City Council - Regular Meeting

Who's got who's got the pledge tonight?

Yeah, I see. Good evening. The hour of 7 p.m. having arrived, I will call to order this regular meeting of the Keen City Council. This meeting is being broadcast live on the city of Keen YouTube channel and Spectrum channel 1302. The video is also streamed on the city's website and is posted by the end of the next business day, barring any technical difficulties. If you would like to receive an electronic city council packet to reference while viewing future broadcast, please contact the city clerk's office during business hours or go to the city's website and subscribe to the city mailings email list. The agenda is also accessible from any mobile device. I'd like to ask the clerk to please call the role.

Randy Elfilio here. Michelle A. Chalice. Katherine I. Workman here. Brian J. Lake here. Jacob R. Faves here. Laura E. Tobin here. Robert C. Williams here. Philip M. Jones present. Chris E. Roberts here. Patina A. Chadborn here. Edward J. Hos here. Laura E. Ruddle Miller here. Molly V. Ellis here. Thomas F. Powers here. Mitchell H. Greenwald.

Okay. I have a request this evening from Councelor Chalice to be allowed to participate remotely. Uh Councelor Chalice is on our monitor. I'd like to ask if you would state uh the reason to participate remotely this evening and where you are. I am home alone. Sorry, can't hear you. Hold on a second. Uh, my mic is on. Can you hear me now? Uh, it is faintly. Uh, huh. Well, check on your end and, uh, deputy

deputy manager is checking uh, if it's on our end. Yeah. How about better now? Uh not totally speakers. Yeah.

Microphone is on. I think it's us. If you can hear me at all. I am home alone with a torn meniscus in my right knee. Yes, we're good. We We did hear that. Okay. And you have my my sympathy. Uh we'll see if your colleagues feel the same way. Any objections to uh councelor Chalice participating remotely? Uh I see no objections, councelor. Uh so uh you will participate remotely. Uh we will uh conduct all of our votes by roll call this evening. Uh and okay. Uh, I'd like to ask councelor Workman to lead us in a pledge of

allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. So, I'd like to recognize councelor Filio for a motion to adopt the minutes of our previous meeting. Move to accept the minutes of the January 15th, 2026 meetings um as presented. Second.

Seconded by councelor Powers. Uh any comments, additions? Council Ellis. Um Barb We Wisman's name was misspelled. Thank you. Want to make a reference on a page or just It was several times. Um I I wrote down on a note and then I couldn't find my notes. It's good enough. I think the clerk can We'll take that message. Make that adjustment. Uh we'll take that as a scriber error.

Uh any further comments? Seeing none, all those in favor? We will ask you that via roll call. Councelor Philly. Yes. Councelor Chalice. I. Councelor Workman. Yes. Councelor Lake. Yes. Councelor Favalis. Yes. Councelor Tobin. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Councelor Jones. Yes. Councelor Roberts. Councelor Chadborn. Yes. Councelor Hos. Yes. Councelor Rutle Miller. Yes. Councelor Ellis. Yes. Councelor Powers. Yes.

Motion carries. uh and we move forward with u and before I address announcements uh I want to take a moment to honor one of our former city councilors who recently passed away Cynthia Georgina who passed on January 22nd. Uh Cynthia was a lifelong Keen residents having attended Keen High School and Keen State College. She was educated, worked, and raised a family here in Keen with her husband, who she affectionately referred to as Smiley. Cynthia became a Keen City Counselor in 1988 and served at large until 1999, and she returned to the city council in 2004 as a ward five counselor and served until 2011. She served as chair of the finance organization and personnel committee from January07 through December of uh 11 and retired from the council the same year. Cynthia has given to the community a lifetime of dedicated service and she'll be sorely missed. A visitation of Cynthia will be held on Tuesday, February 10th from 5 till 7 at the Foley Funeral Home on Court Street. Uh I encourage folks uh who knew and appreciate uh her service to attend. Uh personally I'll say uh not just through the city council but also through her WKBK frequent broadcasts. Uh I had the opportunity to interact with Cynthia uh she her dedication to our community her affection for its members uh was really uh quite sincere. Uh she may have called her husband Smiley, but she had a a light in her face and a smile that uh covered it. Uh she was always a joy to be with and she was a real bellweather for the city council. I

