NEWS ARCHIVES

                               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.

_________________________________________

                               3/23/07

Earlier this week The Sullivan Report Website hit

the 5000 mark for unique visitors to this Website

and another 245 new visitors have come to this

site for the first time just in the last few days.

According to our website demographics (as of

3/23/07) we are getting very close to 100,000

total hits and while a large percentage of visitors

are Claremont Residents, people from other

communities are using this site on a regular basis

as well. 326 from Concord NH, 403 from

Springfield VT & 680 from Lebanon NH just to

name a few. Other large pockets of users come

from the NH Communities of  Charlestown, Unity,

Newport, Sunapee, New London & Hanover and the

VT Communities of  Windsor, Chester, Rockingham,

Hartland, Hartford & Norwich. We also have our

snowbirds who reside in Florida & elsewhere. We

would like to take this opportunity to thank all our

loyal readers for making this website a success

and reaffirm our pledge to continue to provide you

with relevant, interesting news about Claremont

NH that our local media won't report to the public.

You will find a few new examples directly under

this announcement under today's date.

_________________________________________

There has been a rumor circulating around

Claremont regarding the Lowes Project that the

contaminated soil was going to be incinerated on

site instead of either trucked away or buried under

clean soil according to State and Federal

Regulations. I decided to learn the truth by

contacting Keith DuBois of the NH Department of

Environmental Services, who is overseeing the

project for the NH D.E.S.

     Here's a copy of my E-Mail to Mr. DuBois

      Here's the response from Mr. DuBois.

(I've enlarged it for easier reading. A copy of the

original E-Mail can be found underneath.)

_______________________________________

According to our inside sources at City Hall,

Claremont Officials are negotiating a settlement

agreement with the NH / VT Solid Waste Project

regarding the Property Assessment of the

Wheelabrator Incinerator located here in

Claremont. Our sources tell us that the negotiated

property assessment for the Incinerator is around

$7 million (which is less than half of the $14.3

million Claremont Officials originally assessed the

Incinerator for). If the agreement is reached,

Claremont will have to reimburse the Project more

than half of all the Property Taxes the Project paid

for each and every year since 2004, plus interest

and the Project's Legal Fees. Whether or not an

agreement will be reached should be decided by

April.

           When the NH Department of Revenue

publicly announced that Claremont had greatly

over assessed the Incinerator the City Manager

decided to take this to court instead of negotiating

a settlement. Because he decided to fight an

obvious losing battle the cost to the Claremont

Taxpayers will end up being much higher. How

much will Mayor Pope and his fellow mushrooms

have to bond to bail the City out of this one?

How much of a pay raise and bonus will the Council

grant the City Manager for his mishandling of this? 

           There are two other court cases that the City

Manager got us into as well.  In April the

Snelling Case will be in court once again. Like the

Incinerator Property Assessment Case, the City

Manager decided to take this case to court instead

of negotiating a fair settlement. So far the City has

lost this case at every turn but the City Manager

continues to fight this in court running up the

eventual cost Claremont Taxpayers will have to

pay.

            There's also the Eminent Domain

Case regarding  the Wheelabrator Incinerator

Property, which appears to be another case

Claremont can't hope to win.  I wonder how many

tax dollars  Mayor Pope and his cronies on the

Council are willling to spend on these cases?

_______________________________________

            Our inside sources also told us that almost

all Sullivan County Communities that belong to 

the NH / VT Solid Waste Project have already voted

to dissolve the Sullivan County Regional Refuse

Disposal District. The few towns that haven't

are waiting for their respective Town Meeting Day

to do so. Claremont however has a City form of

government, which means that it's up to the City

Council if Claremont decides in favor of dissolving

the District. So Mayor Pope why haven't you placed

a Council Vote of this matter on the agenda yet? Do

you want Claremont to be the last community in

Sullivan County to do this? Are you too busy

deciding which Board & Committee Applications

you are going to allow the rest of the City Council

to see and vote on? Or is the tail wagging the dog

once again?

________________________________________

             Aubuchon Hardware closed it's Claremont

Store after being here for over 50 years. According

to the article in our local newspaper the company

is expanding by opening up new stores. Did the

City Manager and his staff at the Economic

Development Office try to help Aubuchon

Hardware find another Claremont location or did

they simply do nothing?

_________________________________________

                               3/19/07

             TAMMANY HALL RESURRECTED?

                  OLD APPLICATION FORM

          NEWLY REVISED APPLICATION FORM

                             3/15/07

                       CRAVAT EMPTOR!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BROWN

BLOCK LOAN DEAL GO TO THE OTHER ISSUES PAGE

OF THIS WEBSITE.

                               3/14/07

CLAREMONT VOTERS TURN DOWN SCHOOL BUDGET

        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION USE THIS LINK

                               3/12/07

3/11/07 - THE VALLEY NEWS REPORTS THAT THE

BROWN BLOCK WILL BE SOLD ON MARCH 13TH.

         HERE'S THE LINK FOR THE FULL STORY.

                                3/7/07

           MY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

 THE SANTAGATE ADMINISTRATION'S  RESPONSE

                             THE TRUTH!

                              2/27/07                              

LINK TO THE DAILY ADVANCE ARTICLE REGARDING THE ELIZABETH CITY NC COUNCIL VOTE TO HIRE PAUL FREDETTE

LINK TO DAILY ADVANCE ARTICLE REGARDING     ERRONEOUS INFORMATION ABOUT CLAREMONT

                                 2/27/07

ORAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE NH SUPREME COURT

APPEAL OF THE SNELLING CASE WILL BE HELD ON

THURSDAY APRIL 5, 2007 AT 9:30 AM.

                                 2/23/07

ASSISTANT MAYOR IRISH A SOPRANOS WANNABE?

AT THE FEBRUARY 20TH CLAREMONT CITY

COUNCIL MEETING DURING A DISCUSSION ABOUT

RECYCLING, ASSISTANT MAYOR CHRISTOPHER

IRISH SAID THAT THE WAY GARBAGE IS

PRESENTLY HANDLED HERE IN CLAREMONT, HE

COULD PUT A DEAD BODY IN THE TRASH AND

NOBODY WOULD NOTICE!

MR. IRISH MADE A SIMILAR COMMENT WHEN HE

ONCE SAID THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS SUPPORT THE

CITY MANAGER, EVEN IF HE KILLED SOMEBODY.

AFTER MAKING THE COMMENT ABOUT HOW TO

DUMP A BODY, MR. IRISH CONTINUED BY STATING

HIS PLAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL

GARBAGE INDUSTRY AWAY FROM THE AREA

GARBAGE HAULERS.

MR. IRISH SOUNDED LIKE HE BELONGED ON THE

CAST OF THE SOPRANOS INSTEAD OF ON THE

CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL.

IF MR. IRISH DECIDES TO RUN FOR REELECTION,

CLAREMONT VOTERS SHOULD TELL MR. IRISH IN

NO UNCERTAIN TERMS TO "FORGET ABOUT IT!"

______________________________________

2/22/07 - CITY COUNCILORS PUBLICLY ADMIT

HOLDING UNNOTICED MEETING AT LOCAL

RESTAURANT & DIVIDING UP CITY MONIES TO BE

GIVEN TO LOCAL AGENCIES.

