NEWS ARCHIVES 2
WE'RE BACK!
A lot has happened in Claremont over the past few weeks that our local newspaper has failed to report to their readers. We will begin to deal with the backlog next week. Below are two brand new postings:
12/13/07
Posting # 1
Posting # 2
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11/12/07
A letter regarding the editorial by the Eagle Times about the election results, can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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11/10/07
2 POSTINGS TODAY!
POSTING # 1
POSTING # 2
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11/3/07
2 POSTINGS TODAY!
POSTING # 1
A letter from City Council Ward # 3 Candidate Richard Dietz can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
Posting # 2
This action plan for Claremont's Master Plan was distributed to the Planning Board but never put up on the City's Website for public review.
LINK TO MAP # 1 DEPICTING CLAREMONT'S CURRENT LAND USE (ZONING)
LINK TO MAP # 5 DEPICTING THE PROPOSED FUTURE LAND USE (ZONING CHANGES)
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11/1/07
3 Postings today!
Postings # 1 & 2
Letters from Jacquelyn Elliott & Steven Snelling can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
Posting # 3
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10/31/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
HAND DELIVERED TO THE EAGLE TIMES ON OCTOBER 31, 2007.
MR. MARANVILLE IS REFERRING TO
Posting # 2
A letter from Steven Snelling regarding the Eagle Times Editorial about Mr. Maranville's interview show can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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10/30/07
Instead of editorials so far the Eagle Times has seemed to endorse certain incumbent council candidates by publishing their endorsement letters to the editor twice. Or is this a new policy similar to purchasing display advertisement where you pay full price for the first ad and get a discount on the second? The Eagle Times' rate for political ads is $13.50 per column inch. Although some council candidates have no problem paying this high rate, some that can't afford it take the back door approach!
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10/29/07
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10/26/07
LINK TO JUDGE MCHUGH'S DECISION
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10/25/07
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10/24/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
A letter written by Former Mayor and City Councilor James C. Neilsen IV entitled "LEVEL FUND SHELL GAME" can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
Posting # 2
A review of actions taken by incumbent members of the Claremont City Council entitled "LOOKING PAST THE RHETORIC" can be found on the Elections Page of this website.
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10/19/07
A letter written by Claremont Resident Helen Crowe regarding the Ice River Springs Water Bottling Company can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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10/19/07
A letter written by Claremont Resident Jacquelyn Elliott regarding the Ice River Springs Water Company can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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10/18/07
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10/12/07
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10/8/07
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10/5/07
An excellent letter written by Claremont Resident Jacquelyn Elliott regarding the eminent domain case settlement agreement can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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10/4/07
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10/2/07
On September 18th the City Council unanimously voted to give the City Manager a raise "in accordance with his employment contract with the City". In an unusual move no dollar amount was stated in the motion. Is this because it's an election year?
Councilors Austin & Cutts were absent. Mayor Pope only stayed for 15 minutes and then left just before the vote took place (was this done so the Mayor could say that he didn't vote for the pay raise prior to the Election?)
To our knowledge the Manager's original contract doesn't allow for automatic increases in pay. We've submitted a Right-To-Know Request for a copy of the Manager's current contract as well as how much this raise will end up costing the Claremont Taxpayers & we will post it. Hopefully we will get that information prior to Election Day.
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10/1/07
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9/29/07
IT'S OFFICIAL!
SULLIVAN-PALATEK CLOSING!
80 JOBS LOST!
On August 30th the Eagle Times reported that Sullivan-Palatek's Claremont Facility which employs 80 people might be closing.
On September 28th the Michigan based News Dispatch reported that Company Officials announced that the Claremont Facility would definitely be closed during the groundbreaking ceremony for Sullivan-Palatek's new facility in Michigan City, Michigan.
Link to the News Dispatch's Article
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9/28/07
Wheelabrator windfall at the Public's expense! Was this deliberately sabotaged? For full details go to the Other Issues Page of this website.
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9/27/07
2 Postings today!
Posting # 1
Claremont City Councilor At-Large Candidate Thomas (Toby) Batchelder has created his own website.
Link to Mr. Batchelder's website
Posting # 2
This is the Claremont Master Plan interview summary for Building Code Enforcement Officer Ken Walsh. Can you understand this gibberish?
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9/25/07
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9/24/07
Have you been invited to a recruiting lunch by members of the City Staff lately? This wouldn't be the first time its happened!
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9/21/07
A letter from Claremont School Reinvestment Committee Member Paul Knapp regarding their Public Forum (which will be held on Saturday September 29th from 11 AM - 1 PM at Stevens High School) can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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9/20/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
Blatant sabotage has cost the Taxpayers thousands! For details go to the Other Issues Page of this website.
Posting # 2
An excellent, thought provoking letter from Claremont Resident Jacquelyn Elliott regarding the recent settlement of the Eminent Domain Case between the City of Claremont & Wheelabrator can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
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9/18/07
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9/14/07
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9/12/07
To learn what the City Manager & the Eagle Times didn't tell the Public about regarding the Eminent Domain Case Settlement between the City of Claremont & Wheelabrator go to the Other Issues Page of this website and read a copy of the actual agreement!
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9/11/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
CITY LOSES AGAIN!
In an unanimous decision The State of New Hampshire Supreme Court denies The City of Claremont's motion for reconsideration.
