Ossipee officials will recount the votes from the November 28 special town meeting at which voters narrowly turned down the purchase of Camp Sokokis on Ossipee Lake. Meanwhile, a hearing on a state judge's temporary restraining order preventing the campground's owner from selling to another buyer has been continued to January 4. The town's complaint to the state is that the seller, Dianne Sheehan, violated the terms of the sales agreement by urging residents to vote against the purchase.
A majority of Ossipee voters favored the town's plan to purchase Camp Sokokis for recreation. But the vote failed to muster the required two-thirds majority.
First Selectman Rick Morgan lead a presentation Monday night on the town's plans for Camp Sokokis if voters approve purchasing the property at a special town meeting on November 28.
Effingham got its chance to publicly support Freedom's claim that the controversial campground expansion plan violates Ossipee's floodplain zoning ordinance, but the outcome was the same. Meanwhile, Ossipee's Select Board has turned down a proposed settlement of the issues with Freedom, and an Effingham Planning Board member warns that Ossipee residents could lose eligibility for federal flood insurance if the town is found to be out of compliance with its floodplain regulations.
Effingham, which has abutter status in the issue, was not notified of the ZBA hearing at which Freedom, which also has abutter status, was given an opportunity to present its opposition to the expansion plan. Freedom had previously been denied the opportunity by Ossipee officials to present its case, a denial that was overruled by a state court judge.
NEWSLETTERS >
