City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2022 - 2024 City Council, 20 Mar 2023

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From YouTube: 3.20.2023 City Council

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3.20.2023 City Council

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Good evening and welcome to tonight monday march 20th 2023 city council meeting, I would wait a.

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Motion to leave the non-public and to seal the minutes so move. Second, all in favor, aye.

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Any opposed uh next up um our regular agenda um kelly. When you can, will you please call the roll.

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Your assistant mayor kelly, here councilor chamber here, councilor denton here, council.

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Moreau here, councilor bagley here, council lombardi here, council bluelock here council cook here.

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uh Tonight's uh for tonight's invocation uh I'm reminded.

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the avision uh of iraq and.

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In honor of that, um and all that have served uh not come home from that and come home to face a.

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An equally difficult time, I would like to ask a veteran of that war and a person.

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That has committed his life to making sure the causes of veterans are, are taken up and brought.

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Into this chamber on a regular basis, counselor denton to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

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Pledge allegiance of the united states of america and to the republic for which it says one nation.

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Under god, indivisible with liberty and the justice for us. Thank you. Counselor daniel.

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Today we celebrate youth art month.

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And have a proclamation, whereas youth art month, created in 1961, recognizes that the.

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Arts contribute powerful educational benefits to all elementary middle and secondary school.

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Students by helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and encouraging their.

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Creativity, perseverance and discipline, and whereas education in the arts provides access.

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To a universal cross-cultural language that we can communicate, express feelings and ideas.

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Make connections and develop the empathy to pursue personal growth inside and outside the.

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Classroom and whereas the arts provide deep learning experiences in areas we recognize is.

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Critical for success in the 21st century workforce and as members of our society problem solving.

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Collaboration communication initiative, innovation and leadership and whereas the national foundation.

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National art, education foundation, in conjunction with the new hampshire department of education.

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Believes art education can improve the well-being of our communities by enhancing our sensory.

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Perceptions and celebrating the cultural strength of portsmouth and the united states as a whole.

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And whereas the leaders of government, schools and communities recognize art education is a valuable.

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Factor in the total curriculum that develops citizens of a global society and generates a.

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Better quality of life for all, and whereas there is even greater need now than ever before, to help.

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Youth harness the proven therapeutic benefits of art making and creative art learning to build.

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Social and emotional wellness, and to provide additional opportunities for individuals of all.

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Ages to participate in art by increasing community business and government governmental support for.

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Art education. Now, therefore, I diego mccarron mayor of the city of portsmouth, on behalf of the members.

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Of the city, council and citizens of portsmouth do hereby proclaim the month of march 20 2023.

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In fort smith, new hampshire as youth art month and urge all citizens, especially in our 400th year, to.

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Celebrate the contributions of art, educators and their students to the rich heritage of.

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Portsmouth's past present and future, given with my hand in the seal of the city of portsmouth on this.

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20Th day of march 2023.- and I believe we have an educator and a net here- an art educator, [applause].

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Of course, and if you wouldn't mind if you'd want to say a few words.

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I just wanted to say a couple things um on behalf of the visual arts department in in portsmouth.

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Public schools, but also the community at large. um We- it is youth art month and we're very excited. We.

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Are we are show our k-12 exhibit annual exhibit is up and open at the public library. um That's called.

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Splash- and we also have another event coming up this year, which is new at 3s art space, our high.

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School artists will have an arts night on may 19th. So we're excited for that new edition and.

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We also had 20 students win 38 awards this year in the statewide scholastic arts competition. So.

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We're very we're very excited for all of them and there are future artistic pursuits, and I really.

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Really appreciate the city of portsmouth support for a thriving art department. Thank you so much.

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And uh some of those uh uh award-winning uh pieces can be found on the fourth floor of city hall,.

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um Right, it's on the school department side technically, but uh it's really impressive.

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Stuff and uh thank you uh for bringing this back after a couple years uh or kovid, where we didn't.

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uh Have the opportunity to read the proclamation, so thank you, man and concert cook for uh making.

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This proclamation happen tonight. Next up uh the acceptance of minutes, I'd, wait, a motion.

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To accept the march 11 2023 special city council meeting this so moved all in favor aye any opposed.

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Next is the uh recognitions and volunteer committee reports, we have portsmouth energy.

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Advisory committee, kevin charette and peter somsich, with a few words.

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Good evening again my name is kevin charrette, I'm a member of the portsmouth energy advisory committee and also.

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Portsmouth's member representative to the uh community power coalition of new hampshire's.

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Board and I appreciate the opportunity to stay a few remarks um with all of your support over.

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The past many months we've made really great progress. I think among the the portsmouth.

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Energy advisory committee we've had a steady, drum beat of outreach to the residents within.

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Portsmouth, both from an education standpoint and an engagement perspective and we've we've spent.

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Quite a bit of time, putting together our energy aggregation plan, which, back just last month.

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On the 21st the council approved- and it is now with the public utility commission for approval.

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um And I'll say a little bit more about that just in in one second,.

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The community power coalition of new hampshire has also made great strides over the past many.

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Many months just about a year ago, portsmouth was the 19th member to join the coalition. Now.

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We're up to 30 members and we seem to be adding a couple more cities and towns every month. There's.

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Many more in the kind of in the waiting room right now to join the coalition, but we're up.

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To 30 at this point in time, and we hit a real major milestone just a couple weeks ago, when.

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The coalition has gone out to procure energy supply for our first 10 communities. This is.

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A really all the hard work that has taken place with the coalition and its members to get to this.

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Point we're actually going out to the market and purchasing supply was exciting for the coalition.

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And its members- and we have 10 communities that are going to be going live here shortly.

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Just a week ago, in nashua we had a press conference where we announced the rates for.

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The coalition for the go live for the initial 10 10 communities and it was quite encouraging the.

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Default rate for these communities is going to be 15.8 cents per kilowatt hour and that compares to.

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The eversource rate and our territory here in portsmouth of 20.2 cents. So it's a 22 cent 22.

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Percent reduction uh for the default rate compared to eversource and if you're a community, that's in.

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Other utility territories, if you're in liberty or unitil, it was even greater 20.2 eversource.

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Rate is quite high, but just next door in exeter they're in a unitil service territory. It's almost.

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26 cents per kilowatt hour, so the the 15.8 cents is quite a reduction off of what the.

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Utilities are offering at this point in time. The coalition has also offered a package of.

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Three other green rates for go live. The default rate is 23 percent uh as a 23 renewable content.

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um The other three rates that are being offered by the coalition are going to be 33, renewable 50 and.

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100 and at the present time, all of those have a rate that's below the eversource rate of 20.2. For.

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Example, the 33 renewable content is 16.2 cents and the 50 renewable is 16.9 cents for go, live still.

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Substantially below the ever source rate, which is a much lower, um much lower renewable content.

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These rates are going to be effective through july, so we are tied to the utility rate making.

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Schedule and in the state it goes from february through july and then august through january. So.

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Rates will reset for the coalition and for the member communities again august 1st, with the.

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Expectation that the coalition rates will continue to be below the rates offered by the incumbent.

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Local local utilities kind of a a key fun fact. If you will just in the first three months of going.

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Live that 10 communities are going to save about six million dollars for their for their member.

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And their residents and they're going to be able to put aside eight million dollars in financial.

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Reserves, so it's, I think, an encouraging first step for the coalition um back to portsmouth all right.

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We mentioned our energy aggregation plan. Right now is before the commission. If we stay on schedule.

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They have 60 days to approve that, so it would bring us out to april 11th at that point in time.

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We would be able to green light procurement for the city of portsmouth, and that assumes there's.

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No major disruption to the energy markets between now and then and our experts don't forecast that.

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To be the case, so we would, if authorized, be able to move forward with procurement for portsmouth.

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Around april 12th or 13th, that would set a clock in motion where we would then notify the public.

