A routine consent agenda item sparked unexpected discussion at the most recent Londonderry Town Council meeting, after members were asked to approve letters notifying state officials of the results of two citizen petition warrant articles that passed in March.
The consent agenda included draft letters addressed to Londonderry’s state delegation and the Governor, as required by the language of both articles. One petition urged the Legislature to protect local taxpayers by restoring state revenue sharing and avoiding policies that shift costs onto municipalities. The article passed with strong voter support.
The petition stated in part: “NH thrives when state funding fairly supports local communities… Be it further resolved that the Town Council shall send the results to the Governor and all members of the General Court representing Londonderry within 30 days.”
A second petition asked the Legislature to support an Emergency Risk Protection Order (ERPO), commonly known as a Red Flag Law. The article cited the high rate of firearm related suicides in NH and noted that more than twenty states have adopted similar laws. It also required the Town Council to send the results to state officials within 30 days.
Town Councilor Ron Dunn acknowledged that while voters approved both measures, individual councilors may not personally support the policies.
“The voters approved these items; however, each of us on here may have a different opinion,” Dunn said. “This is being approved by the voters on the warrant article, and we up here may have a difference of opinion, but it is going as one unit as one body.”
Councilor Dan Bouchard asked if councilors were required to sign the letters if they disagreed with the content.
Town Manager Shaun Mulholland clarified that signatures were not mandatory. “It’ll go through whether you sign it or not,” he said.
Paul Skudlarek, who submitted both petition articles, addressed the Council during public comment. He noted that the Council had the opportunity earlier in the year to recommend or not recommend the articles but chose not to take a position. Now that voters had spoken, he argued, the Council should sign the letters as a unified body.
“I think as representatives of this town you have an obligation to all sign it as a body,” Skudlarek said, adding that both articles passed by wide margins. “These are mandates.”
The Council approved sending the letters, though individual signatures remained optional.