Conflicts started to arise between the Conservation Commission and Londonderry Trailways over contributions to one of the latter’s major projects during the commission’s latest meeting on Nov. 14.
Londonderry Trailways, which is in the midst of expanding the Rail Trail nature trail throughout Londonderry via a six phase process, has recently asked the commission for a donation of two hundred thousand dollars to help fund the final phase, which extends from Mammoth Road to the Manchester City Line.
Overall, the project extends 6.1 miles from the Derry town line on Rockingham Road to an area east of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and is currently fifty percent complete, with phase four, a small 0.2 mile segment between Mammoth Road and Sanborn Road, currently under construction.
However, Commission Chair Marge Badois was been less than pleased with Trailways as of late, citing frustrations due to what she feels is a lack of communication between the two parties because the latter has not returned many of the commission’s emails.
Thus, Badois decided to ignore their latest email suggesting the donation. Some members were in agreement with Badois, while others, such as member Mike Speltz, believed that the work and donations between the two groups should continue, regardless of the lack of communications.
To that end, the commission still voiced their approval of the Rail Trail project, as they have always been in favor of nature trails and how they have encouraged Londonderry residents to get out of their homes and enjoy the town’s natural beauty.
Thus, projects and donations like this continue to raise awareness to the nature trails.
But regardless of their approval of the trail, there were also concerns over the continued practice of donating to the project. Although the commission’s fund currently stands at 2.1 million dollars, members were worried that continuing to contribute to the project could set a dangerous precedent that could not only lead to other groups asking for regular donations for what they feel is a just cause, but also harm the commission’s effort to purchase land that they feel deserves preservation. Member Mike Speltz felt that if they are to continue to make these donations, it should be a two-way street between them and Trailways, with the latter assisting the commission in certain matters.
Despite the conflicts, members still ended up approving a donation to Trailways, although it was ultimately reduced to one hundred thousand dollars. Half of what the group was looking for.