Recent Town Meetings

Town Departments

Board of Selectman
Meets every Wednesday night @ 7:00pm

Meeting Minutes

Budget Committee
budget committee agenda

Meeting Minutes

Conservation Committee

Meeting Minutes

Planning Board
Meets 1st & 3rd Monday/month @ 7:00pm

Meeting Minutes

Zoning Board
Meets 1st Thursday/ each month

Meeting Minutes

RED Committee

Meeting Minutes


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Property Tax Relief Program

To be eligible, a claimant is a
person who is:

Single with an adjusted gross
income equal to or less than
$20,000.00;
Married or head of  a N.H.
household with an adjusted
gross income equal to or less
than $40,000.00; who must also:
Own a homestead subject to the
State Education Property Tax
and have resided in that N. H.
homestead on April 1, 2007.
For assistance contact:
(603) 271-2191 

Property Tax Relief Form

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Property Tax Abatements
        Taxpayers RSA 76:17
If you believe an error has been made on your tax bill,  file this form with the town by March 1st. Date of  filing is the date this form ,is either hand delivered to the town,  postmarked by the Post Office or receipted by an overnight delivery service.  This application does not stay the collection of taxes; taxes should be paid as assessed. If an abatement is granted, a refund, with interest will be made.

Property Tax Abatement Form

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Other important links
Community Center
Town Website
State of NH
NH Statutes( RSAs)
School District
Registry of Deeds
General Court
DES Wetlands Bureau
NH Fish & Game Dept
Community Services
N.H. Local Gov't Center
Profile of Winchester
EPA NewEngland
EPA Complaint Form
DES Complaint Form

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    TODAY'S WEATHER 
        Winchester, NH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               Welcome to the Winchester Informer!

Is there official town information that you would like to see on this website? Have an event planned and you'd like to get the word out?
 
                      Send it to us: WinchesterInformer@gmail.com
               
                 Winchester's property tax rate is currently $30.03

                                           It's your Information!                                           
                       Government must operate in the open and make most information available to the public.
                                                         Citizen's Right to Know Info
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Click on the links to the left and right to find public information such as meeting notices, minutes, policies, maps, regulations and forms. Please note: Although we attempt to include the most recent versions of documents, everything is subject to change without notice. Before relying on a specific form or policy, we strongly recommend you confirm with the town or outside source first.

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              Come join our discussion forums and talk about what's importantant to you in Winchester.

                                     News and Announcements!

                                        New Hours For Town Hall
The Town has adopted a four days/week policy to conserve energy.
All Town business will be conducted Monday - Thursday, from 7:00AM to 5:30PM, unless otherwise noted. The Offices are closed on Fridays. 

The Town Welfare Dept. has adopted new hours and will now be open;
Mondays and Wednesdays from .. 9:30AM - 12:00PM ...
Tuesdays and Thursdays from ..  2:30PM - 5:00PM ...
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                                              Announcements

                                                 Bridge Closed
The bridge over Wheelock Brook on Old Westport Road, near Oak Circle; aka "Kelly Bridge" has beeen closed by the Board of Selectmen until further notice.

                           Effective as of October 29th, 2008 
Target practice is prohibited on all town-owned land. Specifically the gravel pits on map 6, lots 15, 16, 17 and lot 20, and on Pump Road #2, map 6, lot 10-1

              ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF WINCHESTER
 Enforcement of the March 2007 zoning ordinance requiring all
dumpsters to be placed out of sight or screened from public view,
will begin immediately.  Please be aware if you have not complied with this ordinance, it is important to take the proper measures now.  
Failure to comply by May 4, 2009 will result in a warning and if
no action is taken, violators will be subject to a fine.  
                         By order of the Board of Selectmen 

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                          Property Taxes Soar In Winchester

Just as we expected, the town's new property tax rate will put many behind the eight ball and others out in the streets. The bills are in the mail and there's nothing left to do but read 'em and weep.

Winchester's new rate is; ..  $30.03

That's right folks an increase of over $4.00 from last year !

That puts us right up there with the city of Keene  $30.82

Town Rate $6.89 to $7.18
Local School $14.07 to $17.50
State School $2.22 to $2.11
County Rate $2.75 to $3.24

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               Winchester School Budget Plan Still in Limbo   

There was a hearing on the budget, and plenty of comment on the budget, but still no budget proposal for the Winchester School District.

The town’s budget committee went ahead with its public hearing despite not having its proposed budget for the district ready to present. That’s because the school board was late in getting its recommendation to the committee, said Chairman Brian D. Moser.

Instead, the committee wanted to hear input from the public on the school board’s recommended $11.5 million budget, up 3.4 percent over the current year. School officials have said these increases are necessary, partly because costly items like tuition to Keene High School and teachers’ salaries are contractual.
More than 50 people came out Tuesday, the largest crowd for a budget hearing Moser said he has seen.
Though some were in support of the school, most who spoke at the hearing railed against what they called a cripplingly high tax rate.
“There’s something structurally wrong with the school system in this town …” resident Joseph Kozma said. “I either have to foreclose or move out.”

Read the Full Story on our blog ..

