Have a comment to make?  Want your opposing view heard?  The GRA welcomes your opinions! 

The Goffstown Residents Association welcomes letters from readers and will print as many of them as space permits.  Unsigned letters cannot be used, but names of the writers will be withheld on request.

To have your letter considered for publication, send an email to letters@GoffstownResidentsAssociation.com.  Please type "Letter To The GRA" in the subject field, and include your name, hometown and daytime phone number (we won't publish your phone number).   

The GRA reserves the right to edit for legal considerations, and to select letters for publication at our discretion.

To the Editor:

I would like to personally thank all the residents of Goffstown who voted on Tuesday, March 10. Democracy is served when people learn the issues and participate in the process.

Congratulations to all the winners of the election and, whether or not they won, thanks to all those who chose to take a stand and run for a public office. We are all better off when candidates are generous with their time and knowledge.

The net effect of all the budget and revenue adjustments for the town and schools is that the overall tax rate increase has been reduced. Thanks to all the departments, boards, committees and personnel that made that happen. 

Without that effort, the estimated local school tax rate increase of 10% would have been higher. If the estimated 10% local school tax rate increase were to continue at the same rate, then Goffstown could expect an estimated local school tax rate in 2016 (7 years from now) of $23.48.

Goffstown, in my opinion, will need to remain fiscally vigilant this year to keep tax increases down in the future, since property values, budgets and revenues are sure to change in these uncertain economic times.

Ivan Beliveau
Goffstown

To the Editor:

Politics is the art of compromise. My stand was and still is that the school budget is on high side - many of the excesses in the budget are above and beyond the stated mission of the schools - plain and simple The $400K compromise I presented and supported is a number I believed the School Board would be able to also support, they did, and it became the number you will be voting on March 10th - please support that number.

I am running for a seat on Goffstown's Board of Selectman. I am a commonsense guy. Although I wanted a larger reduction in the school budget, I proposed a smaller cut in spite of my personal convictions. This issue is a great example of my commonsense in action - compromising rather than going to the school deliberative session with a school budget number that could be easily overturned by angry school supporters was the right way to go. Calling the $400,000 reduction the fiscally responsible thing to do was used to convince the supporters of a larger reduction to lighten up and it worked. Being a commonsense kind of guy, I look and listen to all the facts and opinions, wade through the emotions, and then do what I believe is right despite my personal opinion. Facts are facts and these facts are all correct. I stand that what I did concerning the school budget was upright and honest - an honest politician, yes!

As Selectman I will carefully examine the immediate, short and long term impact of the actions of the board. I will not cut out necessary and legally mandated services and facilities; however, I will carefully review costs, look for additional efficiencies, and consider alternative methods. Give me a call at 497-3721 or e-mail me at hollyberryfarm at comcast.net, if you have a concern or question.

Please come out on March 10th and vote for commonsense, not emotion, smoke, mirrors, hype, flash and dash. Thank you.

Bill Gordon
Goffstown

To the Editor:

According to the Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org/taxdata) the overall tax burden in NH has increased substantially every 10 years. The “Total State and Local Per Capita Taxes Paid,” according to the website are as follows: 1977 -$650; 1987 - $1,563; 1997 - $2,405; 2007 - $3,612.

If there were two taxpayers per household, then the average total tax in NH (2007) could be estimated to be ~$7,224.

Indeed, this places NH at 46th in the US for overall taxation, which is, of course, primarily a property tax.
A locally controlled relatively low overall property tax (fairness issue aside) is perhaps a good thing and there is a looming problem.

Financial types understand the rule of 72 that states that if 72 is divided by the percentage increase of a number, then the number of years that it will take for that number to double can be calculated. Example: If a budget is increasing by 7.2%/year, then it will double every 10 years (72/7.2% = 10 years).

The looming problem is that if town budgets come in at a 7.2% increase every 10 years, then taxes will double. The $7,224 for 2007 becomes $14,448 for 2017; the $14,448 for 2017 becomes $28,896 for 2027. This increase may not be a problem for some and for others it will be a huge problem.

Obviously income is the other side of this conversation. People whose income is going up at 7.2% a year may not notice anything; people on a fixed income will be devastated.

Financial types who aren’t mathematically challenged will recognize that a compounding (exponential) function cannot be sustained indefinitely…keep doubling those numbers and see where it leads.

One solution to stop this compounding growth is to cap the property tax (at a minimum) – level fund the entire town/state budget for 10 years – or at least at the level of growth of private sector income. Those very fiscally conservative taxpayers could even request a rollback of, say, -10%.

