Endrun to thwart development

     It is most disturbing to read that Selectwoman and Chairman Julie Gilman is attempting to have the State declare Franklin Street part of the historic district.  The planning process is well underway for a developer to ultimately build a "pocket neighborhood".  By all accounts it would be a tasteful addition to downtown.  One of our town's well known real estate business owners and Planning Board member has stated publicly that there is a demand for downtown living quarters.
     Gilman is using as her argument that Franklin Street was used to build homes to "...house workers from the mills and little individual manufacturers that were along there."  Using that criteria one could say the entire Town of Exeter is an historic district as Native Americans likely set up fishing villages here.  There is nothing historic remaining on this street.
     It's time for being candid and showing some honesty.  Changing the rules in the middle of the game with a developer is costly for the developer and sends a negative signal to future developers and landowners who cannot be assured the rules won't be changed on them to thwart their plans.  If Gilman is successful in obtaining the State's approval the voters will have the final approval.  Speaking out at public comment at a Board of Selectman meeting would seem in order To curtail her ill advised efforts.  Town officials continue to throw out conflicting signals to future developers.  And taxpayers are on the hook for a newly hired Economic Development Director.  Where is the leadership that puts a stop to this monkey business by Boards and Commissions that pursue their own personal agenda? 

Town Management Missteps

     It has not gone unnoticed by the more observant that Town Manager, Russ Dean, has made a number of costly decisions and not provided adequate oversight that has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The more costly is the recently announced $250,000 in legal fees that he has racked up.  Add to this the failure to collect property taxes, the $1 million in under billing wherein less than 50% is collected and the failure to update impact fees to reflect current costs.  He also disclosed that he had $250,000 in budget cuts that his department heads identified that could have been used to reduce the Town's portion the tax rate.  However, they remained in the budget to provide a slush fund.  At the last Selectmen meeting another issue came to light. It was admitted that under Russ Dean's administration the Town has failed to follow existing inter-town agreements and collect revenues for almost a decade.
     Isn't it time for Selectman Chartrand to cease praising the Town Manager for the "great job he is doing" and to begin to question these management lapses.  The Town Manager's annual increase is based on merit.  Managers in the corporate world would find themselves in trouble with a track record like his.

Here comes the train station again

     Some months ago a posting appeared on this blog on the subject of purchasing and renovating the old 700 square foot baggage building for use as a welcome center.  This renovation would include providing for restrooms, a kiosk for ticket sales and a waiting area.  While the original cost was set at $403,200 ($282,240 covered by a federal grant leaving $120,960 to be covered by taxpayers) a subsequent engineering study put it at $700,000.  (A big unknown, was the purchase price for the structure.)  Nothing has changed in the past months except Bob Hall, chairman of the train station committee, once again asking that the Board of Selectmen place in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) $403,000 for the purchase and renovation of this building. 
     So, how does he reconcile the difference between the $700,000 (which may be low) and the $403,000 he is seeking?  Is a federal grant still available and can it be increased to account for the higher estimated cost?  Where in the priority of spending on projects already in the CIP does this project rank?  And more to the point, is this project an overkill?
     Riders who have responded to questions on the use of the train station cite weather and parking as the issues to be resolved.  It would appear that only a handful of commuters could fit into the proposed welcome center at best.  Can a suitable weather enclosure be built at the platform?  Would the infrared heaters that have been mentioned be adequate?  Are restrooms even needed given they are provided on the train and commuters have just recently left their homes?
     The "build it and they will come" attitude of some has not been backed by any surveys or facts.  How would riders get from the train station to downtown to partake of a meal at one of our few restaurants or to shop in our boutique shops?  For that matter, if train ridership is projected to grow 4% to 6% a year, where are these additional riders going to park?  How much would it cost the Town (read that as taxpayers) to provide additional parking?  And it has already been determined that charging for parking to help offset the cost of maintaining the parking area (such as snow removal) is not popular amongst commuters.
     Does something need to be done at the train station to provide weather protection?  It would seem so.  Have all the alternatives to address this one central issue been examined and presented to the public?  It does not seem so.  So, why this overreach on the part of a few train station enthusiasts?

New Economic Development Director

     In spite of significant opposition, the new position of Economic Development Director was approved in the budget and the position has now been filled.  It appears from the Exeter News-Letter article that the gentleman is fully qualified to fill this position.  Hopefully he will have the wherewithal to successfully find and secure new commercial business to increase our Town's tax base.  However, what remains to be learned is how much freedom of motion he will have to do this.
     We have a strong personality in the person of Town Planner, Sylvia Von Aulock.  Her past actions make it clear she is highly selective on what commercial businesses should be considered.  Light industrial does not even appear to be on her wish list.  It would seem best for town residents if the new director could work within the Master Plan and prevailing zoning regulations to do his job and not under her influence.
     It would also be useful for him to identify up front those impediments he sees to really making Exeter open to business development.  Then it would be up to the existing Boards and Committees, along with public input, to address these issues or to fully explain why changes cannot be made.
     The jury is clearly out whether this business development exercise will be successful.  It is hoped the Board of Selectmen will provide thorough and timely oversight of this new individual and adress any hurdles he is experiencing in doing his job.

Candidates visit at Festival

     These candidates will be dropping by the Republican booth this Saturday at the indicated times.  They will be available to meet and to ask any questions you may have of them.

US Senate: Scott Brown
US House: Frank Guinta - 10:30
                  Dan Innis - 11-12
                  Brendan Kelly
NH Governor: Walt Haverstein - 1:30
                        Andrew Hemingway - 11
Exeter State Reps:Frank Ferraro - 10-12
                              Bob Goeman - 1-3
                              Nelson Lourenco - 12-1
                              Paul Nicholson - 11-1
                              Brian Griset - 10-3
Stratham State Reps: Pat Abrami - 1- 1
                                     Joanne Ward - 10-1
Rockingham County Attorney:
                Michael Dicroce - 3
                Michael Zaino -

American Independence Festival

     It seems fair to question the logic behind Julie Williams' decision to exclude the Exeter Sportsman's Club from having a booth at the festival as they have in the past.  While she did stipulate that if they adhered to a specific theme the decision could be revisited.  It just feels like something else is at play here.
     It is no secret that the ESC has faced constant resistance from some in Exeter to even exist as a gun club.  Many who advocate gun control have spoken out against the ESC and one cannot help but wonder if this is just another less than transparent attempt to exclude them.  Were it not for militias made up of citizens bearing arms, the Revolutionary War could have easily gone down as a defeat for a fledgling nation.  The ESC is as much a part of the festival as any craft booth.  Their exclusion raises doubts as to the motives of those who would exclude them.  What do you think?

Interesting information

     Mr. Morgan, superintendent of SAU-16 schools spoke at the Board of Selectmen meeting last Monday evening.  His primary purpose was to report on the high marks our schools got for safety and how well it did on a recent "active shooter" drill.  He commended the Exeter Police and Fire Departments on the support given in this endeavor.  This is good news for parents, teachers, staff and children.
     Upon closing he passed along his thanks on behalf of the 6,000 students and 1,200 employees of our SAU-16 schools.  That yields a ratio of 5 to 1 which is an interesting figure to have for comparison purposes.  Not sure whether this is a reasonable ratio, but thought it worth passing along to those who did not hear the remark.