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2012/01/winchester-school-budget-plan-still-in.html

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                      Winchester Group Sues Over Store

A group of Winchester residents have filed a lawsuit against selectmen and the town’s zoning board over the decision to allow a discount store on Main Street.
The Zaremba Group of Cleveland won approval from the zoning board in October to demolish a 200-year-old home and build a Dollar General store in its place.

The board required the new building’s plans be approved by the town’s historic district commission, which earlier this year denied the company’s application.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed this week, are five residents and Kulicks, Inc., a market on nearby Warwick Road about 2,100 feet from the site of the proposed Dollar General.
The group previously asked the zoning board to reconsider its decision and was denied.
They are now suing to have the decision be deemed invalid and to have the case be sent back to the board for further review.

Full story can be read here on our blog ..

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/12/winchester-group-sues-over-store.html

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                     Historic Home’s Saga Not Done Yet

Does anyone find it strange that this group would allow an appeal from an outside entity; but not even bother to hear from from concerned citizens in their own town? Talk about bias and indifference. So here we go again with the "take us to court " attitude displayed too many times by the people we trust to follow regulations and ensure fair and just hearings

WINCHESTER — It’s a no-go for a redo.

The town’s Zoning Board of Adjustment met Nov. 17 and decided against reconsidering its decision regarding the house at 71 Main St.

The panel voted not to have a rehearing on its decision to overturn a controversial ruling by the historic district commission, according to Selectman Gustave Ruth.

Members of the zoning board could not be reached for comment.

The 200-year-old house is unoccupied and lies in Winchester’s historic district.

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/11/historic-homes-saga-not-done-yet.html

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                         Selectmen Attempting To Divide the Town

Below are the minutes of the Selectman's Meeting held November 9th. Included  verbatim in these minutes are three letters, two to the board itself and one titled to "whom it may concern". Seems our select board has suddenly adopted the policy to include letters to the board by town employees voicing complaints they have against anyone they don't agree with but not one complaint by the general public has ever been published for all to see. Really shows the bias and prejudice of our selectboard and town administrator in their attempts to discredit people they do not necessarily agree with or like. They previously attempted to crucify Kim Gordon by doing this although according to them and the law she did nothing wrong and now it's members of the Budget Committee and another member of the Historical District Commission they are out to smear. They obviously have an agenda to slander and libel anyone who is willing to stand up to their bullying and attempt to discredit anyone that doesn't go along with what they want. It has never been more obvious as to what has become an "us against them" attitude from our public officials. It is time for them to all step down for the good of the community.

read the full story here:

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/11/selectmen-attempting-to-divide-town.html

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                                 No Place For Cronyism !

When is enough enough?

I don’t know.

Is it when most citizens of a town are afraid to ask the hard questions at public meetings because they fear retaliation?

Is it when a selectman has been warned that should his beaver dam break and do damage to town roads he would have to pay for the repairs, yet when it does break and do damage, and he is sent the bill, the selectmen “forgive” it?

Is it when a town board overrides a town commission so that an employee of the board can demolish a historic building and sell the property for big profits, thus permanently altering the character of the town in the process?

Is it when the select board waives most of the expenses for a non-emergency ambulance transport across seven state lines for the sister of a selectman (leaving the town short one ambulance for emergencies) thus “donating” town services that would amount to about $10,000 if they were provided by a private ambulance service?

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-place-for-cronyism.html

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                                Winchester: Foot-dragging?

WINCHESTER — The fight over the fate of a 200-year-old house in the town’s historic district is still going on — at least on one side of the debate.

At least two groups of residents have tried to get the town’s zoning board to rehear its recent decision to allow the demolition of the house.

So far, however, their arguments have been met with inaction by town officials.

A group of five property owners filed a written motion with the zoning board on Oct. 31, requesting the board hold a rehearing on its vote earlier that month to allow the demolition, overturning a previous decision by the town’s historic district commission.

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/11/winchester-foot-dragging.html

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                         SEVEN TO SAVE;  WINCHESTER MAKES LIST

WINCHESTER — A statewide preservation organization has thrown its weight behind local efforts to save a dilapidated 200-year-old house on Winchester’s Main Street from demolition.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance included the Wheaton-Alexander House, at 71 Main St., on its “Seven to Save” list for 2011.

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/10/seven-to-save-winchester-makes-list.html

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                                Planning Board Approves Mitchell

At the 09/19/11 meeting, despite numerous complaints from citizens of both Winchester and Swanzey, filed with the Town's Code Enforcement Officer and the State DES in regards to numerous violations committed by Mitchell, including operating and selling asphalt commercially before he even had a compliance hearing and a passionate plea from State Representative Jane Johnson of Swanzey and another letter from State Representative Daniel Carr of Winchester, the Board, minus regular members Kim Gordon ( recused at the request of Mitchell's attorney), Jack Marsh ( absent ) and Princess Blodgett ( absent ) voted 5-0 to approve Mitchell's application even though they knew he had not complied with all of the conditions they set for him in January of this year. 

