2025 Elections and Town Meeting Information

As additional information for Town Meeting and Elections for 2025 becomes available, it will be added to this page.

Town Meeting Day - Saturday, March 15, 2025

The Bristol Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Newfound Regional High School Auditorium beginning at 9:00AM. Voters will be asked to review the remaining Warrant Articles not voted on the ballot on March 11. This includes the Operating Budget and any Special or Individual Warrant Articles. Below is additional information on the Warrant Articles that will be reviewed: 

Town Meeting will be live-streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPXjH_5khM

Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the Budget Committee's recommended sum of Nine Million Six Hundred Sixty-One Thousand Three Hundred Forty-Eight Dollars ($9,661,348) for general municipal operations. The Select Board recommends Nine Million Six Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($9,685,325). This article does not include appropriations contained in special or individual articles addressed separately. (Majority vote required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

• MS737 - Department of Revenue Report - 2025 Proposed Appropriations
• 2025 - Budget Committee - Proposed Budget Appropriations
• 2025 - Budget Committee - Proposed Revenues 
• Annual Town Report - Budget Committee

Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to establish a contingency fund for the current year for unanticipated expenses that may arise and further to raise and appropriate Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars  ($25,000) to put in the fund. This sum to come from unassigned fund balance. Any appropriation left in the fund at the end of the year will lapse to the general fund. (Majority vote required). PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to be added to the Patriotic, Recreation and Special Events Expendable Trust Fund established in 2021. (Majority vote required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

• Fireworks have been set for the barge shoot on Newfound Lake on July 5, 2025 with rain date July 11, 2025
• Fireworks cost $18,500 with the remainder for food, vendors, entertainment and restrooms

Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) to be added to the following Capital Reserve Funds previously established. (Majority vote required) PASSED

• Accrued Wages Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 1998)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$25,000
• Assessment Reval Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 2015)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$25,000
• Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 1972)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$100,000
• Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 1968)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$160,000
• Police Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 2017)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$70,000
• Town Building Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund (Established in 2014)>>>>>>>>>>$20,000

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0 

Article 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000) for the purpose of obtaining and placing an emergency generator and corresponding components at the Public Safety Building with One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000) to come from a grant. This appropriation is contingent upon receipt of the grant and if not received the Warrant Article will be null and void. No amount, of this article, to be raised from taxation and shall not impact Town's tax rate. (Majority vote required) PASSED

The Budgct Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 14: To see if the Town will vole to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Fifty-Four Thousand Four Hundred Sixteen Dollars ($254,416) for the purpose of hiring up to four (4) full-time permanent Firefighters. This amount includes the salary and all benefits for six (6) months. The amount of this Article is not included in the operating budget under Article 9. (Majority vote required) PASSED BY BALLOT VOTE 80-31-1

For more information, please refer to this video.

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Cemetery Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund pursuant to RSA 3l:19-a and RSA 289:2-a, allowing all future proceeds received from the sale of cemetery lots in the Town of Bristol cemeteries and any interest gained thereon, for the maintenance of cemeteries; and to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Twenty-Five Dollars ($2,025) to put in said fund. The amount of this appropriation is to coincide with the amount received from the sale of two (2) lots in 2024. This cost item shall be funded from the Unassigned Fund Balance and no amount to be raised by taxation which shall not impact the Town's tax rate. The Town's Cemetery Trustees shall be named as agents to expend from this fund. (Majority vote required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for the purpose of purchasing replacement firearms for the Police Department. (Majority Vote Required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to establish an Energy Projects Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of funding energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, outreach initiatives related to increasing energy efficiency and,/or reducing energy costs and for covering grant matches related to increasing energy efficiency and to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be placed in this fund. This sum to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. (Majority Vote Required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 4-2-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($16,700) for the purpose of purchasing, installing, and maintaining four (4) new trees in Central Square. (Majority Vote Required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 19: To see if the Town will vote to modify the purpose of the existing Transfer Station Revolving Fund created in 2014 pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, from promoting recycling through improved Transfer Station operation to additionally include recycling through improvements and maintenance to Transfer Station Operations including equipment. And to add that all recycling revenue from cardboard and aluminum will be deposited into the fund, and 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 monies 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. (Majority vote required) PASSED

The Budget Committee Recommends this Article 6-0-0
The Select Board Recommends this Article 5-0-0

Article 20: To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.

Town Elections - Ballot Voting - Tuesday, March 11, 2025

This day is for voting for Candidates for Office and Zoning Amendments. See below more information on parking, road detours, shuttle service, candidates, and amendments. 

VOTING LOCATION - Voting will be held at the Historic Town Hall - 45 Summer Street.

PARKING - There is extremely limited parking at the building for handicap access only, however the parking lot at the Town Office Building at 5 School St is open for voters to park. Candidates and candidate representatives SHOULD NOT PARK HERE! The space is intended for use by voters. 

SHUTTLE SERVICE - The Town vehicle has been reserved for shuttling voters to the Historic Town Hall from the Town Office parking lot. The vehicle will be parked in the corner lot by the entrance to the parking lot. The vehicle has a Town seal on the doors and there will be shuttle signs on the vehicle and near the vehicle. The vehicle will run from 8am to 7pm. 

SCHOOL STREET - School Street will allow entrance only one-way access to help eliminate the congestion at the end of this street. Parking will be allowed in the Town Office parking lot and along the side of the road on School Street. When exiting the Town Office Parking lot, drivers will be required to turn left and follow the detour signs from School Street around and back to the main road Summer Street. 

