Category: Politics

By S.D. Plissken | May 10, 2019

Technically-inclined eccentrics of yore spent lots of time attempting to “square the circle.” Those not engaged in this busied themselves instead in inventing “perpetual motion” machines. Both were known (for different reasons) even then to be impossible pursuits. (The modern equivalent is faster-than-light (FTL) travel).

Last year’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) were chugging along in their usual rut of increasing the Town budget at more than twice the rate of inflation. At the very last minute – which is a problem in itself, both a management and a planning problem – they received the astounding news that employee medical insurance costs would rise.

And that was how they counted up last year’s proposed budget: entirely predictable medical insurance increases added to an already unsustainable budget. (Mr. Brown recently termed this “prudential management”).

Milton’s voters rejected that proposed budget in favor of using the prior year’s budget instead. In this case, the previously-approved budget, which was itself a travesty, is termed the “default” budget.

The Board of Selectmen are not required, when working under a default budget, to spend the default budget money in exactly the same way as they did in the prior year. They can reallocate money from one budget category to another as they see fit. They are limited only in spending no more than the default budget’s smaller amount of money.

It is a sort of “closed” system. If they choose to allocate more money to some budget category, they must necessarily allocate less money to some other budget category or categories.

This BOS is now two months into its year in office. (One-sixth of their time has elapsed). For those of you that have experienced the workaday world in the private sector, you might expect to see certain things happening.

First, management would seek to limit the damage. They would announce immediately a hiring freeze. Hopefully, there might be vacancies, which would have to remain vacant, at least until the situation could be carefully analyzed. It might even be that layoffs would be still necessary. Or that layoffs in one area might be needed in order to hire in another.

Raises, if there were to be any at all, would be severely limited if not entirely out of the question. It might be that some might get them, while others did not. They would certainly be smaller than in other years.

Capital expenses might be deferred. They might be suspended, have their timelines extended, or perhaps be cancelled entirely.

Those are all costs within management’s control. What of costs beyond their control, such as increases in medical insurance rates? Well, frankly, there would be fewer employee medical expenses if there were fewer employees. Thus the hiring and pay-raise freezes. Should those be insufficient, then something else – some equal cost elsewhere in the budget – would have to be cut instead.

And there it is. Under a fixed budget, within which some costs are rising, other costs must fall.

Of course, as when turning a ship or other large vehicle, acting promptly allows for a gentler change.

How is our BOS prudentially managing affairs? They have filled four vacancies in as many meetings. They have increased the mileage reimbursement. (There was no requirement that they do so). They are talking of taking on new membership dues. And so on.

There has been no mention of any corresponding cuts in other budget categories. No workshops devoted to reallocating the default budget monies. No sign that they are not just carried along by events.

Back in the time of Squaring the Circle and Perpetual Motion machines, people believed also in “trick” horses and “learned” pigs. Of course, we know now that those creatures were not actually doing any calculations or making any choices, but simply responding to prompts.

References:

Wikipedia. (2019, February 9). Clever Hans. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans

Wikipedia. (2017, September 18). Learned Pig. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_pig

Wikipedia. (2019, March 22). Perpetual Motion. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion

Wikipedia. (2019, April 22). Squaring the Circle. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaring_the_circle

By Muriel Bristol | May 4, 2019

The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a Public BOS meeting to be held Monday, May 6, beginning at 6:00 PM.

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This BOS meeting would have begun with a Non-Public session, for a Non-Public agenda item classed as 91-A3 II (a), except that the BOS held that preliminary Non-Public session ahead of time on April 25.

91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.

This will be the fourth meeting of the Town year to be preceded by a secret meeting about hiring or raises. The new BOS has already hired people at amounts that approach the difference between the proposed budget, which was rejected, and the default budget, with which they are supposedly working.

If this Town were floundering financially, which it is, and sought out professional advice, which likely it will not, it would be advised first to just stop spending.

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The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.

Under New Business are scheduled eight agenda items: 1) Introduction of Town Administrator (*6:15PM*), 2) Public Hearing: Acquisition and Possible Disposition of Land Parcel; Tax Map 17, Lot 5, 3) Hiring of Assistant Town Clerk / Tax Collector, 4) Hiring of Land Use Clerk, 5) Exit #17 Economic Revitalization Zone Update (Bruce Woodruff), 6) Bolan Road Paving Discussion (Robert Graham), 7) Municipal Clerks Week Proclamation, and 8) New Beginnings Food Pantry.