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/09/planning-boardapproves-mitchell.html

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                                               Mitchell in Violation

For those of you who have not noticed, the asphalt plant on the site of the old P&H gravel pit has been making asphalt and selling it commercially since August 26th in violation of town ordinances and regulations and with no final approval from the Planning Board, or the State of New Hampshire.  Numerous complaints have flooded the Winchester Code Enforcements Office and the BOS with no results. Leroy Austin refuses to act and issue a cease and desist even though he knows Mitchell has not had a stack test done by the DES and won't for another 2-3 weeks if they schedule it by then or a compliance hearing by the Planning Board and his selling of asphalt is illegal. I guess we pay him to sit on his ass and do nothing. His failure to act is a disgrace and a slap in the face to all of the taxpayers who are now deeply affected by smoke, fuel oil fumes and hazardous emissions wafting over the area as far north as Ryme's Fuel and south beyond the Speedway. Many  residents of Winchester and Swanzey  and especially residents of Westport Village weren't able to enjoy their yards this past holiday weekend as fumes and smoke from the plant hung low in the air over the area all weekend. Throw in the noise from the constant beeping from trucks and equipment backing up, tailgates slamming and the rock crusher running constantly all day long it has become a real nuisance. It should not be like this, there are regulations that can be enforced; but when you have people who ignore their constituents and turn their heads and make backroom deals, you have serious problems.  

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/09/mitchell-in-violation.html

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                           Building Is Worth Saving

If a little child playfully and in his ignorance of its worth, threw a family treasure into the toilet and flushed it down the sewer, it could be understood.

His immaturity and ignorance of the value could be forgiven.

Educated adults should know better than to destroy a treasure or to just look away when someone else is attempting to destroy one.

We all know that “money talks,” as the saying goes, and some people, if offered enough money, would sell their grandmother.

read the full story here:

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/09/building-is-worth-saving.html

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                      Company Bans Six From Premises

WINCHESTER — Tension continues to build concerning a recently opened asphalt plant on the Winchester-Swanzey border.

In the latest sign of the deteriorating relationship between Mitchell Sand and Gravel, the plant’s owner, and residents who have objected to the facility, Mitchell’s attorney recently sent “no trespass” notices to a number of asphalt plant opponents.

The letters were a reaction to photos presented during a recent compliance hearing held for the plant by the Winchester Planning Board, according to Kevin D. Parsons, the Massachusetts attorney who sent the letters on Mitchell’s behalf.

Some of the photos, he said, demonstrated that someone had entered the gravel pit where the plant is located without permission. ( this is a commercial business is it not ? )

read the full story here:

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/09/mitchells-attorney-sends-out.html

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                   Winchester Historic House Still Debated

WINCHESTER — Developers hoping to bring a branch of a national chain of discount stores to Main Street aren’t giving up without a fight.

Winchester’s historic district commission last month denied an application by Zaremba Group of Cleveland to demolish the 200-year-old house at 71 Main St. and replace it with a new Dollar General store.

The house is located in the historic district and, under the town’s 1997 historic district ordinance, permission from the commission is required before it can be torn down.

But now the developer has appealed to the town’s zoning board to overturn the commission’s ruling. The zoning board will review the petition at its meeting next week.

Acting on the assessment of a historic preservation consultant hired by the board at the applicant’s expense, the commission denied the application. While the house on its own does not have enough historic value to make it a candidate for historic preservation, the commission decided, it adds value to the Main Street historic district as a whole.

Combined with three neighboring buildings of the same period, the house is part of a continuous, historic streetscape and demolition would hurt the “historic, cultural and architectural values of the district,” Michael Haman, chairman of the historic district commission, wrote in the panel’s decision.

Zaremba Group’s attorney, Silas Little 3rd of Peterborough, calls on the zoning board to dismiss this idea in the company’s letter of appeal.

“A comparison to pictures of the Town taken in the late 19th century and published in the 2011 town report shows the complete degradation and diminution of the properties in the vicinity of this property so as to remove any historic character. ... The architectural ‘style’ is an agglomeration of disrepair, 20th century facelift and 20th century new construction,” Little wrote.

The petition also invokes the legal rights of property owners.

“To require the property not to be developed to contribute to the general ambiance of the district introduces a public purpose which constitutes a taking. ... The Historic District Commission’s imposition of a restriction on this property to benefit a general public purpose is unconstitutional,” Little wrote.

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/08/winchester-historic-house-still-debated.html

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                          What Is The Old Boy Network?

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                         Town Board Faces Lawsuit Over Plant

WINCHESTER — The town’s planning board faces a legal challenge to its handling of a new asphalt plant operating on Route 10 near the Winchester-Swanzey border.

A group of four residents, three from Swanzey and one from Winchester, filed an appeal of the planning board’s decision in Cheshire County Superior Court last week.

In the appeal the residents allege the Winchester Planning Board failed to enforce some of the 23 conditions it put in place when it granted permission in January for Mitchell Sand and Gravel to operate a hot mix gravel plant in an agricultural district.

At a Sept. 19 compliance hearing, however, the appeal charges the board overlooked many of its own conditions — starting with one that required the compliance hearing take place before the plant started operating. The plant started making small batches of asphalt on Aug. 26.

Other allegations in the appeal claim that the planning board failed to enforce the standards it had set for water quality monitoring, and that the plant has been working at night without notifying the town of Swanzey or other abutters, as required in the conditions the board laid out in January.

