[upthesaukee]

In the town meeting format of NH government, non-residents are allowed to speak at town meeting on issues at hand, and in my town, they have. They can also ask to speak at Selectmen's meetings, attend planning boards and speak to these issues. The town meeting is not just a "meeting" but is the second part of the town elections for residents of the town who declare that the town is their legal residence. The first part of the town election is the ballot process.


In the newer form of town government, there are no longer any town meetings, but there are deliberative sessions that are very much like town meetings, and you should also be able to speak at these meetings. The warrant articles that come out of that meeting will be on the ballot for local and state elections in March. If the town in which your property is located is not your legal permanent residence, you are not eligible to vote in the election.

Please make your voice heard, even if you can not vote. Local residents with similar property will have similar concerns, and I believe you will find others that share your opinion.

And Les---I will speak to the Alton area and there are a great many waterfront properties that are year round primary residences and those property owners pay the same taxes as a "seasonal out of stater" would for the same value house. My 10 room house off the lake, with a nice view of the woods that surround my house, would be worth at least ten times my current value if it was on the water. I would likewise expect that my taxes to be considerably higher.