[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of the Upper Valley

Hanover Water Works - Town Meeting Statement

LWV Statement for Town Meeting

Date: May 12, 2009
Subjet: LWV Statement for Town Meeting (Barbara McIlroy, President, Etna)
Topic: Hanover Warrant Article #14, to municipalize the Hanover Water Works

Here are statements for the LWV-UV:

For discussion of the Article 14 itself:

So that the end result is a win-win for all parties, the League of Women voters has several requests regarding the process in going forward towards a fall agreement and vote at Special Town Meeting

1. Arrange for maximum transparency in the negotiation process. To maximize public understanding about the evolving agreement, we urge the Select Board to keep the public informed on the progress of the negations. Ideally, this means that the meetings should be properly noticed with the public permitted to observe (not necessarily to speak), and able to read the minutes. Other means of updating the public are regular listening sessions, use of website, informal debate/discussion of various courses of action/issues.
2. Consider several alternative arrangements for managing water company watershed lands. The Select Board has suggested a 50:50 proposal, but other options should be considered before crafting an agreement. There may be someone who has a better proposal. Since the only specific part of the Warrant article is to municipalize the infrastructure, the disposition of the watershed land remains an open question. We urge you to explore several options for its protection, as the land is central to our Master Plan.
3. Gather input from citizens at this Town Meeting and during the negotiation period, for direction to our Select Board in the design of the agreement.

In summary: For an engaged electorate and yes vote in fall, as the negotiations progress: Keep us posted, consider other watershed options, and seek our input.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: January 26, 2012 07:05 PST.

© Copyright League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley, New Hampshire. All rights reserved.