According to the appeal, the town’s building inspector has stated that enforcing 12 of the 23 conditions is the “responsibility of others.”

“It is unlawful and unreasonable ... for the Planning Board to impose conditions on the approval of a site plan application, as it did on 3 January 2011, and to decide, thereafter, not to enforce the conditions or to decide that determining compliance was the ‘responsibility of others,’ ” Joseph S. Hoppock, attorney for the petitioners, wrote in the appeal.

read the full story here;

http://winchesterinformer.blogspot.com/2011/10/town-board-faces-lawsuit-over-plant.html

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                                          Neighbors Blast Asphalt Plant

WINCHESTER — The asphalt plant isn’t the only problem with Mitchell Sand and Gravel, according to neighbors of the business.

An explosion detonated last week at the gravel pit on Route 10 on the Winchester Swanzey border shook windows and raised ire in both towns.

“It is very loud; it is very powerful,” said Arthur E. Beckman Jr. of Swanzey, whose home abuts the pit.

Beckman has owned his house since 2004, he said, but never had a problem with the gravel pit before it changed hands about two years ago.

In addition to the blasting, which he worries is shaking his propane tanks and could affect the groundwater and his well, he also reports an increase in dust in the air from rock crushing.

“I think the previous owners took a little more precautions,” Beckman said.

read the full story here;

 http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=2054211382609443037

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                                       Board Is Out Of Line

Below is a letter to the editor sent in by a member of the Planning Board who has witnessed first hand how several other members have pushed their own agendas and have viciously and illegally attacked another member of the board simply because she pointed out they erred. This is what happens when you have people on a public board who feel they are right no matter what they do or say and will do anything to cover their own butts, including pointing fingers at someone else ...

Enough is Enough.

When three officials of the planning board in Winchester get together to try to remove another elected member of the planning board, someone has to speak up.

Here’s what we know. Kim Gorden gave an affidavit, because she thought it was the correct thing to do. Now these three members set up a situation so they could win the vote asking the selectmen to remove her.

What they forget to tell anyone is that they broke the law when they did it. (673:11 Designation of Alternate Members)

One of the individuals receives a pretty good paycheck from the town and has been on the planning board for 15 years.

Don’t worry folks, they have an answer: “I didn’t know.”

I think they did. How much could this cost the town? I don’t know.

Now the question is: Will they hide behind “I didn’t know” or will they man up and take responsibility?

If the past is any answer they will hide.

I hope someone else will look at this mess.

What do you think?

BRIAN MOSER
Planning Board Member

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                                               Where's Waldo

What happened to the BOS Wednesday night? No meeting,  no "official" explanation, other than they had nothing on the agenda, hmmm, really?
No town business to attend to, no citizen concerns or anything?
Really ?
Winchester runs that well and everyone is happy with the job that they are doing with our tax dollars? 
We all know the answer to that! Sounds fishy.

They just weren't ducking State Rep Dan Carr were they, not wanting to hear him in regards to our Code Enforcement Officer failing to act on a written complaint he made weeks ago? A complaint concerning the Mitchell Sand & Gravel operation and how they are not in compliance with their permit to excavate? He even included picture showing clear violations and still nothing got done. What about Citizen Concern papers filed at Town hall in regards to other matters?  You mean to tell us that there was no reason for them to meet as they are required to do weekly? Perhaps if they feel that there is nothing to occupy their time or that the citizens of Winchester should just shut up and stop complaining because they don't want to hear it is OK, then we would strongly suggest you vote these pompous asses out of office and elect people who don't shirk their duties and shy away from their responsibilities.
 

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                                     Why The Censorship ?

Seems the Town has something to hide from us citizens and is continuing to waste money on a website that provides no information as to what has transpired at public meetings for over a month and in some cases over a year. Why all the secrecy and why aren't meeting minutes being posted and kept up to date? Surely there isn't that much going on at Town Hall that all of these people we pay to do their jobs in support of the community can't find the time to keep us all informed to the happenings going on at Town meetings. I guess someone downtown figures we should all drive down there and read what they post when they post it on a bulletin board instead of putting the information up on the website that we pay for, after all they are just so busy that they can't keep up.

Planning Board, last entry June 6th 2011. meets twice a month
Board of Selectmen, last entry June 6th 2011 meets weekly
Zoning Board of Adjustment, last entry April 11, 2011 meets once a month
Historical District Commission, last entry June 14, 2011 meets once a month
Conservation Commission, last entry October 10, 2010 meets once a month

BTW, just what are we paying a Town Administrator and an Executive

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Town Of Winchester, BOS Going To Court Over RSA 91-A Violations

A lawsuit filed in Superior Court charges the Winchester Board of Selectmen with violations of the Right To Know Law and an award of attorney fees pursuant to RSA 91-A:7 and Silva v. Blotsch, 121 N.H. 1040 ( 1981) ( remedy of attorney's fees recognized for a public official who prevails in an action to have that public official removed from office.)

