CLAREMONT, N.H. – Mayor Dale Girard opened the April 22 meeting of the Claremont City Council by requesting a moment of silence for council member Wayne Hemmingway’s father, who passed away on April 18.
City Manager Nancy Bates announced that the assistant director of the department of public works, Ted Wadley, was named Supervisor of the Year by the New Hampshire Department of Public Works, that Fire Chief John Chamberlain was elected to represent the state of New Hampshire at the New England division, that the Claremont Police Department was awarded an $84,000 Victims of Crime Act grant from the New Hampshire Department of Justice to continue the Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT) program, and that Dylan Bastian was recently hired as the city’s new business development specialist for the planning and development office.
Bates then gave an update on the North and Main Street project, saying paving should be completed by May 5, weather dependent. The water main work might not be finished until September or October, however, Bates added.
Bates also announced that anyone who wishes to open burn should call the Fire Department for more information.
Police Chief Brent Wilmot delivered a draft of an ordinance which would dictate the operation of the Claremont Motorsports Park. Wilmot requested that the council contemplate the draft of guidelines for deliberation. Mike Parks, who runs the Claremont Motorsports Park, spoke about his commitment to Claremont and his willingness to work with the community. During the public comment portion of this discussion, 10 people spoke of their connection with the motorsports park. Six speakers specifically addressed the level of noise coming from the park and its effect on people’s health. The other four stressed the positive aspects of the racetrack. The Motorsports Park has become a multigenerational activity for both fans and racers, and brings money into the community. Everyone who spoke expressed the hope that communication and cooperation could resolve any rifts in the city over the racetrack. After the council addressed their concerns about various points in the draft ordinance, Girard requested that each council member send their notes to Bates to be compiled. These notes would be sent to Wilmot, to be used in editing his draft ordinance. Then, a special council meeting would be called with Chief Wilmot to create an ordinance that would be agreeable to all present.
After reading the structural report about the visitors center completed by SGH engineering firm, Bates reported that the building showed no serious structural concerns at the present time, though some small repairs were needed. However, the long-term use of the building was questionable. The slab on which the building was built has cracked due to unstable subsoil. The back end of the slab has sunk several inches, which makers opening and closing some of the doors and windows difficult. It will take an estimates $200,000 to $300,000 to repair these issues. Bates recommended monitoring the building for a year to determine if it is still sinking. The main question became whether to shutter the visitors center or to make repairs. The consensus among council members was to have staff in this building be moved to another building, as the costs to repair it were too high. Bates agreed to start looking for a new place for staff and to find out the cost of weatherizing the visitors center for the winter.