Warrant creates committee to manage Watkins forest land; trustee outlines plan, residents ask environmental and governance questions

Article 6 would create a committee to manage approximately 30 acres of forest land on Mitchell Street and Lawrence Road under terms of a will from Harry Watkins. Chris Christensen, identified in the meeting as a trustee of the trust funds, described prior uses of Watkins funds (including paying $300,000 for a school floor and ADA bleachers) and said the committee membership is specified by the will: one school-board member, one town-council member, and one trustee of the trust funds.

Residents asked several questions during discussion. Wendy Thomas supported the article but asked why the conservation commission was not included on the committee; Christensen said the will prescribes the committee membership and changing that would likely require probate-court permission, though trustees said they coordinate with the conservation commission on access and management. Thomas also asked whether an environmental study would be completed before any tree cutting; trustees said the town’s forester walked the site in October accompanied by a University of New Hampshire Extension Service forester and that a complete inventory has not been done. Another resident, John Sauter, proposed an amendment to have the committee function as if it were a committee of the town council; the motion to amend received no second and therefore the article remains as printed and will appear on the ballot.

The deliberative session moved the article to the ballot as printed; the meeting did not adopt any changes to the article or authorize specific cutting or sales at the session.