Margaret Sharra's vindictive witch hunt to remove Kim Gordon from the Planning Board because she disagreed with violations by the board during the Mitchell hearings and the Selectman's bungling of RSA 91-A protocol and procedure with their non-meeting meeting baloney and their public lynching of Ms. Gordon in written minutes posted on the Towns website, (despite their admittance that Kim Gordon did not violate the law nor do anything legally wrong)  has resulted in another easily avoided litigation in front of a judge. When are the citizens of Winchester going to wake up and stop voting fools and ego-maniacs into office? Enough is enough. If anyone demonstrates a vote of no confidence it is our BOS and Ms. Sharra for their unacceptable conduct in this matter.

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                                   Cronyism in Local Politics                                  

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                PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR HERITAGE                          

An Historic home near the center of Winchester at the beginning of the town's Historic District is in DANGER of being destroyed by an out of state company, and replaced by another dollar store.
 Do we want Winchester to become tacky town, or do we believe we live in a beautiful place? Lets keep it beautiful for the future. Make calls to your friends, and please come to the Public hearing on June 9th 7 p.m. at the Winchester Town Hall

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    Attempts to Publish Disruptive Advertisements On Our Guest Book Page

                                       Will Not Be Tolerated

Over the past few weeks our Guest Book pages have been filled with numerous ads and moronic comments from someone or several disruptive people in a vague and ridiculous attempt to discourage people and discredit our efforts to keep the citizens of Winchester apprised of news and events which affect our town. This conduct will not be tolerated and has resulted in us now monitoring all comments posted. Those responsible should know that your childish moronic actions will not deter us from continuing to provide truthful honest information.

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 Planning Board Sued And Sharra Named Again In Lawsuit Against Town

Once again for the umpteenth time, under the direction of Margaret Sharra, the Winchester Planning Board has been sued for illegal actions and Sharra has been named personally for violating procedural rules in regards to rehearings and reconsideration. In a lawsuit filed March 9th, by Mary Ryan and James Wills, on behalf of Swanzey, Winchester and Ashuelot residents, both Margaret Sharra, chairman of the board and Gus Ruth, the selectman's representative on the board, were named personally along with 101 points and violations of the Winchester Site Plan and Subdivision Regulations regarding the Planning Boards acceptance of the Mitchell Sand & Gravel application and their decision to grant a condition approval. A court date has yet to be announced but according to our sources it could be many many months before this action goes to trial, delaying Mitchel from getting started. Court documents will be provided on our blog as soon as copies are available from Superior Court.

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      Hundreds of Pages of Meeting Minutes Removed From Town Website

Seems our town has implemented a new policy of censorship and secrecy and keeping public information from the public. Hundreds of pages of past meeting minutes of the Planning Board, Zoning Board and Conservation Commission, have been purged from the Town's website under a new policy of censorship put in place by Winchester's Town Administrator, Joan Morel. Is this a coincidence or just bad timing as minutes of past meetings of these three boards were recently the subject of a lawsuit filed against the town over hearings on the Mitchel Sand & Gravel proposed asphalt plant for Winchester.

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        Planning Board Votes To Okay Asphalt Plant With Conditions

The Winchester Planning Board completely ignored the concerns of both Winchester and Swanzey residents despite reams of evidence and supporting documentation that this proposed plant would be very detrimental to the health and welfare of many people and that it would diminish property values in the town and thus affect our tax base in a negative way and put tremendous strain on social services to help compensate for the affects toxic pollution. They voted to approve Mitchell's application with 21 conditions despite evidence from the DES itself, that asphalt is a toxic substance and is closely monitored by the state. They refused to take into consideration any evidence or testimony contrary to Mitchell's claims that asphalt in not a toxic substance and that it is allowed in our aquifer zone despite our own Code Enforcement Officer's concerns and denial of the application. The result of their actions; approving an incomplete site plan, allowing testimony from Mitchell and his agent at a "closed" public hearing and other violations of State law, will have the abutters and other concerned citizens filing a lawsuit in Superior Court to stop this unlawful act. Perhaps the good citizens of Winchester will get tired of spending hard earned taxpayer dollars defending the actions of a despicable few .

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             Zoning Board Ignores Requests For Rehearing On Decisions

The board received two different requests for rehearings this past month and both times, with no public comment allowed, turned down both requests with no regard for the citizens of Winchester or legal procedure. In the first request, the board not only failed to notify the public of the request and hearing; but chairman John Hann called the applicant at his home the morning of the request to inform him " they were confident they covered all the bases".  Would it not have been better for the board to do things" legally and in the right way" instead of  attempting to covering their derrieres with their actions? This has resulted in a lawsuit being filed in Superior Court and the involvement of two lawyers filling numerous costly motions to squelch the hearing. The second hearing held this month, was a total farce of the required procedure as Chairman John Pinocchio Hann read a prepared statement ( most likely written up by the Town's attorney ) while the rest of the board had not the slightest interest and sat like stone statues and then voted again to deny a legitimate request. These actions will once again result in a lawsuit being filed against the town. To everyone present at both meetings, it is obvious that this is how the board is going to handle requests and concerns regarding their conduct. The new town policy seems to be .. TAKE US TO COURT !!