that I trusted as a a person who frequently uh came to the city council as a guest. Uh I'm I regret that and want to express my sympathies to the family. Um some other upcoming dates of interest. Uh this weekend is the Ice and Snow Festival. It'll be conducted in downtown Keen this coming Saturday, February 7th, from 11 p 11:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. The event will feature 14 ice carvers this year, which is an addition of a couple along with many family activities. So, uh this is a great winter festival here in Keen. I encourage as many folks who can come out and enjoy this. Uh it's a treat and it's unique across uh the state of New Hampshire. Uh as part of the Human Rights Committee's Black History Month programming in February, there will be a screening of the documentary Shadow Falls North at Heertton Hall on February 17th at 6 PM. This documentary focuses on the overlooked black history of New England and efforts to reclaim it. And then a follow-up uh discussion will take place on March 5th at 6:30 at the Historical Society of Cheshure County, which has its own uh history reclamation project underway. Uh a reminder uh that the city council's workshop relating to the capital improvement plan for 2027 through 2033 will be held at Heertton Hall on Tuesday, March 3rd, starting at 5:30 p.m. Uh we encourage all counselors to arrive at 5:00 p. p.m. as a meal will be served prior to the start of that meeting. And there is also scheduled a special meeting of the finance organization and personnel committee for March 10th at 5:30 to continue review of the proposed capital improvement plan.

Uh the regular FOP meeting uh on March 12th will start early uh so that the CIP review can continue and meals will be offered uh prior to both of those meetings as well. uh reward for your good participation in that process. Um looking ahead to a warmer weather uh uh announcement. Um there will be a summer break this year. Um and it'll occur in August. Trai as tradition uh the regular council meeting scheduled for August 6th, 2026 will be held as planned. However, the August 20th and September 3rd city council meetings will be cancelled. Uh that's going to give us a good fiveweek break. Uh in addition, all standing committees uh during August will be cancelled. Uh and that includes PLLD on August 12th, FOP on August 13th uh and on August 27th, and the MSFI committee meeting on August 26th. Regular meetings will resume uh during the week of September 7th with the PLLD meeting on September 9th and FOP meeting on September 10th. So uh we'll no doubt announce those four or five times more before August. Uh but plan start planning uh your your opportunity for a break uh during August and beginning of September. Okay. There are no uh hearings, presentations, or proclamations this evening. So, I'm going to ask the clerk to please read uh nominations and appointments to committees that are up for confirmation this evening.

Yes, we have several confirmations uh this evening and they include to the bicycle pedestrian path advisory committee, Jacob Robertson, who will serve as a regular member in slot six for a term to expire December 31, 2028. To the Congregate Living and Social Services Licensing Board, we have Ian Mat serving as a regular member in slot five, term to expire December 31, 2028. To the Human Rights Committee, we have Jennifer Porschettz, uh, serving as an alternate member in slot 10 for a term to expire December 31, 2028. Uh, to the planning board, David Burggeron serving as a regular member in slot one for a term to expire December 31, 2028. And then to the trustees of trust funds and cemetery trustees, we have Michelle Howard being reappointed as a regular member in slot four, as well as Heather Sheek being uh confirmed as an alternate member in slot six, both with terms to expire December 31, 2028. And I'll I'll just add uh if I might uh briefly uh the attention that we call to vacancies on the city website uh together with the startup of this new term of the city council uh has brought forward a number of uh nominations of really qualified people. Uh there's another backlog of another half a dozen folks that are interested in committees. I think we've pretty well filled out every regular slot on a committee and we're now uh filling the alternate positions. So, I mean, we're this is uh a really good sign and I want to thank uh folks if if you've had any role in encouraging folks to uh apply. It's worked and it's it's really good. And then we have a couple of other nominations.

Oh, I'm sorry. Hold it. We need to confirm these uh by vote. And I'd like to uh ask Councelor Filio for a motion. Is that right? Councelor Powers for a motion. Thank you, honor. I move to confirm the nominations. Second. Second by councelor Filio. Roll call, please. Councelor Filio, yes. Councelor Chalice, I can see her saying yes. Okay. Councelor Workman. Yes. Councelor Lake. Yes. Councelor Favis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chad, councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rutle Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. And councelor Powers,

yes. And I do see uh Dave Berseron in the audience. Uh Dave, congratulations. Um and uh a couple other nominations for this evening. Yes, we have two nominations from the mayor this evening. And the first is uh to the assessor's board and it is Christine Houston who will serve as a regular member in slot two for a term to expire December 31, 2028. And to the human rights committee, Thomas M. White serving as alternate in slot 14 for a term to expire December 31, 2028.

