Hooksett Capital Improvements Workshop: School District Phases and CIP Prioritization – May 20, 2026

The Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) Committee met on May 20, 2026, to review proposed school district renovation phases and prioritize a wide range of capital projects for inclusion in the town's long-term plan. The meeting included a presentation from School District Maintenance Director Dean Farmer and extensive discussion and voting on project priority designations.

Discussion Items

• School District Phase 2 and Phase 3 Projects: Dean Farmer presented the next two phases of school renovations. Phase 2 (proposed for the 2028 ballot) focuses on Collie School, addressing rooftop units (ERVs), related controls, and roof leakage. Phase 3 (proposed for the 2030 ballot) addresses similar rooftop units at Underhill School and boiler replacements at both Collie and Underhill. Phase 1 (Memorial School) passed in March 2026 with nearly 70% voter support. Committee members raised questions about long-term maintenance planning, the assessment by Harvey Construction, and whether rooftop units are ventilation or air conditioning. Mr. Farmer explained that the assessment saved $500,000 by disproving a snow load issue, and that a 30-year capital improvement plan for smaller items is being executed through the budgeting process. The phase approach was adopted after voters rejected a larger bond two years ago.

• Review of Fire Chief's Email: The committee briefly noted receipt of a detailed email from the Fire Chief regarding previous discussions, including the burn room. No further questions were raised.

• Capital Project Prioritization: The committee systematically reviewed dozens of capital projects, assigning each a priority designation: N (Necessary), D (Desirable), R (Research), F (Deferable), or Urgent/Committed. Discussion covered projects from revaluation to vehicle replacements, fire apparatus, parks, and wastewater. Key topics included:

  • 2028 Revaluation: Considered a state mandate and urgent; committee debated whether to ask for less money but concluded it must be funded.
  • GIS Partial Compilation: Deemed necessary but not urgent; committee decided it could be deferred.
  • Solar Farm Purchase: Considered desirable and deferable.
  • Quimby Mountain Parking Area: Received an R (Research) designation after confusion about funding availability.
  • Fire Department Training Structure: Changed from a proposed project to deferred/research after learning funding was secured through grants and impact fees.
  • Fire Station 3 Needs Study: Designated as deferable; committee suggested exploring sharing with other communities.
  • Safety Center Design: Initially deemed deferable after discussion about prioritizing revaluation first.
  • Radio Tower Upgrades (three towers): All designated as desirable.
  • Portable Radio Replacement (Fire): Designated as research due to high cost and comparison to police radio costs.
  • Engine 5 Replacement ($1.3M): Designated as necessary; likely to go to bond.
  • Ladder 2 Replacement ($2.1M): Designated as necessary; eligible for impact fees.
  • Various Fire/Police Vehicles: Most replacements designated necessary, consistent with replacement programs.
  • Route 3A TIFF Project ($24M) and Hackett Hill Road ($11.8M): Both deemed necessary/committed due to existing agreements.
  • Town-wide Paving and Pickup/Dump Truck Replacements: Designated necessary.
  • Library Air Conditioning Replacement: Designated necessary.
  • Wastewater Plant Projects: All designated necessary as they are funded by ratepayers.
  • School Phase 2 and 3 Projects: Committee members expressed mixed views; some suggested they could be deferred due to time horizon, but final designations were not explicitly recorded at the end.

Key Outcomes

• The committee prioritized all listed capital projects with designations (N, D, R, F) to guide future funding and ballot proposals. The majority of vehicle and infrastructure replacements received "N" designations. Several projects were assigned "R" or "D" indicating need for further research or deferral.
• The committee acknowledged that the 2028 revaluation is mandatory and must be funded, likely through the default budget.
• A follow-up meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, where the committee will review a draft plan aiming to smooth tax impact across years.
• The school district will provide additional detailed information on equipment ages and costs to the finance director for distribution.