Introduction of [New] Town Administrator. Here we find the reason for the Non-Public BOS meeting of April 25. Will there be also a vote of thanks and a fond farewell for the interim Town Administrator?

Public Hearing: Acquisition and Possible Disposition of Land Parcel; Tax Map 17, Lot 5. We have seen already that “public hearings” are RSA-required rituals where the BOS may pretend to listen. If we read the Avitar database correctly, it would seem that the Town acquired this property already a few years ago (2015). But perhaps they did not perform the required ritual at that time and now seek to remedy that failing.

Hiring of Assistant Town Clerk / Tax Collector and the next item, Hiring of Land Use Clerk. One or both of these were a part of last year’s proposed budget. You know, the one that got rejected in favor of the default budget. The BOS can spend within that default budget as it likes, but it necessarily demands they make equivalent cuts somewhere else. Or overspend. Overspending is the safe bet.

Exit #17 Economic Revitalization Zone Update (Bruce Woodruff). Past discussions have been about trying to retain Index Packaging by arranging for its expansion to take place at Exit 17. And there is the gas station convenience market currently under construction.

Bolan Road Paving Discussion (Robert Graham). The town’s major roads are maintained by the State. Some few others are paved and maintained by the Town. The DPW Director told us in his election statement that he has every year sufficient money to repair the existing paved roads, but never enough to expand the net of paved roads.

The DPW Director got more road money. And one of our former state representatives rises to seek some (or all) of it for the road on which he resides. Good for him.

The taxpayers on the remaining unpaved roads should get instead a substantial tax discount to reflect the difference in service levels. There is no reason for them to subsidize forever the paved sections.

Municipal Clerks Week Proclamation. Municipal Clerks Week runs May 5-11. (Check out the suggested sample proclamation on the IIMC site in the References below).

New Beginnings Food Pantry. There are food pantries in Farmington, New Durham, Rochester, and Sanbornville (Wakefield). Something new for Milton perhaps?

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Under Old Business are scheduled four items: 9) Town Vehicle & Equipment Surplus Bid Follow-Up, 10) Follow-Up Discussion on Auction Results, 11) Follow-Up Discussion & Potential Decision of Board / Committee Vacancies, 12) Follow-Up Discussion Re.: Lockhart Field Status Letter to DES.

Town Vehicle & Equipment Surplus Bid Follow-Up. When last discussed, some DPW and police vehicles were to be sold at auction. Except for one police vehicle that would be decommissioned for general Town use. (Supposedly thus removing the need for the increased mileage reimbursement recently approved (unnecessarily)). It was mentioned also that there would be some additional expense of removing the “police package” from the vehicle retained, as there had been an additional expense to add it when it was new.

Follow-Up Discussion on Auction Results. So many questions. Do you suppose the properties sold for anything like their assessed values? Some, at least, of these properties had fallen into a distressed condition. So, probably not those ones.

But were their assessed values ever valid? Will these auction sale prices be included in the sampling used for valuation purposes? If, not, why not? These sales are more accurate than previous guesses.

Will this sale money be returned to its rightful owners, in the form of reduced taxation (in their second tax bill), or will it just disappear as increased Town spending? (“Free” money!!!)

Follow-Up Discussion & Potential Decision of Board/Committee Vacancies. Filling vacancies on Milton’s many Boards and Committees is a perennial problem. This has been become ever more of a problem as the number of Boards and Committees has proliferated over time.

For instance, the Planning Board and Zoning Board (ZBA) were not so very long ago a single board. In splitting them apart, each might be check upon the other, but that advantage vanishes in a puff of smoke, when the same few people rotate through both boards. Or even less effectively, when the same few people sit on both boards simultaneously. The intended check is gone, all that remains is the additional bureaucracy.

Appointment by the BOS, who are themselves majority-of-a-minority office-holders, from a small clique of self-selecting former officials and specially-interested parties is hardly a shining manifestation of democracy. William F. Buckley once expressed his preference for governance by a random sampling from the telephone directory over an appointed group of “experts.”

It would seem that Milton simply cannot sustain as many Boards and Committees as it has. There is a fix for that. The artisans of the Bauhaus school proposed that “less is more.”

Follow-Up Discussion Re.: Lockhart Field Status Letter to DES. This is the sort of thing that the Town Selectmen and Planning Boards should have been planning all these years, instead of playing SimCity. Their current plan? Pray that the Feds continue to ignore the problem, or else pray that those same Feds pick up the presumably world-ending cost.

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Other Business That May Come Before the Board has no scheduled items.

