8 - December 9, 2011 | Pelham - Windham News


Rosa Bucchio Receives Five Start Professional Award


Congratulations to Rosa Bucchio of SunLite Realty Corp, Pelham, on being named as a 2011 Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent in New Hampshire Magazine December 2011 issue. According to New Hampshire Magazine, “The Five Star award goes to real estate agents rated highest in overall satisfaction by clients, peers and industry experts.” Rosa was the only Pelham Real Estate agent who was named. Rosa has been a Realtor with SunLite Realty since 2005 and is licensed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.


Rosa Bucchio


Kaley Missert Crowned Queen!


On Sunday evening, November 13, girls from across the state competed in the 2011 Miss New Hampshire High School/Collegiate America Pageant. New this year was the Miss NH Junior High School category. The first ever crowned Queen for this competition is Windham’s very own 14-year-old Kaley Missert. Congratulations, Kaley! The competition consisted of a formal interview, academic and biography reviews, a casual wear and formal gown run way events. Kaley plans to do her best to represent her family and Windham Middle School during the next year.


Missert Family, from the left, Justin, Deanna, Queen Kaley, Tomas and Brittany. Lack of Donations Results in Higher Expense for Windham Fireworks by Barbara O’Brien It was Selectman Roger Hohenberger who


noted that the cost of the annual fireworks display in Windham has been steadily creeping up over the past few years. “It used to be that we budgeted $1,000 for the fireworks and the rest of the money came from others [through donations],” Hohenberger said, during the budget workshop held on November 28. Hohenberger said he “has a problem” with the spiraling cost. “This is not the time to be increasing the budget for fireworks,” he added. According to Windham Recreation


Coordinator Cheryl Haas, donations that had been counted on in years past have dried up. “Donations have gone away,” Haas told selectmen, most likely due to the poor economy. Further explanation came from Recreation


Committee member and former selectman Dennis Senibaldi. Although the Recreation Budget proposed for 2012 totals $9,500 for the annual Town Day celebration in July, only $7,000 of that amount is slated for fireworks, he said. The other $2,500 is designated for other Town Day activities. That is $500 less for fireworks than was approved for 2011, Senibaldi said, when the budgeted amount was $7,500. “So, it’s totally on the town’s shoulders,


now?” Hohenberger asked. Senibaldi confirmed that this is a fact. “No more donations are expected,” Senibaldi said, adding that the prior donor(s) never intended to pay for the fireworks “forever.” Senibaldi said he doesn’t feel that the expense for fireworks is exorbitant, considering the large percentage of


the population that enjoys the annual display. Approximately 1,200 to 1,500 Windham residents traditionally attend the celebration, he said. Senibaldi compared the amount of money


spent for the annual Christmas Party for Windham Seniors, commenting that the event costs taxpayers about $10,000 for approximately 400 residents. “It’s $25 for the meal alone,” Senibaldi said, not including the flowers and entertainment provided during the annual event. “It really bothers me, especially when people don’t show up [and a place has been reserved],” Senibaldi said. “It drives me crazy.” Senibaldi said he feels that Windham seniors should be charged $10 a person (a portion of the total cost) when making reservations for the party.


Hohenberger said he doesn’t want to see


a charge assessed to residents participating in the annual Senior Christmas Party. “I just want to see our seniors having a nice time,” he stated. Selectman Phil LoChiatto commented that the money would be better spent if used for an event that anyone in town, who wants to participate, could attend. “A six-year-old is as valued as a 65-year-old,” LoChiatto said. A motion by Hohenberger, to reduce the


amount of money budgeted for 2012 fireworks by $500 (to $6,500) failed for the lack of a second, leaving the proposal as originally presented. Changes could still be made, however, until the December 19 deadline for posting the 2012 proposed town-operating budget.


by Barbara O’Brien Windham Selectmen have agreed to


CORKBOARD Business


Free Children’s Craft Sat., Dec. 10th 10-2 p.m


Make your own pet themed ornament, at Beaver Valley Farms 635-2597


Free will donations accepted to help rescue shelter pets.