Whatever is the financial outcome, it is safe to say that taxpayers need to become involved in town financial matters; at the budget committee level; at the selectman level; at all levels.

It’s our checkbook…we get to decide the outcome…those who don’t participate don’t get to criticize, condemn or complain about the financial outcome.


Ivan Beliveau
Goffstown

To the Editor:

At Mondays Board of Selectmens meeting on Monday 11.24.08 I submitted an email request that dead end streets be included in the pending speed limit change ordinance recommended by the Highway Safety Committee from 35mph to 25mph for the following streets, one which is a dead end: Cinnamon Drive,Ginger Drive,Coriander Way,Peppermint Drive,Sage Court,Thyme Drive. It was read into the minutes and discussed and decided that the Highway Safety Committee would look into a new speed limit ordinance that would lower the current speed limit from 35 mph on some or all dead end streets in Goffstown.

In April many residents on dead end streets wrote emails and showed up at the public hearings to support lowering speed limits on all dead end streets to 20 or 25 mph. That town wide speed limit ordinance was never voted on because the motion did not get a second and as a result any new lower speed limit changes on dead end streets never happened.

But there is a new oppurtunity, probably our last chance to voice our opinions and help create a new speed limit ordinance for dead end streets in Goffstown, Pinardville and Grasmere.

I live on Spring Street and the speed limit is 35 mph. Spring Street is 850 ft long and the sidewalk in no longer maintained. It was put on the winter exceptions list a few years ago. This forces children walking home from school, a person in a wheel chair and all residents to walk in the street during the winter. Some parts of the sidewalk are not safe enough for wheelchair use the rest of the year.

I am asking for help and support from residents to write or call to the Highway Safety Committee about lowering the speed limit on dead end streets. The Chief of Police is the email contact listed on the Highway Safety Committee website. I would also suggest that you write or send a copy to a Selectman as they have the final vote on the new ordinance. There should be 2 new public hearings for the new dead end speed limit ordinance. Once it goes to the public hearings we will have to follow up on our requests.

I will write to the Highway Safety Committee and send copies to all 5 selectmen requesting that the speed limit on Spring Street and other dead end streets be lowered to 20 mph or at least 25 mph. So I am asking residents to write in once again and voice their opinion if they want this speed limit change to happen and what speed they would like to see it changed to. Please forward this blog to a neighbor or friend that lives on a dead end street. 

Here is the web address with contact infomation to the Highway Safety Committee and the Board of Selectmen:

http://www.town.goffstown.nh.us/boards/highway.shtml

http://www.town.goffstown.nh.us/boards/selectmen.shtml 

I appreciate your support and if you want to contact me please feel free. My email address is wperreault@comcast.net and my home phone number is 497-8900 after 12 noon please. 

Thank You, 

Wayne Perreault
Goffstown
 

A big thank you to Devriendt Farms, Ace Hardware, Sully’s Superette, Bill and Sandie Peabody, John and Cathy Peltonen, Elizabeth Merrill, Howe’s Pharmacy, Apotheca, Jo-Marie’s, Jacques Flowers, Darlene Coutu and Hannaford’s – all of Goffstown. Thank you, too, to Robbie Grady and members of the Main Street Program.

Thanks also to Greanies and to Woodbury Flowers of Weare, Sam’s Club of Manchester, Wal-Mart of Bedford, and the local Rainbow Girls, including April Hotchkiss, Kendra Hotchkiss, Jordyn Hotchkiss and Brianna Kelly. 

And deep appreciation to those members of the Society who worked so hard to make this dinner a success.

Marie Boyle, Secretary
Goffstown Historical Society

I want to applaud the voters of Goffstown who took the time to vote in the Primary Election on Tuesday. The primaries are an important part of choosing our elected leaders; we should not let this choice be left to others to decide for us. 

I also want to reply to the Goffstown Residents Association "special guest" editorial of September 8.   In that editorial, I was falsely accused me of not telling the truth about my opponent’s filing the August 20th Candidate Receipt and Expense Form.  I contacted the Secretary of State’s office on three separate days (August 25^th, 26th; and 27th).   Each time I was told that there was no record of her filing.  I wrote the press release stating that "I believe that my opponent has not filed."  

