Bill would give Pease developers upper hand over local communities

March 13 − To the Editor:

All residents of towns surrounding Pease International Tradeport should take notice: HB 1513 was discussed by House Committee on Resources, Recreation, and Development on March 13 at 10 a.m. This bill, introduced by one sponsor, Rep. Mark McConkey of Carroll County, completely strips away local representation on the Pease Development Authority Board of Directors! Future appointment to the PDA Board of Directors would be made by the governor and executive council. No longer would the towns surrounding Pease International Tradeport have any role in the appointment of PDA Directors, thus overturning the original PDA articles of incorporation.

May I remind readers of the recent joint venture proposal by Kane Commercial Real Estate and Procon Construction to bring national and international air cargo distribution to the Pease Tradeport. This proposal was ardently supported by PDA Executive Director Paul Brean in a major media/public relations campaign.

A coalition of concerned citizens representing all towns on the perimeter of the Tradeport opposed the Kane-Procon proposal on the grounds that it would have a profound impact on the quality of life for Seacoast residents. The principle issue was the well-known preference of air cargo carriers to operate at night when airways are not crowded by commercial and private air travel. This would mean exposure to the loud noise of takeoffs and landings causing repeated arousal from sleep. Vetted published medical studies have convincingly demonstrated that frequent nocturnal awakening results in impaired performance in both schools and workplaces. Fortunately, the locally-appointed members of the PDA Board of Directors listened carefully to the arguments pro-and-con; local advice and consent of democracy worked; and the proposal was withdrawn.

But now it seems likely that Carroll County Rep. McConkey's HB 1513 is a blatant attempt on behalf of industry to circumvent local advice and consent by stripping the PDA Board of locallysponsored appointees! Good for development, but bad for Seacoast Quality of Life and self-determination.

Clinton Frederick Miller II MD

Rye Editor's note: The House Committee hearing this bill voted against it unanimously. It now goes to the full House for a vote.

IOANNA RAPTIS/SEACOASTONLINE, FILE A bill before the New Hampshire House would undermine local communities’ oversight of Pease Tradeport by taking the power to appoint board members away from Portsmouth, Newington and Greenland and giving it to the governor and executive council.