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Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the Special BOS meeting of April 15, the regular meeting of April 15, and the Workshop meeting of April 23, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.

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Mr. S.D. Plissken contributed to this article.

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References:

International Institute of Municipal Clerks. (2019). 50th Anniversary of Municipal Clerks Week. Retrieved from www.iimc.com/index.aspx?nid=156

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2019, April 23). BOS Meeting Agenda, April 25, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/4.25.19_bos_nonpublic_session.pdf

Town of Milton. (2019, April 19). BOS Meeting Agenda, April 27, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/4.27.19_bos_special_meeting.pdf

Town of Milton. (2019, May 2). BOS Meeting Agenda, May 4, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/5.4.19_bos_agenda-town_property_auction_0.pdf

Town of Milton. (2019, May 2). BOS Meeting Agenda, May 6, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/5.6.19_bos_agenda.pdf

Youtube. (1965). Cone of Silence. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1eUIK9CihA&feature=youtu.be&t=1

Wikipedia. (2019, April 23). Bauhaus. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus

By S.D. Plissken | April 26, 2019

A legislative correspondent informs us that New Hampshire Senate Bill 154 (2019), which is principally concerned with creating a tax credit for workforce housing, has had an unrelated section inserted into it:

4. Town of Milton; Authorization to Sell Property. Notwithstanding RSA 41:14-a, II(c), the town of Milton is hereby authorized to sell property located at 460 White Mountain Highway, known as “the old fire station,” which has been listed for sale with a real estate broker in order to satisfy the requirements of the division of charitable trusts, department of justice.

The relevant part of RSA 41:14-a to be notwithstood:

RSA 41:14-a,

II. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale of and the selectmen shall have no authority to sell:

(c) Any real estate that has been given, devised, or bequeathed to the town for charitable or community purposes except as provided in RSA 498:4-a or RSA 547:3-d.

References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 41:14-A. Acquisition or Sale of Land, Buildings, or Both. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/III/41/41-14-a.htm

Legiscan. (2019). New Hampshire Senate Bill 154. Retrieved from legiscan.com/NH/text/SB154/id/1975233/New_Hampshire-2019-SB154-Amended.html

Wikipedia. (2018, December 22). Sausage Making. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sausage_making

By S.D. Plissken | April 23, 2019

I had occasion to see the 1954 film adaptation of the 1947 Broadway musical Brigadoon. It starred Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, and Cyd Charrise. It is a musical romance, with several memorable songs, and did well in its time. (It has an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes). Two American travelers wander into a Scottish village of apparently two hundred years earlier.

The fantastical premise of the film: in order to protect the village of Brigadoon from experiencing any change, its minister prayed for a miracle, and his prayer was answered. Brigadoon was removed from the world entirely, reappearing for but one day in every hundred years. Only those that truly love Brigadoon, or one of its inhabitants, can remain there when its single day in a hundred years has elapsed.

A local contractor once told me the similar fantastical premise underlying Milton’s recent existence, as well as that of many of its surrounding towns. In the early 1980s, its zoning laws were created or rewritten such as, as he put it, “to make sure that nothing ever changed.” I have heard the same characterization from many others too. And several generations of Town “planners” have been screwing down the lid more tightly ever since the early 1980s. They hope to achieve our very own Brigadoon-like “miracle.”

And they are now in the seventh or eighth year of their Fourth Ten-Year Plan. (Shudder).

Now, Milton is very far Off Broadway and the free market, as a force of nature, is ultimately irrepressible. It exists wherever people would like to better their condition, through the peaceful means of exchanging their goods or services for those of others. This force of nature might be discouraged, delayed, diverted, forbidden, and even driven underground (to become gray or black markets), but it can never be entirely suppressed. It will eventually reassert itself.

Some sort of market exists everywhere despite Town, State, County, Federal, and International plans and edicts. It persists in some form even in communist, fascist, and other authoritarian regimes. It thrives even in prisons and concentration camps. (Witness the fictional characters Sefton (William Holden) in Stalag 17 and Red (Morgan Freeman) in the Shawshank Redemption). It defied Prohibition and overpowered the Soviet Union. It created Milton. It defeats all comers, eventually.

Another commenter explained the ridiculous mechanism employed to remove Milton from the world, to keep it in stasis. Milton’s zoning laws have been carefully crafted so as to forbid virtually everything.

But how could that possibly work? They might keep new businesses out, but they cannot keep the old ones alive. It will eventually “wind down.”

