Claremont City Council Meeting Summary

The Claremont City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The council approved routine minutes and appointments, heard citizen testimony from candidates for state office, took first readings on merit-system and property-tax ordinances, authorized payment for engineering work and new police equipment, and ultimately approved a CDBG application after reconsideration.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the September 23, 2026 meeting were accepted by voice vote.
• Heather Irish was appointed to Seat 1 on the Claremont Development Authority. The appointment carried over a councilor's objection that the CDA should be reviewed before more members were added.
• Doreen Cusilo was appointed to Seat A2 and Sharon Wood to Seat 3 on the Fisk Free Library Board of Trustees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• State Rep. John Clutier, running for an 18th term, said he would fight to reduce property taxes, lower electric rates, and provide more money for roads and bridges. He cited a roughly 95% attendance record in the House and committee meetings.
• Lisa Goslin, a state representative candidate, said she was running because of rising property taxes, disappearing affordable housing, and lack of school funding reform. She emphasized that good government begins with listening and called for fairness for communities like Claremont.
• David Trumbull, candidate for State Senate District 8, argued the state has a constitutional duty to fund public schools under the Claremont decision. He said Claremont would have received almost $150 million more in revenue over the last 30 years if the state had met ConVal funding obligations, and he called for state investment in rural schools, health care, housing, childcare, and arts.
• A councilor read a letter from Dr. Michael Harrington recognizing Stevens High School student Gene Gagnon as a Commended Student in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 34,000 students nationwide were recognized, with Gagnon in the top 50,000 out of about 2 million test-takers.

Discussion Items

• Merit system update: HR Director Shannon Thibodeau presented the merit-system modernization project, including updated job classifications, a proposed 5% increase to minimum and maximum salary ranges, comp-ratio adjustments, and a four-year path toward pay-for-performance. The merit-system handbook is subject to a 30-day council veto. Councilors agreed to schedule public comment at a later meeting. Councilor Irish warned against micromanaging professional staff, Councilor Hearn raised questions about inactive versus cleared disciplinary records, and Councilor Kaloski questioned the lack of public input and raised lifeguard recruitment concerns. The Personnel Advisory Board reviewed the plan on September 24.
• Ordinance 650: First reading to amend the merit-system classification plan, remove obsolete positions, create grade 11 deputy fire chief positions for operations/training and fire prevention, and add general part-time and seasonal classifications. It passed 7-1.
• Ordinance 651: First reading to increase the minimum and maximum of every non-union pay grade by 5%. Councilors noted this adjusts salary ranges and does not guarantee individual 5% raises, and that budget appropriation remains a separate future decision. It passed 7-1.
• Ordinance 652 - Elderly property-tax exemption: Assessor Steve Hamilton recommended inflation adjustments to income and asset limits. After updated CPI data was discussed, the council used the current 3.7% inflation figure rather than the originally drafted 3.4%. First reading passed 7-1. Applications are due April 15, and staff encouraged public outreach about exemption programs.
• Ordinance 653 - Disabled property-tax exemption: The council approved first reading of similar inflation-based increases to income and asset limits for the disabled exemption, which provides a $35,000 reduction in assessed value. It passed 7-1. A councilor asked about a veterans exemption; the assessor said none was ready at this time.
• Resolution 2027-20: The council held a public hearing and approved transferring $4,250 from the general fund balance to pay Simpson Gumpertz & Heger for exploratory structural work at the Visitor Center, 14 North Street. The contract had allowed up to $5,000 for subcontracted exploratory work, but the expense was not in the FY26 budget. Some councilors expressed concern about the process and the lack of a contractor presentation, but the resolution passed unanimously.
• Resolution 2027-21: The Police Department requested a five-year Axon Enterprise lease for 23 Taser 10 conducted energy weapons with associated equipment and training. The total is $155,895.40, payable in five equal payments of $31,179.08, with a non-appropriation termination clause. The council approved an amendment specifying the five-year term and then passed the resolution unanimously.
• Resolution 2027-22: The council approved acceptance of a $5,000 Byrne Foundation grant to Fisk Free Library for a free local author series focused on the Upper Valley region. It passed unanimously.
• CDBG - 143-147 Main Street: The council re-read a motion approving the Community Development Block Grant application for the Claremont Learning Partnership's acquisition and rehabilitation project, with corrected language authorizing the city manager to execute all documents and amendments. Councilor Kaloski asked for more information about prior CDBG grants and raised concerns about removing rental units and future tax status. The corrected motion initially failed 4-4, then a motion to reconsider passed 7-1, and the corrected motion passed 7-1.

Committee Reports & Future Agenda Items

• Committee updates included ongoing concerns about the Tolls home board and planned board training, CCTV work on searchable meeting records, EPA grant negotiations for the Riverwalk site, historic district matters, energy advisory/community power work, planning-board work on a data-center definition, the arts committee exhibit at the Visitor Center, recent ZBA decisions, and a procurement policy expected to come before the council in November.
• Councilors raised future agenda items including e-bike and sidewalk enforcement, draft ordinances for racetracks, e-bikes, and data centers prepared by Councilor Kaloski, downtown banners and holiday lights, a Pleasant Street parking/enforcement presence, tenant-rights information, mandatory training for board members, improved city asset disposal, resuming Facebook streaming of council meetings, sign and safety issues at Sullivan and Mulberry, a walk signal at Romantos, trash pickup at the train station, and follow-up on water/sewer impact fees and mill-district contracted services.

Key Outcomes

• The merit-system handbook was left in its 30-day review period, with councilors planning to schedule public comment at a later reading.
• Ordinances 650, 651, 652, and 653 each passed first reading and are scheduled for second reading.
• Resolutions 2027-20, 2027-21 as amended, and 2027-22 were approved.
• The CDBG motion for 143-147 Main Street was approved after reconsideration.
• Staff were directed to follow up on numerous administrative items, including park bathroom access, track repairs, CDL training revenue, board training, enforcement questions, and sign and maintenance issues.