1. NHCRL is encouraging all members to help implement new lighting ordinances in their town. NHCRL does not have the resources to get the ordinances on the ballot, but can encourage and provide technical support for you to do so. It is fairly simple and requires only a few hours of work.
For most towns (not cities) NOW is the time to have ‘warrant articles’ placed on the ballot for your Winter Town Meetings. The process to do this is simple. Obtain a petition form and help from your Town Hall. Attach the ordinance located in the back of the New Hampshire Office of State Planning TB 16. This is located at URL http://www.state.nh.us/osp/planning/guide/docs/TechBulletin16.pdf
Then, you simply need to get a few signatures and the item shows up on the ballot. Once this is completed, then you need to help people understand the ordinance and NHCRL can assist you in these efforts. NO technical knowledge or skill is required on your behalf to get this ordinance on the ballot. TB 16 gives a full technical discussion of the issue. Note, the New Hampshire Office of State Planning put TB 16 out and they are a well respected organization!
2. A member of NHCRL is considering a State Bill to amend Outdoor Advertising (Billboard) regulations. The State of NH has a number of regulations and restrictions on billboards located at URL http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xx/236/236-74.htm
This amendment to RSA 236:74 would require that all new billboards have ‘top down’ or Full Cut Off lighting. And, after 15 years, all billboards would be required to have FCO lighting. It is a simple two sentence amendment.
If NHCRL wants to assist in this effort, it will be left to each individual member. We will keep you informed of the Bill’s progress.
If anyone else wants a more comprehensive Outdoor Lighting Bill, then you only have a few weeks to have is sponsored in the NH State House. Next ‘open bill introduction’ won’t be until December of 2004!
3. NHCRL keeps a phone active for our activities. We have also provided literature to over 150 companies and individuals who have requested it over the past 4 years. If you could help us out with our expenses, please send a check to Mike Pelletier at 15 Tyler Drive, Goffstown, NH 03045. It is not deductible or anything like that. We are not even a registered group but only an informal information exchange. If anyone would like to become an office of NHCRL or even take over as ‘Care-taker’ aka President, please let me know. Due to my schedule in life, I have little time to be pro-active on many of these issues.
Contact information:
Mike Pelletier, 15 Tyler Drive, Goffstown, NH 03045, 603-497-3667, mikpel@hotmail.com
New Hampshire Citizens for Responsible Lighting
http://www.mv.com/users/lopez/nhcrl
New England Light Pollution Advisory Group
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ps/nelpag.html
International Dark Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org