Thank you. We'll hold those nominations until the next meeting. Okay. Uh we've got some communications that have come in. We do. So our first communication is from John Lovelund and he is submitting a letter with u concerns related to the proposed downtown infrastructure project. Um mentions liabilities related to certain aspects of planning and the approved design.

Uh and that uh for those in the returning in the city council, we've had a number of communications from Mr. Lelin. This communication, you might have noticed, is particularly directed towards newer counselors uh to call your attention to the things that he's uh concerned about. So hopefully you've had a chance to to read those. Okay. Uh and we'll uh file his uh communication asformational. And our next communication is from councelor Workman and this is a request for the review and potential update of the 2019 inter agency memorandum of understanding involving local law enforcement partners.

And we'll refer council workman's letter to the finance organization and personnel committee. Thank you. Uh next communication is from Mark Rebelard of the Keen Downtown Group. Uh Mark is requesting uh the city council suspend their policy related to community funding and uh provide funding towards the series of mini festivals slated for the summer of 2026. And we'll refer uh Mr. Rebelard's letter to finance organization and personnel committee.

And we have a second letter from Mr. Rebelard. And this one is a similar request uh for community event status for the 250th Independence Day celebration.

And that too is a recommendation communication that will refer to the finance organization and personnel committee as well. Okay. Move on to committee reports. And our first two reports are coming out of the municipal services facilities and infrastructure committee. They're bothformational reports. The first relates to a presentation from Grever and Ward on the Manadnock View Cemetery expansion project. And the second relates to a presentation by public works on public storm response.

And we'll file as recommended both of those uh reports asformational. Our next report is from the Municipal Services Facilities and Infrastructure Committee and it relates to to the downtown infrastructure project. And on a vote of five to zero, the municipal services, facilities, and infrastructure committee recommends that the city manager be authorized to do all things necessary to incorporate the scope of the work and the contract restriction changes into the downtown infrastructure project bid documents as pred as presented and to rebid the project for construction beginning in the spring of 2026.

I recognize councelor Workman for a motion. I move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second. Seconded by councelor Tobin. Councelor Workman for the committee.

Uh thank you your honor. Um so as you know unfortunately the first round of bids has come back in higher than we expected uh which created roughly a $7 million gap in what is currently airmarked for the project. Public Works analyzed every bid line item and consulted contractors to understand why. The key factors were reduced productivity in the tight downtown environment, heavy subcontractor requirements, and the two-year uh schedule that many local contractors felt was just unrealistic. Rather than rebidding unchanged, staff proposed targeted scoped reductions and uh contract changes to lower the cost while still preserving the core infrastructure goals. Recommended changes included eliminating or scaling back higher cost aesthetic and non-essential features such as granite seating walls, decorative lighting ballards, specialty curbing, some textured concrete areas, portions of temporary pavement, and a full depth roadbase replacement. instead replacing it with the partial reclam reclamation instead. Staff also suggests reducing police traffic control hours where flaggers can be used uh safely. These eliminations um will save uh roughly $1.6 million. The second group of items would be deferred or done in-house for better value, including benches, trash recepticles, bike racks, gazeos,

uh the changes to the gazebo stairs, um pay station locations, the fountain upgrade, the catinary light lighting, and the Christmas tree base. um which would um include additional net savings in contract costs while still allowing those features um to be added later. And then the third set of substitutions which um includes such as smaller underground drainage structures, less decorative concrete treatment, standard curbs, and possible donated field office space. and electrical design refinements um could save additional net savings with the tradeoff of somewhat higher future maintenance in limited areas. Lastly, staff recommend returning to the three-year con uh construction schedule and easing certain work restrictions, which would allow for Saturday work and more flexible parking impacts. uh with the intent of attracting more biders and improved pricing to close the remaining gaps. It's proposed that we redirect funding from upcoming roadway paving funds with the exact impacted roadways to be identified during the upcoming CIP process. The committee voted five to zero to authorize the city manager to incorporate the pres presented scope and contracted changes into the bid documents and rebid this project for the beginning of September 2026. And we hope you do the same.

