OTHER ISSUES
9/2/08
Copy of Guy Santagate's Contract.
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8/19/08
Open Space Ordinance written by Citizen's Committee & endorsed by the Claremont Planning Board that the Santagate Administration doesn't like.
City's Original Open Space Ordinance
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7/1/08
E-mails between Leslie Ellis & City Solicitor Jane Taylor regarding the City of Claremont charging a $295.30 "research fee" for 7.25 hours work Claremont Officials allege it took City Staff to find public documents that 66 other communities had readily available.
Bernie Folta's request for information that City Officials needlessly charged him $40.00 for.
Response from City Solicitor.
Note item # 2.
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1/5/08
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9/28/07
WHEELABRATOR WINDFALL AT
THE PUBLIC'S EXPENSE! WAS THIS
DELIBERATELY SABOTAGED?
Letter from City Solicitor Jane Taylor.
Note: Item # 3
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9/20/07
BLATANT SABOTAGE HAS COST THE TAXPAYERS THOUSANDS!
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9/12/07
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8/23/07
Claremont Zoning Board
Meeting Minutes Sanitized!
Claremont Zoning Board of Adjustment August 6, 2007 Meeting Minutes Draft
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8/10/07
The Snelling Case
The City's Motion for Reconsideration
Plaintiff's Objection to that Motion
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THE BROWN BLOCK DEAL
ORIGINAL LOAN AGREEMENT
1) THE CLAREMONT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BORROWS $450,000 FROM THE BUSINESS
FINANCE AUTHORITY.
2) THE CLAREMONT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
THEN LOANS THE $450,000 TO JACK DUGAN'S
NEW LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CALLED THE
BROWN BLOCK CORPORATION. THIS IS A
7 YEAR LOAN WITH A 7.5% INTEREST RATE.
THE BROWN BLOCK CORPORATION WOULD ONLY
BE MAKING INTEREST PAYMENTS DURING
THOSE 7 YEARS.
3) THE BROWN BLOCK WOULD BE USED AS
COLLATERAL FOR THE $450,000 CLAREMONT
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOAN.
4) THE BUSINESS FINANCE AUTHORITY WOULD
BUY BACK THE LOAN FROM THE CLAREMONT
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AT THE CLOSING.
TERMS OF LOAN DEAL IS CHANGED!
NOW IT WILL BE DECIDED AFTER "THE LOAN IS
DONE" WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSINESS FINANCE
AUTHORITY WILL BUY BACK THE LOAN FROM THE
CLAREMONT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF
BROWN BLOCK LOAN PLAN. CITY MANAGER GUY
SANTAGATE TELLS THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC
THAT THE CITY WILL HOLD A FIRST MORTGAGE ON
THE BUILDING.
THE CLAREMONT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY VOTES
IN FAVOR OF THE MODIFIED LOAN AGREEMENT!
TERMS OF LOAN AGREEMENT CHANGED AGAIN!
CLAREMONT BUSINESS COORDINATOR NANCY
MERRILL ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES IN THE
NOW TWICE REVISED LOAN AGREEMENT.
1) THE INTEREST RATE THAT WILL BE CHARGED
HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM 7.5% DOWN TO
7.25%
2) THE $450,000 C.D.A. LOAN WILL NOT BE
COLLATERALIZED!!! INSTEAD THE CLAREMONT
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL RECEIVE A
WRITTEN PLEDGE AGREEMENT INSTEAD.
THE CLAREMONT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD APPROVES THE LOAN AGREEMENT
CHANGES.
COPY OF MY LETTER THAT WAS PUBLISHED
IN THE EAGLE TIMES
EXCERPT FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PROVING EXACTLY WHAT
THE CITY MANAGER SAID.
MY RIGHT-TO-KNOW REQUEST.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE.
CORPORATE WELFARE UPDATE!
AT THE JANUARY 10TH CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING CITY MANAGER GUY SANTAGATE STATED
THAT THE $9.7 MILLION BOND TO BE USED TO
CREATE PARKING FOR THE MILL PROJECT WOULD
ANNUALLY COST $770,000 FOR 20 YEARS TO
REPAY. ON SEPTEMBER 14TH 2005 THE CITY
MANAGER SET THE ESTIMATED INCREASED
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT FOR THE MILL PROJECT
WHEN COMPLETED AT $14 MILLION, WHICH AT THE
2006 PROPERTY TAX RATE (MINUS THE STATE
EDUCATION TAX) WILL ONLY GENERATE $408,800
PER YEAR CREATING AN ANNUAL DEFICIT OF
$361,200 ($7,224,000 DEFICIT OVER THE LIFE OF
THE BOND). THE PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES IN
THE T.I.F. DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE BY
AN ADDITIONAL $12,369,863 IN ORDER TO RAISE
ENOUGH IN PROPERTY TAXES TO MAKE THE
$770,000 ANNUAL BOND PAYMENT.
CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS (& RENTERS) NOW
PAYING FOR CORPORATE WELFARE
E-MAIL DEBATE
HERE ARE THE E-MAILS IN QUESTION
HANGAR HANG-UP
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IS
INVESTIGATING THE CITY OF CLAREMONT'S
HANDLING OF ASSIGNING HANGAR SPACE LEASES
TO THE NEW FEDERALLY FUNDED 6 UNIT HANGAR
BUILDING AT THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT. (THE CITY RECEIVED $474,050 FROM
THE F.A.A. & $12,475 FROM THE NH DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION) . ACCORDING TO THE F.A.A.
INQUIRY, CLAREMONT OFFICIALS APPEAR TO HAVE
VIOLATED THE F.A.A. FUNDING AGREEMENT
PROHIBITING ANY DISCRIMINATION REGARDING
CERTAIN TYPES OF AIRCRAFT.
WILL CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS HAVE TO REFUND
THE $486,525 BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT?
IS FUTURE AIRPORT FUNDING IN JEOPARDY?
USE THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION!
THE CARPETBAGGERS ARE AT IT AGAIN!
CITY OF CLAREMONT'S R.F.Q. TO CHANGE ZONING MAP
CITY OF CLAREMONT
VS.
NH INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION
ON JULY 10, 2006 GOVENOR JOHN LYNCH SIGNED
INTO LAW HOUSE BILL 0657 CREATING A
"COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION TAX RELIEF
INCENTIVE". OWNERS OF BUILDINGS LOCATED IN
A "DOWNTOWN, TOWN CENTER, CENTRAL
BUSINESS DISTRICT OR VILLAGE CENTER" WHO
INTEND TO SUBSTANTIALLY REHABILITATE THEIR
BUILDING CAN NOW QUALIFY FOR TAX RELIEF FOR
A SET PERIOD OF TIME. PROPERTY TAXES ON
QUALIFYING STRUCTURES WOULD NOT BE
INCREASED FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS.
ADDITIONAL YEARS OF TAX RELIEF CAN BE ADDED
FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PROPERTIES. IF NEW
RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE CREATED 2 MORE YEARS
OF TAX RELIEF CAN BE ADDED, 4 MORE YEARS IF
THOSE RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE CLASSIFIED AS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF THE BUILDING IS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT 4
MORE YEARS OF TAX RELIEF CAN BE ADDED. ALL
THIS IS TOTALLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
LOCAL GOVERNING BODY, WHICH IN CLAREMONT'S
CASE WOULD BE THE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
BECAUSE IT GIVES NEEDED INCENTIVES FOR
BUILDING OWNERS TO REHAB THEIR BUILDINGS,
BEAUTIFY THE COMMUNITY AND EXPAND THE TAX
BASE. EVERYBODY WINS!
HOPEFULLY EITHER STATE SENATOR BOB O'DELL
OR ONE OF CLAREMONT'S REPRESENTATIVES IN
THE HOUSE WILL SPONSER A BILL THAT WILL
ALLOW THE SAME TYPE OF INCENTIVES FOR
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD HELP
CLAREMONT COMPETE WITH SOUTHERN STATES
WHO OFFER HUGE TAX INCENTIVES TO
INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES LOOKING TO RELOCATE.
THE MAJORITY OF MANUFACTURING AND OTHER
COMPANIES HAVE MOVED FROM CLAREMONT TO
THE SOUTH DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR STATE
LAW FORBIDS TAX INCENTIVES.
UNFORTUNATELY HOUSE BILL 0657 MAY NOT
APPLY TO CLAREMONT, SINCE CITY OFFICIALS
DECIDED TO CREATE A T.I.F. DISTRICT IN
DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT. ACCORDING TO THE LAW
ALL BUILDINGS WITHIN A T.I.F. DISTRICT ARE
REASSESSED EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND ANY
EXTRA PROPERTY ASSESSMENT IS HELD ASIDE AS
RETAINED CAPTURED ASSESSED VALUE AND
ALL PROPERTY TAX INCOME FROM THAT ASSESSED
VALUE IS USED TO HELP REPAY THE BONDS THE
CITY WILL FLOAT FOR THE WATER STREET MILL
PROJECT.
