By Devon Cormier
Staff Writer

More than 25 residents packed New Boston Town Hall to hear selectmen decide that the steep slope amendment has passed, despite an uncertain vote on Article 3 on March 8.

The vote had remained unresolved when a protest petition that would have forced a twothirds, rather than a simple majority vote, came into question.

On Monday, April 4, selectmen decided to agree with the opinion of the town.s attorney, William Drescher, who had said a protest petition that would have forced the failure of the article was invalid. His decision ended up passing the article by a majority of three votes. If the petition had been allowed, the amendment would have failed.

The zoning amendment will form a steep slope conservation area in town that is expected to affect close to 8,000 acres and which many feel could halt or slow development in town.

The decision will now be passed on to Town Moderator Lee Nyquist, who will officially announce the vote result. Selectmen accepted some comment from a vocal audience, but said fighting the zoning amendment was not up to them.

"Some other avenues have started to open up," said Chairman Gordon Carlstrom. "The planning board voted to put the steep slopes committee back in business for another year. I urge you all to get involved."

Carlstrom suggested that those concerned with the impact of the amendment work with those on the steep slopes committee, a subcommittee of the planning board. Those concerned say the amendment is much too strict and will make thousands of acres of land unsuitable for development.

A member of the original steep slopes committee, Bill Weston, said the committee is more than happy to work with others on the amendment.

"This was not intended to divide the town," Weston said. "Actually, the opposition was a surprise to us. We've gone to the planning board and asked to reopen the committee so we can accomplish the things we want to accomplish."

Steve Dunbar, a concerned landowner who had been pushing for the article's failure, said he was unhappy with the decision. Dunbar said concerned citizens may take the matter to court but are more than willing to work on a revised steep slope amendment that could be voted on at the next Town Meeting.

"We don't want to force ourselves to litigate," Dunbar said. "We would like to work with the steep slopes committee."

Attorney Drescher said that the zoning amendment could not be the subject of a protest petition because it applies to the entire town, not a specific area. Dunbar disagrees . he calculated that about 8,000 acres of land will be affected by the amendment.

Selectmen said they asked for the attorney's opinion after some confusion about the article and petition arose right after votes had been tallied on March 10.

"It's not the best timing," said Carlstrom. "But this isn't out of the ordinary. I'm not going to overturn the vote of the town; I'm not prepared to do that."