Hooksett Town Council Meeting Summary - March 11, 2026
Hooksett Town Council Meeting - March 11, 2026
The Hooksett Town Council met in regular session on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, beginning shortly after 6:00 p.m. Roll call confirmed a quorum. The agenda included administrative updates, recognition of a new Eagle Scout, discussion of town counsel availability, personnel plan amendments, the quarterly financial report, two budget transfers, and a post-election debrief with the town moderator. No public comment was offered during the two public input periods.
Administrative Report
- Town Administrator Andre reported three new full-time Hooksett Fire Department firefighter/EMT hires: Rory Doris, Abigail Houston, and Zachary Harper, all starting April 13, 2026.
- Kathy Lawrence, a Community Development administrative staff member, is retiring after a career with the town; a luncheon was held in her honor.
- Two fire department resignations were reported: Brian Rondo, effective March 14, 2026, and Joseph Herbert, effective March 15, 2026.
- DES approved installation of a solar array at the former landfill; the town is seeking building permits and expects installation to begin in late March or early April.
- The town provided a letter of support for the Hooksett Village Water Precinct's request for congressionally directed spending for a water line in the TIF district under the Merrimack River near the ice arena. The project is about $2 million, with the precinct covering 20 percent and a $1.6 million federal grant sought through Senator Shaheen's office.
- The administrator noted GE's continued investment in its Hooksett facility: $12 million in upgrades and more than 700 jobs.
- DPW purchased and displayed new vehicle magnets and banners promoting the town election.
- The administrator reported on the March 10, 2026 town election: voter turnout appeared higher than last year, all zoning amendments passed, and most warrant articles passed while the town remains in its third year of a default budget.
- Upcoming meetings were listed, including a March 16 Quimby Mountain stewardship plan review with Moosewood Ecological as a public hearing.
- On Martins Ferry Road, a federally directed spending request for more than $2 million remains alive but stalled by recent government shutdowns; the project's cost estimate was raised from $1.2 million to $2.8 million.
Special Recognition: Eagle Scout
- The council recognized Jamie Godbout of Troop 603 for achieving Eagle Scout. A Hooksett resident and Londonderry High School sophomore, he started in Cub Scout Pack 292, served as senior patrol leader, completed BSA National Youth Leadership Training, and earned 34 merit badges.
- His Eagle Scout project was construction of a permanent gaga ball pit at Memorial School, painted in the school color.
- The council also thanked his parents and scout leaders; a photo was taken with the council.
Discussion: Town Counsel Attendance
- The council discussed an email from attorney Matt Surge of Drummond Woodson regarding meeting, special meeting, and nonpublic session questions. Surge could not attend because of another town meeting that evening.
- Councilor Smith expressed disappointment that paid legal counsel dictated availability.
- A motion to table the matter until town counsel can attend carried by roll-call vote; the item will return as old business when the attorney is available.
Personnel Plan Amendments
- HR staff presented amendments to the town personnel plan.
- Amendment 1 updated building security language to reflect the February 25, 2026 council vote granting councilors 24/7 access to the municipal offices at 35 Main Street. An additional line was proposed to address elected officials who do not report to a department head, allowing them to request access through the Town Administrator. This was prompted by an email from Mike Horn, an elected official on the Cemetery Commission and as Supervisor of the Checklist.
- Amendment 2 changed the website reference from hooksitt.org to the town website because of the new .gov site.
- Amendment 3 extended the leave-use requirement for workweeks under 40 hours to non-exempt employees.
- Amendment 4 updated the disability claim process: employees may now use vacation leave while waiting for or supplementing short-term disability benefits; sick or vacation time remains required during the 14-day waiting period, and employees without accrued leave may be placed on unpaid leave. This codified existing practice.
- The council approved the amendments as a group by voice vote.
Quarterly Financial Report (December 31, 2025)
- Finance Director Christine presented the second-quarter report, showing the town at 50 percent of its fiscal year.
- ARPA: one $300,000 TIF water-sewer project remains, with a December 31, 2026 deadline.
- The FY2025-26 operating budget is about $22.1 million; spending was about $11 million, exactly 50 percent. The budget increased $118,000 over the prior year.
