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City high schools consider forcing payment for extracurriculars

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:26:00 GMT

City school officials are drafting a pay-to-participate policy that would include athletics, a policy that many say would have negative consequences at all three city high schools, but particularly bad at West High School.

Facing a budget crisis that could lead to layoffs in the city, Manchester school officials discussed the proposal as a way to save money.

The policy could have a big impact on West, which is already facing the challenge of fielding teams while no longer being able to turn to Bedford athletes.

With or without the pay-to-play policy, several Blue Knight teams are likely to get the ax because of low numbers, including hockey, field hockey, golf, swimming, nordic skiing and boys lacrosse.

Manchester School Board member Stephen Dolman said he does not see pay-to-play as a good option.

“My opinion is that it’s not the best way to go. I don’t believe in pay to participate,” said Dolman. “It would be devastating and you’d lose at least 30 percent of participants. That’s unfair and it becomes a system of haves and have nots.”

Fellow board member Chris Hebert said the proposal likely wouldn’t be across the board, meaning the teams which cost the most for the schools to operate would cost athletes money to participate.

Hebert used hockey as one example as that, and said the potential policy is far from set in stone.

“It’s got to be modified of course,” said Herbert. “I don’t think it’s a one-size fits all kind of thing. We have to tailor it so we can maintain as many of the sports that we can afford, but also share the cost.”

Board member Katherine Labanaris said she wonders how students who can no longer afford to play varsity sports will choose to spend the free time that they would have.

Labanaris said the Blue Knights would be the school most impacted by the change.

“At West in particular, it would death knell. It would decimate the programs at West,” said Labanaris. “I think it’s the duty of the people who craft budgets and pass budgets to fund the school district so it can have an athletic program that serves the needs of the students.”

In many cases, Dolman said having students participating in sports goes much further than wins and losses.

“All these programs are a part of a child’s education. Many people say that sports are what kept them in school,” said Dolman. “That can be a carrot to keep them going, and other students it can be a way to earn a college scholarship. It’s about educating the student as a whole, and this is a big part of that.”

Ice storm of Dec. 11-12 leaves hundreds of thousands without power around state

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Local towns are dealing with the wrath of Mother Nature, who dropped ice around the Granite State, leaving a good portion of the state in the dark.

More than 325,000 New Hampshire residents were left without power following an ice storm that many officials say was worse than the one that took place in 1998.

Virtually all of Epsom, a town of about 4,000 people was left in the dark at the start of the ice storm.

“There were quite few trees and wires down,” said Selectman Joanne Randall. “The whole town was out. As of Monday (Dec. 15), we still had small pockets of secondary roads without electricity. There may still be some people without power at the end of the week.”

Epsom Fire Chief Stuart Yeaton said they learn something from each event, having gone through floods the past few years and the tornado this summer.

“Every time we get another event, we learn something,” he said. “People would call and say they have power and a generator (to offer).”

Auburn police have seen the criminal element take advantage of the storm. Police Chief Edward Picard said his department received a call during the power outage about an attempted break in.

The call came at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Dec. 14, but Picard said his department hasn’t been faced with the theft of generators that he has been told is happening in surrounding towns.

“People have to go all the way to Connecticut to purchase generators,” said Picard. “The bad guys are using this emergency to their advantage.”

As of Tuesday, Dec. 16, about 50 percent of Auburn was in the dark, compared to what Picard estimated to be about 90 percent at the storm’s height.

Despite the negatives that came with the storm, Picard said there is a positive he took out of it.

“I’m proud of the way that the town has responded to helping their neighbors who don’t have power,” said Picard. “There were private residents going around with their generators, and that’s the character of Auburn.”

Candia officials met on Friday, Dec. 12, to set a plan of action, a plan that included getting the town’s roads cleared first.

While the road agent and his crews began on the back roads, firefighters attacked dangerous trees on Route 43, High Street and Old Candia Road.

Officials opened an emergency shelter later in the day at the Moore School, but after only one resident stayed there Friday night, it was suspended on Saturday.

The use of generators and personal heaters made for busy days and nights for the Hooksett Fire Department, according to Chief Michael Williams.

“We were extremely busy responding to over 60 electrical emergency incidents in a 48-hour period,” said Williams. “We are now experiencing carbon monoxide problems due to generators operating in garages and kerosene heater operating in houses. Just (Monday, Dec. 15) we responded to five carbon monoxide problems with related medical symptoms.”

Pembroke and Allenstown were not hit too hard. Lt. Dwayne Gilman of the Pembroke Police Department reported that 425 homes in Pembroke were without power at the height of the problem, mostly in the northern area of town. Allenstown residents also lost power, but there were no serious issues reported by the Allenstown Police Department.

It’s all gravy for Central in Turkey Bowl win vs. Memorial

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:56:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

His team’s 24-9 semifinal loss to Nashua South two weeks earlier was tough to swallow, but Ryan Ray and the Central Little Green had little trouble feasting on Memorial this Thanksgiving. CHS served up a 47-6 stuffing in the most recent edition of the Manchester Turkey Bowl on Thursday, Nov. 27.

After the contest, Ray said he was thankful for the opportunity to take back the coveted Queen City championship, which his team lost to West in last year’s contest.

“The playoffs were disappointing, but ... it’s great to end the season on a winning note and send the seniors off the way they deserve to be sent off, and send our underclassmen into the weight room for the offseason with some good thoughts,” said Ray.

On the opposite sideline, Memorial’s Peter Colcord found himself equally appreciative of his squad’s final placement. Despite the bad taste left by the basting, the first-year head coach left the Gill Stadium table with a loose belt and a smile.

Sure, his team finished the season 1-10, but Colcord knows reaching the Manchester title game for the first time in six years – by defeating West, 31-12, on Oct. 10 – is step one in a process he soon expects to come to fruition.

“We knew going in we didn’t have a senior-laden team, so we knew the goals were short, but getting into the Turkey Bowl was obtainable, and I absolutely expect to be back here every year, and I expect the score to be different,” said Colcord. “Obviously we’re not where Central is yet. They’re a great program that’s done extremely well over the years, but I think ... I know we’ll get there. I’m not sure if it’ll be next year or the year after, but you can see it in the young kids. You can see it in their eyes. They want it.”

Colcord has good reason for excitement.

After three years of winless football, Memorial’s freshman team went 8-2 and won the state title, and the JV team finished 7-3. While the youngsters eye future varsity success, Colcord credited the current group of veterans for turning the program around.

