By Devon Cormier
Staff Writer

Voters will decide the fate of 19 warrant articles at the deliberative session of Town Meeting on Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m ., at Cawley Middle School.

One of the biggest items on the ballot is Article 5, which asks for $1.5 million for the renovations and repairs necessary to transform the old Village School into town offices and a community center. Hooksett Town Hall is overcrowded and town officials have been looking for more space for years.

The proposed renovations will include a new sprinkler system and smoke detectors, a new heating and ventilation system, air conditioners for some rooms, updated light fixtures, asbestos and lead paint removal and additional parking in front of the building, as well as changes to the structure of the building for office space.

The $1.5 million would be bonded but the details haven't been worked out quite yet.

Articles 3 and 4 ask to use existing money to end a sewer crisis. The sewer plant is about at capacity and the sewer department is asking for permission to use $3.5 million to expand the plant and build a composting plant as well. The department was granted approval to bond the money in May of 2002.

Although given the authority to borrow the money, the sewer department has not yet borrowed it. Town officials found that the restrictive wording in the approved article would cost extra money; Articles 3 and 4 basically ask that the town be able to bond the money through a different bank.

Most of the money will be paid for by user fees the sewer department collects. Some money has been saved and none will be raised through taxes.

Article 6 asks for an operating budget of $13,024,646.

Article 7 asks to use $32,000 to purchase a solid waste skid steer loader. the money is currently in the Solid Waste Disposal Special Revenue Fund, so no money is needed through taxes.

Article eight asks for $90,000 to be placed in the Library HVAC System Development Capital Reserve Fund.

Article 9 asks voters to establish a capital reserve fund for a feasibility study and land acquisition for the southern leg of the proposed parkway and to raise $150,000 to be placed in the fund.

Much of the land for the parkway is being donated by Manchester Sand, Gravel and Cement Co. If a proposed plan for retail space goes through at the Manchester Sand offices across from Hooksett Kawasaki, they may begin to build this parkway. It will travel from Route 93 up to Allenstown, bypassing much of Route 3. The parkway will soon become imperative to the town as traffic increases.

Article 10 asks for $15,000 to be placed in the Police Computer System Development Capital Reserve Fund.

Article 11 asks for $10,000 to be placed in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Fund.

Article 12 asks voters to authorize the town council to enter into a five-year lease to purchase a vacuum sweeper for the highway department. The first year's payment will be $35,198.

Article 13 asks to raise $78,564 for pay increases for nonunion town personnel.

Article 14 asks for $25,000 to be placed in the Solid Waste Containment/Enclosures fund. This money will help the town comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Article 15 asks for $44,802 for the salaries, benefits and taxes of a full-time employee for trash collection.

Article 16 was not approved by the town council and was removed from the ballot.

Article 17 asks voters to establish a capital reserve fund for aerial photography and to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,000 for the fund.

Article 18 asks for authorization for the Town Council to enter into a seven-year lease agreement for the purpose of purchasing a replacement fire pumper engine and to raise $51,846 as the first year's payment.

Article 19 asks for the same thing as 18, because the fire department needs two new fire engines.