OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Claremont City Council Special Meeting – January 6, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 6, 2026
BodyClaremont, New Hampshire
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Um we also by the useful that evening.

0:05

Welcome to the Climate City Council special meeting for Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

0:10

Would you please join me in the pledge?

0:15

To the flags of the United States of America.

0:18

And to the Republic for which it stands to my nation under the individual with liberty and justice crawl.

0:33

Miss Melcher, would you like to start off with the oaths?

0:44

Okay.

0:52

So I think if you examine, then you can face the other hands.

0:55

Okay.

0:55

That's that's what you're saying.

0:57

Face to your right.

1:01

I'll do solemnly swear.

1:04

Do solemnly swear.

1:05

Then I will bear faith and true allegiance.

1:07

I will bear faith and true allegiance.

1:09

To the United States of America.

1:11

And to the State of New Hampshire.

1:12

To the State of New Hampshire.

1:13

And we'll support the Constitution thereof.

1:16

And we'll support the Constitution thereof.

1:18

So help me God.

1:19

Help me God.

1:20

I'll do solemnly swear.

1:24

Do solemnly swear.

1:26

That I will faithfully.

1:27

I will faithfully.

1:28

And impartially discharge.

1:29

And impartially discharge.

1:31

And conform all the duties.

1:34

Incumbent on me.

1:36

As mayor.

1:37

As mayor.

1:37

For the city of Clarmont.

1:39

For the city of Clarmouth.

1:40

According to the best of my abilities.

1:41

According to the best of my abilities.

1:43

Agreeably to the rules and regulations.

1:47

Of the Constitution.

1:49

And the laws of the State of New Hampshire.

1:50

And the laws of the state of New Hampshire.

1:51

So help me up.

1:52

So help me up.

1:54

Thank you.

1:59

Assistant mayor.

2:12

I Deborah Mata.

2:29

So help me God.

2:30

So I help me God.

2:31

I'm a natural.

2:34

Do solemnly swear.

2:35

You solemnly swear.

2:36

That I will faithfully and impartially discharge.

2:38

That I will faithfully and impartially discharge.

2:41

And perform all the duties.

2:43

And perform all the duties.

2:44

Incumbent on me.

2:45

Incumbent on me.

2:46

As assistant mayor.

2:47

As assistant mayor for the city of Claremont.

2:49

For the city of Claremont.

2:50

According to the best of my abilities.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Committee Reports████████████████████████24%
Community Engagement██████████████████18%
Policy Review Committee██████████10%
Procurement Policy████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Claremont City Council Special Meeting – January 6, 2026

This meeting began with the swearing-in of newly elected and returning council members. After the oaths, the council moved to new business, including the formation of a procurement policy review committee, review of water/sewer rate study proposals, a mayoral address, and appointments to various boards and committees. All votes were unanimous.

Discussion Items

  • Procurement Policy Review Committee: City Manager Bates proposed forming an ad hoc committee to update the procurement policy with no more than three council members. The committee will include council members, the city manager, and key staff, meeting during working hours and open to the public. The goal is to produce a revised policy for adoption by the end of April 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Councilors Irish, Cogswell, and Greenrose volunteered to serve. The council approved the formation and appointed them.
  • Water/Sewer Rate Study Proposals: Bates requested two council members to work with staff to review four proposals for a five-year water/sewer rate study. Meetings will be during working hours, open to the public but without comment. No formal vote is required as the proposals were procured via RFP. Councilors Cogswell and Hemingway volunteered to participate.

Mayor's Address

Mayor Gerard delivered a letter congratulating new and returning councilors, emphasizing integrity, transparency, and collaboration. He highlighted the importance of listening to citizens and staff and reaffirmed the city's focus on infrastructure improvements. He also congratulated Miss Bates on her permanent appointment as city manager in December 2025.

Appointments to Boards and Committees

The council made the following appointments, all by voice vote:

  • Airport Advisory Committee: Mayor Gerard (continued)
  • Claremont Community Television Board: Deferred to next meeting.
  • Planning Board: Assistant Mayor Matto (full seat), Councilor Kaloski (alternate seat)
  • Conservation Commission: Councilor Cogswell
  • Historic District Commission: Councilor Greenrose
  • Policy Committee: Deferred pending discussion.
  • EPA Multiyear Grant Stearing Committee: Councilor Cogswell (moved from private citizen to council seat)
  • Claremont Arts History and Cultural Resources: Deferred pending meeting day decision.
  • Francis J. Tolls Home Board of Trustees (ex-officio): Deferred.
  • Energy Advisory Committee: Councilor Greenrose

Key Outcomes

  • The Procurement Policy Review Committee was formed with Councilors Irish, Cogswell, and Greenrose.
  • Councilors Cogswell and Hemingway were selected to participate in reviewing water/sewer rate study proposals.
  • Several board and committee appointments were made; remaining appointments will be addressed at the next regular meeting on January 13, 2026.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Um we also by the useful that evening. Welcome to the Climate City Council special meeting for Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Would you please join me in the pledge? To the flags of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands to my nation under the individual with liberty and justice crawl. Miss Melcher, would you like to start off with the oaths? Okay. So I think if you examine, then you can face the other hands. Okay. That's that's what you're saying. Face to your right. I'll do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. Then I will bear faith and true allegiance. I will bear faith and true allegiance. To the United States of America. And to the State of New Hampshire. To the State of New Hampshire. And we'll support the Constitution thereof. And we'll support the Constitution thereof. So help me God. Help me God. I'll do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will faithfully. I will faithfully. And impartially discharge. And impartially discharge. And conform all the duties. Incumbent on me. As mayor. As mayor. For the city of Clarmont. For the city of Clarmouth. According to the best of my abilities. According to the best of my abilities. Agreeably to the rules and regulations. Of the Constitution. And the laws of the State of New Hampshire. And the laws of the state of New Hampshire. So help me up. So help me up. Thank you. Assistant mayor. I Deborah Mata. So help me God. So I help me God. I'm a natural. Do solemnly swear. You solemnly swear.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com