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Plaistow residents press board to honor homestead-food vote; discussion tabled until health inspector attends
Summary
Residents urged the Plaistow Board of Selectmen to implement the town's recently approved homestead food measure without additional local licensing requirements; the board tabled discussion until the health inspector can attend.
Several Plaistow residents told the Plaistow Board of Selectmen on March 24 that the board should not add local licensing steps beyond state law after the town's citizens'petition on homestead food operations passed in March.
Jess Pelletier, 24 North Ave., said the ballot measure passed overwhelmingly (1,039 to 294) and asked the board to limit its review to the portion of state law that requires local licensing and inspection rather than imposing new rules. "Part 1 is what the town approved," Pelletier said, adding that parts 2 and 3 of the state guidance are the ones that require licensing and inspection by a health official.
Other residents at the public-comment period echoed concerns about a March letter from the health inspector that questioned the petition and suggested using town funds to pursue additional steps. Stan Kane of 64 Main Street said he found it unfair for the health official to raise legal concerns in a public document without presenting them directly at a meeting: "It implies that somehow the citizen's petition was unlawful. I'm wondering if we can see that." Kane asked whether any written legal opinion exists; town staff said it was unlikely a formal written opinion had been issued.
Brenda Sanchez said she supports the voter-approved change and worried the health inspector could create requirements beyond established state rules, adding that spending $5,000 of town funds to change an existing state process could discourage home bakers. Jason Dumas asked for a clear date when homestead activity would become allowed, saying voters expected the change to take effect immediately after the election.
The board said it was not trying to stall the voters' intent but wants to "cross the t's and dot the i's" because Plaistow is a self-inspecting town. The selectmen agreed to table the discussion until the health inspector can attend a future meeting so the board can hear the inspector's concerns and clarify whether local regulations or state processes apply.
The board noted that members of the public had provided copies of the New Hampshire RSA language and the UNH Extension guidance on homestead food operations to help craft any necessary local procedures.
The item was tabled to the board's next meeting, and staff said they would schedule the health-inspector presentation so that the board could consider any specific regulatory language or fee proposals with the inspector present.
