James Veverka: Why is selectman being allowed to own illegal junkyard?

To The Daily Sun,

When I sit out on my porch, I see a slummy junkyard across the street. The first thing I see is an old motorboat a couple of feet from the road that has been there for 20 years. A real eyesore. And there are two unregistered, uninspected cars sitting there rotting. Then there is some old five-foot tall beer-making vat or something standing there in plain view for years. I didn't know I could do anything about it until I heard about the Rollercoaster road illegal junkyard in Laconia. The N.H. Statute that deals with illegal junkyards can be found at (https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2015/title-xx/chapter-236/section-236-111-a) and states in paragraph e: "Not more than one unregistered and uninspected motor vehicle that is not over 25 years old shall be kept on the premises;..." An attorney familiar with the Rollercoaster case informed me old boats are considered vehicles by the courts. I also question whether the apartment the property owner is renting out is up to code because I have been inside in the past. It would not be a surprise if his old store is not up to code for rentals given his junkyard. Is his RV even registered and inspected? One could suspicious given his slummy property.

Who is the property owner that seems to think he is above the law? It is Tilton Selectman John Scanlon who owns this disgusting display of rubbish. Jon, as a selectman, makes decisions that affect other people's properties and lives by making judgments according to laws, statutes, and codes yet knowingly breaks the law himself. That is the definition of a corrupt and dishonest politician. A hypocrite. "Rules are for other people".

Selectman Joe Jesseman admits to knowing about RSA 236 but I would not trust him to enforce the law. I would assume he would be more interested in protecting this lawbreaker of his clique instead. Jesseman, as another politician who makes important decisions based on laws that influence people's properties and lives, probably can't be trusted to enforce RSA 236:111e but would rather protect his tribe. Politicians need to be held accountable.

James Veverka

Tilton