Write-in candidates Bruce Routsala and Nichole Talbot have accepted seats on the Planning Board after no one officially ran for the positions in the March 28 town election.
Nancy Clark, who was the top candidate for one of the seats, was sworn in to serve, but almost immediately afterwards resigned upon learning that she could not serve on the Planning Board while involved as an attorney representing a group of neighbors raising objections to a proposed tea party business on River Road in front of the board.
Clark is representing the group in appeals to the state’s housing board regarding previous approvals, but Silver Scone Teas is also currently before the Planning Board for a site plan review. Two of Clark’s clients are on the Planning Board, Richard Smeeth and alternate Liz Freeman, and they are recusing themselves.
Clark indicated she would be willing to serve as an alternate after the conclusion of the Silver Scone case in front of the Planning Board.
If a write-in candidate does not accept a position, the write-in candidate with the next-highest amount of votes is offered the position. Routsala accepted the two-year position, and Talbot accepted the three-year position.
In board appointments, the Select Board appointed Eric Krook to work on the Road Committee. Two community members have expressed an interest in serving on the Zoning Board, which is not an elected position — John Schaumloffel and Selectman Lou Alvarez.
The board could not approve the appointment of Alvarez, who is currently an alternate on the Zoning Board, due to the absence of Chair Shawn Talbot and Alvarez’s need to recuse himself from the vote, leaving no quorum available to make the decision. The board anticipates making the appointments at a future meeting where all board members are present.
In other Select Board news, the board discussed the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Souhegan Valley Ambulance to provide emergency response services in town.
Town Administrator Debbie Deaton said the MOU had only one proposed change, which was to have the agreement auto-renew on an annual basis, unless there was a need to amend it.
After discussion and input from Fire Chief Meredith Lund, the board decided not to agree to the amendment, but continue approving the agreement on a yearly basis. The board did not sign the agreement Tuesday, but expects to sign the unrevised agreement in a future meeting.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.