“These seniors, they’re the building blocks to this program and our future here at Memorial. They exhibited great leadership and really helped some of these younger kids along,” he said. “I told them, when you come back next year from college and come to this game on Thanksgiving, that score’s going to be different, and you’re a big reason for that.” Colcord knows the team remains young, and it’s going to make mistakes. But he said the playoffs, with the right breaks, are possible. And he said he’ll be a fixture.

“I told the kids at our first meeting, you’ve gone through three or four different coaches over the last 10 years, and I told them this is where I want to be,” he said. “I know the record hasn’t been good here, but this is where I want to retire, and that’s not going to be for a long time.”

For his part, Ray is acutely aware Central’s Queen City perch, as stable as it appeared this season, is still very much up for grabs each year.

“You’ve got three programs that are working very hard, and if we can be the best program in the city, well, we’re really excited about that, but you can never get too happy about anything like this because obviously the other teams are working hard to come in here and knock us off our throne,” said Ray. “Right now, our expectations are to reflect on our season and enjoy this win. But starting Tuesday we’re right back in the weight room working toward 2009.”

Excuse the Central seniors if they revel in the accomplishment a little longer.

“To be a part of bringing the Turkey Bowl trophy back to (Central) was huge for us,” said senior quarterback Pat Tatro of Candia. “For me and the rest of the seniors, it was really important to us that we go out the right way. We wanted to go out as winners.”

Game notes
Memorial freshman Steve Dwight, playing in his first varsity contest, notched one of two sacks on the first play from scrimmage, part of a handful of highlights for the Crusaders.

Central’s stable of thoroughbred underclassmen running backs was on full display in the first half. Mike Cavanaugh, Khari Haliburton and Daveon Watley all scored to help build a 20-0 halftime lead.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Central’s Jake Tremblay, a Hooksett standout, intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards to pay dirt, and with 2:13 remaining in the quarter, Tatro found fellow-senior Brett Parenteau for six points on an 11-yard pass-and-catch.

Then, with 7:58 left in the fourth, Tatro hooked up with Graham Conforti, and Kevin Regan followed with the extra-point kick to increase the lead to 40.

Memorial finally found the end zone with 6:36 remaining in the contest. Sophomore quarterback Fred Rogers hooked up with Sebastian Cassanova on a 59-yard touchdown, but the extra point was blocked.

Memorial attempted and recovered an onside kick, but couldn’t advance the ball and handed it back to Central. With 5:05 remaining, Haliburton broke a 43-yard run to cap the scoring.

Large turnout expected Nov. 4, police in Hooksett and surrounding towns prepare for traffic

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:33:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

A record turnout is likely in the works for the presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and area police and poll workers are gearing up for the crowds.

In Hooksett and Pembroke, police will be enforcing a change in the usual traffic patterns at the school buildings where voting takes place. Police in Epsom, Allenstown, Candia and Auburn were not making any changes in traffic pattern, but will be prepared for more traffic than usual.

In Allenstown, poll workers will be available an extra hour in the morning, with hours now starting at 7 a.m., and ending at 7 p.m., for this election only. Parents of Hooksett’s middle school students will have to be aware that voting is likely to make parent-teacher conferences scheduled for that day difficult to get to on time.

“Be patient,” said Hooksett police detective Paul Cecilio. “If you have a parent-teacher conference, get there early. We anticipate a large crowd.”

Cecilio added that there will be message boards and officers to direct traffic. Additional lighting will also be provided so those voting after dark will be able to find their way to the auxiliary parking areas behind Cawley Middle School.

Expect to wait in line.

“If we get an influx of people,” said Cecilio, “it could be all the way to (Route) 28.”

And if you are in line near the time the polls close?

“If your car’s in line (at 7 p.m.),” said Cecilio, “they’re last to vote.”

In Auburn, there will be extra voting booths at Auburn Village School to help manage the crowds, said town clerk Joanne Linxweiler.

“If people are in line waiting to vote at 7 p.m. (closing time),” she said “the moderator will allow those already in line the opportunity to cast their vote.”

In Candia, town clerk Christine Dupere said she is having additional poll workers to help that day, including same-day voter registration. Again, if you are in line by the time the polls close, you will be allowed to vote.

“The moderator and I are doing a lot of advanced planning to keep things running smoothly,” said Dupere,” and I will be holding a training class for all the poll workers and election officials.”

Allenstown Elementary School will be closed that day.

“We will have extra officers on duty,” said Police Chief Shaun Mulholland. “However, there are no plans to change traffic patterns. We do expect parking problems, there is no real way to resolve that issue.”

In Epsom, there will be extra help at Epsom Central School.

“We will be having greeters that will direct people where to go to vote or if they need to register to vote,” said town clerk Dawn Blackwell. “We will be having two check-in tables.”

Traffic pattern changes in Pembroke

Pembroke is making the following changes to the traffic pattern on Election Day:
• Pine Street from Broadway to High Street, westbound only.
• High Street from Pine Street to Maple Street, southbound only.
• Maple Street to Broadway, eastbound only.
• Prospect from Maple to Pine Street, northbound only.

On-street parking will be limited to one side of each affected street. It will be properly posted with no parking signs. The Police Department will have officers at the polls to assist with the new traffic pattern. There will also be personnel on hand to assist with traffic flow in the school parking lot. Extra lighting equipment will be in place to help light the area after dark. School will not be in session on Election Day. Handicap parking will be available.

Traffic pattern changes in Hooksett

In Hooksett, all traffic will enter Cawley School through the entrance off White Hall Road in two lanes approaching the school. All traffic will exit through the rear gate of Cawley onto Farmer Road. Traffic wishing to exit back onto Whitehall Road should use Whitehall Terrace to reverse direction. All other north/south traffic should go to the end of Farmer Road and exit via Londonderry Turnpike (Bypass 28).

Officers will be at Farmer Road and Londonderry Turnpike to assist with traffic should it back up on Farmer Road.

Off-duty Hooksett cop found innocent in DWI after flipping car in Auburn

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:33:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Hooksett police officer Benjamin Beauchemin, who flipped his car off Cedar Crest Lane in Auburn last spring, was found not guilty of driving while intoxicated by a Candia District Court judge on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Judge David Lefrancois said in his ruling that the state had been unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Beauchemin had been drinking prior to the accident.

Eyewitnesses who testified at the trial said they smelled alcohol on Beauchemin, who refused to submit to a field sobriety test at the scene of the accident. Beauchemin told his arresting officer he had only one beer before driving on May 11, but also claimed to have chugged four beers at his girlfriend’s house after the accident, while he waited for emergency responders to arrive at the scene. He said he was trying to calm his nerves and was in shock.

