Town to Meet with DOT this Month on Traffic Signal Issue

While the Board of Selectmen now skips a week between each meeting, they will make an exception this month to take up the hotly contested Route 111/111a traffic signal issue with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Selectmen will host a workshop on July 22 to meet with Interstate 93 Project Manager Pete Stamnas.

Members of the public will be welcome to attend the meeting, but unless the board chooses otherwise, input will not be taken.

A lengthy public hearing at Town Hall took place in May with mostly those in favor of keeping the traffic light at the intersection attending.

Those who have come out against the light at that intersection have stated that they have based their property investments on the plan approved by Selectmen in 2002. That decision said that the signal would be removed, but Selectman Roger Hohenberger said during the May meeting that he doesn't believe it was the right decision.

Hohenberger served on the board 11 years ago when the decision was made.

Those in favor of keeping the signal, many of whom are business orders in the town's Gateway District, believe that removing the light will hurt their business.

The May meeting was attended by Stamnas, although he didn't speak during the forum.