_____________________________________

2/22/07 - THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT SHOWS

THE TIMELINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AT

THE LOWE'S PROPERTY ON WASHINGTON STREET

WHICH WON'T BE COMPLETED UNTIL LATE FALL AT

THE EARLIEST. THE LAST PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 1

OF THIS LETTER STATES THAT LOWE'S INTENDS TO

"DEVELOP THE SITE IN A MANNER THAT ASSISTS

THE REVITALIZATION OF THE CLAREMONT

COMMUNITY". WHY DIDN'T THEY SAY THAT

THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD A LOWE'S STORE

THERE? THE TOP OF THE LETTER CLASSIFIES THE

STORE AS ONLY BEING "PROPOSED". HAS LOWE'S

RECONSIDERED? PERHAPS THIS IS WHY THE

WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT AN OLIVE GARDEN

RESTAURANT MAY LOCATE THERE.

2/16/07 - A COMPARISON OF CLAREMONT'S 2001

& 2005 AUDITS UNCOVERED THE FOLLOWING:

1) THE CITY'S AGENCY & TRUST FUNDS DROPPED 

FROM $16,924,255 IN 2001 DOWN TO $4,412,796

IN 2005, A DECLINE OF 74%.

2) THE TOTAL IN 7 OF CLAREMONT'S SPECIAL

RESERVE FUNDS WENT FROM $1,019,820 IN 2001

DOWN TO $462,043, A 55% DECREASE.

3) CLAREMONT'S MUNICIPAL DEBT LOAD WENT

FROM $16,512,663 IN 2001 TO $29,510,238 NOW

AN INCREDIBLE 79% INCREASE, WHICH DOESN'T

INCLUDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BRAND NEW

UTILITY TRUCK THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE

CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 10, 2006.

  WHERE DID ALL THIS MONEY GO?

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT?

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE BUDGET PAGE

                       OF THIS WEBSITE.

HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE PRESENTATIONS &

  REPORTS REGARDING THE 2006 CLAREMONT 

       CITY-WIDE PROPERTY REASSESSMENT. 

      LINK FOR DRA REP. CHUCK REESE'S REPORT

   LINK FOR THE INTRIM ASSESSOR'S PRESENTATION

    LINK FOR THE CITY'S ASSESSING PRESENTATION

2/10/07 - THE F.A.A. IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK

AT THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF CLAREMONT

OFFICIALS REGARDING THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

            COPY OF ORIGINAL FAA LETTER

 2/7/07 - SANTAGATE ADMINISTRATION

OFFICIALS UNABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF THE

CITY MANAGER'S CLAIMS REGARDING THE

DOWNTOWN T.I.F. DISTRICT.

                 ARE WE BEING MISLED?

NOTE: ALL THE DOCUMENTS MENTIONED IN THE

EDITORIAL ABOVE CAN BE FOUND, IN THE ORDER

THEY WERE MENTIONED, ON THE "OTHER ISSUES"

PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

_______________________________________

1/27/07 - THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ON JANUARY

25TH CLAREMONT OFFICIALS PLACED LINKS ON

THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR DRA REPRESENTATIVE

CHARLES REESE'S REPORT & CLAREMONT INTRIM

ASSESSOR JOE LESSARD'S PRESENTATION

REGARDING THE 2006 CITY-WIDE PROPERTY

REASSESSMENTS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE

LINKS DON'T WORK, INSTEAD YOU GET AN ERROR

MESSAGE THAT SAYS THAT THE PAGE CAN'T BE

FOUND. WHAT'S EVEN WORSE IS THAT CITY STAFF

BURIED THE LINKS SO DEEPLY WITHIN THE

WEBSITE THAT UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY

WHERE TO LOOK YOU WILL NEVER FIND IT. WE

WILL PROVIDE YOU A DIRECT LINK FROM THIS

WEBSITE TO THOSE DOCUMENTS IF THE CITY EVER

GETS THEIR ACT TOGETHER. IF NOT WE WILL POST

A COPY OF MR. REESE'S REPORT ON THIS WEBSITE

SO THAT YOU CAN READ IT.

1/21/07 - EAGLE TIMES EDITOR MATT CLARY'S

NAME HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM BOTH THE

EDITORIAL PAGE AND THE BLOCK AD THAT

APPEARS IN EVERY ISSUE (ON EITHER PAGE 2 OR

3) LISTING THE TOP STAFF AT THE EAGLE TIMES.

       HAS MR. CLARY LEFT THE EAGLE TIMES?

1/20/07 - AN APPEAL OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT

COMMISSION'S DECISION NOT TO ALLOW ST.

MARY'S PARISH TO DEMOLISH THE CONVENT WILL

BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF

ADJUSTMENT ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2007 AT

7:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. 

1/19/07 - COPY OF BRIAN MEYETTE'S LETTER THAT

APPEARED IN THE JANUARY 15TH EDITION OF THE

EAGLE TIMES.

                                1/19/07

1/12/07 - CITY COUNCIL APPROVES $7 MILLION

BOND FOR MILL DISTRICT PARKING BRINGING

THE TOTAL BEING SPENT ON PARKING TO $9.7

MILLION. CITY OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT THE T.I.F.

REVENUES WILL PAY 100% OF THE BOND

PAYMENTS BUT THE NUMBERS SIMPLY DON'T ADD

UP! THE CHART BELOW SHOWS AN ANNUAL

DEFICIT OF $361,200 WHICH TOTALS OVER $7

MILLION OVER 20 YEARS. BELOW THE CHART IS AN

EDITORIAL BY A J MARANVILLE FOLLOWED BY AN

EDITORIAL BY ME.

             EDITORIAL BY A-J MARANVILLE

            EDITORIAL BY JAMES SULLIVAN

1/10/07 - CONVERSATIONS BY SEVERAL

COUNCILORS WITH MANY CONSTITUENTS HAVE

REVEALED THE NEW PLOT TO THROW THE BLAME

FOR THE HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AWAY FROM ONE

TAXING ENTITY TO ANOTHER. THE AUDACITY OF

THE HIGHEST TAXING COUNCIL OF THE CENTURY!

REMEMBER, THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO BE RAISED

THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES HAS BEEN INCREASED

BY 58% OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. THE OLD PLOY

OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS WILL NOT SUCCEED! 

WHILE SOME BELIEVE THAT CLAREMONT

RESIDENTS ARE PAROCHIAL, WHAT THEY FAIL TO

REALIZE IS THAT WE CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH

THE SCREEN DOOR THEY'VE ERECTED JUST FINE.

1/8/07 - ON JANUARY 3RD THE CLAREMONT

SCHOOL BOARD SET THE PROPOSED SCHOOL

BUDGET AND WARRENT ARTICLES TO BE PUT

BEFORE THE VOTERS IN MARCH. THE EAGLE TIMES

DID AN ARTICLE ABOUT THIS BUT FAILED TO

INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX RATE

INCREASE THIS BUDGET'S PASSAGE WOULD HAVE

ON CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS. I SENT ASSISTANT

SUPERINTENDENT ALLEN DAMREN AN E-MAIL

INQUIRING WHAT THE TAX RATE IMPACTS WOULD

BE AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE RIGHT AWAY.