Well, there is a Zoning Board of “Allowance” (ZBA) empowered to grant selected exceptions to the rules. It “allows” certain businesses or certain uses of private property, according to its own criteria. (“Silence, whippersnapper, the beneficent Oz has every intention of granting your request”).

But that is certainly an invitation to corruption, if not the very definition of it. A very few people, some of them appointed, i.e., not even elected by a majority of a minority, get to decide if a property owner may use their own private property as they wish?

Yes, I know. You see, you do not really “own” your property, you only think you do. The “community” owns your property and it – well, actually, “its” majority-of-a-minority Town government – allows only certain uses of it. Things they might like. Because they are wise, and overlords, they are wise overlords.

For example, there is a certain economic logic to the placement of grocery stores: any cluster of 5,000 inhabitants can sustain a grocery store. And that might have been nice. It certainly might have been the “attraction” that so many claim to want. But it was forbidden.

We all know how China Pond’s expansion foundered on State and local parking restrictions. At last Monday’s BOS meeting, they were comically authorizing the Town Planner to negotiate with the State regarding parking places. If we surrender some existing spaces, to the detriment of any future business owners that front them, we might, just might – if we ask nicely, and with our cap in hand – secure State authorization to retain some lesser number of the already existing parking spaces. What a sorry solution.

Index Packaging nearly decamped, when their proposed expansion was forbidden. (Their departure has been shelved, for the present). A chain restaurant might have found a home here, but those are forbidden. It would be difficult to catalog the economic opportunities – the “attractions” – we have forgone in a vain effort to keep Milton out of the world.

Last Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting had much of this authoritarian thinking on display. Some claim to love Milton, or certain aspects of it anyway, and maybe they do, in their own peculiar way. But they definitely dislike freedom. One might feel bad for them, if one were not manacled to them, and trying to stay afloat in some very deep waters.

The highlight of the evening was Mr. Larry Brown’s agenda item. His presentation featured nearly everything. He complained that his agenda item was not taken up in a secret session, as he had requested. He is a strong advocate of transparency, no doubt.

What did he want to discuss in secret? It seems that some taxpayer had dared to question the ethics of transferring public properties – for $1 apiece – between public and private boards while sitting on both boards. Mr. Brown took umbrage at that instance of lèse-majesté. He would have counseled the board, in private, that such outrages need not be endured. They have the Power (his emphasis) to do pretty much as they please. Evidently, he is not a big fan of “speaking truth to power.”

From there, he proceeded to tout historic preservation. He desires an influx of more taxpayers that have more taxable money. Through more planning. He expressed his profound gratification over Milton Mills’ progress towards “gentrification.” He disapproved of manufactured homes, which constitute some 14.9% of Milton’s homes (See Milton’s NHES Community Profile – 2018). There are entirely too many of them. (“Few tourists travel anywhere to see the double-wides of New Jersey”). He recounted how he had prevented several businesses from establishing themselves at Plummer’s Ridge and elsewhere. (He stands astride it like a Colossus). He has spent “thousands” of his own money on lawsuits.

As a Town official, Mr. Brown splits his time between the Planning Board, where businesses are restricted, and the Zoning Board of Allowance, where he has the Power to stifle those few that may slip through the cracks. (A legislative acquaintance told me this double-office holding was formerly not permitted, as an obvious conflict of interest, but that the legal restriction has been withdrawn recently). He is also a Library Trustee. And very nearly gained a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

Only one thing could disrupt the continuance of Brigadoon’s “miracle”: if even one of its inhabitants ceased to entirely love it and wished to depart, the miracle would cease and the village return to the world.

References:

Town of Milton. (2019, April 15). BOS Meeting, April 15, 2019. Retrieved from youtu.be/Oxzie5qj6NQ?t=849

Wikipedia. (2019, April 3). Brigadoon. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigadoon

Wikipedia. (2019, April 7). Lèse-majesté. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse-majesté

Wikipedia. (2019, January 30). Robinson Crusoe Economy. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe_economy

By Muriel Bristol | April 13, 2019

The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, April 15.

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The BOS meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session beginning at 5:30 PM. That agenda has one Non-Public item classed as 91-A3 II (a).

91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.

This would be the third meeting of the Town year that begins with a secret meeting about hiring or raises. The new BOS has already hired people at amounts that approach the difference between the proposed budget, which was rejected, and the default budget, with which they are supposedly working.

If this Town were floundering financially, which it is, and sought out professional advice, which likely it will not, it would be advised first to just stop spending.

The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.

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The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.

