I’m not crazy…my mother had me tested.

But Representative Abrami thinks I am paranoid because I oppose SB 11; however, I may be just crazy enough to believe I own the water on my property. Sadly, it seems that the NH Department of Environmental Services says “No”.  If that doesn’t give you pause, then go to the former Governor John Lynch’s website and read the final report of the Water … Read more

SB 11 – Drainfield of Dreams

Build it and they will come.
Build it and they will come.

“Overall goal of SB 11: Enable a municipality to establish a water and sewer district within a specific area to attract and sustain commercial development”

 So, Monday morning, May 6, I’m on the radio talking about upcoming legislation and bring up SB 11 and that, in my opinion, it was a real Trojan horse disguising a long-wished for entre for cities and towns and the state of NH to tax private well and septic owners to pay for the mistakes and mismanagement of municipally-owned and operated water and sewer systems.

Next day, out of the blue, I get this email from Senator Nancy Stiles – how in the world she got my email address I have no idea:

Susan,
An email was forward to me and I’m not sure you understand why SB11 was put forward. It didn’t come out of a study. One of my selectmen group was in need of services and didn’t want to put them through the whole community but to provide business with nee[sic] for water and sewerage. One town has the water supply and the other has the septic in place. SB11 ENABLES two communities to share resources through an MOU. No one cares how they set up who pays for what as long as the two communities agree. Included in the legislation is a requirement that if they hate each other 5 years down the road it is predetermined and agreed on how the break up will occur and who has what responsibilities. TOTAL local control to solve a problem. Instead of drafting legislation for one/two particular towns I made it ENABLING legislation for any community that saw a need. NO mandate to do anything. Hope this helps. Stop in my office sometime to say hello.

 Nancy F. Stiles
Senate District 24
603 271-6933

So, I write back:

Senator,

Read more

The Return of The Bride of The Son of SB 11 [Date of vote confirmed]

New Hampshire Senate Bill 11 will get a formal vote in the House this week, according to a post at CNHT.org.   The post states the full vote is May 22, but was sent to me with an update: the vote will be held this Wednesday, May 15th.

(Note: We received confirmation.  The vote is Wednesday May 22nd)

The date hardly matters, except as relates to our need to act against it.  To the best of my knowledge this is the same exact bill that was set aside last week.  No effort has been made to deal with the broad language that set off red flags last week.  It is still a bad bill.

There is also the question of why this bill is even needed…

CNHT asks…

“…why do Exeter and Stratham need this legislation which “permits municipalities to establish water and/or sewer utility districts and to enter into intermunicipal agreements for the establishment of such districts” considering that the Merrimack Valley Water District has been in existence since 2004 by virtue of RSA Statutes: Chapter 53-A, Chapter 33-B, Chapter 38, and Chapter 362.”

If statutory authority already exists, why introduce a bill like SB 11, with such broad language, unless you are after something more?

Read more

Share to...