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Utility commission and the utility, in our case, eversource 45 days in advance, that we intend, as.

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A city to launch a community power program and then about 30 days prior to go, live there would.

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Be an educational mailer that would be sent to all the residents in electric customers in portsmouth.

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That is chock full of a lot of good information, but it also gives them some quite simple ways.

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To opt out of community power online and by a phone call if, for some reason, a resident did.

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Not want to participate in community power, the it's it's quite easy to uh to to not do that.

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um And then 15 days prior to go live where you would have a public informational meeting and.

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These are all required by by regulation and then, if we stayed on that schedule, portsmouth community.

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Power would launch, uh in the last few days of may say by june 1st at the latest, and we would.

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Be up and running and we'd be on the rates that I just described. Okay, so, even though we're not part.

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Of the initial wave of 10 communities, we would be on the same rate through july, and then the rates.

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For all of the members, member cities and towns would reset come come august august 1st there.

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Would be additional communication to residents during that whole time frame, working with the.

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Coalition, they have put together a communication plan for the initial 10 communities that we would.

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Leverage there's going to be a, I think, a very effective website called portsmouth community.

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Power if we were to move forward again, that's chock full of a very good good information.

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um Also on your agenda tonight is approval of some very important governance documents, kind.

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Of the guard rails, if you will for the coalition, a lot of work has gone into the development of.

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Those agreements they've been approved by the board of directors at the coalition.

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um And they've been approved by the member communities, the 10-member communities that are.

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About to go live so the governing bodies of those towns and cities, including cities like nashua, have.

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Approved those documents for for go, live and among the documents one, that's particularly.

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Important and they're all important, but is the cost sharing agreement that describes in great.

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Detail how the cost supply cost operating costs general overhead would be accounted for and and.

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Flowed back to the member communities and you know, through reporting and auditing, it's a very, very.

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Important document, and also within that document, are provisions that would authorize the the.

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um The community power coalition of new hampshire to procure power on for portsmouth. So that's the.

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Document that would authorize procurement to move forward. If, again, the market is supportive, come.

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Around april 11th or 12th and then just to wrap up, I I really do think in our our committee thinks.

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That uh honestly believes that community power and specifically cpcnh, is a real important development.

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For the energy market here in in new hampshire, it brings a lot of benefit, not only the opportunity.

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For lower rates at a minimum competitive rates, some green green rate options, the ability to build.

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Up financial reserves, those reserved are used for a variety of reasons, to keep rates stable for the.

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Operational stability of the coalition and as well as the exciting part downstream to invest.

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In local renewable projects- and it also gives us a voice here in portsmouth- a greater voice in energy.

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Policy here in the state through the coalition, so I think the the the benefits are substantial.

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And at the end, end of the day, a resident in any community, including here in portsmouth.

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Can opt out at any point in time and can opt back in. So that's a nice aspect of the program.

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So again we thank you. I appreciate your support. Thank you, kevin. I'm, going to turn it over to peter.

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Thank you, uh I'm peter samsich, I'm also a member of the portsmouth energy advisory committee and.

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uh Mr mayor and city councilors and city manager, um hb 315 was which was the original bill to enact.

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Community power as an option for municipalities was a bill that I heard about the first time as a.

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Member of the house, science, technology and energy committee, the original bill was very hostile to.

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Municipalities with utilities still controlling all this critical options, fortunately, as strong.

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Public backlash resulted in a work session with statewide advocates, including former state senator.

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Cliff below who all sat at the table to amend that bill and make it a very quick bill. The result was.

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The current community power bill, which is in fact in as law right now, which empowered municipalities.

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Of all stripes to act on the climate change front, including steps to increase renewable.

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Energy generation and usage, as well as to decrease energy demand using energy efficiency devices.

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However, no public entity is forced to act, but is empowered only to do so, even if our state still.

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Continues to lag behind efforts of our neighboring states or even if our state continues denying.

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Obvious worldwide facts that portsmouth has joined the community power coalition of new hampshire is.

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A very positive step both for controlling the energy prices of our residents and to make a.

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Positive impact on our environment, community power will allow portsmouth residents to more.

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Actively choose greener energy sources, as well as new energy demand, reduction processes and devices.

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Few americans are aware of the fact that in the period between 1975 and 2017, the american economy.

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Has reduced its per capita energy use by over 43 percent? How is that done? It was done by utilizing.

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Hundreds of more efficient processes and devices which has now driven down energy demand community.

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Power also opens up opportunities to benefit from the offshore wind, that is, that will be generated.

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In the gulf of maine, which should be scheduled to arrive here in this area in seven to eight years,.

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Portsmouth could benefit both economically and also by utilizing for power purchase agreements.

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To contract for clean renewable energy from an almost local source, future steps for uh cpcnh.

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Could also include contracting for non-fossil fuel-based, heating, oil and transportation, energy.

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As you can see, portsmouth community power is the is only the first step and not the last of.

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A longer positive path into portsmouth's future, and I thank all of you for supporting it. So thank.

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You very much I have copies of this comment here. Thank you very much. Honorable samsich.

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Yeah I just like to thank members of the committee for coming out tonight and speaking to what we.

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Have- and uh I also want to thank kevin charette, who is our representative to cpcnh and has become.

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The vice chair and is very busy spending many of his days meeting with that group.

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And helping them get off the ground, so it's it's our voice from portsmouth in that organization.

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Thank you very much counselor tabor and and thank you both uh and members,.

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Of the committee looking forward to it and saw that indeed, nashua was already.

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Getting 20 lower electricity rates so look forward to joining that sometime shortly.

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um Next up, uh we have uh cj chen artists of the ports of new hampshire, 400th legacy project.

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Sculpture garden, uh the bohango park she's been selected to create the first sculpture for the.

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Ph p h legacy project and I'd like to turn it over to councilor, moreau or counselor cook, to say a few.

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Words and and hopefully convince cj to come speak. I believe we actually have someone in the audience.

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Who is going to come up and introduce her barbara, would you like to come up and introduce seizure.

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I don't want to take her thunder away all right awesome. It's tough to take barbara's, thunder away.

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Hi everyone- this is kind of different, as you're used to hearing me speak about my day, job at pro.

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Portsmouth, but this evening I am barbara masar, chairperson of the sculpture review committee,.

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Which is a subcommittee of the legacy team? At your last meeting, you were able to meet the other.

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Half of our team, which was focused on fundraising and the the part of the team that I'm involved in.

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Because we separated the two functions, fundraising and review were kept separate. I wanted to make.

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Sure you knew who was a part of that team because they worked many hours to do research reading.

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Reference checking zoom meetings and then finally, interviews via zoom. The review committee consisted.

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Of elizabeth farish, she is the chief curator at strawberry bank museum, leah, woods, who's, an.

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Associate professor, who specializes in woodworking and sculpture at unh and also a former member of.

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The new hampshire state council for the arts, lenny mullaney, who many of you know here in portsmouth,.

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As a local artist- and you probably might even know her through her studio at the button factory.

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Someone by the name of nancy carmer, um who uh recently retired from the city.

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Of portsmouth and who was so integral to our process because she has such a wealth.

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Of knowledge about how to do things and follow the proper procedures for selecting public art.

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And last but not least, tom watson, who's, a retired attorney who's very involved in many philanthropic.

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Causes and non-profits, and it was just an amazing team that was put together for this.

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So we went through all of last year ended up in january, selecting our sculpture artist and.

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It was just fantastic to meet her today and her studio manager as well, and so I give you.

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Siege of chen foreign [applause]. Thank you, barbara. Thank you. Everyone, I'm so excited to be here after.

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The month of preparation, we're finally here to kick off the community engagement process of.

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um Endeavor, so I'm cj chen. I am a los angeles-based multimedia artist. I do.

