Ward 5 Newsletter - October 2025

I am running for re-election.

I take my role and responsibilities as a City Councilor very seriously. I’m committed to sustainability—environmentally, and financially, by ensuring responsible budgets that keep taxes fair. I’m not here to rubber stamp decisions—I’m here to work hard, ask questions, and deliver results. Together, we can build a city that’s vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable. On Election Day, November 4th, I humbly ask for your vote. Let’s make Concord stronger, together.

• My interview with the Concord Monitor: https://youtu.be/MWzcbtN-OH4?si=2XcxE8pG6DQu8Cdp

• My Concord Patch Forum: https://youtu.be/eKnWBxFFL94?si=OI3Zm9r-_brMGkzA

Items of note in Tuesday's Council agenda:

Consent items:

Increasing the age for Young Adult golf membership - The Deputy City Manager of Finance is claiming the Young Adult age 18-29 is a typo and it should be 18-39. Curiously, he is not claiming the new Family rate change from two to four people in a household is a typo.

Dipping into the fund balance - Per the Deputy City Manager of Finance, we have more tax-exempt properties than estimated for the FY2026 budget and will have to use the unassigned fund balance to keep the City tax rate at 2.95%. Curiously, this report claims we will have to increase taxes to cover firefighters agreed-upon wage and benefit increases.

Public hearings:

Updating Zoning ordinances for Accessory Dwelling Units to match the state statute that was passed this year.

State law-required public hearings on November ballot items:

Social Districts: Under the recently passed law, social districts must be approved by ballot. If approved the city would have to regulate and create a maintenance plan. Beverages must be in containers that are not glass, have multiple required labels on it, and cannot be reused for another drink.

Keno Opt-Out: Under the recently revised law, Keno is authorized unless a municipality opts-out of it through a ballot question.

Capital Projects

I learned a lot from the recent NHMA Financial Policies certificate course, the Budget & Finance workshop, and from the other town administrators and elected officials attending the courses, too. A number of other municipalities use capital reserve accounts for big upcoming projects, such as a new municipal building or a ladder truck, to avoid tax increases. Funds placed in capital reserve accounts can only be used for the project the capital reserve was created for.

I find it strange that we have put $3.5 million into a Recreation Reserve since 2016, but nothing into the Fire Apparatus Replacement Reserve (there's less than $10K in it) and instead pay millions of dollars more in principal and interest to replace Fire Department vehicles. When I asked the Deputy City Manager of Finance where the latest $200,000 withdrawal from the Recreation Reserve went, he said he couldn't do it.

2026 Golf Rates - family discounts

Do you wonder why the NH Golf Association is using our municipal golf course for free? Or why two boarding schools that cost upwards of $70,000/year (Tilton School and Proctor Academy) are being offered rates less than residents?

Concord's Fall Leaf Collection starts on Monday, Oct. 27; bagged leaf collection starts Nov. 17

Rake leaved to the curb for a one-time collection. Starting this year, Crew 1 will start at Blossom Hill Cemetery and work south, Crew 2 will start on Elm St in Penacook and work south. Please avoid on-street parking Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until collection is complete on the street to not block access to leaves.

The only scheduled collection is for the streets in yellow on the Veterans Day holiday (Nov. 11) in coordination with the Concord High School closure.

On the ballot

Social Districts

Public hearing to determine whether the City Council should place the social district question on the ballot. Report.

Keno Opt-Out

Under the recently revised law, Keno is authorized unless a municipality opts-out of it through a ballot question. No public hearing, but the City Council will decide if the option to have Keno is placed on the ballot. Report.

Connecting with you

As in the past, I will be covering every street in Ward 5, by foot and bike, this campaign season to meet you and understand more about the accessibility and mobility challenges our community faces. Let me know if you'd like to join me or want to make time to chat.

Where you'll find me:

Saturday, Oct 18, Energy Expo, 9am-2pm, Bow Memorial School, 20 Bow Center Rd, Bow, NH

*This is a free event created by committees from five towns: Concord, Boscawen, Bow, Dunbarton, & Weare

Wednesday, Oct 22, 6:30pm, Energy & the Environment Advisory Committee, Council Chambers, 37 Green Street

Thursday, Oct 23, 6pm, Transportation Policy Advisory Committee, City Hall -2nd flr conference room, 41 Green Street

What I am reading now:

Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Book, ebook, and audiobook available at the Concord Public Library. I picked my copy up at the Bellows Falls, VT Public Library book sale. Our library has an ongoing book sale just to the right of the entrance. Bring a few dollars with you because you never know what treasure may be available!

Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector by David H. Rosenbloom, Kravchuk, R. S., & Clerkin, R. M. available at UNH. This is the textbook for my Foundations and Theories in Public Administration course. I highly recommend the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy!

Ward 5 Perspectives: one via Concord Airport, the other via ConcordTV

Ward 5 is the second largest ward in Concord, land-wise. Flying above, it looks even larger. ConcordTV is housed in the High School. With all the local events they cover, they bring Concord to you. Subscribe to their page on YouTube for a front row seat to what's happening in Concord: (809) ConcordNHTV - YouTube

"It is, Sir, the people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people". -Daniel Webster