Conway Daily Sun
3-1-2005

Concord testimony first break in Tamworth board's racetrack debate neutrality, recently resigned selectman says

Ross and new appointee Haskell, told lawmakers CMI opponents are a special interest

Nate Giarnese
TAMWORTH-Testimony in support of the driving track proposed on the side Mount Whittier delivered by two selectmen before a House committee in Concord Tuesday, marked the first time the Tamworth board broke its stand of neutrality on the town's most divisive issue, according to former Tamworth selectman, Lanette Goodson.

"We tried to remain a neutral board," Goodson said, who seemed surprised Thursday, to learn of the board's new stance on the project, after more than a year of nonpartisanship. "That's the way I feel it should remain," she said. "Not to take sides, and not to fall in with one group."

Goodson resigned in early February citing personal reasons.

Her appointed replacement, newest selectman, David Haskell, told legislators Tuesday, that he and selectman Mariette Ross represent a majority in Tamworth, who support a motorsports park planned for the banks of Mount Whittier, and called opponents of the Club Motorsports Inc. project, a special interest group. "(We) represent the majority of voters who think that what we need is a good neighbor," Haskell said.

"Tamworth selectmen did not ask for this (repeal) bill," Haskell told the House Municipal and County Government Committee, at the hearing on a proposed repeal of SB 458 - state legislation that left the developer, Club Motor Sports, Inc, unregulated by the town's racetrack ordinance. "It was introduced by a special interest group," he said.

House committee members heard testimony from local representatives, citizens and lobbyists, who said the bill passed "deceptively" through the state legislature, and wrongly robbed Tamworth of local control. Opponents of the repeal said SB 458 passed legally, and it did not impact the town's ability to regulate development.

"I don't feel ours or any other town has lost local control because of SB 458," Ross said, touting the bill as a "new definition" for a "new enterprise," that others added was poised to herald in new jobs and needed tax relief.

Ross added that the group behind the repeal effort, also petitioned a town sound ordinance targeting the track, now on the warrant and up for vote in March. The petitioned sound ordinance article is a clear indication that local control exists, she said. "I feel people still have local control to enact zoning and pass ordinances," Ross said.

Goodson remained neutral Thursday, but said it was unfortunate that selectmen were pressed from both sides to make a choice. "It's a tough call," she said. "The board was put unfortunately in a position it shouldn't have to be in," Goodson said. "With everything else going on in town, it's something else we just didn't need."

"I have mixed emotions on all that transpired," Goodson said. "It was all legal in how (SB 458) happened," she said. "Some people feel it was done underhandedly. I understand that too," she said. "The people upset are the people who don't want the track coming in."

Goodson resigned at a selectmen's meeting three weeks ago, prompting an audience to honor her years of service with a round of applause. Remaining selectmen, Ross and Matt Weegar, appointed Haskell to fill Goodson's seat that day, amidst concerns by some citizens that the replacement was made in haste.

Ross delined comment Tuesday in Concord, and she and Haskell did not return phone calls Friday. Selectman Matt Weegar is on vacation and is unreachable at his law office until Monday, staff said. Weegar is not seeking reelection in March and did not testify before the House committee.