MAYOR POPE, THE CITY COUNCIL & THE

SANTAGATE ADMINISTRATION COULD LEARN A

FEW THINGS FROM MR. DAMREN REGARDING

TREATING THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT AND

ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS IN A TIMELY &

PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW THE

SUPERINTENDENT AND HER ADMINISTRATION'S

RECOMMENDATION TO LEVEL FUND ESTIMATED

STATE AID INCOME DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S

ANYBODY'S GUESS WHAT THE STATE WILL

PROVIDE CLAREMONT IN STATE AID DURING THE

NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. INSTEAD THE SCHOOL BOARD

ADDED $1 MILLION TO THIS YEARS STATE AID

AMOUNT WHICH LOWERED THE PROJECTED

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR BOTH THE

PROPOSED & DEFAULT SCHOOL BUDGETS BY $1.38.

WE AGREE WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

THAT THE MORE PRUDENT COURSE OF ACTION

WOULD HAVE BEEN TO LEVEL FUND THE 

ESTIMATED STATE AID FIGURE AND OFFER A MORE

TRUE PICTURE OF WHAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE

IMPACT COULD BE ON CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS.

FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION'S

RECOMMENDATION AND ADDING THE $1.38 BACK

IN, THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE

IF THE PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET & ALL

WARRENT ARTICLES PASS IS $4.33 PER $1,000 OF

ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE. IF THE BUDGET & ALL

WARRENT ARTICLES FAIL THE DEFAULT BUDGET

WILL ADD $2.30 TO THE TAX RATE - A DIFFERENCE

OF $2.03 ON THE TAX RATE. WHY DIDN'T THE

EAGLE TIMES REPORT THIS TO THEIR READERS?

1/6/07 - ON JANUARY 10TH THE CITY

ADMINISTRATION WILL BE REQUESTING

PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR A "SAFER GRANT". IF

CLAREMONT IS AWARDED THE GRANT THE CITY

WOULD HAVE TO HIRE A NEW FIREFIGHTER AND

THE GRANT WOULD PAY A PERCENTAGE OF SALARY

AND BENEFITS UP TO $103,500 OVER A FOUR

YEAR PERIOD.   

      HERE'S WHAT THE GRANT WOULD PAY:

      YEAR 1 : 90% OF COSTS OR $37,260

      YEAR 2 : 80% OF COSTS OR $33,120

      YEAR 3 : 50% OF COSTS OR $20,700

      YEAR 4 : 30% OF COSTS OR $12,420

YEAR 5 : 100% PAID BY CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS

IN YEAR 5 AND IN ALL FUTURE YEARS AS WELL.

THE GRANT STIPULATES THAT IF THE CITY

ACCEPTS THE GRANT THE STAFFING LEVELS

WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN THE SAME OVER THE

NEXT 5 YEARS. THIS GRANT ALSO DOESN'T PAY

FOR TRAINING, EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW HIRE,

ETC. THIS IS A NOT A COST SAVING PLAN! THIS

IS ADDITIONAL SPENDING THAT WILL INCREASE

THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET AND ADD TO THE

LOCAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.

        FOR MORE INFORMATION USE THIS LINK

1/4/07 - ON THE PHOTOS PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE,

PHOTOS OF THE VISITOR CENTER (SUBMITTED BY

CLAREMONT RESIDENTS ROLAND IRISH III &

LARRY STEVENS) SHOW THAT THE CITY HAS

FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT

THE CITY MANAGER SIGNED WITH THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO BRING THE VISITOR

CENTER INTO A.D.A. COMPLIANCE BY DECEMBER

31, 2006 (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INSTALLING

AN ELEVATOR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE

IN 2007). DO CLAREMONT OFFICIALS BELIEVE

THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW? GO TO THE

PHOTOS PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE AND SEE THE

PHOTOS AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF. HERE'S THE

LINK FOR THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF

CLAREMONT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE:

                http://www.ada.gov/claremont.htm

1/3/07 - SENT MAYOR SCOTT POPE AN E-MAIL ON

DECEMBER 14, 2006 ASKING IF THE PUBLIC

WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE JANUARY

24TH COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING REGARDING

THE 2006 PROPERTY REASSESSMENTS, SINCE

MAYOR POPE HAS NOT ALLOWED THE PUBLIC TO

SPEAK AT WORKSHOP MEETINGS DURING HIS

TIME AS MAYOR.  A SIMPLE YES OR NO RESPONSE

WOULD HAVE SUFFICED.   THIS E-MAIL WAS SENT

TWO MORE TIMES TO HIS HOME AND ONCE TO HIS

WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS AND MAYOR POPE NEVER

HAD THE COURTESY TO RESPOND. DURING THE

CITIZEN'S FORUM AT THE DECEMBER CITY

COUNCIL MEETING, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL

REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY OF THE CITIZEN'S

QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. ONE RESIDENT

ASKED THE MAYOR WHEN THE IMPORTANT

QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE CITIZENS WOULD BE

ANSWERED AND THE MAYOR REPLIED THAT HE

TOOK NOTES AND RESEARCH WOULD BE DONE, HE

NEVER STATED WHEN, HOW OR EVEN IF THOSE

QUESTIONS WOULD BE ANSWERED.  THE MAYOR'S

FAILURE TO RESPOND TO MY E-MAIL AND PROVIDE

A SIMPLE YES OR NO ANSWER TO A QUESTION

THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY RESEARCH SHOWS

HOW UNRESPONSIVE MAYOR POPE IS TO THE

PUBLIC. IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN THERE ARE

SO MANY OPTIONS FOR COMMUNICATION, (MAIL,

PHONE, FAX, E-MAIL, TELEGRAPH, PONY EXPRESS,

SMOKE SIGNALS, ETC.) THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR A

MAYOR (OR ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL) NOT TO

ANSWER A CONSTITUENT'S QUESTION. WHAT IS

THE ANSWER TO GETTING ANSWERS FROM OUR

ELECTED OFFICIALS? ELECT CANDIDATES THAT

NOT ONLY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT THE PUBLIC BUT

ACTUALLY SHOW IT THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS!

       COPY OF E-MAIL SENT TO MAYOR POPE

12/30/06 - GO TO THE NEW "PHOTOS" PAGE ON

THIS WEBSITE AND SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF

CLAREMONT. (MORE PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED

SOON!)

12/28/06 - ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL AGENDA

(SEE BELOW) ON JANUARY 10, 2007 THE CITY

COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON "RESOLUTION 2006-29

AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW UP TO $7 MILLION

FOR THE DOWNTOWN TIFD PARKING - PUBLIC

HEARING". OF COURSE AS PER USUAL THERE WAS

NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS RESOLUTION, SO

UNLESS YOU FOUND THE NOTICE ON THE CITY'S

(USER UNFRIENDLY) WEBSITE OR ON THE

CLASSIFIED PAGE OF YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPER

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?  THE CITY HAS

ALREADY VOTED TO BOND $3 MILLION FOR THE

SAW TOOTH MUNICIPAL PARKING COMPLEX

ANOTHER $7 MILLION WILL BRING THE TOTAL OF

THE PROJECT THUS FAR (JUST FOR PARKING) UP

TO $10 MILLION, WHICH CALCULATES OUT TO

OVER $22,222 PER PARKING SPACE. BASED ON

THE CITY MANAGER'S PROJECTIONS REGARDING

INCREASED PROPERTY VALUATION FOR THE T.I.F.