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Apparently, sculpture, painting, installation and public art, so my work is driven my driven by.

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Community engagement process, especially in public art, my goal is to create site-specific timeless.

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Piece that represent and respond to the local communities. You can see my work in public places.

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Like victorian albert museum in london in seattle, seattle airport in north kansas city places like.

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That so I was actually born and raised in shento, a small coastal city in southeast china and.

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I was telling everyone today that when I was doing my research for this project, I was really amazed.

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By how many qualities the two cities, shento and portsmouth share, especially the maritime.

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Culture, which is what inspired me to create my work endeavor, so in this piece I envisioned two.

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Cells dancing together in the wind, in the delicate and balanced manner and on each sale. I incorporate.

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Paper cut to present content related to the port related to the maritime culture of portsmouth.

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And those content will be developed through our community engagement process. So in this.

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Week, while I'm here, I will host talks and workshops and meet with people, and I will.

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Ask them a series of questions related to portsmouth and then their responses would.

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Then be visually translated into the my paper cup final design, and also people will have a chance to.

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Create their own paper cut and then potentially be included in the final cutout designs as well.

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And after this week in uh we, I will also host webinars and online workshops. So people who.

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Didn't get a chance to do it in to meet with me in person. Excuse me we'll have a chance to do.

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It online to explore the concepts and the art of paper cut, so in partnership with pnh 400, which is.

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Amazing, very amazing organization: we developed a website called www dot endeavor for portsmouth.com.

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People can submit their responses, images and paper cut designs through the website, and this site will.

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Be on this process will be for a month and after everything, after the sculpture is installed. The.

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Site will then be transferred to the people with portsmouth as part of the legacy of this project.

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So, in short, endeavor is not just my artistic creation. It's really a collaboration between.

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Me and the people of in of portsmouth this and then I think this, the culmination of.

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This process will truly be the legacy of this project and be our collective contribution to.

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The creative arts and I'm very grateful to be here, I'm very excited and thank you all for.

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Having me here today, and I look forward to working with all of you, thank you. Thank you.

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Thank you very much seizure and look forward to.

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Learn how to do some paper cutting that's exciting, um and I also learned that uh they're going to be.

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Involved with the schools as well so look forward to seeing what my six-year-old comes up with.

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Concert cook. uh Thank you, your honor. I wanted to make sure that the public is aware that there is.

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A public option to participate tomorrow night at the public library in the levinson room at.

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6 30 pm, so, if you're interested in coming and hearing more about the project, please come to.

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The public library tomorrow night thank councilor cook now on to public comment. If you're on zoom.

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Could you please raise your hand? First up is roy hetzel with city on impasse on many items.

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Good evening, roy household 777 middle road unit.

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22. I write that the cities in on in pass on many items, the mcintyre redevelopment.

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We are now at the same position that we were when this console was elected and.

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That many had infringed inferior infringed that the last console were the blame for the.

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For the blame of the mcintyre development I.e the election mr duffy, and the developer redgate.

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And kane of this and this consul now mr duffy was the only public citizen who was forgetting more.

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Legal consoles spend the taxpayers, money and city funds when every other speaker said not to spend.

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Any more on this project, even after red gate kane, were to get the two million dollars from the city.

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The last consul terminated the red gate cane agreement.

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That this consul rescinded and that termination as soon as they got into office, citing legal advice.

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Now, who's at fault does all this fall fall, whose at fault does all this fall on ask miss. I asked.

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Mr duffy, who stated that he he had resources on this project, so redgate cane has never been a.

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Partner on this project, why was the biting binning developer plan rejected when it was closest to the.

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Develop to a developer came that what the majority of the portsmouth citizens wanted to be open. Space.

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Green area and not large buildings at no cost to the city. None of these talks have been made.

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Public so far, just that it's being turned back to the federal historic people to give directions.

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Now decisions are being made on electric power supply us with without any public input, except.

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For tonight that was described to us and the taxpayers have to opt out instead of opting in.

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I can understand it after I talked to peter tonight why no public discussions and inputs what.

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About the elderly, the retired, only that live on only on social security income, minimal power, they.

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Use minimal power on their low because of their low income. Will it help them do they have any say.

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Thank you roy right next up, mark brighton on the topic of ethics.

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Last time I spoke, I started with counselor cook and I went through each of you.

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And uh you weren't here council moreau, but I enumerated you many ethical feelings except.

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For council lombardi, who seems to manage to keep his nose clean now it isn't that.

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City, government or city staff have no ethical constraints, but they are situational at best.

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I mean if you sit on a land use board, any land use board and you vote the way. The city staff.

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Tells you you have no problems, but god forbid, you sit on a land use board and you don't vote the.

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Way they want you to or if you clap at a public hearing it's you know the full resources of the.

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City, legal staff are brought to bear upon you now if you happen to be a chair of an ethics of the.

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Audit committee and you want to start bringing the city away from the audit that they've had.

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For 27 straight years, then, and then there's some bogus accusation of process violations.

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Yeah bogus bogus accusations of pro of uh process violations, then I mean it is katie by the door.

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uh So yeah it's situational at best.

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Okay, I think thank you mark uh next up. um Well, we have zelita, but I see she's on zoom, so we're.

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Going to go through the rest of the speakers, um uh francis cormier, on the topic of hate, is hate.

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The leader we will get to you just as soon as we get through the speakers.

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uh Last april I wrote a oh francis call me a melbourne street.

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um Last april I wrote an editor to the left, an edit editorial to the portsmouth.

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Herald in response to a political cartoon that showed a picture of governor abbott of texas.

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Dressed up like adolf hitler and wearing an arm being with a sloth sticker on it,.

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How many magazines magazine covers? Have you seen with pictures of conservative.

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Politicians like trump and governor abbott with swastik is plastid on them and, for example,.

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Hollywood celebrities, like kathy griffin holding a severed head dripping with blood of donald trump.

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Haters hate and what goes around comes around about a month ago, someone went around portsmouth.

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Plastering swa stickers at people that he or she hated it's the same difference. What's.

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The difference hate us hate whether it comes from the political left or the political right.

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Thank you, francis next up, esther kennedy and the topic of rules.

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Esther kennedy 41 pickerina. So when I looked at your platforms again, you all ran on transparency.

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Last, a week ago, saturday, we came, and we came, some of us came early.

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There is an rsa folks to say that if you're going to go in non-public, you.

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Have to hold a public meeting first and then vote to go in non-public.

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You didn't even love the public in the building. It said on the sign. We have the pictures.

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Because we were all perplexed, the public will not be allowed in until 3 45.. That's against the rules.

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Then we go into the meeting and this isn't an rsa, but is your council rules to have public comment.

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Now, mr counselor blalock and councilor cook a year ago november, you had no problem coming in here.

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And we could tell you're agitated, we could tell you were angry.

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But you have the opportunity to have public comment before a vote was taken.

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You did not like the way we were going to go, but you have that opportunity.

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On saturday, at a council meeting, I did not have an opportunity to give public comment.

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Now you might not like what we were going to say, but last I learned new. We were in a free world.

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And we could at least give an opportunity have an opportunity to give public comment.

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That's a poly we showed up here at four o'clock. We know that the notice got put up pretty quickly.

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The day before- and we showed up here four o'clock to listen to you and take in what you had to say.

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I'm appalled that you didn't follow your own rules and you didn't follow the rsa.

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And say whatever you want about our council.

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Previous to you, but the one thing we allowed is people like counselor cook and councilor.

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Billelock to stand up here and be very agitated, angry and upset and tell us what they thought.

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I was not allowed that and neither was any one of the other citizens. I think the paper.

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Said 40 we counted 52.. We're allowed that so I'm hoping moving forward. You can stand transparent.

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And you can stand by the rules and the laws of the land and that you can have.

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Meetings that are appropriate and that have public comment. Thank you. Thank you. Esther.

