At the Budget Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 8 January 2025, the Lyme School Board will present their next version of the school budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

I plan to ask the following questions at that meeting:

• Two years ago, the School Board Finance Committee made a presentation to this board that asserted, in part, “…the future trajectory of growth in the school budget will not be sustainable.” (page 19). What measures is the school using to achieve sustainability in the budget? 
• Would you explain the role of the Academic Director, and how it has changed from the time it was instituted when Mr. Valance became both principal and superintendent?
• Given that the school district consumes almost 75% of the property tax dollars raised from Lyme residents, what measures is the School Board taking to ensure that families of its students who are most financially-stressed can afford to remain in Lyme?

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

We sent the following letter to the Lyme Planning Board regarding the petitioned zoning amendment regarding propane tanks to be considered at Town Meeting in March 2025.

The hearing will be on Thursday, 12 January 2025 at 7:00pm in Town Offices. If you have comments but cannot attend the meeting, you can mail them to zoning@lymenh.gov

Rich & Lin Brown
————-

To the Planning Board,

This Thursday, 12 Jan 2025, the Board will hold a public hearing regarding a petitioned warrant article about buried propane tanks. As the primary mover of this amendment, I come to this board as a private citizen to give you background on the article.

The Lyme Ordinance prohibits “underground fuel tanks” in the Shoreland Conservation District extending 200 feet from major water bodies (for example, Post Pond) and 100 feet from other surface waters.

This seems overbroad because it includes buried “oil” and “gas” tanks (which should be regulated because they can pollute ground water), and propane/natural gas tanks which cannot. There is no evidence that buried propane tanks can cause pollution of a water body: any leaks would simply dissipate into the atmosphere and would never be carried into the water. 

I took the opportunity to speak with David Roby, to see if there was a consideration of propane tanks when the ordinance was written. He was clear that they never considered propane tanks, and was supportive of this amendment.

In addition, there are no national codes or New Hampshire standards that regulate the placement of propane tanks near water bodies. This was confirmed by our licensed propane installer who specifically asked his instructor about national or state codes at a license renewal training.

Moreover, the NH RSA’s distinguish “oil tanks” from other natural gas/propane fuel tanks. In the section https://gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/X/146-A/146-A-2.htm, RSA 146-A:2 states: 

III. “Oil” means petroleum products and their by-products of any kind, and in any form including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel, sludge, crude, oil refuse or oil mixed with wastes and all other liquid hydrocarbons regardless of specific gravity and which are used as motor fuel, lubricating oil, or any oil used for heating or processing. 

The term “oil” shall not include natural gas, liquified petroleum gas or synthetic natural gas regardless of derivation or source;

Furthermore the NH DES page (https://www.des.nh.gov/business-and-community/fuel-storage-tanks) also makes this distinction (see attached PDF)

Mr. Robbins has agreed that there is no risk of water contamination, and that it might make sense to change the ordinance. However was not within his power to grant an exception to the rule. A request to the ZBA for a variance also failed because of the strict prohibition on “underground fuel tanks”.

This petition (see attached PDF) is intended to remove that restriction on underground propane and natural gas tanks. It changes the language from “No underground fuel storage tanks are permitted” to the following:

Article ###: To change section 4.65-C-2 of the Lyme Zoning Ordinance to say “No underground oil storage tanks (as defined in NH RSA 146-A:2, III) are permitted. Propane and natural gas tanks are excluded from this provision.”

We should also note that our personal connection with this issue is that we do have an underground propane tank at our home on Orford Road, within the Shoreland Conservation District. (In fact, most of our home, built in 1804, is within the Shoreland Conservation District.) I realize I should have obtained a zoning permit prior to the work where this concern might have been discovered, but would still be making a request to amend the ordinance because a buried tank in that location remains the best location both for placement near the generator, as well as ease of refilling.

We look forward to the discussion on Thursday. Thank you.

Rich & Lin Brown
84 Orford Road

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

At the 11 December 2024 Budget Committee meeting, the School Board presented their first draft of their budget for the July 2025-June 2026 school year.

The budget shows the School plans to spend $9,536,000 in 2025-2026, a 4.79% increase from the 2024-2025 year.

Click in the document below and use the page up/down at the lower left. Or download the document from https://richb-lyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lyme-School-Budget-First-draft-11Dec2024.pdf

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

At the 11 December 2024 Budget Committee meeting, the Select Board sent their latest budget proposal. Here’s Draft #5, from 9 December 2024.

The budget shows the town plans to spend $2,937,000 in 2025, a 3.89% increase from the 2024 year.

Click in the document below and use the page up/down at the lower left. Or download the document from https://richb-lyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lyme-Select-Board-budget-for2025-Draft-5-9Dec2024.pdf

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

Over the next couple months, the Lyme Planning Board will hold a series of public forums. The Board has invited experts from several organizations to talk on various aspects of housing.

10 October: Upper Valley/Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission, to discuss the methodology used to determine the housing needs for Lyme and the region.

