June 15th, at 7:00 pm, City Council will hold the final budget meeting and public hearing before deciding on the FY 2021 budget. To access the meeting via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85746102836, or by phone: 1-929-205-6099 Webinar ID#:857 4610 2836.
The City Manager has suggested a 0% tax increase, which we will achieve by not creating a balanced budget for the first time in many years.
At Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm, a request for condominium conversion at 1-3 Bye St. in Penacook will be discussed. Two condos are being proposed. The Zoom link for this meeting is https://zoom.us/j/754076629,
Starting in June, work will begin to repair the red-listed Washington St. Bridge between Fowler St. and Electric Ave. Work will continue until project completion this November. During most or all of that time, it may be necessary to close the bridge, so you'll need to follow the detours. Although the bridge was recently repaved, there are still underlying issues that need attention, or the bridge might face permanent closure. It was built over Rolfe Canal in 1975 and spans about 69 feet. The abutments holding the span are deteriorating, and the planned repair work will enable the bridge to safely operate for another 15 years or so, at which time a reassessment will be performed.
The draft Fiscal Year 2021 proposed budget has been released, and recommends a 0% increase on the tax rate. The easiest way to understand the budget is to review the Budget in Brief, which you can access here. It's provides a good overview of what our City taxes pay for, what costs have gone up, and key items in the proposed budget. Also included is the street paving program, and capital improvement projects like the riverfront park at the former Tannery site. Please let me know your thoughts or concerns.
At last night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Bouley brought forth a proposal that was approved by Council to temporarily suspend the use of Pay As You Throw (PAYT) purple trash bags starting next week, and running until one week after the expiration of the Governor's executive emergency orders. This means residents will no longer be required to use the purple bags for trash, but everyone is still required to place their trash in a garbage bag for pickup. The recycling program and bulk waste disposal will continue as normal. The purpose of this suspension is to help those who either can't afford the bags or don't want to leave the house to get them.
However, the city council is telling us that you may continue to use the purple bags during this suspension period if you're able to do so. This, along with recycling, will help keep costs down, because the volume of trash residents create is the main driver of cost. Without the PAYT program, we'd all be paying more in taxes for trash disposal. We don't know for how long the Governor's emergency may be extended, but a "worst case" scenario of projected revenue loss through the end of this year is approximately $160,000. This is because the amount of waste generated for disposal is anticipated to increase by as much as 30% with the PAYT program being suspended. Waste disposal has actually been reduced by 40% since the PAYT program started in July 2009.
This was also announced on the Concord City website, where further updates will be posted, as well.
At last night’s city council meeting, there was discussion about a potential extension of sidewalk between Primrose Lane and Alice Drive. A final pavement overlay of Borough Road, from just east of Blueberry Lane to River Road, has been scheduled for this year, but there was discussion of whether to delay that work and potentially combine it with the sidewalk improvement. Although no additional damage to the road surface was anticipated with a delay, in the end a majority of Councilors voted to go forward now with just the pavement overlay. However, we will have another opportunity at the upcoming budget sessions to ask for development of conceptual sidewalks layout designs, costs, and recommendations from the Transportation Policy Advisory Committee.
Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all City buildings will be closed to the public until further notice. In an effort to decrease social contacts while still providing essential services, the city is asking residents to utilize online services (www.concordnh.gov), the U.S. mail, or the mail slot in the City Hall door.
City staff intends to continue to operate and undertake transactions for residents, as much can be done online or through e-mail, via phone, or drop box. Questions from residents and businesses can and will be answered by phone or e-mail. City employees will be working remotely and on-site and will continue to provide services as needed.
The Police and Fire Departments will continue to serve the community as they have in the past with minor operational adjustments.
City updates will be shared on this page: http://www.concordnh.gov/1743/Coronavirus.
The Merrimack Valley School District will be closed today through Friday, April 3, 2020. Remote learning will begin on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. This is much the same for the Concord School District, which will be closed today through Friday, April 3. Buildings will be open Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 20 for students and parents to collect technology, texts, materials, etc. they will need over the next few weeks. Principals will be on hand in all buildings through 8:00 pm for those parents unable to get there during the day. City staff will be coordinating with the school districts as to operations and contingency planning.
Regarding trash bag availability, calls were made to all outlets that sell the bags to suggest placing additional orders, given the surge in purchasing that has been occurring. Most reported adequate stock remaining and 4 stores placed orders for deliveries this week. Further follow-up will occur next week. To accommodate the increased demand, the city has been in regular contact with WasteZero prepping for a production run to bolster inventories of bags at the warehouse. Currently the city has 25 weeks of supply of the small bags and 50 weeks of the large at the warehouse -- but this would be for normal sales weeks, which we aren't experiencing. Other municipalities are reporting sales surges of 300-800% percent. Please let me know if you're having any trouble obtaining the bags.
