Here's What Gets Discussed on Friday

See my earlier post for details on how to attend the Budget Committee and Selectboard hearings this Friday, 6:00 and 6:30pm. The purpose is to discuss this warrant article:

To see if the town will vote (1) to raise and appropriate $1,187,000 for the purpose of restoring, repairing, and improving roads which suffered significant damages during the flash flood of July 2019, (2) to authorize the issuance of not more than $1,187,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize town officials to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, and (3) to authorize town officials to apply for, accept and expend FEMA grant monies of up to $890,250 in partial reimbursement of the Town’s aforesaid road restoration, repair and improvement expenses.

2/3 ballot vote required.

Recommended by the Select Board 3-0.

Recommended by the Budget Committee 3-0.

Here’s the FAQ I wrote a month or so ago, explaining an earlier, slightly different version of the warrant article. And here’s info on how to attend the Budget Committee and Selectboard meetings.

Remote Access to Friday's Budget Committee and Select Board Hearings

Here’s the short version: You can attend each meeting by Zoom, simply by clicking on the link for each meeting.

Budget Committee, 6:00pm April 24

Select Board, 6:30pm April 24

If you don’t have a computer or smartphone, dial in to one of these numbers: (929) 436-2866, (253) 215-8782, or (301)  715-8592. You’ll be prompted to enter the ID for the Budget Committee meeting: 950 2212 8039. For the Select Board meeting, the ID is 950 8978 9843.

NOTE: If you’re a member of the Budget Committee or Select Board, you have already received an invitation with a separate link to the practice session on Wednesday.

Here are the details for the Friday meetings:

This Friday, at 6:00 and 6:30pm, the Orange Budget Committee and Selectboard will hold back to back public hearings to discuss a proposal to appropriate $1,187,000 for repairing the roads following the July 2019 flood. The funds are to be raised through serial bonds or other notes. The proposal also names the Select Board as agents to spend funds from the Road Improvement and Capital Reserve Fund.

To comply with state orders banning gatherings of more than ten people, the meetings will be held remotely. You’ll be able to attend by internet-connect computer or smartphone, or by a regular dialup telephone.

Note that each meeting will have a separate link. Once the Budget Committee meeting ends, you will be required to click on the Select Board link. If you’re dialing in, you’ll need to hang up and dial in again.

If you have a computer connected to the internet, click on the Budget Committee link at the time of the meeting (6pm Friday). Follow the instructions; you’ll be asked whether you want to open Zoom (say yes), and whether you want to use your computer’s microphone (again, say yes unless you’re using a separate mic). If you wish to attend the Select Board meeting at 6:30 Friday, you’ll need to click on the Select Board link. 

If you plan to use a smartphone, you might want to download the Zoom app.  Otherwise you can use your phone’s browser the same way you would access websites on a computer. Keep in mind that the Chrome and Firefox browsers work best; if you’re using an iPhone with Safari, you might have some technical problems. When the meeting is about to begin, click on the Budget Committee link. After that ends, you may click on the Select Board link at 6:30.

If you plan to call in, use one of these numbers at 6:00pm Friday: (929) 436-2866, (253) 215-8782, or (301)  715-8592. You’ll be prompted to enter the ID for the Budget Committee meeting: 950 2212 8039. For the Select Board meeting, you can dial one of the same numbers. Then, when prompted, punch in the ID is 950 8978 9843.

Budget Committee meeting ID: 950 2212 8039

Select Board meeting ID: 950-8978-9843

Confused? Learn about Zoom here. And feel free to email me at jay@jayheinrichs.com.

Jay

The Planning Board Goes Remote

From the Orange Planning Board:

In keeping with current guidelines for limiting potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus, the Orange Planning Board meetings will be held remotely, until such time as it is safe to return to conventional in-person gatherings. The meeting information is as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97635741637

Meeting ID: 976 3574 1637
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,97635741637# US (New York)
+13126266799,,97635741637# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

For anyone unfamiliar with remote meetings, it is quite simple. To join on your computer or smartphone via the internet, simply click the meeting link above (or copy and paste into your browser) and enter the meeting ID as prompted.  There is no need to download any software or app. If you wish to join by phone only (as in a conference call), you may dial one of the numbers above and follow the prompts.

Because this is an open, public meeting, there is no requirement for a password, however there is a "waiting room" enabled to hopefully provide a small measure of protection against any "zoom-bombing" (not that I really expect it to be a problem).

If you have any difficulty, there is plenty of support available at https://zoom.us/

Unless/until otherwise noticed, meetings will continue to be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month at 7:00 PM.