WILL CITY OFFICIALS NOW TRY TO DISSOLVE THE
T.I.F. DISTRICT? OR WILL THEY GIVE OUT THESE
TAX INCENTIVES ANYWAY AND PLACE AN EVEN
HEAVIER BURDEN ON THE CLAREMONT
TAXPAYERS?
NOTE: THIS IS A COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE NH
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DATED JUNE 24, 2005 REGARDING THE LOWE'S
PROJECT. BETWEEN 12,000 - 13,000 CUBIC YARDS
OF SOIL WAS REMOVED FROM MONADNOCK PARK
BECAUSE OF THE RECENTLY COMPLETED RUNNING
TRACK PROJECT AND BROUGHT TO THE LOWE'S
SITE TO BE USED AS FILL. ACCORDING TO THIS
LETTER BENZO(A)PYRENE WAS FOUND IN THE SOIL
TAKEN FROM MONADNOCK PARK AT A LEVEL OF
CONCENTRATION THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEEDS
THE D.E.S.'S DIRECT CONTACT RISK SAFETY
REGULATIONS. ITEM # 5 AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE
2 STATES "EXCAVATION AND RELOCATION OF THE
URBAN FILL MATERIAL FROM THE MONADNOCK
PARK PROPERTY TO THE LOWE'S PROPERTY WOULD
REDUCE THE POTENTIAL EXPOSURE HAZARD AT
THE MONADNOCK PARK PROPERTY." THE CARBON
COPIES LIST ON PAGE 5 SHOWS THAT THE CITY OF
CLAREMONT RECEIVED A COPY. THE D.E.S. LETTER
ALSO STATES THAT ANY SOIL TAKEN FROM
MONADNOCK PARK MUST BE COVERED BY AT LEAST
2 FEET OF CLEAN FILL. HOW DID THE PARK GET
POLLUTED IN THE FIRST PLACE? SINCE THE SOIL
SHOULDN'T BE TOUCHED AND THIS IS A PARK
WHERE RESIDENTS (MOSTLY CHILDREN) COME IN
CONTACT WITH THE GROUND (ESPECIALLY THOSE
PLAYING SPORTS SUCH AS FOOTBALL) SOIL
SAMPLES AT THE PARK SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN
TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE POLLUTION
AND WHETHER OR NOT ADDITIONAL ACTION IS
NEEDED. DID THE CITY DO THIS? WHY DID CITY
OFFICIALS KEEP THIS A SECRET? SHOULDN'T
PARENTS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS?
Note: This is a copy of Dr. Ted Schettler's letter regarding waste incineration.
The British Report can be viewed online at http://www.ecomed.org.uk/pub_waste.php
Note: City loses appeal in Snelling Case
Note: Letter from Wheelabrator Attorney to City Manager stating that "there are
numerous procedural and substantive defects in the actions taken by the
City Council" (regarding the eminent domain proceedings). Wheelabrator contends
that besides the land the City must take ownership of the Incinerator as well.
Note: City of Claremont's easement on Incinerator property never existed.
Claremont's eminent domain proceedings in jeopardy?
Note: Original request for easement that was never finalized.
Note: City of Claremont rehires company that created Tic-Tac-Toe logo for$6,500.00
Note: Company charges Claremont Taxpayers $125.00 per hour.
Note: Cost of City of Claremont's "Turtle Ad" that ran in April issue of the Business NH
Magazine $2,170.64 (ad consisted of live turtle attempting to take a step on the
ground with a toy rocket strapped to it's back). City pays consulting firm a 15%
commission for placing the ad plus $125.00 per hour for ad creation.
Note: Turtle Ad can be found at www.ClaremontNH.com Once there, activate the turtle icon
at the upper right hand side of the home page to see a better picture.
Note: Read an entertaining story about 1 man's struggle to build an airplane hanger
at the Claremont Airport and his encounters with the following Claremont Officials:
Planning Director Anthony Lyons, Business Coordinator Nancy Merrill, Building
Inspector Kenneth Walsh, City Planner Gerald Coogan and Fire Chief and Airport
Manager Peter Chase. You'll be glad that you did!
Use this link to go to Brian Meyette's website.
Note: Here is the real reason why the City of Claremont and the Claremont School District
now buy gas and diesel fuel for all their vehicles at a local gas station.