- Because FY2025-26 was the second year of a default budget, $918,000 was cut from the recommended budget. Reductions included training, equipment, staffing-related savings, community event funding, deferred projects, and reduced hours at the transfer station. The town now faces a third year of default budget and will need to find about $1 million in further reductions; a proposed budget is expected at the second meeting in May.
- Department spending details included: fire rescue at 45 percent spent with 10 of 33 full-time positions vacant; police at 48 percent spent with 5 of 41 positions vacant; highway at 52 percent spent with 5 of 9 full-time vacancies; recycling and transfer at 43 percent spent with 4 of 8 full-time vacancies. Turnover and vacancy averages were cited for each department.
- Road paving funding was highlighted: $900,000 was available in FY2022-23, but recent years have had only the $600,000 warrant-required amount; after FY2026-27 the paving line is scheduled to be zero unless voters approve more funding.
- Revenues were 65 percent collected, $5.7 million of $8.8 million budgeted. Property tax collection was 98 percent as of February 28. Motor vehicle revenue was on track, building permits were on track, and interest income was expected to exceed budget. The town auction added $300,000 and could add another $500,000 if an interpleader is resolved.
- Ambulance service: calls were 1,937 in 2022 and 1,869 in 2025; billings rose from about $690,000 to more than $1 million, with $799,000 collected; expenses rose from $576,000 to about $619,000, partly due to four paramedics in the ambulance fund for half of 2025.
- Budget Transfer 2026-02, $26,000 for health insurance premiums because the actual premium increase was 14.5 percent rather than the budgeted 6 percent, was approved unanimously by roll-call vote.
- Budget Transfer 2026-03, $68,830 for DPW road maintenance overtime for plowing, was approved unanimously by roll-call vote. It is funded by the three frozen positions; 24 storm events required treatment this winter, with 14 falling on weekends or holidays.
Election Debrief
- Moderator Todd Laz and Karina Tom reviewed the March 10, 2026 municipal election.
- New tabulator machines performed accurately but were slower and more sensitive; overvotes increased because some voters marked extra choices or made stray marks. Processing averaged about six to nine seconds per ballot, but voter wait times stayed around five minutes.
- Total turnout was 2,331 voters.
- Reconciliation corrected two counts: one was a 90-vote transcription error and another was a small clerical adjustment on the school side; neither changed the outcome. The council noted that one warrant article appearing to pass actually failed because it required a three-fifths vote.
- The election team is considering adding another tabulator for the state primary and general election, possibly asking the school district for help.
- Write-in votes were easier to identify on the new machines because they print the handwriting; notable write-ins included humorous and political names.
- There were two complaints about the hallway walking route, and there are plans to adjust voter flow before the primary.
Future Agenda Items
- A councilor asked to continue work on contacting a cell phone tower company.
- The administrator provided an update on Brady Sullivan's former Cigna building project: phase one is being converted into 81 apartments, and sewer, planning, and code enforcement officials have met with major landowners about upgrading a sewer pinch point near Thomas Avenue.
- A councilor requested approaching SNHU about Martins Ferry Road, including designing a new entrance and potential partnership.
Key Outcomes
- Approved amendments to the personnel plan by voice vote.
- Approved the public minutes of February 25, 2026 by voice vote.
- Approved Budget Transfer 2026-02 for $26,000 unanimously.
- Approved Budget Transfer 2026-03 for $68,830 unanimously.
- Tabled the town counsel discussion until a future meeting with the attorney.
- Recognized Eagle Scout Jamie Godbout.
- No public comment was offered.