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Next up peter huda on the topic of mcintyre and community power,.

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Good evening, future huda, 280 south street.

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At the meeting on march 11th, that was the most transparency we have seen on the mcintyre to date.

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So from that, I would like to ask some questions since I learned a lot.

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From that meeting, my first question: please identify the members of the referred to mcintyre.

O

Negotiating team that represent the taxpayers of portsmouth at the negotiating table should not be.

O

Confidential they're representing the resident support smith. I think we have a right to know.

O

Two in the settlement agreement, the city has agreed to be a contributing partner. That was.

O

Stated what is the percent of the costs that you have committed the residence and.

O

Taxpayers of portsmouth to fund should not be confidential, should be public information.

O

Three, how are you going to fund or pay for this percentage of costs.

O

From the information that was given to us on saturday, the city right now cannot do revenue.

O

Bonds because they won't give us any revenue, so I would ask- and this is the second request for this.

O

Did you suspend the rules and let us the taxpayers of portsmouth.

O

Know what's going on and know what the status is of your meeting with the gsa on the 27th 27th 28th.

O

Next thing I want to talk to you about is the um the portsmouth community power.

O

Portsmouth community power and the community power is um has been authorized by rsa 53e.

O

The first sentence in that rsa says any municipality or county may aggregate.

O

Retail electric power for customers within its boundaries, who consent to being included in this.

O

Aggregation plan, [music] so we've heard that our eap energy aggregation plan has been submitted.

O

The public utilities has 60 days to respond to this.

O

Poor, the rsa the aggregation program until it receives this notification.

O

That has been approved cannot fulfill the requirements of part three and four.

O

Of the public utility of the of the rsa, so I guess I would ask tonight: council tabor.

O

Why are the member contracts and cost data sharing agreement being brought before the council.

O

Before the eap agreement has even been authorized before, you have even sent any mailings out to.

O

The retail customers and before anybody has given any kind of consent with public hearings.

A

Thank you peter. Thank you. Next up peter officer on the topic of sherburne.

P

Good evening council, peter officer, 627 colonial drive.

P

um I just want to follow up on the promise that you, mr mayor, made at the january 31st.

P

Sherbury neighborhood meeting where you and other members of council, along with craig welch of the.

P

Pha held a meeting at the sherburne school to discuss their plans. The pha's plans to develop.

P

And build on one of the last completely dry, non-wetland parcels of portsmouth.

P

At the meeting mayor, mclachron promised that the questions asked during the meeting would be made.

P

Available to the public via the city's website, members of the public who attended that meeting.

P

And saw video and audio recording equipment took the mirror on his word under the guise that the.

P

Recording equipment was from the city we later found out that that recording equipment came.

P

From the pha and craig welch, who plans to use that footage for a documentary that they are producing.

P

Mr mayor, there is still nothing on the city website. No answers, no comments, nothing.

P

As a voter of yours, this troubles me deeply. I want to be able to trust you and take you.

P

At your word, but as my dad always said, actions speak louder than words. Will you make the request.

P

Of the pha to share the video footage of that meeting with the city, so the general public who.

P

Were not able to attend or be there that night can also hear the responses that were given.

P

Secondly, I want to address the land use committee and specifically, the meeting that took place on.

P

The 10th with a land use committee who had been tasked with providing to council a report of all.

P

The available land, in addition to the sherburne school that could potentially be used for housing.

P

The report that was discussed at that meeting was a was an okay start, but I think more due.

P

Diligence should be done. I don't think an excel spreadsheet that simply lists not all, as we found.

P

Out at the meeting, but some of the available land meets the directive that was given by the council.

P

I was glad to see that the lower parking lot here at city city hall that a bus south street was.

P

Included on that list, but only after input from the non-council members of the committee spoke up.

P

Why did that lot or the community campus not make the original cut.

P

I don't know, but I'm glad to see that at least the lower lot. That again is right. Here is on.

P

That list now I for one, think that would make an almost perfect spot for workforce housing.

P

Not only because it's walking distance to town, but it's also close to coast bus stops. It's also.

P

um Also because at the neighborhood meeting that took place at the sherman school, craig.

P

Welsh, the executive director of the pha was asked if he would support a development on.

P

South street the same neighborhood he lives in, to which he I quote, said you're. Damn right. I would.

P

Either way more research is needed, certainly more can be done than to just simply than just simply.

P

Performing a google map search and calling it a day, especially when it was made clear that every.

P

Option had not been taken into account, which is why I was encouraged by the non-council members of.

P

The committee that pushed back and said they will be delivering the first draft that that said by.

P

Delivering that first draft to the council would only be a political football or scene as that.

P

I also think that it's important to remember that portsmouth is already in a pinch for developable.

P

Not a development open, non-wetland areas. I heard the last council meeting that there's need for.

P

Rec fields and potentially a hockey rink and as a parent, I agree that we have a need for more.

P

Rec areas as a father of girls, I found it also incredibly sexist that the only that you're only.

P

Willing to develop a girls softball field at the sherburne school, when you're not willing to take.

P

Into account any of the boys rec fields, I think we should be cautious also about just giving land.

P

Away to the pha again a private developer, who is already portsmouth's largest landowner. I think.

P

It might be more appropriate to ask them hey. You. Guys are portsmouth's largest landowner. Why don't.

P

You think about the properties you already have so before you guys send uh you know or try to.

P

Throw a political football hail mary, for whatever your agendas might be. Why don't you then go back.

P

To them and ask hey, can you guys use what you already have and can we use the land the the.

P

Little amount that we have thank you for better usage. I appreciate it. I I hope you appreciate it.

P

Next up sue polidora with a couple of points.

Q

Hi good evening sue, polydora, 245 middle street, and I just would like to like, I said a couple.

Q

Of points number one after that meeting, there was hell on a saturday I mean that was a very.

Q

Unusual meeting and the following headlines on the portsmouth herald regarding the mcintyre project.

Q

I see that that discussion is almost at the end of the agenda tonight and I would like to ask and.

Q

Request that the council will suspend the rules and move that discussion further up, like maybe.

Q

After the public comments, so we can get this out of the way people have questions, they'll be able.

Q

To answer them, rather than being so tired at the end of the evening that nobody wants to uh is here.

Q

Or want to make a comment, the other comment I want I would like to make- and I was here.

Q

For that meeting as well- and I was surprised that some of the um some of the comments that I heard.

Q

Where a city attorney make because, as you know, I have done purchasing, I have done some contracting.

Q

In my career, and I cannot fathom why a contract would be signed not allowing the city we used to.

Q

Call this uh an escape clause when we did contrast or some contracts or some sort of ramp of off just.

Q

In case that things went away, and you needed to dissolve a partnership that you have with.

Q

Somebody else, all of the time you have to make sure that, when you're working a contract, you.

Q

Have the best interest of your cost of your boss of your company in mind when you go into this.

Q

Agreement, it cannot be just whatever is good for the other side. Looking at the agreement, it almost.

Q

Looks to me like someone from suburb square was the one that wrote it and that we just.

Q

Agree to whatever whatever they said, rather than carding out an option that will give us an out.

Q

All of that needed to be put on the caveat or the final approval from the national park.

Q

Service, they don't approve it. Everything goes away. Both parties just go back to the beginning,.

Q

That's one of the things that should have been in this agreement. I didn't think it was.

Q

I still would like to know why I wasn't this is uh negotiating one-on-one, so I would like to know if.

Q

That changing the rules and talking about mcintyre after public comments is possible. We would really.

Q

Appreciate it, thank you. Thank you. Sue next up, liza hewitt on the topic of community power.

R

Good evening, liza hewitt 726 middle road.

R

It sounds this evening, like the signing of this community power contract is a foregone conclusion.

R

However, I worry about the nine of you making a decision to change the electric service of 22.

