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Select Board says Vernon Family Farm complaints largely unsubstantiated, cites legal costs
Summary
After reviewing eight complaints filed by Jeremiah Vernon, the Newfields Select Board concluded most lacked merit, noted about $100,000 in legal fees tied to disputes, and directed wetland and state-jurisdiction issues to appropriate agencies.
The Town of Newfields Select Board reviewed eight formal complaints from Jeremiah Vernon alleging various violations by neighboring property owners and concluded that most complaints did not demonstrate ordinance violations.
Chairman Hoby Harmon said the Town "has never made one effort to impact the ability of VFF to Farm" and described the complaints as matters of compliance with town ordinances rather than attacks on agricultural activity. Harmon told the Board the Town has spent over $100,000 on legal fees over the past 18 months responding to issues tied to Vernon Family Farm. The Board examined evidence including videos, photographs and police reports before reaching its determinations.
The Board found one noise-related complaint involving a small mini-excavator showed the machine was operating within permitted hours and had an appropriate muffler, and treated allegations that soil and stacked rocks crossed a property line as a civil boundary matter after a police inspection found a one- to two-foot overlap that was corrected. For signage at the Gerard property (Pioneer Farm), Board members reviewed zoning section 4.6 and Secretary of State records and concluded the farm name is historic rather than a registered business, and the signs and lighting did not appear to violate town regulations.
On potential wetland impacts raised by Vernon, Select Board members and Conservation Chair Tom Rettberg recommended referral to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) for a formal determination, noting that wetland jurisdiction rests with DES. Harmon also read correspondence and police records indicating profane language by Mr. Vernon toward abutters and referenced a police report documenting an exchange during a VFF event.
The Board further noted approximately $8,000 had been spent on professional noise monitoring; on July 10 the Town received a Freedom of Information request from Vernon Family Farm and Manzelli's seeking about 26 years of records related to noise complaints, which will require Town Clerk review and legal redaction at a quoted $250 per hour. Ultimately, Chairman Harmon recommended the matter be considered closed; Cat Tarnowski agreed and Mark Kasper urged neighbors to reduce tensions, while acknowledging the town continues to bear costs from ongoing disputes.
