Claremont City Council Meeting – June 24, 2026

The Claremont City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM (presumed start) to address a full agenda including second readings of water and sewer rate ordinances, budget follow-ups for multiple departments, collective bargaining ratification, and funding requests from outside agencies. The meeting featured extensive public comment on the library book budget, deliberation on outside agency allocations, and final adoption of the FY2027 general fund, water, sewer, and TIF district budgets. The council also approved a 4% water rate increase and a 2% sewer rate increase for five years, and ratified a new Teamsters union contract.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 9 and June 10, 2026: Approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fisk Free Library Budget: Multiple speakers (including library board members, Friends of the Library, and a long-time patron) urged the council to restore the library's book budget from the proposed $20,000 to $25,000. Speakers noted a 33% cut over three years, argued that level funding at $25K is fiscally responsible, and highlighted that patrons saved over $422,000 through library use this year, nearly equaling the library's entire annual budget. They requested the council maintain the $25,000 level to ensure access to current materials for all demographics.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 645 – Water Rates (Second Reading/Public Hearing): The ordinance establishes a 4% annual increase for five years (FY2027-2031). Discussion included clarifications on pool-filling policy (an operational update) and that the revised packet with the 4% language was provided to the council but not initially to the public. The council voted 5-3-1 (with Councillors O'Hearn, Kaloski, and Hemingway dissenting) to adopt the water rate schedule.
• Ordinance 646 – Sewer Rates (Second Reading/Public Hearing): This ordinance sets a 2% annual increase for five years. No public comment was received. The council voted 7-2 (with Councillors Lamoche and Hemingway dissenting) to adopt the sewer rate schedule.
• Resolution 2026-51 – Teamsters Local Union 633 CBA: After a public hearing with no comment, the council unanimously ratified the three-year collective bargaining agreement covering FY2027-2029. The agreement includes salary and benefit increases totaling $55,832 in FY27, $43,240 in FY28, and $44,970 in FY29, with a tax rate impact of 4 cents per thousand in the first year.
• Budget Follow-Ups: The council reviewed and tentatively approved several department budgets after adjustments:
  • Water Budget: Updated revenue to reflect the new 4% rate.
  • Sewer Budget: Director Gleason explained a shift from a roll-off container lease to a backhoe lease (Caterpillar 2000) due to a state bill (HB 1275) that removed a moratorium on land spreading of sludge. The lease line item decreased by $15,853.
  • Communications Budget: No changes; held pending Teamsters CBA ratification.
  • CSB Community Center Budget: Reduced by moving a position from full-time to part-time, and adjusted Teamster wages downward per new contract. Total expenditures set at $1,132,332.
  • Finance Office Budget: No change.
  • Information Technology Budget: Reduced by approximately $6,500 due to Teamster wage adjustments; new total $812,297.
  • Planning & Development Budget: Discussion centered on building maintenance and repair (M&R) at the Amtrak station and code enforcement contingency. The council agreed to increase the M&R line from $5,000 to $15,000 and offset by a $20,000 transfer from capital reserves for blight cleanup, making it tax-neutral. The visitor center building M&R was debated; Councillor Kaloski advocated for proper funding to avoid deterioration. Final net budget: $900,625.
  • Library Budget: The council voted to restore $5,000 to the book budget, raising it to $25,000. Motion by Councillor Kaloski, seconded by Councillor Irish, passed unanimously (9-0). New library budget: $447,240 net.
  • Municipal Complex Budget: Adjusted for Teamster wage reductions; included $32,000 for police department bathroom repairs (total project estimated at $223,000).
• Resolution 2026-54 – Repurpose Special Revenue Fund: The council repurposed the Claremont 250th Celebration Fund (approx. $6,600 surplus) into a Claremont Special Events Fund, with expenditures to be approved by council. Passed unanimously.
• Outside Agency Requests: The council debated funding levels for four agencies and Arrowhead (which did not present). After initial motions failed, a compromise package of $64,000 was approved (5-4): Sullivan County Humane Society ($10,000), Claremont Soup Kitchen ($20,000), Meals on Wheels ($10,000), Southwestern Community Services ($15,000), and Arrowhead ($9,000). The vote was 5-4 (Mayor, Councillors O'Hearn, Kaloski, Hemingway, and Gerard opposed; Councillors Cogswell, Greenrose, Mattow, Lamoche, and Irish in favor).
• Adoption of FY2027 Budgets: The council held public hearings and unanimously adopted the following budgets:
  • Resolution 2027-1: Tax Anticipation Note (up to $5 million).
  • Resolution 2027-2: General Fund Budget (total expenses $20,534,827; revenues $7,133,869).
  • Resolution 2027-3: Water Division Budget (total revenues $2,864,520).
  • Resolution 2027-4: Sewer Division Budget (total expenses $3,657,153).
  • Resolution 2027-5: Downtown TIF District Budget (total $772,946).
• Committee Reports: Various committees reported on upcoming events (Conservation Commission tree walk, Arts Commission exhibit, Planning Board site plan approval for 17 Water Street – 25 market rate units).
• Future Agenda Items: Councillor Irish requested the Arrowhead MOU be circulated, and an ad hoc committee on motor park licensing be formed after a non-compliant wrestling event flyer. Councillor Kaloski requested correction of outdated one-way street designations in the city code (Section 1912.01).

Key Outcomes

• Water Rates: Adopted (5-3), effective FY2027 with 4% annual increases for five years.
• Sewer Rates: Adopted (7-2), effective FY2027 with 2% annual increases for five years.
• Teamsters CBA: Ratified unanimously (9-0) for FY2027-2029.
• Library Book Budget: Restored to $25,000 (unanimous vote).
• Outside Agency Funding: Approved at $64,000 total (5-4) with allocations as above.
• All FY2027 Budgets (General, Water, Sewer, TIF): Adopted unanimously.
• Special Events Fund: Repurposed and renamed (unanimous).
• Next Steps: City manager to provide capital budget for paving in July; Arrowhead MOU to be circulated; committee to review one-way street ordinance.