Letter
Please vote to support our Gilmanton Year-Round Library!
Laura Bush has said that the most important thing in her wallet is
her library card. I am in complete agreement with Mrs. Bush.
Libraries contribute to the educational success of children.
Research shows that the amount of time children spend with books is
crucial to reading achievement, and ultimately, to school
achievement in general. Library programs encourage parents to play
a greater role in their children’s literacy development. Research
also shows that students who take part in their local library’s
summer reading program significantly improve their reading skills.
Programs provided by our library staff help preschoolers and young
people to develop social skills and to enjoy activities that will
foster lifelong learning. Participants feel a sense of belonging in
a safe place with their peers and caring adults.
Adult patrons also benefit from the many offerings the library
provides. The use of computers and internet access is especially
important and necessary in this digital age. Clubs and
organizations have comfortable meeting space. Many varied programs
are offered to the community free of charge.
As an educator, a mother, and a grandmother, I have always looked to
libraries to provide me with opportunities to learn, to teach, to
promote a love of reading, and to indulge my passion – reading. The
GYRL provides all of that and more. On March 11th, please vote to
keep the GYRL open.
Jan Best
Gilmanton
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voters,
The Gilmanton Year-Round Library Board of Directors is asking for
your support on March 11, 2014. Please vote YES for library funding,
which will ensure continued operation of the Year-Round Library.
With funding, the library will be able to provide all the services
that are currently offered for all members of the Gilmanton
community. The Board has made the commitment to raise one-third of
the necessary funds and asks the Town provide the balance. The board
will continue to remain fiscally responsible while offering quality
programs and services. Please help the library remain
open with your YES vote on Article 28.
Sincerely,
Anne Kirby
President GYRLA
Letter
Support Article 30 At The Polls On March 11th
Gilmanton residents,
Article 30 is about you, and it is for you.
Maintain your current level of service, with using the same
personnel staffing levels you have enjoyed for over ten years.
“To see if the voters will continue to support the current 208 hours
of weekly paid Fire Department coverage using both 4 full-time and
part-time certified personnel as has been past practice. “
Your fulltime staff on the department remains the same. There are no
new positions added.
Funding has been approved, and is budgeted for.
Voting yes will not increase your taxes.
Voting no will not reduce your taxes.
Voting yes will preserve the quality of your emergency services
Vote yes on Article 30
Respectfully,
The Gilmanton Fireman’s Association.
GCC Food Pantry And Thrift Shop News
The color of the Month at the GCC Thrift Shop is GREEN.
In celebration of the coming of Spring and St. Patrick’s Day all
clothing which is predominately green in color, or has a green barb
will be 50% off. Sale runs the entire month of March.
The GCC Food Pantry and Thrift Shop has a new mailing address.
Correspondence and/or monetary donations should be mailed to Post
Office Box 16, Gilmanton, N. H. 03237. Our physical location
remains the same at 1817 NH Route 140 in Gilmanton Iron Works, N. H.
Parking and entrance to the Shop and Pantry is available at the
Gilmanton Community Church parking lot.
Hours: Wednesdays, 3 – 7 pm and Saturdays, 10 am – 2 pm.
Telephone number: 603-364-0114. If no one is present,
please leave a detailed message and someone will return your call as
soon as possible.
Donations of food and clothing are always welcome and may be brought
to the Thrift Shop during open hours. PLEASE do not leave donations
outside of the door. Thank you.
The Thrift Shop is open to the public, please come by often as new
clothing is always being added to the racks. See you soon!
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Residents,
The Gilmanton Fire Department would like to continue providing you
the same level service with the same staffing configuration you have
been receiving for the last 10 years.
We are asking that you support Article 30. This will provide you
with 208 hours of coverage using 4 fulltime and part time employees
as has been past practice.
The fulltime position that the Board of selectman would like to
convert to 2 part time positions has been funded since 2004.
Reducing a full time position, to two part time position offers its
own unique challenges, and is not, in my opinion a positive staffing
change.
Please take a moment and review the minutes of the deliberative
session held on 2/1/14, they are available on the town web site.
Vote yes on Article 30.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours in Public Safety,
Chief Paul J Hempel III
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voters:
Please vote Yes on Article 30 which protects our current level of
fire department services. Public safety matters. This warrant
article is needed to stop the attacks by the selectmen on our fire
department. We encourage you to send a strong message to keep our
current mix of full and part-time fire department staffing and not
eliminate one of our full-time positions.
Here is what has happened- one selectman thinks he can run our fire
department better than the Fire Chief. He has been relentless in
attacking our chief about department scheduling. There have been no
complaints about the Chief’s performance or the fire department.
