By Heather Matthews
Staff Writer

Bow Times/Heather Matthews Resident Lori Davis speaks out in favor of the petitioned warrant article that, if approved, would change Dunbarton from a traditional Town Meeting form of government to SB2, or official ballot voting. School and town public hearings were held last week. The proposed change will go before voters on Tuesday, March 14, on both the school and town ballots.

Karen Harrington wants to see more people participate in Dunbarton’s government.

Last month, Harrington submitted a petition to the town and the school district to change Dunbarton from the traditional Town Meeting form of government to the official ballot law, commonly called SB2. SB2 stands for Senate Bill 2, which became state law when it was passed.

But not all residents, school and town officials are convinced Dunbarton should change its 240-year tradition from the Town Meeting form of government.

Last year at Dunbarton’s School District Meeting, about 60 people voted on the school’s nearly $4 million 2005-06 budget.

According to a 2000 study by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, Dunbarton is not far from the state average.

The study concluded that only about 2 percent of the population of the average New Hampshire town attends Town Meeting, School District Meeting or the deliberative sessions of those meetings under SB2.

Despite these statistics, Harrington said the traditional form of Town Meeting is not working for Dunbarton or its voters, and she hopes to change that by switching Dunbarton to SB2.

“Fifty-five people voting on a $4 million budget is not a fair representation of the registered voters in this town,” said Harrington. “I want more people to participate and vote.”

Since its proposal, the SB2 petition has been the center of controversy at both the school and the town levels.

School

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the school district hosted a public hearing on the petitioned SB2 change.

“The session (was) conducted in order to hear input from whomever would like to give it,” said Betty Ann Noyes, school board chairman.

Resident Lori Davis chose to support and sign the petition because, according to statistics, SB2 increases voter participation.

But, more importantly, said Davis, SB2 would provide voters the opportunity to vote privately in a voting booth.

Davis said she has experienced animosity for speaking out against issues and articles during the Town and School District Meetings.

“We all have the right to vote and voice our own opinions without repercussions,” said Davis. “SB2 will open up doors so more people are able to vote.”

Resident Jeff Trexler said in New Hampshire, 55 towns are governed by SB2, but the change-over trend is diminishing.

“In 1996, 28 towns became SB2. In 1997, seven did. In 1998, six changed. In 1998, only four changed and in the last six years, 10 have changed to SB2 governments,” Trexler said. “Obviously, all these towns started off thinking that SB2 was a great idea, but now fewer towns are switching. They see the problems involved with SB2.”

One aspect of SB2 that could cause problems for the school district, said Town Moderator Fred Mullen, is that during the SB2 process, if the voters do not pass the school’s proposed budget, there is no chance to adjust the numbers and revote. The school district would then fall to a default budget.

The default budget, said School Superindent Darryl Lockwood, would be the previous year’s budget plus any contractual obligations the district may have. The default budget, said Lockwood, would affect the elementary school since the majority of the budget is an obligation. Mullen said a default budget would cause the school to go into disrepair because the funds for simple maintainence would not be available.

While officials said there is low voter turnout and participation in government, many residents said they would rather find another solution than SB2.

Lockwood said the district needs to work on convincing people that their vote makes a difference.

“Parents are not participating in the democratic process,” he said. “Six hundred people voting out of 1,600 (registered voters) is atrocious. We need to get them to come out and participate. They need to feel like they have some say in government.”

Selectmen oppose change

At a public hearing on the proposed change to SB2 on Thursday, Feb. 23, selectmen announced they voted unanimously not to support the petitioned article.

Mullen said he asked more than 200 other town moderators about their experiences with SB2 during a moderator’s workshop.

“Each one of them said it was the worst thing that has ever happened to their town,” he said. “People just don’t show up for the deliberative session, which is the most important one.”

Changing Dunbarton from a Town Meeting form of government to SB2 would affect the way government works in Dunbarton as well as the many of the characteristics that make Dunbarton, Dunbarton, Mullen said.

Mullen said people volunteer each year to help count the ballots after Town Meeting and elections. With an SB2, those volunteers would not be as involved in the process, he said.

“I’d hate to see (SB2) in this town,” said Mullen. “I’d hate to see us lose those qualities. People should think long and hard about what they want to do to Dunbarton before voting on SB2.”

However, school board member John Herlihy said changes in Dunbarton are needed, and more voters would turn out if they were able to vote on their own time and in a ballot booth.

“More people vote in a booth than go to Town Meeting,” Herlihy said. “Everyone’s lives are so helter-skelter. They are always going here and there. Change is good. I’m tired of being singled out at Town Meeting. Everyone has the right to vote in a ballot booth, where no one is watching. It’s time for SB2 to take its place.”

Resident Nick Holmes said he does not believe there is anything wrong with Town Meeting.

“Change for the sake of change is foolish,” said Holmes. “Town Meeting is not broken. We still have participation and lively debate.”

Holmes said he has shown up at Town Meeting with his mind made up about an issue, but he has had it changed through debate at the meeting. It’s the responsibility of an informed voter to attend Town Meeting and listen to debates, he said.

“People have to pay the price and commit three, four, five hours, one night a year to go to Town Meeting,” he said. “I live a busy life. I travel. I work. I can still devote one night a year to Town Meeting. Town Meeting has worked so well for this town and made it what it is.”

Selectman Deb Foster urged voters to take more time to consider the ramifications of changing the town to SB2.

“We have to think long and hard before we do something like this,” she said. “This is a major decsion and we’ve only had a three- or four-week turnaround on something that can change the character of the town forever.”

Foster said the change to SB2 would end the friendly feeling of Town Meeting.

“We don’t have a real town center,” she said. “It seems like Town Meeting is a good meeting place. That’s going to be lost if we switch to (SB2).”

But resident Ray Simard said he has three reasons for voting to pass the SB2 amendment.

“Their names are Stephanie, Kara and Melissa,” he said.

All three of Simard’s daughters are of voting age, but have spent the last four to seven years away at college. He said his daughters have a right to participate and make decisions through absentee ballots, a feature that Town Meeting doesn’t offer.

“(My daughters) are co-owners of my property and they will own it some day,” he said. “They are the future of Dunbarton. I support SB2 for my future and for my children’s future.”

It’s up to the voters

The petition will go before voters on the school district and town ballots on Tuesday, March 14. To pass, SB2 needs a threefifths majority vote.

The reasons for turning in the petition come down to one thing – giving Dunbarton residents a choice, Harrington said.

“Each is voted on separately so SB2 could pass for both the town and the school, or one and not the other,” she said. “I urge everyone to do the research, decide for themselves and be sure to vote.”