News from the Land of the Lakes (and Hurricane Waters)
Posted by abohan
Rabu, 16 Mei 2012
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During my 15 or so years spent covering news of the Lakes Region for our local newspapers, no town was quite as intriguing as Sanbornton.
Maybe it's because it's such a small community.
It's really no stretch to say that there are people in Sanbonton who know - or at least know of - every other person in town.
And the year-rounders who choose to get involved in community events know each other very well - their business, their wife's name, what road they live on, etc.
It makes for an interesting phenomenon when people gather for a selectboard meeting, community benefit, school concert, etc.
On the one hand, these folks can be uncommonly gracious to one another - sharing recipes, expressing concern about someone's illness, handing out cookies.
But when the talk turns to any "political" disputes - as it frequently does – the language can get pretty rough – and personal.
So it was with some interest that we spotted this letter in the Laconia Daily Sun on Monday. It's written by a former selectman and long-time community activist.
To the editor,
After the 1938 hurricane, the flood, control project was completed in the 1950s, in order to protect Massachusetts' cities and towns from flooding.
As part of this project, taxable land was taken from Sanbornton with the agreement that the town would receive a yearly payment of $30,000.
As part of this project, taxable land was taken from Sanbornton with the agreement that the town would receive a yearly payment of $30,000.
Sanbornton has not received payment for the past two years resulting in a revenue loss of $60,000.
This lost revenue has a negative impact on our tax rate.
If your neighbors happen to be summer residents from Massachusetts, ask them to talk to their hometown legislators; pay us our money or give us our land back.
Tom Salatiello
So, someone made a promise to the town leaders more than 60 years ago, and up until two years ago, according to Tom, the promise was honored.
Now he says it’s being ignored - and the impact is being felt in the little community of Sanbornton, NH.
How on earth can this be worked out? If Massachusetts doesn’t have the money, then what? Is there any way for New Hampshire to demand payment? Was there a contract signed by both sides? And if so, where is it? And if Massachusetts wanted to "give the land back", as Tom suggests, where would it go?
And you think things are complicated in Washington. Try running a little town like Sanbornton.
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Categories:
$30,
000,
1938,
flood control,
hurricane,
Lakes Region,
Lakes Region New Hampshire,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
Sanbornton,
selectmen,
Tom Salatiello
