Resident asks planning board to address recusal rules after Tenney Mountain overlay vote

The Planning Board discussed a written communication from resident Stuart Hannah of 77 Eagles Nest Road raising concerns about recusal and possible conflicts of interest after a previous vote on the Tenney Mountain Overlay District. Hannah said he observed a board member, Michael Bouchard, vote against moving forward with the overlay despite previous involvement with the ski mountain and asked how potential conflicts of interest will be avoided.

Hannah's letter said he had witnessed the member for years advocating for investment in the mountain, sometimes representing the mountain at meetings, and that he was unsure why the member later voted no. "I would appreciate a response from the board chair explaining how potential conflict of interests can be avoided moving forward," Hannah wrote.

Board members reviewed RSA guidance and distributed information from the New Hampshire Municipal Association titled "I recuse myself" that discusses recusal and conflict of interest. Planner Joseph told the board he would prepare a response and indicated that the discussion could be captured in the minutes and the video if the board wished to respond that way. "The board could designate some kind of written response or could respond verbally in its discussion," Joseph said. The board agreed it would prepare a response to the resident and that staff would provide legal references for future recusal decisions.

Board members discussed the difference between financial/pecuniary conflicts and less‑clear personal conflicts and agreed the individual member decides whether to recuse, with the board able to take a non‑binding advisory vote if requested. The board handed out RSA language and a NH Municipal Association article for members' reference and planned to send the resident either a written reply or refer him to the meeting minutes and video where the matter was discussed.