Selectmen approve trial change to 'tagging' fundraising policy to let one local and one outside group per weekend

The Board of Selectmen on Sept. 8 agreed to a temporary change in the town’s tagging policy that will run through the weekend before Thanksgiving. The trial allows two groups to operate on the same weekend provided at least one group is local to Plaistow; outside organizations will be limited to one weekend per month under the trial. The change responds to recurring requests and a shortfall of available dates: town staff reported they had turned down roughly six requests for tag‑site dates and that weekends are nearly fully booked through the rest of the year. The board said the trial is intended to give local organizations greater access while still allowing some outside groups to participate. "That model that you were suggesting, generally speaking, might be plausible because at least it gives a little bit more breath room to other groups," one selectman said during deliberations. Administrative staff will update the registration form to require the organization's state of origin and EIN to help classify local versus outside groups, and the town will continue to distribute a letter groups must show businesses as proof of authorization. Board members set these guardrails: at least one organization per weekend must be Plaistow‑based or demonstrate Plaistow membership; outside organizations may be limited to one weekend per month; veterans‑related and Salvation Army dates will remain protected as exceptions. The board asked staff to run the trial through the pre‑holiday period and to revisit the policy in December or January. The action was procedural: selectmen did not adopt a new ordinance but directed staff to implement the trial administratively and to return to the board for evaluation after the holiday period. Staff said they will notify groups already scheduled that standing bookings remain in place and will contact groups on the wait list to offer dates under the new trial parameters.