According to one state police commander, Beauchemin’s version of what happened is unlikely.

“That’s a story that any police officer would have a little trouble believing, but also it’s down to the judge and it’s his decision, and I can respect that,” said Major Russ Conte, field operations bureau commander with the state police. “I fully understand that citizens in the state are outraged when a police officer engages in activities that are dangerous. They’re held in the same standard whether they’re in uniform or not. The public has a right to expect police officers to act in a way that brings dignity to their position.”

Public outrage over Beauchemin’s actions after the accident has been acute.

“I had a feeling this would happen,” said Katie Barrata, an eyewitness at the scene of Beauchemin’s accident. “I think he got off because he has a whole department of blue behind him.”

Beauchemin is currently on administrative leave without pay from his position at the Hooksett Police Department. Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis said his department is still conducting its internal investigation and was unable to comment on whether Beauchemin will be asked to return to work.

“At this point, we’ll be reviewing the whole situation and making a final decision,” Agrafiotis said. “He hasn’t lost his job yet, but we have to finish our internal investigation and decide where we’ll go from there.”

Keith Lohmann, an instructor at the New Hampshire Police Academy in Concord, would not comment on the specific nature of Beauchemin’s actions after the accident, but explained that all New Hampshire police officers are required to complete ethics courses, which include appropriate off-duty conduct.

“Leaving the scene of an accident is an offense in and of itself,” Lohmann said. “The only way legally you leave the scene of an accident is if you’re summoning someone yourself. Generally, officers are taught about the criminal law, and certainly officers themselves are not supposed to break the law.”

All New Hampshire police officers are required to enroll in the 12-week training academy before starting their jobs, Lohmann said.

“The requirements of the criminal and motor vehicle laws are taught to them and presumably made clear,” he said. “They are tested on that material. DWI is one offense of many in the motor vehicle code, and they are taught about all of them. I feel safe to say that they are taught they are not supposed to break the law themselves.”

Further inflaming public criticism was the revelation recently that Beauchemin has been driving since the time of the crash.

Beauchemin fought to keep his license at a state motor vehicle hearing in June and prevailed on a technicality when the investigating state trooper failed to show up because of a court conflict in Portsmouth.

According to Curtis Duclose, the hearings administrator for the department of safety, Trooper Nick Cyr’s reason for missing the Beauchemin hearing was deemed insufficient to reopen the case, allowing Beauchemin to keep his license.

Many struggle to pay last year’s fuel bills, worry about future

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:36:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

It’s going to be a lot harder for the Hills family of Allenstown to stay afloat financially this year, with fuel prices hitting record highs.

Jeanne Hills babysits her toddler grandson, staying home while her husband and her adult children work. With the price of heating oil averaging more than $4.50 a gallon, according to the state Department of Energy and Planning, the future looks frightening.

The Hills got a decent price last year, but ended up spending a total of $2,281 on their oil deliveries between September 2007 and their most recent in May 2008. This year, they are likely going to spend much more than that to heat their home.

Hill added that her mother, a 70-year-old retired woman on a fixed income, had so much trouble trying to pay for the oil heat bills on her mobile home in Derry that she had to move in with Hill’s sister.

“I used to buy 150 gallons (per delivery) and had to go down to 100 gallons,” said Hills. “It wasn’t fitting in our budget. Prior to that first September bill, I was paying $240 for 150 gallons, and now for 100 gallons it was almost as much,” Hills said, adding she made good use of her wood stove last winter and would continue that practice this winter.

Not a bad idea, and one David Pearl of Hooksett has more than bought into. Pearl, who runs “Spotlight Video” out of his Main Street home, has two years’ worth of wood sitting in his back yard in preparation of the heating crunch.

Pearl does use oil, but stocks up on the wood each year, buying it wholesale at about $1,200 for a gigantic truckload that equals about 12 cords, a two-year supply.

At first, said Pearl, his wife, Joanne, wasn’t crazy about the the huge amount of wood in their backyard. “This year, she’s kind of on board; that it’s definitely worth it,” said Pearl. “You’re going to have to have heat one way or the other.”

Local governments under stress
Hooksett Town Administrator David Jodoin said most of the town’s buildings run on gas heat, the price of which is also on the rise.

Still, with energy prices increasing along with gasoline, Jodoin said there are going to be many trickle-down effects from the national and state levels to the towns.

“We will be forced, like many towns, to postpone paving if things get too tough and look at hours of operation, and possibly even layoffs,” Jodoin said. “Projections are impossible right now. The market on fuel is fluctuating way too much. All we can do is, like everyone else, pray that things stabilize.”

To heat the old Town Hall and the highway garage for the 2007-08 year cost Hooksett $11,768.42 said Finance Director Christine Soucie.

The only building in Candia that runs on oil is the old library, not in regular use. The heat has to stay on the lowest setting there so the pipes don’t freeze, said selectmen’s assistant Dawn Chabot.

That building alone cost $1,401.47 to heat between January and December 2007.

“It’s probably going to be double, if not triple, this year,” said Selectmen Chairman Fred Kelley, adding his own home cost about $1,000 to heat during this past winter.

Pembroke and Allenstown use little heating oil, as they sit almost directly on top of a gas line. Natural gas prices are also increasing, according to the Department of Energy and Planning, but not at the rate of oil increases. The average cost for natural gas is around $1.70 per unit on the high end.

“The major gas line that runs to Concord runs through Pembroke between Route 3 and the (Suncook) river,” said Pembroke Town Administrator Geoff Ruggles, adding that skyrocketing oil prices will have only a small effect on Pembroke.

The only Pembroke building using oil is the Perry Eaton building, the old police station, which also houses the Sewer Department.

Most of the town is also on gas, Ruggles said, but some residences in older sections may be on oil heat.

It’s basically the same story in Allenstown, where the majority of buildings – including the town hall, police and fire stations and recreation center – are on the same gas line that runs through neighboring Pembroke.

“I’m sure the rate will increase just like everything else,” said Police Chief Shaun Mulholland, agreeing with Jodoin that gasoline is going to have the biggest impact on the town’s budget.

The highway garage in Allenstown is a little bit different. “We actually heat the highway garage with waste oil,” said Selectman Tom Gilligan. “We have a waste oil burner that we put in years ago, and we continue to maintain and upgrade it. We also have a propane tank as a backup at the highway garage,” he said.

Epsom selectmen’s assistant Nancy Wheeler said the current town office building, the old Town Hall, and both the fire and police departments run on oil heat. The highway shed is the only town building that uses propane.