We are fortunate to have a well-run department. Even the selectmen
said we have a good fire chief and department. Why do they want to
micro-manage our fire department when they don’t have the training
to do so?
How do we know their latest position is not sincere but an attempt
to micromanage? On January 3rd, behind closed doors, they passed a
policy directing the fire chief to stop using part-time staff on
Sundays. They put their recommended budget to bed and did not
recommend cutting a full-time position to two part-time positions. A
warrant article was submitted by the voters to support current
staffing. In reaction to the petitioned warrant article, the
selectmen all of a sudden do not have a problem with “part-timers”
filling even more shifts since they are now proposing to eliminate
one full-time position.
The voters in 2004 added a full-time position. Let’s not turn back
the clock a decade on our fire department services. This is not an
increase in spending but level funding!
Please protect public safety by voting YES on Warrant Article 30.
Sincerely,
Bill and Terri Donovan
Gilmanton
Letter To The Editor
To the Editor
Important dates for Gilmanton voters.
Since this is only the second year that Gilmanton voters have
conducted town meeting under the so-called SB2 system, some people
may still be unaware of the dates for voting on important Town
issues, including electing a selectman and other Town officers and
school board members, budgets for both Town and School District, and
other matters.
Voting takes place, by ballot, at the Town Hall (Gilmanton Academy)
from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, March 11.
Get to know the candidates by attending the Candidates Night
sponsored by the Gilmanton School on Thursday evening, March 6, at 6
pm.
The Town Report is now available at the Academy. A
sample ballot, with other information, can be found on the Town’s
website,
www.Gilmantonnh.org. Absentee ballots are
available from the Town Clerk’s office.
Your vote will decide who makes important decisions in Town and
School governance and whether the Gilmanton Year-Round Library will
remain open.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS! Please be sure to consider the issues and vote.
Carolyn Baldwin
Letter To The Editor
Gilmanton School Board
Why I Want to Serve
My name is David Strang and I have been a resident of Gilmanton for
almost 14 years. As an emergency physician, I know intimately the
value of education. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I
have not only been practicing for 25 years, but also serve on
several boards and committees at the state level. On several of
these, I act as Chairman and in doing so have learned how to listen
and work with both sides of an opinion in order to produce change
and betterment.
I am also a teacher, helping train medical students to be the
physicians of tomorrow. I would like to bring these skills that I
have learned, back home, to the local level, in service to the
Gilmanton School Board.
I believe all Board members have an inherent duty as representatives
of the citizens of Gilmanton to spend our tax dollars wisely.
Excellent schools train the leaders of tomorrow for our businesses,
towns, nation and families. I ask for your vote to help me
accomplish this goal, for all of us.
David Strang
Gilmanton
Letter To The Editor
David Strang is campaigning for the position of Gilmanton School
Board Member. Dave is honest, dedicated, intelligent, and will work
tirelessly if elected. He believes in local control of education,
not government run programs. He also believes in keeping a strong
budget to allow for the best education for our students and an
adequate operational budget to support day to day operations of the
school
He will not bend to the will of louder voices, but he will question
whatever he does not understand. He will also stand strong for the
needs of the teachers as long as they are willing to stand for the
needs of the children.
Please vote for David Strang for Gilmanton School
Board on March 11, 2014 at the Town Elections. Absentee ballots are
available on line at [email protected] or at the Town Clerk’s office.
Bernadette Gallant
Gilmanton Iron Works
Letter To The Editor
To Gilmanton Voters
My name is Jim Barnes and I want to be your next Selectman.
I live in the Iron Works. After a forty year career in the
propane/oil business I retired in 2011 to become a full-time
singer/songwriter and entertainer. I travel the state
performing music in a variety of venues. It’s a great living!
To run for Selectman was a difficult decision. I have never done
this before; I’ll have a lot to learn if elected, but I’m confident
that I am up to the task. With your help I can succeed.
If elected I would come to the job with no baggage. No political
affiliation to speak of. Sure, I’m a registered Republican, but
not a Republican activist; it’s just the way I lean. I
am not a member of any group or organization in town. I’ve kept a
low profile in the fifteen years that I’ve lived here, but it
doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to what goes on. I just don’t have any
bias to bring to the job. I’m not anti-this or pro-that. What I am
is pro-Gilmanton, and that is all. This is a great little town and
if I can do a little something to make it even better, then I will
be glad to do so.
If you have questions, concerns or want to offer guidance, please
call me at 364-5834. But, please, not at 7:30 in the evening, as I
enjoy watching Jeopardy. I welcome your input. After all, the
Selectman work for you, not the other way around.
