BY STEPHEN BEALE The town budget this year might be good news for people down on their economic luck. The total spending for 2009 would be $21.8 million, a decrease of about $118,000. The Board of Selectmen was presented the budget on Monday, Sept. 8. In interviews, selectmen were optimistic they could hold the line on budget ...

BY STEPHEN BEALEBedford is paying town and school employees more than its neighbor to the north, reflecting the economic inequities between the two communities. A comparison of the incomes of the top 25 earners among the four local governments using the most recent information shows that Bedford consistently pays higher salaries. Four public ...

BY STEPHEN BEALEPolice Chief Patrick Sullivan told the Goffstown Board of Selectmen this week that he has exceeded his budget for police details, largely due to the New Hampshire presidential primary. Sullivan said he is already $2,000 over his original budget of $60,000 for police details. He said the town spent about $15,000 on details in ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYIt may be warm in July, but area residents are still feeling the pain of the past winter’s heating bills and fear what the future holds. Goffstown resident Carol Clark said her oil prices have tripled from what she used to pay. “It’s extremely frustrating. I don’t know what to do. A $300 fill will cost ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYLong after the snow has melted beneath the warm rays of spring sunshine, New Hampshire towns will still be feeling Mother Nature’s wrath. This time, it won’t be barraging residents from the sky. Instead, it will hit them under their tires. “I was coming from Hannaford the way I come up every day,” said Jane ...

BY STEPHEN BEALEThe town election on Tuesday, March 11, reversed a string of defeats for proposals to expand the Fire Department. In two previous elections, voters had thrown out plans for 18 and 10 firefighters, but Tuesday they signed off on hiring two. The cost of the new firefighters will be split with a Homeland Security grant, which will ...

BY STEPHEN BEALEThe future of the Fire Department will be shaped by the outcome of the Tuesday, March 11, town election. On the ballot are a new contract for firefighters, a proposal for two new ones and plan to save up for the purchase of a ladder truck and other equipment. Other articles include the $18.7 million operating budget for all town ...

BY MICHELLE KIMA new year brought back some old problems in Goffstown as flooding was once again a major issue. There was also continued debate about the effectiveness of roundabouts, how to make recycling profitable and many other issues. In January, the Board of Selectmen voted to record the roll call on votes, reversing an earlier decision ...

BY MICHELLE KIM The Goffstown Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to request a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of state Rep. Bruce Hunter. On the same night, Monday, Oct. 15, the Weare Board of Selectmen unanimously decided not to request a special election due to budget concerns. Hunter, a three-term Goffstown ...

BY MICHELLE KIM The Goffstown Fire Department presented its 2008 proposed budget to the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Oct. 1, requesting a 9 percent increase in funding for the Fire Department and 11 percent increase for Emergency Medical Services. Fire Chief Richard O’Brien requested approximately $2.1 million for the Fire Department, an ...