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This week's stories: (click on the headline
to jump to story)
 These
old barns can tell a story
Neighbors
appeal kindergarten OK
Lions,
Rotarians feud? Say it ain't so, guys!
Police
arrest parolee convicted of murder
Compromise
funding bill reaps temporary windfall for towns
New Boston
These old barns
can tell a story
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By LARA SKINNER
Staff Writer
lskinner@yourneighborhoodnews.com
NEW BOSTON All a good barn needs
to weather the years is a decent roof and room for a breeze.
Without that, Dick Moody says, water from rain and snow will
settle into the wood and rot the whole structure.
But Moody says even a good roof needs to be replaced now and
then, and putting shingles on the 200-year-old barn that's connected
to his home on Baker Lane is no easy task.
First comes the job of paying for the upkeep and repairs. Moody
has to put some money every year toward the barn's maintenance.
He and four other families in town have
applied for discretionary preservation easements that would give
the town an interest in preserving the historic properties by
granting them a 25 to 75 percent property tax break on the assessed
value of the barns.
"If you figure it out over 10 years' time, it's enough to
fix the roof on it," Moody said.
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PRESERVATIONISTS Old
barns and local history are important to Dick and Betsy Moody.
Approval of a preservation easement would help them pay for regular
barn maintenance through a property tax break.
(Lara Skinner Photo)
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New tar shingles were put on the barn's
roof three years ago, and the total cost was $1,500, said Betsy
Moody, Dick's wife.
Though the immediate benefit of a preservation easement is some
money to put towards annual repairs, the long-term advantage
is that the property tax break will help preserve a local historic
resource.
Horses, riding supplies, hay, old wagons and who knows what else
gets stored in the barn off the old Cochran house on Baker Lane.
Abraham Cochran is listed in the town history as early as 1856,
though Dick said he isn't sure how soon the barn was built after
that. Eventually, the Cochran family "daughtered out,"
he said, meaning that without any sons to carry on the family
name, the farmstead became property of the Baker family through
marriage.
In 1956, the Bakers sold the home to a woman in Mass-achusetts
who never actually came up to the house. Dick and Betsy Moody
bought the house and barn in 1967, technically making them the
third family to live in the Colonial-era home.
"Knowing that genealogy of the family really ties us to
the place," Dick said.
All of that information is important to the application process
as well.
A historic easement has a better chance of being accepted if
the history of a place is documented. The barn and home meet
the standards to be listed on the state register of historic
places.
While the designation might not change the selectmen's minds
when they consider approving a local property tax break, the
Moodys are hoping it will count for something.
Historic pictures of a farmstead are another good item to have
around. Janet Nixon's farmstead on Old Coach Road comes complete
with a photo from the early 1900s. Women in long skirts stand
on the front lawn while chickens wander around them.
A history of the barn goes back to 1772, she said, and was owned
by about seven families.
When she and her family moved into town in 1960, the barn was
missing the roof. Whoever built the barn originally did such
a good job that the structure was still strong enough to support
a new roof. That came in handy when Nixon gave her children the
choice between a new kitchen with a dishwasher so they could
eliminate dishwashing from their schedule, or a new roof on the
barn so the family could get horses.
Today, the barn is finished with wooden shakes. It took 17 years
of work to get it where it is today, she said. All of her family
lives close by, but a property tax break would make the barn's
upkeep easier for her.
"Whatever help you can get you appreciate," she said.
If she is approved for the tax break, it won't be the only piece
of her property that the town has a legal interest in. The pastures
across the way from Nixon's farmstead are a part of a current
use agreement with the town so people can hike on the trails
or simply enjoy the area. She would like to make an agreement
with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
for a pasture easement that would keep the land just like it
is.
"It will always be a farmstead," Nixon said. "There
will never be any other development on this land."
A preservation easement on the barn would protect it from a similar
fate, she said. This way, when her grandchildren inherit the
farmstead they know it will be protected.
Approval for a preservation easement is slow going, however.
Town Administrator Burton Reynolds said the town assessor has
gone around to look at the four different barns up for approval.
The assessor will report back to selectmen, who will then view
the property on their own to answer a questionnaire provided
by the state.
They have to consider if the barn is in a relatively public viewing
area so everyone can enjoy it. Location in a historic district
will also help, and the structure should contribute to the historic
or cultural integrity of the property, according to state law.
But in the end, the decision is at the sole discretion of the
selectmen.