Under New Business are scheduled seven agenda items: 1) Swearing in Milton Police Officer, 2) Discussion and Potential Approval of 2019 Mileage Rate Reimbursement, 3) Request for Yard Sale on Town Property (Richard Lover), 4) RSA 79-E Application Process, 5) Request to Remove Properties From List of Auctioned Town Properties (Larry Brown), 6) Town Administrator Selection Process Status Update, and 7) Discussion Regarding Street Parking located at Former Rays Marina Location.

Swearing in of New Police Officer. Here we find one of the reasons for last week’s secret meeting. This would be the second new police officer within two weeks. Our “Thin Blue Line” seems to be putting on some weight.

On his deathbed, the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus advised his sons: “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn everyone else.”

Discussion and Potential Approval of 2019 Mileage Rate Reimbursement. One imagines that future reimbursements will be larger than before and that the BOS will approve that increase.

Request for Yard Sale on Town Property (Richard Lover). A likely approval for what sounds like a neighborhood yard sale.

RSA 79-E Application Process. “RSA 79-E is a property tax relief program that seeks to encourage investment in town centers and to rehabilitate under-utilized buildings within these areas. The application process is made to the governing body by property owners desiring to make improvements that meet 79-E guidelines as well as the public benefit test. In return, the governing body may provide tax relief at a pre-rehabilitation value for a finite period.”

The “investment” is to be made through the mechanism of most taxpayers paying yet higher taxes, so that those in the designated area of interest may pay lower ones. That is the encouragement. Note the caveat of guidelines and public benefit tests. Our wise overlords will decide whether a particular proposed use is within their guidelines and constitutes a public benefit. This is not how the free market works. (See PawSox Put One Over the Fence, the Milton Mills Shoe Strike of 1889, and Milton and the Knowledge Problem).

Request to Remove Properties From List of Auctioned Town Properties (Larry Brown). One supposes that Mr. Brown will attempt to throw a “Hail Larry” pass to save the Blue House. We know already that Chairman Thibeault would smile on this.

At a prior meeting the Chairman actually said that it would be a less preferable for a family – with children – to occupy that space. Yes, he said that out loud, in a public meeting, on video. (Shaking my head).

But what of the rest of the board? They might stick to their guns, or they might fall in line to spend our quarter-million dollars on yet another shiny “attraction”? Remember the chain of reasoning: we take your tax money for an “attraction,” which might encourage people to stop here, which might encourage them to spend money here, which might encourage businesses, which might help with the taxes (businesses not having any children).

Note that the only definite link in this chain of possibilities is the first one: taking your money for another round of SimCity games.

Town Administrator Selection Process Status Update. If they are determined to take on yet another salary, just start the secret 91-A3 II (a) and 91-A3 II (b) meetings already.

Discussion Regarding Street Parking located at Former Ray’s Marina Location. It seems like we have done this before, several times. Perhaps our State or Town overlords have waived something.

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Under Old Business are scheduled four items: 8) Approval and Signing of Adjusted Board of Selectmen By-Laws, 9) Follow Up Discussion & Potential Decision of RFP for Legal Services, 10) Follow Up Discussion & Potential Decision of Board/Committee Vacancies, and 11) Follow Up Discussion on Town Issued Email Addresses.

Approval and Signing of Adjusted Board of Selectmen By-Laws. “Adjusted” would be the key word, but adjusted in what manner?

Follow Up Discussion & Potential Decision of RFP for Legal Services. Are we expecting more lawsuits?

Follow Up Discussion & Potential Decision of Board/Committee Vacancies. Question: Is it still democracy when the BOS appoints the boards and committees? Maybe second-hand democracy: 1) a majority of a minority of the electorate chose the selectmen, and 2) a majority of those minority-majority selectmen choose the board and committee members. Presumably, they will then act in our interests, rather than that of those that appointed them.

Follow Up Discussion on Town Issued E-mail Addresses. Private sector entities provide these on a first day of employment, if not before. The Milton Town government likes to talk about it first, talk about it at length. We would not want to rush into anything.

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Other Business That May Come Before the Board has no scheduled items.

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Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS meeting of April 1 and the Workshop meeting of April 3, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.

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Mr. S.D. Plissken contributed to this article.

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References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2019, April 12). BOS Meeting Agenda, April 15, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/4.15.19_bos_agenda.pdf

Youtube. (1965). Cone of Silence. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1eUIK9CihA&feature=youtu.be&t=19

By Muriel Bristol | March 30, 2019

The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, April 1.