Thank you. Do want to point out uh uh both in the minutes and in councelor Workman's presentation, those are a lot of items to keep track of. Uh so I appreciate the city manager having distributed a uh uh a page that you have at your desks uh that uh describe all the changes from uh the original bid to uh this rebid uh process and I appreciate the uh uh being able to keep track uh so easily uh through that. Thank you. Um motion can I just add a Yeah, please. Y.

So, just one additional clarification. The intent would be for us to go back out to bid um as soon as possible uh and keep the project uh out to bid for it's usually approximately a month um so that we can start construction in the May time frame. Okay. Councelor Filio.

Thank you. Thank you. Well, having personally been involved in this project for going on over five years right now, uh there are other areas that I would like to have seen cut, but and there's other areas that I'd like to have seen been eliminated. But with that said, I'm sure all 15 of us think the same thing. And I think it's imperative now that we, you know, bite the bullet, I guess you say, and and get moving on with this project because as we've seen over the last year, um, on Water Street, Lower Main Street, and this past weekend, and then Lever Street, the pipes aren't getting any younger, and it costs more and more to fix these emergency repairs. So, like I said, even though this project is not perfect and there's other areas that I would independently like to see changed, it's time for this 15 council to move on right now and get this project done and move on to the next thing. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Uh other counselors wishing to speak. uh we have taken this up again and again and hopefully uh moving forward. So, thank you very much. Uh I'd like to ask the clerk then to call the role. Councelor Filio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, no. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rutle Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes.

Councelor Powers, yes.

The motion carries 13 to1. Thank you very much and best wishes. Uh okay. Uh moving on to item D4. And this is a finance organization and personnel committee report relative to a request to increase the disabled veteran property tax credit. And on a vote of 4 to zero, the finance organization and personnel committee recommends the amended motion to direct the city manager to draft a resolution related to the tax credit for service connected total disability increasing the amount from $4,000 to $4,300. and that this item be reviewed during the upcoming revaluation.

Recognize councelor Powers for a motion. Oh, I'm sorry. I'd like to recognize councelor Roberts. Yes, your honor. I I was excused in the FOP and I request that I be excused now to vote on this because I'm one of the 68 individuals that this would affect. Yes. Thank you for pointing that out. Any objections to uh councelor Roberts recusing himself on this item? I see none. Uh sorry, councelor powers move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second.

So we're we're here this evening to discuss um this particular item because the state law has changed um as the amount that is available to totally and permanently disabled member of the service. Um it was up until most recently $4,000. Legislature made a move to make it $5,000, but at the same time there's another exemption available to certain number of veterans of $300. Um so they took the 300 out and said they'll be covered if you raise the exemption to 5,000 or whatever you may do. So, the average person that applies for the exemption, they're whole if we make a change. Otherwise, they would be $300 less of an exemption for them. Every community makes this decision themselves. State law provides for it. So, each community visit visits it from time to time or on a schedule and makes these changes. and we discussed it at the committee level and we talked a little bit about what what's the economic impact to the city in terms of uh the fact that people's tax bills who may have this exemption will be reduced by a like amount. Uh were we to go with the $1,000 um cost is around $68,000 in revenue in the next budget season. It's hard to judge that because you don't know where your income's going to be, but that's an item that people like to know what's what's the impact. Um, after a bit of discussion and we amended our motion at least once and decided that the best way for us to

approach it at this point in time was to put the $300 back in by changing our totally disabled exemption to $4,300 annually. uh with the same promise to those who are interested and came to discuss it that we will address the entire thing when we go through the budget process in the re re-evaluation of all the city properties in the next season. Um, so what other there were a couple other questions that uh if you particularly have them, we'll try to answer it. But there is a bit of well there's a bit of an economic uh impact to the city. Um, however, 68 folks in my opinion and I think the committee expressed the same have earned it and deserve it. Thank you. This this essentially is a hold harmless uh action. Uh if you notice that $300 credit was uh otherwise offered to veterans who had been disabled uh through their service. Uh this is not something that we want to backslide on. Uh, councelor Tobin,

I will be supporting this. I also just wanted to say that I appreciate how intentional FOP was about making sure that that was going to make it into um be considered again during the reevaluation. Councelor Ellis,

thank you. Um, I I just want to say I hope that we do revisit this because I I don't feel it behooves the city of Keen to be nickel and dimming um totally disabled veterans. So, I I hope that we will revisit this and eventually give the full $5,000 credit, but I'm glad we're doing what we are for now. Thank you. Um, okay. Councelor Favis,

I didn't want to be the only MSFI member that didn't speak. Um, I had this question came up at committee um from councelor Lake when the 5,000 was on the table. I I do have a question though because we're midyear about, you know, if we pass this tonight, this can this can actually be implemented and and get to the Okay. Okay. We have a recommendation. Would the clerk please call the role? Councelor Filio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Council Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Chadborn, yes. Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rule Miller,

yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes.

Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Move on to D5. D5. I think we might be done here. Oh, sorry. Thank you. I think I attached something that I shouldn't have. So D5 is the execution of a lease for 11 Central Square. And this is coming out of the finance organization and personnel committee. And on a vote of five to zero, the finance organization and personnel committee recommends that the city manager be authorized to do all things necessary to execute negotiate and execute a lease with Nicola's LLC for the use of space at 11 Central Square.

Recognize councelor Powers for a motion. Thank you, your honor. Move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second and seconded by Councelor Lake. Councelor Powers.

Thank you, your honor. Nicole is coming back to downtown. below us here. Um, so we discussed this a little bit and perhaps there was some confusion, so I'm going to put some terms on it that us old-timers will remember. We're talking about Jean's Pastry right down below us. Um, and and this section of it's our building and it's always been used as a retail location. Um this section which is 11 central square um was ren renovated quite a bit twice and um as part of this negotiation the property the furniture etc all wasn't ours but it was somebody else's. Um so that's all going to be worked out through the lease. There are two other parts of downstairs that are not affected by this lease. My hope is that you'll see a lease from those two pieces of property in the in the near future. But each of those pieces of property needs a little bit of a attention because those two have been around. One was um the wine seller used to be the chamber. She recognizes that. And uh the small storefront that's a joint to the uh wine seller was Marshall's Barberhop. So, both those small pieces, they're pretty popular. It's the right place. They just need some attention and the right customer to come forward and I'm sure the mayor the manager will u make a good a good proposal for them when they're ready to uh lease it. So, it was unanimous by the committee that uh manager be authorized to sign this lease. Thank you.

Thank you for the history lesson. Uh, questions from the council. Seeing none, would the clerk please call the role? Councelor Fillio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Le, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, yes. Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rutle Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes.

Motion carries unanimously. Move to D6. And this is a finance organization and personnel committee report relative to the execution of an agreement for engineering services with NextGen for the design of the Gilbo solar pavilion project. And on a vote of 5 to zero, the finance organization and personnel committee recommends that the city manager be authorized to do all things necessary to execute an agreement with NextGen for engineering services for the design of the Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion project for an amount not to exceed $300,000. I recognize councelor Powers for the motion. Thank you, your honor. Move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second.

Seconded by councelor Chadborn. Councelor Powers for the committee. Thank you, your honor. Council members, on on your desk, there's a bio of the proposed engineer who has quite a bit of experience in dealing with solar. And our project has a large component that's solar. It also has a component of using natural wood. Some of that wood probably harvested from New Hampshire. uh very much uh the kind of construction that we see uh from a couple of bigger firms around this area. So, it's it's it's the right thing to do when we're trying to continue our work with uh solar and making things more accessible for everybody. So, it's it's a very different kind of engineering and construction. Um, thus the little bit higher expense for engineering is you really got to make sure you're doing this right when you deal with solar and you deal with winter time. As you recall, this um proposal went out to bid it the money to cover it is 20% city funds and the other 80% is federal funding. Um, Northern Borders Regional Commission and their interest is timber for transit. So there thereby it really falls into what we want to do and some of the objectives we have. The first propo the first proposal brought before the city council uh the vendor we didn't not pass it for that vendor. So that's why it was back to us um last week at the council at the U committee meeting and exgen's proposal was fully explained by the city engineer. It certainly meets the criteria. They have the ability to deal with this proposal and remember when it's federal money everybody's got a finger in this. So

there's a the proposal is pretty substantial because it has to meet the engineering requirements of the feds and certain other agencies along the way. So, um, it's recommended that the the, uh, manager be authorized to sign the contract with the company for not to exceed $300,000, and we have the funding and the ability to do this. Recommended the council approve it. Thank you, council. Any questions? Council Jones.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I'm glad this came along. Uh, this project was originally part of the downtown project. I didn't like it being part of that. Now it's part of the TFT. I think that's a wonderful situation here and uh I'm glad we've changed we changed directions and are going this way. Thank you. Okay, seeing no further questions to follow. Councelor Phillio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, yes. Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Roto Miller,

yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes.