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       Asphalt Plant Proposed for old P&H Gravel Pit Site Opposed

Citizens from Winchester and Swanzey's Westport Village area have hired an attorney to fight the proposed Mitchell plans for an asphalt plant to be built on the grounds of the old P&H gravel pit. Mitchell, a Massachusetts businessman who has purchased the gravel pit plans to extend operations with up to 100 trucks a day hauling asphalt around the state and back into Massachusetts. This plant will be built on top on the Town's Protected Aquifer Zone and will release toxins into the air and quite possibly leach them into the nearby Ashuelot River polluting wells and submitting citizens to dangerous carcinogens. This all came about as the result of the Town's ZBA overturning a ruling by the Town's Code Enforcement Officer that asphalt is toxic, contains many toxins and was not allowed under the ZBA regulations. The Board took testimony from asphalt employees and Mr. Lou Fox, a Board member who testified on behalf of the asphalt applicant. An appeal of that decision has been filed in Superior Court.

Read the full story and reader's comments on our blog.

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        Proposed Biomass Plant for Winchester Meets With Opposition

The proposed joint venture of Gestamp International and Clean Power Development of Concord to build a 20MW plant along route 119 in Winchester has been met with citizen opposition. Many in town don't want their children nor themselves exposed to the toxic chemicals that this plant will release into the air or the high amounts of CO2 and other noxious gases produced by burning green wood in the immediate area of our schools and downtown district.

Come read the comments from concerned citizens and the health information posted on our blog in regards to the dangers of Biomass Plants

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              Town Administrator Submits His Resignation

Bob Gray has notified the town's Selectmen that he will be terminating his employment with the town effective October 1st, 2010. Bob cites family health issues as to why he has submitted his resignation. He has been a great asset to our community and will be sorely missed by many.

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           Town Refuses To Post Meeting Minutes On Website

For more than a month, none of the meeting minutes for any of the boards or committees in the Town of Winchester has been provided to the citizens of Winchester. What is the town hiding and why isn't it complying to the law to make available to all of it's citizens the information from these public meetings ? Are there things going on that our town fathers and other departments heads don't want made public?  Why does this stuff always happen in our town?

               What is really going on in Winchester ?

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        New Town Property Assessments Unfair and Too Varied    

Lots of questions in regards to Avatar Associates new assessments of town properties  and why certain folks seemed to have gotten breaks and others have gotten the shaft. Many in town are angered and will be filing in Tax Court over these unjust evaluations.              

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                                Probe Left In Tasered Victim

A Winchester Police Officer, failed to follow proper procedure and filed what looks to be a false report in an incident last month that resulted in a taser probe having to be surgically removed from the victims sternum and resulting in the victim about to file a lawsuit against the town for damages and suffering. Why hasn't the Police Chief or the BOS suspended this officer?

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            AG's Office Investigates Numerous Election Issues

Acting on a complaint filed by and on behalf of town voters, the AG's office assigned investigator Rick Valenti to conduct an investigation into numerous voting irregularities and violations of state law. Is it any wonder why the same people keep getting elected year after year despite a no confidence vote by the town's registered voters? 

More information to be forthcoming:


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                      Executive Secretary Ellen Cole Resigns

Last month, Ellen Cole, resigned her position of Executive Secretary to the Town of Winchester citing, " there are too many evil people involved in town politics for me to continue". What caused Ellen to give up such a well paying, lucrative position with great benefits and prestige?


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           A Town In Deep Trouble .. But The Spending Goes On

                MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
                                             WORK SESSION
                                    Wednesday February 10, 2010

Board Members Present: Gustave Ruth, Chairman; Sherman Tedford; Roberta Fraser; Kenneth Berthiaume; and Kenneth Gardner. Also present Robert Gray, Town Administrator and Ellen Cole, Executive Assistant. Also present is Sharon Haley, Finance Supervisor; Peg Tatro, Treasurer; and Karey Miner, Deputy Tax Collector. The meeting convenes at 10:00AM.
1st Order of Business: Cash Flow/Budget Review
The Board scheduled a work session today to discuss revenues, cash flow and accounts payable to date, and to receive input from the Sharon, Peg, and Karey, who work with these figures on a daily basis. Sharon has prepared a forecast of payroll, school, & contractual obligations, including benefits through June 30, 2010; Peg has prepared the general fund checkbook balance; and Karey has prepared collections as of February 9, 2010, showing what is delinquent for taxes and what she anticipates as a timeframe for revenues to come in through end of June 2010. The Board reviews various paperwork, and believes as of today’s date the Town is short $500,000.00.

read the full story and readers comments on our blog ..

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           AG's OFFICE RESPONDS TO COMPLAINT LETTER

                                PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE

We received a letter from Mr. Brian Moser in response to a letter, written by Bonnie Leveille, that appeared last week in the Keene Sentinel. Bonnie had taken grave offense to a warrant petition that had circulated and garnered 46 signatures, that asked voters if they wanted to do away with our current Conservation Committee. Information had come to light that the commission just wasn't doing what it was intended to do and was just another paper commission with with no authority to enforce or enact any regulations.

