CLAREMONT, N.H. – On Wednesday, Sept. 24, the Claremont City Council discussed the following items.
During an inspection of the property on Edgewood Street, it was found that a house was structurally unsound and could easily fall over, impacting neighboring houses. The debris on the sidewalk in front of said property makes it impossible for pedestrians to use that strip of sidewalk. The electrical repair was done by the property owner, which he has the right to do. However, this electrical work did not pass inspection. The unsanitary conditions within the building include a toilet situated between a stove and refrigerator. A hose feeds water into the toilet so that it can flush. The property owner asked for time to remediate these concerns, saying he works 60 hours a week. Acting city manager Nancy Bates requested a court order be issued to force property owner to fix the property. After much discussion, the council decided to wait until the property owner receives notification by mail that his house has failed inspection and then responds to the notice before a court order goes into effect. The council agreed to hold an emergency meeting about this once they hear back from property owner.
The Claremont Development Authority presented information on the Northern Borders grant, for which they have applied, to continue the roof repair work at 56 Opera House Square. This grant requires that the project have the $500,000 on hand in order for the sum to be reimbursed by Northern Borders. The city council expressed willingness to transfer funds from the city to CDA to cover this cash flow problem. Mayor Dale Girard requested that Bates write and introduce a resolution to handle this, so that the city council could then vote on it.
A report was given on the Whitewater Dam, which holds back the town reservoir. It was stated that no major repairs are needed. A standard maintenance schedule was presented. There are no imminent dangers, but the dam needs to be brought up to current standards.
The city received a $60,000 grant to survey and update maps that mark which water lines to private homes and within private homes are lead lines. The ultimate goal is to replace all remaining lead lines in the city. The city will be sending out letters to homeowners to question if they know whether their home has lead pipes or not. Currently, plumbers notify the town when they replace lead water lines. Now and into the future, city lead lines leading into a home whose lead lines are being replaced will be replaced simultaneously. The grant money for this project must be used by December of 2027.
For the small amount of property-tax payers with four years of taxes in arrears and extenuating circumstances, the council voted to take no additional action against them at this time.
Felicia Dalkey, the chair of the Claremont Arts, History, and Culture Preservation Commission, reviewed the work they have done so far. They have started to document an inventory of artifacts around the art, history, and culture of Claremont. So far, they have 95 items in the inventory. Most fall under the categories of artwork, photography, memorials, state markers, and city-owned markers. The commission has created exhibits for the visitors center. The current exhibit is about the history of transportation in Claremont. They hope to stabilize the eagle which stood on the town hall for many years. It now sits in the town hall’s atrium. The commission asked if they could become a fundraising entity. The council was agreeable to their fundraising, with the understanding that the commission run this and all city-related events across Bates’ desk. Then, Bates could alert the council if she felt the council’s input was needed.
The Claremont Youth Baseball Softball Association requested approval for converting Field 2 at Monadnock Park from a 40-60 field, which has a 40-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths, to a 50-70 field. This would meet the Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken specifications. If Claremont’s fields do not meet these specifications, the school teams will not be able to play in district and state tournaments. The council recommended focusing on safety issues first, such as repairing fences and batting cages, and adding a tip screen to block balls from landing on the playground or on people’s cars.
An adjustment of fee schedules regarding building permits and water rates was discussed. The council voted yes to adjusting fee schedules. No decision was made about water rates. The council requested that more information be gathered and presented.
The director of parks and recreation Justin Martin presented information about the new tennis and pickleball courts at Veterans Park. Funding for the project came from ARPA funds and a LWCF grant.
After completion of the courts, approximately $150,000 remains. The department would like to build a bathroom house with storage and a shade area. The council asked for more specific cost information and more visual details about the building itself.
The Claremont City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month, at 6:30 p.m., in the Claremont City Hall Council Chambers.