City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2022 - 2024 City Council, 4 Apr 2022

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From YouTube: 4.4.2022 City Council

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4.4.2022 City Council

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Yes, muscle blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, mayor mccachren, yes unanimous, oh, I might not have given.

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The heads up to kevin so apologies kevin, but you uh run the ship without me doing anything. There.

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So um next is a a roll call vote of attendance mayor mccachren here assistant mayor kelly.

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Here, counselor tabor here counselor denton, here councilman moreau here, council bagley.

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Here, council lombardi here, council blaylock here council cook here.

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Next up no work session, no public dialogue.

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um We do have plans to bring them back and and we'll share those uh shortly. um The.

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In the invocation, um I would just like to take a minute uh and mention uh eugene or gene uh fisk.

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Who passed away? um It's uh it's with a heavy heart uh that portsmouth mourns and we give our love.

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And and condolences to his wife, betty and his children, austin and samantha, please consider them.

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In a brief moment of silence,.

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Now, if you would please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america.

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And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice.

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Next up, we have a proclamation um highlighting sexual assault awareness month, um our assistant.

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Mayor joanna kelly, reached out to me asking for the city to make light of this to help. Others.

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And she then asked me if she could read it herself, something that I'm proud to ask her to do.

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Assistant mayor, if you would please thank you, thank you. Your honor I'd like to thank.

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The honorable mayor and the city staff for getting this proclamation together, I asked.

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Because, for me, is a very personal proclamation as a survivor of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

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I publicly state that, because I I feel that too many survivors have too much guilt and shame.

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And when you're, in a position that you can connect with an individual and relate to something of such.

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Great matter, I feel you are duty bound to do so, and so it is with that that I share that. I am a.

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Survivor and I hope that in sharon that at least one survivor can know that they are not alone and.

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That somebody will always be there in their corner. With that I will start the proclamation, whereas.

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Sadly, we know that every 68 seconds someone in america is sexually assaulted and that every nine.

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Minutes that victim is a child that 41 of the most recent sexual assaults reported in new hampshire.

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Occur when the victim is 18 years or younger in 83 before they are age, 25 and one out of every six.

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American women and one out of every 33 men have been a victim of an attempted or completed rape.

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In their lifetime and whereas in the state of new hampshire, just 33 of the 344 sexual.

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Assault offenders, 88 percent, whom were so in the victim new or even part of his or her household.

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Were convicted or pled guilty will often scarring their victims for life, one in every four women.

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In new hampshire and one in every 20 men for life and whereas the metoo movement, reproductive rights.

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Advocates have highlighted that the problem of rape, abuse and incest happens everywhere and.

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Have supported voices too long silence to find the courage to talk about their personal experiences.

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So that perpetrators are stopped and victims can recognize, they are not alone.

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And whereas here in portsmouth, our social service agencies such as haven operation blessing our.

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Hospitals, our police department struggle daily to try to help the victims of sexual.

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Assault pick up the pieces and whereas the pandemic has had the effect of increasing.

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Abuse and assault in homes across the state preventing victims from reporting their abusers.

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Screening watchdogs like schools, from observing evidence of assault on children with the results.

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That, although reported incidences of abuse are down state health officials are certain.

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Actual abuse was increasing ann marazz. According to the 2019 report from the research committee.

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Of the governor's commission on domestic violence and sexual assault, in conjunction with the new.

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Hampshire coalition against domestic and sexual violence, new hampshire, lacks a consistent and.

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Uniform means of tracking sexual assault cases through our criminal justice system.

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And supports a public awareness campaign so that citizens recognize the realities.

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Of sexual assault in our state and are better prepared to advocate for its victims and reforms,.

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And whereas nationally april is sexual assault awareness month and can remind all of us that.

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Confidential local help is available 24 hours a day at havens, violence, prevention.

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In support hotline 603, 944 s-a-f-e now, therefore, I declan we're cracking mcgregor.

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With kakarin, I know that mayor of the city of portsmouth, on behalf of the members of.

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The city, council and citizens of portsmouth do here proclaim april 2022 in portsmouth, as.

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Sexual assault awareness month and call upon the residents of portsmouth to learn more about this.

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Problem to help the help available to victims and how to be part of the solution and end in this.

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Tragedy given with my hand in the seal of the city of portsmouth on this day, the fourth day of april.

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2022. thank you assistant mayor, and I believe uh that councilor moreau uh would like to. I would.

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Just like to address that, I share an um assistant mayor, kelly's stance on this. I actually spent over.

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10 years serving on the board, which started out as sas sexual assault support services, I was actually.

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President of the board, when we merged with safe place and became what haven is today, and it is.

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A awesome organization that does a lot of good in the in this community and all throughout this.

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Area of our state, so if anybody's experiencing please do not hesitate to reach out to them.

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They have many different ways: whether it be online or call 24 hours a day. They are there to to.

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Talk in to hear everyone, so don't hesitate. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman. Thank you assistant, mayor.

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um Next up uh will be the acceptance of minutes. I await a motion for the.

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Acceptance of the march 7th 2022 minutes so move your honor. Second, uh all in favor, aye, aye.

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Now recognitions and volunteer committee reports. First, we have a recognition.

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For a fire event on february 25th 2022 do we have uh jason and tristan mello with us uh this evening.

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All right: well, you got you're up for the task after I read this, everybody will know.

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um But if you could please uh send along uh the city's thanks and and our regards.

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And I have a couple of awards uh for both of you, um but I just want to give.

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A little uh background on this and and chief jermaine, if there's anything that.

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That I miss out, I trust that you will. You will fill in uh some of those details.

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On february 25th the fire department received a 9-1-1 call reporting.

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A kitchen fire in an apartment on beachstone street when the firefighters arrived they found.

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An extinguished grease fire on the stove, with damage to the surrounding walls and cabinets.

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But of course, the real story is what happened before the firefighters arrived.

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Jason, who was 11 younger than tristan who was 12. we're home the other way around yeah the.

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Other way around, I'm sorry buck stops with me. That's my fault. This is the younger one.

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With a 20 year old friend, while mom was at work, they started to cook supper. The oil in the pan.

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Caught fire, the older boy, who was jason, grabbed the pan to run outside but burned himself and.

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In the process, the fire spread to the surrounding areas, jason then thought to look for some banking.

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Sonar tristan remembered there was a fire extinguisher in the hall and then called.

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9-1-1, while the older friend retrieved the extinguisher fire chief jermaine, and I want.

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To present a mayor's award to each of you in recognition of your quick thinking and perfect.

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Response to what have can been much more serious emergency, we commend you for remaining calm.

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Remembering that baking soda, not water- and I want to, I want to repeat that, because you learn.

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A lot as a 11 and 12 year old that you will soon forget as 38, and so it was a good reminder to me.

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That, in fact, if there is a grease fire out there portsmouth, you need to grab the baking soda in.

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Order to put it out water will only make it worse uh is what you need on the grease fire for knowing.

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There was a fire extinguisher nearby and sending someone else to grab it. While you called 9-1-1.

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I personally love happy endings, that's why I am on you know where I try to be on the council.

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Is to look for these uh happy endings, the city of portsmouth is proud to have such deliberate.

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And decisive young men in our community community. Thank you, chief jermaine for the fire prevention.

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Education, our young people, are getting thank you, mom, for raising such responsible sons.

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And thank you, jason and tristan for your bravery uh and your your quick thinking.

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I can only hope my two daughters uh grow up to be as as smart and as brave as as you both are so.

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Thank you so much, and I have these awards that I hope you bring to school and show off to everyone.

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In gratitude from the city of portsmouth,.

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Gonna shake your hand. Thank you very much.

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Next up and it's tough to write an agenda because you give away all the surprises.

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In the agenda, but next up is a thank you to nancy carmer for 36 years of service.

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To the city- and it's it's difficult to put in words what 36 years.

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Means for a lot of people- uh it's I told her. I wouldn't do this, but I'm gonna do it. It's it's.

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Only two years longer or two years shorter than than I have been on this earth. uh If we.

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Were to round up an extra four years, it's ten percent of what we will celebrate next year.

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In terms of our 400th anniversary, you know there's a lot uh there's a lot of service uh to the city.

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And and a lot of times, the folks on this dais uh get to take credit uh for the work of hard-working.

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City employees, I can think of no one uh that is more deserving uh than that title than nancy.

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Carmer and I have- uh and I'm I'm turning into a broken record about this, because nancy has had.

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A couple of send-offs here um and I I get to see her on a daily basis. But I'm struck by the phrase.

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The the city of the open door- and I think about it almost every day when I am in this seat and.

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A door doesn't stay open by itself. A door needs to be kept open. There was many times.

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Over the course of portsmouth's history under nancy's watch when things were stacked against us.

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When, when pease closed and and turned into what it is now, the development authority.

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When the shipyard nearly closed, nancy gave me a t-shirt that said mission. You know mission.

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Accomplished save our shipyard, it's it's up in my my office now there is so many opportunities when.

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The we had a if you can remember, we had a tech bubble here in portsmouth called the e coast and.

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That burst and redefining portsmouth over and over and always trying to keep the door open, is.

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Something that I ascribe to nancy carmer, so it is with heavy hearts that we didn't get to accept her.

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Resignations you get to decide to do this all on her own um that we wish her farewell. um I have a.

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Coin that I would like to give you um as well as a present um of a word association, um and this is.

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This is a uh a memento, is based on a word cloud created by taking excerpts from every.

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Portsmouth hero article that included your name from the past five years now. This could have.

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Been very dangerous for some of us to create a word association based on that, uh but the.

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Larger the word, uh the more often it appeared, um portsmouth city arts, uh karma workforce, creative.

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These are the type of words that are associated with you and on behalf of a thankful city and.

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This city council, I would just want to publicly thank you uh one last time for your dedication.

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To the city, it truly was a pleasure to appreciate your passion for portsmouth. Thank you so much.

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I didn't get to talk enough.

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He's gonna come: oh he's coming down.

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And so we need, I think, a vote to suspend the rules and and have uh nancy samuel.

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Second, all in favor, aye, aye.

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Thanks I'll be brief, and I think this is a happy ending so so you'll like it um the past three.

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Weeks have been really humbling and bittersweet for me and it's really hard to leave a job in a.

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City and co-workers that I love it's really hard not to cry right now too, but as the mayor said,.

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During my tenure, I've seen a lot. He mentioned the closure of the air force base and the escape from.

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The brac closure by the shipyard, I've seen two historic bridges over the pascatico, be replaced.

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I've seen a renovation of the music hall. I've seen the african bearing ground be installed.

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I've seen the expansion of the black history trail and the seacoast african american center.

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I've seen the northern tier develop into a mixed use destination and I've worked on the renaissance.

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Of the west end and this and streetscape plans for islington street and market street gateway.

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I've also lamented the fractuous civic dialogue over constructing a new library.

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Renovating a sewage treatment plant, a middle school and the transfer of a federal building.

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But on a more positive side, I've seen the evolution of the culinary and craft brewing sector.

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Of our economy and the growth of the creative economy and arts, these projects brought me to.

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Neighborhoods into parks and to businesses and to meet all the people that live there.

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Or the employers that make this city thrive, and I think that the common thread through all of that.

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Is these people just want to see this city be a more inclusive, more innovative, more exciting place.

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To live work and play, and I think that the support that I've received from my co-workers and from the.

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City councilors and from the city managers, the five city managers that I've worked for over.

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That time, as well as the enduring support of my family, my children and my daughter-in-law, who are.

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Here my husband is watching from high point. North carolina at the furniture market is what's kept me.

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Here, more than half of my life, so what I want to say is thank you portsmouth! Thank you. All of you.

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It will keep me coming back again and again, and I really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Nancy.

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Really quickly, um I I do want to thank uh your husband, uh dewett um from he's down in high point.

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Looking at some furniture that sounds exciting, uh hopefully selling a lot. Oh selling selling.

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um And um your sons, uh riley and jesse- are they here tonight they are um and um your dad alana.

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Christina, thank you all for coming. um Could we grab a picture with you? We are not. uh You know the.

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Most tenured city council with you, uh but we have the the honor of being the last city council.

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That you serve along and we would love uh to take a picture uh with you and then then share that so.

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Would the council join me uh at the bottom of the desk and grab a photo well actually, never mind.

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Why don't you come up here and then we'll stand up? It's easier! One person versus yes, riley and.

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Jesse um and christina, please come up all right he's standing up looking who's taking the picture.

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Take advantage of the great deus lighting up here always look our best.

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Very much thank cheers. Thank you. So much thanks guys, you can't there's no coins in there.

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Your honor, I motion that we suspend the rules to bring forward item 13c, which is.

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The letter regarding luke wentworth on the agenda and for everyone, that's on page 65,.

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In our pdf packet I'll second, that do we have a copy of the letter. Yes,.

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Kelly must have that's the answer to everything kelly. Has it.

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Bear with me a minute.

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So I was going to read this letter into the record uh dear mayor mccachren, uh my name is.

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Luke wentworth- and I am 10 years old. One of my favorite things to do is play basketball.

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I can play basketball at dondera school, which is right next to my house, but some kids don't.

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Have a place to play. My grandparents live on pearson street down the road from the plains.

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Playground in little league field, where I play in the spring, where I will play in the spring.

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It's a good playground, but doesn't have anywhere to shoot baskets. For example, my friend cam, who.

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Lives on middle road loves basketball like I do, but did he doesn't have anywhere to play.

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And for older kids who visit the playground, I bet that they would use the court too during.

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Baseball games. There are always older, siblings, who have come to watch the game. Who would use it too?.

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I've noticed that all the other playgrounds and parks have some sort of basketball court.

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Even if it's just one basket, this part of town does not have a lot of kids.

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Does have a lot of kids, but not a lot of playgrounds. This is one of the only playgrounds in.

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The neighborhood for some kids, I predict that they would love it if the city installs a court. I visit.

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My grandparents a lot, and I would like to combine my love of sports with my love for my grandparents.

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I hope you consider my opinion. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

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If you have any questions, feel free to write down or email me at I'm going to save you. The spam.

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Luke and sh, and keep that here or my grandmother, katie wentworth also going to save your email from.

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The public record uh being read all out. Thank you sincerely. Sincerely yours luke wentworth.

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When I received this letter, as did the council, I was struck by a couple of things.

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One we are a basketball town in portsmouth, at least that's what I remember growing up.

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I had the the shojern brothers come and play basketball at my house, because that was the.

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Closest it was apparently closer than pine street pine street wasn't too far away the stories that.

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My father had when he was telling me about hard work, often revolved around the time. He was a kid.

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And he would practice his sky hook at pine street for hours on end um on the basketball court.

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uh All things are equal and and the rims as tough as they are, the double rims uh they are.

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A fair judge uh of skill uh and merit. um I I also appreciate that you have you've really laid out a.

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Persuasive argument uh to move forward this, not just citing your own desire for basketball but.

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Seeing that it would solve other uh desires of of other children throughout portsmouth.

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um And you're you're you're strong at building a coalition of the willing for another basketball.

