Claremont City Council Meeting — October 28, 2026

The Claremont City Council met Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026, to receive department reports, hear citizen comments, conduct second readings of four ordinances, hold public hearings on two resolutions, receive committee updates, and set future agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of October 14, 2026 were approved by roll call on a motion by Assistant Mayor Matto, seconded by Councilor Hemingway. Mayor Gerard abstained.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilor Cogswell, speaking as a member of the public and candidate for state representative for Claremont and Croydon, urged residents to vote and said his campaign is based on fairness. He cited state GDP growth of roughly 50–65 percent over the last decade while the average New Hampshire family has about $17,000 less to spend per year.
• Benny Nelson, a county commissioner and candidate for re-election, said he lives in Newport but pays taxes in Claremont. He emphasized bipartisan consensus, restraint on county spending, Sullivan County Health Care’s upcoming ribbon cutting on November 14, and rehabilitation programs at the county jail. He asked Democrats, Republicans, and independents to vote for him and also supported Joe Osgood.

Mayor’s Notes and City Manager Report

• Mayor Gerard noted that Parks and Recreation will host the Haloester Trunk Retreat on Saturday, October 31, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Pleasant Street.
• City Manager Bergeron reported that Comcast completed the broadband matching-grant initiative, extending service to 97 addresses and adding 41 more at no cost; the fountain at Hopper House Square has suffered from exposure over several winters; the part-time payroll technician position has been filled, with the new employee starting Monday; a central collections vacancy is close to being filled; and finance staff completed FY26 bookkeeping showing an unaudited increase in fund balance of $145,430 over FY25, with the auditor’s report expected in about 30 days.
• Responding to Councilor Koloski’s concerns about downtown Pleasant Street safety, Bergeron said the police chief is exploring converting the part-time parking enforcement officer role into Pleasant Street enforcement after reports of tractor trailers, bicycle wheelies, a damaged lamppost, and merchant complaints.

Ordinances

• Ordinance 652, property tax exemption for the elderly, second reading: Assessor Hamilton presented inflation-adjusted income limits of $29,500 for single applicants and $38,900 for married applicants, with an $80,500 asset limit; 45 properties receive the exemption. Public hearing had no speakers. Councilor O’Hearn opposed on procedural grounds, saying it should have been presented as an amending ordinance, but the measure passed 8-1.
• Ordinance 653, property tax exemption for the disabled, second reading: Hamilton presented proposed income limits of $26,400 single and $35,600 married, with a $47,000 asset limit excluding home equity; seven residents receive the exemption. Public hearing had no speakers. It passed 8-1.
• Ordinance 650, non-union employee classification plan attachment B, second reading: Human Resources Director Thibodeau said the revision adds deputy fire chief roles for operations/training and fire prevention, removes obsolete roles, and clarifies temporary and part-time roles. It passed 8-1 and will have a later public hearing.
• Ordinance 651, non-union merit pay schedule attachment C, second reading: Thibodeau presented a flat 5 percent increase to the minimum and maximum of each salary grade, intended to improve market competitiveness without automatically raising individual salaries. Councilor Hemingway noted pay compression, including grade 12’s low end being $30,000 below grade 11’s top. Councilors debated whether the second reading should include the public hearing; Councilor Irish asked for written documentation of the three-reading process, and Councilor Greenrose offered to share draft “plain English council rules.” Councilor Kaloski recused. It passed 7-1 with one recusal.

Resolutions

• Resolution 2027-23, police department rooftop HVAC: Public Works Director Gleason requested up to $15,676.40 from the unassigned fund balance to replace the failed compressor and electronics on rooftop unit 3 at the police station. He said the unit is nine years old, the failure was discovered October 1, and using the original installer/maintenance contractor, Bergeron Mechanical, was the fastest and most familiar option. Discussion covered root-cause analysis, warranty, and single-source procurement. Councilor Koloski opposed single sourcing. Public hearing had no speakers. The resolution passed 7-2, with Councilors O’Hearn and Koloski voting no.
• Resolution 2027-24, intermunicipal dispatch agreement with Charlestown: Police Chief Wilmot presented a phased agreement under which Claremont would provide dispatch coverage for Charlestown at $25 per hour, beginning with 32 hours per week; later phases of 48, 88, and full-time 24/7 coverage would require mutual agreement. The New Hampshire Attorney General approved the agreement on October 15, 2026, under RSA 53-A:3 V. A two-weekend trial averaged 17 calls per 32-hour shift. Councilor O’Hearn asked to see the contract before voting and suggested deferral; City Manager Bergeron said it had been vetted by legal counsel and the AG. Councilor Irish supported the agreement, Councilor Hemingway said council should review contracts, and Councilor Cogswell praised the regional approach. Public hearing had no speakers. It passed 8-1, with Councilor O’Hearn voting no.