In 2007, she said, Epsom spent $13,738 on heating oil, coming within $150 of what they had budgeted for that year. Selectmen budgeted $15,475 for 2008 in anticipation of the historic meeting house, which was moved next to the old Town Hall, is completely renovated and becomes involved in the oil heat budget this year.

So far, the town has spent $8,188 of their 2008 heating oil budget line, with about three more months left to go between October and December.

Wheeler added the town was able to lock in a good rate at $2.34 per gallon, but will have to go out to bid again sometime in the next month. “If it goes up a dollar a gallon, based on what we used the second half of the year, we should be okay, but who knows?” said Wheeler.

Auburn Town Administrator Bill Herman said town is trying to juggle the rising costs of heating fuel, gas, and asphalt, and said those increases have exceeded their budget projections.

The Board of Selectmen is looking at installing a new, more energy efficient heating system in the town hall this year to help to defray some of the increase in oil heat costs down the road.

“Depending on the account, increases of 10 to 27.5 percent were included in the 2008 operating budget for anticipated fuel increases. It appears at this point those increases may not be enough to cover the expenses of heating the town buildings this year,” Herman said.

All town buildings except for the highway garage run on oil heat, he said, and rising heating fuel costs caused the budgets for both the police department and general government buildings, including the Town Hall, highway garage, and old police and fire stations, to run over budget in 2007-08.

So far in 2008, according to Herman, those accounts are getting close to their budgeted amounts, with at least three months left to heat on this year’s budget.

Assistance is available if you can’t pay your bill

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:30:00 GMT

BY CHRISTINE HEISER

Next winter, when the temperatures drop and the oil tank is low, rising fuel costs might bring on a budget crisis for some homeowners.

Unlike public utilities such as gas or electric, private oil companies are not bound by law to deliver in the winter even if the customer doesn’t pay their bill, so each company sets its own policies. But most will work with the customer if they can’t pay.

Janice Fusco at Viking Oil and Propane Company in Candia said they follow the normal collection procedures for their credit customers, with letters and phone calls to follow up. If a customer is behind in payments, Viking might require a customer who orders fuel to pay for the delivery upfront along with 25 percent of their balance, for instance.

But those policies can always change, said, Fusco, as fuel companies also have to pay for the fuel they get, and prices are rising quickly. “We advise customers to not ignore their bills or our attempts to reach them,” she said. “Communicate with us and we’ll work something out.”

State offers fuel assistance Area fuel assistance programs are gearing up for the 2008-09 heating season and the rise in demand that’s sure to come with skyrocketing fuel costs.

“The number of requests went up by 7 percent last year from the year before,” said Sharon Brody, head of the Rockingham Community Action fuel assistance program. “We’re expecting even more this year.”

The Rockingham office handles the area from Auburn to the Seacoast and south to Salem. There are six community action agencies in the state, which distribute federal funds made available to them from the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning in the form of low-income home energy assistance block grants. Help is available to both homeowners and renters.

Go to the state OEP Web site, www.nh.gov/oep/programs. htm, and click on “fuel assistance,” for more information and for the contact for your area.

Brody couldn’t say what the exact eligibility criteria would be for assistance this year, as it depends on how many applications the office gets and how much money is available. But she encourages people to apply as soon as they can if they anticipate a need. Applications are taken from Sept. 1 through April 30, and from that point, an interview will set up with those requesting help.

Some towns also offer assistance to varying degrees, Brody said, but this year, everyone will be strapped trying to assist those in need.

The community action agencies also accept private donations. “Sometimes elderly people get assistance, then they ask to be taken off the list when they no longer need help,” Brody said. “Then we’ll get $1 or $5 in the mail from them. It breaks us up.”

To make a donation, send to the community action agency of your choice and earmark it for fuel assistance. The phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the agencies are listed on the OEP Web site.

Brody is hoping, most of all, for a warm winter this year. “But if not, we hope we can help everyone,” she said. “We’re waiting for our Santa Claus, our knight in shining armor, so we can help as many people as possible.”

Decision time for high schools

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:57:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

After months of toiling over the Manchester school budget, it’s almost time for the Board of Aldermen to settle on an amount.

Aldermen had to make a decision on the city budget, which includes the mayor’s proposal for a $140 million school district budget for 2008-09, by Tuesday, June 10. As of June 3, aldermen and the mayor reached a tentative agreement on a $146 million budget, which is about $1.2 million less than last year’s budget. A joint meeting between aldermen and the school board was scheduled for June 4.

It is still unknown whether the $146 million budget would cut some academic, art and sports programs.

The school boards of Hooksett, Auburn, Bedford and Candia are keeping a close eye on the school budget proceedings, having expressed concerns over major cuts that would have to be imposed under the $140 million budget.

All four towns send their high school students to schools in Manchester, and want to make sure the Manchester school district lives up to the terms of its tuition agreements.

“Honestly, I think it would devastate the Manchester school district if they had that $140 million budget and they had to make those cuts,” said Hooksett School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette. “At this point, we have a contract for another 15 years.”

The Manchester Board of School Committee has taken three votes on whether to issue pink slips to teachers this year, all of which failed before the May 10 deadline to issues those layoff notices.

On the long list of potential cuts are the academies that were in the works for West High School, athletics, unified arts, gifted and talented programs, full-day kindergarten and a slew of other items.

“Unfortunately, those are the only areas we can cut from. We don’t have a lot of options. Most of our budget is set,” said Manchester School Board member Kathleen Kelley.

Manchester Board of School Committee Vice Chairman Katherine Labanaris said the $140 million budget could put Manchester’s contracts with the four sending towns in jeopardy. “It would be impossible to meet the contractual obligations with Auburn, Bedford, Hooksett and Candia,” she said, which include keeping class sizes at state recommended levels and delivering quality education, which under the state’s guidelines includes unified arts.

Around 2,000 Manchester school teachers, concerned parents and students fighting for their programming and curriculum showed up for a public hearing on Mayor Guinta’s proposed $140 million budget on April 28, voicing concerns about cutting staff, programming and extracurricular activities from Manchester schools.

Last year, aldermen approved a $147 million school budget, which is what the district is currently running on. The mayor’s proposal is about a 5 percent decrease over last year’s school district appropriation. “We’d like to at least have what we have now,” said Kelley.

The Manchester Board of School Committee originally asked for $153 million for the 2008-09 year.

Mike Lopez, chairman of the Board of Aldermen, said the board’s charge is to keep both taxpayers and students in the forefront.