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Hoop- and I want to highlight that and I'd like to highlight that, for the reasons that.

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We will hopefully vote to send this to the rec board and to the city manager, with authority.

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For a report back on the feasibility of a of a basketball hoop, but I want every kid to know.

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That, even though you don't get to vote for us yet and city council, we listen to you. We want you to.

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Be a part of this government of our government and we appreciate when people take the time.

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To set their thoughts in motion and hope that they have the strength and the courage as luke.

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Has presented to see his through, so I will await a motion to move this letter onto the recreation.

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Board, uh as well as city manager for a report back at the earliest uh convenient council date.

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Your honor so moved second, all in favor. Thank you very much luke. We appreciate your hard work.

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Hopefully, we will see you following your father's footsteps and being a great basketball player.

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In the city of portsmouth- and I want to thank you also and this I responded to this letter and.

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Planned to read it well before that, I knew that I got a customized. Thank you, uh mr mayor's drink.

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Here and what I'd like to to note that this wasn't personalized to me, it wasn't even really. There was.

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A back to this too, uh so I want to thank you uh for going above and you've put uh little coasters.

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On it, so it doesn't damage any of the uh the desks, um but this will live on in the mayor's office. Far.

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Along uh after uh I, uh I leave the office um and appreciate you, you making this a part of.

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The the city council's tradition here, so thank you also for this very much so.

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Thank you, luke.

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um And I would like um I would entertain a motion to pull up.

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uh One more item uh from my name uh to the.

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uh To uh just pull it up uh number two uh under my name, uh recognition of john leath so moved second.

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All in favor aye aye mayor, I'm reminded we need to do roll call votes because andrew is oh that's.

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Right: okay, a roll call vote on that on everything, we've forgotten sister, mayor kelly, yes, counselor,.

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Tabor yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman rowe; yes, councillor bagley, yes, council lombardi! Yes,.

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Council blaylock, yes, counselor cook, yes, mermaid cochran, yes, unanimous! um So there's probably.

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Not a lot of people in portsmouth if you've been here any amount of time that don't know mr wheath.

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He has met us in some of the most joyous times and and some of the less so um and personally as a.

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As a fellow member of the the crick I I've known john for a long time, I've known.

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His relationship with my my father was something very special to my father and it.

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In in my my dad's uh last days, it was it was uh mr leath demonstrated um what he is.

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To the community um to me, but there's many of you that don't know that john has also served.

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On the portsmouth housing authority for 30 years and in doing so attempted before many.

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Of us were talking about it, issues of of housing in portsmouth when it wasn't as.

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Top of mind with everybody in the state it seems like housing is on.

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Everybody's lips and everybody's minds now but john has been working on that for 30 years.

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In addition to all of his other work- and I would say that that we are as a city incredibly grateful.

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For the time that that mr wheath has has spent uh serving the city and entirely.

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Grateful to the family of mr leath, who has indulged us so for taking so much of his time.

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From the city of portsmouth on work that is so important to us, we do not have a community.

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If we cannot have shelter and john attempted to bring more community in our lives through.

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The expansion of housing- and I want to publicly thank you and provide you with a coin. We don't.

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Have keys to the city as many know, because we are the city of the open door, uh but this coin.

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While it doesn't fit in any parking meter uh downtown, I'm sure anybody that shows that you.

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Show it to that knows what it represents will know what you represent to the city of portsmouth and.

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So I want to walk down, and I want to. I want to shake your hand with this coin. Mr leaf.

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Well, john, I thought you held it together pretty well. There.

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No tears that I could see, but you're going to have to you're going to have to survive a much.

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Better order than myself I'd like to suspend the rules and ask former mayor mayor, farini.

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Tom farini to to come up and and say a few words uh from the portsmouth housing association.

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About our friend john so moved second, and we will have a roll call vote on that assistant mayor.

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Kelly, yes, counselor taber, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman rowe, yes, council, bagley, yes, council.

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Lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, counselor cook, yes, mama cochran, unanimous, mr farini.

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Four is yours. Thank you, mr mayor assistant, mayor kelly councillors, city staff, city manager, connor.

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I don't think I ever speak in front of the city council anymore, so to come here this evening is.

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A big deal uh john leath has been with us for 30 years and, as I currently am the chair of the.

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Portsmouth housing authority, I've served with him for five and the amount of institutional knowledge.

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He has really literally room by room and how it is we've done. What we've done is truly remarkable.

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Hearkening to the mayor's words about the city of the open door,.

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We're still that, because of him and others who serve on those committees, so it's really helpful.

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That we get that kind of help from the community. I asked john, who is a very humble person. I just.

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Asked him if he wanted to speak, and he said no so he's accompanied by his wife, katie and.

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And also uh his children, riley and alex were kind enough to let him do this for many years.

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But I asked him if he wanted to speak and he said no. So I said well, john.

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What is it that you are most proud of in your time with the portsmouth housing authority and he said.

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The acquisition and renovation of wamasit and the construction of ruth lewin griffin place.

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And workforce housing- and he was very spare in saying that, but he picked two really big.

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And important projects that keep us the city of the open door, so we owe him our thanks as a.

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Citizen, I thank him and it's been a pleasure to work with him on the board and we wish him well.

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I see luke has got to get some basketball shots in before the sun goes down homework.

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Thank you, tom. uh Those are excellent words and well spoken, and thank you again, mr wheath. It's.

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Truly an honor to sit in this chair and and thank you for the work that you've done to the city.

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Next up, we have public comment again. We have seven speakers we'll go with portsmouth.

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Residents first, and then you have until uh the next three minutes to raise your hand on zoom and.

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We'll cut it off after that, but first up is mark brighton with the topic of ripping off the bandage.

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Mark brighton, south mill street I'm going to have to read this because for once in my life I was.

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Rendered speechless: is there anything more annoying than a group of mediocre white men.

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Who are slightly above average in appearance? This was taken directly from the private.

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Twitter account of our assistant mayor joanna kelly, which one of her followers.

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Took serious issue with and now let's say that the that little quip is now out in the public domain.

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A joint statement by city manager, conard and chief newport in support of the asian american community.

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Issued march 19 2021 reads in part being a race racial justice municipality does.

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Not mean only embracing the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion in portsmouth.

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It means calling out uh instances in which these con these concepts are violated.

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Whenever and wherever we see them, madam assistant mayor, is there anything more annoying than a group.

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Of white mediocre white men who are slightly above average in appearance, one sentence: it's not funny.

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It's not a joke and there is absolutely no context that would make it acceptable, but it.

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Is baldly racist and sexist? I once thought very highly of you. uh Miss kelly, but character is what.

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You do when you think no one is looking right now. You owe every person in this city a huge apology.

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Thank you mark next is roy helsel on the topic of city ordinances,.

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Good evening roy helsel 777 middle road unit 22.. I request that, when changing city ordinance that.

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The mayor and the city councilors review how these changes will affect the majority of city, taxpayers.

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And to have open discussions for public comments on these changes.

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That's an example is that some extra breaks are for the veterans are being considered.

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That could have detrimental effects on the rest of the elderly taxpayers that would raise their.

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Taxes, I'm a retired veteran from 20 years ago, was informed by the naval shipyard medical facility.

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That I could no longer use their facility because I turned 65 and was on medicare.

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I tell you this because they referred me to the va facility which I could use. If I wanted to, and.

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Any veteran that has medical problems for military service, such as vietnam or other military causes.

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While serving can use, these va facilities so ask the council to ver think very hard when.

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Some changes are made from city groups for some city groups that these changes may affect the.

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Majority of other taxpayer groups also remember when taxes are raised, even renters are affected.

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Because the owners will raise your taxes also and then why does the city land use boards always use.

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Let developers over build and always be granted cups and variances, except exceptions against.

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Our city ordinances, when the city own home owners generally have to jump through hoops.

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And stay within all of the city, ordinances and requirements that they are not allowed.

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Variances when they ask like lincoln avenue, while owners were not allowed a variance on a tree house,.

H

Because of property line and were declined, but when large developers can cross wetlands setbacks.

H

Or other setbacks and property lines and heights of buildings, I can't understand why this is done.

H

Why are all city committee since at subcommittee meetings posted in the city newsletters.

H

I thought they were supposed to be posted on a.

H

A week in advance.

H

I I request that the city ordinances that the mayor and city review these.

H

Changes that'll affect us taxpayers. Thank you.

H

Thank you roy next up, we have esther kennedy with the cost of living in portsmouth as the topic.

E

Good evening, everyone esther kennedy, 41 pickering, app, I'm coming before you tonight.

E

For a couple reasons, um we've talked over the years about having affordable housing.

E

Affordable places for people to live, but I have been really upset with your looking at revenue.

E

You have, even after the city manager, asked you to go a certain level of revenue. You came lower.

E

Tonight, before you, council, lombardi and councillor denton are putting forward a revenue source.

E

Now I am very supportive of veterans. My niece was deployed, who apps.

E

Has happens to be a resident of five year at 41, pickering ave. She was deployed on monday.

E

And I want her to be able to afford to live here and I'm very upset that we are not thinking of.

E

Our residents we're willing to open our doors to people that don't live in the city at what cost.

E

I have to ask you at what costs the budget is going to go high. I know that we worked really.

E

Hard when I was a counselor to make sure our revenue sources were good, we worked it hard at.

E

Having them come in and it seems lately, you folks have been willing to give it away. So I really ask.

E

You before you vote and again veterans my family is um a army family. My niece has been deployed.

E

She's a residence here and she needs to stay here. She wants to live at 41, pickering half. Lastly,.

E

I've been a little disappointed with how meetings are getting put up online. It was pretty clear.

E

There's a meeting coming up, I believe for council monroe's group on land use. It is.

E

Not up, we were trying to figure out yesterday where it was going to be when it was going to be.

E

And all people knew is what was said at a meeting they've been late getting up, so I truly believe.

E

Unless you don't want people there, you need to give people at least 24 hours and hopefully.

E

48 and 72 hours notice again think about how you're looking at revenue and, lastly, people.

E

Were very upset small businesses with putting things in our street in front of their business.

E

They're scared about coming in front of you. I ask you to reverse that vote or.

E

Start working with those small businesses, so they can have access to their business.

E

Moving parking does not help covering their business with your tables does not work.

E

So please look at those small businesses and make sure they're accessible. Thank you. Thank you. Esther.

B

Next up is sue polladora from the or speaking on the topic of the audit committee.

L

Hi, thank you for saying my name so well. I'm learning super leader, 245 middle street,.

L

And I'm here because I saw this later in the paper- I'm sure have you all seen it the letter.

L

Written by chris white, have you all seen it. This uh was very eye-opening to me and- and I thought.

L

That I needed to bring to your attention the fact that.

L

If this process was the one that was followed, it was a flawed process and therefore the vote that.

L

You took the last time to award one more year to malanson was flawed because as a person as a.

L

Purchasing person, I have to tell you that if there is an organization that has been serving the city.

L

Or any entity for 27 years, and they were, we were in violation for the mere fact that they have been.

L

In here far longer than than they were required, I would have asked that veterans that we cannot.

L

Take your bid, because by doing so, we are in fact violating even further our charter. Therefore, the.

L

Only one that should have been uh qualified was cla a supply that nobody knew who it was.

L

Until councillor tabor told us that day again as a being a purchasing professional, you could notify.

L

The people that got the award verbally, but those who didn't you had to do it in writing form so.

L

The vote that was taken, I think it was taken in haste. The recommendations should have come from.

L

The audit committee, and not from uh the other committee, was the one that was supposed to.

L

Recommend the um the person, the best qualified auditor and that didn't happen. Many things.

L

According to this letter didn't happen, this is leaving a very, very bad taste in people's mouth.

L

On why why is it that we cannot it's so difficult to select another audit form.

L

Company for the city, so I ask for your attention to this and I'm asking you to rescind that vote.

L

That you took, you can reverse it. You reverse the one november 8 18. You can reverse this one. So for.

L

One year you can go to cla and say: I'm sorry, we messed up. Our rfp was not as complete as we wanted.

L

It to be, if you can accept it for a year, we need to do this again in august. Please bear with us.

L

We will do the whole process, but in the meantime you seem to be the most qualified.

L

Supplier, we want to go with you, so it's not impossible and I'm just asking you to revisit this.

L

Thank you. Thank you. Sue next up is petra huda. Also on the topic of audit committee.

M

Peter huda, 280 south street good evening, mayor and city council, um I'd like to address you on the.

E

Auditor announcement and comments at the 321 222 city council, meeting councillor tabor councillor.

E

Cook and the mayor made false statements that the audit committee process was fault flawed.

E

Due to action by a member of the committee when, in fact, the process was compromised by staff before.

E

The issuance of the rfp, as clearly shown in the audit committee meeting of 12 15., the rfp that you.

E

Turn flawed is not the rfp. The audit committee voted on that rfp was discarded by city staff.

E

And it was replaced by an rfp created by the city staff. The finance director attorney woodland.

E

And the city manager- that's what we were told in the meeting. um Basically, that's not independent.

E

In the meeting attorney, woodland stated that they were in contact with melonson a known.

E

Proposer discussing the non-attest services and the city had reached a verbal agreement.

E

With melonson to do the nanotest services see the rfp for 2022 page four number. Four.

E

But no cost was established despite the objections of two counselors, noting this action.

E

Was subverting the city's rfp process listed in the purchasing manual? This immediately took away.

M

The opportunity of other proposers to bid on this part of the contract, then counselor tabor on 321.

E

The council meeting made the recommendation to the council for an audit firm.

E

He did not specify if this was voted. The voter recommendation of the audit committee.

E

Was the voter recommendation of the audit committee put forward.

E

If not, this action preempted the audit committee from fulfilling their responsibility for the.

E

Ordinance, as the public statement should have been made by the chair of the audit committee,.

E

Councillor tabor, then strong, then you you shockingly kept going stating the confidential.

M

Non-Public meeting information that there were two proposers and the name of the proposer that.

E

Was not selected when on the only statement that was needed, that was the name of the audit firm.

E

Voted on by the audit committee until a contract is signed, the information you disclosed.

E

Is never publicly announced, as there is no guarantee the selected proposer will sign the.

E

Contract and the possibility of negotiations with all other proposers should remain open.

E

Yes, councillor tabor the ex-complaint against you for you blurting out confidential, non-public.

E

Information is justified under rsa 421a, uh the only other correction I'd like to make there is.

M

You incorrectly describe the nano test services. It is not a conversion from.

M

A cash to accrual that is also noted on the right in the rfp of preparations of.

E

Financial statements, supplementary information and compliance reports. Thank you peter. Thank you.

B

Next up is chris white also on the topic of audit committee.

G

My name is christopher white. I reside at 28 porter street in portsmouth. Thank you, mayor mceren and.

G

Members of the city council for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. I come before you.

G

As the chair of the audit committee, the purpose of the audit committee was to bring the city.

G

Into greater compliance with the requirements of the city charter, section 7.4, independent audit.

G

It was the sense of last year's city council that the standard of conducting an independent audit.

G

Of the city's financial statements was not being met. In my opinion, the city is further from meeting.

