By SCOTT DOLAN
Union Leader Correspondent

    GOFFSTOWN --- Planning Board members aren't thrilled about where the school board wants to build Goffstown's first public kindergarten, but with no power to reject the proposal, all they could do was ask the school district to proceed carefully.
    "This site appears to have certain concerns as to traffic, safety, access.  The wetlands issues are a concern, and to the extent that they are going to build here, they need to pay particular attention to those concerns," said James Raymond, board member.
    Board Chairman Richard Georgantus said that under state law, the planning board - as a municipal entity - does not have the power to deny the building plan of school district - another municipal entity,

    The state Department of Environmental Services had yet to decide whether to grant the school district its requested permits to build on the 26-acre parcel.  It issued a letter at the beginning of the week seeking more information from school officials.
    Superintendent of Schools Darrell Lockwood said earlier in the meeting that the district planned to answer the state's questions promptly and expects the state to issue permits soon.
    Board member Ann Duffy, who abstained from voting, held the opposite view, saying "this is a long way from getting approval from DES."
    Even with state approval, the school district faces a subsequent risk of losing its funding if any residents or residents' group files suit o block use of the Elm Street site.  Last year, residents did just that after the school district received approval to build a kindergarten on Tibbetts Hill Road, Lockwood said.

    State funding has been approved to build Goffstown's kindergarten, but if another school district receives approval to build its own kindergarten first, Goffstown could lose that money, Lockwood said.
    Board member William Wynne - who also abstained from voting - took the strongest position against using the Elm Street site, saying if residents had known the extent of the wetlands, they would not have approved transferring ownership of the property to the school district at the last election.
    "I am for the kindergarten, but I tell you, I am not for this site," Wynne said.  "Everywhere you look at, you get wet looking at this site."