“I think at the public hearing we had some discussion and many questions, and I think there’s many aldermen who are trying to make up their minds as to the minuses and pluses and the direction they could go,” said Lopez.

The mayor’s $140 million proposal, if accepted, would allow tax rates in Manchester to remain level for the second year in a row, something Labanaris said is important to Manchester residents.

The four sending towns said they can’t argue with the amount of money the Board of Aldermen decides to give the Manchester School District, but are hoping that number will allow Manchester to keep good on their contracts.

“We hope that the budget number that they come to will not affect our contract,” said Auburn School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs. “We’re just continuing to try to stay on top of it and hope that when they go through their budget process that they will come to a number that is beneficial to the students, and that no programs will be cut, class sizes will be at recommended levels, and that extracurriculars and fine arts will be included.”

Candia School Board Chairman Ed Caito agreed with Hobbs, and said even if the $140 million budget does go into effect, that does not alone put Manchester in a problematic position. “It’s tough to look at a budget and say it is or it’s not going to work,” Caito said. “The budget remains a process in Manchester, and the mere passage of a budget does not mean a contractual violation.”

Bedford students are being phased into their new high school, but the current junior class will be spending next year at West High. By the 2009-10 school year, all Bedford high school students will be in the new high school, leaving a revenue shortfall in the Manchester school budget.

“This isn’t a surprise that there’s a loss of revenue and they can’t bring the expenses down,” Caito said, explaining that even as Bedford students at West High leave, costs are not going down and in some cases are rising.

Some Manchester School Board members said a lack of planning for the withdrawal of Bedford students is part of the problem.

“Those folks are quite correct that the Manchester School Board did not do a good job trying to plan ahead,” said Manchester School Board member Doug Kruse of those who have said that Manchester wasn’t ready for Bedford’s exodus.

“At the time, our school board didn’t really spend much time at all contemplating that possibility or beginning to plan for that possibility. When Bedford gave us the final notification that they were going to be leaving, there were several of us on the board advocating for a plan,” said Kruse. “A lot happened way too late in the game. I think Manchester collectively dropped the ball on that.”

Labanaris said it would have been impossible to make up the revenue for Bedford’s exit, and said the school district tried to keep costs in line at the school by cutting teachers last year to accommodate the decreased student population. Later, she added, one was asked to come back.

“I don’t know what they would want us to do in that case,” Labanaris said. Manchester School Board members said there has been talk of re-working Hooksett’s contract, which currently has some students going to Central and others going to West, so that all Hooksett high school students would attend West, a solution both Ouellette and Kelley said was not feasible.

Kruse said he would support looking into that option in the future. “I think at this point, given the financial situation Manchester is in, everything has to be on the table,” he said.

Hooksett, Candia, Auburn and Bedford all warn city that budget cuts violate tuition agreements

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:47:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Cassie Hobbs of Auburn said she might have gone with other friends from Auburn Village to Derry for high school had she known the sports and art classes she loves at West High School would be struck from the school’s budget for her senior year.

“I wouldn’t be in this district if it weren’t for these programs,” said Hobbs, 17, who plays on West’s junior varsity soccer and varsity lacrosse teams and has a growing interest in photography.

“I hope that you think this over,” Hobbs told Manchester’s Board of Aldermen at the city’s budget hearing for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Thousands of concerned parents from Manchester and its contracted school districts, including Candia, Auburn, Hooksett and Bedford; teachers, many anticipating pink slips; Manchester taxpayers and dozens of students wearing school colors and raising signs showed up at the hearing on Monday, April 28, quickly overflowing the 550-seat auditorium at Memorial High School.

“We estimate that there was close to 2,000 people there,” said Manchester Fire Chief James Burkush, adding the auditorium and cafeteria were both filled to capacity with the rest spilling into the gynasium, which was about half full.

The Manchester Fire Department herded hundreds of others toward the cafeteria and gymnasium to watch the proceedings on projection screens.

The hearing started shortly after 6 p.m. and finally wrapped up around midnight, with the majority of the budget discussion focusing on the school cuts.

The $140 million school district budget Mayor Frank Guinta included in his budget preparation is $13 million less than what Manchester’s Board of School Committee asked for, largely due to the reduction in revenue from Bedford’s high school students transition out of West to their own high school.

This year, the Manchester School District is running on a $147 million operating budget. The $153 million request was a 4 percent increase in the budget.

The cuts mean a level tax rate for Manchester, but also the loss of many teaching positions, eight vice principals, athletics, music and art classes, NJROTC program, performing arts, and virtually all other funded extraand co-curricular programs.

The academy structure that West High School was planning to implement next year has also been canned.

Hooksett School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette spoke around 10:30 p.m., warning aldermen and the mayor that cutting these programs and eliminating teaching positions that would inevitably increase class sizes, which would constitute violations in the Manchester’s tuition contract with Hooksett.

The cuts may affect the accreditation renewal of Manchester schools, also a breach in contract, Ouellette said. “With the proposed budget, Manchester will certainly put its accreditation status at risk, thereby jeopardizing students competing for slots in the highly competitive college arena,” Ouellette said.

She added cutting such programs would affect Manchester students’ college applications and scholarship eligibility.

“These programs not only offer a student the chance to excel, it gives them a reason not only to attend school but to do well in school,” Ouellette said.

The Hooksett School Board’s attorney sent a letter to Guinta and aldermen Chairman Michael Lopez informing them of this point.

Ouellette added the cuts would increase class sizes to levels beyond the state’s accepted levels, the minimum being 30 students per class or 24 students for lab classes.

“The ramifications of an ill funded school budget are far reaching and almost impossible to correct at a later date,” Ouellette said.

Elaine Hobbs, mother of Cassie Hobbs and Chairman of the Auburn School Board, agreed with Ouellette’s statements and added that the cuts may overwork the school district administration and remaining staff at the schools as well as affecting students’ well-roundedness.

The Auburn School Board’s attorney also sent a letter to the Board of Aldermen outlining their concerns about violating their tuition contract.

“So, if the cuts are to take place, you may be in breach of contract, which would allow for Auburn, Hooksett, Candia and Bedford to opt out early without penalties and/or (those districts) would not be responsible for the capital component of the contract,” Hobbs, one of the last speakers, told the Board of Aldermen, adding that could further affect the budget.

Candia School Board Chairman Ed Caito said he could not make the meeting, the board being represented at the meeting by other board members who did not speak or issue a statement.

“I really feel that the mayor and the acting superintendent should try to get beyond the rhetoric and both be willing to roll up their sleeves with their own people and say let’s work on this together and come up with a solution,” Caito said, adding Mayor Frank Guinta and Superintendent Henry Aliberti have taken “extreme positions” on both sides of the coin.

