2026-08-10 - City Council
Summary
Built from official minutes.
- Regular meeting, 7:04 PM, all recorded members present (12); three excused (Davie, Fennessy, Sekou); Mayor Champlin presiding.
- Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill presented on state-level issues: 10-Year Highway Plan, ICE/immigration policy, prison replacement, state education costs and retirement reductions, and property tax burden.
- Social district ordinance (alcohol consumption in designated public areas) passed 1-dissent after debate about public safety, community needs and process.
- Beaver Meadow golf rates approved (passed 1-dissent, Councilor Brown opposed, citing insufficient reliance-reduction on taxpayers and the $764,000 annual debt service).
- Grant cleanup resolution passed unanimously.
- Numerous resolutions (Boys & Girls Club Penacook Center, summer concerts, elderly tax exemption, Briar Hydro PILOT agreement) approved.
- Barn preservation easement (Little Pond Road) approved unanimously.
- White Park pond hydro-raking project approved (1 dissent) after discussion of costs and plant eradication approaches.
- UNH Sustainability Fellow presented Citywide Tree Canopy Assessment showing 60% canopy cover and about $18.4 million in annual benefits; dashboard and interactive maps to be made public; assessment passed unanimously.
- Committee referrals and communications on parking, trash equity, tobacco permitting.
- Several ordinances tabled for September 14 public hearings (parking on Church, Columbus, Warren Streets; police roadway safety grant).
Social District Ordinance
- Item 26A/27. Ordinance amending Title I, Chapter 14 (Morals and Conduct) to establish the legal framework for social districts (designated areas where patrons may carry and consume alcohol purchased from participating licensed establishments). First step in multi-step implementation; Public Safety Advisory Board to develop application and enforcement; City Council retains approval authority on each district, with review of fees and renewal frequency.
- Public hearing: one speaker (Ben Greenslade, involved in drafting NH legislation) in favor, noting Laconia's success and lost opportunity for Market Days; asked about trash disposal and local business involvement; other discussion noted waste concerns.
- Council debate: Councilor Brown moved to table, citing prioritization over warming stations and cooling centers, raised conflict-of-interest questions about a Safety Board member's alcohol-industry affiliation, and concerns about open-carry + alcohol and community needs. Motion failed (no second). Councilor Grady Sexton and others expressed confidence in the vetted process; Mayor Champlin urged thoughtful implementation without pressure.
- Passed 11-1 (Councilor Brown dissent). [Vote count appears to be all but Brown.]
Beaver Meadow Golf Course Rates
- Item 22 (pulled from consent). 2027-2028 season rate structure expected to generate about $91,000 additional revenue. Revenue over expenses rose from ~$124,000 in FY2025. Most season pass increases 2%-3%; junior season pass holds at $450. Bank of America Youth on Course program ($5 for nine holes, subsidy for remainder) noted as successful youth driver.
- Councilor Kretovic noted other revenue sources (range fees, cart rentals, winter/simulator, tournaments).
- Councilor Brown concerned: rates insufficiently address ~$764,000 annual debt service; requested greater scrutiny of discounted/complimentary rounds and ROI.
- Councilor Horne asked why cart rates not rising; Brian LeBrun (Acting City Manager) noted substantial prior year increase and committee recommendation to hold steady.
- Passed 11-1 (Councilor Brown dissent).
White Park Pond Restoration
- Item 34 (report). Following June direction, state approved hydro-raking (more extensive than prior mechanical removal, removes sediment/root material) as alternative to full dredging. Hydro-raking less expensive. CIP includes $200,000, subject to Council approval.
- Councilor Brown asked about effectiveness, dormant lotus seeds, depth; David Gill (Parks & Recreation) explained neither method eradicates all seeds (ongoing monitoring needed); hydro-raking removes plant material (less algae risk than chemical treatment, which was tried ~10-12 years ago and poorly received). Some odor expected; scheduling for late September when cool.
- Councilor Foote asked about chemical treatment; Garrison Beck (wetlands specialist, VHB) noted chemical leaves decomposing material, risking algae.
- Motion (Kretovic, seconded Grady Sexton): authorize hydro-raking. Passed 11-1 (one dissent).
