Follow Patch During Town Meeting Season

Windham residents made their presence felt during this year's presidential primary season, coming out in droves to candidate appearances and offering solid participation at the polls.

That public participation will need to continue as the focus shifts to town and school politics with exactly 50 days until the March 13 Town Meeting.

Below are some important dates, warrants and other items to keep an eye on as the local elections near.

Important Meetings and Other Dates

Approval of School Board Warrant Articles: Jan. 23, 7 p.m. (SAU Office)

Filing Period for Open Town/School Official Positions: Jan. 25-Feb. 3 at 5:00 p.m.

First Session of Annual Meeting (School): Feb. 10, 7:00 p.m. (WHS auditorium).

First Session of Annual Meeting (Town): Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. (WHS Auditorium). This will include explanation, discussion and debate of warrant articles numbered 4 through 21.

Town Meeting (Election): March 13, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Using Patch for Town Meeting

There are a variety of ways to use Windham Patch over the next seven weeks. Here are a few.

1. Announce Your Candidacy: Are you looking to run for one of the open public or school official positions?

There are a number of different ways to announce it on our site. You could start with our announcements feature, which allows you to post them yourself. You can also apply to blog for Patch, offering you a forum to talk about the issues important to you and the town. Also, contact Michael Ryan at michael.ryan@patch.com if you are planning on filing. We'd love to hear from you.

2. Follow Our Deliberative Session Coverage: We will be at both school and town deliberative sessions next month, so look for our coverage if you aren't able to make it out.

3. Planning Board Information Campaign: February will also mean a public information campaign by the Planning Board. Board members will be submitting explanations to Patch of what they deem to be the most important zoning ordinance articles.

4. Send Us Tips: Have information about Town Meeting season that we missed or that you want covered? Send tips to michael.ryan@patch.com.

Important Town Warrants

Here are a few of the important town warrant articles that will be on the March ballot.  These are currently drafts.

1. HVAC systems: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $105,870 for the purpose of completing HVAC system replacements or improvements at the Bartley House (Administrative Offices), Community Development Department, and Town Hall.

2. WFD Equipment and Materials: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $214,000 for the purpose of new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Gear for the Fire Department and necessary equipment and materials to place this gear into service, and further to authorize the acceptance of $203,300 of this appropriation from the US Department of Homeland Security – FEMA, as part of a Assistance to Firefighters Grants to fund 95% of the project, with the balance of $10,700 to come from general taxation. 

3. Highway Loader: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $90,000 for the purpose of purchasing a Highway Loader and necessary equipment and materials to place the vehicle into service.

Important School Warrants

Here are a few of the important school warrant articles that will be on the March ballot. These are currently drafts.

1. Architectural Fees for Facility on London Bridge Road: Shall the Windham School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $714,000 (seven hundred and fourteen thousand dollars) for architect and engineering fees to prepare drawings and to develop a guaranteed maximum price contract for a grade 7 and 8 school on London Bridge Road? Construction of this project will not commence without future action by the voters. This appropriation is included as part of the Windham Capital Improvement plan. 

2. Portables: Shall the Windham School District vote to authorize the School Board to enter into a five-year lease purchase agreement for $2,172,539 including financing charges for modular classrooms at Windham Middle School and to raise and appropriate the sume of $1,284,508 for the first year's lease payment, installation of the modular buildings and relocation and construction of athletic fields at Windham Middle School and futher to raise and appropriate the sum of $179,208 for the purpose of hiring two additional classroom teachers at Golden Brook School.

Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The Planning Board has also been in workshops for a variety of zoning ordinance amendments ranging from workforce housing to multi-zone parcels. For a complete list of these drafts, click here and scroll down to 2012 Town Meeting.