NEWS, UPDATES, & NOTICE

MASTER PLAN SURVEY:  Your Input is Critical 

During the March 2024 Town Meeting, the decision was made to update portions of the 1983 Master Plan. This allowed the Planning Board to move forward with forming the Surry Master Plan Committee and engaging the Southwest Region Planning Commission to assist in updating two critical sections of our Master Plan (Vision and Land Use).

As part of that effort, the committee has just mailed an invitation to all town residents to participate in a community survey (see below). Your input is critical if we are to establish a vision and land use plan that correctly reflects the community’s needs and desires.

Also, please block your calendar for the public forum on November 16th at 10:00 a.m. This will be yet another opportunity for you to learn more about the plan and provide additional input.

Note: The postcard image above contains the correct URL and QR code for the survey. Unfortunately, the first mailing of the above postcard had a printing error and showed an incorrect URL: “visit v/r/surry.” A second mailing will correct the error and show the correct URL: www.surveymonkey.com/r/surry.

MUNICIPAL TAX RATE: 2024

Surry’s tax rate for 2024 remains relatively stable compared to last year.  This was only able to be accomplished by utilizing a surplus balance of $114K from the overlay fund and $200K from the unassigned fund to offset a large portion of the town’s 2024 Municipal Expenses.  The unassigned fund still has what is considered an adequate balance of $274K, but reducing it further for tax offsetting purposes would not be prudent.

Property tax bills are scheduled for mailing; you can expect to see them shortly.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA)

You are being notified of an upcoming public hearing concerning an application for variance submitted by Tree Agents LLC. The applicant seeks to construct a 12-lot subdivision on Joslin Rd in Surry. Seven of the lots do not meet road frontage requirements, and 8 lots do not meet lot width requirements as specified by the Surry Zoning Ordinance. The applicant seeks relief by variance from Article VI, land and space requirement of the Surry Zoning ordinance.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The hearing will be held at the Surry Town Hall starting at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to attend and comment.

If a decision is not reached on that date, the item will remain on the ZBA agenda until a decision is made.

CHESHIRE COMMUNITY POWER, Article 15: Update – Motion Passed

The select board passed the following motion on Monday, October 17, 2024: to join Cheshire Community Power (CCP). As we approach our inclusion in the March 2025 rollout of new communities joining CCP, you can anticipate a public information session and letters explaining the program in detail.

“Resolved, that we hereby commit the Town of Surry to join Cheshire Community Power to provide default supply service on an opt-out basis to retail electricity customers with the Surry Boundaries, pursuant to RSA 53 -E:6(I), understanding that the Surry may appoint a representative and alternate to the Cheshire Community Power Governance Council to support joint oversight o the program, and continuing hereafter, or until such time as Surry elects for form its own Community Power Aggregation program, as provided for in and subject to the terms of County’s Electric Aggregation Plan, inclusive of the requirements and considerations for municipalities afforded therein under Attachment 10: Cheshire Community Power Governance Council, as amended from time to time hereafter.”

The following link will take you to a copy of the presentation provided by Terry Clark, Board Director of the Community Power Coalition, at the October 7th Public Hearing —Presentation 10.7.24.

ESTABLISH HIGHWAY GARAGE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, 2023 Article 12 – Update

Article 12 was passed during the March 2023 town meeting, appropriating $50,000 for facility improvements, including a septic system. We are happy to report that the septic system and bathroom installation are completed and fully functional.

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION – NEW TOWN EMAIL NOTIFICATION REGISTRATION – Action Needed

The Selectmen are working to improve communications and keep the town informed about important updates and events impacting the community. I’m sure you have already noticed the changes to the website’s landing page, but to reach more people, we are now looking to establish an email distribution list that will allow us to send the information directly to you.

If you want to receive these updates, email townemail@surry.nh.gov from the email account where you would like to receive them. Please include your name (First and last) and your mailing address in the body of the email. Your phone number is optional.

Your email will trigger an automated response to confirm you’ve registered. If you don’t see the email in your Inbox after a few minutes, please check your Spam folder and flag it as “Not Spam” to prevent future emails from going there.