BY ROD HANSEN
A proposed footbridge linking New Boston’s two main sections is slated to appear on the Town Meeting ballot this March, though at a slightly smaller first-year dollar value than originally considered.
An article for a Piscataquog River Footbridge linking the town village section with the South Commercial District seeks a total of $24,000 for initial costs associated with the bridge. The money is to be raised through an 80 percent/20 percent split of grant and taxation dollars.
The article requires $4,800 to be raised through taxation and the remaining $19,200 to come from grant money, according to the draft warrant article.
This money will cover the opening costs for a bridge to link land near the Mill Pond conservation area in the village to property in back of the New Boston Tavern, about a half a mile to the south.
The bridge itself is scheduled to be completed in 2012 at a total cost of $150,000. Of that, $120,000 will come from a New Hampshire Department of Transportation grant and $30,000 from local property taxes.
Project advocates had recommended covering the town’s portion of the cost with $15,000 warrant articles over two consecutive years.
However, Town Administrator Burton Reynolds said it made more sense to collect a smaller amount this year, as starting costs would only cover engineering, design and right-of-way expenses.
“It can be amended,” Reynolds said at the selectmen’s meeting Monday, Jan. 29. “If people want to make it higher, they can do that.”
According to a draft explanation of that article, engineering for the bridge could start as early as this year. However, construction funds will not be available until 2010. Another article will be put forth at that time, according to the draft warrant.
Another article requests $29,000 to purchase and install an emergency generator at the New Boston Central School.
The school serves as the town’s emergency shelter, and the generator currently in use for emergencies dates back to World War II and has heavy maintenance requirements, selectmen have said.
“It is felt a more user-friendly and reliable generator is called for,” according to the draft warrant.
There are 27 articles on New Boston’s 2007 town warrant, including a $3.4 million operating budget.
Voters can discuss and amend the warrant at the deliberative session of Town Meeting on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., in the New Boston Central School gymnasium.
School District Meeting
This year’s school district budget is set to be $9.4 million, not including special warrant articles, New Boston Central School Principal Rick Matthews said at a recent school district budget hearing.
Special warrant articles include a new four-year teacher contract, which would require $119,039 to be raised for the 2007-08 year.
Another article seeks $33,000 commissioning a survey of the New Boston School District property, along with an architectural study considering an elementary school expansion that could include the addition of grades seven and eight.
New Boston scheduled its deliberative session of School District Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m., in the New Boston Central School gymnasium.
Voting on town and school warrants and candidates takes place March 13.