Town Still Reviewing RPC Choices

Windham is currently in the "independent review period" of its search for the regional planning commission that will fit the town best, according to the town administrator.

Dave Sullivan said that members of the Windham Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Economic Development Committee are being given the time to do their own research on the matter.

Also included in that group are members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Local Energy Committee and the Historic District/Heritage Commission.

Board of Selectmen Chair Bruce Breton has worked with Sullivan to target a time window of late August to early September to bring the discussion back to a public forum.

Windham is currently a member of the 27-town Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC), but its geographic location allows for a move to either the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission (SNHPC) or Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC).

As mentioned during a kickoff meeting that had the three commissions present themselves to the town, some eyes are on Salem to determine where Windham will go.

Salem currently sits as Windham's only border connection to the RPC. If it decides to jump to the SNHPC, Sullivan said that Windham will not be allowed to stay put.

NRPC Executive Director Kerrie Diers told the town during the kickoff meeting that 94 percent of the towns in the state belong to one of the nine planning commissions.

Even without Salem, Pelham would still serve as a border connection for Windham in the NRPC. In the SNHPC, Derry and Londonderry would both latch to the town.

Sullivan confirmed that no potential swapping of planning commissions will reduce or increase Windham's representatives in those organizations.