G

This goal today than it was a year ago, what is an independent audit? Some of you say that simply.

G

Having an outside audit firm conduct, a financial audit constitutes an independent audit after.

G

All our auditor malanson would never risk their reputation by stating that everything looks clean.

G

When it's not in terms of logic, that is a necessary but not sufficient statement.

G

No less than the gfoa and the new hampshire municipal association would agree.

G

So, what's missing it's the question of who oversees and controls the audit process.

G

If you dig into this question, you will quickly see that if the people who oversee the audit.

G

Also have a financial interest in its outcome. Then the audit is not independent. These people have a.

G

Vested interest in making sure the audit is clean because they don't want any dirty laundry found.

G

Presently, city management controls and steers the audit if there are any problems.

G

The city council may never hear about them. This is why the audit committee is so important.

G

As a creation of city council, the audit committee has no dog in this fight.

G

To mix metaphors, it only wants to call balls and strikes, it doesn't care who wins the game.

G

And frankly, that is what you should want if you sit on the city council. So how did the season go.

G

To completely answer this question, I would have to disclose non-public information, something that.

G

I will not do now, unlike counselor tabor. However, on balance, I would give the audit committee high.

G

Marks we completed thorough due diligence and selected the best firm. In fact, councillor tabor.

G

Agreed with this statement today, more than ever, the city exerted its control over the selection.

G

Process and as councillor taylor suggested, we now have the second place firm, the same order.

G

We've had for a quarter of a century, this makes no sense and a concerned citizen would ask why.

G

As you heard, the city council fashioned an excuse out of whole cloth, a fictional process violation.

G

But less for a moment, allow them this fantasy and ask the logical question: okay, then, why not choose.

G

The best and the brightest, I say, removing the dark cloud that now hangs over the city's finances.

G

Even for a slightly higher cost would be worth it. The audit committee is disappointed in the.

G

City council's illogical decision. Thank you. Thank you, chairman white. uh Again, no applause. Thank you.

B

um Next up is page trace with the topic of portsmouth easy one.

E

Thank you, mayor mccachren, members of the city council, city manager, city attorney,.

E

I have a question for all of you tonight who are you, and I mean that with the utmost.

E

Respect and I'm not asking who are you tonight, I'm asking who are you as a city councilor.

E

As a mayor as an assistant mayor, who, will you be during the budget process.

E

Oh right, that's that's the budget. That's coming up. um I would remind you that you are going to be.

E

Faced with a lot of meetings, sometimes they're torturous, I will admit thank you very much.

E

um But you work for all of us as residents and I'm hoping that, instead of just the normal.

E

These days, nine zero, nine, zero, nine zero, it's great that you all think alike, but the budget.

E

Isn't a time to think alike? The budget is a time to question. You all have different interests.

E

There are things that motivate you that are very important to you personally.

E

I know that because you're all different, but these days we see a lot of nine zero.

E

More nine zero than anything else and with all due respect, not a lot of transparency and a.

E

Lot a lot of discussion as to what's been going on with all the non-public meetings.

E

A sort of we're working on something would be lovely, but that's neither here nor there.

E

Let's talk about the budget, we all know the budget is likely to be at least 10 percent higher. We have.

E

Huge inflation- that's going on, but 10 over our approved budget of 123 million 0.2 is north of.

E

135 million dollars and if it goes to 15 percent and you think about well, let's.

E

Have the banana split instead of the kitty cone, then you're, looking at over 140 million dollars.

E

And the residents of portsmouth cannot sustain that from a standpoint of taxes.

E

Because then, there's the issue of revaluation of all of our properties and everyone is scared to.

E

Death, so please find your voices when it comes to the budget. Ask questions the city manager.

E

Will answer them? That's who she is, that's what she's there for and no is a complete sentence.

E

I assure you and thank you very much for your time. Thank you, paige. Do we have any speakers.

B

We do not all right um next up is a public hearing and vote on ordinance resolution.

B

This is a resolution authorizing a bond issue and or notes of up to one million.

B

Four hundred thousand dollars for costs related to the feasibility and design of a new police.

B

Facility and or rehabilitation of the existing facility. First, we will receive a presentation.

F

Good evening, mayor city council, my name is mike maloney, I'm a captain with the portsmouth police.

F

Department, but I'm coming to you tonight, as acting chief as chief newport, is away at uh training for.

F

A couple of months, you can rest assured it's my second day as acting chief, and I won't make it.

F

A habit of standing in front of you asking for money, that's not that's not the way. This will go.

F

But as as the mayor did indicate, I think it's important to put in perspective what we are.

F

Talking about tonight, it's not building a new police department; uh it is just that it is the.

F

The authorization for the 1.4 million to further our efforts towards ultimately moving towards that.

F

Goal: it's a big discussion. It's a long discussion. I've lived in this city 23 years myself, so.

F

As a captain with the police department department and also as a resident, I understand.

F

Both sides of it, so I do have that perspective- put together a relatively short presentation for.

F

You here this evening and then we'd be, I say we and that the police commission is here as well.

F

uh We'd be happy to answer any questions, but uh the goal might be to get as many questions.

F

Answered in the presentation as possible, so um that said, take the first line, so captain melanie.

B

Just to clarify, you would like us to ask questions as they come up, or do you want to get through the.

B

Presentation, uh uh I think, perhaps, if we get to the end of the presentation that way, maybe some.

F

Of those questions that are going to be asked may get asked: oh that's what you meant that you will.

B

You'll, hopefully answer all of our questions with the presentation yeah, I'm not going to.

F

But that was the hope got it uh next slide, so just as as part of history, so uh the municipal.

F

Complex which incorporates a police department was built, 1929 1562 and I think the the the.

F

Quote highlights there in italics is it was never intended to operate as a police facility.

F

So the police department has been in that space in a space that wasn't designed to be an emergency.

F

Facility for 31 years, it's not conducive for efficient, modern, modern policing. When you look at.

F

The structural design and the engineering designs for a modern 21st century police department that.

F

Focuses on community policing, as we do here in portsmouth. The layout in and of itself, is not.

F

Inclusive and conducive to how we please, today uh again it's the short story, is it's a.

F

It's a police department that was put into a building, never designed to be.

F

A police department and we're seeing the the struggles today as a result of that next slide.

F

uh A quick update on the current uh status of police space so there's been significant.

F

Progress to address the moisture and mold issues, um it's been widely known that we've undergone.

F

A lot of renovations and a lot of remediation to take care of mold issues and other problems with.

F

The facility currently there's additional moisture and mold abatement work underway.

F

Right now, our detective division has moved into our training room, while the entire.

F

Detective division in and of itself gets remediated uh and and cleaned so that it's.

F

Safe and inhabitable for them to move back in over the course of the last several years, we've had.

F

Department of labor health and safety violations we've had to reply with responses to both of those.

F

With respect to complaints, the department of labor has received from employees based on.

F

The conditions and the results of working in some of the conditions over the years.

F

uh Police department- that's also includes police department staff concerns.

F

We've had workman's workers, compensation claims and union grievances as well next slide.

F

So perception verse reality so for a lot of people, including the public, they may not.

F

Have the history behind the building and where we are at today, so they may see a new lobby. They may.

F

See a new facade and they think that the police department is refurbished and it's new. However,.

F

That's not the case. There's been considerable funds spent over the last several years.

F

On improvements, but they're not improvements in the sense that they're making our operations.

F

And our daily policing more efficient, it's improvements to simply remediate and fix the.

F

Space that we're in so that we're able to work in it effectively, but not necessarily efficiently, so.

F

That's also a factor to keep in mind too that the money that's been invested so far is not.

F

Improving the facility to make it more operational as a police department.

F

It's literally improving the facilities so that we can work there. There's been no changes.

F

Very little changes to the interior layout, we're exceeding storage limits, there's no room for.

F

Growth, which we have a couple of slides on in the next next section and in order to function.

F

As a modern community oriented police department, the entire space on the inside would need to be.

F

Essentially, ripped out and redesigned because the layout and the design in and of itself at.

F

The building is not is not laid out for a public public police department. In fact, during a recent.

F

Trip last couple weeks in virginia, where we went to uh several of us, went to a conference on.

F

Designing a police department, we toured a police department that was about 30, 000 square feet and.

F

Just visually inside it, it looked twice as big as our police department and it's about half the.

F

Size and that's just because of the layout in the way that the building is designed so.

F

Next slide, please so some of the challenges in the current space recruitment retention so.

F

Recruitment and retaining police officers today is more difficult than it's been, probably arguably in.

F

The last eight to ten years, um when we take new candidates into the police department, we have.

F

Basically, our pitch to not worry about what you see we're going to work on this and get it changed.

F

In fact, I have a a candidate interview tomorrow for a prospective officer that may get hired.

F

And it's between us and manchester and he's got manchester, has a relatively new police department.

F

So but I think he's leading towards portsmouth because of everything else we have to offer, but.

F

It's it's significant with recruitment retention. It's also hugely significant to uh employee health.

F

And wellness again, one of those one of the points of emphasis is we have an unsecured parking lot so.

F

A current facility, that's up to standards and up to code, would have a secure parking lot.

F

One of the things that makes us nervous is that we have an open campus and people are in our back.

F

Parking lot all the time we arrest people and when people get out of our police department, sometimes.

F

They're not happy with us and they can walk unfettered to the back of the police department.

F

Where we found people that we've arrested before we have civilian employees who leave.

F

Late at night, in the dark parking lot and there's nothing to keep anybody from walking back there.

F

On any given day, we have people walking their dogs or their pets back there, and we have cruisers.

F

Exiting the parking lot at a high rate of speed and coming around that corner near the pond. I've.

F

Had it happen to me myself, where you'll see a dog, walker and they're not supposed to be back there.

F

So again, that's just one of the one of the current challenges: employee health and wellness and morale.

F

Obviously, a building that is a building that we sometimes spend more time in than we do in our.

F

Own homes has a huge impact on health wellness and morale um inability to expand the locker room so.

F

In the last year we've hired, I think, four females.

F

Last year and a half or so we don't have any more room in our female locker in our locker.

F

Rooms to accommodate them and we're running out of space in our mail locker rooms as well.

F

Inefficient layout booking of prisoners and when I say the layout of the design of the building.

F

People come into the police department to turn themselves in on warrants all the time.

F

When they do that, we have to walk them through the entire police department from front to back.

F

And they're walking by civilian officers, they're walking by uh civilian staff and and at the same.

F

Token, when a prisoner is booked and released from the booking room, we escort them out the front door.

F

So we have, you, know, prisoners and their property being escorted through the entire building out to.

F

Walk out the front lobby and again that's past all our civilian staff. That's passed.

F

You know people who don't come to work every day, thinking that they have to deal with a prisoner.

F

But sometimes they do just because of the layout of the booking room, as it relates to the building.

F

We also have a lot that's put on us expectations of the community, as I would expect the community.

F

To have high expectations of us, you know we're working currently with the rgr group.

F

In incorporating many different suggestions and recommendations to how we operate.

F

And that's in addition to uh being kalia accredited, which is a nationally accredited.

F

Program that we voluntarily submit to on a year every three years we go for re-accreditation, but.

F

The expectations of the police department are very high and the expectations of any police department.

F

Should be very high and the current space in the current building, the way that it's designed is.

F

Not doesn't lend itself to working well with the community when a lot of improvements could be made.

F

Information technology and sieges so, unlike any other building.

F

uh The police department is full of secure and non-secure information, so our it and our.

F

Our technology requirements are much more robust than a regular building. Increasing mental health.

F

Response so we've been also seeing the last two or three years since the pandemic. The the.

F

Increase in calls for mental health related activities we have and we're forming up mobile.

F

Crisis teams and there's opportunities there to incorporate that more into the police department.

F

Which is our long-term long-term goal, but it's difficult in this facility. It obviously is an.

F

Emergency facility, it has to be open, 24, 7 365. When all else fails, the building cannot. We have police.

F

This police and fire dispatch in the building. So when this hurricane's floods, uh natural.

F

Disaster, the police department has to function, that's where all our 911 calls come in and.

F

That's where police and fire get dispatched out of next slide. I talked a little bit just.

F

About storage limitations and no room for no room for growth, so you know just about all.

F

Of our hallways kind of look like that hallway on the left, where we have equipment lining the.

F

Hallways because we we don't just have the space to store it anywhere, so those are temporary.

F

Storage areas, I shouldn't say temporary: it's been permanent since they've been placed there, but.

F

That's some of our equipment that that we have to store in hallways uh the the picture on the.

F

Right we we call the rock room, so that's uh overflow from the chief's office. That's.

F

Files in in uh files from the chief's office and other police records that we store uh and.

F

It's we call it the rock room, it's literally got, you know, rocks in it. So uh next slide.

F

uh The picture you see on the left there is one of our cells. We currently have it with.

F

File cabinets uh and make room for additional space if needed in there, it's uh used to be a.

F

Drunk tank, where we used to hold a bunch of prisoners at once, and thankfully we're not.

F

Like how we used to be 20 30 years ago, so we don't have a lot of use for it, but it comes.

F

In handy for file, cabinets uh and another room on the right there, which is additional overflow.

F

Storage and you can kind of see the piping and if you wanted to get in the back, I have to kind of.

F

Limbo under a couple of pipes, but um that's kind of what we've been working with here for the last.

F

uh However long next slide, uh the police department studies that have happened.

F

With respect to a new police department, new facility 2011, there was a police department.

F

Organizational review that addressed the building as well in 2014 there was a facilities, needs study.

F

Done that identified the recommendation for a new 66 000 square foot, standalone building.

F

I used that number as a 2014 number, not a 2022 number um renovating the space would present.

F

Considerable challenges and unknowns, unknowns, meaning if you start taking apart that space.

F

You don't necessarily know what you're going to find while you're in there and we'd. Also.

F

Have to relocate the police department, stand it up in a temporary emergency operations facility.

F

For a period of, however long that would take and then and then move us back in as well next slide.

F

Modern police facilities are designed to be community policing, oriented current.

F

Policing current building does not adequately support our needs. A new facility would include.

F

Spaces for community involvement and probably accessible publicly accessible community rooms.

F

For meetings and or training so in the police department, there's a secure and unsecure section.

F

Of the building right now, that's that it's kind of all jumbled around there's, no clear definition of.

F

That, however, with a new building, it would allow us to connect with the community in the sense.

F

That we would have a conference room or training room. However, whatever you'd like to call it, they.

F

Call it currently now community rooms where people from the community can have access to this meeting.

F

Space and they would just book a reservation through the police department and that's where.

F

We would hold our community meetings that we host and our trainings that we host for the community.

F

So it's as much as a building for us as it is the citizens of portsmouth and that we're.

F

Inviting them in and we'll be able to draw that connection more, because that is more of what the.

F

Community is asking for us and obviously it would help uh build relationship with trust.

F

To even have that that close connection within our building, more so than we do now.

F

And I think that's it next slide says questions, so um I suspect that probably didn't answer all.

F

Your questions, but it kind of gives you a brief history um of the building where we're at and.