April 24: Back to Back Select Board Hearings on Flood Repair Financing

TOWN OF ORANGE, NH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS PURSUANT TO RSA 32:5 AND RSA 33:8-a

Notice is hereby given that the Budget Committee and Select Board of the Town of Orange, NH will each hold separate public hearings on the following proposals:  (1) for an appropriation of $1,187,000 (one million, one hundred eighty seven thousand dollars) for the purpose of the repair of Town roads following the flash flood event of July 2019; such sum to be raised by the issuance of serial bonds or notes not to exceed the aforesaid amount, under and in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33:1 et seq., as amended) and to authorize the Select Board to issue and negotiate such bonds or other notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon and to take such other actions as may be necessary to effect the issuance, negotiation, sale and delivery of such bonds or notes as shall be in the best interests of the Town of Orange; and (2) to name the Select Board as agents to expend from the Road Improvement and Repair Capital Reserve Fund.

 Said public hearings shall each be held at the Town Office and may be attended remotely.  For information on remote access, call the Town Office at 603-523-7054, or visit the Town’s website (www.orangenh.us).

 Said public hearing of the Budget Committee shall be held at 6:00 p.m. on April 24, 2020.

 Said public hearing of the Select Board shall be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 24, 2020.

 

Select Board,

Town of Orange, NH

Dogs? Cars? You May Not Need the Town House to Register

I’ve been getting some questions about how exactly the Orangenh.us website actually works for registering a car or getting a dog license. If you have a smartphone or a computer connected to the Internet, there’s no need to go to the Town House.

To renew your dog’s license, just grab a credit card, click on this link, and follow a few simple instructions:

Dog License

The Town Clerk will process the form and you’ll be mailed the license.

The same thing goes for renewing your vehicle registration. You’ll need a credit card or other form of payment, along with the plate number, plate type, and the last four digits of the vehicle’s VIN. Otherwise, you can use the PIN number on your last renewal notice. Again, once you register your vehicle online, the Town Clerk will process the registration and the state will mail your renewal to you.

Vehicle Registration

If you want to minimize the time you spend in the Town House, check out the Forms page for any other forms you might need—including everything thing from a building permit to a veteran exemption application. Stay safe, and let’s keep our neighbors safe as well!

Having trouble with the site? Let me know.

Jay

The Town Office Is Closed

Michelle, our Town Clerk, just got word that a staffer in the Concord office has tested positive for Covid-19. The state has closed that office to disinfect the building. Because the Orange clerks rely heavily on the help desk at that office, they’re closing the office today.

Instead, you can make an appointment to come in on Saturday between 9 and 11 a.m. To get an appointment, email the Town Clerk’s office at OrangeTownClerk@myfairpoint.net.

Don’t forget, you can renew registrations and find forms on this site’s Forms page.

Select Board Petitions for a Special Town Meeting

Orange’s lawyers say that the Town needs to hold a special town meeting before it can carry out the plan to finance the repairs from the July floods. Here’s the official notice.

TOWN OF ORANGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE 

NOTICE OF INTENT TO PETITION SUPERIOR COURT

FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

Notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the Board of Selectmen held at the Town Office at 6:00 p.m. on April 7, 2020, it was voted to petition the Superior Court for permission to hold a special town meeting to authorize the issuance of notes, appropriate funds, and accept and expend grant monies in connection with the repair of Town roads following the flash flood event of July 2019, and to name the Select Board as agents to expend from the Road Improvement and Repair Capital Reserve Fund.  A petition will be filed in the Superior Court no sooner than April 19.  When a date for a hearing on the Town’s petition is scheduled by the Superior Court, notice of that hearing date will be posted in the office of the selectmen and at two other places in the town and published in the Valley News.

Signed,
Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs, Chair       
Tamara Fairbank                       
Aaron Allen


Select Board
Town of Orange, N.H.

There's a National Blood Shortage

Blood drives are being canceled because of the covid-19 virus, resulting in an increasing shortage of blood. The Red Cross is holding a blood drive this Saturday at the Community Lutheran Church in Enfield from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Eligible donors get a chance to win a trip for four to the Indy 500.

For more information on blood drives near us, and to make an appointment, to go https://www.redcrossblood.org/, click on the Make an Appointment link, and enter our zip code.

The Town Clerk's Office Remains Open

The state DMV is awaiting guidance from the governor’s office on what to do with registrations, so processing may be slow. In the meantime, Kami and Michelle still plan to hold Town Clerk hours on Wednesday. If you have to come in, you’ll need to pass documents from the foyer to maintain a safe distance.

But in many cases you won’t have to come in. If you need to renew any kind of registration, please do it here. To renew your vehicle registration, click on this link. You’ll find all the forms you need on the Forms page.

Some people will need to go to the Town House to get their business done. But before you do, please see if this site can let you do it at home. Kami and Michelle will provide single-use pens and sanitizer, but the best way to protect the health of our neighbors is not to come in at all.