It is important that the citizens can see where money is coming from and how the money is being spent.  Despite what the editorial stated, this report was still not available to me online on September 11th, but this is not the fault of my opponent.   I have since learned that she did file the report on time using the new online system.  There appears to be problems with the online system.  The problems have prevented the public from accessing the information.  

I acted in good faith and relied on information from the Secretary of State’s Office.   If the editorial writer had contacted the Secretary of State’s Office or me, she would have learned the facts before accusing me of not telling the truth.  

The editorial writer also misunderstood the facts around the sale of two parcels of land to Irving Oil. I consistently fought against the sale of the main parcel of land.  The vote of the Board of Commissioners was to recommend the sale of the first parcel by a 2-1 vote (Charbonneau and Pappas - YES and Holden - NO). 

The second parcel was a narrow strip of land that was needed for safety reasons so that line of sight for motorists would be appropriate.  Since the main parcel had already been approved, there was little reason for me to vote against a measure that would improve safety.  The County could not use this strip of land and would receive a fair price for it.   

Carol Holden
Hillsborough County Commissioner
ccommish@rcn.com 
603.673.8167 (home)
603.494.8811 (cell)
www.carolholden.org

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Click here for Bill's BACKYARD PRODUCTIONS website.

The GRA refers to a Quiram memo that he plans reclamation of Snook Rd plus 30-40 other roads this year.  Why can't we see the list first?  Yet Carl has no idea how long it takes DPW to build a road! Please see the story at http://www.goffstownresidentsassociation.com/DPW/070216_BOSquestionsDPWestimates.htm

DPW now has the same excavator that was voted down in March 2006 (Warrant Article 17), No: 1,884 Yes: 1,239.  This is in the 2007 Budget.  If the 2007 budget fails, where's the money coming from? Recycling profits?  Other schemes?

Why does Bruce Hunter want new trash taxes?  To pay for the new DPW Road Paving Division?

In 2002 Article 27 "Pay As You Throw" was voted down No: 2580, Yes: 1812.  But that does not matter to Hunter.  Carl Quiram is never satisfied and Bruce Hunter will do what ever he can to give Carl whatever he wants even if the voters vote it down.

Why are we being told the recycling program is not making enough money while the drivers are going home early and getting paid for it?

We have been told when the recycling bond is paid off (about 2008 ) we would save an extra $100,000 a year and lower taxes.  It seems the DPW shell game is still going strong. 

Article 16 on next month's ballot is worded to allow DPW to create a A NEW DPW IN HOUSE ROAD PAVING DIVISION.  How many more of Carl's roundabouts will be built?

PLEASE VOTE NO ON ARTICLE 16.

We should use the recycling profits for a tax credit/rebate on the tax bills, not to build a bigger DPW.

Wayne Perreault
Goffstown 

It seems that no one in public office, from the Oval Office to the board of selectmen, wants to be held accountable to their constituents.

Perhaps they are the wrong people for the position.

I, for one, will remember how our selectmen voted on Guy Caron’s request that their votes be recorded in a roll-call fashion.

I, too, would like to be able to check a candidate’s position before an election.

Herbert Edwards
Goffstown

The votes of all members of our federal Congress are recorded each and every time a vote is taken; Congress knows it is responsible and answerable to the voters who put them in office. Why are our local officials so special and secretive? What do they fear that they must hide behind not recording their votes for future posterity? The voting and meetings are open to the public and appear on local TV channels. The videos are reused after approximately 30 days and do not constitute a permanent record -- the recorded minutes should.

How our town officials vote is crucial to how they represent those who voted them into office. Are they fearful of being rejected next election? A non-recorded vote, yea or nay, shows disrespect for the voters, shows irreverance for those who put these elected officials into the position from which they feel they rule the town. Perhaps the next election can correct the current arrogance of our town’s officials.

Linda A. Gelfand
Goffstown

"Dark in Goffstown" (was an editorial that) appeared in The Union Leader, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. The article looks like the handy work of Andrew Cline.

D’Avanza, Griffin and Hunter ought to be ashamed of themselves. The public should be aware of how their representatives vote. Unfortunately, the majority rules and many times other members go along just to go along.

I did that very thing at our last council meeting Dec. 6. I went along with a small-potatoes vote much against my gut feeling because I decided, after 16 weeks of my sitting in an unplugged electric chair, I would pick my battles.

The councilor that sits next to me said, "I know you do not support this. Why did you vote yes?"

I replied, " I am a coward."

I could not believe I said that. Again I will pick my battles, but what I fear now. I will become like so many others in our great nation; I will go along just to go along.