“There’s no question that the economic environment is different, but there’s got to be some middle ground,” Caito said.

Prior to the meeting, Ouellette said Hooksett sends 560 students to Manchester schools.

The Hooksett School Board has been searching for buildable land to possibly go to voters with to construct a high school in town.

“We knew that it would be coming up,” said Ouellette about Manchester’s school cut, “that’s why we’re looking at sites for a new high school.”

Auburn election results

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:43:00 GMT

Auburn Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

To see if the town will adopt the official ballot law (SB2).
• Yes................................538     No................................308
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To see if the school district will adopt the official ballot law (SB2).
• Yes................................537     No................................310
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To see if the town will extend the town treasurer’s term from one year to three years.
• Yes................................624     No................................230

Auburn Town Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Selectman, for three years, vote for one
Harland Eaton – 318
• Paul Raiche – 530
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Town Moderator, for two years, vote for one
• C. Donald Stritch – 783
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Town Clerk, for two years, vote for one
• Joanne T. Linxweiler – 809
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Tax Collector, for two years, vote for one
• Kathleen A. Sylvia – 793
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Library Trustee, for one year, vote for one
• David S. Griffin – 795
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Auburn Village Cemetery Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• (write-in)
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Longmeadow Cemetery Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Lorraine P. Senechal – 754
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Trust Fund Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Howard Burgess – 751
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Checklist Supervisor, for six years, vote for one
• Susan N. Jenkins – 762
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Police Commission, for three years, vote for one
• Hubert J. Topliff – 742

Auburn School Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

School Board Member, for three years, vote for one
• Elaine T. Hobbs – 655
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Voter turnout: 881
Registered voters: 3,758 Turnout: 23%

It’s time to vote

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:10:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

New Hampshire towns are gearing up for the annual vote on town and school issues. Polls will open Tuesday, March 11. Hooksett’s official ballot town elections are not until May 13.

Pembroke and Auburn adhere to the traditional Town Meeting format, and are only electing officials on March 11.

Auburn will, however, decide whether to change to the official ballot law, or SB2, at the March 11 vote. Auburn will also decide between Paul Raiche and Harland Eaton for selectman.

Hooksett – school
Hooksett will choose two of four candidates for School Board and vote on four warrant articles. The four running for School Board are Becky Berk, Pat Rueppel, Paul Cournoyer and Trisha Korkosz. Warrant articles include a $25 million school budget and renovations to the Underhill kitchen.

Allenstown – town
There are two contested races in Allenstown. David Bouffard, James Rodger and Chris Roy are competing for one road agent position. Lawrence Anderson, Thomas Irzyk, Richard Keeley, Sandra McKenney, Robert Lee and Roger LaFleur are running for one selectman’s slot.

• Proposed operating budget: $5,055,264. Should the budget fail, the default would be $4,541,936.

• The Suncook Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion: a $15 million bond to be paid over 20 years would expand the sewer plant, Allenstown taxpayers being responsible for 48 percent of the total costs and Pembroke 52 percent.

At the town’s deliberative session, voters amended the wording of the article to say that the town would only go for the expansion if at least half the costs could be secured in state and federal grants. A 60 percent majority vote is needed for this article to pass.

• New fire truck: This article asks voters to approve a $450,000 expenditure on a new fire truck to replace one dating back to 1976. The new truck is a 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker that would do the work of three of the older trucks for the Fire Department.

• Road agent: This article asks to change the method of putting the town’s road agent in place from official ballot election to Board of Selectmen appointment.

Allenstown – school
• Proposed operating budget: $9,954,853. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $9,838,008. School warrant articles would add an extra $78,802.

• A warrant article asks for $58,802 for the first year of a four-year collective bargaining contract with the Allenstown Paraprofessional Association.

Epsom – town
The only contested race in Epsom is between four people running for three slots on the Budget Committee. They are David Fiorentino, Greg “Whitey” Foss, Mar Lou J. LaFleur and Carol McGuire.

• Proposed operating budget: $2,882,220. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $2,469,881.

• Various articles ask for money to pave and maintain roads, projects that have been put off in the past few years due to defaulted budgets.

• A citizen’s petitioned warrant article asks voters whether they favor going back to a fivemember Board of Selectmen.

At this year’s election, three members will be voted in after Epsom residents voted last year to reduce the number of seats on the board down to three.

• The police and fire departments submitted a warrant article asking for $57,054 for six months’ salaries for one full-time officer and one full-time firefighter.

The article states $4,500 of that would come from a line in the police department’s budget, with the rest being raised through taxes. Another article asks for $82,815 to give all fulltime fire and police personnel pay raises.

Epsom – school
• Proposed operating budget: $8,071,443. Should the budget fail, the default budget would be $7,904,002.

• The school district asks in a warrant article for $36,292 to fund pay raises for school support staff.

• Another article asks for $34,884 to pay for bus transportation for Epsom high school students attending Pembroke Academy. Currently, there is no school district funded transportation for those students.

• To remove asbestos flooring left in the Epsom Central School, the district asks voters for $70,069.

Candia – town
Candia has two contested races. Dannis Lewis and Paul C. Vallee are competiting for road agent. For selectman, voters will choose between Todd D. Allen, Frederick Kelley and Amanda Soares.

• Proposed operating budget: $2,321,660. Should the budget fail, the default would be $2,265,781.

• A citizen’s petitioned warrant article asks whether Candia voters are in favor or selling a 12-acre parcel of land by Exit 3 off of Route 101. A 2003 vote already gave selectmen the authority to sell the land for a grocery store, but the article voted in also allowed for a citizen’s petition after two public hearings on the land sale.

• Selectmen submitted a petition asking voters’ stance on “rescinding” the town’s Budget Committee. The wording was changed at the town’s deliberative session, and now asks whether voters are in favor of “retaining” the Budget Committee.

Candia – school
• Proposed operating budget: $7,486,408. Should the budget fail, the default would be $7,526,161 (almost $40,000 higher than the proposed budget).

• The most expensive article asks voters to allow the Candia School Board to enter into a tuition agreement for a joint middle school with Auburn, and further to spend $296,708 for the first year’s payment on building costs. The tuition agreement would be in effect for 20 years, with Candia paying 38 percent of the school’s building and operating costs based on current enrollment.

• A warrant article for a collective bargaining agreement with Moore School teachers would require $83,347 to be raised in taxes.

• The school district is asking for $91,885 to purchase a generator for the Moore School.

