Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - "Meredith voters: islands not all the same"

fatlazyless · 03-04-2008, 05:48 AM

Here is an interesting letter to the editor in the Monday, March 3, 2008, Laconia Daily Sun from Dean Dexter. As I understand it, Mr Dexter is a long time attorney and former Meredith state representative who has a strong interest in New Hampshire politics and as a writer on its' history.
...............

Meredith voters need to recognize not all islands the same

To the editor,

On March 11, the people of Meredith will have the opportunity to vote on Warrant Article 2, which if adopted, would eliminate forever an important step in the approval process as it relates to building development on certain islands situated within the Town of Meredith.

All islands and bodies of water in the Town of Meredith are precious, important resources to the citizens of the Town, and to the many visitors who come to Meredith throughout the four seasons. While some islands and ponds in the Town are conducive to commercial and residential developement, others are not. By legislating a policy to exempt all islands in Meredith from review under the Special Exception process, the people of Meredith would unwisely relinquish an important tool to balance a multitude of needs and issues specific to island development. These include but are not limited to, matters of safety, financial impact on town services, the preservation of water quality, wild-life habitat, natural resources, and quality of life for residents and vistors alike.

It hardly seems in the best interest of our community to provide a blanket exception to all islands, due to the diversity of the size and nature of islands, and the lakes and ponds in which they are situated, which the adoption of Article 2 would create.

Because of advances in technology and modern building practices, the pressure on islands in the Town of Meredith and elsewhere to be developed for commercial or residential use has increased signifigantly in recent years. All islands are not created equal, nor are all lakes and ponds the same. It would be a mistake to create a blanket exception to remove all islands from the additional scrutiny the people of Meredith currently enjoy under the law.

Please vote No on Warrant Article 2 on March 11 at the Meredith Community Center polling location.

Dean Dexter
Meredith

Laconia Daily Sun, letter to the editor
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Without commenting on Mr. Dexter's letter as frankly it is a little over my head, and I aint got nuth'n intelligent to say most times anyway, it does raise for me some related questions on the election and the voting.

Apparently, some petitioned warrants such as this item plus the SB-2 warrant require a 60% majority and are held at the all day, 7am-7pm polling at the Community Center, while other items like the fire staion expansion require a 50.0001% majority and are held late at night or sometime, during the town meeting, and by a hand or paper vote, at the moderator's discretion.

Is this confusing or is this confusing?

Hopefully, a local newspaper will provide some answers and explain how it all works in advance and publish the when and how much, and the actual voting questions. It would be very helpfull to me, and most likely to others to have some time to think about it all, before the actual voting takes place.

Meredith factoid: Wkipedia says that 25.73% of the Town of Meredith is occupied by a body of water, with the remaining 74.27% being land, unless there's some other part of town that is neither land or water.

03-04-2008, 05:48 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,786 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,022 Times in 744 Posts	"Meredith voters: islands not all the same" Here is an interesting letter to the editor in the Monday, March 3, 2008, Laconia Daily Sun from Dean Dexter. As I understand it, Mr Dexter is a long time attorney and former Meredith state representative who has a strong interest in New Hampshire politics and as a writer on its' history. ............... Meredith voters need to recognize not all islands the same To the editor, On March 11, the people of Meredith will have the opportunity to vote on Warrant Article 2, which if adopted, would eliminate forever an important step in the approval process as it relates to building development on certain islands situated within the Town of Meredith. All islands and bodies of water in the Town of Meredith are precious, important resources to the citizens of the Town, and to the many visitors who come to Meredith throughout the four seasons. While some islands and ponds in the Town are conducive to commercial and residential developement, others are not. By legislating a policy to exempt all islands in Meredith from review under the Special Exception process, the people of Meredith would unwisely relinquish an important tool to balance a multitude of needs and issues specific to island development. These include but are not limited to, matters of safety, financial impact on town services, the preservation of water quality, wild-life habitat, natural resources, and quality of life for residents and vistors alike. It hardly seems in the best interest of our community to provide a blanket exception to all islands, due to the diversity of the size and nature of islands, and the lakes and ponds in which they are situated, which the adoption of Article 2 would create. Because of advances in technology and modern building practices, the pressure on islands in the Town of Meredith and elsewhere to be developed for commercial or residential use has increased signifigantly in recent years. All islands are not created equal, nor are all lakes and ponds the same. It would be a mistake to create a blanket exception to remove all islands from the additional scrutiny the people of Meredith currently enjoy under the law. Please vote No on Warrant Article 2 on March 11 at the Meredith Community Center polling location. Dean Dexter Meredith Laconia Daily Sun, letter to the editor ..................... Without commenting on Mr. Dexter's letter as frankly it is a little over my head, and I aint got nuth'n intelligent to say most times anyway, it does raise for me some related questions on the election and the voting. Apparently, some petitioned warrants such as this item plus the SB-2 warrant require a 60% majority and are held at the all day, 7am-7pm polling at the Community Center, while other items like the fire staion expansion require a 50.0001% majority and are held late at night or sometime, during the town meeting, and by a hand or paper vote, at the moderator's discretion. Is this confusing or is this confusing? Hopefully, a local newspaper will provide some answers and explain how it all works in advance and publish the when and how much, and the actual voting questions. It would be very helpfull to me, and most likely to others to have some time to think about it all, before the actual voting takes place. Meredith factoid: Wkipedia says that 25.73% of the Town of Meredith is occupied by a body of water, with the remaining 74.27% being land, unless there's some other part of town that is neither land or water. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 03-04-2008 at 08:58 AM.