DISTRICT WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED THE

T.I.F. WILL ONLY SUPPORT APPROX. $5.5 MILLION

WORTH OF BONDS AND YET THE CITY MANAGER IS

PROPOSING TO SPEND AT LEAST $10 MILLION

JUST ON PARKING ALONE (WHICH MIGHT NOT BE

ENOUGH) AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE

OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT

THE CITY IS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO MAKE

THAT WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE BONDED BEFORE THE

PROJECT IS COMPLETED.  ACCORDING TO THE LAW

THE LOCAL TAXPAYER WILL MAKE UP ANY T.I.F.

DISTRICT INCOME SHORTFALLS THROUGH

HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, MEANING THAT

CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS WILL END UP FOOTING

WELL OVER HALF OF THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR

PROJECT. SO WHO IS THIS REALLY BENEFITTING?

BY SUCKING UP SO MUCH OF CLAREMONT'S

RESOURCES THE MILL PROJECT HAS STOLEN AWAY

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A NEW COMMUNITY

CENTER NOW (WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD

BENEFIT A WIDE RANGE OF CITY RESIDENTS

INSTEAD OF A SELECT PRIVILEGED FEW).

MAYBE YOU'VE WONDERED WHY SO MANY

CLAREMONT TAXPAYERS ARE SO INTERESTED IN

RSA:49-B12 WHICH WOULD ALLOW CLAREMONT TO

CHANGE BACK TO A TOWN FORM OF GOVERNMENT?

(GO TO POSTING # 56 ON THE PUBLIC FORUM 

PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS). IT'S BECAUSE THIS

CITY COUNCIL IS THE BIGGEST GROUP OF

WASTEFUL SPENDERS OF YOUR MONEY THE CITY

HAS EVER SEEN AND RESIDENTS WANT TO "TAKE

BACK CLAREMONT", END THE SPENDING SPREE,

AND RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBLITY.

    ARE YOU READY TO SIGN THE PETITION?

12/24/06 - FOR THE SECOND TIME A POSTING HAS

APPEARED ON THE PUBLIC FORUM PAGE OF THIS

WEBSITE SIGNED BY A "JON KINSMAN" AND FOR

THE SECOND TIME A NON-EXISTANT E-MAIL

ADDRESS HAS BEEN GIVEN (THE 1ST TIME

FROM YAHOO & THE 2ND TIME FROM AOL). IT

SEEMS THAT SOMEBODY HAS GONE TO A LOT OF

TROUBLE TO CONCEAL THEIR REAL IDENTITY.

MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT OUR VAST INTELLIGENCE

GATHERING NETWORK WILL FERRET OUT WHO IS

DOING THIS.

12/20/06 - A GAINESVILLE SUN NEWSPAPER

ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN ABOUT FORMER

CLAREMONT PLANNING DIRECTOR ANTHONY

LYONS. IT'S A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE,

ESPECIALLY THE PART ABOUT CLAREMONT. PLEASE

TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT FOR YOURSELF.

          USE THIS LINK TO ACCESS ARTICLE

12/19/06 - INFORMATION ABOUT TWO

IMPORTANT ISSUES CAN BE FOUND ON THE

"OTHER ISSUES" PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

                           THEY ARE:

 1) AN ANALYSIS OF THE WATER STREET MILL

PROJECT PROVING THAT T.I.F. REVENUES WON'T

BE ENOUGH TO REPAY THE BONDS. CLAREMONT

TAXPAYERS (& RENTERS) WILL BE PAYING FOR

THE MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT COSTS.

2) THERE'S AN INTERNAL CONFLICT WITHIN THE

CITY COUNCIL REGARDING E-MAIL

COMMUNICATIONS. (COPIES OF THE E-MAILS IN

QUESTION CAN BE FOUND ON THE "OTHER ISSUES"

PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE).

12/10/06 - THE FEDERAL AVIATION

ADMINISTRATION IS INVESTIGATING THE CITY OF

CLAREMONT'S HANDLING OF ASSIGNING HANGAR

LEASES TO THE NEW FEDERALLY FUNDED 6 UNIT

HANGAR BUILDING AT THE CLAREMONT

MUNIICPAL AIRPORT. FOR MORE INFORMATION

GO TO THE OTHER ISSUES PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

                           12/9/06

   SPEAKING OF DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR!

CLAREMONT CITY COUNCILOR CHRIS IRISH

STATED IN AN E-MAIL THAT THE REASON WHY

NOBODY REPRESENTING THE CITY OF CLAREMONT

ATTENDED THE DECEMBER 7TH PUBLIC FORUM

REGARDING THE RECENT REASSESSMENT OF

CLAREMONT PROPERTY WAS BECAUSE CITY

OFFICIALS HADN'T RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO

THE MEETING. 

I GUESS FOR FUTURE FUNCTIONS ENGRAVED

INVITATIONS WILL BE MANDATORY IN ORDER FOR

THE LORDS AND LADIES OF THE REALM TO ATTEND.

ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE AN

APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF FOOTMEN, COURTIERS,

AND LADIES IN WAITING TO USHER THEM TO

THEIR SELF IMPOSED V.I.P. RESERVED SEATING

AND THEN TEND TO THEIR EVERY WHIM.

CLAREMONT OFFICIALS: GET OVER YOURSELVES!

                        REMINDER:

  ELECTION DAY(NOVEMBER 2007)  

      IS ONLY 11 MONTHS AWAY!

                            12/8/06

    PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUDITH MORIARTY

D.R.A. PROPERTY APPRAISAL WESTERN DISTRICT 

SUPERVISOR CHARLES REESE

NH STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOM DONOVAN

   IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

PUBLIC FORUM REGARDING THE NEW

CLAREMONT PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS

ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 7TH AT

6:00 PM AT THE CLAREMONT SENIOR

CENTER (LOCATED OFF OF MAPLE

AVENUE BEHIND THE OLD SEARS

STORE) CHARLES REESE, THE NH

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

ADMINISTRATION (D.R.A.) PROPERTY

APPRAISAL WESTERN DISTRICT

SUPERVISOR WILL BE THERE TO HEAR

YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE

NEW PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS!

        BRING YOUR TAX CARDS!

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD!

12/6/06 - ACCORDING TO SOURCES THERMACUT

(LOCATED AT THE OLD EAGLE TIMES BUILDING ON

SULLIVAN ST.) IS MOVING TO THE SYD CLARKE

INDUSTRIAL PARK. (YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE

FOR SALE SIGN IN FRONT OF THE THERMACUT

BUILDING WHILE DRIVING BY). ARE THEY THE

WINNERS OF THE PERFECT PLACE CHALLENGE

CONTEST? EVERYONE HAS BEEN HOPING THAT NEW

BUSINESS WOULD LOCATE IN THE INDUSTRIAL

PARK AND CREATE NEW GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR

AREA RESIDENTS. AT LEAST THERMACUT IS

STAYING HERE IN CLAREMONT!