R

000 people- I know there have been some there's- been some community outreach, but no public.

R

Hearing in front of the nine of you no referendum by vote, just the nine of you making this decision.

R

I would like to know legally who, from the city has reviewed the community power contract.

R

Your review of contracts recently such as the mcintyre contract, has not gone well for the.

R

Residents, why would we think this contract will be any better? Residents should be allowed to.

R

Opt in by all means opt-in, but I don't think the nine of you should vote to change. 22 000 people's.

R

Power service and force them to opt out. Thank you. Thank you. Liza. Next, on zoom, we have zelita morgan.

A

On the south mill pond and other yeah hi, this is elita uh richards, ave and.

S

um um I want to talk briefly about the state of the um the bad state of south mill pond park round.

S

uh In the area, that's connected around the walk away between parrot all the way through rocklin.

S

It seems that, on a daily basis, some type of truck is driving, taking that little little path passage.

S

And driving all the way up to the middle of the two courts- and this is has really destroyed- has.

S

Created an incredible uh big potholes, uh the threads of the the of the wheels and the tires.

S

It's really deplorable, we, we have a very beautiful park and I don't know if this is a city truck.

S

And if it's not a city truck that is servicing, uh because you can service.

S

The the ports by parking at the the the the the south mill pond parking spot right parking lot.

S

um But if it's not, then maybe we can have our police department look at the.

S

um The security video from the middle school because it's right there and provide some insight.

S

And see how we can stop this from happening. So first, I think if the city administration can.

S

Look into it what is going on if anything around the city and if not take an action.

S

um And report back to us, that would be great. um The other um topic that I wanted to ask is, I think,.

S

It's in a matter of resonance communication with the council. I have spoken about this prior and.

S

Somehow, somewhere, our communications with counselors are being also sent to uh emails.

S

Within the city administration, I have a look back. This was not a practice when I was a city council.

S

Was not approved by us and I have not found any approval from past city councilors to making a.

S

Change in that, however, I really think there is a benefit on having the sediment a link on the page.

S

To send an email to the city manager, and I also wish you to have a link to send an email to our.

S

Planning director and to the facilities manager, you know, I think, that those are valid things but.

S

We should decide who to send it to it, shouldn't be a decision made by somewhere else behind the.

S

Scenes without approval, so I really would like to ask that you take action as our council to number.

S

One stop that from happening, remove any any non-city council names or addresses from that.

S

Communication request that a link is provided on the city website to the city manager and.

S

Also that your email addresses do not have any forward, or you know some other uh programming.

S

Behind that would land any correspondence sent to you to be automatically sent and driven to.

S

Other others within the city administration. Again, I think it's just a matter of saying that.

S

um Nice thought, but I think at the end we should be the ones making that decision.

S

Thank you so much. Thank you. Zelita next up, uh honorable jackie kelly, pitts.

T

I really don't have much to say I was just didn't think I had my hand raised. I was just uh listening.

T

To the community power discussion- and I have a lot of questions but I'll- let that lie have a good.

T

Evening you too, thank you, jackie, that's good! All right! uh That is it for public comment. I'd wait! A.

A

Motion to move up the city, manager's informational item on the mcintyre so move. Second, all in favor.

U

Thank you, your honor, to give an update to the public. We remain at an impasse with.

U

Our development partner, we continue to communicate with our development partner in an attempt to move.

U

Beyond the impasse, and we continue to collect and analyze pertinent data generated by our.

U

Two outside consultants, coming in rkg to answer a question: raise the public comment, the negotiation.

U

Team consists of myself and city attorney moral and any city staff that seem appropriate. It's.

U

Primarily susan and myself, there has been no commitment of funding for the project amount as.

U

It is not defined in the settlement agreement and there's been no commitment made and will not be.

U

Made before a public hearing and some type of work session, where we can, we can hear from the public.

U

We uh we had a check in with the general services administration on march 13th. We.

U

Apprised them of the impasse they thanked us for the information and asked us for a.

U

Copy of the vote taken, which we provided and our next check-in with them, will be on march.

U

31St and I believe the city attorney wants to add a couple of points if she may come there.

V

Thank you um just to clarify a couple of points about um our impasse. Our impasse involves.

V

um The development agreement which in 2019 was signed by both parties and the previous plan and.

V

In that development agreement it had termination rights, as you said, um often called outs or.

V

Off-Ramps that was signed by the developer and the city when the new project after the settlement.

V

Agreement was signed in april of last year. The new project needed a new development agreement.

V

Whatever expectation that those termination rights would be in that development agreement.

V

However, the developer has not signed a version of the development agreement.

V

With those termination rights in it, and that is why one of the reasons why we are at an impasse.

A

Any questions from the council councilor denton just for clarification. There.

W

Hasn't been any agreement signed by the development partner, correct, correct, okay,.

X

And is it true that we continue to try to negotiate and work in good faith and try to move.

X

Forward that's interested best in the city, that's correct. We still have weekly meetings.

U

And- and that is the posture the city is taking any other questions in the council thanks city.

A

Manager uh next up is the public hearing and vote on ordinances and or resolutions.

A

The first reading of ordinance amending chapter 10 accessory dwelling unit use regulations, especially.

A

Dwelling units site development standards in terms of general applicability, add weight of.

A

Motion to pass first reading and schedule a public hearing and second reading at the april.

A

3Rd 2023 city council meeting so moved. Second, any discussion council moreau um I'll just speak.

G

Briefly to it, uh we did spend a lot of time at the planning board and made some further changes to.

G

um This we outlined a little bit more clear about the administrative approval process we also put in.

G

A waiver for the parking requirement, um and then there was also some changes as to where things.

G

Would be administratively approved, so hopefully everyone can take a look at it and we can have.

G

A public hearing and hear what the public says next next month, yeah that is next month.

A

Council burke and counselor bagley thank you um and I just want to thank council moreau and.

X

The planning board for their work on this. I did notice a couple changes and I agree.

X

um But yeah I just want to thank them for their work, councilman yeah. Thank you.

Y

um Echo those thoughts I I thought um some improvements were made at the planning level.

Y

However, I do think that we could make a few more adjustments to make this. You know 80s.

Y

Adu is even more possible to build in the city, so I'll bring those forward at the next meeting.

A

And parliamentary inquiry we will be able to bring amendments forward at the second.

A

Reading, as I understand it, yes all right um and that will be I'd- ask any amendments that.

A

Are planned uh for that to be in the council packet before the discussion, if possible, to.

A

Give those in the public the most amount of time to discuss and speak to those amendments.

A

All right, all in favor, aye aye any opposed. Oh did were you going to say something: okay, all right.

A

Oh, thank you councilor cook. Thank you, your honor. um This wasn't in relation to the vote. I was just.

J

Making sure that that was clear, I was going to ask to suspend the rules and bring forward.

J

Them forward item 15 b2, because we have someone on zoom who's joining us. um I don't want her to sit.

J

There all night, oh okay, changes to the ordinance for the cemetery party, all in favor aye, any post.

A

So we have a this would uh a way to sample motion to schedule. First reading of the.

A

Ordinance change at the april 3rd 2023 city council meeting, and this is changes.

A

To the cemetery committee ordinance so moved. Second, any discussion on this councilor cook.

J

Runner, uh I am bringing this forward from uh the governance committee. We were asked to review.

J

um Proposed changes to the cemetery committee, ordinance from the cemetery committee chair and.

J

We have her available for us tonight on zoom to speak to this. If there are any questions.

J

We also have the deputy city manager, deputy city attorney suzanne woodland here as well, who serves.

J

As the liaison for the cemetery committee um there any questions on this policy councilman.

G

I'm just of the assumption that we probably in bringing down the numbers, is because we.

G

Don't have those spots actually filled on cemetery committee? um Yes, that's actually.

