Friends of Epsom’s historic meetinghouse will return to the voters with another $25,000 request to continue design and building work at the building.

Epsom voted previously in 2012 to award the committee $25,000 for site materials and building improvements. Another vote affirmed the town’s desire to create town office space in the building.
Epsom’s proposed operating budget is $2,940,613, $78,470 higher than the default budget.

Several of the additional warrants deal with safety equipment and personnel, including $31,912 to hire a full time police officer, $32,660 to hire a full-time firefighter/paramedic, $16,800 for 10 sets of replacement firefighting turnout gear (outer protective clothing), and $30,000 to purchase a cardiac monitor/defibrillator.

Should all warrants pass on the town ballot, the tax impact is estimated at $1.14 per $1,000, or $285 on a home valued at $250,000.

School

There are just three articles to be voted on. The operating budget is set at $9,143,557. Should that fail, the default budget will be $9,130,849. Article 2 asks for approval of a collective bargaing agreement for teachers, and Article 3 asks for tax impact to be listed on each article.

Candidates

There are several contested races. Five-year incumbent on the Board of Selectmen Robert Blodgett is running to retain his seat in a race against former state representative Tony Soltani. Former Selectman Joni Kitson is also conducting a write-in campaign.

There will also be a three-way race for road agent between incumbent Gordon Ellis, newcomer Michael Tinsley and write-in candidate Scott Elliott.