F

And why we think it's appropriate to move forward tonight with that authorization? Thank you. Captain.

B

Maloney uh appreciate the presentation uh and for the work as a acting chief well, chief newport is.

B

Down in quantico so appreciate that, are there questions for the acting chief at the moment.

B

Counselor cook counselor blaylock councilman.

B

Assistant marine, you have to start writing these down.

B

You'll notice that I I often say that and then I don't write them down that I forget so I'm gonna.

B

Do it this time and counselor cook, please thank you mayor and thank you so much for serving as.

J

Our our acting chief for the next several weeks, I really appreciate the presentation. I think it.

J

Really helps us frame where we're going and why. I have a question that I'm not sure you can answer.

J

Maybe the police commission can, or even maybe our city manager, can I'm interested.

J

In this process, um I know that the bonding this money was already approved by the last council, so.

J

We're really just being asked to bond it tonight, and so we're just being asked to to borrow it now.

J

But there's a process after that happens, and so my question is really: what is that process.

J

Once this money is bonded, do we start with a needs assessment and then move to design.

J

And at what points do we have discussions back at the council level um in that process?.

F

So you're on I'm not sure of uh rules. If I can, we have commissioners up to answer.

F

That question, but uh I think it might be better served yep. So yes, that's a question for me.

B

So do we can we just do we have to suspend the rules or can any commissioner come and.

B

Ask answer a question: if there's no objection, your commission is good. Okay. Is there any objection to.

B

Any commissioner, please call on the commissioners, as you see fit to answer the question. Okay,.

N

Good evening, everybody thank you so much for the question. Counselor cook and I you know certainly.

N

Invite city manager in terms of process, to weigh in our understanding that tonight's 1.4 million.

N

Dollar bond authorization will give us the funds needed to proceed with a needs, assessment and.

N

Study to better understand what would we design the the study that was done back in 2014 really.

N

Now is quite dated, and I I can tell because I was tell you I was sitting in one of your.

N

Seats when we were first presented with that it started in 2013, it was presented in 2014.

N

There was unilateral, I think, agreement and understanding that something needed to be done.

N

But relative to the other priorities, we were staring in the face of a wastewater treatment.

N

Facility up upgrade that was taking pressing need. This 1.4 million will allow us the opportunity to.

N

Work with partner to complete a needs assessment to evaluate and do some preliminary design to try.

N

To hone in on location trade-offs of what this current space could accommodate versus needing.

N

To build a new space, we know there's a subsequent request for a bond of another 2.3. I believe.

N

2.8, excuse me, which would solidify the plan and help us finalize the road.

N

Forward and get us closer to shovels in the ground if a new space is what.

N

Is planned and then we'd move forward with a full bond authorization for the facility itself.

N

At points along the way, we'd obviously be reporting back. The needs assessment would.

N

Be completed and then we'd come back to you all to show you what you know what progress has been made.

N

I know we've also talked about having some kind of working group to facilitate that process.

N

A group of members of the commission, members of the council and the city staff.

N

Thank you. uh Thank you, commissioner. um Next up was uh councilor blaylock. Thank you. um Thank you.

H

Chief maloney, I appreciate the presentation and thank you, commissioner, um you might have.

H

Answered my question: I um I just had some confusion from the public. If this 1.4 million.

H

Was, and you said, for the feasibility and design um of a new police, busy or retail rehabilitation of.

H

The old facility there was just some confusion if the decision had been made. This is looking.

H

At a new facility, we're still looking at the option of the old facility and rehabilitating.

H

That I think that 1.4 million and not to speak uh out of term. But that is incorporates all.

F

Possible outcomes so that that decision has been made. I just want to make that clear to the.

H

Public, yes, this is still looking at all feasible options, correct and new, correct, and you know the.

F

Trade-Offs of if we were to build new but somehow keep a p piece of the old building to cut down on.

F

Square footage or or something along those lines, it would incorporate all that all that as well so.

F

Substation or something of that sort, correct, yep, correct. Thank you very much. Thank you. Councillor.

B

Blaylock uh councilman um most a lot of my questions have been answered, but I guess one.

E

Of the things I I keep struggling with is uh we have a report that says we need a 66 000 square.

E

Foot facility, so I'm curious because you keep saying how you're busting out of what you have now.

E

If we were to build that, what is the difference in the square footage that you're working with today.

E

On the space that is existing versus what you're trying to build you're asking, what is our square.

F

Footage today in this building, as we speak, uh I think it was 45 40 about 46 000 square feet.

F

uh And again that that 66 000 square feet that that that number would get redone as we move.

F

Further down this road with the approval, hopefully the 1.4 million 66 it could be plus or minus. If we.

F

Have some trade-offs in there, but that 66 000 square feet uh would be in relation to a 2014.

F

Number, but that's also includes projected growth for 30 years, as this would we've been in this.

F

Current building 31 years this would be if we were to get a new building, a 30 to 40-year building.

F

Building so it builds in that room for growth as well, even in the new building.

F

Great, thank you very much, okay assistant mayor. Thank you. Thank you. um My question is the timeline.

D

On the report when, when how long does this report take as.

D

As the commissioner spoke, um it sounds, it sounds about nine months to a year. Is.

D

That kind of what we would be looking at for this feasibility study also, I don't know how.

F

Long, the one in 2014, but I see heads nodding so we're we're tracking nine to 12 months. Thank you.

B

Council rombardi, yes, um thank you. um I guess one of the things you brought up is the lack.

G

Of secure parking and I'm not sure how you do that, where you are other than ugly fences but.

G

Does the 66 000 estimate also include uh space for um indoor parking? Yes, okay, yeah, that that.

F

Square footage would incorporate all police needs to include parking or overflow yeah. Okay, thank you.

B

Councillor tabor.

O

Thank you captain. um It occurs to me that it'd be good for us as a council to go.

O

Walk through the facility that we see now and hear firsthand from you what it's like.

O

What the deficiencies are, what the obstacles it poses for you.

O

So my question would be: could we come have a tour, absolutely yeah we'd, encourage it yeah and.

F

Again, you see the pictures there in that you know. In some cases a picture says a thousand words.

F

um They're in there are new sections of the building that have been renovated, so you're.

F

Going to see areas of the building that appear new and nice and they are, they are new and nice.

F

However, that doesn't mean it still works well as a police department, so um I would thoroughly enjoy.

F

The opportunity to to share our space and show how we work in it on a daily basis. I think that.

F

Would benefit everybody, I think that'd be a great next step city manager. When do we go to issue the.

O

Bonds, this would be in the early to mid-june time frame. Okay, so maybe some time before that we could.

O

Organize a uh city council site, certainly, um if that's uh I can put that in a motion if.

O

Others would like um so we we do have uh after this a public hearing, and forgive me, is the.

B

The recommended sample motion is to move to adopt this uh bond authorization uh this evening.

B

So um is the the the question to counselor tabor would be, is the um is the tour necessary in order.

B

To approve this authorization or ahead of future authorizations, I think the captain's made a good.

O

Case tonight- and uh this has been approved by the prior council- uh we're merely taking.

O

Approved money and and authorizing it okay, so I do believe a a walk would be or a.

B

A site walk, or rather a tour of the facility, would uh would be beneficial and, and certainly um as.

B

The uh plans uh come back to us. I imagine that you know we could even meet in the and there's.

B

Looks like a lot of you know, uh chairs stacked in hallways, but I'm sure there's a place to actually.

B

Meet in the uh in the facility uh where we could have some of the discussion uh get a better feel.

B

um Of that, so it might be a next presentation. We have a working session in the in the actual police.

B

Station assistant mayor, I would just like to speak to the notion that counselor table put forward.

D

A few years ago I served on the mayor's blue ribbon committee to find a replacement for.

D

The police, commission, and in that it was my first ever ter tour with the former chief.

D

Of the police station and as just a resident, I was in shock with the plastic sheeting on.

D

The walls in the state of it and at that point I brought to the former chief the need to make.

D

This more public the need to make videos and residents aware of the state of the police.

D

Station and my my brother is a police officer in in new hampshire in another city and.

D

When, um when you talk about the higher difficulties, it's well known in the police.

D

Community the um the condition of our police department and it it is a long-term concern of.

D

Mine that, um whether we remedy this or uh build a new station that we could be losing, we, I think we.

D

Believe we are losing great candidates because, because of the condition of that, so I think.

D

You know, as this feasibility study goes on and as we're presented with options, I would.

D

Really push the community to come out and be involved in every step of this process.

F

Yeah- and that would be our goal as well- is that this is it's not our building? It's the.

F

Community's building, and I think tonight is a great first step to bring the community.

F

Into the discussion and involve them as much as possible, I I foresee if this does move forward.

F

To keep the community involved every step of the way if we put updates on our website.

F

You know, as far as where the progress are at, but this is as much the community's building.

F

As it is ours and it's something that might be here for 30 years- and we might you know so so it's.

F

An important step, and- and I think that the tour of the police department is, I think, that's a- must.

F

Even if we're only talking about the 1.4 now, if we're talk, if we do decide that a building a new.

F

Separate building is the direction to go. I think I think you you have to see where we're at now.

F

uh And see what we would like to do in the future, so we certainly welcome that. uh Counselor denton.

I

Thank you, your honor excuse me um in addition to touring the police station, which uh chief mirner.

I

Has taken on before I'd encourage any counselor who hasn't already to also do a ride-along. It's.

I

Very enlightening, mr america, can I just make a qualif uh clarification that uh the money, the 1.4.

M

Million was approved as part of last year's, cip or the cip we're currently in so the action you'd.

M

Be taking this evening would be to authorize us to issue bonds just want to make sure everyone knows.

M

That's what tonight's about uh the captain uh put a good segue into the public involvement.

B

uh We will we will now hear from any uh public uh anybody that wants to to to speak on the.

B

On the record, um you do not need to limit your comments uh to three minutes, but I ask that you.

B

Keep that time uh in your head in your heart, as you speak uh tonight,.

K

Your honor, the difficulty with that is, I'm a law professor. No it's directed. We.

K

When, uh when I joined the commission, I was somewhat skeptical of the idea of spending. If we.

K

Were to build a new building spending and and sure, would you mind uh simply stating your name? Yes, my.

K

Ass for the record, uh commissioner buzz sure. I've lived in portsmouth for 26 almost 27 years now and.

K

Just your address so 390 greenleaf avenue. Thank you when I, when I joined the commission, I was.

K

Somewhat skeptical of the amount of money that I understood it might cost to build a new building.

K

I'm very much an advocate of the residential group recommendations that the prior commission adopted.

K

And I was, I was concerned that we might be diverting money in a way that was better spent.

K

Improving in other ways the police department, um I'm no longer in that in that place,.

K

I've gotten, you know, we we need, we needed a new police building.

K

Or a substantially renovated, uh building, uh seven or eight years ago. That's what the 2014.

K

Study told us, I mean the building, as captain said, that the police department has been in a space.

K

uh Not designed to be a police department for 31 years and that's just in a city like portsmouth.

K

Which cares about the community cares about community policing. That's just not tolerable.

K

To be in the wrong space for 31 years, we need a police, a police space that reflects.

K

What the community wants, both in terms of the recommendations of the resident group, which the.

K

Police department is very supportive, of uh which you know it may include expanding the police.

K

Department in ways that uh wasn't considered even seven or eight years ago, that is instead of adding.

K

A lot more police officers, adding social workers or other mental health professionals of some sort.

K

To deal with are expanding uh this expanding attention to the need for people in crisis, which.

K

Is a large number of the calls the police department gets? So we, the point of of this.

K

Specific money, 1.4 million dollars- is what are the current, not the eight-year-old needs, but what are.

K

The current needs of the police department. We need to know exactly what those are in a timely fashion.

K

And then we need to do a conceptual design, a preliminary design with some engineering to.

K

See how what kind of space we need to meet those needs that have been articulated. A group of us two.

K

Commissioners, uh a city councilor uh uh people from the facilities from the uh public works.

K

Went down to uh uh as the chief referred to a uh session in washington dc for for two plus days.

K

To talk about to learn about how how to go about uh building a new police building and the good.

K

News is: we came back from that understanding that we um we're on the right track, we're doing all the.

K

Right things to lay the groundwork for making that decision, and I think we should keep moving forward.

K

It's probably the case that if we were to have built a new police building 8 to 10 years ago,.

K

We would have saved 10 million dollars, you know, as time passes, buildings get more and more expensive.

K

And police buildings uh emergency services buildings- you know ad, as we learned uh in.

K

In virginia it adds another thirty percent loosely another thirty percent to the cost of a building.

K

As compared to what it would be, if you were just building a commercial building,.

K

So it's a it's a special entity. We need to be careful about it, but we need to keep moving.

K

Forward with some pace, otherwise we're just spending more and more money at the point where.

K

We get to build the building so that that was short for me. It was thank you, commissioner, sure.

B

Anyone else from the public- just please remember, to state your name and your address.

H

Yes, dick bagley 213 pleasant street, I had the honor actually of chairing councillor kelly's.

H

Committee, the blue, so-called blue, ripping committee, which was really at that time of.

H

That placing replacing a police commissioner and I was proud to participate in that process.

H

Because, from the dark days of we all know the history stephanie and joe and jim at the time.

H

Pull this out and to counselor blaylock's comment: what they're really telling you is that they need.

H

A new police station, so this idea that we're going to fix an unsuitable facility and councilor taper.

H

You've been on the council for a long time. You know what the condition of that facility is. You.

H

Don't need to walk through it. It's a disgrace. It has health conditions that are unreasonable.

H

If you look at the layout of the facility, there's a front door where everybody comes in.

H

And then you have to wander around this facility, it is not a police facility, it never has been.

H

And credit uh I've been doing this for 15 years in portsmouth, and one thing I.

H

Know that john bohengo didn't want to address was the price tag, and you understand the city.

H

Manager has to address a price tag, and this is a lot of money, so I could go on and on about.

H

Why this is important? Because if you look at the national scene, we had to live through for probably.

H

The the intent was well-meaning. The last thing we want to do is send a message that we want to.

H

Defund, the police, the whole process over the last five years has been community policing.

H

It's a different concept and if you're as old as I am, and as grouchy as I am, you have to understand.

H

It's a new world out there for policing and if we think about all of the good things that are going.

H

On in portsmouth and mr mayor, you did a wonderful job tonight, bringing out the humanities side of.

H

Living in a city because we've got so focused on ourselves and hockey ranks and private corp public.

H

You know enterprise when we have suffering people here in portsmouth to a great degree, people.

H

That are on food stamps people that are really struggling to make it. Now we can't be all things.

H

To all people, but our police deserve a real police facility, so they can practice community policing.

H

The way it needs to be done and not under the context that we're defunding the police.

H

But rather the police need to acquire new skills, as the good commissioner pointed out,.

H

We need to deal with. It was just announced today, women 40 years or older 40 of them.

H

Are on antidepressant medications if you're 60 years or older 60 of women? Now that's a statistic.

H

It can't be borne out, but it tells you where the case is: we've had a judge go around new.