If you have any questions about how to use this site, feel free to email me.

Jay

Results from Town Meeting and the Election

ARTICLE 1 (Results of election of officers held the day prior): Moderator for two years: Daniel Hazelton, Select Board: Aaron Allen, Town Clerk: Michelle Goffreda, Treasurer: Trish Weekes, Tax Collector: Sharon Proulx, Deeding Agent: Sharon Proulx, Road Agent: Scott Sanborn, Budget Committee member for three years: Bob Proulx, Budget Committee for one year: Louis Shelzi, Cemetery Trustee for three years: Tamara Fairbank, Cemetery Trustee for one year: Gulley Dunlap, Trustee of Trust Funds for three years: Pauline Emerson, two Planning Board members for three years: Donald McFarland and Hilary Allen, Planning Board member for one year: Bruce Ells (write-in), Supervisor of the Checklist for six years: Beth DiFrancesco. (All terms one year unless otherwise noted.)

ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will authorize the Tax Collector to accept the prepayment of taxes pursuant to RSA 80:52-a. Taxpayers shall be allowed to prepay taxes no more than two years in advance of the due date of the taxes. No interest shall accrue to the taxpayer on any prepayment, nor shall any interest be paid to the taxpayer on any prepayment which is later subject to rebate or refund.   
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)

Article passed by voice vote.

ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 72:28-b, the All Veterans’ Tax Credit. If adopted, the credit will be available to any resident, or the spouse or surviving spouse of any resident, who served not less than 90 days on active service in the armed forces of the United States and was honorably discharged or an officer honorably separated from services and is not eligible for or receiving a credit under RSA 72:28 or RSA 72:35. If adopted, the credit granted will be $200, which is the same amount as the optional veterans’ tax credit voted by the Town of Orange under RSA 72:28.

Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)

 Article passed by paper ballot: yes: 31, no: 6.

 
ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to adopt, pursuant to RSA 72:62, for persons owning real property, a property tax exemption for solar energy systems as defined by RSA 72:61; such exemption to equal 100% of assessed value of the solar system up to the maximum of $25,000.00.
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)

Article failed by hand count: yes: 15, no: 17.
(Consideration for amendments to remove cap and increase cap to $50,000 both failed)

 
ARTICLE 5:  To see if the town will vote pursuant to RSA 35:16 to change the purpose and name of the existing Town Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund established by Article 8 at the 2006 town meeting for the purpose of maintaining town roads, to become the Flood Event of July 11, 2019 Road Repairs Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of repairing and improving roads damaged by the flood event of July 11, 2019, and to name the Selectmen as the agents to expend. This article requires a 2/3 vote.
Recommended by the Select Board 3-0

Recommend by the Budget Committee 3-0

Article amended:
 “To see if the town will vote pursuant to RSA 35:16 to change the purpose and name of the existing Town Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund established by Article 8 at the 2006 town meeting for the purpose of maintaining town roads, to become the Road Improvement and Repair Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of improving roads and making repairs to damages caused by catastrophic weather events.”

Amended article passed by voice vote.
 
ARTICLE 6: To see if the town will spend $1,187,000 on road repairs and receive $890,250 from the federal government if the town is willing, able, and authorized to accept such funds and to pay the balance (up to $296,750), which Mascoma Bank (through its community banking program), will loan to the town at 2 percent interest with a payback time of up to 7 years.
Recommended by the Select Board 3-0
Recommend by the Budget Committee 3-0

Background to Article 6:
Whereas the Town suffered significant damages to its roadways and roadway infrastructure during the flash flood of July 2019 and;
Whereas a Federal Disaster Declaration resulted in the Town’s ability to receive disaster money
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and;
Whereas the cash available from FEMA is presently estimated to be $890,250 and;
Whereas The Town’s ability to receive monies from FEMA is contingent on paying for 25% of the total cost of restoring, repairing, and improving the roads ($1,187,000);
The town presents this Warrant Article that acknowledges the following:
To facilitate the town’s ability to pay FEMA-approved repairs prior to receipt of FEMA funds for such, the town shall open a bank account with a revolving line of credit (for convenience being called a FEMA reimbursement anticipation note or FRAN). Beginning June 1, 2020, the loan of $900,000 for 1 year, will be used on a revolving basis; funds will be drawn to cover expenditures made to repair and improve roads and then replenished as FEMA funds are received. Interest on that loan is expected to be less than $2,000, payable from town funds. That loan will have a balance (unknown at this time) at its maturity, on June 1, 2021. The Select Board at that time will need to borrow at 2 percent interest the remainder of that FRAN, up to $296,750. This is a special interest rate for disaster-related repair financing. The loan will be repaid over a period of up to 7 years. Funds to repay the loan will be generated from an increase to the tax rate to be determined at town meeting in 2021.

