Resolution Language For Your Town

Dear Concerned Citizen,
There have been a number of “hot topics” around the State of NH over the past few years involving the siting of unsustainable energy systems, commercial water extractions, the spreading of municipal sludge on farmlands, and many others. We have been told by our current legal system that we have no right to govern our own communities.
A number of communities around the state have applied Part First, Article 10. (Right of Revolution), of the NH State Constitution to challenge the current preemptive structure. These communities have taken the step to adopt a binding Community Bill of Rights Ordinance (RBO) that claims a right to local self-government, elevates community rights above the claimed rights of corporations, recognizes the rights of ecosystems to exist and flourish, makes it a violation for any person or corporation to use state or federal preemptive law, or permits, or contracts, to override the ordinance, and calls for changes to state law and the state constitution that recognize community rights.
Many communities agree with the RBO which stems from our New Hampshire Constitution that government of right originates in the people and operates by consent, yet may not desire to pass a binding ordinance. There is still a way for you to express your support for the “spirit” of the RBO; by petitioning your town with a resolution calling for specific legislation recognizing the right to community, local self-government, to be adopted by the New Hampshire state legislature.
New Hampshire Community Rights Network (NHCRN) has developed 2015 Resolution Language to encourage a state constitutional amendment. NHCRN has already begun plans to introduce the Community Rights Amendment for the 2015 legislative session and need to show our lawmakers that the people of New Hampshire support this effort. Over 8% of the population of NH currently supports the Community Rights Amendment; we need to get at least 51% of the population expressing support. This is possible by petitioning your town to pass resolution language that supports the right to community, local self-government.
If you are interested in learning more about the NHCRN resolution language for your town, or any surrounding towns, please contact me for further information.
We can do this!
Michelle Sanborn
NHCRN Coordinator