Dick Moody, who is also the president of the New Boston Historical
Society, appealed to the board last year when another barn in
town was being considered for an easement.
Selectmen denied the application because the barn wasn't visible
from one of the main roads in town, Nixon said.
Dick and Betsy's barn is visible over the crest of their horse
field. For them, a tax break is secondary to the easement that
will protect the structure.
"You're not doing it for the money," Betsy said. "You're
doing it for the historic barn."
Nature's
toll
A lightning strike split this
tree down the middle. The tree, which stood in the yard of Goffstown
residents Donald and Mary Paradis, 78 Juniper Drive, was struck
around 4 a.m. on Sunday, May 23,
sending shards of wood across the property, right.
"There was just a tremendous boom," Mary Paradis said,
recounting how dishes and picture frames in her home rattled.
(Russ Choma Photo)
Goffstown
Neighbors appeal
kindergarten OK
By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
After being rushed through the approval
process, the proposal to build a public kindergarten on Tibbett's
Hill is once again under fire.
Although the $3.3 million proposal to construct a kindergarten
got the go-ahead from voters in March, the location is being
challenged by a group of neighbors to the proposed site.
As part of the plan approved by voters, the kindergarten will
be built on a roughly 10-acre parcel of land off Tibbett's Hill
Road.
The land, which the school board arranged to acquire for $1,
is part of a 23-unit housing development approved by the Goffstown
Planning Board on April 15.
Now, a number of neighboring landowners are appealing to both
the Goffstown Zoning Board of Adjustment and Hillsborough County
Superior Court to overturn the planning board's decision.
The three abutters, Robert Wike, 214 Tibbett's Hill Road, David
and Christi Garrison, 288 Tibbett's Hill Road, and the McRae
Family Realty Trust filed their appeal through Goffstown attorney
Michael Ryan on May 14.
Ryan said the appeals had been filed because his clients believe
the planning board made several errors in approving the proposal.
"It's our feeling that the planning board's actions were
unreasonable if not, in some cases, illegal," Ryan said.
The combined housing-school development was approved as an "open
space development," but in the appeal to the zoning board
of adjustment, Ryan challenges this classification.
Ryan writes open space regulations were established to preserve
the rural character of the town and encourage a "less sprawling
form of development."
The construction of a school on Tibbett's Hill would be "directly
contrary to the spirit and letter" of those regulations,
he said.
Emotional blackmail
The appeal filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court claims
the planning board, under pressure from school officials to hurry
the process, made numerous errors in their haste.
Specifically, the appeal takes issue with the number of waivers
from zoning ordinances the planning board granted to Timberstone
Realty, the project's developer. The board reviewed the plan
and waivers, over the course of four meetings in four weeks.
According to the Superior Court appeal, this unusually swift
review denied the general public due process because it left
no time to review amended plans after each meeting.
Ryan wrote in his appeal that the hasty process was the result
of "emotional blackmail" from school officials who
told the board the fate of public kindergarten rested on their
decision.
According to Ryan, SAU 19 Superintendent Darrell Lock-wood told
the board at one meeting that they must approve the plan or Goffstown
would lose kindergarten.
"He basically laid it out to the planning board that what
they did decided public kindergarten in Goffstown," he said.
In response, Lockwood said he did tell the board there was a
need to quickly address the proposal, but denied any "emotional
blackmail."
"That's an overly strong characterization," he said.
"We let them know we certainly wanted to proceed quickly,
but there was no attempt by us to have them not do due diligence
on the process."
Lockwood also said the planning board might have speeded up the
process, but still subjected the plan to rigorous study.
"This was not simply a cakewalk," he said of the approval
process. "The developer had to respond to each and every
inquiry. Every planning board member had an opportunity to ask
the developer for information."
Despite Lockwood's defense, Ryan said some planning board members
even admitted the process had let some things go because of the
greater public need. Ryan said the appeals were not accusing
any officials of misconduct, simply misjudgment under pressure.
"It's not that they were somehow being fraudulent,"
he said. "But they felt the pressure that they had to get
this done. That's the reason they cut these corners."
Commenting on his client's reasons for pursuing the appeal, Ryan
said the school itself has nothing to do with the issue.
"None of (my clients) are against kindergarten in Goffstown,"
he said. "That is not the issue. The issue is whether the
kindergarten belongs in this particular site in an open space
development. It's a lousy site for the school."