POSTING # 2
Part 3 of our series "A New High School for Claremont?" can be found on the School News Page of this website. ______________________________
9/6/07
FARWELL FIASCO!
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9/4/07
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9/1/07
The Claremont School Reinvestment Committee will eventually give the Public their recommendation regarding whether to renovate Stevens High School or build a brand new high school. However there is a third possible option. For full details go to the School News Page of this website.
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8/30/07
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8/27/07
Excerpt from Claremont Main Street's
Official Website:
Note: 2nd bullet point from bottom.
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8/24/07
It's heartening to see that new
citizens are running for the
Claremont City Council so early!
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8/24/07
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8/23/07
Claremont Zoning Board's
Meeting Minutes sanitized!
For the full story go to the
Other Issues Page on this website.
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8/21/07
SNELLING CASE UPDATE!
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8/21/07
CAST IN STONE:
THE REST OF THE STORY!
GO TO THE LETTERS PAGE OF THIS
WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS.
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8/17/07
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8/15/07
SPECIAL REPORT!
According to our sources the Rite-Aid Pharmacy will be vacating their Washington Street Location soon and move into the former Brooks Pharmacy on Pleasant Street. Rite-Aid recently purchased the Brooks chain.
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8/15/07
2 Postings today!
Posting # 1
A letter written by me about the Eagle Times' erroneous article regarding Claremont's involvement with Cast In Stone, which can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
Posting # 2
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8/14/07
2 Postings Today!
Posting # 1
An excellent letter written by Joel Snelling (Steve Snelling's Son) can be found on the Letters Page of this website.
Posting # 2
An update regarding the Claremont School Investment Committee's Outreach Task Force can be found on the School News Page of this website.
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8/13/07
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8/10/07
4 Postings Today!
Posting # 1
Part 2 of our Series entitled "A NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR CLAREMONT?" can be found on the School News Page of this website.
Posting # 2
Snelling Case Update: We've posted a copy of the City's Motion for Reconsideration as well as a copy of the Plaintiff's Objection to that Motion, filed by Mr. Snelling's Attorney. Both documents can be found on the Other Issues Page of this website.
Posting # 3
Posting # 4
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8/9/07
The Claremont School Investment Committee Outreach Task Force is concocting a phony, staged interview with the S.I.C. Chairman that they intend to air on the local public access television channel. For full details go to the School News Page of this website.
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8/8/07
A letter by Steven Snelling with new information regarding the current status of his case can be found on the Letters Page of this Website. ______________________________
8/7/07
3 Postings Today!
Posting # 1
St. Marys Parish evicts Soup Kitchen.
Must vacate by October 15th!
Posting # 2
Posting # 3
The Snelling Case Part 3
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8/6/07
Could we lose School Building Aid for the renovation of Stevens High School due to a lack of parking? For more information go to the School News Page of this website.
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8/5/07
At their August 2nd meeting, several School Investment Committee Members desperately tried to discredit this website for reporting about their activities, without offering one single shred of proof to back up their claims. For the full story go to the School News Page of this website.
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8/2/07
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8/1/07
A letter written by Steven Snelling,
regarding the editorial in today's local
newspaper, can be found on the
Letters Page of this Website.
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7/31/07
SPECIAL REPORT!
The City Manager had the Attorney representing Claremont in the Snelling Case file a Defendants' Motion for Reconsideration with the State of NH Supreme Court on July 29, 2007.
The document states that "Defendants City of Claremont and Robert Porter hereby move for reconsideration of that part of the Court's Opinion of July 18, 2007, that finds that plaintiff was speaking as a citizen, and not pursuant to his official duties, when he was interviewed by the Eagle Times reporter."
We contacted Mr. Snelling and asked what he thought about this recent turn of events. Mr. Snelling responded "Too bad the City Manager has decided to drag this on. It will mean nearly a couple thousand dollars per month in interest plus legal fees for the taxpayers of Claremont to pay. Until the City Manager showed he is not a man of his word," (Eagle Times article where the City Manager is quoted when asked about the original appeal to the NH Supreme Court, "We thought we'd give it a shot and try to rid ourselves of the nightmares that had been created") Mr. Snelling continued "I felt we could approach negotiations on the "front-pay" issue that will be going back to Sullivan County Superior Court. Now, I can't trust him. We'll take this all the way to the jury because I can't trust him."
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7/31/07
Three Ward 1 Residents have submitted letters of interest regarding the open seat on the Claremont City Council recently held by James Neilsen. They are William Corey, Bradley Ferland & David Roark.
During the Clinton Administration, the members of the elite inner circle of close associates to the President were called the "Friends of Bill". The same thing can be said of the Santagate Administration and Mr. Corey would definately be on the list as a "Friend of Guy".
The Corey's have both been staunch supporters of the City Manager. Over the years, both have gone to the podium during public meetings and spoken in favor of Administration Proposals.
The Corey's have also been strong advocates for the Mill Project. The night the City Council passed a very important vote necessary to begin the Mill Project; Mrs. Corey gave a very passionate speech urging the Council to vote in favor of the Administration's Proposal.
