Claremont City Council Meeting Summary – April 22, 2026

The Claremont City Council met on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included agenda changes, approval of prior minutes, city manager reports, a lengthy first-reading discussion of a new motor vehicle racetrack licensing ordinance, a structural engineering study of the Claremont Visitor Center, budget transparency memos, and committee reports. The meeting was notable for extensive public comment on the proposed racetrack ordinance, with neighbors expressing noise concerns and supporters urging the council not to restrict the track's operations.

Agenda Changes & Minutes

• Councillor O'Hearn requested removal of new business items E and F due to incorrect packet numbers; items were pushed to the May 13, 2026 meeting.
• Minutes from April 8, 2026 were approved as amended (one correction on page six changing "Assistant Mayor Matto" to "Mayor Gerard”). Councillor Hemingway noted his recusal on page five appointments; that change was agreed to.

Community & Manager's Report

• City Manager Bates announced several community items: Claremont Opera House seeking board members (contact by April 27), Turning Point Network's 20th annual Stepping Up to Violence 5K on May 2, DPW spring cleanup May 4–8 (leaf bags due May 7 at 7 a.m.), and the 8th annual Parks & Rec scholarship golf tournament seeking donations.
• Manager Bates awarded congratulations: DPW Assistant Director Ted Wadley received the NH/New England APWA State Award for Public Works Supervisor of the Year; Fire Chief Jim Chamberlain was voted to represent NH at the New England Division (two-year term starting October).
• New business development specialist Dylan Bastion, a Claremont resident, was welcomed and starts the following Monday.
• North and Main project update: planting, driveway prep, and paving prep this week; curbing, milling, guardrails, and first wearing layer next week; final pavement and driveway aprons in two weeks; paving expected complete by May 5, weather dependent. Water main work is delayed due to pipe supply chain issues; replacement may occur September/October.
• Claremont Police awarded $84,000 Victims of Crime Act grant from NH DOJ to continue the ACERT program; Chief Wilmont will present for acceptance on May 13.
• Catch basin updates: basin by Legion parking lot raised to grade, awaiting paving; basin at North and Grandview being worked on.
• City Hall repairs underway by Valley Restoration; Opera House balcony plaster and railing repairs complete by May 15.
• Councillor Blosky reported an eroding catch basin near Broad Street Park that had been previously reported; Manager Bates said she would look into it.
• Councillor Claw asked about Washington Street manhole cover repairs; Manager Bates stated it's on the spring checklist.
• Councillor Grant asked about Broad Street Park tree planting; Manager Bates confirmed no issues and noted the planting plan will come before council on May 13.
• Councillor Kaloski asked about tire day (Bates will check), programming fees (tied to upcoming Parks & Rec discussion), council tour (van scheduling issue), street line striping before the alumni parade (second Saturday in June), and North and Main core sampling. Bates said core samples found no additional ledge; replacement water main can go over ledge with insulation and is included in change orders.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Misty Hook (Ward 3), a family psychologist and resident of two years, said noise from the racetrack is audible miles away, and cited public health effects of noise on children, including anxiety and behavior problems. She asked the council to address noise mitigation.
• Abby Clark (Ward 3) said she lives four miles away and hears the track constantly, including at 9:45 p.m.; she does not want the track to go away but wants communication and a healthy community.
• Lane Lantis (Ward 2, McGee Automotive) expressed support for the track operator, noting short tracks are closing nationwide and that restrictions could hurt the business; he urged the council not to make things harder.
• Tyler Lescort (Ward 3) has raced at the track for 25 years and supported keeping it open and flexible; he noted the racing community's family connections and asked the council to work with the operator.
• Derek Ferrand (Ward 3), a small business owner, grew up near the track and called it a true regional asset that draws visitors and supports other businesses. He expressed hope the ordinance is not a pretext to restrict or kill the track.
• Greg Adams (Ward 3), a resident of almost a year, supported compromise but voiced concern about expanded use. He said he does not want to kill the track but wants to prevent significant increases in noise or activity.
• Jonathan Hayden (Ward 3) asked for decibel limits to be included in the license and warned that setting the maximum at 75 events would likely lead to an increase over the current 60–65 average.
• Julia Louni (Ward 2), a new resident and farmer, supported the track as part of Claremont culture but asked that noise levels stay near the status quo and that schedules be published ahead of time so neighbors can plan; she opposed multiple nights per week all season.
• Chuck Eggbert (Ward 3), a 44-year resident, said the track historically ran one race per week (about 12 days/year) and has grown to an unsustainable number of days (“83 days last year” per his calendar). He objected to proposed Wednesday practice hours (3–8 p.m., up from 5–7:30) and to non-event daytime testing counting as something other than racing.
• Melissa Cole (Ward 3), a resident since 2017 who lives six miles away, said she can hear the announcers and engines; she asked that noise stay at the track for those who choose to attend.
• Jason Seaman (Ward 3), a resident of ~30 years, said noise has gotten louder and runs until late; he asked for reasonable end times, noted the town's existing noise variance rules, and questioned the grandfathered status given substantial changes over the years.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 644: Licensing Board Authorization for Motor Vehicle Races (First Reading) — This was the dominant item. Mayor Gerard disclosed that his father's company works for the racetrack; he asked council whether to recuse, and the council indicated he could participate.
  • Police Chief Wilmont presented the draft ordinance prepared by Drummond Woodsum, citing NH RSA 3141-A. The purpose, he said, is not to expand or restrict operations but to establish guidelines for operation, including definitions, operating season, maximum events, hours of operation, special exceptions, rain dates, inspections, insurance, violations/penalties, and appeals.
