Our view: No time for territorial politics

April 30, 2008 07:00 am

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These are challenging financial times for Londonderry, just as they are for nearly every other community in New Hampshire.

The downturn in the economy, combined with expected reductions in education funding and the impending state pension crisis, are forming a municipal finance "perfect storm" of sorts, forcing tough decisions and encouraging creative solutions.

With that in mind, we applaud the Londonderry Town Council for its desire to streamline procedures, functions and expenditures throughout town government.

One of the council's initiatives gathering the most attention has been its effort to streamline the approval process for businesses looking to build or expand in the town. This is a well-timed move. It promises to save municipal manpower, and will encourage increased commercial and industrial development by simplifying the process and making it more "business friendly." The latter benefit should result in increased tax revenue at a time when the community will need it most.

The council has also extended a hand of cooperation to the School Board, seeking to explore ways to work together and save money and manpower.

While the Planning Board and the School Board have not been openly hostile to the idea of working cooperatively with the council (both have agreed to continue discussions), there have been rumblings of dissent. Some on these boards feel that the council is overstepping its political boundaries.

There was a time when communities were flush with funds and municipal boards could afford the kind of parochial attitudes and posturing that invariably led to political turf wars.

Now is not such a time.

It doesn't matter who comes up with an idea or who gets credit. It doesn't matter which board sets what agenda. And it doesn't matter who sits where at a joint meeting.

Faced with an impending local fiscal crisis forged at the state, the Londonderry Town Council is not burying its collective head in the sand. It is taking the steps needed to mitigate future problems. We would encourage the members of all town boards to check their pride and political agendas at the door and engage in productive discussions for the benefit of all Londonderry residents.