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Record of Proceedings

Claremont City Council Meeting - December 17, 2025: City Manager Contract Approved and Water Street Sale Price Adjusted

City Council — Wednesday, December 17, 2025
BodyClaremont, New Hampshire
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, December 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 17:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We can all do that.

0:01

I'll put in the one in receipt.

0:05

Yes.

0:08

Good evening.

0:09

Welcome to Climate City Council meeting for Wednesday, December 17th, 2025.

0:13

Councilor Hayden, would you mind leading us in the pledge, please?

0:22

For which it stands.

0:23

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice are all.

0:31

Thank you.

0:33

Miss Balcher, would you have a moment?

0:34

Get a roll call, please.

0:36

Councillor Kaloski.

0:37

Present.

0:38

Councillor Greenrose?

0:39

Here.

0:40

Councillor Lamoges?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilor Hemingway?

0:43

Here.

0:45

Counselor Zetter.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Counselor Hayden?

0:48

Here.

0:49

Councilor O'Hearn?

0:50

Present.

0:51

Assistant Mayor Matto?

0:52

Here.

0:53

Mayor Gerard.

0:54

Here.

0:55

Sorry.

0:57

Okay, did everybody get asked?

0:59

Yes.

1:00

Okay, we're good.

1:00

Okay.

1:01

You just went with that oil for us.

1:07

Yes.

1:08

Before we move on, um, Councillor Lemoje had asked me if he had could have a moment before we move on to the agenda.

1:15

Alrighty.

1:16

So last Sunday I put out a challenge to um raise some funds for the Solomon County Humane Society.

1:22

And I said if we hit 500 bucks that I would wear this thing.

1:27

So we we went past that a little bit.

1:29

We actually hit it up uh 905 dollars for the Sullivan County Humane Society.

1:34

I want to thank everybody who did that.

1:36

It's an organization who doesn't get near enough credit for what they actually do.

1:40

And uh just thank you very much.

1:42

Um and I'm really proud of this community from stepping up like that.

1:46

Thank you, Counselor.

1:47

So anybody else have anything we'd like to say before we move on to regular business?

1:51

Councillor Kaloski?

1:53

I think you would have won it anyways.

1:56

You're probably you're probably accurate with that.

1:58

So wrong.

2:00

Okay, uh moving on to new business.

2:02

First item on the new business is uh as everybody that's sitting here knows we were having the discussion for the permanent city manager decision.

2:10

Uh there is a contract that was on your desk um that uh was reviewed by the manager.

2:19

I think we sent it out last at the end of last week, uh to make sure there was everything there.

2:25

Uh I think the biggest things in the contract, uh the six-month review if we continue along with this.

2:32

The two classes which we talked about back in June for graduate level classes are in the contract uh continue to have her finish that up.

2:42

Uh salary is exactly what we talked about back in June, which is at the 152,000.

2:47

Uh vacation matches up to her current spot on the merit plan.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Affordable Housing████████████████20%
Animal Welfare███████████14%
Economic Development██████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Claremont City Council Meeting - December 17, 2025

The Claremont City Council met on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, with Mayor Gerard presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call. Councilor Lemoje reported that a fundraising challenge for the Sullivan County Humane Society raised $905, exceeding the goal of $500, and thanked the community. The council then proceeded to new business, addressing two major items: the permanent city manager contract for Nancy Bates and the adjusted sale price for the Water Street property.

Discussion Items

Permanent City Manager Contract for Nancy Bates The council discussed the proposed contract for Nancy Bates to become permanent city manager. Key points included: a six-month review provision, graduate-level classes (two classes, as previously discussed in June), salary set at $152,000, vacation matching her current merit plan position, and a clause restricting outside employment (moonlighting) to protect the city. Councilor Hemingway noted a typographical error in Section 1, paragraph B, where "acting city manager" should read "city manager" and asked for correction. Councilor O'Hearn expressed concern that the position was not publicly advertised for applications, arguing for transparency. The council voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the contract. Following the vote, Miss Bates was sworn in as permanent city manager, effective January 1, 2026.

Water Street Property Sale Price Adjustment The council considered a request from the buyer to adjust the purchase price for the Water Street property due to issues discovered during due diligence (electrical service and water infiltration). The original price was $1,100,000; the buyer requested $807,000. City Manager Bates noted that the city would still be in the black on the transaction and that the developer had demonstrated quality work and commitment to Claremont. Council members expressed support, noting that the primary goal was to promote housing development (28-30 apartments) rather than profit. The council voted unanimously (9-0) to accept the updated purchase and sale price of $807,000, with closing scheduled for Tuesday, December 23.

Key Outcomes

  • City Manager Contract Approved: The council approved Nancy Bates's permanent city manager contract with a 9-0 vote. She was sworn in and will assume the permanent role on January 1, 2026.
  • Water Street Sale Adjusted: The council accepted the reduced purchase price of $807,000 for the Water Street property, also by a 9-0 vote, with closing set for December 23.
  • Upcoming Events: The council noted that a special swearing-in ceremony for new council members and related training are expected to occur on January 6 or 7, 2026, subject to scheduling. A brief discussion addressed the period between terms when no governing body exists; the mayor committed to ensuring early swearing-in if needed.
  • Meeting Adjourned: The meeting adjourned with a motion and second, with no further business.

Meeting Transcript

We can all do that. I'll put in the one in receipt. Yes. Good evening. Welcome to Climate City Council meeting for Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Councilor Hayden, would you mind leading us in the pledge, please? For which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice are all. Thank you. Miss Balcher, would you have a moment? Get a roll call, please. Councillor Kaloski. Present. Councillor Greenrose? Here. Councillor Lamoges? Here. Councilor Hemingway? Here. Counselor Zetter. Here. Counselor Hayden? Here. Councilor O'Hearn? Present. Assistant Mayor Matto? Here. Mayor Gerard. Here. Sorry. Okay, did everybody get asked? Yes. Okay, we're good. Okay. You just went with that oil for us. Yes. Before we move on, um, Councillor Lemoje had asked me if he had could have a moment before we move on to the agenda. Alrighty. So last Sunday I put out a challenge to um raise some funds for the Solomon County Humane Society. And I said if we hit 500 bucks that I would wear this thing. So we we went past that a little bit. We actually hit it up uh 905 dollars for the Sullivan County Humane Society. I want to thank everybody who did that. It's an organization who doesn't get near enough credit for what they actually do. And uh just thank you very much. Um and I'm really proud of this community from stepping up like that. Thank you, Counselor. So anybody else have anything we'd like to say before we move on to regular business? Councillor Kaloski? I think you would have won it anyways.

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