2026-06-08 - City Council
Summary
Built from official minutes.
- Regular meeting, 7:02 PM, all 15 members present; Mayor Champlin presiding.
- Property revaluation (Full Measure & List, CIP #639): status update; third schedule revision due to staffing/weather delays; final figures expected August 1, 2026; preliminary assessment notices mailed ~June 22; significant Council concern about impacts on manufactured housing, condos, multifamily units; tax rate adjusts to overall budget, not proportional to value increases; appeals process includes informal hearings (in-person, phone, online).
- Golf Course clubhouse & water line appropriation ($36,502 total; $14,472 SkiTheBeav donation, $22,030 Recreation Reserve) passed 2/3 after debate about private fundraising responsibility; backflow preventer and water line replacement needed.
- Concord Skate Park donation appropriation ($10,000 from Association; total ~$26,000 raised of $500,000 goal) passed 2/3; fundraising through sponsorships, GoFundMe, NH Gives; resident questions about consultant funding contingency if full goal not met.
- Event Arts Grant Awards report ($150,000 allocation) pulled by Councilor Brown for discussion.
- Annual Comprehensive Financial Report award (31st consecutive Certificate of Achievement) pulled by Councilor Fennessy.
- Weatherize Concord campaign launch (energy efficiency initiative, free audits, goal 100 homes by year-end) pulled by Councilor Horne.
- Traffic signal and trail lease items tabled for July 13 public hearings.
- Parking ordinances remained tabled (Church Street, School Street).
- Memorial Field Master Plan remained tabled.
- Homelessness funding resolution (tabled April 14, 2025, $84,000) not yet taken up.
Beaver Meadow Golf Course Clubhouse & Water Line
- Item 21A/22 (resolution). $36,502 appropriation: $14,472 SkiTheBeav donation, $22,030 from Recreation Reserve. During excavation of water line serving winter skating pond, discovered line requires replacement; backflow preventer needed in heated facility; new line routed to utility room in new clubhouse then extended back to pond. Work concurrent with clubhouse project advantageous; not in original design/scope.
- Evans-Brown (SkiTheBeav Chair) noted organization has donated $20,000 total; no further testimony.
- Councilor Brown asked if backflow preventer requires annual inspection; Brian LeBrun (Deputy City Manager Finance) agreed.
- Council debate: Councilor Horne opposed, citing prior expectations of significant private/corporate contributions; City has already invested in clubhouse/parking lot; further funding should come from business community. Councilor Brown opposed: concerns about irrigation system costs and newly identified backflow need; opposed using Recreation Reserve (Golf Fund does not contribute to it).
- Councilor Kurtz supported: City committed to investing in golf property for public benefit; SkiTheBeav expands public recreational use; backflow prevention is City responsibility.
- Horne clarified: not opposition to project; unforeseen costs should come from contingencies or project budget reallocation; requesting funds shortly after budget adoption difficult to support.
- Kurtz clarified for public: no impact on tax rate.
- Passed 2/3 majority.
Concord Skate Park
- Item 21B/23 (resolution). $10,000 appropriation; Concord Skate Park Association donation. Chris Harrington (President) and Arthur Anderson presented check; about $26,000 raised of $500,000 goal; ongoing fundraising through community events and local business sponsorships; participating in New Hampshire Gives; website concordskatepark.com.
- Harrington explained 100% from sponsorships/fundraising; donations via Parks & Rec, GoFundMe, NH Gives.
- Roy Schweiker (resident) raised contingency concern: City previously accepted $10,000 donation and authorized $10,000 consultant expenditure; if organization does not reach $500,000 goal, all donations returned per prior statements; asked if City funds would cover consultant costs if donations returned and fundraising fails.
- James Dockham (resident) expressed support, commending community-led effort and recreational opportunity; encouraged City to increase support level.
- Council: Councilor Fennessy acknowledged significant fundraising goal and appreciated group's work; noted larger contributions raise awareness; Grady Sexton confirmed both donations received (LeBrun); Councilor Todd encouraged continued efforts; referenced past City projects where public fundraising fell short and City ultimately provided funding.
- Passed 2/3 majority.
Property Revaluation Update
- Item 24 (report). City Manager Aspell invited John Rice (Director of Assessing), Joe Devarenne (Deputy Assessor), and Steve Wayland (Vision Government Solutions project manager) to present.
- Rice: third schedule revision due to staffing/weather delays; completion target unchanged, August 1, 2026. Residential values under review after two rounds; preliminary results favorable, strong statistical indicators; significant sales data available. Commercial/industrial intentionally behind; priority on residential; commercial analysis starting shortly, expected to progress quickly.
- Long Council discussion on revaluation impacts. Concerns about public anxiety regarding value increases, particularly manufactured housing, condos, multifamily, apartments.
- Rice explained: assessed value increases do not directly translate to equivalent tax increases; tax rate adjusted based on overall tax base and budget; some owners may see increases, others little change or decrease depending on individual property value changes vs. citywide average.
- Manufactured housing: individual homes assessed as residential; underlying land in parks assessed separately as commercial.
- Next steps: preliminary assessment notices mailed ~June 22, 2026. Property owners review and request informal hearings if information inaccurate or additional info relevant (condition, structural changes, finished/unfinished areas, additions, garages, pools, sheds). Hearing options: in-person, telephone, online. Inspections may verify information.
- Rice anticipated significant increase in assessment appeals due to magnitude of valuation changes. LeBrun: revised assessments reflected in tax bills after tax rate setting (late Oct/early Nov).
- Rice noted interior inspections conducted when possible; Concord's inspection rate exceeds industry standards.
- Wayland: assessment information public record; updated property values for all types available through city revaluation webpage and Vision Government Solutions database (~June 22, 2026); website includes sales data used.
- Tax exemptions/credits: filing periods vary; Tax Exemption Policy Committee will review elderly exemption levels before tax bills issued.
Event Arts Grant Awards
- Item 12 (pulled by Councilor Brown). $150,000 allocation report; further discussion deferred (approved July 13).
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Award
- Item 13 (pulled by Councilor Fennessy). 31st consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting; further discussion deferred (approved June 8 in pulled section).
Weatherize Concord Campaign
- Item 14 (pulled by Councilor Horne). Energy efficiency initiative with Resilient Buildings Group; free energy audits; goal 100 homes by year-end; program event June 24; further discussion deferred (approved June 8 in pulled section).