Goffstown
Lions, Rotarians
feud? Say it ain't so, guys!
By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
Accusations of trickery have shaken the
ordinarily congenial world of Goffstown's service clubs.
Last week, members of the Goffstown Rotary Club formally demanded
a public apology from their fellow philanthropists at the Goffstown
Lions Club.
The prepared statement, written by Rotarian Tony Marts, accused
the Lions of improperly claiming victory by forfeit after the
Rotarians failed to show up for a scheduled May 18 softball game.
The Hatfields and the McCoys it's not, but it's a feud nonetheless
albeit a good-natured one.
Marts said his club was under the impression the game had been
called off because of bad weather. When the Lions declared victory
and laid claim to the $500 winner's prize, Marts said his organization
was shocked.
"The board of directors expressed outrage, dismay and a
certain degree of sadness," he wrote.
Marts was unrepentant about the tone of his written statement.
"We hope it does get out of control," he said, tongue
planted firmly in cheek. "Actually, it's a lighthearted
attempt to make sure the Lions stand by the deal to play a game."
Marts went on to insist he was personally "accosted in the
post office" by a Lions Club member falsely claiming victory.
Marts said this was part of an organized disinformation campaign
by the Lions.
An incredulous Fred Plett, Lions Club president, denied any wrongdoing.
Plett said Rotary Club President Ed Monty did indeed request
a rain delay, but said nothing was ever agreed upon.
Following the request, "I got on the Web to look up the
weather," Plett said. "It called for scattered showers
maybe."
With no rain and no Rotarians, Plett said his team didn't hesitate
to claim victory.
"I consider the Rotary no-show as a forfeiture, and we could
certainly use the money!" he said.
Plett explained the money wagered on the game would be put toward
a charitable cause, no matter which side won. Considering their
recent projects, Plett said, the Lions were eager to pick up
the extra cash.
Among other projects, Plett listed:
· $100,000 spent on the soccer field at the Lions Field
sports complex.
· $7,000 of stonework around the baseball field.
· $3,000 worth of local scholarships.
Rotary President Ed Monty pointed out that when his club soundly
defeated the Lions last year, they gave the $1,000 prize to the
parks and recreation department. Monty said a game should be
rescheduled so his club can once again win the money and distribute
it to a good cause.
"We must teach the Lions that losing to the Rotary Club
may be a fact of community life," Monty said, "But
it does provide a meaningful benefit to the community as a whole.
Following a brief May 25 meeting with the Rotarians, Plett reported
they would soon be writing a $500 check to the Lions.
"I think they'll probably cough up the check," he said.
Despite Plett's confidence, some Rotary members insisted on a
rescheduling.
Rotary softball team manager Carl Quiram was particularly insistent.
"Anytime, any place," he said. "Except, Friday,
June 4, 2004 at 7 p.m. at Stark Hall in Goffstown."
That, he added, is the time and location of the annual Rotary
Club fundraising auction.
Weare
Police arrest
parolee convicted of murder
By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
Just five months after being released,
a convicted murderer is returning to prison after violating the
conditions of his parole.
Daniel S. Gelinas, 40, of Lufkin Road, was arrested by Weare
police on Friday, May 21, after he failed a random drug test.
Originally convicted of second-degree murder in 1983, Gelinas
was 18 when he was sentenced to 14 years-to-life in prison.
Gelinas had been out on parole since December, but it was not
the first time he violated the conditions of his release. He
was first paroled in 1992, but returned to prison after violating
parole in 1997.
Gelinas, originally from Raymond, moved into an apartment in
Weare following his most recent release.
He was arrested there by Weare Police Sgt. James Carney and taken
to the North Street Jail, where he was turned over to New Hampshire
Probation and Parole.
Weare Police Chief Myles Rigney said Gelinas was arrested without
incident.
Rigney said he was concerned that his department was not notified
that Gelinas had moved to town.
The state is not required to notify local police departments
when a parolee moves into their jurisdictions, but Rigney said
it's "common sense" that his department should have
been notified.
"We had no idea this person was living in our community,
for no other reason than (the state's laziness)," Rigney
said.
The same night that Gelinas was apprehended, Weare police arrested
a New Boston man for violating the terms of his bail.
John C. Statt, 50, of Tuckermill Road, was taken into custody
at his home on May 21 after Goffstown District Court Judge Paul
Lawrence issued a warrant for his arrest.
