December City Council Update

One of the things I’m adding to my to do list for the upcoming city council term is to try and keep you updated on our city council meetings. What we discussed, how I voted and why. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive report, just highlights of issues that caught my attention and I thought may be of interest to you. For more detailed information you can go to the city’s website and access the agenda and minutes for the city council and the city’s boards and commissions. http://www.concordnh.gov

I will also try and keep you updated on other committee and board meetings and activities that may have an impact on you here in Ward 2. This isn’t meant to be a replacement for our Ward 2 meetings at the Newell Post, but to supplement those meetings. So here goes.

Over the years Penacook residents have celebrated Halloween the day before on October 30th. A number of you have asked why we don’t trick or treat on the 31st with the rest of the city. The response from the city was a letter from 2008 from former Chief of Police Barry. Most of the reasons for the separate date no longer exist. If you would like Penacook to Trick or Treat on the same night as Concord all we need do is get the word out, as we were told that the city does not set the date.

The Merrimack River Greenway Trail http://www.mrgt.org when completed will follow the Merrimack River from one end of the city to the other. At our city council meeting we approved accepting funding for a short portion of Phase 1. (The entire section of Phase 1 will be built between Loudon Road and Manchester Street.) It is the intention of the Friends of the MRGT to raise all the money for construction without city funding.

However upon completion the city will be responsible for maintenance. The Friends of MRGT have promised to do all they can to fund future maintenance costs. I have proposed establishing a dedicated or assigned fund to insure that money for maintenance is available as needed so that future city councils will not have to decide between maintaining the trail or paving city streets.

At the end of last winter it was announced that the cold weather shelters that had operated for 10 years would not be available for the homeless this winter. The city decided to move forward with a housing first model and there was hope that about half of the city’s chronically homeless (about 25) would have permanent housing by the start of this winter.

When this was announced I voiced my concern about how the city would meet our responsibility for the other 25 or so chronically homeless and others that showed up looking for shelter. Under state law we are required to provide services for anyone who shows up in our city. We do have some options. Finding a family or friends who will take them in, finding another shelter with an open bed anywhere in the state… But if those options aren’t available we must provide a bed for them. Without a shelter the only option would be a motel or hotel room. This potentially could have placed a large financial burden on our city.

It wasn’t until very recently that the mayor was able to find shelter space at the now closed St. Peters church. We should all be thankful for the mayors efforts to insure that there is a place for anyone who needs to come in from the cold. This will allow us to meet our statutory obligation, but it will not help us in moving away from a temporary fix to get the homeless out of the cold and into permanent housing.

The goal (and hope) for next winter is to have at least some of the chronically homeless in permanent housing with a much smaller spill over shelter for those who have no where else to go.

And this from the most recent Planning Board meeting. Good news from Whitney Road. A business currently located at Concord Crossing is expanding. New commercial development is not only encouraged but welcomed.

The plan is to have our Ward 2 meeting towards the middle of January. In the meantime Cathy and I send our wish that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. And be sure to check out the great Christmas light displays on Borough Road, Primrose Lane and Kyle Road.