12/5/06 - THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFUSION

REGARDING THE REASON FOR THURDAYS MEETING

AT THE SENIOR CENTER.  D.R.A. REPRESENTATIVE

CHARLES REESE IS COMING TO HEAR THE PUBLIC'S

CONCERNS REGARDING CLAREMONT'S NEW

PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. HE'S LOOKING FOR

INCONSISTENCIES IN THE ASSESSMENTS (OF

WHICH THERE ARE PLENTY). IT'S IMPORTANT FOR

CLAREMONT RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS

TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND SHOW MR. REESE

THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT HIM TO LOOK

INTO THIS, DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG, TAKE

THE NECESSARY MEASURES TO FIX THE PROBLEM

AND GIVE US THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROPERTY

ASSESSMENTS WE DESERVE!

12/5/06 - ACCORDING TO A CLAREMONT VISITOR

CENTER STAFF PERSON, AS OF YESTERDAY ST.

MARY'S HAS NOT SUBMITTED THE NECESSARY

PAPERWORK TO REQUEST AN APPEAL OF THE

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION'S DECISION TO

DISALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF ST. MARY'S

CONVENT.

12/4/06 - REGARDING JUDITH MORIARTY'S

POSTING ON THIS WEBSITE'S PUBLIC FORUM PAGE

(POSTING 52). MS. MORIARTY IS ABSOLUTELY

CORRECT THAT THE PERSON WHO WROTE

POSTING 51 ON THE CITIZENS FORUM PAGE

WHICH WAS SIGNED BY "JON KINSMAN" GAVE

A NON-EXISTANT E-MAIL ADDRESS. (WE'VE

OBTAINED DEFINITE PROOF) JON KINSMAN IS

ALSO NOT LISTED IN THE LOCAL PHONE BOOK.

12/4/06 - CLAREMONT RESIDENT JUDITH

MORIARTY RESPONDS TO THE POSTING JON

KINSMAN WROTE ON THIS WEBSITE'S PUBLIC

FORUM PAGE (POSTING NUMBER 51). MS.

MORIARTY'S LETTER CAN BE FOUND ON THIS

WEBSITE'S LETTER PAGE.

11/30/06 - CITY MANAGER GUY SANTAGATE'S

PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ON HIS CLAREMONT

CONDO HAS BEEN CHANGED!

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE ASSESSING

PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

11/30/06 -              UPDATE!

CHARLES REESE, THE NH DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

ADMINISTRATION (D.R.A.) PROPERTY APPRAISAL

WESTERN DISTRICT SUPERVISOR WILL MEET WITH

CITY OFFICIALS ON DECEMBER 11TH AND OBTAIN

DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THE RECENT

CLAREMONT RE-ASSESSMENT.  

11/30-06 - THE CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL

IGNORED THE PUBLIC'S WISHES BY REFUSING TO

MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CUTS TO THE 2007

MUNICIPAL BUDGET. ADDING INSULT TO INJURY,

THE COUNCIL ALSO REFUSED TO REDUCE BUDGET

EXPENSES BY THE "TOKEN" $61,500 THE CITY

MANAGER PROPOSED, INSTEAD OPTING TO ONLY

TRIM $30,000 OUT OF A $15.1 MILLION BUDGET.

SOMETHING FOR CLAREMONT VOTERS TO

REMEMBER NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE ENTIRE

COUNCIL IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION!

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE EAGLE TIMES ARTICLE:

     http://eagletimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1967

11/29/06 - ACCORDING TO SOURCES OUTSIDE THE

CITY ADMINISTRATION, THE NH DEPARTMENT OF

REVENUE ADMINISTRATION (D.R.A.) PROPERTY

APPRAISAL DIVISION IS SENDING A SUPERVISOR

OF THE REGION TO CLAREMONT.

11/27/06 - HERE'S THE OPENING FOR SUBSIDIZED

LOW INCOME SECTION 8 HOUSING IN THE MILL

BUILDINGS ON WATER STREET. CLAREMONT

CITY OFFICIALS ACCEPT FEDERAL HOUSING &

URBAN DEVELOPMENT (H.U.D.) MONEY FOR MILL

PROJECT. (SEE ITEM # 4 ON THE DOCUMENT

BELOW).   

11/24/06 - THE ARTICLE IN TODAY'S EAGLE TIMES

REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED

BUDGET CUTS DIDN'T TELL THE WHOLE

STORY! GO TO THE BUDGET PAGE ON THIS

WEBSITE TO LEARN WHAT CITY OFFICIALS AREN'T

TELLING YOU.

                             11/21/06

11/17/06 - ACCORDING TO MANY INSIDE CITY

HALL SOURCES IT IS NO SECRET THAT THE

DEVELOPERS OF THE MILLS & RESTAURANT (DUE

TO THE MANY DELAYS OF THE CITY, THE ECONOMIC

CLIMATE, & THAT NO INTEREST HAS BEEN SHOWN

IN PRE-SALES OF CONDOS) HAVE DECIDED TO PUT

THEIR PROJECT ON HOLD AT THE VERY LEAST. IT'S

OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME TOP CITY

OFFICIALS HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE

SOME TIME. 

11/15/06 - THE EAGLE TIMES' HEADLINE STORY IN

TODAY'S EDITION REGARDING CHARLESTOWN NH

PROPERTY TAX RATES STATES "TAX RATE DOWN,

BUT BIGGER BILLS AHEAD" & "CHARLESTOWN

RESIDENTS WILL BE FACING THE SAME TAX

SEASON JINGLE AS THEIR NEIGHBORS IN

CLAREMONT". HOWEVER THE FACTS IN THE

ARTICLE PROVE THE EXACT OPPOSITE. FOR MORE

INFORMATION GO TO THE ASSESSING PAGE OF

THIS WEBSITE.

11/13/06 - A VERY IMPORTANT LETTER WRITTEN

BY A - J MARANVILLE CAN BE FOUND ON THE

LETTERS PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

        PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT.

11/13/06 - ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSED 2007

CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL BUDGET, THE CITY WILL

RECEIVE $120,000 IN FRANCHISE FEES FROM THE

CABLE COMPANY, GIVE $100,000 TO CCTV AND

KEEP THE REST.  THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE

FRANCHISE FEE HAS HISTORICALLY GONE TO FUND

CCTV. MAYOR SCOTT POPE RECENTLY MADE A

PUBLIC PROCLAMATION TO CONTINUE TO FULLY

FUND CCTV, WHICH THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL

ENDORSED. SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

11/12/06 - AT THE NOV. 8TH CLAREMONT CITY

COUNCIL MEETING, A LOCAL RESIDENT ASKED THE

CITY MANAGER HOW MUCH HIS PROPERTY TAX

BILL WENT UP. THE MANAGER REPLIED THAT HIS

TAX BILL INCREASED BY ABOUT $200, WHICH

WASN'T RECEIVED WELL BY A PACKED COUNCIL

CHAMBER FILLED WITH RESIDENTS THAT SAW

THEIR TAX BILL GO UP BY OVER $1,000. I WONDER

WHAT THEIR REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN IF

THEY KNEW THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPERTY

TAX BILL HAD ACTUALLY GONE DOWN BY $234.86?

11/12/06 - AT THE NOV. 8TH CLAREMONT CITY

COUNCIL MEETING, THE PUBLIC MADE IT CLEAR

THAT THEY WANTED CUTS MADE TO THE PROPOSED

2007 BUDGET. THE COUNCIL THEN REVIEWED A

PORTION OF THE BUDGET TOTALLING OVER

$5 MILLION, OF WHICH THEY CUT ONLY $1,000.

