2022 Town Warrant Information
Barrington is an SB2 community which means that Town Meeting is separated into a Deliberative Session and a Ballot Session. The Select Board has been working since September to develop and finalize the operating budget and warrant articles to be presented to voters at Town Meeting in 2022. This page is intended to provide additional details regarding each warrant article. The additional information may include documents or video links. Please use the Table of Contents to navigate directly to the information about a specific warrant article.
TOWN MEETING RESULTS
Town Ballot • Zoning Ballot • School Ballot
Town Meeting (Ballot Session) voting on March 8, 2022 at the Barrington Middle School from 8:00am to 7:00pm
*Please wear a mask*
Click Here to view a recording of the 2022 Deliberative Session held on February 5, 2022.
The Candidate Forum can be viewed on the Town's YouTube channel.
Table of Contents
Town Deliberative Session:
- Click Here to review important information and frequently asked questions about the 2022 Deliberative Session.
- Saturday, February 5, 2022
- 9:00am
- Barrington Middle School (51 Haley Drive)
- Video Recording
Ballot Session:
- Tuesday, March 8, 2022
- 8:00am - 7:00pm
- Barrington Middle School (51 Haley Drive)
- The 2022 ballots can be found here: 2022 Town Ballot**, 2022 Zoning Ballot**, and 2022 School Ballot**.
Department of Revenue Administration Forms:
- Warrant Form
- Budget Form (MS636)
- Default Budget Form (MSDTB)
Unassigned Fund Balance
Many warrant articles are funded using unassigned fund balance which minimizes future tax rate impacts. If you have questions regarding Barrington's unassigned fund balance please review the information found Here.
Article 1: Election of Town Officers
The 2022 Candidate Forum was scheduled for Thursday February 17, 2022 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Town candidates answered questions from 6:00pm-7:30pm and school candidates from 7:30pm-9:00pm. Details about the virtual event can be found here: www.barrington.nh.gov/2022CandidateForum. A recording of the event is available on the Town's YouTube channel.
Article 2: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #1 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board to amend the Zoning Map by changing Tax Map 220 Lots 57 and 57-1 through 57-17 from Regional Commercial to General Residential?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to zone these lots to be consistent with their current use, which is as part of an Open Space Subdivision and therefore no longer appropriate for commercial use.
Article 3: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #2 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board to amend the Zoning Map by changing Tax Map 223 Lots 24 & 26 from Regional Commercial to General Residential after the first 500 feet from Route 125?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to zone the remainder of this parcel for uses that are consistent with its current approved uses.
Article 4: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #3 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board to amend the Zoning Map by changing Tax Map 251 Lots 64 & 65 from General Residence to Regional Commercial?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 4-1.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to zone these two parcels for uses that are consistent with their current use and to increase the opportunities for commercial development in this location.
Article 5: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #4 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 2.1.1 to add a requirement that the zoning map be available on the Town’s website?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to update the date of the Zoning Map, should any of the first three proposed amendments pass, and to direct people to the Town’s website.
Article 6: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #5 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend the Table of Dimensional Standards to require a setback of 40 feet rather than 30 feet for properties in the Regional Commercial District which do not front on State Highways, such as Route 4 and Route 125?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to formalize what has been standing practice.
Article 7: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #6 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 6.2.2(3) regarding Conservation Subdivisions to provide that no more than 50% of the required open space may consist of open water, wetland soils, exposed ledge, or other undevelopable terrain?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to make clear that the minimum required buildable land (50%) in the open space is based on the minimum amount of land required to be open space, allowing the developer to offer additional open space without the additional open space having to meet the 50% buildable requirement.
Article 8: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #7 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 7.3 to provide that home occupations must be conducted entirely within the structure of a single-family dwelling and may be operated only by the legal residents of the dwelling?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the original intention of this section.
Article 9: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #8 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 7.3(3) to alter the area of a dwelling unit that a home occupation may occupy from 30% of the dwelling’s net living area to 500 square feet?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the original intention of this section and to ensure that the Home Occupation remains secondary and incidental to the primary residential use.
Article 10: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #9 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 7.4(7) to provide that home businesses, including storage, must be confined to a designated accessory or primary dwelling structure or an outside area which is adequately screened with fencing and/or a vegetative buffer; and further to reduce the amount of total area which the home business may occupy from 4,500 square feet to 2,000 square feet or no more than 10% of the lot, whichever is less.
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the original intention of this section and to ensure that the Home Business remains secondary and incidental to the primary residential use.
Article 11: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #10 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Article 19 by changing Bed & Breakfast from a Permitted Use to Permitted by Conditional Use in Village, Town Center, and Regional Commercial Districts?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 5-0.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to allow more Planning Board oversight and abutter input into a use that can have varying impacts depending on the neighborhood and the intensity of the use.
Article 12: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #11 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Article 19 by changing Drug Store from a Permitted Use to Permitted by Conditional Use in Village, Town Center, and Regional Commercial Districts?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 3-2.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to allow more Planning Board and abutter oversight into a use that can have varying impacts depending on the neighborhood and the intensity of the use.