Yes, an April Fools meeting. The “optics” are perhaps a bit unfortunate.

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The April Fools meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session beginning at 5:30 PM. That agenda has two Non-Public items classed as 91-A:3 II (b) and 91-A3 II (a).

91-A:3 II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.

91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.

The second meeting of the Town year begins also with a secret meeting, also about raises and hiring. Job postings have been made for an additional clerk and truck driver.

How to handle a Default Budget? Start hiring. It is like they cannot help themselves.

The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.

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The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.

Under New Business are scheduled six agenda items: 1) Swearing in of New Police Officer (Rich Krauss), 2) Town-Issued Board of Selectmen Email Addresses (Andy Rawson), 3) Land Use Clerk Position (Dave Owen), 4) DPW Truck Purchase Request (Pat Smith), 5) Town Committee Board of Selectmen Appointments and Current Vacancy Discussion, 6) Side-Letter Agreement with Atlantic Broadband Re.: Internet Service.

Swearing in of New Police Officer (Rich Krauss). Here we find the reason for last week’s secret meeting.

Town-Issued Board of Selectmen Email Addresses (Andy Rawson). In answer to campaign and other promises, the Board of Selectmen will have e-mail addresses this year. This seemed previously to be some sort of insurmountable obstacle, but the new Town website is said to be capable of this.

Land Use Clerk Position (Dave Owen). For the paperwork of reducing assessed values? February real estate sales figures were published this week showing Milton as the only town in Strafford County with reduced values (although Farmington’s increase was ever so slight: less than inflation). (See Capital Reduction Program (CRP)).

DPW Truck Purchase Request (Pat Smith). Used, presumably.

Town Committee Board of Selectmen Appointments and Current Vacancy Discussion. This seemed to have been settled at last week’s meeting, at which the BOS seemed to be on the verge of covering fewer committees, but there has perhaps been some revision.

Side-Letter Agreement with Atlantic Broadband Re.: Internet Service. The addition of water, sewer, and “beach shack” locations to the list of Town broadband hookups.

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Under Old Business are scheduled five items: 7) 2019 Town Election Recount Discussion & MS 232 Signing, 8) Follow-Up Discussion on Board of Selectmen By-Laws, 9) Follow-Up Discussion on Gifted Properties and Potential Public Hearings, 10) Follow-Up Discussion on Auctioning Town-Owned Properties, 11) Follow-Up Discussion on Town Vehicles/Equipment

2019 Town Election Recount Discussion & MS 232 Signing. The recount having come out the same as the count, the results shall be reported to the State.

Follow-Up Discussion on Board of Selectmen By-Laws. The current by-laws were continued until everybody had a chance to re-read them.

Follow-Up Discussion on Gifted Properties and Potential Public Hearings. Properties gifted, and accepted by the Town, cannot just be sold. There must be a vote on a ballot. The old fire station falls in this category, as well as a few others the BOS hopes to clear off their list. The boat for the ballot just taken sailed on schedule, but a special Town meeting could accomplish the same thing.

Follow-Up Discussion on Auctioning Town-Owned Properties. This seemed to have been settled with the auction planned for early May. (With everybody not as happy as they might have been).

Follow-Up Discussion on Town Vehicles / Equipment. How to maintain an aggressive CIP purchase schedule on a level budget? And now that DPW Truck request.

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Other Business That May Come Before the Board has two items: Household Hazardous Waste Collection. and NH Municipal Local Officials Workshop Offering

Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Setting a date for the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.

NH Municipal Local Officials Workshop Offering. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. This particular assemblage will have already undergone the basic mental conditioning in other years. But we have paid some thousands already for their membership fee. Perhaps just a quick mental steam-cleaning and press?

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Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS meeting of March 18, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.

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Mr. S.D. Plissken contributed to this article.

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References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2019, March 29). BOS Meeting Agenda, April 1, 2019. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/4.1.19_bos_agenda.pdf

Youtube. (1965). Cone of Silence. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1eUIK9CihA&feature=youtu.be&t=19

YouTube. (1932). Teddy Bears’ Picnic. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZANKFxrcKU

By S.D. Plissken | March 20, 2019

Many of those that hold Milton’s Town government offices suffer from one or more commonly-held delusions.

One is reminded of various medical practitioners of the past who, though well meaning, aggravated patient problems and probably even hastened their deaths. For example, George Washington is said to have been “bled” in his final hours by such a practitioner, which certainly did not do him any good.