FOR A LIST OF OUR SUGGESTED BUDGET CUTS

TOTALLING $592,699 GO TO THE "BUDGET" PAGE

OF THIS WEBSITE.

11/4/06 - GUESS HOW MUCH SANTAGATE'S MOVE

TO THE VISITOR CENTER WILL COST NOW? IT'S

ALREADY COST TAXPAYERS TENS OF THOUSANDS

OF DOLLARS IN NEW FURNITURE, COMPUTERS,

TELEPHONES, ALARM SYSTEMS ECT. CITY

OFFICIALS EVEN HAD A FULL KITCHEN INSTALLED.

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A FULL KITCHEN IN A CITY

OFFICE BUILDING? CHECK OUT THIS LINK TO SEE

JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY YOUR PROPERTY

TAXES ARE SO HIGH! HERE'S THE LINK:

            http://www.ada.gov/claremont.htm

11/2/06 - ADVERTISEMENT POSTED ON NH

ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICIALS WEBSITE

FOR A NEW CHIEF ASSESSOR FOR CLAREMONT, YET

NO FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY ADMINISTRATION

OR ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. ARE CITY

OFFICIALS TRYING TO HIDE THE FACT THAT KEY

EMPLOYEES ARE ALL JUMPING SHIP AT THE SAME

TIME? (3 IN THE LAST MONTH ALONE!) THE MAYOR

STATED AT THE RECENT JOINT COUNCIL/SCHOOL

BOARD MEETING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD

STOPPED THE REVOLVING DOOR REGARDING

STAFF. DOES MAYOR POPE REALLY THINK THAT

THE PUBLIC IS SO NAIVE THAT WE WILL BELIEVE

HIS RHETORIC AND IGNORE THE OBVIOUS?

  HERE IS THE LINK TO THE HELP WANTED AD:

          http://www.nhaao.org/ad_claremont.htm

11/2/06 - AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A DEPUTY

ASSESSOR IN PORTSMOUTH NH APPEARED ON THE

NH ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICIALS

WEBSITE (SOON TO BE FORMER CITY ASSESSOR

DAVID MCMULLEN IS THE WEBSITE'S WEBMASTER)

FOR ONLY 1 DAY AND WAS THEN REMOVED.

      I WONDER WHO TOOK THAT POSITION?

11/2/06 - WE AGREE WITH MR. SNELLING THAT

JUDITH MORIARTY GAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION

REGARDING THE BOSTON POST CANE AWARD IN

HER NOV. 1ST POSTING ON THE PUBLIC FORUM OF

THIS WEBSITE. HER SUGGESTION OF AWARDING A

DUPLICATE CANE THAT THE RECIPIENT (AND

THEIR FAMILY) CAN KEEP IS BRILLIANT. THIS

WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT USE OF CITY COUNCIL

POLICY FUNDS INSTEAD OF BONUSES. THE MAYOR

SHOULD NOT KEEP THE CANE, INSTEAD IT SHOULD

BE KEPT IN A CASE IN CITY HALL FOR ALL TO

ENJOY. OUR CONCERN WAS THE MESSAGE THE

MAYOR WAS SENDING TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING

THE AWARD. IMAGINE WINNING THE AWARD AND

BEING GIVEN A PLAQUE INSTEAD OF THE CANE,

BECAUSE CITY OFFICIALS ARE AFRAID THEY MAY

NEVER SEE IT AGAIN. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE

MAYOR MAY SAY, LACK OF TRUST IS THE MAIN

ISSUE HERE.

THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER MUCH LARGER ISSUE

HERE. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD TIME THE

BOSTON POST CANE AWARD HAS BEEN BROUGHT

BEFORE THE COUNCIL OVER THE PAST FEW

MONTHS. AS MRS. MORIARTY CORRECTLY STATED

CLAREMONT HAS MANY REAL PROBLEMS THAT

AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED, SUCH AS THE NEW

PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS (WHICH HAVE GREATLY

INCREASED THE ANNUAL TAX BILL FOR A LARGE

NUMBER OF CLAREMONT RESIDENTS) AND

PROMISED INCREASED PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS

FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED, BLIND AND VETERAN

RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THERE'S ALSO

THE MILL PROJECT THAT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE YET

TO ASCERTAIN THE FULL COST OF (WHICH HAS

BEEN DELAYED FOR ANOTHER YEAR), THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUCK ROUTE TO PRESERVE

CITY STREETS, A WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN FOR

CLAREMONT (BECAUSE THE PROJECT WILL

DISSOLVE JULY OF NEXT YEAR), THE ONGOING

MASS EXODUS OF TOP CITY EMPLOYEES, THE

OVERUSE OF HIGH PRICED CONSULTANTS,

UNCHECKED SPENDING (WHICH HAS INCREASED

THE AMOUNT THAT HAS TO BE RAISED THROUGH

PROPERTY TAXES BY 57% OVER THE PAST 5

YEARS), AND THE FAILURE OF THE "PERFECT PLACE

CHALLENGE" TO THUS FAR GENERATE ANY

INTEREST EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF TAX

DOLLARS WERE SPENT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF

THE PRESSING ISSUES THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD

BE ADDRESSING BUT THE CANE AWARD SEEMS TO

BE A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY INSTEAD.

BOTH THE MAYOR & THE CITY MANAGER HAVE THE

AUTHORITY TO PLACE ITEMS ON THE COUNCIL

MEETING AGENDA AND NEITHER HAVE THE RIGHT

TO REMOVE AN ITEM THAT THE OTHER ADDED TO

THE AGENDA. SO WHAT IS THE REAL REASON FOR

OUR MAYOR'S CONTINUED FAILURE TO PLACE THE

REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES ON THE AGENDA FOR

THE COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH? DOES HE REALLY

THINK THE CANE AWARD IS FAR MORE

IMPORTANT? OR IS HE USING THIS AWARD TO

DIVERT THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE

ISSUES THAT REALLY MATTER?

10/31/06 - MAYOR POPE AND THE COUNCIL

         FIDDLE WHILE CLAREMONT BURNS!

MAYOR POPE HAS PUT THE BOSTON CANE ON THE

NOVEMBER COUNCIL AGENDA WANTING TO

REPLACE THE CANE WITH A PLAQUE BECAUSE HE

DOESN'T TRUST PEOPLE TO RETURN THE CANE IN

THE FUTURE. HOW INCREDIBLY INSULTING FOR A

SITTING MAYOR TO SAY SUCH A THING! WHAT'S

WORSE IS THE COUNCIL IS WASTING THEIR TIME

ON THIS WHILE IGNORING OTHER MORE

IMPORTANT ISSUES.  SUCH AS THE NEW TAX

BILLS, WHICH GREATLY INCREASED THE AMOUNT

OF PROPERTY TAXES MANY RESIDENTS HAVE TO

PAY, WITH NO TAX RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR

SENIOR, DISABLED, BLIND AND VETERAN

RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL & THE

ADMINISTRATION HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION EVEN

THOUGH THE CITY MANAGER PROMISED TAX

RELIEF FOR THESE DESERVING CITIZENS BACK IN

AUGUST. APPARENTLY CITY OFFICIALS PLACE FAR 

GREATER IMPORTANCE ON THIS CANE THAN THEY

DO ON THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF CLAREMONT.