Goffstown voters should put those three on notice and if the silence continues remove them.

I walked out of a Hooksett Town Council meeting last Sept. 28, 2005, so angry because I still believe the Hooksett voters are going to be taken advantage of. I hope I am wrong and if so I will duly apologize publicly. I witnessed the best PR job I ever seen in my long life.

I am blessed over the years to have collected many friends as corporate nomads and I sent 305 Christmas cards this year.

Next year there will be only 303 because I lost two friends after they were mailed. I send a newsletter plus a personal note to all.

In my newsletter, I conveyed to my friends what happened politically with me. I told them the natives of New Hampshire tend to be naive. Let us hope the voters are not being used by carpet baggers. Elected officials should never keep the voters in the dark.

Pat Rueppel  
Hooksett (Rueppel is a Hooksett town councilor)

Having just read your recent posting entitled "School Board members vote themselves 300% raises, annual increases" please allow me to address some of your concerns.

As an elected member of the School Board, it is critical that our actions are subject to review by all citizens.  Transparency in government is necessary.  In the future, please feel free to call me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.  However since your editorial is already posted, I share with you the following comments:

With regard to School Board member stipends, our Board visited this issue a few months ago and established a subcommittee to review stipend amounts for all School elected officials.

By way of background, the current school board stipend is set at $500 per year with no travel allowances.  The stipend has not changed since 1987.  Our subcommittee came back with a recommendation to increase the stipend to $1500 for Board members and $2000 for the Board Chair.  This recommendation was based on the hours devoted to the position, comparisons to other elected positions within and outside Goffstown, as well as an allowance for expenses such as mileage.  We also adjusted other positions such as the moderator and treasurer.  Prior to the Board’s vote, conversations took place with the budget committee and an email was sent to the budget committee chair advising him of the recommendation.  In addition to noticing the budget committee, this topic was discussed with reporters from the Goffstown News and the Union Leader- both of whom had this stipend increase in newspaper articles.  It was also duly noticed at our school board meetings.  The point that I’d like you to know is that we did solicit opinions, and we were very forthright about the process.  The process now continues on to the Budget Committee’s review of the school budget, then on to public hearings and then the deliberative session.

I personally support this recommended stipend increase.  Although my term expires (and I’m not seeking re-election to the School Board in March), board members put in hundreds of hours of time to serve our community and they also incur expenses.  While I understand the argument that people like myself voluntarily decide to hold elected office, I would only hope that citizens appreciate the work of their elected officials and they understand the sacrifices of time and expenses one incurs serving in this capacity.  A reasonable stipend may not attract a quality candidate, but please consider that an inadequate stipend may likely discourage involvement.  If you look at the number of uncontested School Board races over the years - this may be a factor. 

Over that last few weeks some in the community have commented to me that they did not agree with the annual increase portion of our recommendation.  Having reconsidered this, I agree.  At our last meeting, the Board voted to withdraw the annual increase portion from our budget and leave future stipend decisions to future boards and voter approval through the budget process.

As part of the construction project, the Board put out a bid on the front Kindergarten sign.  We received responses from only two local vendors and asked the Administration to review the bids as they included multiple options.  We decided to accept the low bid of Sousa Signs and consider all of the options they provided us.  Sousa Signs is a local vendor who offered not only to provide the kindergarten sign, but also agreed to refurbish the sign at the Bartlett School or grant substantial discounts for the purchase of a sign at GHS.  It was the consensus of the Board to upgrade slightly to a more aesthetically pleasing sign with "added rows" on the message board portion of the sign.  The Board felt that the upgraded sign for an additional $3000 was not only a much better sign (it looked better for the neighborhood, and it had greater functionality for the message board), but it would also allow us to refurbish the one at Bartlett or consider a huge discount for a GHS sign at no additional cost to the taxpayer.  In addition, please understand that at the time this decision was made, we had available funds within the kindergarten budget that allowed for this upgrade.  As with any large construction project there are cost overruns and savings.  Unique to the kindergarten project is the 75% reimbursement from the State of NH (plus the additional building aid on the 25% District balance).  In essence, by using funds within the project budget, we would spend $510 for a $3000 upgrade and then also receive either a refurbishment of the Bartlett sign or a huge discount for a GHS sign at no cost to the taxpayer.    Once again, I hope the voters of Goffstown would agree with this recommendation. 