According to public records, the Corey's later began buying properties adjacent to the Mill District and word on the street is that a development for that site is planned (possibly a Walgreens Pharmacy). For that to happen the Corey's will need to buy a few more abutting lots, including 2 that belong to the City of Claremont. One of those City owned parcels is a municipal parking lot that is part of the site plan for at least one nearby business.
The Corey's also bought the old Reliable Paper Building on Water Street right next to where the Mill Project is taking place. Word on the street is that the Corey's want to tear down that building and create a parking lot where people would have to pay to park there. Water Street is within the Historic District, which makes getting permission to tear down the Reliable Paper Building difficult since it requires the approval of the Historic District Commission.
At the October 26, 2006 Historic District Commission Meeting, St Marys Parish tried unsuccessfully to get approval to demolish the St Marys Convent, which is also located within the Historic District. According to the official minutes "Bill Corey, Ward 1, states he recently bought a mill building in the Historic District. He then questioned the authority of the Commission to decide on such matters when the owners have made their decision". If St Marys eventually gets approval to demolish their Convent, it may set the precedent necessary for the Corey's to demolish the Reliable Paper Building as well.
Mr. Corey serves on the Claremont Tax Increment Finance District Advisory Board alongside the City Manager & also rents space in the City owned Farwell Building.
It will also be interesting to see if Councilor William Regan will support Mr. Corey if he's nominated. On July 19, 2006 the City Council held a public hearing regarding Ordinance # 474 Open Space Residential Development, which failed due to a very large outpouring of public dissent. At that meeting the only person to speak in favor of the ordinance was Mr. Corey's wife.
The following excerpt is from the official July 19th City Council Minutes. "Christine Corey, Ward 1, reiterated this does not do away with the existing ordinance, it is another tool for developers. She is in favor of this additional tool for the City to use. She challenged Mr. Regan's ability to vote on this ordinance due to his biased and prejudged view. She quoted from the City Code of Conduct. She quoted from a letter dated October 20, 2005 from Mr. Coogan to Mr. Santagate in reference to a subdivision on 50 Lane Ridge Avenue, to which Mr. Regan is an abutter. According to the letter, Mr. Regan said the subdivision would wreck his view. The letter also states that Mr. Regan was running for City Council and that he would work to stop proposed subdivisions. Ms. Corey made a reference to the Planning Board Minutes dated November 28, 2005. She requested that Mr. Regan not vote on this issue. The Council discussed this issue. Mayor Pope said he would not ask Mr. Regan to step down and no other Councilors asked him to step down."
Will either the Administration or the Mayor demand that Councilor Regan recuse himself if Mr. Corey is nominated, in order to achieve a unanimous vote? Is Wednesday's Special City Council Meeting to interview the candidates and choose a new Councilor just a formality? Has the decision already been made? We shall soon find out!
Certainly everyone is welcome to run for a Council Seat, motivation however is another question.
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7/28/07
Local Election &
Candidate Filing Information
Submitted by Bernie Folta
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7/27/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
Part 3 of the Snelling Case will be
posted next week!
Posting # 2
WILL THE CITY'S CODE OF CONDUCT
BE UPHELD?
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7/25/07
The School Investment Committee is
looking into the possibility of building
a new High School.
The first in a series of in-depth reports
regarding what a newly constructed
High School could end up costing all
Claremont Residents and Property
Owners can be found on the School
News Page of this Website.
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7/23/07
THE SNELLING CASE PART 2
TO BE CONTINUED.......
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7/21/07
Update on the possible demolition of
St. Marys Convent.
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7/19/07
TO BE CONTINUED.......
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7/18/07
The NH Department of Education
announces the Fiscal Year 2008
Adequate Education Aid Numbers. To
learn what Claremont will receive go
to the School News Page of this
Website.
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7/18/07
CITY LOSES ANOTHER COURT CASE!
NH SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS
FORMER CLAREMONT ASSESSOR
STEVE SNELLING'S JURY AWARD OF
$355,980 PLUS LEGAL FEES. THE
COURT ALSO RULES THAT MR.
SNELLING CAN SEEK ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION FOR FUTURE WAGES
AND BENEFITS.
BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE 17
PAGE COURT RULING.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POSTING IS
A DIRECT LINK TO THE COURT RULING
IN IT'S ENTIRETY.
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7/17/07
2 postings today!
Posting # 1
Good news!
Eastern Bridge LLC of Claremont
NH sold to Canam Group Inc from
Quebec Canada. Expansion planned!
Posting # 2
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7/15/07
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7/14/07
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7/12/07
2 posting today!
Posting # 1
Posting # 2
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7/6/07
On July 2nd the Claremont Zoning
Board of Adjustment unanimously
voted to formally recommend to the
City Council that they pass a new
ordinance requiring fire sprinkler
systems in all newly constructed
buildings and in all existing buildings
where 40% or more of the building is
being remodeled.
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7/1/07
2 Postings today!
Posting # 1
According to an article in today's Eagle
Times Claremont City Councilor James
Neilsen resigned effective immediately
citing family responsibilities as the
reason for his resignation. The City
Council will address appointing his
replacement at their July meeting.
Posting # 2
Phone Numbers of City Officials
Link to Feb. 28, 2007 Lebanon NH
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6/29/07
2 Postings today!
Posting # 1
Claremont Resident Dick Elliott wrote
an excellent letter that can be found
on the Letters Page of this Website.
