The House committee hearing on the Cannon Mountain lease bill was interesting today, to say the least, as SB217's prime sponsor proposed major revisions to the amended bill.
The Department of Resources and Economic Development worked in good faith with the Senate to craft an amended bill it could support. The bill called on DRED to develop a master plan for Franconia Notch State Park and Cannon Mountain, including whether leasing the mountain to the private sector was in the public interest.
At the hearing today, prime sponsor Sen. Jeb Bradley urged the House committee to remove the master plan section of the bill, citing its cost, and once again criticized Cannon's management and business model.
Cannon supporters want the bill killed. Sen. Bradley wants it amended. And DRED, Cannon and the State Park System Advisory Council all argued that the master plan should remain a part of the bill.
Now it's up to the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee to determine whether the bill should be amended, killed or sent along to a House-Senate conference committee. Stay tuned!
