Concord Police Investigating Alleged Threats Made at ZBA Meeting

Concord Police were called to the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on Sept. 4, after a couple from Abbott Road did not receive three variances they requested and one of the residents began yelling at the members of the ZBA.

At issue was a request by Kelly and Jacqueline Brochu who requested three variances to local ordinances in order to keep two pigs on their property for personal use as well as waivers for the size of the pen and where feed and manure was stored on the property.

In testimony before the board, Jacqueline Brochu stated that she was out of work and her husband had limited employment but between May and late September, they would like to house pigs on the property in order to make sure they could eat during the winter and not apply for welfare to sustain themselves. The property, a little less than an acre, had been in her family for about 70 years and livestock had always been kept on the property, she said. Jacqueline Brochu said the animals were gated and also had five chickens at the home, that are allowed by zoning. 

Kelly Brochu said he cleaned the pen daily and made sure they were properly taken care of.

“You smell worse, the pit next door, where there’s a stump dump,” he said, adding that there had been other farms in the area that spread manure.

Kelly Brochu said he spoke to some of his neighbors and none of them realized that they had pigs on the property both before and after the variance requests and said he was amenable to addressing complaints from neighbors.

During the course of an hour, members of the ZBA questioned the couple about their plans, and then received testimony from neighbors some who supported the variances and others who didn’t. Some neighbors said they had no problems with the pigs. Others accused the family of possibly selling the pig meat to neighbors. 

While sympathizing with the hardship of finances, members of the ZBA questioned health issues if the pigs got loose from the pen and the lack of land available. Ultimately, they unanimously voted against the variances. 

After the vote, Kelly Brochu rose and began yelling and swearing at the members and Nick Wallner, the acting chairman of the ZBA, pushed a button underneath the desk, calling for the police to come to the meeting.

Kelly Brochu stated that his pigs never attacked anyone in the neighborhood even though some of his neighbor’s dogs had. 

Robert Harrison, Jr., one of the ZBA members, said One member to Brochu, "That's enough," three times. 

“Who the hell are you to tell me enough?,” Kelly Brochu said, while heading towards the door. “I’m keeping them, I don’t give a sh-t what you say. I don't know who the hell you are and I don't care.”

The full ZBA meeting can be watched here on Concord TV’s website. The section of the Brochu's request starts about 57 minutes in and runs until the end of the video. 

In an interview with WMUR-TV, Lt. Timothy O’Malley, the commander of the criminal investigations unit of the department, said police were investigating the meeting for potential future charges.