Rindge approves full warrant in town vote

By ASHLEY SAARI

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Published: 03-29-2023 11:12 AM

Selectman Bob Hamilton was re-elected to his position for the next three years, with 600 votes. Though Hamilton was running unopposed, resident Craig Clark garnered a total of 24 write-in votes.

In the only contested race of the day, Marcia Breckenridge and Ross Thermos took the two open seats on the Zoning Board, beating out third challenger Jamie Mahnken. Breckenridge was the front runner with 494 votes, followed by Thermos with 359 and Mahnken at 253.

All other races were uncontested.

Residents approved the entirety of Rindge’s warrant, including the proposed. $4.95 million budget, which was voted in by a 497-256 vote.

Voters approved paying the fourth payment of five in a pay-to-own lease on a town fire truck. The town will own the truck at the end of the lease if the final payment is approved next year.

Voters agreed to several additions to capital reserve accounts, including $25,000 for the recreation facilities reserve, and $20,000 for the revaluation capital reserve.

The town approved $20,000 for the Ingalls Memorial Library Expendable Trust Fund.

Voters re-adopted the town’s veteran’s tax credits. The amount of the credits remain the same, but after a legislative change, the credit is now available to currently-serving members of the military.

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The town will move forward with a project to improve the energy efficiency of the Rindge Recreation building at Wellington Park. The cost of the modification is $10,000, which the town expects to recoup in the next several years due to energy savings.

Voters discontinued a capital reserve fund, which was used to pay for the repair of the Wellington Road Bridge. The work on the bridge was completed last year, and the small amount of funds left in the account will be transferred to the town’s general fund.

As the town discontinued one fund, it also created a new one, for a similar purpose. Voters approved the creation of a Bridge Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund, and added $107,697 to the account. The funds come from state aid, not from taxation. At the same time they created the account, voters also approved the Select Board to expend the funds when there is a need, rather than requiring a vote of Town Meeting.

The town also approved a change in how cemetery lot sales and the funds generated can be used. The sales of lots will be added to the Cemetery Expendable Trust Fund, and can be used to maintain the grounds and graves.

Voters also approved three proposed zoning amendments.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.

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