Motion carries unanimously and we'll move to the city manager's report. So this evening I wanted to give you a little bit of a heads up on some podcast topics that we have coming your way. Um so typically we record a podcast the day after or within a couple days of the council meeting and tomorrow's podcast will feature our city engineer who will discuss the solar pavilion project including the project timeline, funding sources and anticipated benefits. On February 20th, I will be joined by our new airport director who will share some of his prior experience as well as his early observations of our airport. On February 23rd, we will record a special podcast focused on the capital and uh operation budget process. On March 6, the parking director will join me to discuss zone flexibility and the changes that had been implemented a few months ago and some initiatives that are coming our way. So hopefully those are topics we try to uh mix in an you know a little bit more information that might be covered uh that isn't necessarily covered at a council meeting and hopefully it'll be interesting for people to follow along. Also, if you remember on February 26 at FOP, we are planning a um overview of uh capital planning, budgeting, and the tax rate. And that will be presented by uh Dan Langel, our assessor, as well as Carrie Chamberlain, our finance director. Um I also want to just take a moment and recognize the city's safety committee. Uh this it's chaired by TJ O'Brien and um Megan Young in our HR office did a lot of work to bring about a uh CPR AED

training session uh with the help of the fire department and it was really popular and very well attended. Um and so they are interested in doing that again. So next uh year they'll be bringing forward uh four opportunities and they'll be scheduled in clusters to maximize staff participation and allow for reertification and expand CPR certification across the organization. The certification is value uh valid for two years and these opportunities are also available to our city councilors. We had one city councelor Michelle attended. Um and so when those come back up again, if that's something that you're interested in, the fire department does a really great job um putting that training on. I also wanted to just let you know that we this week had a visit from the state business of economic affairs as well as outdoor recreation and travel and tourism. And they talked to the mayor and I about statewide initiatives. and um they came here to learn more about the economic development work that we're doing here as well as the importance of our airport. And so they shared some information on uh cross promotion opportunities which we're excited to take advantage of. And they uh toured the airport and learned a little bit more about the importance of the airport as an anchor to our business community. So we appreciated them coming to Keen and actually staying the night here. um and taking advantage of all that we have to offer. I also just wanted to give an update. Um we um we uh the council decided back in I think it was September um to authorize me to enter into a host agreement with Revo Casino um and take advantage of a possibility of a donation to the city. And we did do that. The total amount received by the city was $13,788.35.

And so later this month, staff will return to the finance committee with a recommendation to allocate the funds to the police department to offset a portion of planned expenditures that it's included in the upcoming capital improvement plan. Um the system this we are planning to put forward the system right now that records all of our telephone and radio traffic. It is um has a six-year shelf life and it's due for replacement in fiscal 27 and this will go be a helpful uh revenue to help offset offset that I will be executing the same host agreement for 2026 and I think that's all that I had for you this evening. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. Yeah, it it was we've got some really good uh relationships developing with business and economic affairs. You may notice that there's a new uh commissioner proposed uh uh for confirmation this next week. Uh and that that could change some directions, but right now their staff has been really uh uh available to for our outreach, our invitations, and they've taken us up on that. So, it's it's it's good to get them here and promoting us. They were very excited, by the way, of about a 250th uh uh celebration that might take place here and uh they would be able to list that on their website uh for their 250th uh celebration. I guess it's not taking place just yet. It will it. All right, stop tongue tying myself. Uh all right, moving on. Uh we have speaking of donations uh that was good news and uh we've got some other good news. Council Powers.

Thank you honor. Move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second to read into the record what we're please do. Um so this is a memorandum that came from the finance director and it is uh recommending the acceptance of donations totaling $8,481.17. Move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second second where councelor Jagwood.

So once again this community has come forward to support us and the member other members of the community and the staff and everything they do. Fire Department has received $200 from Rose and Chris Lee, $100 from K. Alderman and James Mount Mford, $100 from Seven Rivers Law Office, P LLC. Fire department has also received $200 donation from Harrison and Marlene Baldwin in appreciative services provided by the department members. Bradboro Heat Fast Pitch Club donated $2731.117 through the parks and recreation to support girls softball programming. And the Gallup Fund has donated $5,000 through the human rights committee to benefit the 20 26 Keen International Festival and a $100 donation from Deborah Hill and a $50 donation from Edund and Roberto Gafari Revocable Trust for our Branch Out for Parks project. Thank you to every one of them. We have a motion to accept uh these donations. Any questions? We need a roll call to accept these this evening.

