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Planning Board approves Phil Byers’ cordwood permit, adopts remote-participation rule
Summary
The Washington Planning Board approved a separate business permit for Phil Byers’ cordwood operation at 2625 East Washington Road, adopted a Rules of Procedure change to allow remote participation under RSA 91-A:2, III, and approved a minor lot merger and other routine business.
The Washington Planning Board on July 7 approved a business permit for Phil Byers to operate a standalone cordwood business at 2625 East Washington Road and adopted a change to its Rules of Procedure allowing members to participate remotely consistent with RSA 91-A:2, III.
At a public hearing opened by Chair Piatt at 6:30 p.m., Phil Byers described the operation as "an existing cordwood business located at 2625 East Washington Road selling wood by the cord," saying he typically buys loads of logs, cuts them, sells by the cord or partial cord, and delivers to customers (he said he has no customers on site). After taking public comment — including a question from Pete Martin about whether Byers cuts trees on his property — Piatt closed the hearing at 6:32 and the board opened its regular meeting.
The board voted to accept Byers’ application as complete and then voted to approve the business permit. Caffrey moved to approve the permit, Cashorali seconded, and the motion carried with all members present voting in favor; Piatt signed the permit and Byers paid the required fees. Schwartz will send Byers a copy of the signed permit.
In other business the board unanimously approved a change to Section 4.1 of the Planning Board Rules of Procedure to allow members unable to be physically present to participate under RSA 91-A:2, III. The amendment passed on a motion by Piatt and second by Cashorali; Schwartz will update the rules text.
The board also approved a lot merger application for Hofstetter (East Washington Road, TM 13-22, Tracts 1 & 2). Schwartz moved to approve the merger, Piatt seconded and the board voted in favor; Schwartz will file the signed merger with the Registry of Deeds.
A separate vote set a new internal process for draft minutes: Piatt’s motion to have the clerk BCC drafts to members, allow two days of private comment to her only, then post the draft with a watermark passed 4–1 (Cashorali opposed). The board set its next meeting for Aug. 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Why it matters: The permit separates a small, existing wood-selling operation from Byers’ landscaping business, formalizing the new business identity. The rules change and the minutes procedure both affect transparency and member participation going forward; the minutes vote exposed internal disagreement about how draft minutes should be circulated and posted.
