MEETING MATTERS
ASHBURNHAM BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2007
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Top Story:

Selectmen ask Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette to present three options to voters on how to repair the roads and how to pay for it.

Ouellette proposed seven options of funding a comprehensive road repair program to Selectmen at the beginning of January. The board asked him to provide some information on the tax impact on the average tax payer for three of the options.

"It's important that you do this as a comprehensive effort," Ouellette said.

The three options presented include asking for all of the $7 million needed upfront, The second option would seek less money from the town because Ouellette would remove some of the roads from the plan to seek state money to do the work and the total project plan would look for $1.5 million upfront and then a $1 million a year for four years, and the final option is only a change in funding and would ask for $2.5 million upfront along with $500,000 a year for the next 10 years.

Selectman Jonathan Dennehy said it is important to give the voters a voice in this project and in the funding before the town meeting in May.

Oullette will be holding at least three public forums before town meeting and then another forum before town election, if the proposal passes at town meeting. The funding for the program would be a capital override of Proposition 2 ½, so the tax rate would only be effected for a per determined period of time.

In Other News:

• Boushell told Selectmen the Governor's budget proposed that Ashburnham would receive $150,000 less local aid than last year, which required him to ask his department heads to reduce their budget requests by 3 percent. Boushell also froze discretionary spending without his approval for the remainder of this year.

He told Selectmen he would present the FY09 budget to them within two weeks. Selectmen expressed concerns about having to relay on a flexible lottery aid.

"This is unacceptable and I think it's outrageous," Dennehy said.

• Selectmen announced the positions that will be up for election at the Annual Town Election in April. The seats include a one-year term for moderator - currently held by David Uminski, who is not seeking re-election; a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen - currently held by Mark Carlisle, who is seeking re-election; a three-year term on the Board of Health - currently held by Patrick Durkee; a five-year term on the Planning Board - currently held by Robert MacLeod; two three-year terms on the Library Board of Trustees - currently held by Margaret Donovan and Theloise Ferrell, respectively; and a three-year term on the Municipal Light Board, which is held by Richard Ahlin.