Windham Voters Have Competitive Town Races, Budgets To Consider

WINDHAM, NH — Voters will go to the polls in Windham on Tuesday, March 9, to make decisions concerning town offices, school and town budgets, as well as other items.

Voters will go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the gymnasium at Windham High School, 64 London Bridge Road.

There are no competitive races on the school ballot but voters will eye an operating budget of $56.6 million, with a default budget of $56.2 million, if the first budget proposal fails. Voters will also consider a new collective bargaining agreement with the Windham Education Association. Article 4 addresses the need for a special meeting if the collective bargaining agreement warrant article is defeated.

Two other warrant articles address other school budget items: a transfer of $250,000 for the special education capital reserve fund and a transfer of $200,000 to the capital needs and building and grounds maintenance capital reserve fund.

The sample ballot for schools, front page, is located here, while the back page is located here, in .pdf format.

There are three competitive races on the town ballot.

Three candidates are seeking two, three-year board of selectmen seats: James Curtin, Roger Hohenberger, and Ross McLeod.

Four residents are attempting to win two, three-year planning board seats. They are Derek Monson, Matthew Rounds, Mark Samsel, and Thomas Sharpe.

Three candidates have also filed to run for two, three-year seats on the zoning board of adjustment: Bruce Breton, Pamela Skinner, and Michelle Stith.

Article 3 is a proposal for a new fire engine while Article 4 proposes buying two new trucks for the highway department.

Article 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 address transfers to various accounts.

Article 13 proposes creating a municipal economic development and revitalization district while Article 14 addresses bylaw changes to conservation land concerning permitted use, enforcement, and other issues.

Article 15 proposes a solar array to be placed on the roof of the Nesmith Library.

Article 16 concerns the future purchase of cemetery land while Article 17 addresses a boat ramp on Hayes Hart Road and Article 18 concerns the sale of a third of an acre on Route 28 and Libbey Road.

Article 19 is a citizen petition requesting voters in town send a message of support to the Legislature for a fair, effective, and transparent redistricting process.

Article 20 is a $16.8 million town budget with a default budget of $16.4 million.

The four-page town sample ballot can be found here.

There are also seven planning board zoning proposals including changes to minimum lot sizes, workforce housing overlays, watershed protections, housing for older persons, and open space overlays.

The zoning articles ballot page can be found here.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.