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Wells holds public hearing on multiple Nov. 4 referendum articles, residents voice concerns
Summary
The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing Oct. 21 on several referendum items that will appear on the Nov. 4 secret-ballot referendum, including a comprehensive plan update, changing the town clerk to an appointed position, ADU ordinance revisions tied to LD 2003, affordable housing zoning changes, sidewalk ordinance updates, and a boundary-line agreement; public commenters urged scrutiny on representation, climate goals, ADU placement, and an unrelated voter-ID initiative.
The Wells Board of Selectmen held a public hearing Oct. 21 on a package of referendum articles scheduled for a Nov. 4 secret-ballot vote, detailing proposed changes to the towns comprehensive plan, town clerk selection, zoning and rental rules, and municipal property boundaries.
Select Board member Mike summarized Article 2, a comprehensive plan update that began after a 2019 ordinance and has been developed by a committee since 2020; the draft has been posted online and placed on file at town offices and the library for public review. During public comment, long-time resident Joe Hardy said the update was created by an unrepresentative committee, did not address traffic on Route 1, workforce housing needs, poverty, or greenhouse gas reduction goals, and urged voters to reject the plan and offered to help rewrite it.
The board explained Article 3 proposing a change to make the town clerk an appointed rather than elected office; board members noted prior ballot attempts in 2023 and Nov. 2023 and said the current appointed clerk, Marybeth Pordon, has overseen recent elections. Resident Peggy said she was concerned about moving from an elected to an appointed clerk, calling elections an important local check and noting available county and state training for clerks.
Article 4 would revise the accessory dwelling unit ordinance in response to LD 2003, allowing ADUs on nonconforming lots and in all residential zones, permitting detached ADUs, increasing allowable ADU size from 600 to 800 square feet, and maintaining a minimum six-month lease. Resident Cheryl Mills supported the six-month minimum to discourage short-term rentals; resident Scott DeFelice warned ADUs near Route 1 and beach areas would likely be used as short-term rentals and suggested the town should designate where ADUs are appropriate.
Other ballot items explained included Article 5 (affordable housing ordinance amendments to expand eligible zones and increase density bonuses), Article 6 (sidewalk ordinance expansion and construction-standard changes), and Article 7 (a boundary line agreement on the Tilton Conservation parcel to resolve ambiguous deed descriptions).
After public comment the board moved, seconded and voted to close the hearing. The board also noted it is legally constrained by state law (LD 2003) and the charter in adopting some of the ordinance changes.
The board did not adopt or amend the referendum text at the meeting; the public hearing provided a forum for explanation and comment ahead of the Nov. 4 vote.
