On Tuesday evening, Feb. 22nd, I was elected to fill the vacant seat on the Gunstock Area Commission.
When a new Commissioner is elected to replace a sitting Commissioner, administration of the oath of office is done at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission, when the outgoing member then steps down.
But when a new Commissioner is elected to fill a vacancy, as I was, the oath can be given right away to fully constitute the Commission. This is done all the time not only in NH but in other States across the nation and in the Federal government. As such, I was sworn in that night in front of the public.
Contrary to the attack ads run against me in the Laconia Daily Sun., I am not a “free-stater” and strongly believe in the sovereign State of New Hampshire and the Constitution that empowers it. Yes, the election process for a Gunstock Commissioner is political, but only in the sense that the choice was made by the elected Representatives from Belknap County. Rest assured, I have not been asked, nor have I made any promises whatsoever, to support any agenda from the County delegation or any other party. In fact, had I any hint that I would be expected to be someone’s “puppet,” I would never have applied for the position.
We want to thank Gunstock Commissioner David Strang, MD for this Op-Ed. If you have an Op-Ed or LTE
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Because I was elected by the Representatives of the citizens of Belknap County, I consider myself accountable to those same citizens. As such, I have an obligation to listen to you when it comes to the changes proposed in the “Master Plan” for Gunstock.
For the record, I do not support the sale of the mountain, nor do I think it could legally be done. I’m also highly skeptical of leasing the operation of the resort to outside management. Look at the problems that Mt. Sunapee is currently encountering with its management lease to the Vail Corporation to understand why I feel this is not a good idea. Gunstock is on sound financial footing right now while managed by the County and I will work to keep it that way.
When it comes to improving Gunstock, I fully support modernizing its lifts to allow more skiers and boarders to use the facility. I would also be interested in opening new ski runs to reduce trail crowding if legally allowed. The complete Master Plan, however, has several features that are concerning to many of you.
Recently, two conservation groups have come forward stating that the opening of new trails and the proposed construction of a hotel would violate existing agreements on the usage of the land. That also appears to include the proposed road to the summit and construction of a restaurant there. Ignoring these concerns might expose us to needless litigation and therefore I think we should address these concerns before the plan proceeds any further.
As these two groups have offered to discuss these concerns with the Commission, I plan to invite them to the March 23rd meeting to open a public dialogue and further this process. Until this happens, at our March 1st Special Meeting, the Commission voted to pause the Master Plan.
I also feel the Commission needs greater input from the citizens of Belknap County. I’ve heard from many of you who are concerned about the environmental impact of a road to the summit and restaurant. Once we fully understand the concerns from the two conservation groups, I will be advocating for a series of listening sessions around the County before the Commission commits to any development.
True representatives of the people, as the Commissioners are, should want this kind of input before putting a single shovel into the ground or cutting a single tree. As your newly elected Commissioner, I pledge to listen to and address your concerns as we work together to maximize the potential of this cherished County-owned asset.
Respectfully,
David Strang, MD
Gilmanton, NH