State Senator Dan Feltes recently sent a message regarding services available for those in need, including health insurance. Senator Feltes says the New Hampshire Department of Insurance issued guidance outlining health care coverage options and other information available for New Hampshire residents who have recently been laid off or lost their employer-sponsored health insurance benefits. HealthCare.gov has Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) for people who may have recently lost their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. You can find additional guidance from the New Hampshire Department of Insurance here. The Insurance Department is here to help, you can contact them with any questions at (603) 271‐2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.
Also please remember that if you have any questions or require additional resources on COVID-19, the 2-1-1- hotline is available 24/7.
There will be a Penacook public stakeholder session to review proposed changes to the Concord Zoning Ordinance on Tuesday, Feb. 18th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village Street. This will be followed by a Public Presentation from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, also at the PES café, that will include a city-wide review of the draft plan. The latest draft ordinance is available at https://www.concordnext.info/category/news/ and will be discussed at the meeting. This is an information session about the work in progress and an opportunity to learn more.
Due to the warm winter weather a jump on construction has been possible for the Penacook Landing apartments at the former Tannery site. Phase 1 is being constructed right now. The Caleb Group has partial funding for Phase 2 which would be constructed next year. Work on the apartments to be constructed by CATCH on Village St includes finalizing building plans, anticipating construction to start this spring. CATCH has been selected by NH Housing Finance for tax credits but is currently working on acquiring the remainder of build funds needed.
For those who weren’t able to attend the City Assessing Department’s presentation, a YouTube video is available.
The new owner of the former Summer Street school property had started some framing and wall construction work. The owner, Steel Brick LLC and Nawaz Azam of Franklin, NH, has Planning Board approval and a building permit to construct seven units. However, he has indicated he may want to build eight units. The existing condominium plan is based on the seven units, so the owner will need to submit a revised plan to Planning Board that notes the allocation of parking to eight units for assessing and documentation purposes. Look for more information in the coming months.
Volunteers have been working over the past months to prepare for the future opening of the Making Matters NH makerspace at the Beede Building on Village St. Laura Miller, founding member and Board President, is giving up the Marketplace New England gift shop she started in 2015 to devote more time to Making Matters. They’re always looking for volunteers and donations. Check out their website for more information: https://www.makingmattersnh.org/.
The Penacook Village Association is grateful for our volunteers who hung up the festive banners along Village Street before the snow. Thank you!
Join us at Boudreau Square in downtown Penacook on Wednesday, December 4th from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
The Merrimack Valley High School will be serving cookies
The Blanchard Family will have hot chocolate for everyone!
The Penacook Elementary School Chorus will sing carols to get us in a festive mood!
Santa Will Arrive by Special Delivery
There will be a free raffle for kids and a 50-50 cash raffle ($1.00/ticket, $10.00/arm’s length)
Making Matters NH plans to open their 8,000-square foot maker space in January 2020. That’s a shared workspace for artisans, possibly to include classroom space, a woodshop, prototyping lab, electronics lab, and fiber arts, with a focus on serving small businesses and entrepreneurs through classes and events. They may expand the prototyping lab with high-tech equipment and add a commercial kitchen and metal shop.
They have an event to help them get outfitted in the new space on November 10th & 11th - a Prep & Paint Session, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
That's at the Beede Building, 88 Village St. in Penacook. Stop by to lend a hand!
The property at 12 Cross St. was purchased last year by Steel Brick LLC of Franklin NH. Steel Brick was re-issued the original building permit that went with the prior owner’s plans for the building, which was to create condo apartments.
In September, Steel Brick inquired with City Engineering staff about picking up where the prior owner had left off and building out the plan. Steel Brick will need to comply with the Planning Board approval for the property including any site work. Both City Code and City Engineering have reached out to get clarification on the owner's intentions.
Keep looking here for hopefully more good news as to adding new housing in Penacook and rehabilitating the building that many of us remember fondly.
The 13th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting at Boudreau Square will be held Wednesday, December 4. Assemble at 5:30 pm for free refreshments, the lighting of the tree at 6 pm, live music from the Penacook Elementary School Chorus under the direction of Elaine Hasham, a 50/50 raffle ($1 per ticket or $10 for an arm's length), and a visit from Santa courtesy of the Concord Fire Dept. Fun for the whole family!
Thanks to the Chamber for highlighting Penacook on the front page of their newsletter recently.
https://indd.adobe.com/view/a5e2be47-bf86-408d-aa12-4ed6609e9eb9
RIVCO property owner John Wolter's attorney, Phillip Hastings, commented on potential development of the property: "Mr. Wolters is considering a number of different alternatives for the site. At this point, however, it is premature to disclose any details."
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Penacook Village Association is exempt from federal income tax under sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. Contributions to the Penacook Village Association are deductible under sec. 170(b)(1)(a) of the code. Tax ID 27-0511386.
Penacook Village Association, P.O. Box 6174, Penacook, NH 03303 | Copyright 2019, Penacook Village Association
