New Hampshire

Atkinson board, lawyer to discuss water issues

By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
Published: September 24, 2008

ATKINSON — Residents asked the selectmen Monday night to intervene in Hampstead Area Water Co.'s applications with the state.

John Wolters and Bill Bennett addressed the selectmen about carrying out the "will of the voters" who approved water-related warrant articles at special town meetings both this month and a year ago.

Selectmen and Planning Board members had spoken against the warrant articles, which all passed.

But officials otherwise have remained silent on the water company's active attempts to increase the amount of water it withdraws from town and to borrow $1.1 million from the state to lay new pipes along Main Street to connect Atkinson's water system to Hampstead's.

"I understand your misgivings," Bennett said. "If you think those ordinances are not the best way to protect Atkinson's groundwater resources, please work on alternative approaches."

Selectmen agreed to meet with town attorney Sumner Kalman to discuss the water issues. They also said they plan to hold a public hearing soon to formally adopt the water withdrawal ordinance as a health ordinance, as voters approved earlier this month.

Wolters told the selectmen that Kalman has written such petitions for Newton and Plaistow to intervene and protect groundwater in those towns. Wolters petitioned to intervene in the loan application with the state Public Utilities Commission last month, but said a petition from the town would carry more weight. The deadline to intervene is at the end of October.

Selectmen didn't necessarily agree.

"We can write a letter saying we're against what they want to do, but we can't stop them," Selectman Fred Childs said.

Selectmen's Chairman Paul Sullivan took copies of Kalman's old documents to bring to their meeting with the lawyer, saying he wanted to be "armed" with all the information available.