Selectmen: counter‑petition against laying out Christopher Court and Jason Way fails to meet statutory threshold

Town staff told the Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen on Jan. 8 that a counter‑petition opposing a warrant‑article plan to lay out Christopher Court and Jason Way did not meet the statutory threshold to cancel the original petition.

Town counsel and staff had reviewed the counter‑petition and advised the board that a counter‑petition must represent a majority of the property owners who would receive a betterment assessment. The counter‑petition submitted represented five property owners and therefore fell short of the greater‑than‑50% requirement, the town said. Staff described the counter‑petition as evidence of neighborhood concern but not legally sufficient to stop the petition from moving forward.

Selectmen said the next steps remain the bond hearing (required before placing a conditional layout on a warrant) and a public hearing on the warrant article, which the town scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m. Residents with questions or concerns will be able to speak at that public hearing; the Jan. 8 discussion was limited to whether the counter‑petition met the statutory criteria. Town staff will include the counter‑petition and an associated letter in the meeting minutes and file.

Selectmen stressed the process is governed by state statute and that the board followed the required notice and review procedures. The board did not take any additional action on Jan. 8 because staff concluded the counter‑petition did not meet the statutory requirement to invalidate the petition to lay out the roads.