Londonderry Town Council Meeting 11-16-09

Londonderry

Discussion

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November 19, 2009

By Suzanne Laurent

Nov. 16, 2009

The town's fiscal 2011 budget was scheduled to be presented by Town Manager Dave Caron, but since two of the five councilors were absent, the presentation was postponed until Saturday, Nov. 21, when the first of the council's budget workshops will begin at 8 a.m. However, details of the budget were included in a packet along with Monday night's agenda. The proposed plan of $25.9 million calls for an increase of about $610,000, a 2.4 percent increase, in the general fund. With the addition of special revenue funds, capital reserve and maintenance trusts, special warrant articles and overlay/veterans, the total budget would be $34.9 million. This is an increase of less than 1 percent from the current $34.6 million budget. The anticipated town tax rate for the entire budget is $4.71, which is 6 cents more than the 2009 tax rate. Caron has asked that the Pettengill Road project be deferred until FY12 as the town continues to seek additional sources of revenue to offset a portion of the project's costs, now at $12.3 million.

With Councilors Brian Farmer and Sean O'Keefe not in attendance Monday, Council Chairman Mike Brown asked that the discussion wait until Saturday's meeting.

Other Business:

Workforce Housing update: Community Development Director Andre Garron told the Council that it would take about three to six months to complete a study on existing housing and that if Londonderry moved forward with its own fair share analysis, the budget would range between $12,000 and $15,000. The discussion was continued to the Dec. 7 meeting.

Jim Bilodeau of the Street Naming Task Force told the Council that residents of Jefferson Street and Cedar Street were asked for suggestions for renaming their streets to comply with NH 9-1-1 standards. The Council approved 3-0 to rename Jefferson Street to Footpath Way and Cedar Street to Wildlife Way.

Councilor Paul DiMarco read a proclamation naming Nov. 16 as World Diabetes Awareness Day in Londonderry.

The Council voted 3-0 to move the proposed three-year bargaining agreement for the police and safety employees union to the 2010 Town Meeting.

Next meeting: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Moose Hill Conference Room at Town Hall.

—Suzanne Laurent