Notices:
Public Notice of Meeting
Wind Energy Systems Subcommittee
of Canaan Planning Board
Meeting Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Canaan Fire Station Meeting Room
Agenda: committee work on proposed ordinance
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The NH Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles is pleased to announce that a new computer system (VISION) will be implemented in the month of February. As a result, there will be an interruption of motor vehicle registration processing statewide.
Town/City Clerk’s offices, along with the DMV offices, will be unable to process new or renewal registrations over the President’s Day holiday weekend, beginning Friday, February 17, 2017, and will be resuming transactions on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.
Throughout this process, the Town/City Clerk’s office will be open for other transactions not related to vehicle registrations during our normal, scheduled hours of operation. The Canaan Town Clerk/Tax Collector WILL be closed Saturday, Monday & Tuesday, February 18, 20 and 21.
If you have a new registration, a temporary plate or your registration renewal is due during the month of February, please make sure you are aware of the processing interruption.
Please feel free to visit the DMV website at www.nh.gov/dmv for updates concerning this implementation.
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NEWS ON THE SCHOOL TAX FRONT
Listening to a tape recording of the School Board meeting on Tuesday, January 24th, it is clear that the School Board intends to get as many people as possible to change the warrant article changing the funding formula into a study committee. It is also clear that the study committee will be mostly school board members..
Please do something different this year and attend the School Deliberative Session at 9 AM on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Indian River Gymnasium.
If there is a a motion to create a study committee, it is important to know what the makeup of the study committee will be. If it is appointed completely by the current school board, it is highly likely that the results will be predetermined.
The Selectmen do not object to a study committee if it listens to additional local voices outside of the school board or the boards of selectmen.
Such a committee, which would be more representative of individual community concerns, could include three school board members chosen by the school board and eight town representatives (two each for Enfield, Canaan and Grafton and one each for Dorchester and Orange) that are mutually agreed upon by a majority of the School Board and a majority of the Selectmen from each town for those that are representing their towns.
Furthermore, the town representatives could not be a current Selectmen nor a Town Administrator or Town Manager.
LOOK AT THE FACT CHECK SECTION BELOW!
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This is School Tax FAIRNESS?
Number of Canaan Students - 480
Number of Enfield Students - 483
ABOUT THE SAME
Canaan School Tax Rate $20.65
Enfield School Tax Rate $15.20
CANAAN IS 36% HIGHER ON A HOUSE OF COMPARABLE VALUE IN ENFIELD.
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Fact Check
There are claims that the Town Administrator and the Canaan Board of Selectmen, individually or as a board, have called for cuts in the school budget or defeat of the school budget. There are also fears being spread that the Board of Selectmen want to fire teachers or cut the length of the school day. Another claim is that they want to replace the Superintendent. These are all totally untrue.
The Canaan Board, after meeting with three other District Towns, are asking to change how the tax load is spread across the tax bases of the five towns. This has nothing to do with the school budget amount. The budget stays as voted.
Enfield residents are accusing the Canaan Town Administrator of BRIBERY! Samson met with Dorchester to explain the proposal for a change in the school funding formula. Canaan explained that our school rate was 36% higher than Enfield's because Enfield has a bigger tax base. Dorchester explained that while the $4,600 increase that would occur if the formula was changed wasn't much, it was a lot for Dorchester with a tax base that is a tenth of Canaan's. It is the same argument we have with Enfield. They have more tax base so we are asking Enfield for help. Canaan's tax base is much bigger than Dorchester, so they are asking for help. Their town government tax is $8.62. Ours is $6.64 . We explained we really needed Dorchester's help to pass a funding formula change. Samson offered to offset the $4,600 by reducing how much Canaan charges for fire service in Dorchester. He brought that idea to the Canaan Select Board. The Canaan board of Selecmen approved this change if the new school funding formula goes into effect. So what was this? It was two towns trying to figure out how to work together to afford both schools and town government. Dorchester's attorney, Canaan's attorney, the NH Municipal Association's attorney and a local prosecutor felt that this was not bribery but was negotiation.
When you see or hear statements supposedly coming from Town officials, do your own fact checking. Come to a Selectmen's meeting and ask us. The next regular meeting is February 7th at the Town Conference Room under the Library. Thank you.
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The Town of Canaan Board of Selectmen have proposed a change in the funding formula for Mascoma Valley Regional School District. It is not about cutting the school budget.
While Canaan and Enfield have almost equal student populations, (480 and 483 students), the tax rate in Canaan for the schools is $20.65 per thousand and the tax rate in Enfield is $15.20 per thousand. Canaan's rate is 36% higher than Enfield and that's after Canaan gets $1 million more state aid than Enfield gets.
Currently, a $200,000 house in Canaan pays $4,132 a year in school taxes. The same house in Enfield pays $3,040 a year in school taxes. That's a difference of $1,092 a year.
The reason for the difference is the size of Enfield's tax base compared with Canaan's.