J

Accurate, that was the presentation we received at the governance committee- is that um they actually.

J

If the cemetery committee are having difficulties creating quorum and reaching quorum because of.

J

The large number of members and not having enough members to fulfill that so they've requested that.

J

They change the number of members. They've also come to us with a request that we stagger their.

J

Membership terms, because currently the way the ordinance is written all their all their terms.

J

Expire at the end of this council term and would have to be reappointed at the beginning of a new.

J

Council, so the goal that is to create some stagger, thank you and I believe we do have.

A

A sister here sue would you like to say anything.

Z

Yes, um I well first of all I'd like to thank everybody from the city council and.

Z

The city departments, um for you know creating this committee last uh well almost two years ago um and.

Z

I have a or I should say we are a really dedicated group. Unfortunately, a lot of them work and.

Z

And travel with their work, like many of you do so oftentimes we may have eight people at our meeting.

Z

However, we may only have the three in person and and the restaurants soon, for whatever reasons so.

Z

um I'm hoping that um decreasing, the numbers will be able to get more people there and that way.

Z

um We can, you know, have our our zoom people included in in some of our voting going forward.

Z

um We we care, we just can't seem to get it together. You know in the same place at the.

Z

Same time at this point, as I think a lot of other groups at this time, so it would be very beneficial.

Z

If we could decrease our numbers, so our quorum number could be in person. Could we could reach.

Z

It more often so well, so it's certainly clear that you that you care and thank you for all.

A

The hard work uh thanks for uh councilor cook, for bringing this forward, um provided this passes.

A

First reading and and gets a second, I imagine we could go through that pretty quickly, but um all.

A

In favor of uh moving uh this to first reading, any opposed, thank you, counselor cook, all right.

A

No city manager action items uh this evening. Next up is the consent agenda. I had moved to adopt.

A

I'd wait: a motion to adopt the consent agenda so moved. Second, all in favor aye any opposed.

A

um Next up, uh a sample motion is way to sample motion to accept.

A

Email correspondence and place on file so moved.

A

All in favor aye aye any opposed next up. um There is a letter from courtney, perkins prescott park.

A

Arts festival requesting an exemption to the city prescott park, arts festival, lease agreement to.

A

Add a special tribute performance outside of the season celebrating seminal musicians in.

A

Portsmouth and musical history, the shaw brothers on saturday uh saturday september, 11 2023, with.

A

A rain date of saturday or sunday september, 12 2023 at weighed uh motion to approve, still moved.

U

Second, we have a correction, your honor yeah, the um dates are actually september 9th and.

G

10Th because the 11th is a monday, but I'd also just like to point out um that that's also the.

G

Weekend of the air show, so there's going to be a lot going on in the city that weekend. I believe.

G

There's something else going on at strawberry bank as well on that saturday. So pretty busy.

A

Summer, it's a pretty busy weekend. I hope the shaw brothers can incorporate a couple of uh turbo jets.

A

um But I would have a friendly amendment to the 9th and 10th of uh september uh for the uh concert.

A

Date, yep in your honor I'll abstain on this as chair of the arts festival board, all in favor.

A

Aye any opposed any abstentions. One all right next up is a a letter from robert mcgigan of.

A

Rolling thunder requesting uh establishment of a pow m.I.a chair of honor program in portsmouth, I'd.

A

Wait: a motion to the city manager with authority to act some loved second. Is there any discussion.

A

First, thank you honor for bringing up tonight being the 20th anniversary of the launch of the.

W

Invasion of iraq, um the one military acronym that still haunts me to this day is dust. One, not many.

W

People are familiar with, it stands for uh duty, status, whereabouts, unknown and essentially it's.

W

The equivalent of a soldier marine airman being missing, and when I was in baghdad, we were all.

W

Issued personal locator beacons just given the reality of being advisors to a foreign military.

W

And it was october 26 2006, where uh dust one went out across the radio and we proceeded to lock down.

W

The capital city of over 5 million people and search every trunk of each vehicle trying to.

W

Exit the city and it took over five years before it was confirmed that the soldier was killed. That.

W

The dust home was four and the remains were returned to the family so having a mia pow.

W

Chair would mean a lot to many veterans, especially to families of veterans who never.

W

Who never knew what happened to them and, as commander of the vfw, I would gladly work.

W

With the city on making what happen, thank you council, denver. Any other comments, questions.

A

All in favor aye any opposed any abstentions.

A

Under my name, uh appointments to be considered that it will bring forth at the next meeting.

A

This is ernest carrier as an appointment as an alternative to the planning board daniel main a.

A

Reappointment to the portsmouth housing authority, jackie kelly, pitts reappointment to the rec board.

A

Richard duffy, richard duddy and lauren kranz also reappointment to the rec board jessica, blasco.

A

Appointment to the blue ribbon sustainability committee, john patrick cardi, appointment to.

A

The blue urban sustainability committee, jeffrey maxman appointment as a regular member there's.

A

Currently, an alternate to the zoning board of adjustment ml geffert appointment as an alternate.

A

To the zoning board of adjustment and jody record appointment as an alternate to the zoning board of.

A

Adjustment, please, if anybody has any questions or comments on these applications, please reach.

A

Out to me and the applications are in the packet and will be brought forth for a vote next week.

A

On to counselor tabor thanks mayor, um I would propose a motion that the city council hereby.

F

Authorizes the city manager to enter into the cost, sharing agreement and member services.

F

Contract for the complete service bundle with the community power coalition of new hampshire, cpcnh.

F

With city manager conard as the authorized officer and with elections on page 19 of.

F

The agreement being yes and be it further move that the portsmouth city council hereby approved.

F

Cpcnh's data security and privacy, energy and portfolio risk management rates and.

F

Financial reserves policies as presented and those are second all in your packet.

F

um I think kevin charette gave us a very good summary. It's exciting to me that residents.

F

Under this plan could buy a hundred percent renewable power for less than their spending.

F

Right now for dirty fossil fuel-based power with eversource, and it could be a game changer in how.

F

Our residents can vote with their utility bill to make us a more sustainable city.

F

um Question for the city attorney have had a chance to review these documents from the city's.

F

Liabilities, the legal department reviewed all these documents and we also consulted.

V

With the other communities who have approved these documents and with their legal staff and.

V

um So we found these to be appropriate great, okay, um and I know that there's a concerns about.

F

The opt-in and opt out, I think, as kevin said, we'll give residents numerous ways.

F

If they don't want to obtain the savings or buy the greener energy that they could stay with ever.

F

Source and I'd also point out that, right now the utility doesn't ask them whether they want to stay.

F

With the utility rates they're automatically enrolled every six months, so if we become the.

F

Default at least a resident can come to us at the city council and through our representative.

F

On cpcnh, we can make changes in the program. I don't think anyone who would want to make.

F

Changes in the program will get very far going to the eversource building, wherever that is, and.

F

Quite honestly, I think we have the opportunity here to do a lot of good.

F

For our residents and the opt-in is very important to making that work.

F

So um the energy committee reviewed we spent a lot of time learning about energy portfolio management.

F

um And we had very smart people from the industry on that committee.

F

And our conclusion was, this is new, it is a startup, there are risks, but the benefits.

F

Substantially outweigh the risks and the risks are low because any resident can exit at any time.

F

It's it's not like the hotel, california, you can leave anytime. You want.

F

And the city can exit at any time it wants and in either case the utility once you've.

F

Signed up for their delivery of power as an account, they have to deliver you power so.

F

There are off ramps if there are any problems and we feel the risks are quite low because of that.

F

And the benefits frankly are better than we expected as we're seeing with all the cities.

F

And towns, so I didn't want to address that counselor tabor counselor done the.

W

Intergovernmental panel on climate change released yet another report just today, which stressed the.

W

Urgency of action for just a livable planet and granted we're not the u.n, but what we can control.

