Member urges review of subdivision rules after selectmen override road recommendations

A committee member pressed town leaders to address inconsistent enforcement of subdivision rules and the town master plan, saying the current mismatch undermines the purpose of written rules.

The committee member told colleagues that in past instances the roads committee recommended limiting openings of range roads, but selectmen later authorized openings — a practice the member said conflicts with the town’s rules. “If the selectmen are gonna go against the subdivision rules and regulations that are there or the master plan…then, you know, there’s no sense in having it,” the member said, urging either consistent enforcement or a revision of the regulations.

Members discussed the origin of the master plan and the fact it was developed through public charrettes and community meetings; the speaker said the plan recommended opening a portion of 4th Range toward Church Road after the ice storm for improved emergency access, but that selectmen denied that opening in a later decision.

Committee members agreed to bring the subdivision rules and regulations and the master plan to the selectmen for review and said they would wait for the selectmen’s response before moving ahead with detailed changes. One member recommended tabling intensive work on the road rules until the selectmen have had a chance to review the documents.

No formal vote was taken to change regulations; the item was advanced as a next step of consultation with the selectmen. The committee also discussed membership and alternate‑seat appointments and noted that appointment notices are not always communicated clearly to committee members.