When there is a big difference between two towns, most cooperative school districts bill the taxes based in part on the number of pupils and in part on the relative value of property to be taxed in the towns.
The blended rate proposed here would be 80% based on pupils and 20% based on property tax value.
Canaan's rate would go from $20.66 to $19.22 or a savings of $1.42 a thousand or 7%.
Obviously, Enfield taxpayers are not happy with this change. Their rate would go from $15.20 to $16.28.
If the changed formula were adopted, the typical $200,000 house in Canaan would have a school tax of $3,844. Enfield's bill would be $3,256. This is a difference between the towns of $588.
The change would also help Grafton and Orange and would be roughly neutral on Dorchester.
See the proposed Warrant Article language here.
See the tax impact here.
See the presentation of January 31 in Enfield by clicking here.
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You are invited!
Film & Forum on the
EATING DISORDERS
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Furnace, Gas, Electrical and Plumbing rules and the State Building Code and Canaan Building Permits
NEXT MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 2017
All commercial buildings require permits to do electrical, plumbing, gas and furnace work. This includes replacements as well as initial construction.
Code compliance is not Zoning where someone is told what they can do or not do on their property. It is a set of NH State rules that say if you are doing construction, you have to do it safely.
State law and regulations require that new construction in homes must be in accordance with the State Building Code which for the most part is the International Building Code.
Failure to meet code can be dangerous, may impact insurance, may prevent occupancy and may prevent property sales and financing. All of these requirements are becoming more important.
Canaan is looking at a way to let all builders, including home owners, know what the requirements are and to allow State Permitting by Notification and Certification. Under this plan, applicants for a Canaan Building Permit for major construction including major repair or replacement work would have to have a plumber or electrician or a gas technician or the homeowner themselves (single family homeowners only) certify that the work was done in accordance with code. Specific plans are not required. What is required is that someone takes responsibility for the work being done to code.
THIS IS ALL IN DRAFT FORM
This is a look at the proposed new Building Permit Form STILL IN DRAFT FORM.
Click here to look at the draft form and instructions and explanations.
THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE FEBRUARY 21ST SELECTMEN'S MEETING IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM UNDER THE LIBRARY AT 6 PM. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN OFFICE STARTING MONDAY THE 23RD.
 
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HELP WANTED
Qualified Heavy Equipment and Vehicle Lead Mechanic
Responsibilities include repair and preventive maintenance on a variety of heavy duty diesel trucks, construction equipment, fire equipment, solid waste equipment, small engines and police cruisers. Candidates must have the ability to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair engines, drive-train, hydraulic and electrical systems for heavy equipment, tractors, trucks and automobiles including gas and diesel vehicles. Candidates must have experience with computerized diagnostics including electrical systems. A complete understanding of mechanical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, structural design, and electrical skills are necessary, along with all types of welding and fabrication skills. Candidate should have experience with maintenance of fleets with up to twenty five vehicles. A Class A or B CDL license is preferred, along with appropriate certifications as needed. ASE certifications are desirable. Vocational training at either public or private programs is desirable. Must be self directed and coordinate repairs for six departments. Good organization and communication skills are necessary. Familiarity with computerized maintenance records and inventory is desired. A minimum of three (3) years experience is required. Candidates must be available in emergency situations and pass initial and periodic drug screens. Candidates must be located within 45 minutes drive time of Canaan. Current salary range is $38,912 to $45,027 depending on qualifications. We offer excellent benefits including health, dental, short-term disability, life insurance and retirement. Please submit resume, application and cover letter. Job Application may be found at canaannh.org under downloadable forms or by picking up an application at the Town offices at 1169 US 4 in Canaan. Applications should be submitted to Town of Canaan, PO Box 38, Canaan, NH 03741 or by email to townadmin@canaannh.org. Call 603-523-4501 x 5 for information.
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Can't Get Internet Services in Canaan? We want to hear from you!
 If you cannot access internet service in Canaan, please do us a favor and answer a short survey by clicking here.
No personal information will be shared.The email address will allow us to contact you if we find solutions.
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Mascoma Community Health Center
Spring is coming!
Work is progressing!
So is hiring! Click below to go to the website and check out the hiring notices.
Click here for more information!
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Happening this week:
Full Details and all the upcoming Events available on the Town Website.
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Shop Local:
In response to your feedback, all advertising will now be included at the end of this mailing service. Local business is important,and part of who we are as a town. The Town is working hard to increase local commercial activity to reduce property taxes. That said, we understand that it should hold its own place for those more interested in the news.
We hope that more businesses will take the opportunity to let local people know about the services and sales that could be of benefit to Canaan residents. All ads are free, and may include photos.If your business would like to advertise here, please email a word document (or other editable format) to townadmin@canaannh.org. Advertising is limited to Canaan Businesses, and businesses must present copy that appropriate to a general audience. All ads are subject to approval.The Town reserves the right to restrict overuse.
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FOR SALE