W

Is whether or not residents have this option of clean energy? So it's a small step, but it would be.

W

A big step in what residents could do to obtain a livable future. Thank you. Council, denton cancer.

Y

Badly yeah, I think your honor. I just want to take a moment to to thank councilor tabor.

Y

For really leading this, as well as counselor den and cook and former council leaves and being of.

Y

Course, the whole um community power group who's done all this expensive work, which brings me to.

Y

My second point, because it has been raised a few times that you know- maybe it's not right.

Y

To opt uh citizens into this, um what I would push back is we're we're a city of 22 000.

Y

The last election 6099 people voted for the city council and, I would say, a lot of people um look at.

Y

The city council maybe like as a offensive lineman in football, the less they hear from us, the better.

Y

Things are going, they usually don't hear about us when we make a mistake- and I think most residents.

Y

When they have a chance to save substantial money on their electric bill, want the city council to go.

Y

Forward and make that happen and we're doing that in the best possible way. One of the challenges.

Y

With the different community or the different power options that you have out there, other.

Y

Than eversources, if you're not an expert, they can be confusing, and you don't know which one to sign.

Y

Up for so we've had a group of volunteers take a really deep dive. A really good look find out.

Y

What the best possible power provider is for our community in almost all cases and that's why we're.

Y

Moving forward potentially and having everybody sign up for it, because we've looked at all the.

Y

Options extensively and- and this is overwhelmingly what's best for our residents, so it would be a.

Y

Their election of duty for us not to provide this, these great advantages for our residents.

A

Thank you. um You know um reiterate council bagley's comments. um I want.

X

To thank everyone on the hard work they've done. um The energy advisory committee, councilor tabor.

X

um But I think it's a great opportunity to save some of our residents money to.

X

Give them an opportunity to save some money if some people are upset that we.

X

Are offering them in and we're going to save them some money, I'm okay with them.

X

Being mad at me for saving some money and they can opt out whenever they want.

X

um And as kevin schwart said, they could up there's going to be a mailer that goes out 30 days before.

X

And then there'll be another in-person session 15 days before so there'll be lots of opportunity.

X

To inform people and give them a chance to opt out, so they hopefully aren't blindsided by this.

A

ah Thank you, your honor. um I just first want to say that it is a great honor of mine to.

J

Sit on this committee with counselor tabor to see all the work that he's.

J

Put in and to see all the work that this committee has put in to get to this stage.

J

um We are very fortunate in the city of portsmouth to have great expertise on the committee to get.

J

Fantastic advice- and we have been through meeting after meeting every month for since I started on.

J

The council discussing moving to this point where we have invited people to come and talk to the.

J

Committee, these are publicly noticed meetings. We had two public hearings to discuss this with the.

J

Public and we brought in members of the public and and discussed community power, then we also.

J

Had a work session of the council, we had another a session of the council to discuss the energy.

J

Aggregation plan and now we're at this final stage of council discussion and the final approvals.

J

For the legal documents to to give the city manager the authority to go ahead and move.

J

Forward, if, if everything works out on april 11th, and that's what uh kevin charette was here to.

J

Explain to us all tonight we still have one final opportunity to opt out if there are any challenges.

J

For uh by april 11th, but we would then be joining the coalition and we would be joining the second.

J

Half of the first wave community, so we have 10 going ahead of ahead of us first. So I think that's.

J

Always for good to remember is that we're not the first ones. There will be a billing cycle ahead of.

J

Us there will be a process ahead of us and we are joining this second part of the first wave.

J

Cities by agreeing to these agreements tonight and then giving them the final. Yes, on april.

J

11 to 12., I hope that you all will support this tonight. I think councilor cook any.

A

Other comments, any other questions. I will be supporting this as well. I think that there is.

A

We're moving from one opt-out program to another opt-out program, which is reducing.

A

The cost by 22 percent at the moment and we'll have plenty advanced warning.

A

On what the next rates will be, and the worst that can happen is the city could.

A

Pull the plug and decide on folks, you know if this breaks within or the month.

G

um um I know, and I read so much that it gets confusing after a while, but are we we're.

G

Starting with the basic the granite basic plan, so that everyone can then opt up if.

G

They want to is that, where we're starting, that that's uh where we are right now, I think it's.

F

Worth discussion, maybe at the april meeting okay, because the rates are so favorable.

F

That people could go from 28 to 33 cents or even 50 cents uh or 50. I'm sorry, 33 renewable.

F

um For only a penny more so that's something we could. uh Maybe our energy committee will give.

F

You a recommendation, but as it stands now we would go with the granite basic okay. Thank you.

A

And I think there is, um there was one speaker who stated that: how can the nine of us decide.

A

uh For 23 000 people and um I'd like to address that, because I think it speaks to.

A

A lot in portsmouth there's we just had town meeting day, of which we are not a town. uh We.

A

Have a town feel when I walk around the north mill pond? I know a lot of folks. uh It feels like a town.

A

But we are a city in the form of government that we have as a city as a representative democracy.

A

Where we have nine elected officials that make decisions like this uh in the financial and.

A

Fiduciial interests of the city of fort smith on a fairly regular basis. And it's because there are.

A

A lot of decisions that come before us, it's our responsibility to look at them and act and not put.

A

To a public referendum, uh what we believe is in the best interests of the city, and I believe that.

A

This is in the best interest of the city, not only for the dollars and cents, which I love, uh because.

A

I feel like in order for us to change habits, the easiest way is to change prices, and if we can.

A

Create an incentive, that's going to change prices, and hopefully it leads to more investment in that.

A

Space, but it's also what this has the potential to be, and I think it is what was intended with.

A

The deregulation of the energy energy industry in new hampshire at the beginning, nobody came in.

A

Nobody came in to to offer any lower rates that were not confused or uh complicated, because the.

A

Very definition of utility is it's, provided uh the government tends to provide these things. It is a.

A

Utility and to put it to the open market failed in new hampshire and it failed dramatically compared.

A

To the rest of our state, because of the inaction in concord and the fact that we get to right that.

A

Wrong on the local level and get to save money for taxpayers is a no-brainer for us to support this.

A

And so I will gladly support this and look forward to working with the energy advisory committee in.

A

Order to make sure that we are delivering the best for portsmouth all in favor aye aye, any opposed.

A

Next up uh counselor cook on your uh or the city, not your the city, council donation policy,.

A

um Figured away, thank you, your honor um tonight I moved to bring forward the draft.

J

Donation policy passed by the governance committee included in your city council.

J

Packet for action at the city council meeting of april 3rd 2023., some moved- I mean second.

AA

And I I guess I should introduce this by saying um that the governance committee has been working.

J

On a donation policy since um last year in the fall, uh mostly because of direction and request.

J

Here at the council level to look at donations and how we handle donations as a city, we didn't have.

J

An overarching donation policy, and um so we had to start with uh drafting a donation policy and.

J

We have been very fortunate that we had a lot of support from the deputy city manager, deputy.

J

City attorney suzanne woodland and working on researching donation policies across communities.

J

And and comparing those donation policies first then providing input in the governance committee.

J

What we were looking for and then we went back out to all of our departments and gathered.

J

Information from the police department, the fire department, the library board of trustees and the.

J

School departments to find out what their policies look like to make sure that we're.

J

Not creating conflicts, internal conflicts and to make sure that we're consistent across the board.

J

At the city level, so tonight what I'm asking is for you to review.

J

um The donations policy that we finally passed at the governance level after several.

J

um Reviews and move it forward for the next meeting to take action at the next meeting and.

J

The reason I'm doing that tonight, rather than just asking you to take action, I think it's important.

J

For everyone to see it twice, because it's quite an extensive policy in versus just on a clarity.

A

Level versus an ordinance change, since this is a city council policy. If we were to vote on it.

