Here is the file if you want to print it: 2013 Warrant Article Table for Civic News
Reference | Short Description | Yes Vote Means | No Vote Means |
Art. 1 | Elections for 8 different positions. | Please vote | Please vote |
Art. 2 | Choose School District officers (separate School Meeting). | Please vote | Please vote |
Art. 3 Amd. 1 | Housekeeping change to conform to election of ZBA (voters adopted in 2012). | Updates wording as ZBA is now elected | You do not want the wording to be updated |
Art. 3 Amd. 2 | Historic District regulation re: solar collectors. | You support a new section to cover solar collectors in the Historic District | You do not feel that the historic district regulations should include solar collectors |
Art. 3 Amd. 3 | Establish Overlay district for Groundwater mgmt. | Support the town restricting the use of ground water near the old Rye Landfill on Rt. 1 because of high levels of manganese | You do not want the town to be able to restrict ground water use in this area, even though there are elevated levels of manganese |
Art. 3 Amd. 4 | Decrease bldg. age for demolition review from 65 to 50 years. | You support the Demolition Review to cover homes only 50 years, instead of the current 65 years and to be consistent with State Law | You would like to see the Demolition Review stay at the current 65 years |
Art. 3 Amd. 5 | Amend definition of “structure” in the Zoning Ordinance to exclude fuel storage tanks” and make reference to other sections | Support the wording changes to remove fuel tanks as you agree they do not impact the yard space set back requirements | Prefer that the current wording stays as is |
Art. 3 Amd. 6 | Define “storm water” in the Zoning Ordinance in accordance with State statute. | Support adding a definition of “storm water” consistent with the State | Prefer that “Storm water” not be defined to match the State definition |
Art. 4 | Town Hall schematic design and related activities. $60,000 | Approve the town to spend $60K to develop designs and to prepare a Town Facilities Master Plan. | Do not want to see the town address the town hall building problems now |
Art. 5 | 1899 Trolley Barn (Old Police Station) study. $9,800 | Support the town determining potential costs of utilizing the old Police Station/Trolley Barn | Do not want the town to understand the costs of utilizing this building |
Art. 6 | Goss Farm Barn restoration. $170,000 | Support the town investing in accelerating the work at Goss Farm barn for community use | Do not support the town investing this amount in helping complete the restoration work at Goss Farm Barn |
Art. 7 | Fund Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. $100,000 | Support the town building up the capital reserve fund for future Highway Equipment investments. No new equipment is planned for this year. Current balance is $176,000 | Do not think the town should be adding funds to this account at this time. |
Art. 8 | Municipal Records and Document Management. $25,000 | Support the town paying to get recommendations on how to better store and manage all of the town documents. Does not include the cost of scanning. | Do not support the town getting outside help to understand the options and costs for a records management plan. |
Art. 9 | Streaming of meetings at Town Hall. $4,000 | Support the town in investing in starting to stream town meetings. | Do not want to see the town invest in streaming town government meetings. |
Art. 10 | Operating budget $8,680,627. Default budget $8,380,347. | Support the current increased budget | Prefer the town use the lower default budget |
Art. 11 | Discontinue old Elwyn Rd. roadbed near new roundabout. | Approve the town to transfer the unused public property to the private use | Do not want the town to complete the land exchange process started when the Foyes corner roundabout was built |
Art. 12 | Relocation of Old Ferry Landing Rd. near Foyes’ Corner. | Approve the town’s discontinuance of the current section of road and to relocate this minor section of road | Oppose the proposed changes requested by the property owners |
Art. 13 | Cut <10 trees for parking lot at Rye Recreation Area. | Support creating additional parking at Rye Recreation fields | Do not support creating additional parking spaces as planned |
Art. 14 | Amend Skateboard Ordinance to require single file for bicycles and pedestrians. | Support making the restrictions on pedestrians and bicycles permanent | Do not support making the changes permanent. |
Art. 15 | Amend Beach Ordinance to require approval of business and organized events. | Studying how the town should regulate commercial activities at the beach (Ocean) | Do not support the town studying how the town to should regulate commercial activities on the beach (Ocean) |
Art. 16 | Amend Parking Ordinance to add no parking areas near Jenness Beach. | Support the additional no parking zone | Do not want these streets to be posted no parking |
Art. 17 | Tally of votes on warrant articles and budget items. | Support the town showing the vote (two to one) for Selectmen and Budget Committee | Prefer to only see that the Selectman or Budget Committee approve the spending |
Art. 18 | Increase Solar Energy exemption from $15K to $35K | Support increasing the Solar Energy exemption to $35K and clarifying the wording | Prefer the smaller exemption amount from 2012 |
Art. 19* | Study website posting of all agendas and minutes. | Approve having the town study improving the access to agendas and meetings | Do not want the town to study making it easier for people to view meeting postings online |
Art. 20* | Approve the amended warrant article that strengthens the Conflict of Interest policy | Approve the process by making such changes as a list of who has signed the conflict of interest form each year availble to the public | Would like process implemented this year to stay unchanged |
Art. 21* | Enhance Capital Improvements Program (“CIP”) process. | Approve the amended warrant that will require a Public Hearing, listing of sources of funds and providing a table showing the effect on the tax rate | Would not like to see any changes to the current CIP process |
Art. 22* | Require investigation of 2012 reassessments. | Require that the Selectman review the assessment process, amended to remove the reference to distance to the ocean. | Do not want the town to review the assessment process used |
Art. 23 | Permit sale of surplus Town property | Process formality | Process Formality |
Art. 24 | To transact other business . | Process formality | Process Formality |
Sch. Art. 1 | School budget $12,938,447. Default $12,860,463. | You support the proposed School Budget | You would prefer the lower default budget |
Sch. Art. 2 | Appropriate $10,670 for new support staff contract | You approve the contract and the associated costs for the next three years | You do not support the new support staff contract and associated cost increased |
Sch. Art. 3 | Permits special meeting if Art. 2 is not approved | Process formality | Process Formality |
Sch. Art. 4 | Enable unassigned general funds to be retained. | You support using the new State law that allows surplus funds to be put in a reserve fund for future uses. This fund can never be more the 2.5% of the current school taxes. | You want all surplus funds returned to taxpayers |
Sch.Art. 5* | Video streaming of School Board meetings, $4,000 | Support investing $4,000 to start to stream School Board meetings. | You do not want $4,000 to be raised and appropriated for online streaming of school board meetings |
Sch. Art. 6* | Tally of votes on warrant articles and budget items. | Support the School Board and Budget Committee recommendation votes to be tallied and shown on the ballot. (Approved 4 to 1, for example) | You do not want to see the vote tally for budget approval on the ballot |