As you know from reading the minutes, this decision has not been finalized.  However getting the most bang for the buck remains the goal.  If your interpretation of the meeting minutes suggests otherwise, I apologize for minutes that may not have expressed all of the conversation or the intent of the School Board to maximize our dollars.  

The impetus for my motion to add $1500 for custodian shirts was a direct result of two primary reasons- security and professionalism.  At the time this motion was made, there was a rash of school violence across the country and I had received calls from parents and staff about the security of our schools.  One item that was brought up was our custodial staff.  A few parents commented to me that custodians were not easily identifiable at some of our schools, especially at night and on weekends.   At the high school in particular we have a few young male custodians who many would assume are students.  This is especially problematic during night and weekend events.  The general public does not often know who works in our buildings.  This would apply to circumstances such as changing the heat settings, unlocking a door, dealing with a flooded toilet, or in an emergency such as an injury, missing child, or school safety incident. 

One Board member suggested badges and certainly this is the lowest cost method.  However, please keep in mind that shirt with "Staff" on it is more recognizable, especially since you can’t see someone’s badge from far away or if their backs are turned.

Then there are the secondary issues of professionalism and uniformity.  By providing maintenance employees with several t-shirts, we gain a more professional appearance and some needed consistency.  I am not suggesting that we provide pants, shoes and laundering.  And the term "uniforms" for budgeting purposes is an inappropriate description for simply providing t-shirts to custodians. 

We have 20-25 custodial staff (full and part time) in our district. I believe this expense adds value to our community in terms of safety, professionalism, and equity to our custodians at a very nominal price.   Intelligent people can disagree with this approach, and perhaps it may never come to pass as it progresses through the budget process.  But as you can see from the meeting minutes, our Board had a good debate about the pros and cons and other suggestions.  We will wait and see what our administration recommends as well as the outcome of budget committee discussions.

On your website you listed the student to teacher ratio in Goffstown as 13.7 : 1.  While that ratio is correct, please note that Goffstown has more students per teacher (greater class size) than the State average which is 12.9:1.

On your site you listed the NH DOE figure regarding the average teacher salary.  Please note this number is incorrect.  We have asked the NH DOE to correct this amount on their website for several weeks.  The actual average teacher salary in Goffstown is $37,657. This significantly changes the placement of Goffstown on the list of the towns ranked by average teacher salary.  (Ed. Note:  The salary figure originally listed in the GRA article was obtained directly from the NHDOE web site at the time of publication.  After corrections to it were made by the NHDOE at the request of the school district, the figure in our article was then altered accordingly).

If you were to look at other data, such as minimum teacher pay scales, compare other teacher salary schedules of comparable towns, you will see that we are indeed lower than the state average and other towns in which we compete for resources.

Also, if you are looking for a reasonable standard to compare spending on education, please see the website below from the NH Dept of Education. 

http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/data/ReportsandStatistics/FinancialReports/CostPerPupil/CostPerPupil2004-2005/CostPerPupil2004-2005.xls

The NH State Average for "Cost per Pupil" is $9,098.56.  Goffstown's Cost per pupil is $7,334.23.

In Goffstown we spend far less than the state average.  In fact, if you sort the cost per pupil data amongst the 163 towns for which there is data, Goffstown is ranked 154 out of 163 school districts or in the bottom 6% for school spending in NH.

As someone who takes pride in what I do, I’m disappointed in the manner in which the School Board is characterized in your editorial. 

School Board members have a genuine desire to make improvements, be more efficient, and obtain value from our tax dollars.  Our District has achieved many wonderful accomplishments, and based on our cost per pupil data, we indeed get a pretty good "bang for our buck."  Perfect we are not, but we learn from our mistakes and we welcome feedback on how we can better serve the students and our community.  Your website is a good source of that needed feedback.

Comments about "wasteful spending" "overblown budgets" ,and "spending every dime we give them" appears to be an emotional response, but it is not representative of all the facts.  The School District traditionally returns unused monies to the general fund and in some cases it has been over a million dollars in a given year.   This offsets the following year’s tax rate.

Over the last few years the District has expended funds within 97-99% of our budget and returned unexpended monies to the general fund to be returned to offset taxes.   Simply put, we don’t spend money without a legitimate purpose. Unspent monies have been returned to the taxpayer and this will continue.

Some in the community may not know this, but federally- mandated special education services have a wide variety of associated costs.  Some special education services can be provided within our schools at a very reasonable price.  However out of district placements for more complex special education cases can cost in excess of $100,000 per student and we do have some cases like this in Goffstown.  Special needs children move into and out of Goffstown and this is a very fluid part of the budget. 