10/30/06 - ACCORDING TO OUR INSIDE CITY HALL

SOURCES, HEAD CLAREMONT CITY ASSESSOR

DAVID MCMULLEN HAS ACCEPTED A POSITION AS

HEAD ASSESSOR FOR LEBANON NH.

10/29/06 - THE CLAREMONT SOUP KITCHEN HAS

FOUND A NEW HOME! THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE

IN THE MOODY BUILDING, BOTTOM FLOOR ON THE

CRESCENT STREET SIDE. MOODY BUILDING

OWNERS TONY ZULLO & ANDREW DAUPHIN

SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR DOING THIS,

BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW THE SOUP KITCHEN TO

CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE

TO THE COMMUNITY. MR. ZULLO AND MR.

DAUPHIN'S ACTIONS CLEARLY PROVE THAT THERE

ARE STILL PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY THAT

TRULY CARE ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS AND

NEIGHBORS.

10/28/06 - THE SANTAGATE ADMINISTRATION'S

STRING OF LITIGATION LOSSES CONTINUES. THE

CITY HAD A 6 MONTH TIME PERIOD TO FILE A

PETITION IN COURT REGARDING THE

DETERMINATION OF INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR

THE SNELLING CASE. ACCORDING TO THIS RULING

THE SANTAGATE ADMINISTRATION TOOK 8

MONTHS TO FILE ONE PETITION AND MORE THAN A

YEAR TO FILE ANOTHER PETITION THE CITY ALSO

FILED WITH THE COURT. IS THIS TYPE OF

LEADERSHIP WORTHY OF A $10,000 BONUS?

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE OTHER

ISSUES PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE. (SCROLL DOWN

BELOW THE SECTION REGARDING THE

ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO CHANGE THE

BOUNDARY LINES ON THE CITY'S OFFICIAL

ZONING MAP.)

10/26/06 - TODAY'S EAGLE TIMES HEADLINE

STORY "NO TAX RELIEF IN CITY" HERE'S THE LINK:

         www.eagletimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1857

10/26/06 - THE EDITORIAL POLICY AT THE EAGLE

TIMES REGARDING LETTERS FOR THE READERS

FORUM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT NO FORM

LETTERS WERE ACCEPTED. SO HOW COME TWO

IDENTICAL WORD FOR WORD LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR ENDORSING THE CANDIDACY OF BOB

O'DELL AND SIGNED BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE

WERE PUBLISHED BY THE EDITOR?

10/26/06 - AT THE OCT. 25TH JOINT CLAREMONT

CITY COUNCIL / SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THE

CITY MANAGER STATED THE TOP

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS

THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DEMEANOR AND

CIVILITY OF THE COUNCIL. WAS THE MANAGER

REFERING TO HOW THE CITY COUNCIL TREATS

CITIZENS WHO COME BEFORE THEM SUCH AS

JACKIE ELLIOTT, WHO WENT A LITTLE OVER HER

ALLOTED TIME AT CITIZEN'S FORUM AND MEMBERS

OF THE COUNCIL BERATED HER AND GOT UP AND

LEFT THE ROOM AND JEFF GOFF, WHO

REPRESENTED THE COMMITTEE SPEARHEADING

THE  NEW COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT AND WAS

VERBALLY ATTACKED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF

THE CITY COUNCIL? THAT'S THE MANAGER'S

DEFINITION OF CIVILITY? COMPARED TO WHO,

THE SOPRANOS? ISN'T IT ALSO INTERESTING THAT

A LAME DUCK LEGISLATOR WANTS TO MERGE THE

CITY AND SCHOOL GOVERNMENTS AND TAKE

OVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S LARGE $26 MILLION

PLUS ANNUAL POT OF MONEY. COULD THIS BE SO

THAT FUNDS THAT WE KNOW ARE BEING SHIFTED

BETWEEN CITY DEPARTMENTS NOW COULD BE

SHIFTED EVEN FURTHER? WOULD TATONKA BE

TAKING OVER THE LEASING OF SCHOOL BUSES

AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT VEHICLES? AGAIN

MR. IRISH IS ALMOST ON POINT. WE DO NEED A

NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE SHOULD

LEAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALONE (BECAUSE

THIS SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED FOR THE

PAST 100 YEARS OR SO) AND REVERT THE CITY

BACK INTO A TOWN FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH

5 SELECTMEN (OR SELECTWOMEN) ELECTED EVERY

2 YEARS AND SHIFT THE POWER BACK TO THE

CITIZENS OF CLAREMONT WHERE IT RIGHTFULLY

BELONGS.  

10/25/06 - EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH THE

UPCOMING PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON

NOVEMBER 13 TH, THE MYSTERIOUS NEW

COMMITTEE THAT WILL GUIDE THE MASTER PLAN

PROCESS WILL BE THERE. (APPOINTED BY WHOM?)

CHARLIE FRENCH, WHO WAS INVITED BY

PLANNING CONSULTANT GERRY COOGAN GAVE A

VERY COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION. HE

STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF NEUTRALITY,

OPEN MINDEDNESS AND REGARDING IMPUT THAT

ALL CITIZENS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A CITY-

WIDE SURVEY. INTERESTINGLY TRACY POPE OF

THE ZONING BOARD ASKED THE QUESTION:

(WHICH PLANNING BOARD CHAIRWOMAN ENGEL

LATER REFERRED TO AS THE ELEPHANT IN THE

ROOM) SHOULD MAJOR CHANGES IN ZONING BE

DONE PIECEMEAL OR THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN

PROCESS? (EXAMPLES OF MAJOR CHANGES IN

ZONING: HOUSING DENSITY, CHANGES TO ZONING

BOUNDARY LINES, ETC.) MR. FRENCH

EMPHATICALLY STATED THAT THE MASTER PLAN

PROCESS WAS THE PROFESSIONAL & USUAL

APPROACH USED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE

STATE. SINCE THIS IS THE STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURE AND THE PLANNING BOARD HAS BEEN

ADVISED TO DO THIS, WHY WOULD THE

ADMINISTRATION HIRE EVEN MORE CONSULTANTS

TO CHANGE THE ZONING BOUNDARY LINES?

10/25/06 - TWO NEW SURVEYS REGARDING

ZONING CHANGES AND THE MASTER PLAN

PROCESS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SURVEY PAGE OF

THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE OFFER YOUR OPINION.

10/23/06 - ACCORDING TO OUR INSIDE SOURCES

A FORMER CITY COUNCILOR SUBMITTED AN

APPLICATION FOR THE ASSISTANT FINANCE

DIRECTOR / TREASURER POSITION. IS THIS THE

NEW CAREER PATH FOR CITY COUNCILORS LOYAL

TO THIS ADMINISTRATION?   

10/23/06 - A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION HAS

BEEN POSTED TODAY ON THE ASSESSING PAGE OF

THIS WEBSITE. THE NEW ENTRIES ARE SCATTERED

FROM THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO JUST BELOW THE

PIE CHARTS.