This article was disqualified by the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) because it requires a special public hearing before the town votes on a long term loan, and even though the budget hearing where the article was discussed and recommended had been legally posted, the DRA said they needed to have a separate hearing. The townspeople voted in favor of holding a special town meeting in the near future to deliberate and vote on the article.
 
ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) to be paid into the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)
Recommended by the Budget Committee (3-0)

 Article passed by voice vote.

 
ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) to be paid into the Town House Capital Reserve Fund.
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)
Recommended by the Budget Committee (3-0)

 Article passed by voice vote.

 
ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) to be paid into the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of revaluation of real estate. Revaluations of all real estate are required by law every five years.
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)
Recommended by the Budget Committee (3-0)

Article passed by voice vote.

 
ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the Budget Committee’s recommended sum of $228,085.00, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, for the ensuing year for the Town’s general operations.
Recommended by the Select Board (3-0)
Recommended by the Budget Committee (3-0)

 Article passed by voice vote.

 
ARTICLE 11: To hear the reports of agents, auditors, committees and officers and to transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.
Reconsideration of Article 4 failed. Limit to restrict reconsideration of Article 4 passed. Artwork by Rosemary Haness presented by Gary Hamel. Several appreciations voiced.

Call 2-1-1 for Virus Qs

Today, Governor Chris Sununu, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced that the state hotline, 2-1-1, can now deal with all calls related to COVID-19.

Health experts and officials are telling us not to head to the emergency room or doctor’s office if we start getting symptoms of the virus (fever, dry cough). Call your doctor; if you have any other questions, call the state hotline, 2-1-1.

Voting Day and Town Meeting Are Still Happening

You’ve probably heard that the Potluck has been cancelled this year out of precaution against the novel coronavirus. But polls will open on schedule at 11 for Town elections today; they close at 7. Town Meeting starts tomorrow at 7.

If you’re concerned about the risk of contracting COVID-19, consider bringing your own pencil. Sandi Pierson has set up a sanitizing station by the Ballot Clerks' table. It consists of hand-crafted sanitizer, paper towels, tissue, waste basket. Unable to find any store-bought sanitizer, she followed the direction of experts and made a 50-50 solution of aloe vera gel and alcohol.

And some of us remember when a lady would not consider leaving the house without wearing gloves. Does that make you touch your face less?

Local Info on the Novel Coronavirus

Doug Weekes, our Town Health Officer and Assistant Emergency Management Director, prepared excellent information on the novel coronavirus, below. Also, Town residents have been asking whether they can get tested for the virus. DHMC says tests are being done only in collaboration with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. If you think you have symptoms of Covid-19, call the department at 271-4496. You won’t get tested if you go straight to the emergency room. - Jay

Orange Emergency Management is aware that individuals in Grafton County have been asked to self-quarantine due to COVID-19. That number is likely to increase.

 If you or your family are quarantined, we want to make sure that you have the resources you need in order to maintain your quarantine and do not have to venture out into public. If you need help with the necessities such as food, water, or toiletries, call Doug Weekes (523-9535) or email him. (You can find other contact information on Orange officials here.)

We are working in conjunction with the Upper Valley Public Health Network to coordinate and manage this health concern.

 There is much disinformation and rumor concerning this disease. For accurate and timely information, these sites are recommended:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly COVID-19 newsletter. 

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 information.

 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Covid-19 site. (DHMC also has a coronavirus information hotline: 650-1818.)

Town Clerk Hours for March

They’re posted on the Calendar. Our Town Clerk, Amy Tirpaeck, reminds us that you’ll get faster answers to your questions if you email instead of call.

And don’t forget Town elections, Tuesday, March 10. Polls are open from 11 to 7. Then comes the Potluck Supper 5pm Wednesday the 11th, followed by Town Meeting at 7.

Need to renew your vehicle registration or dog license? It’s way easier to do it here on the Forms page. Just fill in the form, and your renewal gets mailed directly to you. And you’ll find all the forms you'll need on that page, from Intent to Cut to Veteran Exemption.

Amy also suggests that you not wait to the last day to renew your vehicle registration. State law allows you to get an inspection as early as four months before your current registration expires.

Voting Tuesday, Town Meeting Wednesday

Don’t forget, voting for Town officers is next Tuesday, March 10, from 11am to 7pm. (The Select Board meets at 10am that morning.) Next day we have the potluck supper at 5, followed by Town Meeting at 7.

Public Notice

The Supervisors of the Checklist will be meeting on Saturday, 2/29/2020 from 10:00am to 10:30am at the Orange Town House to register new voters and make corrections ahead of the town elections on March 10, 2020.