Citywide Tree Canopy Assessment
- Item 35 (report). UNH Sustainability Fellow Danielle Melius presented. Concord tree canopy ~60% (about 30,000 acres); 35% on public land, majority private. Canopy decline since 1985. Identified future planting priority areas. Interactive dashboard created, showing current/historic canopy, canopy loss/gain, priority planting areas by ward, urban heat risk. Estimated ~$18.4 million in annual canopy benefits. Dashboard and methodology to be shared citywide and across New England sustainability network.
- Council praised work; Beth Fenstermacher (Director of Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives) noted UNH fellowship cost increased from $4,000 to ~$12,000 annually; sponsorship opportunities being explored. Dashboard underwent color-accessibility review for color-blindness.
- Motion (Horne, seconded Todd): accept report. Passed unanimously.
Boys and Girls Club Penacook Community Center Sidewalk
- Item 26C/29 (resolution). Appropriating/accepting $67,376 transfer from Boys & Girls Club for Dolphin Street sidewalk work. Club responsible for off-site improvements per planning review; coordinated with FY23 street paving (CIP 78). Work completed; remainder to be transferred to Highway Reserve for future neighborhood street paving.
- No public comment. Passed 2/3 majority.
Summer Concert Series Expansion
- Item 26D/30 (resolution). $11,500 from Walker Lecture Series to support 2026 summer concerts. Since 2022, Series has funded Sunday morning concerts at Merrimack Lodge, White Park, plus 2025 added concerts at Canal Riverfront Park, Penacook. Funds deposited to Grants and Donations Fund; comprehensive grants report to follow in first-quarter financial report.
- Councilor Brown asked how donation accounted for and whether restricted to this event type. Brian LeBrun explained fund treatment and annual reporting.
- Councilor Horne expressed appreciation for expansion to Canal Street.
- Passed 2/3 majority.
Elderly Property Tax Exemption
- Item 26E/31 (resolution). Updated exemption amounts to preserve benefit after property revaluation. Current: $80,000 (age 65-74), $131,000 (75-79), $223,000 (80+). Proposed: $155,000, $250,000, $375,000. In 2025, 98 taxpayers received zero-tax bill; projections show 94 continuing, ~10 new eligible, total ~104 with zero-tax bill.
- John Rice (Director of Assessing) explained exemption is income/asset-based, reduces assessed value before tax rate applied (not a tax credit). Council discussed importance of publicizing exemption.
- Passed unanimously.
Briar Hydro Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes Agreement
- Item 26F/32 (report). Bridge-year PILOT for Briar Hydro (Rolfe Canal Falls, Penacook Upper Falls & Lower Falls). City's revaluation not complete when prior agreement expired March 31, 2026. One-year bridge agreement: $255,000 (based on 2025 assessed value, applicable rate, agreed discount). New valuation from revaluation will inform future agreement, anticipated 5-year term. Coordinating with Boscawen on property value allocation between municipalities.
- Councilor Foote confirmed Boscawen also has PILOT.
- Passed unanimously.
Barn Preservation Easement (Little Pond Road)
- Item 26G/33 (resolution). 10-year renewal (third 10-year easement) for property at 102 Little Pond Road, owned by Sylvia S. Miskoe Trust. Barn in excellent condition; program helps ensure ongoing preservation investment.
- Mayor Champlin expressed support for state barn-preservation tool, noting historic barn losses.
- Passed unanimously.
Other business
- Approval of prior minutes (July 13, June 4, June 8) passed unanimously.
- Correction to June 4 minutes regarding alleged recusals by Councilor Brown and Councilor Kalob: motion (Mayor), seconded Todd), passed 1 dissent (Councilor Brown opposed).
- Communications referred: equity/park facilities (Keach Park trash/restrooms) → DEIJB and RPAC; parking/code enforcement/snow removal (Rumford Street) → Parking Committee; tobacco/nicotine retail ordinance request → Public Safety Board.
- Items tabled for September 14 public hearings: parking ordinances (Church Street, Columbus Avenue, Warren Street near Concord High School); police roadway safety grant ($23,100).
- Consent reports approved (library donations, police grant, special projects gift, cemetery fence, library fines pause, Auburn Street sidewalk); golf rates and grant cleanup pulled and voted separately.
- Numerous individual announcements and recognitions (National Night Out, Deputy Chief retirement, summer programming, Black Heritage Trail marker, Franco Fest, elections, etc.).