Now, they were not entirely bad doctors, but merely doing their best according to the state of medical knowledge of their day. Had they persisted in employing antiquated methods, disproven theories, or even some illogical and unproven notions of their own, we might term them “quacks.”

At the most recent Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting (March 18, 2019), some of our very own economic and political quackery was on display yet again. This needs to stop.

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The Atlantic Broadband representative confirmed, in answer to a query, that his company has not extended their network to every house in town. He explained that is financially unremunerative to run lines where there are less then ten customers per mile. He further explained that potential customers in such areas might still get Atlantic Broadband connections, but would need to contribute themselves, at least in part, to run the lines out to their location.

The representative was not presenting some sort of bizarre formulation. I have heard similar things about Eversource (and their predecessor PSNH). You may build as far off the street as you may like, but you will be paying yourself to run the poles from your house out to a connection at the street.

Enter our Town Planner, Bruce W. Woodruff. He wondered if – in this day and age – internet access is really more akin to a public utility than merely a service. Step carefully, Mr. Woodruff. Didn’t we just have a rather close call on Article #3 in trying to fiddle meanings and definitions for political purposes? Of course, Mr. Woodruff’s hint led nowhere with the vendor. Milton cannot yet compel companies to engage in unprofitable practices.

But Mr. Woodruff was willing to have the taxpayers build upon that poor foundation. He would have the Town tax everybody in town, put that tax money in a “Broadband Fund,” and use that tax money to subsidize an extension of the internet to the purportedly underserved areas. (Thinly-settled areas may be served with as many satellite connections as they like).

Planner Woodruff: Other communities have invested some of their tax dollars into a fund called a “Broadband Fund,” and then they would use that “Broadband Fund” toward these goals. And I think it’s very important to consider.

Go carefully there too, Mr. Woodruff, I think I got just a whiff of some Socialism. We would not want to step in that.

Subsidizing broadband connections is not a legitimate governmental function. Not at all, no matter how you might wish to redefine it.

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Newly-returned Selectman Rawson delivered a stunner in the Town-Owned Properties discussion. He proposed adding the 1121 White Mountain Highway property – the so-called “Blue House” – to the proposed auction list.

Chairman Thibeault had a sort of Rube Goldberg contraption planned for that property. Giving it to the Milton Historical Society would allow them to move the Plummer’s Ridge Schoolhouse No. 1 property – which he would also give them – across the street to the “Blue House” land. (See also Not Yours to Give). The “Blue House” would have to be demolished first, of course, but his plan did not mention who would be paying for that. Any guesses?

That would create an “attraction,” which would be – as he said – a “huge asset” for Milton. Tell us Chairman Thibeault, why would that be such a great thing for Milton taxpayers?

Well, as an attraction, it might bring in out-of-town visitors, who might spend money here, which might “encourage” businesses, which might somehow reduce taxes. The “logic” trails off there. (They having already more than spent any conceivable tax advantage that might accrue from phantom businesses, if they were to ever arrive).

But “encouraging” businesses (at public time and expense) is not a legitimate governmental function at all.

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Now, you won’t believe this newest twist (at least the one most recently revealed): Chairman Thibeault’s Historical Society scheme would have the additional “advantage” of preventing occupation of the “Blue House” by a family with children. Quelle horreur!

Chairman Thibeault: You talk about tax revenue, but remember when you talk about tax revenue, right, there’s what you are going to bring in for that house, and what it’s going to cost the Town. Right? So, say that house is fixed up, and a family moves into it, – And I’m not saying I don’t want families moving to Milton, I’m not saying that at all  – But it’s going to cost you more money, because of the cost of the School system. So, you’re not …

He’s not saying that at all, except when he is saying exactly that. In his view, a childless or elderly couple, or a business, or the Historical Society are to be preferred at that location because a young family, with children, would cause an additional cost to the School District. One older audience member described this sort of calculation as “crooked and dystopian.”

Milton’s population has been more or less stagnant since 2010. (While its taxes have skyrocketed). Are attitudes such as Chairman Thibeault’s contributing to its lack of growth?

Shouldn’t the Town and School District be looking more to reducing its higher-than-State-average per-pupil expenses rather than its number of pupils?

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We have been told that Milton is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NH State government. The NH Constitution clearly states that government’s raison d’etre: the inhabitants surrender a very few of their acknowledged natural rights in order to preserve some others, i.e. some of their other natural rights.

Subsidizing internet connections, encouraging businesses, or, worst yet, discouraging children, do not come under the heading of surrendering some natural rights to preserve others.