Article 13: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #12 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board as follows: Amend Section 4.2.2(3) to increase the minimum lot size for multi-family housing in the Village District from 80,000 square feet of upland area for the first dwelling unit and 10,000 square feet for each additional dwelling unit to 80,000 square feet for the first dwelling unit and 40,000 square feet for each additional unit?
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 4-1.
Explanation: The purpose of this amendment is to encourage more mixed use/commercial development in the Village District by facilitating economies of scale that make it advantageous to a developer to include commercial uses.
Article 14: By Petition: Zoning
Are you in favor of Amendment #13 for the Barrington Zoning Ordinance submitted by petition as follows:
Delete the following article: Article 9.5.1(5)…This ordinance shall not prohibit the construction of principal and accessory structures within the buffer zone on unimproved lots that were approved for subdivision by the Planning Board or which otherwise legally existed on or before March 13, 2001.
This amendment was recommended for approval by the Planning Board 6-1. (BY PETITION)
Article 15: Operating Budget
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $7,647,871? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $7,533,394, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 4-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article is estimated to have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Click Here to visit the comprehensive 2022 Budget webpage which includes the entire contents of the 2022 budget binder used by the Select Board and Advisory Budget Committee.
Click Here for a summary of the budget by department.
Article 16: Bridge and Culvert Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the Bridge and Culvert Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 17: Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 18: Paving and Related Road Work Non-Lapsing Article
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000 for road paving and reconstruction, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. This special warrant article will be a non-lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7, V and will not lapse until December 31, 2023. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 19: Police Equipment Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $90,000 to be added to the Police Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 20: Fire Truck Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $80,000 to be added to the Fire Truck Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 4-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 21: Emergency Communications Upgrades Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to be added to the Communications Upgrades for Emergency Services Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 22: Transfer Station and Recycling Center Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Transfer Station and Recycling Center Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for all costs associated with improvements to the Transfer Station and Recycling Center facility, including but not limited to paving, renovation, construction, and equipment, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be placed in this fund, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 23: Dam Repair/Engineering/Replacement Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be added to the Dam Repair/Engineering/Replacement Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 24: Library and Community Center Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be added to the Library and Community Center Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is not recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 3-1. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 25: Cemetery Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,000 to be added to the Cemetery Capital Reserve previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. This is equal to the amount the Town collected in 2021 from the sale of cemetery lots and other cemetery revenue. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 26: Tricentennial Celebration Expendable Trust
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the Tricentennial Celebration Expendable Trust previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 27: Fire and Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the Fire and Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 28: Library Technology Capital Reserve
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 to be added to the Library Technology Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation. [Majority Vote Required]. Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article 15, the operating budget article. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article will have no impact on 2022 property taxes.
Article 29: Service-Connected Total Disability Credit
To see if the Town will vote to increase the optional tax credit for a Service-Connected Total Disability on residential property from $3,050 to $3,550 pursuant to the provisions of RSA 72:35. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article is projected to add 1.5 cents/1,000 to the 2022 tax rate or $4.50 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property.
Article 30: Fire and Ambulance Services Revolving Fund
To see if the Town will vote to modify the Ambulance Services Revolving Fund previously established pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, for the purpose of providing ambulance and fire services such that 50% of revenues received from ambulance fees will be deposited into the Fund with the remaining 50% to become part of the Town’s general fund. The money in the Fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year and shall not be considered part of the Town’s general fund balance. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the Fund and shall pay out the same only upon order of the governing body and no further approval is required by the legislative body to expend. Such funds may be expended only for the purpose for which the fund was created or modified. The fund was originally created in 2011 and amended in 2013; this article adds fire services to the purpose of the fund. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.
Article 31: Cemetery Maintenance and Expansion Expendable Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Cemetery Maintenance and Expansion Expendable Trust Fund pursuant to RSA 31:19-a and RSA 289:2-a, allowing all future proceeds received from the sale of cemetery lots in Barrington cemeteries and any interest gained thereon to be deposited directly into this fund for the maintenance and expansion of cemeteries; and, further to name the Select Board as agents to expend from this fund. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.
Article 32: Selling Tax-Deeded ‘The Homestead’ Subdivision
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to sell 23 tax-deeded parcels consisting of approximately 50 acres of land known as “The Homestead Subdivision” near Gerrior Drive in south-west Barrington on such terms and conditions as the Select Board deem reasonable and necessary. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 4-0.
Article 33: By Petition: All Veterans' Tax Credit
To see if the Town will vote to increase the optional All Veterans’ Tax Credit from $550 to $650 pursuant to the provisions of RSA 72:28 and RSA 72:28-b. [Majority Vote Required]. This article is recommended by the Select Board 4-0. This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0. This article is projected to add 4 cents/1,000 to the 2022 tax rate or $12 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property. (BY PETITION)
Article 34: Other Business
To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting of the honorable Town Government.