H

Hampshire and saying we've got to prepare our population, we have a high degree of mental illness.

H

In new hampshire, just because the way we've done it, if you look, I've served at one sky.

H

For five years, it is very difficult to train the police how to deal with those with developmental.

H

Disabilities, because they're aggressive and they come across being criminal when they have.

H

Developmental disabilities and certain cities in student towns and cities in port in new hampshire.

H

Have now been trained and it's a unique ability to be able to identify somebody with a disability.

H

So I would strongly encourage this council to stand up for your police department.

H

And have them have this bonding, which is already was approved by the last council.

H

To let them work as a police commission with the community to actually answer councillor blaylock's.

H

Question what is it? That's really required to be an effective police force facility. All you.

H

Need to do is walk out back know for washing cars and things they have to present themselves.

H

As a competent professional police force, look at what we give them to work with.

H

So, with the many things that we're doing in portsmouth, which are wonderful.

H

I'd like to see this move forward and I'd like the responsibility to be with the police commission.

H

To work with the council so that the police commission is giving you their leadership.

H

We have four divisions within our city government, please fire school and.

H

And and public works, which gets all of the attention, and uh so in in closing, thank you very.

H

Much giving the opportunity to speak appreciate it. Thank you, dick any other public comments.

L

My super lidura to 45 middle. I wasn't planning on speaking on this particular issue.

L

I know that the police department have had some issues in the past. I used to be a good friend.

L

Of the former secretary and she used to tell me stories about rats going all over the place.

L

And I'm like, I wouldn't be able to work that way, but I remember that area when this was a hospital.

L

That area was the emergency room. I know because I volunteer there years ago. It wasn't suited to.

L

The application that we have today, that being said some there are some immediate needs that need to.

L

Be taken care of if there was mold in there. This is toxic. You need to take care of that, whether by.

L

Updating the hvac system or doing something else more state-of-the-art, but I was thinking since now.

L

We have so many more people in portsmouth. Would it make sense to start thinking about having.

L

More than one police precinct, one that would maybe this station will take care of the unique problems.

L

At the downtown, maybe there's another station that will take care of all the other residential.

L

Areas, problems might be similar, maybe different, but we can use this facility and maybe another.

L

Facility that may be more easily acquired rather than building a whole building. Who knows where.

L

Right now, the way that the real estate is going, but I was thinking about that more than one.

L

Present may make uh sense now that the city has been growing so so much in the last few years.

L

So just wanted to say that I support the police department 100. They do an incredible.

L

Job appreciate them and thank you very much. Thank you sue any other public speakers.

B

Commissioner coyle good evening, I'm kate coyle, also a commissioner and I live at 660 middle.

E

Street I also uh came to the commission with some um skepticism about um about a new facility or you.

E

Know renovating the facility and I think tonight uh that captain maloney really hit the nail on.

E

The head: there are significant deficiencies in the current police facility with whether it's.

E

Evidence, storage safety concerns for the civilians working there, or even just the efficiency and.

E

Effectiveness that different departments can communicate given how disparate the layout is.

E

On top of that I mean we're really working in sort of modern policing, which is community policing and.

E

We've had the good fortune of sitting in on interviews of for promotions and.

E

I was so impressed with how, during these interviews, these officers sergeant.

E

Lieutenants talking about mental health, mental health treatment and mental health, you know.

E

For both inter resident interactions- or you know, on the job as well as mental health,.

E

Of the officers the ones going out- and you know responding to crises day in and day out,.

E

And that I think, as we look to the future as we look to make sure that we're serving our community.

E

And our officers, who are serving us that a facility that can accommodate a community.

E

Policing is really very necessary, so thank you. Thank you, commissioner. Coyle.

B

Commissioner shaheen good evening, everybody I'm stephanie shaheen. I have the privilege.

N

Of chairing the commission and I reside at 77 south street and in the interest of your.

N

Time, I know you have a long agenda. I just want to pause and thank councillor cook for stating.

N

The obvious, which is we're here tonight, because the prior council approved 1.4 million and we're.

N

Asking you to move forward with this bond but, more importantly, we're laying the foundation.

N

For what needs to happen to ensure that the public safety facility that this community has.

N

Is one we can be proud of and that one and one that supports the workforce, we're asking to put.

N

Their lives on the line every day and when they go out and do their jobs for this community, and I so.

N

I appreciate that tonight's vote is not the hard necessarily the hardest one, because it was already.

N

Approved by the prior council, but it does lay the foundation for what we need to do. Moving forward.

N

And I think we've all you know, captain maloney said it very well. We welcome the opportunity.

N

To bring you into the department, so you can see how those deficiencies manifest every day.

N

Three, I would point out one all of our patrol that you know the boots on the ground in our community.

N

Every day, every single patrol officer works in the basement without windows for the most part.

N

Not acceptable layout, just even terms of the interaction between officers on the job, doing.

N

Their jobs every day, it's not conducive to that kind of to the appropriate workflow.

N

And interaction among in between members of the department, the training facility we have this- we.

N

Have state of the art trainers doing incredible work things like active shooter response.

N

Training that they go out into the community to organizations across the region to train people on.

N

We can't bring them into this facility to train them, because the training facility.

N

Currently is housing all of our detectives but but more importantly, is inadequate because of the.

N

Location of the training facility and third, I would just point out and really reinforce.

N

We're trying to reimagine community policing right, we imagine that we're going to be doing.

N

Response times, as as commissioner sure pointed out, with social workers, perhaps with mental health.

N

Experts who need to be able to come in and out of our facility in a way that's safe for everybody.

N

So those are just three key points relative to what we need for the space to accommodate.

N

And two things I'd like to say in closing one: a real debt of gratitude is owed to our department.

N

Of public works to peter rice and joel almeida, who have put band-aid after band-aid on the.

N

Current facility, we're in to try to keep it as healthy as possible to have our men and women.

N

In uniform in the space we currently occupy, we couldn't literally, we could not physically be.

N

There were not for the investments and efforts made over the last few years to keep the space.

N

Moving in a direction that it's currently moving, but as they I know, will attest it's not adequate.

N

To do what we needed to do moving forward and, finally, the thing that keeps me up at night.

N

Is knowing we need to fill a pipeline of dedicated highly qualified officers.

N

We've as councillor coyle, commissioner coyle mentioned, we have had lots of interviews.

N

Recently, with people nearing retirement and choosing retirement, we've got to attract the.

N

Best and brightest into our community to ensure that we can continue to do the kind of policing.

N

This community expects and demands. We need a facility to accommodate that. We need training.

N

Facilities that can make it possible for us to train officers to respond the way we.

N

Expect them to respond and want them to be able to respond, and we need to have space that reflects.

N

Our commitment as a community to public safety, so I thank you for your vote tonight. I hope it.

N

Will be in the affirmative and that we can get this ball rolling and we look forward to.

N

Hosting you in the department soon. Thank you, commissioner. Shaheen any other public comment.

B

uh Patricia bagley, pat bagley, would you please state your name and address for the record.

B

We'll move you off of mute, yes, patricia bagley, 213, pleasant street.

C

I would just like to give my full support to this um moving forward with this bonding. It is.

C

So long overdue, like the assistant mayor, I toured the facility back when bob merner was the chief.

C

And the current chief was gracious enough to give me a tour of the facility.

C

I was appalled I they're. They were in the middle of mold remediation. Even then,.

C

Things were hanging from the ceiling. There were only certain areas where you could walk and you.

C

Had to be really careful, I I couldn't even imagine working there, let alone.

C

Expecting the people who put their lives on the line every single day for us expecting.

C

Them to work there to think straight um it it's not like we're doing them a favor.

C

To do this to move forward with this, this is long overdue, we're not doing them a favor.

C

We're so far behind and giving them what they need to actually do their jobs in the best way possible.

C

We have a great police force now and I would like to keep them happy and it benefits all of us.

C

I remember when I walked through there. I remember thinking. If I were a female officer. I could not.

C

Take a shower in this place: it was so disgusting and I'm sure it's been improved thanks to peter.

C

And joe working on the facility, but it it's just it's just hard: it's just not comprehensible.

C

That we've expected our police force to work under these conditions, for as long as they have.

C

So um thank you for moving forward with this, which I believe you will do.

C

And um the whole community will benefit from it. Thank you. Thank you. Patricia.

B

No more hands on zoom with that, I will why don't we put a a motion, the sample motion.

B

Being moved to adopt the resolution as presented so moved, second, are there any additional council.

B

Questions councilor cook. uh Thank you mayor. I actually have a comment. That's okay! Those are.

B

It said and deliberations we'll put that under the broad term of public deliberation. Thank you.

J

I truly value our law enforcement here in portsmouth I have a brother who was a law.

J

Enforcement officer sheriff's deputy for many years. I know that that's a hard job.

J

And I know that you need the best working conditions to do it.

J

This process tonight is the start of a long process and we're just being asked to approve.

J

The bond tonight, but I'm hoping that we can bring the community into this process.

J

And we need to be very deliberate about that, because whenever the council has to make decisions.

J

About spending a large amount of money that is going to have a huge impact on our taxpayers.

J

We have to make sure that they understand the reasoning that they are excited about.

J

Spending that money on this particular project, because it sometimes means that we're weighing.

J

This against other projects as well in the city, so you know when you're looking at bonding.

J

A potential new facility or rehabilitation of an existing facility either way and you're.

J

Looking at a bond that is 20 to 30 years, that has a huge impact on on capital improvements for that.

J

Duration of time, so these are very difficult decisions. I think for the city, council and.

J

We truly need a lot of public input and we need to make sure that they see the needs assessment.

J

That we see where we are, and then we move on and that we follow this. This critical process.

J

I know that the police commission is going to do that and work really closely with the council in.

J

That process, I would just ask that we are mindful as a council, and that we make sure that we bring.

J

This back to the council repeatedly at several stages in this in this time frame, so that we make.

J

Sure that the residents who maybe missed a police commission meeting see it here at city council.

B

Thank you, council cook, councilor blaylock. Thank your honor. um I just like my my grandfather when.

H

He was a city councilor and editor of the portsmouth herald was very supportive of.

H

The portsmouth police department, as was my father when he was mayor of portsmouth city of portsmouth,.

H

I remember he was brought up to lower the budget for the police department.

H

And my father said: wolf is working. Why are we? Why are we fixing it and if anything now.

H

I'm I want to be as supportive as I can, of the police department, especially with all the changes.

H

That we've had in our society lately with all the mental health issues.

H

You know I see that coaching kids at the football field on the baseball field.

H

So I think I would want to be supportive of the police department as much as possible.

H

Like my questions and stuff, I just want to make sure that we are being clear to the public.

H

uh When we do spend a lot of money and that we are being transparent and.

H

Forthright with that, um but yes I want to thank you for all you do. Thank you.

B

Counselor tabor, I just wanted to add, from my own perspective, having run an organization.

O

um That was in a building that was too small, too cramped.

O

And had had basic problems with the building.

O

When I ran seacoast media group, we swallowed hard and built a new building and it was very expensive.

O

But it was transformational for us as an organization.

O

Most of the revenue we had five years after that building was built. We had never had before.

O

It was new businesses, new new ways of doing business. We could never have done that in the.

O

Cramped crowded facility that we had so, I think, when we think, by analogy of community policing.

O

We can look at what community policing will be five years from now or eight years from now and.

O

We can build a building, that's flexible enough, to innovate, to be where we need to go where the.

O

Skate where the puck is going so to speak, and we won't have that opportunity in this current.

O

Facility, so I think that's an essential part of our decision tonight is to think long term. Thank.

B

You councillor tabor. We have councillor bagley on zoom with a question and or comment at this point.

C

Mostly a comment, thank you, your honor. um You know, I think it was pretty eloquently stated by some.

C

Of the public speakers tonight, including my aunt and uncle the assistant mayor in the deliberations.

C

Since 2014 we've taken a deep dive into the feasibility of the current station and.

C

What we need to do to address those concerns- and I guess my ask or my hope would be- that we.

C

Take a a pretty quick look based on all the information. That's already been gathered and.

C

Quickly determine what's the best path forward and then put the money and resources into developing.

C

What we determine is the best uh path forward which which sounds like it will end up being a new.

C

Station at a who knows which location. But I would hate to see us put a lot of time and effort into.

C

Evaluating the current situation, uh current station.

C

If it's quickly apparent that that's not really viable and and everything I've seen and heard,.

C

Tonight tells me that that's probably what we're going to find, so I hope we move quickly.

C

But I hope we are to justice with the taxpayer funds for this.

C

Study and we quickly determine what's feasible.

C

And then we focus the study on what's feasible and don't spend a lot of time.

C

On you know, avenues that aren't going to be productive.

C

Thank you. Thank you, councillor bagley uh councillormbardy. Now I would. I would second.

G

What counselor bagley said, I think that it's pretty clear that this.

G

Facility that you're in right now is inadequate, and I know that we've attempted to make it better.

G

For many years many years and it isn't better- and I think that I think it would be a mistake.

G

To try to mitigate that facility anymore, I think that um probably it's my opinion that.

G

A new facility is probably the proper way to go, so the sooner that you.

G

Can form those designs form those discover those locations? The better off will be.

G

Thank you councilmember uh with that. I will just add a few comments. No questions. The.

B

The role of of of government why we choose to come together, uh uh collectively, uh govern ourselves.

B

Is because there's advantages uh to that, one of those advantages is our collective safety.

B

And I believe that is represented by the police here in portsmouth, we are lucky in portsmouth to.

B

Have a police commission, not every city, has one and not every city is as lucky to have a complete.

B

Commission as dedicated uh to our entire community, as our police commission, is to ours. So I thank.

B

Them uh for their service uh to portsmouth uh and in partnership uh with our police. um I will vote.

B

For this uh this evening, um it's an easy vote. We already voted. I already voted for it from the cip.

B

Last year, so it's one of the easier votes uh for me to make, um but I appreciate.

B

The effort that went into the presentation uh this evening and the effort that will go in to.

B

Presenting this to the public, because more than a building, this opportunity represents how we want.

B

To determine the future of policing in portsmouth, and it's a conversation that we very much.

B

Require the public to be attended of and involved with, and so I would echo counselor cook's.

B

Statements that we want to see this in front of the council as much as possible, not because we.

B

Don't trust the work of the police commission. We trust that work. You deliver the right answer.

B

Regardless but we want the public to be able to follow, along with the reasoning that goes into.

B

This because it's not just a mold remediation, inadequate in terms of health and safety, but I.

B

Think it's inadequate when we talk about the type of policing that we envision for portsmouth. That.

B

Is dependent upon the type of building that we have, and so with that I want to thank the police.

B

Commission again, um I want to thank uh the captain for for coming out uh this evening and acting as.

B

As deputy chief, that's more presentations, more paperwork, I'm sure- um but I I I want to. I want.

B

To thank um the beginning of this process, because portsmouth will benefit uh from this being, as.

B

As public and involved as possible, uh so with that, I would ask the clerk to call the role.

B

On the sample or the motion of move to adopt the resolution as presented.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman moreau; yes,.