James R. (Jim) Barnes
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voters,
The Gilmanton Fire Department activity has changed very little over
the past 10 years, but its budget has more than doubled.
Calls 2003: 395, Calls 2013: 434. Budget 2003: $259,811, Budget
2014: $586,034.
The Selectmen have directed the Chief to reschedule hours and
manpower. These changes will reduce cost and maintain the current
safety levels. I hope that the Chief complies and cooperates with
the Selectmen to make his department cost effective.
Please show your selectmen that you support them, vote no for
article 30 on March 11.
Douglas Isleib
Gilmanton IW
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voter:
My name is Stephen J. McCormack, and I am seeking the position of
Selectman. I hope you will take a few minutes of your time to read
about me and why I am seeking the stated position.
Our family moved to Gilmanton in 1987 from Belmont and we reside on
South Road. I have been involved in assisting the town regarding
policy and procedure in the past, and hopefully will be again in the
future.
I retired from two careers, military and representing public
employees. I retired from the U.S. Army in 1989, after 21 years of
service, attaining the rank of Major. I retired from the State
Employees’ Association of N.H. in 2011, after 26 years, as a Senior
Field Representative.
Now, after two years of retirement, and as a result of discussions
with numerous citizens of the town, I decided to seek the position
of selectman. Numerous issues were talked about, all of which
included town budget/expenses, services rendered by the town and
taxes.
I believe my past experiences, in the military and as a union
representative, will allow me to work for the citizens of Gilmanton,
bringing about positive results for the town and its residents.
I believe government needs to be open and responsive to its
citizens. Also, government needs to be conducted in an efficient and
professional manner.
I will be at the scheduled deliberative sessions and candidates
night. I will try to answer questions and/or concerns residents may
have regarding my beliefs about the town.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
I ask for your vote on March 11, 2014.
Sincerely,
Stephen J. McCormack
Candidate for Town Selectman
Town of Gilmanton
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Taxpayers,
This is why you should vote NO on article# 30. For the last several
months the fulltime FF/EMT-I position at the Fire Dept. has been
filled by “part-time” employees and it is costing the taxpayers a
lot less money. When you call 911 you still have a qualified FF/EMT
responding to your emergency. The only difference is the taxpayer
isn’t paying for benefits and retirement for that person. It’s kind
of like Name Brand Drugs vs. Generic. You still get the same result
but for a lot less money.
The Fire Chief readily admits he cannot keep fulltime employees as
they leave to go to a busier town once we have paid to train them,
outfit them, and pay benefits and retirement. I don’t blame them-
Gilmanton is a small town and not exciting for career firemen. Don’t
let the Fire Chief use scare tactics by telling you services will be
cut. For several months the town has been hiring part-time employees
and it has proved to be successful WITHOUT CUTTING ANY SERVICES.
The Selectmen know what they are doing and have lowered your taxes
the last two years.
Support their efforts by VOTING NO ON ARTICLE #30. Help them keep
lowering your tax bill.
Sincerely,
Brenda Currier
Taxpayer and Gilmanton EMT
Letter
Dear Gilmanton Voters,
There was confusion with a handout at the deliberative session. This
is a clarification.
Warrant articles 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 24, 26, 28, 29 will have to
be raised by taxes.
Warrant articles 11, 14, 15, 16, 22, 25 are to paid from Capital
reserve accounts. They will not impact your taxes. We have already
saved for these articles.
Article 18, fire engine, is looking for the town to accept a grant.
Should we be awarded this grant it will not impact your taxes.
Article 19, fire engine lease, will use capital reserves for a down
payment. The tax impact will happen next year.
Sample ballots are posted at the Academy.
Gilmanton Board of Selectmen
Letter
Dear Gilmanton voters,
I support the Gilmanton Year Round Library with donations. I just do
not want it on my tax bill. Why should I even feel guilty about it?
I understand completely that it takes a Town to pave a road or
educate a child.
When the Town ,year’s ago, voted for public kindergarten I voted
no. Not because I do not believe in it. Because I did not want to
burden my elderly neighbors with another tax. I sent
both my children to the kindergarten under the I.W. Church and paid
for it. Now we all pay for it. Yes I know it is mandated, it was not
at the time.
We have a county that needs a new multi-million dollar prison. We
have a State that is considering expanding Medicare for the poor.
Our School is undersized and may need to be expanded. People are
losing their homes in Town. Look at the unplowed driveways.
Let us handle the $52,000 by donations and not place the burden on
people already struggling. Isn’t it easier to give then
to take?
Sincerely,
Don Guarino
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