Area News Group Provided by


This board is available for business on an “as available” basis for the good of the community ZBA Gets Own Legal Budget


allow the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) to have its own legal budget beginning in 2012. The decision came at the request of ZBA members. Tom Murray, chairman of the ZBA, met with selectmen during the board’s November 28 meeting. Murray said he was representing the opinion of all ZBA members in meeting with selectmen. “The issue is not that the ZBA has been blocked access to legal services,” Murray explained. “The issue is the complexity of cases now coming before the ZBA.” “There are more appeals of administrative decisions,” these days, Murray told selectmen, referring to decisions made by the planning board, selectmen or code enforcement officials


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and contested by property owners or other applicants. The tightening of regulations and ordinances is one reason for the increase in cases heard by the ZBA, he said. “This creates an inherent conflict of interest between the town and the ZBA, sometimes necessitating a different attorney,” he added. Currently, members of the ZBA and


other town officials must get approval from Town Administrator David Sullivan before contacting the town’s contracted legal counsel, Bernie Campbell. The reason for Sullivan being “the gatekeeper” is to prevent unnecessary legal expenses. Sullivan said that he feels providing the ZBA with a separate line for legal expenses will make it more difficult to maintain control of who may or may not contact legal counsel and when those contacts might transpire. Murray said that the ZBA wants


its own budget so that it can hire its own legal counsel when deemed appropriate. There are times that using town counsel is not in the best interest of the town or ZBA applicants, he stated. Murray said that he would still consider Sullivan to be “the gatekeeper” even though the ZBA would have its own legal budget and that Sullivan would be contacted prior to the ZBA seeking any legal advice. “The dynamics have changed,” ZBA member Mark Samsel stated. “We do receive correspondence that should be referred to our own legal counsel,” rather than the town attorney, he said. It was explained that the ZBA functions as an appellate board, similar to a judge. “There are certain legal communications that need to be kept confidential,” Murray commented, and not automatically shared with other town officials or the town attorney.


According to Murray, the ZBA has spent


an average of $5,000 on legal advice for each of the past five years. During each of those years, the money for ZBA legal expenses was taken from the town’s general legal budget.


Selectman Phil LoChiatto originally opposed the ZBA having its own legal budget, saying that he believed it would create a division between the ZBA and the Planning Board. It was also noted that Town Attorney Campbell charges Windham $134 per hour, while the average lawyer is paid about $250 per hour. LoChiatto changed his mind about allowing the ZBA to have its own legal budget by the time an official vote was taken, however. Selectmen’s Vice-Chairman Bruce Breton said he was “fully supportive of the ZBA having its own attorney” and legal budget.


After further discussion and after emphasizing that the ZBA will be fully responsible for its own expenditures if given its own legal budget, selectmen voted 4 to 0 to approve the request for 2012 in the amount of $5,000. The $5,000 will be deducted from the town’s proposed general legal budget for next year, an amount totaling $47,400. Voting in favor of the separate legal budget for the ZBA were Selectmen’s Chairman Ross McLeod, Vice-Chairman Bruce Breton and Selectmen Roger Hohenberger and Phil LoChiatto. Selectman Kathleen DiFruscia did not attend the November 28 meeting. Following the vote, Sullivan again emphasized that the ZBA will be limited to a total of $5,000 for legal expenses next year. When that limit is met, Sullivan said, “you’re done!” Neither the selectmen nor Sullivan commented on what will occur if the ZBA needs more than $5,000 to meet next year’s legal expenses.


Influenza- Still Time to get Vaccinated


submitted by the American Lung Association Influenza season is in full swing. Vaccination is safe and effective, and the best way to


help prevent influenza and its complications. Those who have not had a chance to obtain the influenza vaccine early in the season, should seek immunization into the spring or as long as the influenza virus is in circulation. In most seasons, influenza activity doesn’t peak until winter or even early spring.


It


only takes about two weeks for the vaccine to protect against the virus, so even though the holidays are passing quickly, it is not too late to get vaccinated. To help prevent influenza from spreading and to encourage influenza immunization, the


Offer valid until December 31, 2011.


American Lung Association established the Faces of Influenza campaign made possible through a collaboration with sanofi pasteur. This multiyear public awareness initiative helps Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventive measure to protect themselves and their loved ones every year. We all are “faces” of influenza and are at risk of contracting the virus. The Centers


for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age and older receive an influenza vaccination. The recommendation reinforces annual influenza vaccination as a public health priority and highlights the need for people to talk to their health care provider about getting immunized this season. Vaccination is important for everyone in the U.S., however, influenza immunization rates


in the highest-risk groups fall far short of public health goals every year. Groups with the highest risk of developing influenza-related complications include: people 50 years of age and older, children 6 months-18 years of age, pregnant women, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, and others, residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Annual immunization is also recommended for caregivers and household contacts of


these high-risk groups, such as relatives and health care providers. Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that is easily spread and can lead to severe


complications, even death, for those who come into contact with the illness. Each year in the U.S., on average, influenza and its related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations. Depending on virus severity during the influenza season, deaths can range from 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. To learn more about the program, visit www.facesofinfluenza.org.


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