A

Council bagley, yes, council, lombardi; yes, also blaylock, yes, council club, yes, jeremy, kaplan, yes,.

B

Thank you, hopefully that helps with your interview tomorrow.

I

Your honor, while the police commission's still here, I want to suspend the rules.

I

To bring forward the same managers item 11a3, which, in regards to chief newport's performance.

G

Second, uh we'll need a roll call vote. Okay,.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, council monroe; yes,.

A

Council bagley, yes, council lombardi; yes, council, billy, lot; yes, counselor cook, yes, ma'am mccown,.

A

Yes, so thank you, your honor, I'm happy to set the stage for the request as presented to the council.

M

By the police commission at a recent non-public meeting, they completed an annual performance.

M

Evaluation of chief mark newport and following that evaluation, the board approved a one-time.

M

Bonus of three thousand dollars the chief's contract is unique in allowing for this provision.

M

And it reads in part uh that the parties may agree to provide additional compensation to the.

M

Employee in recognition for his accomplishments of the performance objectives identified by the.

M

Commission the commission has been nice enough to stick around for this conversation and I.

M

Would yield to them if that is all right with the council. Thank you. Thank you again. I'm grateful.

N

To be able to speak to this issue and request happy to answer questions as the city manager.

N

Noted the chief's contract does call for a special performance bonus as part of the review process. We.

N

Just completed his review- and this was the first review after the probationary period, so he went.

N

From being the interim chief to the permanent chief, and then there was a probationary period,.

N

During which we were reviewing and evaluating his performance, which we just completed.

N

For your benefit, because the prior commission was really the commission that had served in.

N

The longest capacity with him, I also engaged my prior commissioners as part of that review.

N

Along with our new current commissioners, and we collectively agreed that a bonus was appropriate.

N

As you can imagine, the last year has been especially challenging to serve as a chief.

N

He was new to the role right as kovid was hitting. He had to deal with everything from deployments.

N

Of officers who are also national guard members to absences related to covid to covet exposure.

N

So, even though many in our community were able to work from home or be remote or stay home, our.

N

Officers were here, 24 7, which meant the chief had to be on uh and and at work and on duty.

N

He's really done an extraordinary job. We've submitted a complete review of his performance.

N

Over the last year, in his role as chief as was alluded to earlier, he would be here tonight.

N

Were it not for the fact that he just started his training at the fbi academy in guantanamo.

N

Quantico, which he actually delayed several years in order to take on the role as chief.

N

He was invited to go several years ago and postponed so again. Three thousand dollar bonus.

N

It's specific to uh his particular contract and our ability to give a performance bonus.

N

uh As a result of his efforts- and we think uh his efforts really do merit that bonus.

B

Thank you, commissioner. Shaheen. uh The assistant mayor, just a quick, quick um question is this.

D

Monies coming from the the current um police department budget, yes, okay, thank you.

B

Counselor cook, uh thank you so much, commissioner um and chair. uh I have no doubts that his his.

J

Performance is outstanding. um If that's, that is what you guys have determined in your review. um I.

J

Do have questions about precedent. um Is there any precedent for this, and I guess think this question.

J

Goes more to the city manager? um Do we know if there's precedent for giving bonuses? I just I want.

J

To make sure that the council is doing kind of what is traditional for the city through the mayor.

M

I can't speak for contracts that I'm not familiar with with folks that are currently not working.

M

But um the chief's contract is unique in that it has a bonus provision. The other contracts for.

M

City, employment, employees, including myself, we don't have that provision so, but I can tell you.

N

Given my role with the prior chief, this, this has been done before, so we have historically awarded a.

N

Performance bonus, it's part of what went into the negotiating of the contract relative to the steps.

N

And there historically has been an expectation of some bonus. If performance is there.

B

Any other questions.

N

Thank you. Thank you, commissioner.

I

Is there action to be taken by the council on this? Yes, I.

B

So I would, I would look to the city attorney and the city clerk, that, if it were the will of the.

M

Council to ratify and support the actions taken by the police commission that this council do so.

O

You're wrong, uh sorry uh I'll call one second counselor taber. I just have a parliamentary.

B

Inquiry in terms of um do we have uh the authority to. I guess my my question would.

B

Be wouldn't this come as a a part of the budget towards the council? Can we line item.

B

A specific request on this would this be guidance given in terms of a budget, since the budget is.

B

Still forthcoming, the only reason that there's a council vote call for it all here is that the.

H

Working agreement requires the council vote, the budgeting and all the financial issues.

H

Related to it within the police department budget, and I might add, that uh the contract.

H

Calling for this vote has been approved by the city council, okay, so so it's it's separate from.

B

uh The budget so much as the contract stipulation yeah, the police uh chief, okay, sorry to cut you off.

B

Councillor tabor nope, uh the city attorney, said what I was going to say. Oh it's in the contract.

B

Okay, the city council will go on okay, I will move the motion which the city manager recommended.

A

Kelly, did you get that? Well, the city manager didn't recommend emotion. There is no emotion.

A

So I would suggest that I would assume that you are looking to approve the request of.

A

The police, maybe restate it uh counselor denton or um I motion that the city council.

I

Confirm the request for chief newport to receive the additional or the three thousand.

I

Dollar bonus per the terms of his contract per the terms of his contract. Thank you.

B

Okay and um any questions comments uh I'll uh support this in. uh In terms of my my concerns.

B

Coming into this, where that of uh precedent, um certainly with contract negotiations.

B

This is something that we, uh you know, may see in the future for other contracts, but, as this is.

B

Decided in terms of this contract already um and has met the qualifications that the comm police.

B

Commission has set uh as delivered to us through uh uh chairman uh shaheen.

B

We are, uh I feel, uh bound uh per that uh to vote uh for this this evening. So kelly, would you.

B

uh Please take the role: yes, mayor, assistant, mayor kelly, yes, counselor, tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes,.

A

Councilman moreau: yes, council bagley, yes, council, lombardi, yes, council, blaylock,.

A

Yes, council cook: yes, miami cochran, yes unanimous. I hope that it finds you well in quantico.

B

Where the chief told me that it's not just books he's going to be running around in the.

B

Forest out there doing some training so exciting stuff. Thank you. Thanks for sticking around guys.

B

Let's see how people feeling up here, does anybody need a break or.

B

Get through we've been here since is there anybody in.

B

I'm good you're good counselor done. I was simply going to ask if didi was here for the.

I

Prescott park, oh, is dede here for the prescott park. I think that's a. I think we got something.

M

The park is on zoom, okay, she's, here all right. So, let's, um let's charge forward get through the.

B

Items that require action. Okay, here we go. Thank you. Your honor.

M

Item number one is a licensed agreement request with strawberry bank for property.

M

Located at 81 washington street, this is in the form of a revocable license from the city.

M

The city owns a thin parcel of land along washington street which separates 81 81.

M

Washington, the proper the property from that right of way. There is a parcel map included in.

M

Your packet and the idea would be that we are looking to provide off-street parking as that.

M

Would that belong to strawberry bank and and be attributed to this to this property and the idea.

M

Is with a revocable license, we can rescind or remove this. Should we need this land for.

M

Another reason, but this would assist strawberry bank and they made the request of the city.

E

You need welcome. I do need a motion. I would make a motion that we recommend the license agreement.

E

With strawberry bank for that property I'll, second, that- and we will need any discussion on this.

D

Your honor, I would look to the city attorney. I currently sit on the board.

D

Of strawberry banks would it be recommended that I remove recuse myself from this vote.

H

Sorry I currently sit on the board of strawberry bank. Would it be recommended.

D

That I recuse myself from this vote will: uh will this vote place money into your.

H

Pocket or take it out of your pocket, not of the non-profit. No, you can vote. Thank you.

B

All right uh kelly, uh would you please call the role yes assistant, mayor kelly, yes, councillor.

A

Tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, council morel, yes, council, bagley, yes, council, lombardi,.

A

Yes also blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, commandment, catholic, yes, unanimous.

M

Thank you next up would be a request from prescott park, arts festival to extend for three specific.

M

Events outside of their typical season, which is from the date that school ends until the date that.

M

School resumes, they have three specific requests and I can tell you that their executive director.

M

Courtney perkins is on zoom if anyone has any questions, but the three requests are as follows:.

M

And they're in your packet, the first would be a film in celebration of juneteenth to be held.

M

Friday june 10th, which would not be a school night but does fall within the school calendar.

M

There was a question as to why it might not have been able to be closer to june 18th and the answer.

M

Is that they will be in tech rehearsals for their musical at that time, so they're proposing.

M

One movie on friday june 10th they're looking to have us, acknowledge our approval of one concert.

M

Of a singer so uh songwriter and not a band without an opening act on thursday june 16th.

M

At 7 p.m to wrap up between 9 and 9 30, and it was acknowledged that when this was contemplated.

M

That june 16th should have been the last day of school, but there has since been a snow day and.

M

That's why we're calling attention to this request, and the third request involves another concert on.

M

Labor day itself, by a singer-songwriter, not a band and no opening act again from 7 p to 9 to 9 30 p.

M

And this would be technically a school night, because school is back in session.

M

We felt that these requests were thoughtfully made and consider it, relatively speaking, to.

M

The neighborhood and I would ask that the council consider extending their season to.

M

Include these three specific events on these three specific dates. Okay, I will uh await a.

B

uh The requested sample motion move to extend the prescott park, arts festival.

B

2022 season to include the requested dates so moved second, um and any discussion on this.

O

Council tabor um I've historically recused uh since I'm chair of the board of the arts.

O

Festival, so I'm gonna I'll do that. However, the city attorney's recommendation for.

O

My colleague the assistant mayor is is, is perfectly fine in my mind too, but I'll stick.

O

With my past practice, thank you councillor, tabor councillor, dunton um times have changed since.

I

The last three agreements were signed for all the nonprofits in prescott park.

I

So not specifically to this motion, but I'd like to encourage all three non-profits.

I

To look at the current contracts they have going into the upcoming contracts.

I

And think what they might need to do as well as they can in these times.

B

Council nope. Well, I will be supporting this. I feel as though there's a.

B

They are uh justifiable um in terms of uh the juneteenth uh film uh look forward to, hopefully.

B

Attending that the concerts both before the the school um officially ends and uh well, it begins.

B

Was was impressed with the the means of which this was.

B

Requested and the effort to work with the community on this, noting that they.

B

Are both not large bands with opening acts but singer-songwriters and look forward to.

B

Moving the question um with a roll call vote because counselor bagley is on zoom.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor, tabor abstain, okay, counselor dunton, yes, councilman rowe; yes,.

A

Council bagley: yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock; yes, council cook, yes, mayor mcafee, yes,.

A

One abstention otherwise, eight to zero.

M

Moving on your honor to number four under city manager, action items would be the union cemetery.

M

Listing on the state register of historic places, the city has the opportunity to list this cemetery.

M

On maplewood avenue, on the state's register of historic places and through the efforts of the.

M

Newly reconstituted and revived cemetery committee, an inventory of the historic features of the.

M

Cemetery prepared some years ago by city staff was presented recently to the new hampshire division.

M

Of historic resources, who has indicated that this inventory is sufficient to move forward with.

M

The process for listing which is exciting and would make the this cemetery eligible for state.

M

Grants and other funding opportunities and I'd just like to thank deputy city attorney.

M

And deputy city manager suzanne woodland for her help and stewarding the cemetery committee along.

B

uh I was going to do that.

B

I will await the sample motion uh to move to authorize the city manager to proceed to take.

B

The additional steps uh to have the union cemetery listed on the state register of historic places so.

H

Moved second, any questions or comments, uh I would just for the record uh restate that the efforts.

B

Of the assistant uh city manager has been noted to me by numerous members of the cemetery commission.

B

And I want to thank all of those members for the amount of work that they've put in. In terms of.

B

Just the time and effort and the enthusiasm that they've brought uh to this uh previously.

B

uh Overlooked part of our city, so I wanna publicly acknowledge and thank that.

B

And if we could, please have a roll call vote assistant mayor kelly. Yes, councillor, tabor, yes,.

A

Councillor denton, yes, councilman rowe, yes, council badly; yes, council, lombardi, yes, council, blaylock,.

A

Yes, council cook, yes, mayor, mccacklin, yes, unanimous great number: five uh is a temporary construction.

M

License to be uh recognized and requested by the owner of c545 market street llc.

M

This party is performing interior and exterior improvements at the location of 45 market street.

M

The note the owner pardon me, the owner, has encumbered the sidewalk in front of their property.

M

With pass through staging for 30 consecutive days and beyond that, and due to a small delay.

M

And receipt of materials necessary to complete the project they're looking to re, seek this license.

M

Agreement and typically it is calculated out, as you see here, with our typical licensed language.

M

The total amount to be charged would be 94.50 for the 18 days between april 13th and april 30th.

M

However, I'm reminded that when the public has access to the license area through past pass.

M

Through staging license, fees are typically waived. The council should know that legal and planning.

M

Departments have both reviewed and approved this license and would look for a motion to.

M

Approve the license and the waiving of the fee is up to the council so moved. Second, any discussion.

B

We will have a roll call vote, then.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, councillor, denton, yes, councilman rowe,.

A

Yes, council bagley, yes, council lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, council cut; yes, ma'am keckron.

I

Yes, number six in the packet tonight is approval of superintendent, zachary mclaughlin's.

M

Contract, it is a proposed proposed three-year employment agreement between the school.

M

District and dr mclaughlin and this employment agreement has been approved by the portsmouth.

M

School board and the details can be found in your packet. So while there is no simple motion.

M

I would imagine the sample motion would be to approve this contract as presented.

H

Second, any discussion.

B

Counselor bagley yeah I just want to um as I I think, I'm in the unique position of being.

C

The only counselor with a student in this, uh the portion of schools, because I think your.

C

Children are a little bit too young to uh one year counselor back so far. um I'm just uh excited.

C

To welcome the new superintendent on board and uh we'll be supporting the contract.

B

Thank you, councillor bagley and yes,.

B

uh Thank you councilman for those that are tuning in, for the first time on uh contracts.

B

Contracts uh in terms of employment agreements, although the the uh school board selects them.

B

They come before the council for approval, and that is the case with this, so I will enter or.

B

We have the motion move to a roll call vote.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, council, denton, yes, councilman moreau; yes,.

A

Council bagley: yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock; yes, council cook; yes, ma'am mcheckern, yes,.

A

Unanimous number seven under my name, is a verbal update on mcintyre redevelopment project.

M

And I'd like to turn it over to mayor mchecker. Thank you, city manager, canard. This is the the.

B

Update is that we will have a public meeting um and we will schedule that for wednesday and due to.

B

Hdc uh we will schedule that for 5 30 5 30. um and I was looking to karen. So she probably.

B

Could have given the update, um but uh we'll have opportunity uh for public comment um as well as.

B

Any uh information that we will be deliberating uh certainly 24 hours before uh that meeting.

B

That is the update. Thank you. Number eight under my name would be a request to schedule a public.

M

Hearing on april 18th at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting to accept the.

M

Second, trash of american rescue plan act funds, as anticipated to arrive in may um similar to.