Posting # 2
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6/28/07
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6/22/07
2 Postings today!
Posting # 1
After learning that Voters had
defeated the School Budget for a
second time, the Claremont School
Board funded the unbudgeted Truant
Officer Position, using monies that
School Administration Officials had
found within the 2007 - 2008 School
Year Default Budget, that the
Administration won't need for the
purpose it was originally budgeted for.
To learn more go to the School News
Page of this website.
Posting # 2
A copy of the Letter to the Editor
written by me that the Eagle Times
published today can be found on the
Letters Page of this website.
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6/21/07
The results of the June 20th Claremont
School Budget Vote can be found on
the School News page of this website.
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6/19/07
City changes
Municipal Staffing Numbers
Blames it on "Computer Error"
Administration's Original Numbers
Administration's Revision
Comparison Chart
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6/15/07
According to the Minutes of the May
24, 2007 Claremont Development
Authority Meeting, KZM LLC may buy
the Old Coy Paper Company Building
provided an agreement can be
reached.
Excerpt from May 24, 2007 Claremont
Development Authority Meeting.
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6/8/07
A copy of the Claremont School District
Budget Ballot that will be used
on June 20, 2007 can be found on the
"School News" page of this website.
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6/7/07
Comparison of Claremont's Municpal
Payroll Expenses 2004 - 2007
City Solicitor Jane Taylor's E-Mail
Claremont Muncipal Government's
Staffing Levels 2004 - 2007
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6/5/07
Two new postings today!
Posting # 1
According to our inside sources, as of
a few weeks ago Genesis, the
company that manages the Sullivan
County Home (an elder care facility),
hasn't submitted a single invoice for
services provided in 2007. What chunk
of change is this going to be? How will
this affect the Current County Budget?
The Proposed County Budget for fiscal
year 2007 - 2008 is up by over $1.6
Million. It seems that a guessing game
is taking place regarding revenue and
expense figures, since no facts to back
up those numbers have been provided
by County Administrators.
The County Government looks like
Deja Vue of Claremont's Municipal
Government. With all the County
Administrators and their Overseers,
who's really running the show?
Posting # 2
Claremont Resident Richard Elliott
submitted an informative letter with
new details regarding the Claremont
School Budget & School Official's
continued over-estimation of Health
Insurance Costs. This letter can be
found on the "Letters Page" of this
website.
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6/4/07
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6/2/07
Wait till you read this!
Use the link below marked
"DIRECT LINK" and read the
June 1, 2007 posting
to see what we mean!
DIRECT LINK ______________________________
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
6/2/07
In the Public Forum of this Website
Claremont Resident Helen Crowe
(Posting # 102) raised questions
regarding the Community
Development Block Grant for Sewer
Infrastructure Upgrades for Pleasant
Valley Estates. We are providing
below a copy of the minutes from the
July 16, 2003 City Council Meeting
regarding this issue, which should
answer most of the questions raised.
The minutes state that "lot rents
would increase between $25 and $28
per month" & that the Pleasant Valley
Estates Cooperative Board voted for
those lot rent increases and to move
ahead with this project on June 16,
2003. If residents of Pleasant Valley
Estates have questions they should
contact their own board.
Excerpt from July 16, 2003
Claremont City Council Meeting.
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5/31/07
Important new information has
surfaced regarding the Claremont
School District's Proposed Budget.
For more information go to our newest
page on this website entitled "School
News".
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5/29/07
Stay tuned for some important graphs
that have been produced regarding
The School Investment Committee!
5/29/07
Congratulations to the Eagle Times for
all the splendid coverage of the Local
Memorial Day Activities!
Now if they will just keep current on
all the City & School Finances & Future
Issues that will so affect your
pocketbook, it would be greatly
appreciated.
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5/25/07
The May 23rd Oral Arguments for the
Snelling Case is now available on the
NH Supreme Court's Website. Use the
direct link below, then once on that
website find the May 23rd links for
Case # 2006-0315 Steven J.
Snelling Vs City of Claremont. One link
is Audio only, the other is both Video
& Audio. Running time: 30 Minutes.
Link to NH Supreme Court Website
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
A new website devoted to Claremont
NH Local Government Issues recently
premiered entitled "CLAREMONT
COMMENTS", which will allow more
sunshine into the dark corners of
Claremont's Version of Tamany Hall!
LINK TO CLAREMONT COMMENTS WEBSITE
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5/23/07
The NH Supreme Court hears Oral
Arguments for the Snelling Case
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5/21/07
Claremont City Officials further delay
making several important decisions by
cancelling the scheduled May 23, 2007
Claremont City Council Meeting.
E-Mail from the City Manager's
Executive Assistant
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5/19/07
The Mayor's invitation to the Ball
Claremont Taxpayer's Money given to
Mayor Scott Pope so that he could
attend the Ball for free!
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5/18/07
Here they go again!
Excerpt from April 26th CDA Minutes
Link to Astoria Properties Website
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5/16/07
Claremont Resident Judith Moriarty
submitted a letter about recent events
in both Claremont & Newport
regarding the Solid Waste Issue. Mrs.
Moriarty's letter can be found on the
Letters Page of this website.
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5/14/07
SPECIAL REPORT!
City's reply to Mr. Elliott's
Right-To-Know Request.