Candidates for Office:

Some of the candidates participated in the Meet the Candidates Event - Full video of the event is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA0iwDEyDt0

The candidates running for office are listed below: 

• Select Board - 3-year term - Vote for not more than two
  • Steven Coffill
  • Shaun Lagueux
  • John Miller
• Budget Committee - 3-year term - Vote for not more than two
  • Leslie Dion
  • Paul Regan
• Budget Committee - 2-year term - Vote for not more than one
  • Brian Gallagher 
• Cemetery Trustee - 3-year term - Vote for not more than one
  • Charles "Chuck" Cullen
• Trustee of the Trust Funds - 2-year term - Vote for not more than one
  • Shannon Wharton
• Library Trustee - 3-year term - Vote for not more than three
  • Heidi Jeffrey
  • Margaret "Peggy" Moriarty-Litz
  • Scott Thompson
• School District openings
  • Alexandria - School Board - 3 year term - Dennis Fitton
  • Alexandria - Budget Committee - 3 year - Shevaun Cazeault
  • District Moderator - 1 year - Edward "Ned" Gordon

Proposed Zoning Amendments - For the 2025 Ballot, Articles 2-8 are the proposed Zoning Amendments. Zoning amendments are presented to voters, on a yearly basis, to amend the Town's existing Zoning Ordinance. Changes can be related to errors in the Ordinance that need to be corrected, improvements to the Ordinance, law changes in the preceding years or based upon review of applications and processes throughout the year by the Planning Board. The Planning Board prepares the changes, holds public hearings, and then submits for voters to consider on the ballot. For more information on the changes, please visit the Planning Board page - 2025 Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments. 

The Ballot language for Zoning Amendments is different than the actual amendment - Ballot Language

Please refer to both the ballot language and the Zoning Ordinance Amendments document to make sure you understand the proposed changes.

Make your voice heard on Articles 2-8.

Every year, our Planning Board looks at how our community uses its land. They look at new building and development applications and they analyze how well current rules are working. Then they suggest changes to our town's zoning laws when needed. But nothing happens without you. Your vote at the ballot box determines which zoning changes will happen. This means you have a direct say in how our town grows and develops.

Make your voice heard on Articles 2-8.

View the handy voter’s guide to this year’s Zoning Amendments.

2025 Proposed Zoning Amendment Voter Guide | Bristol NH

In addition to the Voters Guide, John Miller and Bruce Dorner have produced an informative video in which they discuss the proposed Amendments. You can view it here.

If you should you have any questions regarding the intent of the amendments, please reach out to the Land Use Office and they would be happy to assist you.   

Sample Ballots:

2025 Sample Town Election Ballot 

2025 Sample Newfound Area School District Ballot

Filing Period for Town Elections - January 22, 2025 through January 31, 2025

Interested in taking part in your local Government? Below are the openings in the Town of Bristol. Any interested person MUST sign up with the Town Clerk's Office at 5 School Street, Bristol, NH starting January 22, 2025 through Friday January 31, 2025 by 5:00pm.  

If you are not sure what a position does, how many meetings you might have to attend or have other questions - call the Town Offices and we would be happy to assist you!!!!!

2 Selectmen for 3 years
1 Trustee of the Trust Funds for 3 years
1 Cemetery Trustee for 3 years
2 Budget Committee members for 3 years
1 Budget Committee member for 2 years
3 Library Trustees for 3 years

1 School Moderator for 1 year
 

The Town Clerks Regular Business Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:00am-4:00pm and Wednesday 8:00am-7:00pm. In addition, the office will be open until 5:00pm on January 31, 2025. 

Deadline for submitting a Petitioned Warrant Article - Tuesday, February 4, 2025 

25 or more registered voters may petition the Governing Body (Select Board) to place an article on the Warrant per RSA 39:3. The petition must be presented to the Governing Body not later than the fifth Tuesday before the annual Town Meeting. The Governing Body is obligated to insert a petitioned article into the Warrant with only such minor textual changes as may be required, and those corrections cannot change the intended effect of the petitioned article. All Petitioned Warrant Articles must be submitted by 5:00pm on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

The Town has prepared a Petitioned Warrant Article Form that can be used for submission. It is a fillable form, which allows you to type the purpose of the petition, and the warrant article text being submitted into the document before printing. However, all signatures must be original handwritten signatures from 25 registered voters of the Town of Bristol. The form provides space for 10 signatures, so multiple documents will need to be submitted. Should you have any questions, please contact either the Town Clerk / Tax Collector's Office or the Town Administrator's Office. 

Petitioned Warrant Article Form

Public Hearing - 2025 Proposed Budget and Warrant Articles - Tuesday, February 11, 2025 

- Proposed 2025 Budget

- Proposed 2025 Revenues

- Proposed 2025 Warrant 

NOTE on Proposed Warrant: The Select Board will need to vote on Article 9, once the Public Hearing on the Budget is completed. Also Article 19 has been updated but is waiting for final approval from the Department of Revenue. Articles 9-19 will be voted on by the Budget Committee at the deliberative session of the Budget Committee after the Public Hearing is closed.

Meet the Candidates - March 1, 2025 - Historic Town Hall

Full video of the event is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA0iwDEyDt0

Counting Machine Testing

The Town Clerk / Tax Collector's Office will be testing the counting machine and ballots on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00pm. This is open to the public. Testing will be done in the front office area of the Town Clerk / Tax Collector. 

Town Reports and Town Report Dedication Ceremony

Town Reports will be available this week (3/3 to 3/7). The Select Board is hosting a Town Report Dedication Ceremony at this week's Select Board meeting. If anyone is interesting in recognizing this year's recipient, please stop by or watch YouTube. It is a secret until the meeting, so we are holding reports until after this meeting. 

Any questions please reach out to the Town Administrator's Office.