Another area of recent concern is energy.  All of us have experienced the rollercoaster ride of gas, oil, and propane costs and the ripple effect it has on other items

All I ask is that there is a fair and balanced conversation.  When you look at many of the variables, you will see that there is no mismanagement involved.  In fact, the following factors have a huge impact on non discretionary spending which accounts for vast majority of the budget

    ·        Rising cost of federally mandated special education
    ·        Rising health care costs
    ·        Increases in fuel, oil and other energy related expenses
    ·        Unpredictability and inconsistency of State Education aid
    ·        Providing fair and competitive wages
    ·        Dealing with an increasing student population and No Child Left Behind mandates

Neither does the Board get the credit for the following that have either saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as brought in additional needed revenues to offset expenditures:

    ·        Refinancing bonds to lower our debt payments
    ·        Renegotiating with the AREA towns( Dunbarton and New Boston) for more equitable tuitions
    ·        Honeywell Energy Saving Project- guaranteed savings in the hundreds of thousands of dollars through the replacement of energy efficient fixtures, bulbs, weatherproofing, thermostats etc.
    ·        Strong lobbying efforts to obtain a fair amount of State Aid
    ·        Supporting Community Groups  as they build new infrastructure ( Field of Dreams, Girls Softball, JV Baseball Field) all at either minimal or no cost to taxpayers
    ·        Encouraging companies to donate computers, furniture and other resources
    ·        Seeking out grants and other partnerships to bring in technology ( Inter-distance Learning, Laptop Carts)

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my point of view.  If at anytime, you or any other members of the GRA or the Goffstown Community have a question, I welcome your comments at 497-5046 or grossfour@comcast.net. In addition, all of our meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to participate. 

Scott Gross
Goffstown

The issue with the Grasmere roundabout is not only the price tag. It started with the decision to prioritize that intersection as needing improvement more than any other road in town. In my book, that was the first mistake with this project. Many other areas in town could have benefited from the resources spent on the circle - the time, the money, the asphalt, etc. 

The second issue to consider is "why" the selectmen chose to do something at that location. From the minutes of the selectmen's meetings, the purpose of this "improvement" is to "calm" down the traffic. Yes, to slow the traffic down. It was going too fast. Although, there are very few accidents that take place there. 

With that said, you now can ask - is this the least expensive way to "slow" down traffic? Couldn't we just have lowered the speed limit? Are there other less costly solutions to slowing down traffic? At least try something else before spending over $400,000. I know that there are other solutions out there that would have barely raised my taxes, if at all. And what about the design of this circle and how it is going to affect the Grasmere General Store? 

I'm not sure the store will be able to stay open with the difficulty now of getting in and out of their space. Why do we need curbing all around this circle? What is the purpose of the raised, car wide, inner circle? I've seen buses going up onto this inner circle? Why not have it all one height? And why have such a curve into the circle from the Manchester direction instead of just flowing on the original path into the top of the circle giving vehicles more time between entrances? 

The circle might work fine once everyone gets used to it (I hope it does), but for the price, this decision should have waited until many other roads were repaired and fixed first. It should have been explored more. The circle is supposedly good for 10 years before it fails again.. Then what? Redesign it again and spend how much???? I believe this was poor, poor planning.

Tricia Wynne
Goffstown

The number of drivers who continually neglect to use their directional, when making turns or changing lanes, totally amazes me. As an example, waiting for the lights to change at the junction of 114 and Mast Road, 14 vehicles turned left onto Mast Road and headed up toward Goffstown Village. Of the 14, only 6 vehicles used their directional when making that turn. And, it doesn’t stop there. I can’t count the number of drivers on the interstate highways, like I-293,
I-93 and I-89, who think nothing of cutting in front of you and changing lanes without using their directional or the proper hand-signals. Over time, I’ve had several vehicles cut in front of me and then cut out into the left lane again, pass another vehicle and cut back into the right lane. Not once did they give an indication of their intent. It was like a "me first" scenario.

Many accidents result because of drivers who make improper turns and/or change lanes without using their directional or giving the proper turn signal by hand. The rules of the road are the traffic laws and driving rules set up for safe, smooth travel by all users of the roadways. As a driver, you must know what rules apply to you and other drivers. These rules include the signs, signals, markings found on the roadway and using your directional when making turns and/or changing lanes.

