GraniteGrok

And for those entities that do not have City Charters (like Manchester, Franklin, Concord, Laconia, et al), the voters in each town get to vote on EVERYTHING that goes on in their town each year - setting the budgets, approving what are called Warrant Articles - changes in zoning, the expending of monies, affirming resolutions (binding or not).  Some are settled at a single meeting (the traditional style that has the talking / arguing and then voting by either voice or hand raise [and sometimes, secret ballot]) or in two meetings (what are called SB2 where the Deliberative Session allows for the talking and a month later by secret ballot).

This past Wednesday was our Town's Deliberative Session and an example of one of the topics that is most likely able to torque me up - that of using the force of Government for personal benefit used against your fellow neighbors or citizens.  The example that I use most often here on the 'Grok is that of NH House Rep Doc Pilliod (R-Belmont), by the request of a local "small boat" marina, to limit the speed limit of boats on Lake Winnipesaukee for "safety reasons" where the actual safety data shows no needs.

Well, during the Deliberative session, I ran into yet another example of this behavior.  There is a long standing animus between a business entity called the Ames Farm and a lawyer by the name of Stephen Nix here in my hamlet.  For years now, the latter has tried to shut down parts of the operation of this 120 year cottage / restaurant / boat launch resort by using a number of legal maneuvers.  In essence, he is trying to take away one of our basic Rights, that of Private Property, from this family so as to enhance the value of his property.  Gordon Gecko has no skin on this play!

Here is what I wrote on my local blog, GilfordGrok:

TOWN OF GILFORD

2010 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT

To the inhabitants of the Town of Gilford in the State of New Hampshire, qualified to vote in Town affairs:

...

For the last few years, it seems that the preponderance of Warrants have been nothing but zoning issues. For those that may be following GraniteGrok, the writings have become more oriented to basic principles - what are our Natural Rights as debated and described by our Founding Fathers and encapsulated in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States (as opposed to the Progressive philosophy that relinquishing those rights to a more and more centralized Government (pick your level) is preferable such that Government can solve all ills and provide for all needs...but I digress.

The question is, what is the boundary between controlling the character of the town and the Right to Private Property?  And this year, which are those that are:

• Concerned with defining the character of the town?
• Concerned with safety issues
• Concerned with safety issues but have, in my opinion, crossed that line of the "common good" vs the individual Right to Private Property?
• Simply using the the coercive force of Government to destroy someone else's Right to Private Property (and the value thereof) so as to facilitate their own well being the value of their Private Property (AKA - the Stephen Nix vs Ames Farm Warrant)?
  

And yes, this is the Article that I stood up in opposition to at the Deliberative Session (the FIRST SESSION, above), that in my belief, is yet more "legalfare (e.g., legal warfare) leveled by Mr. Nix against the Ames's. Let me address this Article first.

ARTICLE 9: Are you in favor of adopting an amendment to the Gilford Zoning Ordinance as submitted by petition to amend Section 5.2.1, Island and Shore Frontage District, of the Gilford Zoning Ordinance by adding a new Section 5.2.1 (g) to prohibit public boat launching ramps and related parking and storage facilities on shorefront lots under certain circumstances, but to allow private boat launching ramps and related parking and storage facilities on shorefront lots as an accessory use under certain circumstances? (The Planning Board does not recommend the adoption of this amendment.) (An official copy of the entire proposal is on file at the Town Clerk’s Office and on display at the meeting place on the date of the Town Meetings and may be viewed at www.gilfordnh.org.)

Mr. "no boats for you" Nix, from my viewpoint, would like nothing more than for the Ames Farm to go defunct.  Frankly, his cause is just about the same as the person who JUST moves into either the flight path of the Laconia Municipal Airport (just gotta love that name...given that is located in Gilford) or right near it complaining about the noise.

Er, who was there first (and Ames has been operating for 120 years), Mr. Nix?  And to me, that is a fundamental issue.  He moved to his present residence well after the establishment of the business which, by most accounts, has been a positive venue for tourists in Gilford.

I'd be willing to bet, if his home was on the other side of town near Meadowbrook, he'd be complaining there too (er, still).

In my opinion, this is nothing more than a lawyer than can freely throw up obstacle after complaint after lawsuit after lament (you get the idea) and try to spend / annoy / limit / deny the rightful owners of their Right to the free use of their Private Property strictly for his benefit.

What was important was the question that I asked of John Ayers, Director of Planning and Land Use department: "Would this article, in your professional opinion,  adversely impact the operations at the Ames Farm?"

His answer: Yes

This is NOT, it seems, about the character of the town - it is all about what Steve Nix wants and will not stop until his wants are met.  There's a word that describes that kind of behavior....

I URGE you to vote no on Article 9

After all, what would YOU do if a lawyer or developer felt that his needs came before yours, and he is a "Johnny-come-lately" to the neighborhood?