  • Councillor Greenrose noted an inconsistency in the draft: the total number of operation days was written as “60” in words but “75” numerically; Chief Wilmont confirmed it should be 75.
  • Councillor Cogswell asked when the licensing board makes its decision to help the track plan its year; Chief Wilmont pointed to section 852 (one-year license term, consistent with RSA 3141-A and historical practice). Councillor Cogswell also raised noise limits, citing NASCAR's 92–95 decibel standard at 100 feet, and suggested adding language for future-proofing.
  • Councillor O'Hearn asked who chairs the licensing board (Chief Wilmont) and about the fine amounts (draft idea only). He also questioned the appeal pathway going through the city manager when the council appoints the board.
  • Councillor Irish noted the track has existed since 1947 with no paper trail before that, and he praised the ordinance's purpose statement: “operation of a motor vehicle racetrack in a manner that protects public health safety and welfare while allowing for reasonable and predictable operations.” He suggested adding a requirement that the posted schedule become part of the license.
  • Councillor Kaloski raised concerns about the licensing board acting as its own investigating authority and about insurance/indemnification requirements (“$20 million” referenced as excessive). He suggested the planning/code enforcement office handle inspections and that a "city official" receive complaints. He also asked for copies of site plan approvals and the campground approval conditions to understand allowable uses.
  • Councillor Hemingway asked the track operator (Mike Parks) about the 75-event maximum; Parks said that would work. Hemingway also asked about noise buffering; Parks noted the campground tree-cutting was approved by the city and that noise mitigation would be a “monumental financial investment.”
  • Mike Parks, operator of Claremont Motorsports Park, stated he has had city approval for everything since 2019; emphasized the track pays NASCAR $20,000/year for affiliation; read from a city letter listing grandfathered legal uses (racetrack, car shows, live music, mud bogs, demolition derbies, food/vendors, beer garden, go-kart racing, camping, tech inspection, practice days). He provided event numbers: 2022 — 64 events; 2023 — 60; 2024 — 65; 2025 — 64; 2026 — 27 on schedule to date. He said it costs $15,000–$18,000 just to open gates on a Friday night. He expressed frustration that neighbors buy homes near a track that predates zoning, and noted the racetrack's community efforts (donating 50/50 raffles to school sports and a youth baseball team; moving its 4th of July event to avoid conflict). He said the Saturday practice hours in the draft (starting at 3 p.m.) are too tight and need adjustment.
  • Councillor Cogswell asked for five years of schedules as a guide; Parks agreed to provide them.
  • Councillor Irish suggested a middle ground of roughly 65 racing events plus up to 75 total events (including non-racing events like car shows). Parks noted rainouts (4–7 per year) reduce actual race counts.
  • Councillor Cogswell noted the city can measure noise and that only two tracks in New England lack community noise measurement; he supported equipment for the licensing board.
  • After public comment, Chief Wilmont sought council guidance to take to the licensing board. Councillor Kaloski said the process was confusing and proposed a special meeting with the operator to avoid re-litigating the ordinance. Councillor Irish praised the open dialogue and said the process, while messy, was productive.
• Visitor Center Engineering Study Presentation — Manager Bates presented SGH Engineering's structural assessment of the Claremont Visitor Center. No serious structural danger was found; issues include a settling slab, significant brick cracks, roof tie-ins, a granite windowsill resting on a gutter, and an elevator shaft separating from the building. Bates noted none of the proposed fixes would level the slab; option one (cosmetic repairs, ~$200k–$300k) would buy a year of monitoring while the city decides long-term strategy. She recommended against spending $1–2 million on a 20-year-old building on uncompacted fill.
  • Randy Rhodes of MW Soil (soils engineer) testified that the building was placed on uncompacted fill (ashes, coal, bottles, bricks), causing settlement over time; most settling likely occurred early, but the elevator shaft (built in 2007, lacking pins) is still separating. He endorsed monitoring for a year at minimal cost.
  • Councillor Hemingway asked about monitoring costs (~$5,000 range) and expressed reluctance to spend repair money on a building still settling. Councillor Moe noted the building has a municipal tax value of $58,000 and opposed major investment. Councillor Kaloski asked about alternative slab-raising methods, questioned the lack of direct SGH engineer availability, and recommended setting aside budget for potential repair rather than letting the building decay. Councillor Irish noted the building was built with an $800,000 EPA grant (another councilor recalled ~$508,000); he opposed the $2 million repair price tag and recommended moving staff and exploring future use of the valuable site.
  • Councillor Greenrose asked about settlement totals (2.5–3.5 inches at the southwest corner) and the elevator shaft risk. Councillor Cogswell raised flooding/seismic concerns; Rhodes said flooding risk is low unless a line breaks. Several councilors supported monitoring and moving staff. Manager Bates said she would look into alternative staff housing options (including CDA space), winterization costs, and future grant possibilities. Councillor Hemingway noted the building was originally intended as a visitor center but became offices due to funding shortfalls.
• Sullivan Street Sidewalk Funding — Manager Bates reported the bid was awarded and the project will be funded from the downtown TIF district budget by over-spending the downtown improvements line and drawing from the marketing line; no budget change or fund transfer needed. No questions were raised.
• Main Street Downtown Strategy CDBG Grant Phase One Additional Funding — Manager Bates reported the council directed staff to find funds in the planning department budget; payment will come from the downtown development line under the Planning & Development (416) budget, covered by underspent pay and FICA lines due to vacancies. No questions were raised.

