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COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
August 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Chairman Burkush called the meeting to order.
The Clerk called the roll.
Present: Aldermen Burkush, Vincent, Barry, Goonan, Terrio
Messrs.: J. Belanger, S. Garrity
- Amending Resolution and Budget Authorization providing for the reduction of funds in the amount of $70,000 for CIP 211723 Opioid Litigation Settlement Trust.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve and refer to the Committee on Finance.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to expedite the committee’s report to the full Board.
- Amending Resolution and Budget Authorization providing for the acceptance and expenditure of funds in the amount of $2,470,500 for CIP 713524 North River Road/Bicentennial Drive Roundabout (CMAQ).
On motion of Alderman Goonan, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve.
- Amending Resolution and Budget Authorization providing for the acceptance and expenditure of funds in the amount of $101,734.90 for CIP C330040127 FY27 Highway Safety Grant Program.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve.
- Amending Resolution and Budget Authorization providing for the acceptance and expenditure of funds in the amount of $150,000 for CIP C330040227 Adverse Childhood Experience Response Team (ACERT).
On motion of Alderman Goonan, duly seconded by Alderman Barry, it was voted to approve.
- Amending Resolution and Budget Authorization providing for the acceptance and expenditure of funds in the amount of $14,000 for CIP C410021626 School Based Dental Program - Medicaid.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve.
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Communication from Jeff Belanger, Planning and Community Development Director, regarding two requests from Families in Transition:
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Consolidation of four loans using the terms proposed by the City, contingent upon the State's award of FIT's requested LITHC funding.
- Additional funding from the City in the amount of $2.5 million to assist with FIT's recapitalization project.
Chairman Burkush: So, we've divided the question, in part two of the question for the additional city funding, that's already been allocated. So, we have no additional city funding in this budget. Is there a motion for part one regarding the loan consolidation?
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve the request to consolidate four loans using the terms proposed by the City, contingent upon the State’s award of FIT’s requested LITCH funding..
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to receive and file the request for additional funding from the City in the amount of $2.5 million to assist with FIT’s recapitalization project.
- Communication from the Planning and Community Development Director requesting permission to apply for funding from the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program.
On motion of Alderman Terrio, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve and refer to the Committee on Finance.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to expedite the committee’s report to the full Board.
- Communication from Jonathan Golden, Senior Planner, requesting permission on behalf of the Heritage Commission to apply for funding from the State of New Hampshire to place Central High School on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alderman Terrio: Why do we need to report it out tonight?
Jeff Belanger, Planning and Community Development Director: Because the date of the application deadline to apply is August 15.
Alderman Terrio: The School Board is aware of this correct?
Stan Garrity, Board of School Committee Member: I don’t know if they are.
Chairman Burkush: This has gone through the Heritage Commission.
S. Garrity: The Heritage Commission is just supporting this move to put this on the registry of historic properties.
Alderman Terrio: I just assumed they discussed it with the school board.
S. Garrity: I don't think they came before the school board.
Chairman Burkush: I discussed it with the with the superintendent.
Alderman Terrio: Then my last question is, if we accept this money and it gets put on the historical listing, let's say in the future, they want to drastically modify the building, tear it down, what have you. Would that stop them from doing that?
S. Garrity: I would think so, yes.
Alderman Terrio: So, this will kind of tie our hands in the future.
S. Garrity: Well, I don't think it's a building that we want to have demolished anyway. I mean, it's a useful building no matter what goes in there. It's been a school for a long time. It's well built. We were in there checking it out. It's very historic and unique just in the service it's done. And the blond brick is unique, and I can't see why anybody would ever want to knock it down anyway, because it's a landmark in the city. But I understand your question.
Alderman Terrio: Yes, but it's my understanding that it needs a lot of work, extensive work, that's going to cost a lot of money. I don't want to tear it down. I'm just trying to keep things open.
Chairman Burkush: Stan, we are just talking about the classical building, correct?
S. Garrity: We're talking about the classical building.
Alderman Terrio: That needs a lot of work.
S. Garrity: We were in there a couple of months ago, and it's still very functional. I mean, it didn't look like it needed much work done to me. There's a lot that's already been done. It's just a way to preserve these buildings and the historical value that they've given to the city for all these years.
Chairman Burkush: Alderman Terrio, this is just for permission to apply. We can have that discussion when we accept the grant.
On motion of Alderman Barry, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve and refer to the Committee on Finance.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Barry, it was voted to expedite the committee’s report to the full Board.
- Communication from Ryan Cashin, Fire Chief, requesting permission to apply for HSGP Hazmat funds in the amount of $25,000.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from the Fire Chief requesting permission to apply for HSEM grant funding in the amount of $277,000.
Chairman Burkush: Those are the barriers that we’ve been talking about.
On motion of Alderman Goonan, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from Caleb Dobbins, Highway Chief Engineer, requesting the closure of CIP 711425 Household Hazardous Waste Collection.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Terrio, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from Anna Thomas, Public Health Director, requesting the deadline for CIP 210623 Public Health Preparedness be extended until December 31, 2027.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Barry, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from Whitney Dade, MPD Grant Coordinator, requesting the deadline for CIP C330041426 FY25 ILO Program be extended until August 31, 2028.
On motion of Alderman Goonan, duly seconded by Alderman Barry, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from the MPD Grant Coordinator requesting the deadline for CIP C330041626 FY25 HSGP SWAT/SOU Equipment be extended until August 31, 2028.
On motion of Alderman Barry, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from the MPD Grant Coordinator requesting permission to apply for 24 clip-on thermal imagers on behalf of the twelve New Hampshire SWAT Teams through the FY26 Homeland Security Grant Program.
On motion of Alderman Barry, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from the MPD Grant Coordinator requesting permission to apply for funding through the FY26 Homeland Security Grant Program - Information & Analysis Center Intelligence Liaison Officer Program.
On motion of Alderman Vincent, duly seconded by Alderman Terrio, it was voted to approve.
- Communication from the MPD Grant Coordinator requesting permission to apply for funding through the FY26 Homeland Security Grant Program - New Hampshire Tactical Officer Association.
On motion of Alderman Goonan, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve.
Matthew Normand, City Clerk: You have one item of new business. There's a resolution before you. This is for CIP 330040426 Women's Locker Room Expansion. This was approved by the board in March of 2026. It came in the form of an amending resolution for a project that previously had been approved for a total of $197,000. This $27,000, as I said, came through as an amending resolution. It should have been a bond resolution, and that did not follow the bond process. So, we need to do this for housekeeping to get this done correctly.
A Resolution:
“Authorizing Bonds, Notes or Lease Purchases in the amount of Twenty Seven Thousand Dollars ($27,000) for the 2026 CIP C330040426 Women’s Locker Room Expansion.”
On motion of Alderman Barry, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to approve and refer to the Committee on Finance.
On motion of Alderman Barry, duly seconded by Alderman Goonan, it was voted to expedite the committee’s report to the full Board.
There being no further business, on motion of Alderman Terrio, duly seconded by Alderman Vincent, it was voted to adjourn.
A True Record. Attest.
Clerk of Committee
Meeting Start Time: 5:00PM
Meeting End Time: 5:10PM
Minutes Prepared By: Michael Intranuovo