Read the rest of Ms. Leveille's comments and what our readers had to say on our blog

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DEMOCRACY IS DEAD IN WINCHESTER; UNLESS YOU STAND UP NOW

You be the judge as to what really took place, was this a legal, by the book Deliberative Session of the School warrants under the SB2 rule; or something else entirely. Please take special  notice of attorney Matt Uptown's comments to Tom O'Connor that everything will be straightened out in the minutes.

Read about what happened at the meeting and what our reader have said in response; visit our blog,

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                                   ANOTHER FINE MESS WE'RE IN 
  
 Board of Selectmen Emergency Town Meeting December 23rd, 2009

Chairman Ruth called an emergency meeting to discuss the likelihood of holding a special town meeting by January 8, 2010 to get an additional $500,000.00-$600,000.00 appropriation for the upgrade to the wastewater treatment facility. Selectman Tedford and the Board members work the numbers and determine a shortfall of $367,000.00 in order to accept Weston & Sampson’s bid, including contingency money set aside and postponing the I&I work.

So much for this project being shovel ready .. Read the full story and reader comments on our blog

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  THE PROPERTY TAX, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MOST HATED TAX

There are income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, estates taxes, Social Security tax, capital gains taxes, business taxes and meal taxes, to name a few. A regular cornucopia of contributions for the common good, or so we are told.
But yet, it's the property tax in New Hampshire that the public chooses to hate the most.

Read the full article on our blog and readers comments. Tell us what you think.

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               TOWN MEETING SATURDAY JANUARY 30th, 2010

There can be a lot of confusion over how town government really works in NH. Every state is different, but you don’t have to be an “outsider” to wonder how a town meeting actually runs and why town residents, new and old, should learn all they can about how it works and why it’s so important for every eligible resident to attend both their annual town meeting and school district meeting.
The residents are the legislative body (that’s you – the registered voter!) that determines very important things like how much the operating budget for the next fiscal year is going to be; if the bond for a new school is going to pass; if your town is going to change any one of a myriad of zoning regulations, tax exemptions, or town policies. All these things have the power to impact your tax rate and your rights (or lack thereof).

read the rest of this article on our blog, be informed and be sure you attend ....

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                WARRANT ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY PETITION

      TOWN OF WINCHESTER CONFLICT OF INTEREST ORDINANCE

It has been said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That's why it can be dangerous to mix employment with elected office or to allow a single person to hold too many influential offices.

The following warrant article was submitted by petition to the town clerk last week.  Read it over and share your thoughts with us!

This same article was petitioned in 2006 and at deliberative was changed to read: "Shall the town direct its future employees and officials, both elected and appointed, to avoid all published conflicts of interest as outlined in Town Polices?" At the time, the only such policies related to full-time police officers (and possibly others) having "moon-lighting" jobs that would interfere with their work. If you support this article, be sure to show up at deliberative and cast your vote against any efforts to "gut" it.

Shall the Town adopt, in accordance with RSA 31:39-a, a Town of Winchester Conflict of Interest Ordinance as follows?

Read the submitted petition and reader's comments on our blog..

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  PLANNING BOARD NIXES  NEW TABLE OF USAGE  CHANGES

We've received word from a very reliable source, that at the December 21st Planning Board meeting, a number of proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinances were discussed by the members and that there was much disagreement when Sharra presented her "new and revised" proposed Table Of Permitted Uses to the board. Sharra was attempting to condense 5 pages of permitted usage, most written up by an attorney; hired by the town many years ago and that has been in effect since January 14, 1971 and the rest voted in by the people for the people, down to a 1 page confusing and cockamamie listing in which she removed more than two dozen permitted uses, changed and renamed many uses and attempted to eliminate several of the District designations, like FLP and W ( floodplain and wetlands ).

Sharra's proposed "new" Table of Usages eliminates over two dozen already permitted uses and several protected and designated districts and combines others under one category which will definitely lead to confusion and more possible lawsuits to sort it all out.  Read the full story on our blog ..

                     What's Really Going On At Our Police Dept.? 

Thanks to people in the know who have decided to come forward and provide information on a number of serious improprieties committed by our Chief of Police and two other officers the Office of the  State Attorney General is opening an investigation into these allegations as more and more evidence of wrong doing is discovered ..

read the full story and view the attached documents on our blog ...

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                          Superior Court Judge Rules Against Sharra

In his ruling of the lawsuit filed by abutters to the Van Dyke condo project, judge Tucker ruled that Margaret Sharra did have ex-parte' communications with DES and that because of this unlawful conduct she disqualified herself from her participation and ruling on an abutters request for a reconsideration on the Planning Board's decision to over turn their denial of Van Dyke's application  and that the board's decision  be vacated and Sharra to be recused from the new hearing coming before the board this Monday night, Oct 5th at 6:00pm in the Town Hall auditorium. Word has it that Sharra is still meddling with the board and has appointed Dean Beaman to sit in as chair in her absence even though board member Larry Hill is the vice-chair and that she has appointed Ellen Cole to record the minutes instead of Princess Blodget, the board's secretary. She is also attempting to close the public hearing. How is attempting to stack the deck being fair to the public and how can these abutters hope to get a fair hearing based on evidence and facts?

This question has been raised on our blog, your comments are welcome.