Committee Reports

• Councillor O'Hearn (Tolles Smith): Neighbors had trees trimmed over the property; exploring a snow/yard equipment purchase.
• Councillor Cogswell: CCTV committee did not meet; EPA grant committee lacked a quorum; conservation commission is preparing a letter of support for tree planting at Broad Street Park (planting plan will come to council on May 13).
• Councillor Greenrose: Historic committee cancelled (third time in a row); Energy committee continues reviewing community power options, with a final presentation from the Sullivan County program operator next meeting; recommendations will come to council, and the service provider may present to the council. He also mentioned the conservation commission's trash pickup at the boat launch and along Jarvis Hill Road.
• Planning Board: West Central's new office building on Broad Street (site of the Moose and adjacent lot) was approved.
• Councillor Kaloski (Heritage Days): June 9 event planning continues; noted the exhibit is at the visitor center.
• Councillor Moe (CDA): Meeting tomorrow at the visitor center; nothing since last meeting; next month's meting cancelled.
• Councillor Irish (CARE): Paused until after budget cycle. Airport committee may not meet Monday.

Key Outcomes

• Approved April 8, 2026 minutes as amended (motion by Assistant Mayor Matto, second by Councillor Greenrose; unanimous voice vote).
• Removed new business items E and F; moved to May 13, 2026 meeting.
• Ordinance 644 (motor vehicle racetrack licensing ordinance): No vote was taken. The council took the ordinance as a first-reading discussion; it will be revised by the licensing board with input from council comments and public comment. Council directed that all email comments be sent to the city manager's office for compilation. The licensing board will meet publicly to deliberate a revised draft for a future first reading.
• Visitor Center: Council consensus leaned toward minimal immediate spending (only urgent safety fixes such as the granite windowsill), a ~$5,000/year monitoring program (with gauges and periodic surveys), and exploring relocation of staff and long-term options for the site. Manager Bates will report back on staff housing options, winterization costs, and potential grants.
• Council requested relevant noise ordinance sections be circulated to the council for review, and Manager Bates noted the city's noise ordinances need updating.
• Councillor Kaloski requested a copy of the campground site plan approval conditions; Manager Bates noted there is no single comprehensive site plan decision due to the site's history, but staff will locate the campground-related approval.
• Councillor Greenrose requested the energy committee's community power service provider present to the council when recommendations are made; Councillor Irish agreed.
• Councillor Greenrose asked about the feasibility of hosting a styrofoam recycling collection at the Claremont transfer station; Manager Bates indicated a discussion with DPW and the transfer station contractor is needed.
• Councillor O'Hearn raised the TIF advisory board quorum issue (2 of 5 members present) and the need for new members; recruitment will continue, with suggestions to seek business owners in the TIF district and makerspace users.
• Councillor Kaloski asked about AED maintenance in city buildings; the fire department checks them.
• Councillor Kaloski raised issues with the new opera house elevator; Manager Bates said the maintenance supervisor is actively working with the elevator company to resolve them.