Offices Up for Election

Here are the Orange Town posts up for election in March.  

The filing period for these positions is Wednesday, January 21, 2015 through Friday, 30 January, 2015 at 5:00PM. Candidates must file with the Town Clerk to have their names placed on the ballot.  Town Clerk hours are every Wednesday evenings 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Town House.  Town Clerk office will also be open Friday January 30 from 3:00 pm to 5 pm.

RESIDENTS OF ORANGE, NH

VOTING SESSION

The following offices are open for election on Tuesday March 10, 2015.

Selectman, 3years

Town Clerk, 1year

Treasurer, 1year

Tax Collector, 1year

Deeding Agent, 1year

Road Agent, 1year

Cemetery Agent, 1year

Overseer of Public Welfare, 1year

Auditor (2), 1year & 2year

Budget Committee, 3 years

Cemetery Trustee, 3years

Planning Board (2) 3years

Trustee of Trust Funds, 3 years

Supervisor of the Checklist, 3 years

Video: Wind Turbine Falling

Ric Werme shared this on Newfound Lake Windwatch's Facebook page. The video shows a tower--considerably smaller than the ones proposed for our towns--toppling over. As Ric says, the different reactions of the man and woman are priceless.

Post by Silke Dill.

Town Trust Funds Meeting

Trustees of the Trust Funds will meet in the Town House this Wednesday, January 7, at 6:30 p.m. 

To keep track of Town events and trash pickups, see the Calendar. If you're on Google, you can add it to your personal calendar.

The Select Board Discusses Wind

You'll find the full approved Board minutes of December 8 here. In fact, Select Board minutes dating back three years are on the site, all searchable. 

Since the hot topic right now is wind, here are the minutes covering that part of the meeting:

Spruce Ridge Wind Project: Planning Board Secretary Bob Proulx recapped his conversation with Attorney Waugh regarding the 500-foot wind turbines intended for Orange by Energias De Portugal Renewables (EDPR). Orange is slated for eight of the 29 proposed wind turbines. Bob reiterated that the town’s authority to reject the 1985 wind turbine project in Orange is no longer the case. The legislature established the Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) to review and give sanction to all large electrical projects. The SEC has nine members of which two are from the public. Bernie felt, however, that the town was in a good position given the strength of their zoning ordinances and Master Plan, including noncommercial, rural zoning, structure height restrictions, and the town’s vision statement. Bob said the turbines would also have a negative effect on Mount Cardigan State Forest considering the state park gets 10,000 visitors each year. Bob said he discussed with Attorney Waugh the “Bill of Rights for Sustainable Energy” warrant article that a number of other towns have done. Bernie felt the article was not legally binding and that an alternative option would be to draft a warrant article specific to the town of Orange. The town should have a warrant article that specifically asks the townspeople: are you in favor of an industrial wind project in the town of Orange? Bob said that Bernie hopes to attend the December 16 Planning Board meeting to learn more about the wind project issue. 

The discussion about the Spruce Ridge Wind Project continued. Pat Mercer stated that since the state supersedes the town, perhaps state representatives can put forth counter legislation. She also suggested a multi-town meeting with the other affected towns, perhaps hosting a dinner at Canaan Hall. Judith Lindahl stated that part of the SEC criteria is listening to municipal administrators such as representatives from the Select Board, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission. Pat White said she doubted decommissioning bonds in reality covers the actual cost of proper decommissioning. Judith stated that after construction, EDPR will hand off the project to a limited liability company (LLC) which would be problematic to genuine decommissioning. Sharon said there are plans to develop a steering committee regarding the wind project and she hopes that one member from each board or committee in town will be represented. There was a brief discussion on legal representation for the town in regards to the wind project. Judith spoke about an attorney from Portsmouth who is well versed in the wind project issue may be open to meeting with the Select Board at no cost.

Municipal Law Update

Sandi just sent us this: a review of changes in the law that affect towns like Orange, along with Town attorney Bernie Waugh's surprisingly entertaing comments. (Extra points if you find the song.) You'll find the update here.

The Select Board has asked Bernie to hold a Q&A for the town sometime after Town Meeting.