Town of Sharon

Fire Ban

Due to extremely dangerous fire conditions, the Fire Warden is prohibiting all outdoor burning, including previously permitted seasonal campfires. See below the order by the Chief of the New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau. These restrictions will not be lifted until a substantial change in the weather takes place. Please check with any of the three Wardens in town about getting burn permits in the future.

Ken Callahan, Fire Warden, Town of Sharon 924-3726

Peter Paris, Deputy Fire Warden 924-4078

Francis Guptill, Deputy Fire Warden 924-3013

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

DEPARTMENT of NATURAL and CULTURAL RESOURCES

DIVISION of FORESTS and LANDS

172 Pembroke Road Concord, New Hampshire 03301

603-271-2214

To: Forest Fire Wardens, Deputy Wardens, Special Deputy Wardens, Fire Departments

From: Steven Sherman, Chief, NH Forest Protection Bureau

Date: September 25, 2020

Subject: State Prohibition on Open Fires and Smoking in and near woodlands

Today the Governor and Council signed a Proclamation prohibiting open fires and smoking in and near woodlands. This was done because of the fire conditions we have and will continue to have as we enter Fall. The drought conditions are severe across the state and wildfire indices are at the point where the potential for large fire activity exists.

What prohibitions are contained in the Proclamation?

Also to note: The online fire permit system has been shut down until weather conditions improve.…it shall be unlawful for any person in the State to Kindle an open fire, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris, or warming, on all public trails or other public property, excluding public Campgrounds, to smoke a pipe, cigar and/or cigarette outdoors in or near public woodlands or on public trails, to kindle a category 3 “fire;” a fire greater than 4 feet in diameter or a fire not contained within a ring of fire resistive material

What this means is:

 All fires are prohibited on public lands, except in a campground

 Category 3 fires are banned everywhere, public and private lands

 Category 1 and 2 fires are allowed on private property with a fire permit

 No smoking is allowed in or near public woodlands or on public trails

Post the Proclamation Signs in public places and at access points to public lands in your town. A

copy of the sign is attached to this letter for you to print and post. Contact public and private campgrounds to discuss fire prevention measures, staffing at

campgrounds, and ensure all extra campground requirements are still in place for each campfire.

o Advise your Forest Ranger when fire danger conditions change in your community as well as any

permit restrictions in place. While not prohibited in the proclamation, per Res 5601.04(a)(5)

Category 1 and 2 permits may be suspended by the Forest Fire Warden if they determine weather

conditions to be unfavorable. Res 5608.01 Unfavorable weather conditions shall include, but not

be limited to, wind, lack of precipitation, or any other factor which could increase fire hazard

Sincerely,

Steven Sherman

Chief, New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau

Primary Election Results

Republican 60 voters

Governor Testerman 9, Nobody 1, Sununu 50

US Senator Bolduc 19, Martin 1, Messner 33, Beloin Bozo t clown 1, Nobody 1

Rep in Congress Clemmer 7, Negron 24, BJelobrk 3, Blankenbeker 18 Nobody 1

Exec Councilor Wheeler 39, Clegg 15 Nobody 1

State Senator Ricciardi 41 Nobody 1

State Repr Kelley 37, Somero 36 nobody 1

Sheriff Holmes 13, Connelly 33 Carl Newton 1 Nobody 1

County Attorney Coughlin 24, Hynes 24 Bruce Rootsela 1 Nobody 1

County Treasurer Fredette 41 Craig Rautiola 1 Nobody 1

County Commissioner Rowe 41 Fran Rautiola 1 Nobody 1

Delegate to the State Convention Fran Rautiola 1, Chester Bowles 1, Jack Ogren 2, Cory Lewendowski 2

Democrat 78 Voters

Governor Feltes 34, Volinsky 42

US Senator Krautman 5, Shaheen 71

Rep in Congress Kuster 75, Mirzoeff 3

Exec Councilor Pignatelli 71

State Senator Dietsch 74 Mark Fernald 1

State Rep Crooker 53, Lynch 60

Sheriff Barry 61

County Attorney Conlon 64

County Treasurer Bryk 63

County Commissioner Radhakrishnan 29, Ketteridge 31

36 Absentee Ballots were cast

Election Worker Thank You

To all of our Election Officials:

Thanks to all of you, we had a successful Primary Day that required a great deal of effort and understanding from everyone. Many of you have done this for years. Incredible service. The Town can be proud of all of our citizens for cooperating during these trying times.

Also, thanks to the volunteers who helped at the polls: Chet Bowles, Gracie Hartman, Candice and Tim Conner, Mark Fernald, Robert Hauser, and Ken Callahan. Now we just have to do it all over again on November 3.

Select Board and Planning Board meetings

PUBLIC NOTICE

The September 15, 2020 Select Board meeting will be held at the Old Brick School House

at 5:30 pm.

The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 6:30 pm at the Meeting House.

Select Board Special Meeting

The Select Board will have a special meeting on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 4:30 pm to accept a grant from the Secretary of State office.

129th Annual Sharon Picnic

2020 Primary and General Election Absentee Ballot Procedure

The State of NH has determined that for the 2020 primary and general elections voters who wish to vote absentee will only need to fill out one absentee ballot request form for both elections. The State has revised the absentee ballot request form and the new form is now available from the Town Clerk, there is also a link on the Town of Sharon website under the "Documents" tab to download the absentee ballot request form.

You may obtain an absentee ballot request form by either emailing the Town Clerk at sharontownclerk@gmail.com or calling 603-924-1058. Complete the request form and return it to the Town Clerk. Once the Town Clerk receives your absentee ballot request the ballot for the September 8, 2020 primary will be mailed to you. The ballot for the November 3, 2020 general election will be mailed out by the Town Clerk after she receives them from the State. If your address for November will be different (second home, snow bird, etc.) for the November election please notify the Town Clerk. Mail ballots as soon as possible, due to the COVID procedures mail is taking significantly longer to arrive at its destination.

All absentee ballots MUST be received at the Sharon Meeting House no later than 5:00 PM on election day. All instructions included with the absentee ballot must be followed carefully. Please remember that the Town of Sharon only receives one mail delivery per day, the mail generally arrives at the Sharon Meeting House mail box between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Also, please remember that there will be no mail on Monday, September 7, 2020 as this is the Labor Day Holiday. Someone will be at the Sharon Meeting House on Monday, September 7, 2020 between the hours of 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Please call Jane Murray, Town Clerk, if you have any questions regarding the process at 603-924-1058