A

Tonight it would become policy, and so by putting it for action at the next council meeting, it sort.

A

Of gives that first reading second reading, even though there's not for the public consumption of.

A

This thank you. Yes, council lombardi. Yes, um I would reiterate we did spend a lot of time on this and.

AA

We had went through a number of edits and thank you also to deputy city managers, city attorney.

AA

um The last time, the last few edits were so minor um because they were basically.

AA

Grammatical sometimes- and so it was really reviewed very thoroughly and I think it's ready.

AA

For the city council to take a look at and move on, thank you, casa, lombardi. Any other discussion.

A

Counselor, I just had one question um and I want to thank all the work that's been done on this. This.

X

Is awesome, I'm all for a encouraging donations and making it the process as easy as possible.

X

And understandable as possible, um I have a question this might be for the city attorney.

X

Because I've had other members of our community asked to donate money, but they really wanted.

X

To donate to a 501, 3c and I've heard of towns in like massachusetts having their own 501 3c,.

X

um I didn't know if this was, um and you know you can get back to me on this question.

AB

But no, I just had that expressed by potential donors.

AB

So the city of portsmouth is not a 5013c, however, we are generally considered tax exempt, so it is.

AB

A distinction that matters under the irs code, but often not to the individual taxpayer in terms of.

AB

Your contributions to an entity such as the city of portsmouth.

AB

But it is a different okay, so we're a different animal yeah yeah yeah. So they would still. I mean.

X

It's their donations are tax, write off their donation from their taxes, so one of the things.

AB

That we've talked about um in-house is coming up with a form letter and what we generally.

AB

Do is try and say you should seek your own tax advice, but we are a tax-exempt organization, a.

AB

Municipality so there's like a different uh sort of magic language that we fall under.

AB

um But we generally always put the and check with your own yeah yeah.

AB

um Accountant but we're working on a form letter actually so that there's consistency.

AB

Across the departments, thank you yeah. I just want to ensure that the donor that they would.

X

Feel as comfortable as possible, and then they would more likely donate. Thank you. Councilman.

G

um Just to help explain it's a little bit why the portsmouth new hampshire 400 formed a 501c3.

G

Was so those donations could go directly and they could be taxed deductible for the donors of that.

A

Yeah. Thank you. um Thank you to the committee for putting this board. I think it's really good.

Y

um I do have a question, I don't know the answer to this, but I'll float it out there. I believe.

Y

Donations up to a hundred dollars can kind of just be approved by the city manager and what.

Y

I think that's probably a reasonable number for now. um You know this will probably be in place.

Y

For say the next 10 years and 100 unfortunately does not go quite as far as it used to be so for.

Y

Instance, what I'm thinking of is, if a city, employee or board member, if there was like a.

Y

Conference that they got invited to attend to and the conference fees were like 110 dollars.

Y

Is does, would they be able to accept that or would it have to go through council first to.

Y

Be accepted kind of thing, or does that kind of tie our hands a little bit for that type of scenario?.

S

Well, I would imagine if they went and they and it wasn't accepted, they would.

A

Come out of the funds right of the general funds, we'd have to pay for it or suzanne.

A

Sorry, that's a complicated one. I just thought of it tonight.

AB

I'm not, I want to clarify what you've you've outlined for a scenario which is.

AB

You have a third party entity offering a free invite to a particular event. Now.

AB

If it's for a business purpose, um you know it would depend on whether that would fall under.

AB

Under that, but typically you have a section of the uh chapter, one that deals with conflict of.

AB

Interest sort of individual gifts, so you know uh someone offers an employee, for example, an.

AB

Invitation to a baseball game and the value of that ticket is more than a hundred dollars.

AB

So you're under article one chapter one, I should say of your city ordinances, that's a gift to the.

AB

Employee that would have to be rejected, declined. So in that scenario it's falling under it's just.

AB

A a gift to an individual and that's governed by your ordinance, which is kind of the next.

AB

Task that the governance committee is going to be looking at, which is that conflict of interest.

AB

um I think, if you're talking about some I'm trying to think special event that maybe I don't.

AB

Know senior staff or are invited to for a business like say there was a. um You know like a planning.

Y

Person who who's well known and writes books, and there was a conference in boston or portland and.

Y

They said you know we'd like to see the portsmouth ascended designee, but the fee was 125 like is that.

AB

uh Well, the the departments actually budget for some small amount of you know, depending on the.

AB

Department and the need to go to conferences now, certainly if the organization wanted to.

AB

Make a free ticket available, then yeah I would go through. It would be considered a donation.

AB

So if it were more than a hundred dollars and in value than it would go through this process,.

AB

In my view, thank you. Any other discussion motion is for action at the next meeting. All in favor.

E

Aye any opposed all right uh city manager, you have another informational item. I do your honor thank.

U

You last week I saw my first full board meeting as a member and a director of the piece development.

U

Board of directors, I sit on a total of five ad hoc advisory committees, two of which I've already.

U

Met port committee and golf committee, I also sit on audit transportation management and the legal.

U

Bill review committee items of note from the last meeting include the announcement of a recent seven.

U

Million faa grant for the arrivals hall project, which is very exciting for the airport side of.

U

The pda uh director farini made sure to point out that when the matter of millionaire comes.

U

Before the pda for a vote on its conditional use, permit request that all information be available.

U

One week prior so there should not be any walk-on or surprise pieces of information.

U

On the aeronautic front, the the commercial side of the airport met the faa obligation of achieving.

U

At least 10 000 passengers in mcleaning- I did not know that was a phrase outpacing chartered.

U

Implantments in just two months of operation, so that speaks well of allegiance and and the work.

U

They're doing and garnering the market here and as far as golf goes, demand is through the.

U

Roof there are 60 events planned for this year with over 5 000 tournament rounds. I think that.

U

Means something to people golf. It means less to me, but I'm learning and uh at the grill 28.

U

They they made a significant investment in a golf simulator which, in the month of february, yielded.

U

Eighteen thousand dollars in regional, um regular food and beverage revenues and twenty three.

U

Thousand dollars in function sales in february, so those are of note and I'll keep the the fun.

U

Facts coming and our next meeting will be in april, and that next meeting will be after our.

A

April 3rd city council, meeting correct so I'll provide an update at the april okay, 17th meeting.

U

Thank you. Thank you anything under miscellaneous councilman. I just wanted to give a quick update on.

G

The tasks that they had given land use committee to look at city-owned properties. We met on the.

G

10Th of march, which was about 10 days ago, um and we had brought forward the 195 properties.

G

We had originally looked at narrowed it down to um probably about 15 to 20, which then we narrowed.

G

Down to seven and then we added two back in based off of the recommendations that we got that day.

G

And now we have test staff with doing some more boots on the ground investigation into some of.

G

Those final properties uh to before the report we'll then go back to land use and then hopefully.

G

um Depending on where the report sits there, whether, when it comes back to city council, so.

G

I just wanted to give that sort of update on the process of where we're at customer.

X

um And I'll just touch on councilor morose, um we had a wonderful three-hour meeting.

X

um But it is online. The second half of it does really a good job of explaining why affordable.

X

Housing is needed in portsmouth, uh it shows all the housing dynamics, it really breaks it down.

X

um Nick gregnell did a great job on the presentation, um but I really encourage anyone. That's concerned about this topic to watch the watch. This video.

X

It's from the last land use committee meeting and it's going to be the second half of the meeting.

X

um Yeah the first hour was about those properties. The second two hours was presentations and some.

G

Really good information but yeah I'd, encourage you know all the council to watch it as well.

X

There's just a lot of very useful information. A lot of you know points a lot of questions answered.

A

Thank you. Thanks to the land use committee, um all right, any other miscellaneous items.

A

I will await a motion to adjourn so move. Second, all in favor, aye, aye, good night portsmouth.

A