Committee Reports

• Councilor Hearn reported that a committee’s chairperson had resigned, with Vice Chair Dan Rulow as acting chair, and that the maintenance supervisor and site manager had also resigned; replacements are being sought.
• Councilor Cogswell said Conservation, EPA, and CC-TV committees did not meet.
• Councilor Greenrose reported that a committee met last Thursday and approved removal of three Norway maples in front of the church on Pleasant Street for an ADA ramp, and that the Energy Committee will meet in two weeks.
• Assistant Mayor Matto reported that the Planning Board continued a subdivision application for the former Davis funeral home at 174 Broad Street and began discussing a data center definition. Councilor Greenrose said she had given the city manager draft ordinances covering data centers, e-bikes, and racetracks; the city manager said the data center draft was sent to planning and zoning, and the e-bike and racetrack drafts to the police chief.
• Councilor Koloski reported the Arts Commission’s Eagle restoration fundraising is underway, the art walk launched October 3, and a visitor center museum piece is planned to open in November.
• Councilor Lemos reported the CDA discussion of 56 Opera House: original estimate was about $550,000-$564,000, current cost to complete is about $602,000-$607,000, demolition overage was about $50,000, asbestos abatement increased from $29,740 to $43,250, leaving a shortfall of $26,452.75; work has stopped. CDA approved a loan payback of $31,493 from remaining grant funds on a 7-2 vote, declined to pay for Community Dental Center AC maintenance, and approved a $220 fan motor replacement.
• Councilor Hemingway said Zoning will meet November 2 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
• Councilor Irish reported the Airport Committee meeting was canceled for lack of quorum, and two renewal applications will come before the next quarterly meeting.

Future Agenda Items and Directives

• Councilor Cogswell requested attention to lighting on West Pleasant and Mulberry Streets, Manadnock Park lights that shut off and take about 30 minutes to restart, and a still-dented bleacher step that is a tripping hazard.
• Councilor Irish raised worsening Pleasant Street issues involving homeless encampments, aggressive behavior, overflowing trash cans, and a petition from homeless individuals; he asked for a public conversation and for an unequivocal statement that the community center will not be used as a warming center. He also said a racetrack ordinance promised for October should appear at the next November meeting.
• Councilor Lemos asked whether Monadnock Park bathrooms have been winterized to avoid pipe damage; the city manager said he would check.
• A councilor agreed that downtown enforcement needs an action plan, emphasizing bicycle and pedestrian safety risks.
• Councilor Kaloski requested updates on water/sewer impact fees, the downtown TIF district, incorrect one-way street listing, council goals, mill district maintenance responsibilities, and the future of the community center.
• Assistant Mayor Matto requested a detailed status list of outstanding 79E agreements/covenants; the city manager said a 79E item will be on the next agenda, and Councilor Hemingway said she is compiling a spreadsheet of covenants.

Key Outcomes

• Approved October 14, 2026, minutes with Mayor Gerard abstaining.
• Passed Ordinance 652 (8-1), Ordinance 653 (8-1), Ordinance 650 second reading (8-1), and Ordinance 651 second reading (7-1 with one recusal).
• Approved Resolution 2027-23 (7-2) authorizing up to $15,676.40 for the police station rooftop HVAC repair.
• Approved Resolution 2027-24 (8-1) authorizing the intermunicipal dispatch agreement with Charlestown.
• Directed staff to follow up on downtown Pleasant Street enforcement, contract/warranty details for the HVAC repair, 79E status, Monadnock Park maintenance, and promised ordinance/directive items for upcoming agendas.
• Adjourned by unanimous roll call after a motion by Councilor Greenrose, seconded by Assistant Mayor Matto.