CLAREMONT, N.H. – The Claremont City Council met on Wednesday, June 10. The City of Claremont officially recognized June as Pride Month and the contribution of the LGBTQ+ residents to helping make Claremont a vibrant and diverse community in which to live, work, and visit. The rainbow flag will be displayed on the bandstand at Broad Street Park until June 20.
City Manager Nancy Bates announced that Celebrate Claremont events will occur on July 4. The activities, including touch-a-truck, a scavenger hunt, music, and information booths will lead up to events at Monadnock Park. Fireworks will begin at 6 p.m.
Zachary Hanes was reappointed to Seat 4 on the CCTV Board of Directors. There were three reappointments made on the Claremont Art, History and Cultural Resource Preservation Committee. Mark LaFontaine was reappointed to Seat 7, and Joshua Nelson was reappointed to Seat 5. Carla Schaeffer was reappointed to Alternate Seat 2.
Jeffrey Chase was reappointed to Seat 6 on the parks and recreation commission. Erica Sweeter was appointed to Seat 3 of the personnel advisory board, and Gina Gavin was appointed to Seat 3 on the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region Planning Commission.
During citizen’s forum, Phaedra Lachant, of Ward 2, expressed concern about the neglect of veterans’ foot stones in Claremont cemeteries. After previous discussions with several board members, she invited the public to take on the proper care of the veterans’ gravesites. Please check the What’s Up Claremont Facebook page for more information.
Valerie Dele, of Ward 2, requested that the council place on its future agenda a discussion of bringing up Claremont’s baseball and softball fields to Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken League standards, at a cost of $5,000, so that the local youth can compete equitably with other area teams.
The fire department requested a 4% wage increase for all three-year contracts. The council approved this. The department’s operating budget of $3,796,748 was passed by council members.
The council approved a Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive for substantial rehabilitation of 17 Water Street, for a period not to exceed 11 years.
With three options on the table, the council selected and voted on the level-fund option for water and sewer rates. This option will provide a more level and predictable increase over time. The rates will be assessed on an annual basis.
A Safe Streets for All grant could provide Claremont with 80% of the funds needed to implement a safety action plan to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. The council agreed to provide the remaining $150,800 required if the city was awarded the grant.
The council agreed to give city employees the option of a different health insurance plan, in addition to its HMO. This option, offered by Luminos, is a higher deductible plan with an HSA partially funded by the city.
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.