Councelor Fillio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, yes. Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rule Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes. Okay. And now we move to uh reports from boards and commissions. We've got uh one report.

Yes. And this is a memorandum from our city planner and it is submitted on behalf of the joint planning board PLLD committee and it relates to ordinance 020540 relating to setback exceptions, accessory dwelling units and parking regulations. And the report indicates that at their meeting of January 12th, 2026, the planning board voted unanimously to find the ordinance consistent with the 2025 comprehensive master plan. And further, the planning, licenses, and development committee unanimously voted to request the mayor set a public hearing on the ordinance.

And we'll set that public hearing for March 5th at 7 PM at our regular meeting. Uh next we have ordinances uh for their first reading and we've got two. We do. The first is from the police department and it relates to fines for nuisance menace and vicious dog offenses. And this is ordinance 0202601 an ordinance relating to fines for nuisance menace and vicious dog offenses. And we'll refer this one more time to finding licenses and development committee. And the second proposed ordinance

and our second ordinance is ordinance O202602. This is coming from the community development department and it is relating to the definition of family in the LDC. And we have ordinance O202602, an ordinance relating to the definition of family.

And uh this we will recommend uh be I'm recommending to refer this to the joint planning board and uh planning licenses and development committee for their discussion their next meeting which won't be in February. If you notice it's canceled. Moving on. One ordinance for second reading this evening. I don't think we have Sorry, we've got some resolutions.

We have resolution um R202604 and this is coming out of the finance organization and personnel committee. This relates to the reallocation of unspent bond funds for the wastewater treatment plant service water system upgrade project. And on a vote of 5 to zero, the finance organization and personnel committee is recommending the adoption of resolution R202604. We recognize councelor Powers for the motion. Thank you, honor. Move to carry out the intent of the committee report. Second.

Second by councelor Chadburn. Councelor Powers. So, we have some monies that are left over from a project within the wastewater treatment plant and from the water sewer fund, non-t tax dollars. Those are all fees, dollars that are put together. And we have a continuing project to finish some work that's being done at the plant. And you recall that this plant is now around 40 years old. And some of these systems have really gone much further than was thought. So they need the attention and the project was in the proposals put out the bid five bids this time. So um that that's good to see that kind of a competition but once again the total amount was exceeds the amount of money available in the project. So the funds that are left over from the other project will be moved across the table to cover this and there will be enough money to cover the cost of operations, the rest of the engineering and there's a bit of a contingency in case there are some little things. So it's unanimously recommended by FOP that this be u carried out and I hope that you do the same. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh, any questions on the recommendation? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Councelor Phillio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, yes. Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Roto Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes. And we have two remaining resolutions to be read into the record this evening.

The first is from uh our city engineer and our parks and recreation director and uh this relates to appropriation of funds to the Robin Hood Park Improvements Project. Uh and we have resolution R202605 relating to appropriation of planned funds for engineering services for the Robin Hood Park Improvements Project. And we'll refer this proposal, this resolution to the finance organization and personnel committee.

And our next resolution is from the solid waste manager and it relates to appropriation of funds for recycling equipment. And we have resolution R202606 in a resolution relating to the appropriation of funds for recycling equipment replacement.

We will recommend I will refer this item also to the finance organization and personnel committee. Having reached the conclusion of our regular agenda, I'd like to recognize councelor Powers for a motion. Thank you, your honor. Move to go into non-public session for consideration of the release of non-public minutes pursuant to RSA 91- A3 uh 2 M. Second. Seconded by councelor Filio. Uh, can the clerk please call the role? Councelor Phillio, yes. Councelor Chalice, yes. Councelor Workman, yes. Councelor Lake, yes. Councelor Favalis, yes. Councelor Tobin,

yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Councelor Jones, yes. Councelor Roberts, yes. Councelor Chadborn, Councelor Hos, yes. Councelor Rule Miller, yes. Councelor Ellis, yes. Councelor Powers, yes. Motion carries. And uh we'll call for a fivem minute recess. Uh we probably don't need it that uh desperately, but we do need to make sure we've got communication set up with uh remote participation.