Rye select board affirms control of town-owned Seavey Acres parcel; no immediate land-use change

The Rye Select Board on June 2 declared that a small piece of land adjacent to Seavey Acres is town-owned and under Select Board authority, and asked the Conservation Commission to remove its signage and refrain from placing brush or obstacles on that parcel. Select Board Chair Rob Wright said the intent was to "make it known that the land is managed by the Select Board" while noting the board does not plan immediate changes to how the land is used.

The finding grew from a concern raised by Selectman John Tuttle that what is commonly called Seavey Acres actually comprises two parcels: one subject to a conservation easement and another acquired by the town via tax lien. Tuttle told the joint meeting that the Conservation Commission had adopted study recommendations about closing trails on the area even though, he said, "the Select Board controls that parcel, not the Conservation Commission."

Conservation Commission Chair Shawn Joyce acknowledged the Select Board’s authority, saying the commission "understands that the Select Board totally controls that parcel," and indicated the RCC will not stand in the way of the board asserting management prerogatives. Town Administrator Scruton cited RSA 41:11-a in explaining that the Select Board has responsibility over town property and that no immediate formal action was required to reassert control.

Residents and long-time monitors of the property raised procedural and stewardship questions. Mike Garvan, a former RCC member who monitors the land for the L-CHIP program, urged consistent standards of management and asked the Select Board to consider whether the town-owned parcel should receive the same L-CHIP management standards applied to Seavey Acres. RCC Alternate Jenn Madden said the RCC should revisit whether it followed proper procedure when it voted to adopt the study’s recommendations; Chair Joyce asked Madden to place that topic on the RCC’s next meeting agenda.

The boards agreed to take down RCC tags on the town-owned parcel and to avoid placing brush or obstacles on town-managed land. No vote transferring ownership or altering public access was taken; the meeting record states "no further action will be taken on that parcel at this time." The Select Board preserved the option to consider future uses for the parcel should circumstances change.

Why it matters: The clarification narrows which body has legal authority over the tax-deeded portion of Seavey Acres and may affect future decisions about trail closures or other uses. Questions about whether the town-owned parcel should be held to the same L-CHIP management standards were raised and set for future review.

Next steps: The RCC will discuss procedure and the trail-closure recommendation at its next meeting; the Select Board did not adopt any change in land use during the joint session.