With Grokster Tim talking STBs (“Small Town Bullies”) in Grafton, and Grokster Steve has done yeoman’s work on reporting on the very sad tale of Stephen Forster’s farm and the power hungry Henniker based STBs that refuse to let a NH RSA get in their way to have their way (here, here, here, here, and here), this request for help needs to be put up. It is hard for the Individual to fight against Government at any level – the irony is that part of Stephen’s property tax money is being used to force him to abandon the fight to run his farm the way he wishes – just as NH’s RSAs allow him to do.
But uppity is uppity, and once up to that exalted state of being, uppity hates to have a down day, so the Henniker ZBA had doubled down. Seems to be that way with bullies no matter where they are found and what strata of society they worm into. So, Stephen is asking for assistance (emphasis mine):
STEPHEN FORSTER
FORSTER’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
349 Mt. Hunger Road, Henniker, NH 03242
Tel. (603) 428-8733 Cell (603) 496-0494
Email: sforster@mcttelecom.comDear Friends,
Re: Forster’s Christmas Tree Farm, Henniker, NH
Since February 7th, which was the rehearing to overrule the ZBA’s decision not to recognize Henniker’s zoning regulation and the State’s RSA 21:34-a that defines “Agritoursim,” we filed our final and last appeal to the ZBA on Wednesday, March 20th. Although our brief excellently defended and explicit in addressing the lame arguments made on 2/7, it was not unexpected when the ZBA denied us a rehearing after less than an hour of discussion and reinstalled the “cease and desist” against me for all activities.
Members Dr. Trivellini and Mr. Pagano were the only two people that interpreted RSA 21:34-a as intended by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Task Force who crafted this legislation. Member Leon Parker stated with respect to “ancillary” terminology that it is there for subjective judgment and that “some of us would make the judgment based on the amount of monies raised…” showing his intent to regulate and control the income that can be produced by a farm engaging in “Agritoursim.” That is contradictory to what the writers of the regulation meant it to be, and what has been outlined and permitted. The RSA allows other activity on a farm so that it can generate income in order to help the farm survive, as well as preserve the rural character of that farm.
Indeed – so WHAT if it is YOUR Property (you selfish person you!)?