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       Has Our BOS Committed a Crime Against The Community?

Last year we voted down a Warrant Article asking if we should approve $10,000.00 for a new police cruiser. The Warrant Article was defeated by ballot. By going behind the backs of the citizens of Winchester and giving the thumbs up to the Police Chief to purchase a new cruiser; despite a NO vote on the warrant article the chief submitted, has the board, under RSA 32:10, I(e), committed a crime and should they be immediately dismissed ?

When the citizen's vote no on a Warrant Article, the law says; "NO means NO" ... read the full article on our blog and decide for yourself.

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                Read the full articles and readers comments on our blog ..

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                           What's Going On With Our Police Department?

We have citizen's writing letters to the State Attorney General's Office
asking for an investigation. We have citizen's from another town filing
complaints against an off duty officer who followed her home in his own
vehicle and harassed her in her driveway. We have a citizen of Winchester
being harassed by an officer while standing in line at a store. There's a
report an officer took a bicycle from the town impound lot for his own child..
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                           Planning Board Chairperson Out of Control

At this past Monday night's Planning Board meeting; a continuation of
Robert van Dyke's compliance hearing, Margaret Sharra once again
demonstrated that she is not fit to remain seated on the Planning Board
and needs to be removed immediately for her grievous conduct towards
a citizen of Winchester who was attempting to give testimony at the
hearing.
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                  Triple T Trucking Thumbs Nose At Winchester's Voters 
 
Knowing full well that articles #35 and #40 were defeated on this year's
ballot, sending a resounding, loud and clear message that the citizens do
not want, nor will they allow by special exception facilities designed to
process, recycle, treat and transport solid waste, refuse and putrescible
materials as defined by RSA’s  in Winchester, Triple T Trucking has hired
Steven's Engineering from Brattleboro and is proceeding to push ahead.
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                                 Winchester Students far Behind

Who's responsible for the test results of Juniors at Keene High School, the principal and his staff or the staff of the five schools who send students to Keene High? Keene officials agree more work has to be done at the High School; But Tuesday night, they saw graph after graph, showing 11th graders from other towns vastly outperforming their peers from Winchester. Of the 50 Winchester students who took the New England Common Assessment Program ( NECAP ) test at Keene High this fall, 60 percent failed the test ...

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                                         Other Topics on Our Blog

Important Dates and Timeline To 2010 Meeting

The Real Reason Our Property Tax Dropped

Selectman's proposed Warrant Articles

Did Chief Gary Phillips and Officer Dave Roberts Abuse Their Powers?

More Sobering Information About The Winchester Police Dept.

Arthur Charland's Letter To The Keene Sentinel

As The Late Paul Harvey Would Have Said " Now For The Rest of The Story"

New Hampshire's Right-To-Know Law, RSA Chapter 91-A

Disturbing Public Information

Keene Sentinel Article Off The Mark 

Winchester's Highway Supt. Very Upset

Planning Board Chair Violates Citizen's Rights Again

Who Authorized This Work?

Planning Board Lawsuit In The Hands of The Judge

An Open Letter To Triple T/N&M Properties

An Open Letter To The BOS and ZBA

Letter To The Editor Of The Brattleboro Reformer

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                                           News About Town

                                           

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NH 10 Bridge Replacement over the Ashuelot River, Project No. 12906
For information click on this link; -->    bridge replacement

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                                      Stay Warm NH  

  The NH Office of Energy and Planning, NH Department of health and Human Services and NH Charitable Foundation coordinate this public/private partnership that focuses on expanding weatherization and heating assistance programs with the help of dozens of nonprofit organizations and businesses.

                     Information and assistance, or to make a donation:

                               www.StayWarmNH.org  

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                                 Fuel Assistance Program

Southwestern Community Services helps qualifying residents in Cheshire County who are in a heating emergency by securing an emergency delivery of fuel, delaying a shut-off notice, or referring clients to other sources of assistance. These benifits are a grant and do not have to be repaid. All low- income, elderly, disabled and other households are encouraged to apply.

Homeowners as well as some renters are eligible for the program. Eligibility and benefits are determined by gross household income of all household members and the total energy costs of the household.

                         For information or to make an appointment:

                                    www.SCSHELPS.ORG  or 352-7512

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                                         Neighbor Helping Neighbor

Southwestern Community Services helps residents of Cheshire County who are not eligible for fuel assistance and have a disconnect notice from their utility. The program has no income guidelines, but qualifying residents must have a hardship -- usually unemployment or medical circumstance. The maximum benefits are $200 ( oil or gas ) or $300 if heating with electric.
 
                 For information or to make an appointment:

                        www.SCSHELPS.ORG or 352-7512

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                            Foreclosure Prevention Initiative

Help for property owners facing foreclosure is available at the NH Banking Department, as well as information about State and Federal Programs.

             1-800-437-5991  or www.HOMEHELPNH.ORG

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                              Health Coverage For Youth

Low-cost or free medical and dental coverage for uninsured children and teenagers is available to qualifying families through NH Healthy Kids. If family income exceeds the program guidelines, parents may have some expenses deducted from their income.

              www.NHHEALTHYKIDS.COM    1-877-464-2447