Claremont City Council Special Meeting on Hazardous Building at 13 Edgewood Street - September 26, 2025
Claremont City Council Special Meeting - September 26, 2025
The Claremont City Council held a special meeting on September 26, 2025, to discuss and take action on a hazardous building at 13 Edgewood Street. Chief Building Official Mr. Thibodeau presented findings of serious structural hazards, leading to a unanimous vote to order the owner to correct conditions under RSA 155-B.
Discussion Items
- The council heard a presentation from Mr. Thibodeau, Chief Building Official, regarding the property at 13 Edgewood Street. He reported that a September 23rd inspection revealed undermined footings, a 14-foot unbraced excavation, slope creep, sliding doors opening to midair, exposed wiring, debris, and plumbing issues. He stated that fines cannot correct the foundation problems and that council involvement is required under RSA 155B. He outlined four minimum demands: a licensed structural engineer's sealed package, a geotechnical letter, a sequencing and monitoring plan, and site safety measures including fencing, fall protection, and winterization. He emphasized that the request is not punitive but to ensure hazards are corrected.
Key Outcomes
- Councilor Zuter moved to order the repair or removal of the hazardous building at 13 Edgewood Street (tax map parcel ID 132-89) pursuant to RSA 155-B. The motion included a 30-day deadline for the owner to correct conditions as prescribed by the chief building official, including preventing imminent collapse, filling the cellar excavation, and performing permanent repair or removal. It also authorized the city manager to issue orders and enforce through court proceedings, and to recover costs.
- The motion was seconded by Assistant Mayor Matto and passed unanimously (9-0) on a roll call vote.
- Following the vote, the council adjourned unanimously.
Note: The transcript records the meeting date as September 30, 2025, but per the provided metadata the meeting occurred on September 26, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the special meeting for the Clark City Council on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025. Sister Mayor Actel, would you mind leading us in the pledge? I pledge you leading to the case. And to the Republic for which stance undervisible liberty and justice. Thank you. Mr. Rosa, when you have a moment, can we get a roll call, please? Councillor Klosky. Present. Counselor Greenrose. Here. Councillor Lamont. Here. Assistant Mayor Mattel. Here. Counselor Zeter. Here. Counselor Hemingway. Here. Councillor Hayden. Here, I'm calling in for my health and the two-year-old. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor O'Hearn. President. Mayor Gerard. Here. Thank you. Yeah. Item on the agenda for this evening is 13 Edward Street for discussion. Mr. Tibodeau, would you like to give a presentation? Mayor, members of the council. I want to begin by saying I understand the weight of what I'm bringing before you tonight, and I don't come to you lightly. If there's a matter that I could resolve through fines and routine code enforcement, I would handle it. But when the structure itself becomes hazardous, RSA 155B requires council involvement, and that's why I'm here. On September 23rd, I conducted a full inspection of 13 Edgewood. The findings were serious, undermined footings, 14 foot unbraced excavation, slope creep, undermining the structure, and sliding doors that open to the midair. These are not cosmetic issues, they're structural hazards in addition to the exposed riot wiring, debris, and plumbing that makes the dwelling unfit for safe habitation. Finds cannot correct the undermined foundations or slope instability. That's why state law provides this process. Only council has the authority to declare the structure hazardous and authorize abatement if the owner fails to act. My minimum demands are four things. One, I need licensed structural engineered sealed package containing the lateral system for braced wall design, uh temporary shoring plan sequence, excavation support, drainage. Um, and then I'd like to see a geotechnical letter saying that the establishing soil type and the allowing bearing of the lateral earth pressure. The third thing I would look to see is a sequencing and monitoring plan for stabilization and refounding under live loads. And then lastly, as I'm looking for site safety, fencing and fall protection, weather protection, and a winterization plan to protect his um exposed shoring. Finally, I want to emphasize that this isn't pumitive. My role is to protect the community in the city, and I'm not asking for council to punish Mr.
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