Hanover — A Dartmouth College undergraduate running for Selectboard says he’ll end his race now that a fraternity banned from Dartmouth College has won its zoning case with the town.

Brian Chen, a junior, had filed to run against Selectboard Vice Chairman Athos Rassias.

Chen declined to explain why he was running in an interview last month, saying he hadn’t yet “formally launched” his campaign, but said in an email this week that a recent fraternity zoning victory made his candidacy moot.

“Considering the SAE decision, there is no longer a point to the campaign,” he said in an email Wednesday. “Thus, I am no longer running.”

Chen’s name is still likely to remain on the ballot, however.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon, known on campus as SAE, last month received Hanover Zoning Board approval for its members to stay in their house, despite losing recognition from Dartmouth amid allegations of alcohol abuse and hazing. (Police say they will not file charges against the fraternity in this case.)

Members of the Selectboard appoint members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which could have given Chen some influence over how fraternity zoning cases are adjudicated.

Hanover Town Meeting will take place Tuesday at the Hanover High School gymnasium. Balloted voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the floor meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m

Staffing Issues Force Closing Of Inpatient Psychiatric Unit in N.H.

Keene, n.h. — Officials say an inpatient psychiatric unit at a Keene hospital is closing because of staffing issues.

The move at Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene takes effect July 1. Officials say a psychiatrist shortage has curbed their ability to treat patients.

The unit is licensed to treat a dozen adult patients and six adolescents. But staffing issues have meant they’ve only had an average of three or four adults per day.

Hospital CEO Don Caruso said Cheshire spent three years trying to recruit psychiatrists. He says the health care industry needs to train more psychiatrists and increase reimbursements to providers to attract and retain more practitioners.

Thirty-three employees will be offered severance packages. Some may be reassigned in the hospital.

Hassan Order Updates Goals To Reduce Fossil Fuels, Emissions

Concord— Gov. Maggie Hassan has issued an executive order updating New Hampshire’s goals of reducing fossil fuel use at state-owned facilities by 50 percent by 2030.

Friday’s order updated that goal compared to a 2005 baseline.

It also calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the state passenger vehicle fleet by 30 percent on a metric-ton basis by 2030, compared to a 2010 baseline.

The order also enhances construction and renovation standards and increases management and tracking of energy consumption.

Hassan said state government has nearly reached its goal of working to reduce fossil energy use by 25 percent by 2025.

The Democratic governor said the state also has reduced fossil fuel energy use in state buildings by nearly 21 percent over the last decade.

Woman Living in Tiny House To Leave Town After Vote

Hadley, Mass. — A Massachusetts woman who has been living in a tiny house is leaving town after voters rejected a proposal that would have made her dwelling legal.

The Republican of Springfield, Mass., reported voters at a town meeting in Hadley, Mass., rejected a proposal Thursday that would have allowed backyard cottages.

Sarah Hastings has been living in her 190-square-foot home on a parcel owned by another couple for the last year. She built the home while she was an architecture studies student at Mount Holyoke College.

Some residents had objected to the tiny house because Hastings failed to go through the required permitting process.

She was given a day to move out. Hastings says she’ll try to find another location for her house.

                           — Staff and wire reports