M

How the first ranch arrived in may of 21., so, um as mentioned in the packet, the first trash in.

M

The in the amount of six million four hundred and forty one thousand dollars was received in may and.

M

Publicly accepted by a public hearing by the city council on june 21st 2021, um as as we know, we are.

M

Set to receive the second tranche in the same amount of 6.5 million, we are looking.

M

To be proactive and schedule, a public hearing to formally accept these funds so that we can.

M

Move through the process with the council, I make a motion that we schedule the city council at our.

E

Next april 18th meeting to have the public hearing to accept the second branch of harbor funds. Second,.

B

No comments, no questions. uh We will move to a roll call vote.

B

Again, because of counselor bagley's on zoom, I wouldn't mind a legal opinion on this going forward.

A

Assistant matt kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman moreau; yes,.

A

Council badly, yes, council lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, council cut, yes, ma'am mchechman.

B

Yes, so that's unanimous number, nine is last, but certainly not least, and probably.

M

The most complicated and to help with the conversation this evening, I'm going to share.

M

A short amount of slides that help walk folks through what we're suggesting here, and I want.

M

To make sure I'm doing this correctly, there we go so before you tonight we have a three-pronged.

M

Approach to the staff recommendation of the best way to acquire and finance the purchase of the.

M

Community campus complex, so we will re-identify the funding that was proposed and was approved.

M

And we will discuss tonight the use of american rescue plan act, funds moving forward.

M

So you will recall I'm just recapping the action that was taken back on december 20th 2021, which.

M

Established an appropriation for 10 million dollars for the acquisition of the property.

M

Known as community campus, and you will see that this chart reminds folks that we appropriated one.

M

Of just over 1.5 million through a combination of trust, special revenue and capital outlay,.

M

And we were projecting the allocation of 5.19 million in arpa revenue loss calculation, money.

M

Which totals the 6.766 million, therefore, explaining that the borrowing requirement.

M

Could be anywhere from 1.233 to 3.233 million, depending on the availability of the school's.

M

Esser funds, which were also covert related and as such, the bond authorization at that.

M

Time that was approved authorized the city to borrow up to 3.25 million. I'm told by I'm told.

M

By bond council that they like round numbers and that's why we rounded up to 3.25 million.

M

So that's what did happen since that time we did purchase the campus, the entire property on march.

M

14Th of 2022 and the borrowing for that initial allocation and authorization is scheduled to take.

M

Place this june, along with several other bond authorizations, that you're familiar with in the.

M

In the intervening time, between december 20th and and essentially now, the federal government.

M

Circulated a draft and then released the 400-page final rule document that spoke to.

M

How arpa funds could be used relative to any way that cities and towns wanted to allocate.

M

Those funds, and specifically to the purchase and use of real estate and staff, did a deep dive.

M

On understanding how the effect of arpa funds could be on any transaction, let alone this one.

M

Our concern and our understanding of the funds is that to use funds for the acquisition of.

M

Real estate could limit future uses of this property and, as such, we propose a different.

M

Way to essentially finance the the purchase, so in not only looking with staff, we also consulted.

M

Bond council and we, the city, uses loch lord and our financial advisor, who is hilltop securities.

M

And they're advising that we can and should in in our collective estimation, take the following.

M

Two distinct actions tonight and noting that we have 60 days from the date of purchase.

M

So that would be may 14th to potentially change and take action to change the funding sources.

M

So the ask is several pronged here tonight: the first would be to adopt a new resolution.

M

To appropriate the 10 million dollars from a combination of trusts, special revenues, capital.

M

Outlay and bond issues for the purchase, so that stays the same but we're looking to increase the.

M

Borrowing authorization from the 3.25 million that was authorized in december up to 8.423 million.

M

For the purchase of the campus and to rescind that resolutions, which utilized and laid out the.

M

Specific use of arpa funding for the purchase of the campus. We would then immediately want.

M

The council to adopt the second resolution, which would appropriate 5.26 million from arpa funds.

M

For arpa-eligible projects that we had previously planned to bond for and had gotten authorization.

M

For and so that second resolution would seek to rescind the borrowing authorizations for the.

M

Five one two, three, four four projects that you see in the box below and I know it's slightly.

M

Hard to read, but those projects are currently scheduled to be part of that june. Bondish.

M

Authorization and issuance and have been deemed to be arpa eligible expenses, so.

M

That was all very confusing. I'm hoping the next slide makes it a lot less confusing.

M

So bear with me a second while I walk you through this, so the reduction in the aboriginal community.

M

Campus bond authorization uh would take away 3.25 million in borrowing that represents savings. I'm.

M

Going to go back and forth from the left column to the right to bear with me on that as well. So.

M

If we don't bond use 3.25 million in bond, we save 32 500 in the what we were pledging and projecting.

M

To be the interest, only bond anticipation note payment. We then seek a reduction in.

M

Authorized debt of the 5.26 million in items we know to be arpa eligible that would save.

M

An additional 473 400 in fy 23 in permanent financing costs, and that assumes a 4 interest.

M

Rate on the bond, the third line speaks to issuing that large bond anticipation. Note of 8.423 million.

M

And on the right, you'll see our interest. Only bond anticipation, note payment reflected assuming an.

M

Interest rate of one and a half percent, because bans or bond anticipation notes typically have.

M

Much lower rates of interest so we're doing a ban or a bond anticipation of for two reasons.

M

The lower in the interest rate, uh which I just mentioned, and it does give us two years.

M

To make a final determination how on how best to permanently finance the purchase of the the campus.

M

And the property, so net change in the fy 23 budget would mean that we would effectively borrow 86 000.

M

Less overall and that would save us next year, 379 round up to 380 000 in projected debt payments.

M

So this is a bit of reiterating what we've asked the council to do.

M

Tonight we're asking for three things: we would ask to schedule a public hearing on april 18th.

M

To vote for the new resolution, which would appropriate 10 million as it did before, to.

M

Identify funds funding sources and to rescind that december resolution the second vote would be, and.

M

We have to take three distinctive votes. The second would be to schedule an april 18th public hearing.

M

And a second resolution that would appropriate 5.26 million from arpa funds.

M

For the identified projects and to rescind that prior bonding resolution for that same amount.

M

And to do that and to do that within the confines of arpa, we are asking for a third vote which.

M

Would schedule a listening session on april 11th, which would be a week from tonight as a special.

M

Meeting on the use of arpa funds for the purposes outlined in these resolutions,.

M

Thanks for listening to me, thank you city manager. um Would we.

B

Let's put a motion uh on the floor and then we'll we'll take questions to speak to it. uh Counselor.

B

Cook I moved to schedule a public hearing for april 18 2022 and a vote for the new resolution.

J

To appropriate the 10 million dollars for the purchase of community campus identify the funding.

J

Sources of trust, fund, special revenue, funds, capital outlay and borrowing authorization of.

J

Eight million four hundred and twenty three thousand eight hundred and twenty dollars.

J

And seventy cents and rescind resolution 26-2021 from december 20th 2021. second.

B

Three, did you um combine all of those? No, I just did the first one just so I was gonna. Do three.

B

Different motions- yes, just a all right, those following along at home. All right uh is there.

B

And there's a second uh any comments on that counselor cook. Would you like to speak to that.

J

um I think it's important that we go ahead and move forward with this action, given our.

J

Limited time frame and there will be room for discussion clearly at public, clear public hearing.

H

This is the mayor. I think it's also important to note that um when the prior council.

D

The the I'm sorry the knowledge of our for funds is was, is ever-changing and now we know.

D

From the federal government, more specific outlines of what we can and cannot do with.

D

Those funds, so I think it's very important that um that's recognized.

D

That this information is new and now updated in the most current.

H

All right councilman, uh in addition to that, it's going to allow us to have the most flexibility.

E

Of what we do in the future at the community campus, and so we want to be able to have that.

E

Flexibility and this sort of changing around how we're paying for different projects is.

E

Going to allow us to do that, and I think that's an important thing to move forward on.

B

All right with that, we'll have a roll call vote on this. uh The first of three.

B

Motions that need to occur assistant, mayor kelly.

A

Yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman, yes, councillor bagley,.

A

Yes, council lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, council club, yes, councilman cochran, uh yes,.

B

Next I'll wait a motion uh on b counselor barty. I was going to make the motion.

G

Schedule for I moved to schedule for april 18th.

G

To 2022 public hearing and vote for a second resolution that would appropriate.

G

um Five: five million two hundred and sixty thousand dollars from arpa funds for the.

G

Identified projects and rescind the prior bonding resolutions of 5 million 260 dollars.

G

Period second,.

G

Where are we? uh Are we on? That's the second one.

B

You read from the are you reading it from the city, manager's notes or the okay. Okay, all right.

B

All right, that makes sense. I was following along in the uh in the in the agenda, which was slightly.

B

Different but provided that uh works great all right, I have a simple question: is this funding.

I

Coming from the first tranche of arpa or the second tranche first, it was, it would definitely.

M

Be coming from the first trash and in terms of process, we look forward not only to having that.

M

Listening session on april 11th to speak to just these items but to a future date.

M

When we can talk to the remaining balance of the upper funds, which would include the second trash.

B

All right uh a system here- oh no, we got vote on this first uh kelly. Would you please call the roll.

B

Yes, assistant mayor kelly: yes counselor tabor, yes, council, denton, yes, councilman moreau; yes,.

A

Council bagley: yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council clerk, yes ma'am hecarim; yes,.

A

Unanimous all right and finally, I look forward to a motion uh that move that a.

B

Listening session relative to the use of the arpa funds for the purposes outlined above.

B

Be scheduled for april 11th, 2022. you're, so moved. Second, any comments, questions, questions, counselor.

E

What time would our listening session be? Starting, that's a great question if.

M

The council were supportive of the session. We would pull the council on their availability.

M

I just want to make sure I put it in my celt. I would imagine it's either 6 30 or 7., whatever.

M

The will of the council might be. I don't think we bump into any other meetings that evening.

B

For the purposes of the.

B

Good counselors uh schedule uh can we mark that as 7 p.m? In the motion.

B

Kelly, could you please call the the vote I'll call the question assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor.

A

Tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman! Yes, council bagley, yes, council, lombardi, yes, council.

A

Blaylock, yes, council clerk; yes, miami kequin, yes, unanimous! Thank you all right. We've made.

B

It on to the consent agenda. um I look forward to a motion uh the consent agenda. Second, any discussion.

B

Kelly, can you please uh call the question? Yes, oh yeah, yeah assistant mayor kelly. Yes,.

A

Counselor tabor, yes, councillor denton, yes, councilman morrell, yes, also bagley, council.

A

Lombardi, yes, sponsored blaylock, yes, console cook, yes, mermaid ketchum, yes, unanimous in the calendar.

B

Next up, we have email correspondence.

B

With a sample motion move to accept and place on file, so I moved your honor second.

B

And when the good city clerk is ready, she will call the vote. Call the question assistant mayor kelly.

A

Yes, councillor tabor, yes, councillor denton, yes, councilman moreau; yes, council bagley! Yes,.

A

Council and barney: yes, council, blue lot. Yes, council cook; yes, ma'am mcgregor! Yes,.

B

Next, we have a letter uh from perry and kristen silverstein regarding outdoor dining as well as.

B

A letter from michael lewandowski of larue kitchen, requesting that the parking spaces that the city.

B

Council eliminated to provide outdoor seating be returned as parking spaces. I will entertain.

B

A sample motion to move to accept and place on file so moved. Second, any questions comments.

B

Kelly when you are ready, uh please call the question assistant mayor.

A

Kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, councillor, denton, yes, councilman, yes, council, bagley,.

H

Yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, jim mckechn, yes, unanimous.

B

So will the council everybody good to keep going? Okay, all right on to.

B

Well, we have to, I: would we didn't get to stop we gotta break? Does anybody need a break.

B

No, it actually is a break, could use a break. Okay, I'll call for a.

B

uh A seven minute recess uh and we'll return uh to uh the counselor's agenda. Thank you.

M

I know you're not feeling well going to your head.

L

E

So you know, I know what you're talking about.

E

D

B

B

Thank you for humoring us uh in the uh the intermission there uh under my name. I have a few.

B

Items one we already covered. um The first is love and kilnery steve scott. One of the producers on.

B

This from portsmouth came to me with the request of a proclamation on uh love and kiln area. It is.

B

um A film that will be uh having its uh theatrical debut uh here in portsmouth on the ninth um and.

B

And for that um there is a proclamation uh that I plan to read uh that is in your packet um on.

B

Knowing portsmouth as kilnery uh for the day, I I think that harold beat me to any uh story on that.

B

And stating that this is already done, but it's a proclamation um that will be read on april 9th.

B

um And it was in response to just the uh awesome amount of work that went into the production of.

B

The film, um but also uh how uh the filmmakers became entwined um in our community were put.

B

Up in our houses filmed at our restaurants um and generally uh called portsmouth home, it's something.

B

That I think we're all proud of, and I look forward to joining the 7 p.m. uh Showing of that on.

B

This saturday uh april, the 9th um second under my name, was the recognition of john leath, who.

B

uh We did recognize and- and I was appreciative of that um next up is appointments to be considered.

B

No votes required here. uh First, the appointment of lynn vaccaro to the conservation commission.

B

The appointment of celeste brooks to the cemetery committee and the appointment of jody record to.

B

The library board of trustees, uh you have their applications uh in the packet and ask.

B

For your to review that uh before our our next meeting, um so that we can vote on as we will.

B

For the appointments to be voted so first up is the reappointment of rob capone to the cable.

B

And television and communications commission, the appointment of laura lee godfrey to the.

B

Sustainable practices blue ribbon committee and the appointment of alana rook to the arts and.

B

Non-Profits blue ribbon committee. I would avoid a motion uh to make those appointments so moved.

O

Second, any comments. No, I very much thank uh these members of our community for putting themselves.

B

Forward uh for this service um of our community- and I will be uh voting in the affirmative.

B

Kelly, will you please call the role or the call the question? No, I keep saying well.

A

Okay assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, council, denton, yes, councilman, yes, council.

A

Bagley, yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, mayor mcequin,.

B

Yes, unanimous and then next up we are on to.

B

The city council members uh agenda first, a uh councillor denton and councillor barty.

I

Thank your honor I'm going to make the motion which is in front of you.

I

For a report back on the costs associated with waiving the following non-resident daily fees,.

I

For military military, dependents veterans and veteran caregivers, two dollars for children.

I

And four dollars for adults to use pierce island outdoor pool ten dollars for kayaks.

I

Canoes and any other non-motorized watercraft to use pierce island boat, launch and twenty.

I

Dollars from motorized watercraft, jet skis and or sailboats to use the pierce island boat, launch.

I

There's a second I'll speak to that I'll. Second, it.

I

So, to be clear, this is for a report back, I'm not sure what the costs will be for this, but.

I

I did reach out to the kittery school system and there's currently 147 students that are military.

I

Dependents in the town of kittery alone, the town of kittery does not have a pool, nor does the.

