City Council

Monday, February 10, 2025 · 7:00 PM AM · City Council Chambers 37 Green Street Concord, NH 03301

TL;DR

The Concord City Council met to discuss critical infrastructure improvements, particularly the Hall Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is nearing capacity and requires significant upgrades over the next five years. The council also approved several grant applications for housing development and accepted various monetary donations to city departments.

Key Decisions

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Planning Discussed/Initiated Planning
Housing Champion Grant Applications Approved
FEMA Reimbursement for Disaster Response Approved ($43,062.71)
Tree Planting Program Funding Approved ($15,000)
Social Worker Parking Passes Referred for Further Review

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF

Agenda

Mayor Champlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call.
Approval of the Meeting Minutes.
25-041 January 13, 2025 City Council Draft Meeting Minutes.
minutes
Councilor Grady Sexton moved approval of the January 13, 2025, Meeting Minutes. Councilor Kurtz seconded the motion. Councilor Foote moved to correct the spelling of Mr. Finney's last name. The motion as amended was duly seconded and passed with no dissenting votes.
Agenda overview by the Mayor.
7. Hall Street Wastewater Treatment Plant Presentation.
consent report
City Manager Aspell invited Chip Chesley, DPW Director, Dan Driscoll, Waste Water Superintendent, and Michael Theriault, from Wright-Pierce, to present. A copy of the Powerpoint presentation has been posted and is available in the City Clerk's Office. Mr. Chesley began the presentation discussing the large housing boom in Concord, the dwindling capacity of the secondary treatment process, and the need for more aeration. Mr. Theriault, from Wright-Pierce, discussed the background of the Hall Street Plant and the current needs for restructuring or rebuilding, as the plant is nearly at the end of its loading capacity. The plant has two bio-towers and one has been offline for approximately 30 years, and the other is working at less than 50% capacity. He discussed alternative pathways to mitigate the issues, mentioning that it could take approximately five years from design through construction. He indicated that in about two years the discharge permit will expire, so this would be the opportune time for Concord to make the necessary planning for the improvements so that a more rigid schedule is not imposed by the Department of Environmental Services or the EPA. A lengthy discussion ensued amongst the Council, discussing the plant's current state, the immediate needs, the proposed upgrades, the future capacity, as well as how the City would pay for the improvements. At the conclusion of the presentation, Mayor Champlin asked Mr. Chesley how the crews were doing with snow removal, as this year has seen the most snow in over four years. He extended the Council's appreciation for the staff's efforts and the long hours, understanding the balance of needing rest as well as family time.
**Consent Agenda Items**
Referral to General Services and the Legal Department
8. Communication from Cleveland, Waters and Bass, on behalf of the Penacook Boscawen Water Precinct, regarding a petition to expand the boundaries of the Precinct pursuant to RSA 52:5.
referrals
See Item 8A. Set for public hearing.
Items Tabled for March 10, 2024 Public Hearings
8A. Resolution expanding the boundary of the Penacook Boscawen Water Precinct. (Supplemental reports from the General Services Director and the City Solicitor submitted.)
resolution
Action: moved to set for a public hearing Passed

This resolution was moved to set for a public hearing.
9. Resolution appropriating the sum of $43,062.71, as reimbursement of personnel costs related to the deployment of Fire Department personnel to areas impacted by natural disasters, and accepting the sum of $43,062.71, in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for this purpose; together with report from the Deputy Fire Chief.
resolution
Action: moved to set for a public hearing Passed

This resolution was moved to set for a public hearing.
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10. Resolution appropriating the sum of $15,000, in the Community Development Miscellaneous Grants and Donations project for tree planting on City property and within public rights-of-way under the Sustainable Tree Program, and authorizing a transfer in the sum of $15,000, from the Urban Tree Trust Fund for this purpose; together with a report from the Tree Subcommittee of the Conservation Commission.
resolution
Action: moved to set for a public hearing Passed

This resolution was moved to set for a public hearing.
From the City Manager
11. Positive Citizen Comments.
positive comments
Action: received and filed Passed

Positive comments were received and filed.
Consent Reports
12. Diminimus gifts and donations report from the Library Director requesting authorization to accept gifts and donations totaling $1,415.31, as provided under the pre-authorization granted by City Council.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
13. Diminimus gifts and donations report from the Parks and Recreation Director requesting authorization to accept monetary gifts totaling $3,817, as provided for under the pre-authorization granted by City Council.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
14. Diminimus gifts and donations report from the Director of Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives requesting authorization to accept a monetary gift totaling $250, as provided under the pre-authorization granted by City Council.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
15. Quarterly Status Report from the City Manager on City Council's 2024-2025 Priorities. (Pulled from consent by Councilor Brown.)
consent report
This item was pulled from consent for discussion.
16. Report from the Deputy City Manager - Development and the Human Resource and Labor Relations Director regarding reclassification of the Administrative Specialist II position within the Planning Division of the Community Development Department to Administrative Technician III.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
17. December 31, 2024 Fiscal Year to Date Financial Statements; together with a report from the Deputy City Manager - Finance. (Pulled from consent by Councilor Brown.)
consent report
This item was pulled from consent for discussion.
18. Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Document report from the Director of the Office of Management & Budget.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
19. Report from the Director of Real Estate Assessments requesting the City Manager be Authorized to renew the voluntary Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement between Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. and Affiliates and the City of Concord.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
20. Report from the Fire Chief, on behalf of the Public Safety Board, recommending that City Council encourages City staff to consider service agency deliverables to the community when selecting which service organizations should receive City funding in the development of City budgets, and to encourage City staff to review the City's application and reporting processes for nonprofits requesting funding.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
21. City Street Tree Removal Policy report from the General Services Director
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
22. Highway and Utilities Division Realignment report from the General Services Director.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
23. Report from the Parks and Recreation Director on Department Operations in 2024. (Pulled from consent by Councilor Brown.)
consent report
This item was pulled from consent for discussion.
24. Report from the Solicitor's Office regarding a Collective Bargaining Tentative Agreement between the City and the Concord Fire Officers Association, Local 3195.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
25. Report from the Assistant Director of Community Development, on behalf of the Parking Committee, in response to a referral from City Council regarding communication from Safiya Wazir requesting consideration be made to create parking passes for Social Workers who utilize public places, within the City of Concord.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
26. Report from the Director of Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives authorizing the City Manager to execute a release deed and new easement deed to Unitil Energy Systems for the relocation of a transmission line at the former landfill on Old Turnpike Road.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
27. Report from the Transportation Engineer, on behalf of the Traffic Operations Committee and the Transportation Policy Advisory Committee, in response to a referral from City Council regarding a communication from Councilor Horne requesting consideration be given to implementing traffic improvements on River Road.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
28. Report from the Transportation Engineer, on behalf of the Traffic Operations Committee and Transportation Policy Advisory Committee, in response to a referral from City Council regarding communication from resident Tony Puntin requesting consideration be given for the installation of a sidewalk along Borough Road.
consent report
Action: approved Passed

This consent report was approved.
Consent Resolutions
29. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs Housing Champion Housing Infrastructure Municipal Grant Program; together with a report from the Deputy City Manager - Development.
consent resolution
Action: approved Passed

This consent resolution was approved.
30. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs Housing Champion Housing Production Municipal Grant Program; together with a report from the Deputy City Manager - Development.
consent resolution
Action: approved Passed

This consent resolution was approved.
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