Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Complaints about a farm and neighboring properties

The chair recommended the matter be considered closed and another board member agreed; no formal vote was recorded.

The Board reviewed eight formal complaints sent between June 29 and July 2, 2026 by the operator of Vernon Family Farm about activity on abutting (neighboring) properties. The complaints covered excavator and mower noise, rocks placed over a property line, signs and lights at another property, a driveway onto Route 87, possible wetland impacts, an ATV and barking dogs. The chair said the Board found the excavator ran within allowed hours with a muffler. A police lieutenant found a small rock pile had gone one to two feet over a property line, and the rocks were moved back. The Board said the sign rules apply to businesses and found no violation. It said driveway access onto a state road is under the state Department of Transportation. It said wetland rulings belong to the state Department of Environmental Services (DES), and the Conservation Commission chair advised waiting for DES. The chair said the Town has spent over $100,000 in legal fees over the past year and a half, and about $8,000 on noise monitoring. A records request received July 10, 2026 seeks about 26 years of noise records, which Town Counsel ($250 an hour) must review. The chair said the complaints did not show ordinance violations and recommended treating the matter as closed. A commissioner agreed. Separately, the conservation chair said a DES wetlands director found no complaint on file for the property by address.

Map 208 Lot 15.1 tax abatement

Approved the $98,900 abatement. All were in favor.

The Board considered a $98,900 property tax abatement (a reduction in a tax bill) recommended by the Town Assessor for Map 208 Lot 15.1.

Highway Safety grant acceptance

Accepted the terms of the $10,100 grant by majority vote.

The Board considered the terms of a $10,100 Office of Highway Safety grant.

Land donation offer from a trust

No vote. The chair sent the matter to the Town's attorney after the Board showed general support.

The Board reviewed a letter from the Leslie M. Webb Revocable Trust offering to donate about 2.5 acres to the Town. The land was acquired through a 1985 Town tax deed. The parcel sits between railroad property and other land. Board members said extra Town land could be useful, including for talks about access to the CSX parcel at Rockingham Junction. A guest advised that state law requires a Town vote to acquire real property. The chair said the talk was meant to gauge interest and sent the matter to the Town's attorney to review and prepare the legal steps.

Policy on resident concerns and correspondence

The chair said the Board is working on a policy so that concerns from residents are passed on to the Board and the public. The goal is for residents to know the Town has received and answered their messages. The chair also reported on a resident's email after the June 23 meeting asking that it be entered into the record, which the chair confirmed was done. The resident also asked for a public hearing on the farm noise matter. The chair said a written reply went out stating that the matter has had many public notices and hearings and is now in the compliance phase. The chair said the Town must look into complaints it receives no matter how many people file them. A board member said the noise monitoring report by Acentech is a public record that people with technical questions can read at the Town Office.

Summer Street and Pleasant Street project update

The chair said a meeting was held the previous week with the Road Agent. Nearly all preparation is done, but the project is waiting on final approval from the state Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), which has had staff shortages. The Town has waited about five months. The state Department of Transportation supports several changes at the head of Summer Street: moving a manhole and building a rain garden on the north side of the street. The goal is to start construction in August.