Residents ask Henniker select board to discontinue Pike Street; board outlines warrant process

Residents who own property on Pike Street asked the Henniker Select Board on Oct. 15 to discontinue a portion of the town road that runs through their lots and return it to private use.

At the meeting Christina O’Brien, who said she owns 44 Pike Street, told the board the traveled way runs directly through her parcel and that regrading the road would let her redirect stormwater away from her house. Scott Osborne clarified deeded driveway rights that would allow some abutters continued access via the college parking lot. O’Brien said there are no utilities in the strip of road and that she and neighboring owners would be willing to rework the area to look more like a driveway and to consider signage or a gate.

Diane Kendall, town administrator, told the board a discontinuance requires a warrant article at town meeting or can be pursued as a petition warrant article. Kendall said either route requires a public hearing and written notice to all abutting property owners before a town vote, and that notice and certain posting costs fall to the petitioners if they proceed as a petition warrant article. She added the town would follow its procurement and public‑hearing rules for the process.

Highway superintendent Leo O’Coyne emphasized operational constraints. He said the road is narrow, recessed in places, and that the highway department’s equipment needs room to turn. O’Coyne said his department prefers a full discontinuance only if all abutters agree to private maintenance (plowing and repairs), otherwise the town could be left with a short segment it could not service safely.

Board members advised the petitioners to gather signatures and the necessary notices so the matter could be placed on the warrant. The board signaled it would support a petition warrant article if the petitioners pay required posting fees and prepare the required public‑hearing materials; staff offered to help with timing and the public‑hearing steps.

Next steps: petitioners were asked to work with the town administrator to obtain needed signatures, clarify legal descriptions, and obtain competitive assessments (the highway superintendent and planner offered site visits). The select board said it will revisit the issue at its Oct. 29 meeting if more documentation is provided.

Quotes (selected): “I'm Christina O’Brien. I own 44 Pike…and we're having major water issues right now.” — Christina O’Brien, resident “The discontinuance could be…from the Depot side to the property border of Lot 439B.” — Diane Kendall, town administrator “You either discontinue completely or not at all. I don't want to turn a truck halfway around.” — Leo O’Coyne, highway superintendent

Ending: The board set out the legal steps and public‑notice requirements needed to move the discontinuance to a town meeting warrant or to support a petition warrant article; it agreed to revisit the request after petitioners provide required documentation.