24 October: Sandwich NH Planning Office, to speak to their efforts with housing, and their application to get a HOP Invest grant to pay for a consultant to give technical expertise. (Tentative)

7 November: Andrew Winter, Twin Pines Housing to speak about the opportunities and barriers to developing affordable housing. (Tentative)

14 November: Jonah Richard – a developer from Fairlee VT will speak about small-scale development, and Jamie Rogers – Margaret Pratt Community will discuss the unique characteristics of developing senior housing/continuing care. (Tentative.)

Here is the announcement from the Lyme Planning Board site for the first session:

For October 10, 2024

Dear Lyme Residents:

The Planning Board is unanimous in wanting to maintain the characteristics of Lyme that residents find so attractive. As we can all agree there is a shortage of housing in the Upper Valley.

The Planning Board is considering how Lyme might participate in solving this regional problem. We know that local employers have difficulty finding staff to fill open positions in all types of jobs. Within Lyme we are reminded that our stores, restaurants, businesses, schools and Town offices have vacancies. It is often cited that the lack of housing is an impediment to attracting workers. The Planning Board is looking at options that might help address the housing crisis.

The Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (RPC) is our regional planning commission. They completed a recent study that suggests that the region needs 5671 housing units between 2020 and 2040. The RPC has allocated new housing units for the Upper Valley towns and figures that Lyme’s fair share goal is 145 new housing units by 2040. This represents a rate of growth at least double that which has been happening over the past 15 years.

As the Planning Board embarks on this exercise, we would like to share what we have learned and find out from you whether or how we should actively pursue incentivizing housing opportunities. As a means of introducing the subject we have invited the RPC to a public meeting to discuss the housing shortage and allocations that they have suggested. We plan to organize other opportunities to have public dialog with other experts who can help guide us in a responsible manner.

We have scheduled our first meeting with a representative of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission for October 10 at 7PM at the Town Office meeting room. We would very much like for Town residents to come and learn with us. Please mark your calendar so we can work together in addressing the housing issue as a community.

Individuals may also attend via zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6808321113?pwd=K01JYjhFbVBRQ0luNDhmbjIyZEp5QT09&omn=83977525177

Pass Code : LymeZone

Sincerely,

Lyme Planning Board

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

Not everyone could attend Little Town Meeting last night. Here’s what I said at the meeting:

———

Hi, my name is Rich Brown, and I am running for a seat on the Planning Board.

I live at 84 Orford Road, with my wife Lin, and a small flock of chickens. During my years as a resident of Lyme, I’ve served as a Planning Board alternate, a member of the Budget Committee, and as a Trustee of the Trust Funds. And on Wednesday mornings, I’m a crossing guard at the Lyme School.

Since 2006, I have observed and participated in Planning Board meetings. I am fully acquainted with their procedures and the issues and challenges they face. This year, we’ll consider minor updates for solar arrays and how to encourage senior and other housing options in Lyme. Most importantly, I believe the Board needs to engage with people in town to hear their ideas on how best to tackle these issues.

Thank you again for listening, and please vote for Rich Brown for Planning Board.

The Lyme Select Board is considering modifications to the Town Committee Handbook. The new draft is at https://www.lymenh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4636/f/uploads/2023-revised-draft-committee_handbook_3.pdf

I sent the following comments to the Select Board and asked about feedback they received from others in town and legal advice from Town Counsel and the NH Municipal Association:

To the Select Board,

Thank you for the opportunity to review the most recent draft of the Town Committee Handbook. I am of two minds on the revisions:

• My reading of RSA 91-A and the backup documents from NHMA indicate that members of public bodies simply should not use social media (which seems to include the Lyme Listserv) for matters related to their body. In fact, at a recent NH BEA webinar for new members, the advice was “DO NOT COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL (RSA 91-A)” (their caps) and “Do not use social media to discuss applications”
• On the other hand, we all have First Amendment rights. While it would be inappropriate to comment on an application that’s pending before a board, who better to offer insights into a decided issue (for example, an Article that’s posted on the Warrant) than someone who has participated fully in the discussion?

Personally, I have come to believe the first position is best. Just don’t use the Listserv. This inarguably complies with the letter and intent of RSA 91-A. There are plenty of other venues for offering opinions: letter to the editor, ad in the Valley News, a personal blog or website, etc.

That said, I would like the Board to address the following questions when they next discuss the issue:

• Have you circulated the proposed wording to chairs of public bodies in town? What feedback have you received?
• Have you sent the draft wording to both Town Counsel and NHMA? What advice have you received?

Thank you again for all the work you do for Lyme.

Rich Brown

PS The current (2022) version of the Town Committee Handbook is at: https://www.lymenh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4636/f/uploads/committee_handbook_2022.pdf

Feel free to share this post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own, and not those of any public body, such as the Lyme Planning Board, Budget Committee, or Trustees of the Trust Funds where I volunteer. I would be interested to hear your thoughts – you can reach me at richb.lyme@gmail.com.

When people tell you what they are going to do, believe them.

In tomorrow’s election, only one party is saying that they want to insert government officials into medical decisions, to limit the right to vote, and then to permit state officials to overrule the clear vote of the people.

These are not American values. And once they are lost, they cannot be regained.

Even if you don’t care for the policies of the other candidates, please do not give your support people who say these things. Vote for Democrats.

Note: these opinions are solely my own, and certainly not those of any public body on which I may serve.