Letter to Stratham Legislative Delegation regarding NH Liquor Store

September 30, 2020

Patrick Abrami, Representative, District 19
Debra Altschiller, Representative, District 19
Patricia Lovejoy, Representative, District 36
Dr. Thomas Sherman, Senator, District 24

Via e-mail transmission

Dear Town of Stratham Legislative Delegation,

We have been made aware you have been contacted by residents in your role as state legislators concerning the status of the Stratham Liquor Store, previously located at 28 Portsmouth Avenue #B. We hope this letter provides clarification about the efforts of the State Liquor Commission to relocate their store to another location in Stratham.

Out of respect for business dealings between two separate business interests, this letter is limited to issues of general concern.

The responsibility to obtain a building permit in compliance with building codes lies with applicants. In this case, as in all cases, the Town staff including the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and the Town's third-party fire protection engineer worked to make parties aware of code requirements and assist them in compliance and proposed viable alternatives. Further, in this instance, we invited parties to seek review by the State Fire Marshall's office. For this project, engineering representatives of the project proponents concurred with determinations made locally. In the end, a decision to not move forward with a project based on a complete understanding of code requirements is the prerogative of a property owner or project proponent.

It is important that the public be aware that life safety and the application of building codes is not a matter of "negotiation" in Stratham. Application of codes following careful consultations with qualified engineering and code professionals representing the Town and applicants will continue to be the manner in which the Town carries out this important public safety function.

We welcome the opportunity to be home to a new liquor store in Stratham and have no interest in discouraging this type of investment or exposure for Stratham. I have personally reached out to and engaged in discussion with both the Applicant's Representative and the State Liquor Commissioner to pledge my interest and support in working towards a solution. To date, I have received no response.

As always, we welcome your engagement to seek out the facts to assist you in preparing for responses to the community regarding matters concerning Stratham.

We remain committed to working with parties to achieve their business goals in this community.

Sincerely,

Michael  Houghton,  Chair
Town of Stratham Select Board

cc:        Joseph Lovejoy, Vice-Chair Select Board
             Allison Knab, Select Board
             David Moore, Town Administrator
             Shanti Wolph, Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer/Health Officer
             Matt Larrabee, Fire Chief