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5/14/07
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5/12/07
At the Sullivan County Regional Refuse
Disposal District's May 10th Meeting
District Representatives voted 12-2
(Claremont Representatives Jackie
Elliott & Robert Woodman voted No) to
bar all Claremont Representatives
from attending all future non-public
meetings and consultations with legal
counsel regarding the Wheelabrator
Incinerator Property Tax Abatement
Case.
This is just the latest example of how
this organization has used & abused
Claremont. Our community pays
approximately 25% of this
organization's bills but unlike the
other member communities Claremont
has to deal with the pulverized City
Roads due to all the heavy garbage
truck traffic, environmental & health
issues plus the stigma of having an
incinerator located in our community.
Translation: Claremont pays the most
and gets the least benefit.
Fortunately this marriage from hell is
soon about to end. A divorce is in the
works and will be finalized when this
organization dissolves in July.
Unfortunately, another arranged
marriage with many of the same
communities may be in the near
horizon.
Will Claremont Officials negotiate a
fair & equitable deal that serves the
best interests of Claremont (which
would be a first for this
Administration) or will City Officials
agree to another shotgun wedding and
allow Claremont to get taken
advantage of once again?
Note: The documents that are posted
below have already been given to
Claremont City Solicitor Jane Taylor
& Eagle Times Local News Editor
Patrick O'Grady.
Letter from Attorney Jeffrey Meyers
Copy of the NH District Resolution
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5/10/07
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Property Tax Relief is available to all
NH Residents who own a homestead
subject to the State Education
Property Tax, resided in that property
on April 1, 2006 and have a total
household income that doesn't exceed
$20,000 for a single person or $40,000
if married or the head of a NH
household. This Tax Relief Program is
offered through the NH Department of
Revenue and the filing period is May 1,
2007 through June 30, 2007. If you
qualify please take advantage of this
program and get your refund!
Use this link for the form & directions.
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5/8/07
No mention of Richard Dietz's Appeal
of Administration Decision was made
at last night's Claremont Zoning Board
of Adjustment Meeting. Mr. Dietz
officially filed for a Continuance on
April 27, 2007. Will Administration
Officials place his Appeal on the
June Meeting Agenda or will they try
and bury this? Time will tell.
Mr. Dietz's Motion for Continuance
Mr. Dietz's
Appeal of Administrative Decision
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5/5/07
Go to the Letters Page of this website
to read an excellent, well thought out
and very interesting letter from
Former Claremont Zoning Board
Member Richard Dietz. Also make sure
that you check out the two new
postings for today, directly below.
Today's 2 postings are in regards to
the behind the scenes actions taken by
Mayor Scott Pope and Administration
Officials to replace Former Zoning
Board Member Richard Dietz with a
Claremont Municipal Employee.
The Zoning Board consists of 5
members. The current members are:
Long Time Members
Chairman Mike Hurd
Vice-Chairman Robert Woodman
Newest Appointments
Tracy Pope (The Mayor's Wife)
City Councilor Heather Bopp (one of
the City Manager's closest allies,
she was appointed through an
Administration Policy change
that replaced the Claremont
Planning Board Representative
with a City Councilor)
City Employee James Hanson
(appointed after Administration
Officials and Mayor Scott Pope
changed the rules regarding
how Claremont Residents are
appointed to Municipal Boards &
Commissions and then promptly
disqualified Zoning Board
Member Richard Deitz, who
re-applied for his seat on the
Zoning Board.
Posting # 1
Documents given to Claremont City
Council for January 10, 2007 Council
Meeting regarding the re-appointment
of Richard Dietz to the Claremont
Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Copy of Richard Dietz's Application
that was revised by City Staff.
Posting # 2
Administration Officials removed Mr.
Dietz's Appeal from the Claremont
Zoning Board Of Adjustment's May 7th
Meeting Agenda.
Original Agenda
Revised Agenda
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5/4/07
We have 3 postings for you today!
After you read the 3 postings below,
be sure to go to the Public Forum Page
of this Website for the newest
postings from Claremont Resident
Richard Elliott & Claremont City
Councilor James Neilsen.
Posting # 1
It seems that the important local news
is being printed at the bottom of the
Editorial Page (i.e. the Newport
Budget Advisory Committee in
Thursday's edition of our local
newspaper).
According to reliable inside sources,
the City Manager has adamantly been
lobbying the powers at the local
newspaper to quash Claremont City
Councilor's Aspirations for a similar
column.
Posting # 2
Project Attorney Jeffrey Meyers
announced at the May 3rd NH/VT Solid
Waste Project Executive Session
Meeting in Open Session that the City
of Claremont has rejected the
settlement agreement regarding the
Wheelabrator Incinerator Property
Assessment Case. According to Mr.
Meyers this case will be heard in court
sometime this summer.
Posting # 3
Eagle Times Newspaper Report
regarding the Assistant City Manager
Proposal wasn't entirely accurate.
What the City Manager distributed to
the City Council & the Eagle Times.
With all the City Staff and the
expensive computer system at the
Manager's disposal, this is the best
that he can do? This is one step
up from a drawing on a paper napkin!
Would you present this to your boss?
Would you expect a bonus if you did?
Using a free software add on program
for Microsoft Word (downloaded
directly from Microsoft Inc.) it took me
less than 5 minutes to create this
professional looking organization chart
depicting the City Manager's proposed
changes.
