CLAREMONT, N.H. – Nicole Dermody, owner of Style House Salon, requested that the bench in front of her business be moved at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Claremont City Council, saying it has become a gathering place for individuals who were smoking, yelling, and using drugs. “Some customers are uncomfortable,” she said, with the secondhand smoke and the blocking of sidewalks. “This is not discrimination,” she continued. “Public spaces need to work for everyone – including business owners, customers, and families. I support recovery, housing, people with a second chance, but I also support people who get up every day, go to work, pay their employees, pay taxes, and invest money into their community. All of these people are a part of Claremont.”
Kelly Gillette, who has worked at Style House Salon since its opening, stated that she has seen public intoxication, domestic disputes, and even an overdose right outside the salon. She credits this in part to some of the clients at TLC Family Resource Center. TLC offers parenting and family support, basic needs assistance, and youth and teen programs. It also supports people in recovery. According to Gillette, it seems as though some users of the recovery programs are the cause of the problems in front of the salon. She expressed frustration with how the police respond to phone calls from the salon. “The police just drive by,” Gillette said.
Ready, Set, Grow Child Care Center is just around the corner from the salon. The director, Molly Tremblay, voiced similar complaints. “I have 30 children, serving 11 families. There are people drunk on the stoop, screaming obscenities. Families are calling out of concern. I call the police. They sit in the Rite Aid parking lot and then say ‘I don’t see anything.’” The council asked interim City Manager Richard Bergeron to address these issues as quickly as possible.
Mayor Dale Girard also announced that, on Aug. 29, the Claremont Senior Center will host its annual car show from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Claremont Motorsports Park.
From there, a discussion proceeded regarding whether the city council should create an ad hoc committee to develop ordinances for the motorsports park. The issue arose because there was an event held at the motorsports park which was not authorized by the city. It was noted that Police Chief Wilmott had already committed to developing an ordinance. Therefore, the council voted not to form an ad hoc committee.
Bergeron stated that his top priorities are reviewing current items coming up on the agenda and filling City of Claremont staff positions. A moment of silence was offered for the recent passing of Michael Richmond, who was very active in the American Legion.
The council then voted to appoint Christie Hawkins to Seat 6 on the Claremont Arts, History, and Cultural Resources Commission.
Next, Human Resource Director Shannon Thibodeau presented the merit-system document she developed for the nonunion employees of the City of Claremont. Some members of the council wanted a further breakdown of certain job titles. Because of this, the council did not accept the document.
Two members of the Frances Towles Board of Trustees, Carlene Livingston and Larry Johnson, presented an update to the trustees’ bylaws. The council agreed that two residents, instead of one, could be members of the board, and that each trustee should serve for a period of three years.
The Parks and Recreation Department then requested that the council accept the $10,000 which the Byrne Foundation granted to it in order to reduce registration costs for the four youth sports programs, to be equally divided between the soccer, football, basketball, and softball programs. The council voted to accept the grant.
Bergeron noted that there is approximately $70,000 left to spend from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. The LWCF is a federal program that supports the acquisition of land and the development or renovation of outdoor recreation areas. Bergeron reviewed several items for which the city could use these funds: plastic playground setups, ADA bathrooms in Veterans Park, a parking lot safety net to prevent damage to cars near playing fields, lighting for the tennis and pickleball courts, and ballfield lighting.
The council suggested that funds be used for the ADA bathrooms, lighting at the tennis and pickleball courts, and as much ballfield lighting as possible after the completion of the first two priorities.
Bergeron also established that $900,136 of the city’s fund balance could be used for capital improvement projects. He recommended that the roof of the Fiske Free Library be replaced at a cost of $316,086, and that the Freedom Street project be completed at a cost of $590,050. None of these expenses would impact the tax rate. The Freedom Street project refers to the replacement and stabilization of the water and sewer infrastructure between Freedom and Belding streets. The council agreed that the funds should be spent for these projects.
The Claremont City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, at 6:30 p.m., in the Claremont City Hall Council Chambers.