PLAISTOW, N.H. — Members of the Plaistow Zoning Board of Appeal spent part of their Jan. 2, 2025 meeting discussing three citizen petitions that would change how the board is constituted: converting the board from appointed to elected, prohibiting selectmen from serving on the board, and prohibiting town employees from serving.

Board members said the proposals could reduce the pool of available volunteers and complicate the board’s quasi‑judicial work. “Oh, right now, I see the difficulties we have in maintaining a quorum,” one member said, noting that limiting who may serve and moving to elections could make it harder to recruit qualified volunteers.

The petitions, which the board said cite chapters 673 and 674 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, would immediately make at least two current participants ineligible if adopted: Jonathan Gifford (currently excused) and Patrick Kiley, a town fire department employee referenced by the board.

Why it matters: Board members said the Zoning Board of Appeal must be able to find members willing to take impartial, law‑based decisions. Several members argued appointment helps ensure training and neutrality; some said an elected board could introduce political pressures into quasi‑judicial hearings.

Next steps

The board agreed the chair would draft a letter stating the board’s position — either support or opposition — and circulate that draft for members’ review before any submission to the selectmen or placement on the warrant. Beelaw told the board he already spoke with the selectmen’s chair and asked whether the selectmen would accept a letter from the zoning board explaining its position.

Ending

No formal vote was taken on the petitions at this meeting. The board agreed to prepare and circulate a draft letter and to monitor how the petitions proceed through planning‑board or general‑warrant placement.