Section 265:79-b of the Motor Vehicles Rules of The Road (Serious Traffic Offenses) states the following: "Whoever upon any way drives a vehicle negligently or causes a vehicle to be driven negligently, as defined in RSA 626:2, I(d), or in any manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any person or property shall be guilty of a violation and shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. "

Section 265:45 of Rules of The Road, Turning Movements and Required Signals, states:
1. No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in RSA:42, or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or  otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.

2. A signal of intension to turn right or left when required shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.

3. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give such signal. 

4. The signals provided in RSA 265:46, II, shall be used to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked positionand shall be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle, or flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to drivers of other vehicles approaching from the rear.

Too many drivers also neglect to use their directional when coming out of their driveways onto a road or street, which they are required by law to do. It also doesn’t matter that you are in a left or right turn lane at the lights waiting to turn into a shopping center or another street. You are still required by law to use your directional, indicating your intention to turn. And, even blabbing on your cell phone, which you shouldn’t be doing if you are driving, is no excuse for not using your directional when making turns or changing lanes. We need more courtesy and safety on our roads, not stupidity.

Bob Harris
Goffstown

I wouldn’t normally respond to a letter to the editor (of the Goffstown News), because I believe people are entitled to express their opinion. 

However, in respect to Attorney Mike Ryan’s letter of Oct. 12, I must make an exception. While he certainly is entitled to his own opinion, his letter went beyond stating opinion. 

He attempted to state facts about the authority of the board of selectmen, and, in fact, he was dead wrong. 

The following is a quote from the 2006 edition of "Knowing the Territory", a handbook produced by the New Hampshire Local Government Center (This book is provided to local government officials as a guide to performing their duties). "Cities and towns with councils are representative democracies. The only power the voters have is choosing their representatives. A town meeting town, however, is a direct or ‘pure’ democracy, in that all general town authority resides in the voters themselves at town meeting, not in any representative body like a council, and not in the selectmen." 

Attorney Ryan’s letter illustrates the misconception that many people, and, unfortunately, many entrenched elected officials have, in their belief that they were elected to "represent" the voters and do as they please. I would point out, that as a town meeting town, Goffstown’s Board of Selectmen is not a representative body. 

Attorney Ryan spoke of a petitioned warrant article for a traffic light at the intersection of Elm and Main streets as an example of his idea of representation. 

When the voters (read that as the legislative body) passed that article, the selectmen should have honored their wishes. Although the article lacked funding, the selectmen could have fulfilled the will of the voters by budgeting for the improvements in subsequent years. 

Instead, the board substituted the voters’ wishes with their own "bump-out" plan. Attorney Ryan points to the small group of people who agreed to the plan. Those people may have put the article on the warrant, however they did not represent all of the voters who clearly directed the selectmen to signalize the intersection. 

I would like to, again, encourage the residents, taxpayers and voters of Goffstown to go to public hearings and speak out. This is your government. Don’t get discouraged, stay the course and make your elected officials accountable. 

Nick Campasano
Goffstown selectman 

To the Editor of the Goffstown News:

It was with disappointment that I read your article concerning the Henry Bridge Road roundabout. The article quoted me as saying, "It was selectmen who approved the Henry Bridge roundabout."  What your reporter failed to include in that quote was the part where I stated,  "It was the prior board of selectmen that approved the Henry Bridge roundabout."

I am, personally, against the roundabout. Although it may have been an unintentional editorial omission, I do not appreciate being made to look like I approved that project. I would ask that, in the future, when you quote an individual, you make every effort to place their statement in the context in which it was made.

Before I was elected, I attended the roundabout public hearings and listened to the town residents voice their disapproval of that proposal. Unfortunately, the public comments, as so often is the case, were ignored and the project chugged along. I did not have an opportunity as a new selectman to do anything about it, as the project had already been approved by the board, prior to my election.

There are a growing number of residents in Goffstown who are frustrated by the fact that public hearings seem to have become meaningless. As I stated at the Sept. 21st master plan public hearing, it feels, at times, that public hearings have become a "required nuisance" in the eyes of officials. Elected bodies grudgingly endure the public comments, only to then continue on with their business, doing as they please.

Our Town Meeting form of government is not a representative form of government. It is a pure democracy. As a selectman, I can not decide to do what I think the best thing to do is. I must do what the townspeople direct me to do. In some cases, state statute allows for that direct input to the board. It’s called a public hearing. When the public comes in and voices their desires, I, for one, listen. I heard the public voice their concerns about a master plan that, according to several planning board members themselves, contained errors and flaws. That is why I voted against adoption. There was no reason why the planning board could not have put off adopting the plan. They could have worked with those concerned residents to make corrections and then adopt it at a later date.

