WINDHAM, N.H. — Selectmen yesterday placed two articles on the special Town Meeting warrant to be voted upon Sept. 9.
Article 1 proposes a secondary access road to the new Windham High School. Article 2, unrelated to the first, proposes selectmen deed about 80 acres of conservation land to a third party in order to qualify for a $177,000 grant from the state.
Yesterday was the last date to hold the hearing. As required by law, the hearing had to be held at least 25 days before the deliberative session for the special Town Meeting. The deliberative session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at Town Hall.
Selectmen voted unanimously on Article 1, to place the proposed appropriation of $1.25 million dollars on the warrant. No one discussed the merits of the proposal. Those discussions are expected at future public hearings.
Only two members of the general public attended the hearing.
Supporters say the secondary road needs to be approved in September in order to be built in time for the opening of Windham High School in August 2009. The fire chief is adamant the school have a second access road prior to the school opening.
At least some of those opposed to the article say the September vote is a second bite at the apple, and it subverts the democratic process. In March, school district voters defeated a similar proposal, 1,270-1,234. The bond article needed 60 percent majority approval to pass.
The secondary road, in the general area of the former London Bridge Road, would be a continuation of the main entrance off Route 111 and would connect to Castle Hill Road.
The public is invited to walk the site of the secondary road on Monday at 6 p.m. The walk will start at the back of the high school.
After the walk, selectmen will take a van from the end of the path, near the intersection of Castle Hill Road, in order to make it back to the town planning office for the public hearing on the road layout, scheduled for 7 p.m.
The public must make their own transportation arrangements for getting from the walk to the hearing.
Article 2 would authorize selectmen to convey, on their terms, about 83 acres in the Goodhue Road area as a conservation easement to a third party, such as a land trust.
The second article came as a surprise to some residents, including Tom Case, who watched the hearing on local access cable.
“The second article came out of the blue and has no place in a budget hearing,” Case said.
Selectmen voted, 3-2, to place the article on the warrant.
Selectmen Bruce Breton, Roger Hohenberger and Charlie McMahon voted yes. Selectmen Dennis Senibaldi and Galen Stearns voted no. A few selectmen said their vote to place the article on the ballot does not necessarily reflect their support or opposition for it.
McMahon said there is no guarantee the state would have any grant money available for the town in the spring so he wants to pass the article in the fall.
But Stearns said he doesn’t favor giving up control of land to a third party.
The town would receive a $177,000 water well protection grant if it approves the article. That money would go into the town conservation fund.
Voting on both articles is slated for Sept. 9 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Golden Brook School.
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Like Monadnock and Atkinson, what is it about the word “NO” do these people not understand?