Goffstown will apply for an exemption from the revised Shoreland Protection Act, which took effect in New Hampshire this month and would have an impact on areas along the Piscataquog River in this area.

The law restricts what developers and landowners can do within 250 feet of the river. The most extensive limitations apply for the first 50 feet. The rules become decreasingly restrictive up to 150 feet and again up to 250 feet, according to Kimberly Peace, a member of the Goffstown Conservation Commission.

The Board of Selectmen decided at its Monday, April 7, meeting to seek an exemption for some areas. The board has asked the Conservation Commission, Planning Board and Economic Development Council to meet and reach a consensus on what properties should be included in its exemption application to the state. In the absence of a town exemption, developers themselves would apply for waivers, according to Peace.

Peace did not support the exemption application. “Do we want to pave to our river?” Peace said. “We just question why there is a need for this exemption, because this is the state helping us protect our resources.”

Selectman Phil D’Avanza worried that without an exemption, the Shoreland Protection Act could become another obstacle to economic development. He said the town needs the additional revenue from new businesses to expand its services for the community. “You know the reality that I have to look at?” D’Avanza asked. “We cut $600,000 out of the road plan this year. We cut $600,000 out of the road plan last year. Look at the roads that we’re going to have to deal with. We couldn’t put police officers on, new police officers that we need. We have all these things to look at. The taxes are going up and we have no economic development coming into this town.”

Selectmen also reviewed the list of roads the Public Works Department plans to repair, maintain or reclaim this year. On the reclamation list are: Mountain Road, Merrill Road, Snook Road, Tenney Road, Willow Pond Road and Mountain View Drive. The total road construction budget for 2008, which includes paving of other roads, crack sealing and other work, is about $3.7 million.

The board accepted the list at the meeting, but still has to decide which roads might be reclaimed in the Lynchville and Danis Parks area. Public Works Director Carl Quiram cautioned that if he rebuilds the roads there, he might have to redo them again in a few years when sewer and water systems are installed.

The selectmen, according to Quiram, approved the following Public Works purchases: a sixwheel dump truck for $134,567, a wheel loader for $131,433, a walking floor trash trailer for $69,505 and a 1-ton pick-up truck for $37,830.

New speed limits proposed Selectmen also held a public hearing on a proposed reduction of the speed limit in town. A second hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 21.

Half a dozen residents supported the lower speed limit. “People just naturally seem to exceed the speed,” said Tom Kiander, a resident of east Goffstown. “They push every time. If it’s 30 miles per hour, they just seem to think they can go faster.”

The Highway Safety Committee is proposing that the town reduce the speed limit on town roads to 30 mph unless otherwise posted.

It would be lowered further to 25 mph on some stretches of road: Center Street between Tibbetts Hill Road, and Tirrell Hill Road and Main Street between Mountain Road and High Street. Some residents said the limit should be dropped even further — to 20 mph — for dead-end streets.

The new limits would apply to only town, not state roads, where speeds of 40 to 45 mph are allowed. For town roads the limit is 35 mph in rural areas and 30 mph in compact, residential areas, according to Michael French, who retired as police chief last week.

French said drivers would have more time to react at lower speeds and crashes would not be as severe. He said citizen requests for signs or lights are often related to speed, adding that the Highway Safety Committee has received more complaints in recent years and also has observed more crashes. “Reducing the speed limit essentially allows for safe passage through the community, not necessarily quick passage,” French said. “The Highway Safety Committee and the Police Department have always maintained that safety was first and foremost.”

At the slower speeds, it would take an additional 1.17 minutes from the center of Goffstown on Goffstown Back Road to the Manchester city line, according to French.

A few residents were not for the change. Randy Cheyne is a regular walker, runner and biker. He told selectmen he was more worried about drivers going 45 or 50 mph than 35.

He said a lower speed should be targeted to those areas where it is really needed. Otherwise, a blanket change, he said, would lead to the Police Department writing more tickets, but not necessarily more safety.

Ruth Gage, a member of the Highway Safety Committee, said the new ordinance would still have an impact on drivers who cruise at 45 to 50 mph. Under the change, she said people who typically go about 10 mph over the limit would slow down to 35.

Ray Taber, another resident, said there were many places in town where there is no question a lower limit was necessary, but he said Wallace Road and Goffstown Back Road should be able to handle 35 mph.