Two people are running for the seat on the Weare select board being vacated by David Pratte, who chose not to run for re-election.
Bruce Fillmore, 64, of 181 Gould Road, has lived in town 23 years. Raised in New Boston, he attended Bishop Brady high school and NHTI in Concord for engineering. A former developer, he designs and installs septic systems. He has served on several town boards, currently the WeareCIP Committee and Planning Board.
“In the last couple of years the select board has, for lack of a better term, lost their way,” he said. “They spent time hearing things that are the responsibility of other boards. They have no jurisdiction to make decisions… People get frustrated because nothing is done because they can’t do it.”
He pointed to what he called the “open mic” sessions in which people have sometimes complained about aspects of town government, often without follow-up or evidence. Select board meetings are filmed and stored on YouTube, meaning “here’s stuff up there from five years ago” of “people airing their grievances on TV.”
He argued that this produces “terrible morale” in town employees, making it difficult to hire and keep staff. “I want to change how they treat people,” he said. “It’s nothing dramatic; they’ve got the budget well under control.”
Fillmore also criticized state government changes that have put pressure on local property taxes.
“Over the years, they’ve cut and cut and cut what they give in grant-in-aid for roadwork. We used to get a cut of rooms and meals tax,” he said. “They’ve increased mandates on what towns have to do at the same time reducing the funding they give us.”
The other candidate, Paul Thoman, did not respond to the Monitor’s request for an interview. On Facebook he said he “(has) not come up through the ranks of the town government and I am not intimate with all the issues and policies, but I do believe my skillset will get me up to speed quickly.” He also said that “there is finally national hope and I do not think the town of Weare should be excluded.”
CONTESTED RACES: There are no other contested races.
HOT TOPIC: $900,000 taken from the first department reserve fund for a lease-purchase agreement on a $1.25 million fully equipped fire engine, one of three used by the town department. It would replace a 1981 machine that is temporarily out of operation. Use of a fund that taxpayers previously paid into means there will be no tax impact.
BUDGET: The proposed operating budget for the town is $9.15 million, over last year’s $8.50 million budget. That equates to an increase of 49 cents in the tax rate, raising the annual bill on a $300,000 house by $147. If all warrant articles are approved as well, the town tax rate would rise an estimated $1.30, equaling $520 more annually.
Health and workers comp insurance are a major portion of the budget increase, as well as payout of a long-term employee who is retiring.
NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES: A 3% pay increase for non-union town and library personnel, except the town administrator. This includes public works personnel, on-call firefighters and staff in town hall.
A proposal to add $280,000 to the existing Highway Truck and Equipment Replacement Capital Reserve Fund, to purchase a new 10-wheel plow truck for the Highway Department.
A petitioned article to raise $11,000 for fireworks for the annual Weare Patriotic Celebration was amended at deliberative session to zero dollars, so it doesn’t matter whether it passes or not.
WHEN AND WHERE:Election day for candidates and all warrant articles in Tuesday, March 11, at the Weare Middle School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.