SAU withdrawal plan denied

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:58:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

The state Board of Education sent Hooksett’s SAU Withdrawal Committee back to the drawing board for more information on what pulling out of SAU 15 would mean for the two remaining towns, Auburn and Candia.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 9, the state rejected the Withdrawal Committee’s study, which outlines the plans for withdrawal and projected impacts for both the new Hooksett SAU and SAU 15, in a 4-1 vote.

According to minutes, the state called for more information about the educational and monetary consequences for pulling out and encouraged the Withdrawal Committee to work closely with Auburn and Candia school boards on their plan. The state turned down the previous plan in December 2006, asking for more information.

John Lyons, chairman of the state board, said commenting further on what specifically the board wants to see in the application would be unfair to the towns involved.

SAU Withdrawal Committee chairman and School Board member Dana Argo said he believes the plan is sufficient and includes all of the fiscal and educational information the state should need to approve it.

The state’s decision not to approve will set the committee back another year, as the approved plan was to go before voters at this year’s School District Meeting.

“I think it’s difficult for the state Board of Education to move a plan forward when the two remaining communities are so opposed to it,” said Maura Ouellette, a Withdrawal Committee and Hooksett School Board member. “What’s really unfortunate is that the Hooksett voters don’t get the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on this issue. This essentially blocks them from having any say in how they would like to see their school district run in the future.”

Argo said he feels strongly about the withdrawal, citing thousands of new housing units in the pipeline and an overstretched SAU staff as clues that Hooksett, which comprises 58 percent of the current SAU, should pull out.

“There’s not really a blackand- white answer for when to withdraw, but we think the time is now,” Argo said.

Auburn School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs said the plan makes assumptions about Auburn and Candia without collaboration from the two towns.

She referenced a section in the plan that says Auburn and Candia could house SAU 15 in their new middle school after Hooksett leaves. The joint middle school proposal will go to voters in both towns in this year’s election.

Both Hobbs and Candia School Board Chairman Karen Smith said they have not heard from the SAU Withdrawal Committee for collaboration since October 2006.

Both also pointed to what they said were miscalculations in the outlined budgets for the new Hooksett School District and the two-town SAU 15, errors they said likely swayed the state board’s decision.

Based on enrollment figures, Hooksett owns 58 percent of the current SAU 15’s assets and pays the same percentage of its annual operating budget, with Candia and Auburn splitting the remaining 42 percent.

The projected costs for Hooksett would remain much the same for the new SAU. Hooksett will contribute $521,081 to the coming year’s SAU 15 operating budget, and, according to the Withdrawal Committee’s calculations, would contribute $521,064 to the operating budget for their new SAU, plus one-time capital costs, including relocating the SAU office to the Cawley School.

Auburn and Candia would see almost 50 percent increases in their contributions to the SAU operating budget and the current building’s rent.

The plan also outlines the payroll for a new SAU staff for Hooksett, which would may take away the services of Superintendent Phil Littlefield and Assistant Superintendent Gail Kushner, among others.

The plan showed a $105,00 salary in the new Hooksett SAU operating budget for a superintendent.

Littlefield currently makes $14,000 more than that.

Ouellette noted the high turnover rate of superintendents in the past decade.

“There would be nothing preventing any individual from applying to the new Hooksettonly SAU if they so desired,” she said.

“I think everyone agrees Phil is an outstanding superintendent. The question is how long can he continue at this pace?” Ouellette said.

Hobbs said she doesn’t think Hooksett looked into other options closely enough.

“I think the SAU staff works very hard,” she said. “I think they might be shortstaffed, but I think the solution is not to separate the staff.”

The withdrawal plan is available for viewing on the Hooksett School District’s Web site, http://www.hooksett.k12.nh.us

Record turnout for primary

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:03:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

High voter turnouts, particularly among young people and independents, characterized this year’s primary election as one of a possible culture change.

More than half of registered voters in Hooksett, Pembroke, Allenstown, Auburn, Candia and Epsom participated in the primary vote, with Hooksett hitting a high 68 percent turnout.

Overall, New Hampshire is one of the more independent states in the country. According to an ABC News exit poll, about 40 percent of registered New Hampshire voters who participated in the nation’s first primary on Tuesday, Jan. 8, were registered as undeclared or independent.

Republican winner John McCain, who took 37 percent of the Republican vote, was the favorite coming into the primary for his perceived ability to capture independent votes.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in a dead heat for most of the night as results poured in, but Clinton pulled away overnight and came through with 39 percent of the Democratic vote to Obama’s 36 percent to take the win.

In Hooksett, where just three votes separated McCain and Romney on the Republican ballot, Clinton was a favorite with about a fifth of the total 5,337 votes cast for both parties.

Including write-ins and 25 blank ballots from voters who wrote in their choices and forgot to fill in the oval, 5,487 votes were cast, a 68 percent turnout.

Leslie Nepveu, Hooksett town clerk for the last 21 years, estimated more than 500 new voters registered at the polls. “For a primary election, it was definitely the highest turnout,” Nepveu said, but added checklist supervisors did not yet have an exact count.

The Associated Press set up shop at the polls at Cawley School with a live feed to a news program in Europe, Nepveu said.

About a third of Candia’s voters are registered as undeclared, 1,176 out of a total 3,228 names on the checklist. The total number includes 224 new voters, who accounted for one-tenth of the primary votes. About 65 percent of Candia’s registered voters showed up at the polls.

“I’ve been the town clerk for 24 years, and this was probably the best primary we’ve ever had,” said Town Clerk Christine Dupere.

Pembroke registered 45 new voters, bringing the checklist total to 5,505. According to Town Clerk James Goff, 3,025 votes were cast for a 55 percent turnout. New voters accounted for about 15 percent of the total votes. Democrats on the whole got about 40 more votes than Republicans in that town.

Pembroke election moderator Tom Petit, who has been working at the town’s polls since 1972 in various capacities, said he thinks the spike in voting numbers is a sign of the town’s growth.

“My first thought is our town, like a lot of other towns, is in a state of change,” he said, adding new people, particularly of a younger generation, have come to town in the past few years.

Before the election, said Allenstown Town Clerk Diane Demers, there were 2,554 registered Allenstown voters, 1,205 of those registered as undeclared.

By the close of the polls, 279 new voters had contributed to the 1,696 votes cast, making up about 17 percent of the total votes. The total turnout was 59 percent of registered voters.

“I think there’s a lot of things going on that’s sparking people’s interest,” Demers said, referring to the younger generation’s surge in political involvement and world issues.