He was charged with one count of breach of bail conditions and
one count of resisting arrest, both Class A misdemeanors.
Statt was out on bail after being arrested in February and charged
with indecent exposure in relation to an incident at Dodge's
Country Store in Weare.
Statt was ordered to have no contact with anyone at Dodge's.
The warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to meet
that condition.
Statt allegedly was uncooperative when Sgt. Carney initially
attempted to take him into custody, leading to the charge of
resisting arrest, Rigney said.
According to Weare police logs, Statt has been arrested two other
times since February. He was arrested on March 2 for driving
while intoxicated his second such offense. He was released
on $5,000 bail, but was arrested by Weare police again on March
17 for an unnamed warrant.
Following his May 21 arrest, Statt was held at the North Street
Jail on $20,000 bail.
Rigney said he is pleased both men have been taken off the streets
and is pleased with how smoothly the two arrests went.
"We got them, like we always do," he said.
Compromise
funding bill reaps temporary windfall for towns
By RUSS CHOMA
Staff Writer
rchoma@yourneighborhoodnews.com
CONCORD State legislators narrowly
approved a last-minute compromise bill which will cut most local
school districts a break at least for this year and
give $800,000 back to Goffstown.
Under the newly passed legislation, the state will dole out $429
million in state education aid this year less than last
year, but nearly $200 million more than it dished out by the
formula already on the books.
After several hours of debate, Senate Bill 302 (SB302) ended
up sailing through the House of Representatives but only barely
scraped through the Senate by a vote of 13-11 on Tuesday, May
25.
Gov. Craig Benson said he did not like the bill, but would not
veto it and allow it to become law without his signature.
The formula that SB302 replaced would have drastically reduced
state aid for Goffstown over the next year by well over a million
dollars.
With the new formula, Goffstown will still lose more than $500,000,
but will be able to keep at least $800,000 more than before.
Under the old legislation, New Boston would have seen a $322,000
cut in state aid, but will now only lose $112,000 in state money
this year.
Weare fared particularly well under the old plan, getting $800,000
more, and does even better in terms of aid under SB302. The new
formula will send Weare a total of $5,902,075 in state aid this
year $1,0042,036 more than in 2003.
Although local property taxpayers may rejoice at the new state
aid figures, the new plan does not come without costs.
The Senate rejected a House proposal to add to the state's tobacco
tax, opting to raise the statewide property tax nine cents to
$3.33 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
SB302 also brings back the controversial "donor towns."
These towns are property-rich communities which put money into
the state system but recieve no aid in return. Under the old
legislation, only two or three donor towns remained, but under
SB302 approximately 50 towns will contribute $22.8 million.
Local school officials also caution that the long-term effect
of SB302 may ultimately cause more problems than the intial formula
change solves.
Scott Gross, Goffstown's school board chairman, said the reduced
cuts are welcome, but the plan is still not a final answer to
the state's education funding woes.
"I think in the short term when (local taxpayers) look at
this and say 'Oh that's great we'll save some money!'"
he said. "But it's still not a viable solution. It's purely
a band-aid."
The problem, says Gross, is that in future years the bill restricts
funding increases to the cost of inflation.
SAU 19 Superintendent Darrell Lockwood said the cost of inflation
has traditionally run around 2 percent significantly below
annual operating budget increases.
Staffing costs, he said, have largely driven the overall budget
increases.
"The cost of educating our students is highly related to
the cost of our human resources," he said.
Over the past six years, Lockwood said increases in health insurance
premiums alone have ranged from 6 percent increases to as high
as 25 percent.
"To tie (education funding) to something that seems to me
to be arbitrary and artificial bodes of a problem," Lockwood
said.
The question of how to retool the state's education aid distribution
formula has been a focus of debate for much of the legislative
session, but it seemed unlikely the old legislation would be
replaced.
However, several weeks ago state Attorney General Peter Heed
expressed concern that the old legislation would likely be declared
unconstitutional.
In the few weeks since then, Republican state lawmakers quickly
cobbled together the new plan. Like previous plans, the new formula
benefits many towns but also sharply reduces aid for others,
like the city of Manchester, which will lose $4.1 million in
state aid.
The hasty work and new imbalances have led to criticisms of backroom
dealing and politicking.
"I will say I am disappointed in the legislature,"
Gross said. "They've had years to try and study this and
it's a shame it comes down to these last-minute backroom deals
to try and placate every town in New Hampshire."
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