______________________________
5/2/07
Notice of Exception filed on Claremont
Zoning Board of Adjustment's
Approval of First Baptist Church Use
Variance at 135 Maple Avenue in order
to tear down the former Water
Bottling Plant and build a Church.
Excerpt from Minutes of Claremont
Zoning Board of Adjustment's
March 5, 2007 Meeting
Draft Minutes of Claremont Zoning
Board of Adjustment Meeting of
April 2, 2007
______________________________
5/1/07
According to a WMUR TV 9 Report the
State Department of Transportation
has classified Washington Street &
Water Street in Claremont as the most
dangerous medium-sized roads in the
entire state of New Hampshire.
The topic of Off Highway Recreational
Vehicle Crossing on Washington Street
is on the May 9 Claremont City Council
Meeting Agenda. Will the Council's
actions make Washington Street safer
or more dangerous?
______________________________
4/30/07
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
Thermacut Incorporated purchases
Old Crown Point Cabinetry Building!
The Perfect Place is not so perfect!
My Right-To-Know Request
The City Solicitor's Response
City of Claremont May 24, 2006
Website Announcement
______________________________
4/28/07
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT!
Govenor Lynch will be in Claremont on
Monday April 30, 2007 at 5:00 PM at
the Claremont Community Technical
Center (in The Teal Lantern Room) on
South Street to discuss his proposed
constitutional amendment regarding
State Education Funding.
This meeting is open to the public!
______________________________
4/27/07
Update!
Claremont Assistant Superintendant of
Schools Allen Damren admits error!
It's refreshing to have a Claremont
Official actually take responsibility,
admit when they are wrong and then
take the proper steps necessary to
correct the mistake. It shows that Mr.
Damren has integrity.
Administration Officials at City Hall
& the members of the City Council can
all learn a lot from Mr. Damren in
regards to taking responsibility for
their actions as well as the proper way
to answer the public's questions.
A few months ago a Claremont
Resident asked the City Council during
the Citizen's Forum when her
questions and those of other residents
would be answered. The Mayor & the
Council refused to even answer this
woman's question as to when the
questions would be answered.
Mr. Damren however always
immediately answers any questions
posed to him by members of the
public, whereas that poor woman
is probably still waiting for answers
from Mayor Pope and the City Council
that will never come. Therein lies the
difference!
Copy of E-Mail Mr. Damren sent to
Richard Elliott
Copy of Letter to the Editor Mr.
Damren sent to the Eagle Times that
Mr. Damren E-Mailed to me to
post on this website.
4/27/07
Claremont Resident Dick Elliott
discovers & confirms that Claremont
School Officials are providing the
Public with the wrong School Budget
Numbers. For more information go to
the Public Forum on this website and
read Posting Number 84.
4/26/07
Public Service Announcement
The E-Mail below was sent today to
the City Council Clerk for distribution
to the entire Council. This was done
for the benefit of Claremont Taxpayers
& Local Residents. A copy of this
E-Mail was also sent directly to Mayor
Scott Pope, Assistant Mayor Chris Irish
& City Councilors Heather Bopp,
Deborah Cutts, William Regan & James
Neilsen. Councilors Mike Prozzo,
Andrew Austin & Ralph Swift didn't
receive a direct E-Mail because we
didn't have their E-Mail Address.
Which is the reason why a copy was
sent to the Council Clerk so that
everyone will get a copy.
______________________________
4/24/07
Pleasant Valley Estates Cooperative
Inc.'s Sewer Project back on track!
Snelling Court Case Update!
Oral Arguments will be held on May
23rd in front of the NH Supreme Court
at 9:30 A.M.
______________________________
4/21/07
Our website's news feeds on the Home
Page is working once again providing
you with current News, Weather,
Sports, Stock Market Reports and
Entertainment, Health & Science
News.
_____________________________
4/21/07
Cover letter to Mr. Dietz's Appeal
Mr. Dietz's Official Appeal
Copy of Mr. Dietz's
Application to the Zoning Board
Note: Just above his name on the form
it states " Below is the submitted
Boards and Commisions Application
form. It was submitted on 1/4/2007
at 10:26 AM."
This document also states that it's
an "Application to serve on the Zoning
Board of Adjustment" there is no
mention of the Historic District
anywhere on the form, despite the
fact that the official Claremont City
Council Minutes of January 10, 2007
clearly state that Council Cutts said
that Mr. Dietz's application said it was
for the Historic District Commission,
which prompted the City Solicitor
to request that Mr. Dietz's application
be withdrawn. What did City Officials
& "the Manager's New Gatekeeper"
Mayor Pope give to the City Council?
Membership of the Zoning Board
Notice that it list both Mr. Hurd and
Mr. Dietz as "Re-Applying".
Another interesting note is that
Councilwoman Heather Bopp is now
listing as her official residential
address Assistant Mayor Chris Irish's
house.
Bruce Temple's letter when he takes
some of the credit for drafting the new
application forms which grants Mayor
Scott Pope illegal authority and allows
City Officials to disqualify virtually
anyone they want.