There will be those who will look at the small number of people who attend public hearings and complain that a few individuals should not suggest changes for everyone. Unfortunately, in this day and age, only a small segment of people turn out for these meetings. We see a similar occurrence on election day. However, we should not ignore the concerns of these motivated and engaged residents simply because their neighbors didn’t show up.

I commend those residents for taking the time to come to meetings and speaking out. It is their efforts that make Goffstown the special place that it is.

Nick Campasano
Goffstown

In response to the two letters by Tricia Wynne and Diane Rand, I have to agree that these roundabouts are a mistake.

What about traffic lights or four-way stop signs? I think these roundabouts are going to take the true historic value away from Grasmere and cause plenty of traffic problems.

I also think that something this major should be voted on by the town residents and not just by the board of selectmen and DPW. Maybe it is time that these department heads are voted in by the town residents and not by the selectmen.

Why is the DPW not finishing all the road repairs and washouts that are still all over town?

There is plenty of work that needs to be done other than these roundabouts.

Wallace Road would work better with a traffic light, but I guess this part of town can’t have them. The town’s residents voted a few years ago for a traffic light at Elm, Main, North Mast and High streets and ended up getting bumpouts instead.

It seems that whatever the town’s residents vote on, the board of selectmen and DPW do whatever they want. I suppose that the extra land that will be needed for these roundabouts will be taken by eminent domain with no consideration for the landowners.

Where have the rights of the town residents gone? I think it is time that the residents of Goffstown get to vote on what is going to be done and bought in this town.

A lot of residents don’t realize that a lot of equipment and job items are hid in the operating budget.

Russ Lauriat
Goffstown

In response to Tricia Wynne’s letter last week regarding the "roundabout" in Grasmere Village, I too am shocked and just frustrated that the selectmen and the Department of Public Works are putting this project before the problem areas at Wallace Road and Main and Elm streets.

What are they thinking? This proposed "roundabout" is not going to solve the traffic problem in the mornings and after school. It’s going to be a complete mess with traffic backed up. I live six houses from the center and the traffic is flowing quite nicely.

Yes, maybe for a short period of time, the cars and buses coming up Henry Bridge have a problem getting onto Center Street but a "roundabout" is not the solution.

The Grasmere General Store is going to be especially hard hit with a "roundabout" as I saw the plans last year and it called for a curb running in front of the store with a small space for access to the parking area.

I have not spoken to one person that agrees with the proposal.

After all the problems with the roads this year, you would think that the Department of Public Works would be putting extra money into repairing our existing roads. But they must have this money in the budget for a "roundabout" and plan on using it!

It is sad to know that no matter how many letters we write to express our concerns, the selectmen and the DPW are going to do it anyway.

Diane Rand
Grasmere Village

Is anyone else as shocked as I am that the Public Works Department is preparing to install a traffic circle (excuse me, they call it a roundabout) at the top of Henry Bridge and Center Streets? The last we heard about this was a year ago. I’ve heard nothing since then.

Why do we need to do something there? Typically, it isn’t a high accident spot. Granted there is a backup onto Henry Bridge, but I strongly doubt that the "round-about" will alleviate that situation. Trucks and buses, especially, will have a hard time trying to enter going uphill from a near dead stop.

Why are we spending our money and time on this? Don’t we have many other roads that need attention? Were other plans considered? Could we attempt something less costly and achieve the goal? (Whatever the goal is?) Where were the other public hearings on this? I had written a letter to the selectmen when this first came to light and received a letter telling me to come to the next public hearing. I never heard about another public hearing.

The Public Works Department already removed the old tree in the triangle. I don’t think it is too late to stop and really look at this plan. At least explain to the public why this is happening and what purpose it will serve, or is trying to serve. Personally, I’d rather see my tax dollars going to more worthwhile projects than "roundabout" solutions. Most people don’t like them and find them very frustrating. Wouldn’t a traffic light or stop sign accomplish the same thing but cost less money?

I don’t know the answers to these questions. They are questions I would have liked to have asked at the "public hearing" that no one that I’ve asked knows when or if it ever happened. I urge you to contact your selectmen and let them know how you feel.

Tricia Wynne
Goffstown

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