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Committee recommends naming Keene trail bridge for Charles Redfern after unanimous executive recommendation
Summary
The committee held a public hearing on HB 745 to name an alternative-use trail bridge in Keene for Charles (Chuck) Redfern; municipal supporters testified to Redfern’s decades of trail advocacy and private fundraising; the committee voted in executive session to recommend the bill as ought-to-pass, 15–0, and placed it on the consent calendar.
Representative Philip Jones and several Keene civic leaders testified in support of House Bill 745, which would name a 340-foot alternative-use trail bridge in Keene for Charles “Chuck” Redfern, a long-time local trail advocate and fund-raiser. Jones told the committee Redfern helped found Pathways for Keene and “without the vision, the tenacity, and the dedicated efforts of Charles Redfern, there would be no alternative use trail system in Keene.”
Several Keene officials and longtime volunteers backed the proposal. Edward Haas and John Hayes described Redfern’s leadership in fundraising and organizing to convert former rail beds into the city’s multiuse trail network; Hayes said Redfern “is relentless in trying to accomplish the next goal for completing the next project.” City officials provided written support from the mayor’s office and other municipal leaders, which committee members referenced during executive discussion.
In executive session the committee voted to recommend HB 745 as ought-to-pass (OTP). Representative Melvin moved the recommendation and Representative Faulkner seconded; the clerk called a roll and the committee recorded a unanimous vote of 15–0 in favor of OTP. Members also agreed to place the measure on the House consent calendar rather than request a separate floor roll-call, saying the sponsor and community preferred not to publicize the nomination in advance of notifying Redfern.
Ending — The committee’s 15–0 executive recommendation moves HB 745 forward with unanimous committee support and an administrative decision to present the naming on the consent calendar.