Mr. Dietz's letter to the City Manager
Excerpt from Jan. 10 Council Meeting
May 7th Zoning Board Meeting Agenda
______________________________
4/19/07
______________________________
4/18/07
Claremont's political machine
(i.e. The Mushroomers) being led and
guided by the City Administration is
making Tammany Hall look like
Amateur Hour. Below is the latest
example of the "Real Carpetbaggers"
at work!
Mr. Dietz's BTLA Case
Copy of the original application form
Copy of the newly revised application
______________________________
4/13/07
City Manager intends to create an
Assistant City Manager Position!
4/10/07
Finally something is happening
around the Brown Block! A
Construction Fence has been
erected & some equipment is parked
alongside the building.
On March 15th the Claremont Main
Street Organization sold the Brown
Block Building to the Brown Block
Development Company Limited
Liability Company for $178,000.
Brown Block Development Co. LLC
is managed by Monadnock Economic
Development Company, whose
President is John Dugan.
On March 15th Brown Block
Development Co. LLC signed a 35 year
lease for the entire building with
Brown Block Leasing Company LLC
(which is also managed by Monadnock
Economic Development Co.)
__________________
4/9/07
UPDATE!
EAGLE TIMES OWNER HARVEY HILL
IS NOW LISTED AS THE PUBLISHER OF
THE EAGLE TIMES.
4/6/07
Another Top Eagle Times
Executive bites the dust?
Timothy Donnelly, who was hired
on May 17, 2006 as the new Publisher
of Claremont's local newspaper the
Eagle Times, no longer has his name
listed as the Publisher of the
newspaper on the box that appears on
either Page 2 or Page 3 of each edition
of the Eagle Times. Mr. Donnelly's
name has been removed from the
Editorial Page as well.
When Mr. Donnelly first assumed
the position, he publicly announced in
an Eagle Times news article that he
would be making big changes to
improve the newspaper.
To his credit, one positive change
did occur while he was in charge. The
Eagle Times stopped printing on an
almost daily basis puff pieces praising
the City Manager & his Administration,
when nothing of value had been
achieved.
Unfortunately, that left a huge
vacuum in regards to news pertaining
to Claremont's Municipal Government.
So much so that it got to the point that
there wasn't any Claremont news for
several days at a time, making many
local residents question the wisdom of
continuing to subscribe to a local
newspaper that for whatever reason
won't report the local news.
Now that Mr. Donnelly appears
to be history, it begs the question
what next? Will the Eagle Times
continue the process Mr. Donnelly
began and start reporting "ALL THE
NEWS", or will they continue to only
print "ADMINISTRATION FRIENDLY"
stories?
______________________________
4/5/07
The Oral Arguments for the Snelling
Case has been postponed due to a lack
of Justices on the Bench. Justice
Broderick disqualified himself and
another Justice may have been
disqualified as well which would have
left too few Justices to hear the case.
Replacements will be found from a
pool of candidates which will consist
of either Retired Judges or sitting
Superior Court Judges or both.
__________________
4/4/07
FUND BALANCE FINAGLING
In response to a right-to-know
request, Claremont Administration
Officials provided the chart below
regarding the Fund Balance Account.
Note: These numbers are unaudited
figures because the 2006 Spot Audit
isn't completed yet & if the Auditors
find any shortages in the budget (red
ink) they will use these fund balance
funds to clean it up.) According to this
chart Claremont Officials are claiming
that there is $1,292,518 remaining in
the Fund Balance Account that is
unallocated.
NOT TRUE!
The second line from the top of the
chart above lists $450,000 as being
"reserved for contingency" and then
inaccuracately classifies those funds
as being "unallocated". Below is an
excerpt from Claremont's 2005 Spot
Audit. The Auditing Firm states in the
fourth entry under the Financial
Highlights Section "A total of
$1,457,000 was used from the fund
balance during the year with another
$450,000 being held in contingency
due to pending litigation." (More
about Claremont's pending litigation in
a moment.)
The chart below depicts the true
numbers. As you can see at the end of
2006 The Administration & The City
Council had spent down the Fund
Balance to only $897. (There was
over $2 million in this fund just a few
years ago.) Continued below chart....
Last year the City Manager gave
a speach in Groveton NH making
a joke of the fact that when he came
here 5 years ago there was only a
little over $4,000 in the Fund Balance
Account and that you couldn't even
have a decent party with that. I
wonder what kind of party he could
throw with $897? After the Auditor's
get done with it he might be lucky if
he can afford to buy a six-pack.
It get's worse! According to the
City's Chart there is $841,621 "left
over" in the 2006 Budget which now
gets transfered into the Fund Balance
Account. Good news for the
Administration because it replenishes
the Fund Balance Account so that City
Officials can continue their spending
spree. Bad news for Claremont
Taxpayers because $841,621
translates to $1.16 on the Local
Property Tax rate, which means that if
your home is assessed at $150,000
you gave the City $174.00 more than
what they needed, & instead of giving
it back to you, they are going to keep
your money and eventually spend it.
As it now stands the unaudited,
unallocated Fund Balance Total is
$842,518. If the City Manager decides
to make good on his promise to spend
from the Fund Balance Account
$75,000 for a new Skateboard Park
and another $200,000 to install lights
at the new Running Track in
Monadnock Park (so the City Manager
can go run around in circles at night
just like he does during the day) the
Fund Balance Account will be left with
$567,518 prior to the spot audit.
Now for the really
bad news!
