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Windham Select Board sends mixed messages to Concord on two bills
Summary
The Select Board voted to send a conditional letter supporting HB 1491 (risk pools/HealthTrust) and a separate letter asking Windham’s representatives to oppose HB 1588 (multi-family in commercial zones); votes were 3–2 and 4–1 respectively amid debate about prior notice and local zoning authority.
The Windham Select Board voted June 1 to take positions on two pending New Hampshire bills after a short debate about procedure and local impacts.
Town Administrator Michael Branley introduced HB 1491, which concerns municipal risk-pool structures and has support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association in relation to HealthTrust (the town’s risk pool). Select Board members voted 3–2 to send a letter of support to the governor, conditioned on the bill still being active; Vice Chair Heath Partington and Bruce Breton opposed acting without prior public notice.
The Board also discussed HB 1588, which would allow multi‑family residential development in commercial zones. Select Board member Roger Hohenberger argued that HB 1588 would appear to override local zoning ordinances recently adopted by Windham regarding infrastructure requirements and moved that the town send a letter asking Windham’s state representatives to oppose the bill. The motion passed 4–1 (Mr. Breton opposed). Both letters will be signed by the Town Administrator on behalf of the Board.
What happens next: The Town Administrator will sign and transmit the two letters if the conditional window for HB 1491 is open; the town has formally requested opposition to HB 1588 from its state representatives.
