The Sullivan Report - News Archives 2

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.

LINK TO EAGLE TIMES EDITORIAL

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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