Town officials need to step back and take a deep breath. Open the windows to let some fresh air in there. Get their heads straight. Stop employing the political means where the economic means are more appropriate (which is true for nearly everything).

Ms. McDougall prompted the board to remember who they represent. (The correct answer: the taxpayers).

Kudos to Selectman Rawson for his “Blue House” motion and to Vice-Chairwoman Hutchings for voting with him. One hopes they may continue to remember who they represent.

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See also A Reply to Chairman Thibeault’s Rube Goldberg Machine

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(Editor’s note: Ms. Bristol compiled accounts of a prior failed Milton business “encouragement,” which resulted in the Milton Mills Shoe Strike of 1889).

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References:

State of New Hampshire. (2019). [NH] State Constitution: Bill of Rights. Retrieved from www.nh.gov/glance/bill-of-rights.htm

Town of Milton. (2019, March 18). BOS Meeting, March 18, 2019. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktrwn9qoUIo

Wikipedia. (2018, December 11). Rube Goldberg Machine. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

By Muriel Bristol | March 17, 2019

Milton had the second part of its annual School District election (the first being the Deliberative Session), on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Only about one-third (32.4%) of the electorate chose to participate: 1047 / 3232 = 32.4%.

These results come from photographs of vote totals, which do not seem to be posted on the Town or School District websites.

The School District Clerk is pushing a recount: “I will be available at the Town Hall Friday (tomorrow) and Tuesday 3p-5p for anyone requesting a School District Recount” and “Yes, 10 signatures on an official recount request. Must be a registered voter, with a fee of $10.” Presumably, because you did not vote “correctly.” Come on, people, get in line.

School District offices appear first, followed by School District Warrant Articles. (Both are listed in the order of the percentages of votes received).

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School District Offices (in Descending Order by Percentages Received)

School District Moderator – One for One Year

Chris Jacobs won the seat with 840 (80.2%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 3 (0.3%) votes. (He is also the incumbent Town Moderator).

School District Clerk – One for One Year

Tammy J. Crandall won the seat with 824 (78.7%) votes. She ran unopposed. “Scattering” had 4 (0.4%) votes.

School District Treasurer – One for One Year

Mackenzie Campbell won the seat with 815 (77.8%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 6 (0.6%) votes. (He received 836 (79.8%) in his unopposed race for Town Treasurer).

School Board Member – Two for Three Years

Emily Meehan won a seat with 548 (52.3%) votes. Melissa J. Brown won a seat with 455 (43.5%) votes.

Carter Wentworth Terry received 342 (32.7%) votes. “Scattering” received 309 (29.5%) votes. (“Scattering” included the write-in candidate, Alfred Goodwin).

See also Wintry Mix – School Board Candidates

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School District Warrant Articles (in Descending Order by Percentages Received)

Article 5: School Plow Truck – Rejected – 275 (26.3%) in favor, 694 (66.3%) opposed, and 78 (7.4%) neither

Article 6: School Transportation Caravan – Rejected – 350 (33.4%) in favor, 615 (58.7%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither

Article 11: Extension of School Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer Terms to Three Years – Passed – 593 (56.6%) in favor, 366 (35.0%) opposed, and 88 (8.4%) neither

Article 9: Utilities Trust Fund – Rejected – 378 (36.1%) in favor, 587 (56.1%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither

Article 10: Technology Expendable Trust Fund – Rejected – 379 (36.2%) in favor, 579 (55.3%) opposed, and 89 (8.5%) neither

Article 8: Building Maintenance Fund – Passed – 576 (55.0%) in favor, 375 (35.8%) opposed, and 96 (9.2%) neither

Article 4: Library Media – Passed – 561 (53.6%) in favor, 415 (39.6%) opposed, and 71 (6.8%) neither

Article 3: Salary Increases – Rejected – 445 (42.5%) in favor, 536 (51.2%) opposed, and 66 (6.3%) neither

Article 2: Operating Budget – Rejected – 448 (42.8%) in favor, 525 (50.1%) opposed, and 74 (7.1%) neither

Article 7: Educationally Disabled Children Trust Fund – Rejected – 481 (45.9%) in favor, 484 (46.2%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither

[Editors note: “Errors excepted”].

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See School District Election Results for March 10, 2020 and School District Election Results for March 9, 2021. (See also Town Election Results for March 12, 2019)

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References:

Our Milton Home Facebook Group. (2019, March 12) John Gagner Post. Retrieved from www.facebook.com/groups/OurMiltonHome/permalink/2139977946096492/