By Jennifer Claise
Staff Writer

A Goffstown resident has delivered a petitioned warrant article to selectmen calling for voter approval before the board can grant any easements, licenses or other encumbrances on town-owned land.

Nicholas Campasano, who has been active in fighting the proposed development of the downtown mill area and elderly housing on Tirrell Hill Road, said it makes sense to allow voters the right to make this choice.

Currently, selectmen are leaning toward granting easements across town property for the Riverside Commons project – the renovated mill development that would hold office and retail space, a restaurant and 60 condominiums.

Neighbors of that proposed project say it is too large, and have urged selectmen to reject the developer’s request.

At a recent selectmen’s meeting, members of the school board approached selectmen to ask them to consider donating a piece of town-owned land for a new kindergarten, since the original site plans are tied up in litigation.

Selectmen said they would support the donation, but Chairman Bob Wheeler said he would like to seek voter approval first.

"This transfer needs to be a smooth transition," Wheeler said. "We may get in trouble if we don't dot all the 'i's' and cross all the 't's.'"

However, Campasano wonders why other uses of town land don’t get the same opportunity.

“I wonder if Mr. Wheeler feels the same way about granting an easement – a permanent right – to a private developer on town-owned land?” Campasano said. “Shouldn't the voters have a say on that? The petitioned article would require that approval.”

Wheeler could not immediately be reached for comment before press time.