soccer field at Playground Drive at Saturday’s town meeting, rejecting an attempt to amend the warrant article to redirect $199,500 in funding to an alternate site at the former Lions Club property off from Old Route 109. But an attempt to discontinue a Community/Senior Center Capital Reserve Fund, which would have driven a spike through the heart of an effort to develop a community center at the Lions Club property or
Suit challenges county’s ‘non-meeting’, seeks to halt pay raises By michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — Claiming that a closed meeting of the Belknap County Commission, together with its “contract negotiating team,” and the Belknap County Delegation last week violated the “Right-to-Know” law (RSA 91-A) , Tom Tardif yesterday filed suit Modern Woodmen
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