- The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, uh ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to uh call this meeting to order at 602. Uh I have a proof of posting somewhere here. I just had it. It is here. And um welcome. Those of you who are able, would you please stand for the appointment of a week? Oh sorry, excuse me. I get ahead of myself. We need to do a roll call. Okay, shame after a while. Roll call, please, counselor. Um roll call for uh attendance at um 603 Council Smith Present. Council Liberty Council Sullivan, yes, Council Lapia. Council Walsh, present. Counselor Duhaim and Chairman Santulis. Uh present, thank you, Council. Okay, so we have a quorum of four. Correct. So those of you or able, if you will please stand for the click. I've got to use the flag in the United States of America, which it stands under God's for all. Okay. Um we have a mixed agenda this evening. We are going to make an award uh one of our things after we deal with our little louder. Uh next order of business will be um uh town council's report. And we have a special recognition this evening that we're proud an individual that we're proud to have in front of us. Uh so we'll be moving on. We have some discussion regarding yesterday's vote and how that how that process went. So uh sit back and enjoy the show, ladies and gentlemen. Uh Andre, at this point, uh it's a good time for you to uh give your time initiative report. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um first I'll just go over the uh higher before I get into our report. And uh we have uh three new hires um and ball all in the fire department, uh Rory Doris, um Firefighter EMT, uh full time will start on April 13th. Abigail Houston Fire Department Firefighter EMT uh starting also on the uh April 13th, and then Zachary Harper, uh on the fire department, firefighter EMT. Uh we'll start on the same day. April 13th. Um it kind of pains me to even say this, but Kathy Lawrence, uh community development department administrative says that she is retiring, and um after a uh a fantastic career here in um in Hookset. And uh we had a little luncheon for her today on that. Uh but she is leaving and she is retiring uh from the town of Hooksett. And uh as uh we all did uh wished her very very well, and she will be very much missed here at the um at the town hall. And now we have two uh other end of appointments, both in the fire department. Uh Brian Rondo, uh fire firefighter, uh resigned, uh effective uh 314 2026, and then Joseph Herbert, uh fire department firefighter, uh full time um March 15th. Um this is the resignation date. So we lost uh we gained three and lost two. And um that is all I had for that. Um DES in relation to our uh to hooks at solar array pro um program is uh has given their approval for the installation of the solar array at the former landfill. So they're gonna be uh soon seeking uh billing permits, yeah. And uh for for that to take place, which uh, you know, I again um we just came out of the interconnectivity phase of of that project, which took a while uh took a while um for the uh arrays that's gonna be going on there, but it's this good to hear that uh um that we are moving forward and they're actually seeking a billing permit. the solo array at the former landfill so they're going to be uh soon seeking uh building permits yeah and um um for for that to take place which uh you know again um we just came out of the interconnectivity phase of of that project which took a while uh took a while um for the uh arrays that's gonna be going on there but it's this good to hear that uh um that we are moving forward and they're actually seeking a billing permit so by the end of the month and beginning of um uh april I believe they're seeking to start the installation of that those arrays um uh provided a letter support um to the hooks at village water precincts for congressionally uh congressionally directed some spending for water line project within the TIFF district and that is to uh boar underneath the uh Merrimack River to um the um near the ice arena uh a water line um and uh they're seeking uh um uh other funds I should say from the congressionally directed spending uh through I believe uh um Senator Shaheen's office um for help with that project um I was uh uh grant um McGregor sent me this uh um this um article regarding um the uh governor ayot welcomes GE's continued investment in New Hampshire uh as you know GE has a facility right down the street here off of Route 3 and uh they're looking to um um invest another 12 million dollars in upgrades to the facility you know with regard to equipment uh space uh that they're utilizing uh in that building which is great they employ over uh 700 folks there so um that's always great to see investment taking place for a major employer here in hooks it and hopefully uh continue to make investments here and stay um and those are 700 really good paying jobs um um the DPW uh is is the uh last meeting that we had before this one was on February 25th and uh the council voted to uh um to purchase additional banners and magnets for uh our vehicles and that was done and you'll see pictures of what those magnets look like uh in the back of our um uh trucks and the banner that was in front of the town hall and I believe the other one was uh put over there at the um um transfer station um so that was up and I'm glad that um uh everything went well the other day yesterday and uh congratulations to council smith and and the new counselor uh lac um and that and and also the voting even though we are in a third year of our default budget a lot of the warrant articles were were approved all the zoning amendments were approved and um so um I do thank the voters for uh the the consideration chairs um quick question on the on the banners you said there was three um two yes I want to say yes because there's one here on it there um at the truck no that was a magnet I I think maybe we might have uh put uh two magnets and two banners um I gotta check to receive it on there but yeah and and that that's fine but the the reason I asked because I saw um I actually picked them up the other day um they did I ski uh it was Monday when I drove back through they were all laying down but the other ones over by the other fire department yeah well actually half of it was the other one um I couldn't cross over um but that's where I saw the second banner with the with the barrels was over by the other fire department.
openpublica.com