Joanne Linxweiler, Auburn town clerk, said 2,541 votes were counted, amounting to a potentially record-breaking 66 percent turnout. Complete numbers for new voter registration were not available by press time, but Linxweiler said she was impressed with the amount of new voters who came out.

Epsom counted a total of 1,905 ballots. Of those, 227, or almost 12 percent, were from newly registered voters. Out of the total 3,261 registered voters, Epsom had a 58 percent turnout.

Blackwell said the inundation of political calls and mail in the weeks before the election could have spurred people to vote, as well as the outcomes in Iowa where Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee took their respective party’s victories in caucus.

Epsom was the only Banner town to vote mostly Republican, with 1,004 total Republican ballots to 901 Democratic ballots counted.

2007 Top stories: Hooksett 'fired four,' more floods

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:26:00 GMT

By: Jenn McDowell

As 2007 comes to a close, we take a look back on the year.

One issue common to many towns in the Banner’s coverage area was the floods that came for a second time in two years.

Among our top stories of the year was the Hooksett Town Council’s decision to fire four town employees, which gained international coverage as the world debated whether it was fair to fire anyone over gossip in the workplace.

In Epsom, the historic meetinghouse was saved from the wrecking ball and the town reorganized its governance with new selectmen and a change in road agent rules.

Candia and Auburn wrestled with the need to solve school space issues.

And, just as families in southern New Hampshire began to recover from the 2006 Mother’s Day floods, another storm in April 2007 ravaged the region.

Communities, particularly along the Suncook River, saw devastation worse than the first time around. Many homes were left abandoned, roads washed away, and lives drenched and destroyed.

In Epsom, the Suncook River changed its course in 2006, bringing tons of sludge pushed in from the raging waters and redepositing it inside people’s homes, but 2007’s flood just made things worse.

Phone service and electricity outages were charted all over the area, along with washed out roads, many of which are still in disrepair.

In Auburn, a local woman had to be rescued from her convertible when she became trapped in the flood waters on Wilson’s Crossing Road, and the car began floating away in the strong currents. Fred McNeill, a Manchester town employee who was trying to pick up his son at Pinkerton Academy, noticed Colette Deusinger of Auburn in the front seat.

Paul Lynn, who owns nearby Turnpike Pizza, responded to McNeill’s cries for assistance and provided a screwdriver to rip through the soft roof of the car as Deusinger attempted to kick out her window.

Allenstown was once again submerged, due to many lowlying neighborhoods, particularly Riverside Park Drive right on the Suncook’s banks.

Marcia Abbott and Brian Gagne, who live in a small cottage they lovingly call “the gingerbread house” on Riverside were lucky enough to get some help with materials and labor from the Community Action Program, There’s No Place Like Home, Grace Capital Church and many volunteers.

The couple had just completely gutted and rebuilt their little home after the first flood, a luxury they were able to enjoy for just a few months before the April 2007 flood waters took over their neighborhood.

Studies on the flooding and how to prevent it from happening in the future have been in the works for months. The Department of Environmental Services held the first of three public information meetings on Dec. 12 in Concord regarding an independent study of the flood’s causes and the differences between the events in 2006 and 2007.

Online access – Web sites make it easier to stay in the know

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:58:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

When it comes to getting access to public information, your best bet is often to go in person to the town hall, school district office or police department itself. But that is time consuming and difficult for many people. Going online is not only simple but available at any time.

The Right to Know Law does not specifically address electronic communication, since e-mail and the Internet did not exist at the time of its writing. Many towns and school districts do make minutes and other information available online. One police department in the 16 towns covered by Neighborhood News has even put its arrest logs online.

The law requires minutes to be posted within 144 hours (six days) of a meeting. Posting usually consists of pinning a printout to the bulletin board in a town hall, library or other public spot.

In the six years since Neighborhood News first took a look at what local governments make available online, things have changed significantly. Auburn, Allenstown, Candia, Epsom, New Boston and the Bow SAU didn’t even have Web sites at that time.

Today, every town and school district can be accessed online. Only the Hooksett Police Department has no Web page at all, while most police departments offer at least basic information through pages on a town Web site, and the Weare and Pelham police departments have their own complete Web sites. In one unique twist, SAU 24 has video of a school board meeting right on its home page for all to view.

Most town sites post not only the minutes to the town council or selectmen’s meetings, they also include planning, zoning and other committee minutes.

Costs

Costs associated with Web sites can mount, but hosting one is not always expensive.

In Auburn, Kate Lafond, administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen and the person who updates and maintains the town’s Web site, said two years of Web hosting cost $48 and the town pays $8.99 annually to use its domain name.

In Weare, Town Administrator Fred Ventresco said they pay about $180 every two years to their Web host.

Keeping up the content

The big cost may be just keeping Web sites up to date. Someone has to put that content online. Lafond typically updates the Web site once a day.

“It takes a few minutes, depending on how much I need to post,” she said. “It’s fairly easy to do.”

Goffstown Town Administrator Susan Desruisseaux said the Web site’s design and maintenance are performed internally.

The minutes are uploaded to the site as soon as they are available and all press releases are sent to the town’s information technology worker.

“The economic development council originated it to get news out to attract business and industry to the town several years ago. It’s grown to provide more public information as time went on,” Desruisseaux said.

Lisa Cox, the Web site coordinator for SAU 53, said she spends anywhere from half an hour to multiple hours per week updating the content on their Web site. The district’s individual schools, she said, maintain their own Web sites.

“It is very up to date and accurate, as it’s maintained on a daily basis. And I also feel that’s it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate,” Cox said, adding that the last time she updated the site was Thursday, Sept. 20.

Sandi Babson, webmaster for Hopkinton’s town site, said she oversees the updates made by 10 other people from different departments.

“Each department is responsible for updating their own department’s information,” she said. “It makes it easier because, as a webmaster, I wouldn’t necessarily know what’s out of date and what isn’t,” she said, adding that the police department update their logs on a monthly basis.

For the most part, she said, updates are made on time.

“We try to always meet that five-day Right to Know (period), just to keep everybody covered,” she said.

Unique features

Most sites provide the type of information you would expect to find on a town, school or police department. Some offer some unique features.

In Salem, the town runs a monthly photo contest, where contestants are asked to submit photos of the town reflecting a monthly theme. The winners are posted online and will become part of a calendar for the next year.

New Boston introduces itself as the “Gravity Center of the World,” thanks to Roger Babson and his Gravity Research Foundation located in the town.

The Hopkinton Web site is the only one offering police logs online, though the Salem Police Department is close to doing the same.