Town Charter Section 5.5. A. Capital Improvements Plan
A. Capital Improvements Program Committee
In accordance with RSA 674:5, there is established a Capital Improvements Program Committee consisting of an odd number of voting members and comprised as follows:
1. One (1) member named and appointed by and from the Town Council;
2. One (1) member named and by and from the School Board;
3. One (1) member named and by and from the Budget Committee;
4. Two (2) members named and nominated by and from the Planning Board;
Pursuant to RSA 674:5, the Town Council is required to approve nominations to the Committee; should the nominating body fail to nominate a member within thirty (30) days of a vacancy or expiration of a term, the Council shall appoint an individual knowledgeable in that particular field.
The following staff members shall provide on-going support to the Committee’s efforts as determined and required by the Committee: (Other staff shall provide information and support to the process as requested by the Planning Board.)
- The Town’s Chief Financial Officer
- The School’s Chief Financial Officer
- The Town Planner
B. The Capital Improvements Program Committee shall meet not less than six times per year to fulfill its charge as set forth by RSA 674:5, RSA 674:6, RSA 674:7, RSA 674:8 the provisions of this Section and as directed by the Planning Board. and The Committee shall review the recommendations of the Master Plan and prepare a Capital Improvements Plan, which Plan shall consist of:
- A list and recommended prioritization of all capital improvements, including major replacements which are proposed to be undertaken over a period of at least the next six (6) fiscal years, including, but not limited to; equipment, sewer and water mains or facilities, roads, sidewalks, bicycle paths or lanes, public open spaces, recreation lands, school buildings, new police and/or fire stations and other public facilities and major items of equipment, with appropriate supporting information at the necessity for such improvements. Capital Improvements shall be further defined as community improvements which are typically required to provide a public benefit or purpose.
- Cost estimates, methods of financing, and recommended time schedule for each such improvement; and
- The estimated annual costs of operating and maintaining the facilities to be replaced, constructed, or acquired.
C. The Capital Improvements Program Committee shall submit a Capital Improvements Plan to the Planning Board, which shall hold a public hearing on the proposed Plan. After the public hearing, the Planning Board shall finalize its recommendations, adopt a plan and forward the plan to the Council and the School Board for consideration and action as the Council and School Board shall direct.
State RSA’s
674:5 Authorization. – In a municipality where the planning board has adopted a master plan, the local legislative body may authorize the planning board to prepare and amend a recommended program of municipal capital improvement projects projected over a period of at least 6 years. As an alternative, the legislative body may authorize the governing body of a municipality to appoint a capital improvement program committee, which shall include at least one member of the planning board and may include but not be limited to other members of the planning board, the budget committee, or the town or city governing body, to prepare and amend a recommended program of municipal capital improvement projects projected over a period of at least 6 years. The capital improvements program may encompass major projects being currently undertaken or future projects to be undertaken with federal, state, county and other public funds. The sole purpose and effect of the capital improvements program shall be to aid the mayor or selectmen and the budget committee in their consideration of the annual budget.
674:6 Purpose and Description. – The capital improvements program shall classify projects according to the urgency and need for realization and shall recommend a time sequence for their implementation. The program may also contain the estimated cost of each project and indicate probable operating and maintenance costs and probable revenues, if any, as well as existing sources of funds or the need for additional sources of funds for the implementation and operation of each project. The program shall be based on information submitted by the departments and agencies of the municipality and shall take into account public facility needs indicated by the prospective development shown in the master plan of the municipality or as permitted by other municipal land use controls.
674:7 Preparation. –
I. In preparing the capital improvements program, the planning board or the capital improvement program committee shall confer, in a manner deemed appropriate by the board or the committee, with the mayor or the board of selectmen, or the chief fiscal officer, the budget committee, other municipal officials and agencies, the school board or boards, and shall review the recommendations of the master plan in relation to the proposed capital improvements program.
II. Whenever the planning board or the capital improvement program committee is authorized and directed to prepare a capital improvements program, every municipal department, authority or agency, and every affected school district board, department or agency, shall, upon request of the planning board or the capital improvement program committee, transmit to the board or committee a statement of all capital projects it proposes to undertake during the term of the program. The planning board or the capital improvement program committee shall study each proposed capital project, and shall advise and make recommendations to the department, authority, agency, or school district board, department or agency, concerning the relation of its project to the capital improvements program being prepared.
674:8 Consideration by Mayor and Budget Committee. – Whenever the planning board or the capital improvement program committee has prepared a capital improvements program under RSA 674:7, it shall submit its recommendations for the current year to the mayor or selectmen and the budget committee, if one exists, for consideration as part of the annual budget.