I

Shipyard, so the closest pool uh obviously would be the one that they could see almost every day.

I

It's two dollars for non-residents to currently use that pool the shipyard does have a splash.

I

Pad for kids to play, but a lot of military kids don't live there, so they then have to.

I

Go through security to go play and be far easier, just to come use hours. um The same is for almost.

I

Everything else listed here and again, this is for a report back whether we decide just to allow.

I

Military and military dependents to use the pool or if we would allow other things under this, like.

I

Them being able to launch kayaks for free or um veterans and their dependents being able to use.

I

The um jet skis, or whatever else for free that can all wait to see what the costs for this might be.

I

And thank you for considering thank you, counselor denton, counselor barty. uh Yes, thank you mayor.

G

My concern with this personally is that the breadth of of it and uh the impact on the fees.

G

And so I'm glad that it's a motion to study and um I think that.

G

There is some merit to it, um but I I also wonder about the uh scope of it.

B

Thanks counselor barty. Well um with that, I do think that it's a it's a study and and fees are.

B

There certainly on a revenue generation standpoint, but sometimes also from a.

B

Resource allocation standpoint um so uh we'll be interested in in that, but that is covered.

B

In this and look forward to uh reviewing that report back at a future date, oh does counselor.

B

Bagley have his hand up, he does he's holding his fist. I can't see that sometimes but yeah.

C

Counselor bagley yeah. Thank you for your honor. I guess um with that report back. It would be.

C

Beneficial, I think, to look at if we were to eliminate the fee for the pure, silent pool.

C

How much would that affect attendance, and would we be in a situation where we have.

C

Potentially uh having to turn away people from the pool, because it's too full.

C

And- and I don't know how you analyze that data, but I would be interested to make sure that.

C

We're not going to create a situation where the attendance at the pool becomes.

C

Unmanageable from a health and safety standpoint, thank you. Councillor, bagley.

B

uh City clerk, when you are ready, please call the question assistant eric kelly. Yes,.

A

Counselor tabor, yes, councillor denton, yes, councilman, yes, council bagley, yes, council.

A

Lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, ma'am, mccoon, yes, unanimous! Thank you.

B

Next up counselor cook: first, with a verbal update on the governance committee, thank you mayor.

J

This is not a formal update from the governance committee. I just thought I should let everyone.

J

On the council know what governance has been discussing for the last several.

J

Weeks since we're this is the first time we're bringing something back to the council.

J

Tonight um we've been working on rules of the of the council, which you will see tonight.

J

And um there are some recommended changes coming from governance in your packet.

J

We've also been discussing the ethics ordinance and we are continuing discussions on that. We.

J

May have some additional rules changes as well, that we recommend, but that isn't determined yet.

J

And then the the governance committee is also moving on to discussion of committee structure.

J

And the charter review process, so we have a lot of work to do. I anticipate that the governance.

J

Committee will have a more formal report for the council at mid-year, but I thought you should have.

J

Just this basic upside, so you understand that tonight we're bringing um our first.

J

Recommendation back to the council for uh some changes to the rules. Thank you. Councillor cook,.

B

And next up, I believe you have a continue to have the floor with proposed.

B

Changes recommended by the governance committee to the rules and orders of the ports of city council.

B

Yes, I await that sample motion. Thank you mayor. um I move to accept the changes to the rules.

J

And orders of the portsmouth city council proposed by the governance committee. Second, any discussion.

B

On those rules, your honor uh council rule 39 provides two options in this situation.

H

By suspension on the rule, the council could vote on these changes tonight or notice of the changes.

H

Could happen tonight and the rules would then be amended by a simple majority of the next meeting.

H

Okay, it would be councillor cook's option, whichever counselor cook. What is your pleasure.

J

uh I would love to hear from the rest of the council on views on this, but I would recommend.

J

A suspension of the rules to go ahead and vote on these recommended changes. The reason that I would.

J

Request, that is that we have had publicly noticed governance committee meetings where we've already.

J

Had public comment on on these recommended changes that are coming before you tonight. Thank you.

B

Councillor cook, uh councillor bagley and then the assistant mayor. um I guess I have two comments. One.

C

um I don't think everybody follows the committee meetings as closely as council meetings, so I think.

C

We should not suspend the rules tonight just to give people a chance if they want to comment on.

C

Any of these changes- I know they're mostly minor in procedurals, but I don't want to set a precedent.

C

When we potentially make major changes in the future that we don't notice it um on rule, 47.

C

It the change is all vacancies on boards and commissions shall be publicly advertised. Is.

C

There, a cost associated with that is, does publicly advertised mean it has to go into seacoast online.

C

Or some other method, or does it just mean that we're posting it on the city website.

A

We we currently do this. We post the information onto the city's website.

A

Legal notices are only advertised if it is a board or commission.

A

um Appointment that is expiring and or someone is leaving the board. I hope that's clear.

C

Your honor, if I maybe if I could clarify that question.

C

Certainly is: do we expect that this will be more expensive to the city? This change. No. Thank you.

B

uh Oh assistant, mayor, sorry, thank you. Your honor.

D

I would also um publicly say that I, I think that we should. We should notice this.

D

Much to consular bagley's point is that um and and the work of the government's committee has.

D

Been amazing, I've watched all of the meetings it is dedicated. It is long, hard, tedious things.

D

And so I thank the counselors who have taken on that task and I also thank the public who have.

D

Been involved in the public dialogue within that. I do think, though, that these meetings hold a broader.

D

Audience, and so due to that reason, I would, I would suggest the the public option for the next meeting.

I

Counselor denton, I do have a question. I don't know. If anyone here can answer it.

I

When we initially adopted the rules, was there a gap in time where they were first reviewed.

I

And then voted on at the following meeting, or was it simply? We saw them and voted on them.

I

And home recalls, the normal process is that at the beginning of each council,.

H

Session the council adopts the rules which had been affected, the previous council so.

I

I'm actually aligned with counselor cook on this. I prefer to vote on these tonight.

I

Because there aren't huge changes and they can still be changed, which is ongoing.

B

Councilman under conflict of interest, when it.

E

You have the additional note that there will be additional provisions of the charter.

E

I'm just wondering if we should actually list out what those provisions are, so that people.

E

Whether it's a specific rule or section just so that someone wouldn't have to then.

E

Be searching around for what provisions we're speaking about? Does that make sense.

B

Counselor cook, would you like to respond. I will say that this.

J

Reference reference was added just to provide clarity for council members, but the reason that.

J

It's not specific is because there could be additional changes to the charter or to.

J

The ethics ordinance- and we wouldn't want to presuppose that here because.

J

Then we would have to come back again and change the rules to reflect those changes.

J

No one likes changing.

B

Any other questions and has the the.

B

The I guess, the direction uh that counselor cook.

B

Would uh like to go forth? Has that been changed by the uh the conversation thus far.

J

I think thank you mayor. um I would say that um the reason that I went ahead and put the.

J

Motion in for tonight was that in the past, when we had adopted rules for the council or any changes.

J

To rules, they were just publicly noticed like everything else in the packet the friday before.

J

The council meeting and then we adopted them the following monday, so it has not been the practice.

J

Of of this council, at least since january, to notice these and then give a few weeks.

J

To wait for adoption, so we have adopted the rules in two different sessions already.

J

As a council, so this would be just additional changes that were recommended and in this time.

J

They would be coming from the governance committee. I should note that some of these changes are also.

J

Coming from recommendations that came from staff as well, I think counselor cook any further debate.

B

Councillor moreau a moment of clarity is our motion right now, just to suspend the rules or to.

B

I believe it is yes, okay, thank you. I got lost.

B

So with that, we will have a roll call vote to suspend the rules.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, no.

A

Counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton,.

A

Councilman morrell: yes, council, bagley, no council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council cook; yes,.

B

No okay motion passes six to three, and that is a uh that carries the day right. No, it means.

H

That the rules are now suspended and it could be a motion to a doctor. The amendments, I await emotion.

G

I may I make a motion to adopt the rules.

H

B

Any further discussion on any of the rules- counselor tabor, yes,.

O

We didn't have the city attorney with us, but I did want to ask regarding public dialogue.

O

In the past I know there was public dialogue in which the whole council.

O

Was involved and residents could ask questions of us and we would respond in a dialogue.

O

But I think we've been given some guidance that.

O

We can only have three counselors: do that, um because we'd have there's no way to keep minutes.

O

Necessarily, uh if you have the whole council- and um so I just wanted to get the city's attorney's.

O

Opinion on that, I thought there was benefit when all nine counselors could engage with citizens.

O

When we did that in the past, on the other hand, we we have to abide by the rsas.

O

So do we do we are we required to not have a quorum for a public dialogue.

O

The public, the if you do not have a quorum of counselors, it.

H

Does not trigger the right to no law requirements of notice, minutes, etc.

B

So or concert tabor continue on so.

O

If they were properly noticed,.

O

For example, if all nine of the counselors were engaged in question and answer with residents.

O

um That's a quorum that would be properly noticed.

O

I I'm not I'm not understanding why we couldn't take minutes. Well, I think we so just to I have the.

B

Rule pulled up we previously could under that, and then that was changed um and counselor cook. Maybe.

B

Shed some light on on on why it was changed, the the part that of rule 46, that's, struck and or.

B

Stricken um by vote of the council, such council public dialogue sessions.

B

May be scheduled to be held at other times in other locations in the city, beyond city hall,.

B

I'll council public dialogue sessions shall be held in accordance with rsa 91a, the right to.

B

Know while by notice being made and then it's being taken, counselor cook, thank you mayor.

J

The changes to public dialogue were made to reflect the reality of practice. In some cases.

J

In practice, public dialogue when all counselors are present is difficult at best to record minutes.

J

It's it's it's difficult for staff to capture the entirety of the dialogue and in part of.

J

That discussion and we want to make sure that we're following the right to low law accurately.

J

So a solution for that that would resolve um the the conflict with right to know.

J

Would be to not create a quorum but to still have public dialogue sessions and limit them.

J

To no more than three counselors at a time that would allow for continued public dialogue sessions.

J

It would allow for participation of all counselors, because this would envision that the mayor.

J

Designate on a rotational basis who participates in those public dialogue sessions.

J

And it would also remove some of the we had some complaints about.

J

Minutes not being accurate or not being an accurate reflection of what.

J

Occurred in public dialogue, it would remove that burden from the council.

B

Thank you, council cook, council, councilor denton, having been on the council when public dialogue.

I

Was first created and then essentially being one, the council on public dialogue ended due to the.

I

Pandemic, I could speak to this wholeheartedly. It was incredibly difficult for staff for the.

I

Counselors and for the public to get a benefit from it, where we would sit here and have the.

I

Council go in this corner: half the council would go in that corner. There would be topics assigned.

I

Sometimes the mayor would kind of float back and forth. The city manager would have to pick where.

I

At that point he was going to go and we would try to have the clerk at one table. The deputy.

I

Clerk at the other table- and it was incredibly hectic and it didn't meet the purpose because.

I

The original purpose of public dialogue was to give people the chance to interact.

I

Not on camera, because sometimes people don't feel comfortable being on camera, but we quickly learned.

I

Is people wanted to be on camera? Who were there because they want to make sure that what they said.

I

Was recorded correctly in the minutes, and it just didn't work well, so changing it to this, I think.

I

Will work far better than how it did previously and we could easily change it again if we think.

I

Of a better way to do it, but I think this is a step in the right direction, how it used to be done.

B

Okay, counselor barty one of the thoughts in doing it. This way was that.

G

The public dialogue could take place outside of these chambers and in the community and.

G

The thought of doing doing a public dialogue in each ward, for example,.

G

With three counselors and a staff member to really facilitate more of an open discussion.

G

And, rather than I we so we see the public dialogue as a place.

G

Where people can ask questions and have a discussion about things.

G

Whereas the people come to the podium they they just present to us and.

G

Want to be on record for what they say.

G

It's a different type of opportunity and the thought of bringing.

G

It out into the community was, we thought, was a benefit.

B

Thank you, councilmember.

B

Any other questions on any other outside of that.

B

Work sessions or uh disposition of motions we've ingrained a friendly amendment in the in the in.

B

The actual record here of our rules, probably to the chagrin of our city clerk, we do have those.

B

Now, um okay, um I think we're ready to have a roll call vote on this motion assistant mayor kelly.

A

Yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman rowe, yes, council, bagley, yes, council.

A

Lombardi, yes, council blaylock. Yes, council code, yes, mayor mcgregor, yes, thank you for the hard work.

B

Okay, next up is the approvals of grants and donations. First.

B

Is the acceptance of donation to the skateboard park uh from summer sessions.

B

Of one thousand twenty five dollars your honor, I move to approve and accept the.

D

Donations as presented second all right, and could we please have a roll call vote.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, councilwoman tabor, yes, counselor, gentler, yes, councilmember! Yes,.

A

Council bagley: yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council club, yes grandma category; yes,.

B

Next up is the acceptance of grant from the new hampshire department of justice through.

B

The victims of crime act or voca for expenses incurred in services provided for direct.

B

Victim services to include expenses for personnel.

B

Of twenty four thousand seven hundred and fifty nine dollars a sample motion would be to move.

B

To approve and accept the grant for the police department, as presented so moved your honor second.

B

And I will ask for a roll call vote assistant mayor kelly. Yes, counselor tabor, yes,.

A

Counselor denton, yes, councillor moreau, yes, council bagley, yes,.

A

Council lombardi, yes, council, blaylock, yes, council caught; yes, mayor, mccrin, yes, unanimous! Thank you.

B

Next up uh the city, manager's informational items, which I do not think require a vote on any of them.

M

Your honor, if I could, for the record, I'd like to read in item number five, because it.

M

It technically is verbal, but I shared with folks in the packet that this wednesday at.

M

Four o'clock: the new hampshire department of environmental services, wetlands bureau.

M

Is holding a public hearing to receive public comment on an application from.

M

P's aviation partners llc for property located at the trade port on exeter street.

B

Thank you city manager, and that was before conservation commission. Previously, okay,.

B

Anything under miscellaneous or any questions on the informational items of the city manager.

B

Counselor tabor, just following up on our discussion of touring the police facility.

O

Maybe it would make sense for the city manager to have groups of three, as we've done set up some.

O

Possible dates for groups of three and sign ups.

M

Happy to do that, um one of the folks in my office will be in touch with folks and we'll right, we'll.

M

Gather that information, then we wouldn't have a quorum and folks could go with their convenience.

I

Counselor done as far as the items which the are under the same manager's name, I.

I

Just want to thank the department of public works for including the initial steps to.

I

Install a electric vehicle charging station, potentially at the bridge street lot. Thank you.

H

All right! Well, um if there are no other uh comments,.

B

Questions miscellaneous: uh I move uh a way to motion to adjourn.

O

B

And we will need a do. We need a role. We need a roll call vote for this as well. I'm still on zoom.

E

Oh andrew assistant, yes, counselor, tabor, counselor, denton, yes, councilman moreau, yes, council, bagley,.

O

Yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock; yes, council cook; yes, yes, good night, portsmouth,.