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Selectmen keep Dec. 30 wording on Route 28 warrant items after DOT discussion; public concern remains
Summary
Selectmen on Jan. 8 declined to reopen a Dec. 30 vote approving the wording of Route 28 warrant articles related to a compact roundabout at Pickering Corner, after hearing DOT staff technical clarifications and public concerns about truck and plow access.
The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen on Jan. 8 declined to reopen a Dec. 30 vote that set warrant‑article language related to proposed changes on Route 28, including language describing vehicle access through a compact roundabout at Pickering Corner.
Board members reported that they had consulted with New Hampshire Department of Transportation staff, who told the town the DOT did not originally favor roundabouts for the corridor but included roundabout alternatives to provide an engineering comparison. Selectmen said the DOT confirmed that some large vehicles — such as certain buses and large trucks — may need to traverse the center of a compact roundabout, and that plowing a roundabout may require more than one vehicle in some conditions.
During the Jan. 8 meeting selectmen reviewed DOT comments about how wording such as “will need” versus “may need” affects the meaning of a warrant question. The board’s earlier motion from Dec. 30 remained in force because no member who voted for that language moved to reopen the vote on Jan. 8.
Selectmen reminded residents that the warrant articles are nonbinding referenda (the board and DOT will use public feedback to guide design choices in the project’s study phase) and encouraged citizens to contact DOT staff for technical questions. The board also noted a planned deliberative session and that voters will have opportunities to debate and amend article wording at that stage.