The $450,000 discussed earlier
that the City has put aside as a
contingency fund for "pending
litigation" isn't even close to what will
be needed to settle all the lawsuits the
Administration's currently involved in.
As we reported earlier a
negotiated settlement is in the works
between the NH/VT Solid Waste
Project & the City of Claremont
regarding the City's Property
Assessment of the Incinerator which
will drop the Incinerator's current
property assessment by more than
half (down to approx. $7 million). The
City will have to repay all the property
taxes the Project overpaid plus
12% Interest plus all the
Project's Legal Bills. Based on what
the Project paid in property taxes
since 2004 the City will have to repay
at least $728,000 (and that's not
including the interest and legal fees).
The settlement of this ill-advised
lawsuit will probably end up costing
about $1 million. With the Snelling
Case starting up again in just a few
days and other lawsuits pending it's
quite clear that the $450,000 the City
has set aside is no where near enough
to bail Claremont out of all the
lawsuits this Administration has
gotten us into.
Now that the City Councilor's
know the majority of the facts will
they once again give the City Manager
a Bonus?
__________________
4/2/07
Here they go again!
At their regular March meeting the
Claremont City Council approved a
$500,000 loan for Red River Computer
Company, that is structured very
similar to the $450,000 Brown Block
Loan that was approved by the City
Council just a few months earlier.
Since the City Manager told the Public
that the Brown Block Loan was going
to be collateralized by the building
itself and then afterwards the
Administration and the Claremont
Development Authority decided not to
collateralize the loan with the Brown
Block Building but to accept a "pledge
agreement" instead, we decided to
submit a "right-to-know request" to
learn if the Red River Computer
Loan would be collateralized and if so
with what. Here's the first response
City Solicitor Jane Taylor sent me:
The March 15th "right-to-know
request was in regards to the Red
River Computer Loan. RSA: 91-A:3 is
the law regarding non-public
meetings. The Administration was
trying to use this law as a reason for
not providing me with any
information regarding the Red River
Computer Loan Deal. This lame excuse
just shows how desperately the
Administration wanted to keep this
quiet. Here's my response:
Whoops! The Administration rethinks
their position and provides me with all
the requested information. Note Item
# 4 of the following letter.
Letter from the NH Business Finance
Authority stating that the security for
the Red River Loan will be a "pledge
agreement" similar to the Brown Block
Loan Deal. (See page 2) According to
the City Solicitor's letter to me (see
above) this copy of the loan proposal
"was given to the City Council for
review prior to it's March 14th vote",
which means that the Council knew
exactly what they were doing when
they voted in favor of this $500,000
loan which would only be secured by a
"pledge agreement".
This makes $950,000 that the City of
Claremont will be responsible for if the
loans are defaulted on with only
"Pledge agreements" to fall back on
instead of real estate or some other
tangible asset. Will the Claremont
Taxpayers be left holding the bag once
again?
_________________
SPECIAL REPORT!
4/1/07
An unidentified spacecraft landed in
Opera House Square on Friday. It's
alien occupants met with Claremont
City Officials in the hopes of finding
intelligent life. Since none was found
the alien visitors quickly left.
APRIL FOOL!_________________
3/30/07
3/27/07
At a recent Claremont City Council
Meeting, Parks & Recreation Director
Scott Hausler went before the Council
to ask for their approval to submit a
grant application for the proposed
Skateboard Park. During the
discussion Assistant Mayor Chris Irish
berated Mr. Hausler because he had
listed the site of the proposed
Skateboard Park as being off
Washington Street just past the North,
Broad & Washington Streets
Intersection. Mr. Irish stated that the
Claremont City Council had
never designated that spot as the
location for the Skateboard Park
& every City Official present agreed.
NOT TRUE!
According to the Official City
Council Minutes of November 8,
2006 "A motion was made by Mr.
Neilsen and seconded by Mr. Regan to
endorse the site (map and lot 108 -
125) as proposed tonight as a future
site for a skate park and look forward
to bring back more firm numbers for
development of a skateboard park."
(The site named in that motion is the
exact same lot that Mr. Hausler stated
in the grant application he submitted.)
The motion passed 7 - 0. The City
Councilors who voted in favor are:
Mike Prozzo, Deborah Cutts, Andrew
Austin, William Regan, James Neilsen,
Mayor Scott Pope & Assistant Mayor
Chris Irish, but yet none of them could
remember having done so just a few
months later.
While it's bad enough that Mr. Irish
publicly berated Mr. Hausler for
submitting a grant application for a
"Council Endorsed Project", what's
worse is that Mr. Irish publicly
chastised Mr. Hausler for listing on the
grant application the Skateboard Park
Site that Mr. Irish and his fellow
Councilor's had endorsed just a few
months ago. Mr. Hausler didn't
deserve to be treated that way and
Mr. Irish should be ashamed of
himself!
While it seems that our Councilors
may have the attention span of a
goldfish (9 seconds), Claremont
Residents can and do remember the
consequences of this Council"s actions
and one thing that is very high on
their minds is the fact that this entire
City Council is up for re-election this
November.
_____________________________
3/24/07
According to our inside sources
Walgreens may be locating here in
Claremont on Broad Street across from
Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza.
___________________
Previous entries can be found on the
"News Archives"
Page of this website.
_______________________________