10/19/06 - ACCORDING TO A NH DEPARTMENT OF

REVENUE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL, THE 2006

PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR ALL COMMUNITIES

WITHIN SULLIVAN COUNTY STILL HAVEN'T BEEN

SET YET. THE REASON IS BECAUSE AS OF TODAY

(OCTOBER 19, 2006) SULLIVAN COUNTY

OFFICIALS STILL HAVEN'T SUBMITTED ALL THE

REQUIRED PAPERWORK TO THE NH DRA, EVEN

THOUGH IT WAS DUE AWHILE AGO. THIS MEANS

THAT PROPERTY TAX BILLS WILL PROBABLY BE

MAILED OUT LATE. (JUST IN TIME FOR X-MAS?)

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS?

10/19/06 - ACCORDING TO THE CLAREMONT 2005

MS-1 DOCUMENT THERE WAS 197.5 LESS ACRES IN

CURRENT USE THAN IN 2004, YET CLAREMONT

ASSESSOR DAVID MCMULLEN ONLY REPORTED

THAT 8.4 ACRES HAD ACTUALLY BEEN REMOVED

FROM CURRENT USE. WHY DIDN'T HE REPORT THE

OTHER 189.1 ACRES AS HAVING BEEN REMOVED?

DID HE COLLECT THE CHANGE IN USE TAX WHICH

IS EQUAL TO 10% OF THE FULL UNDISCOUNTTED

VALUE OF THE LAND FOR THESE 189.1 ACRES?

ACCORDING TO CLAREMONT'S 2006 MS-1 FORM

THE AMOUNT OF LAND USE CHANGE TAX THE CITY

OF CLAREMONT COLLECTED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR

OF 2005 WAS ONLY $8,000. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

10/18/06 - DISCREPANCIES DISCOVERED

REGARDING THE TOTAL ACRES OF LAND REMOVED

FROM CURRENT USE, REPORTED BY THE CITY

ASSESSOR TO THE NH DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT IS RECORDED AT

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON

THE ASSESSING PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

10/17/06 - EVERY YEAR A LETTER MUST BE

SUBMITTED FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO THE

AUDITORS REGARDING PENDING LAWSUITS AND

THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY IT WILL HAVE ON THE

CITY. HERE ARE THOSE LETTERS FOR 2006.

10/14/06 - THE CARPETBAGGERS ARE AT IT

AGAIN! CITY OFFICIALS WANT TO MAKE CHANGES

TO THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. CHANGING THE

ZONING BOUNDARIES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER

PROPERTY VALUES AND INCREASE POTENTIAL

HOUSING DENSITY, WHILE BYPASSING BOTH THE

PLANNING BOARD AND THE ZONING BOARD IN THE

PROCESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS

VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE GO TO THE OTHER ISSUES

PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

10/12/06 - CLAREMONT'S GENERAL FUND

BALANCE ACCOUNT (AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST) ONLY

HAS $50,897 LEFT IN IT. ACCORDING TO THE 2005

AUDIT REPORT (WHICH WE HAVE A COPY OF) THE

ADMINISTRATION AND THE CITY COUNCIL SPENT

$1,457,000 OF IT DURING THE YEAR 2005 AND

ALLOCATED AN ADDITIONAL $450,000 FOR

PENDING LITIGATION. AT THE AUGUST CITY

COUNCIL MEETING THE CITY MANAGER PROMISED

TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE FROM THE

GENERAL FUND BALANCE ACCOUNT $75,000 FOR A

SKATEBOARD PARK AND $200,000 FOR LIGHTS

AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE RUNNING TRACK. THIS

BRINGS THE FUND BALANCE ACCOUNT DOWN TO

ZERO AND CREATES A $224,103 DEFICIT. THIS

DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MANAGER'S PROMISE TO

CHANGE PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS FOR ELDERLY,

DISABLED, BLIND AND VETERAN RESIDENTS OF

CLAREMONT.  

     EXCERPT FROM CLAREMONT'S 2005 AUDIT.

  NOTE THE "FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS" SECTION

       LETTER FROM CITY SOLICITOR STATING THAT

CLAREMONT FINANCE DIRECTOR MARY WALTER MADE

       THE CHART DIRECTLY BELOW THIS LETTER.

CHART MADE BY FINANCE DIRECTOR MARY WALTER.

NOTE THAT MS. WALTER ADDED IN THE $450,000 THAT

ACCORDING TO THE  AUDITOR'S REPORT WAS

ALLOCATED FOR PENDING LITIGATION, WHEREAS THE

AUDITOR STATED IN HIS REPORT (SEE EXCERPT PAGE

ABOVE) THAT THE "UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE FOR

THE GENERAL FUND WAS $550,897" AS THE END OF 2005.

CHART DEPICTING BEGINNING BALANCE FOR THE

GENERAL FUND BALANCE ACCOUNT LESS ALL THE 2006

APPROPRIATIONS. THE $305,000 IS CURRENTLY IN A BTLA

ESCROW ACCOUNT BECAUSE OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN

CASE. IF THE CITY LOSES THE CASE THE MONEY WILL BE

RETURNED LESS ALL WHEELABRATOR LEGAL FEES, ALL

BTLA COSTS AND ANY DAMAGES BTLA AWARDS TO

WHEELABRATOR.

 EXCERPT FROM AUGUST 9TH COUNCIL MEETING

10/12/06 CLAREMONT PLANNING DIRECTOR

ANTHONY LYONS RESIGNS. SECOND TOP CITY

OFFICIAL TO LEAVE IN A MONTH. WHO'S NEXT?

 HERE'S THE LINK TO THE NEWSPAPER STORY.

http://eagletimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1810

10/12/06 - LETTER WRITTEN BY ME REGARDING

THE COMMUNITY CENTER REPORT AT LAST NIGHT'S

CITY COUNCIL MEETING CAN BE FOUND ON THE

LETTERS PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.

10/11/06 - THE TRUTH FINALLY COMES OUT!

AT LAST NIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CANDIDATE'S FORUM, NH STATE SENATOR BOB

O'DELL PUBLICLY STATED THAT BOTH HE AND

GOVERNOR LYNCH WERE RESPONSIBLE

FOR BRINGING GRANITE STATE COLLEGE TO

DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT. THANK YOU BOB FOR

FINALLY SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT! 

10/11/06 - CLAREMONT CITY ASSESSOR DAVID

MCMULLEN STATED AT THE JULY 12 TH COUNCIL

MEETING THAT COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY WAS CURRENTLY ASSESSED AT 93%,

WHICH MEANS THAT THE ASSESSMENTS DIDN'T

NEED TO BE CHANGED. HOWEVER ACCORDING TO

CLAREMONT'S 2006 MS-1 (WHICH MR. MCMULLEN

SIGNED AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE) MR.

MCMULLEN INCREASED THE OVERALL CITYWIDE

ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY BY 15%. OF THE 13 COMMERCIAL &

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES WE LOOKED AT ONLY 3

WERE INCREASED BY 15% OR MORE. MOST

REMAINED UNCHANGED AND 1 HAD THEIR

ASSESSMENT DECREASED. GO TO THE ASSESSING

PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.

10/10/06 - CLAREMONT OFFICIALS STILL HAVEN'T

POSTED THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S

CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THEIR WEBSITE. ONE

OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC

HEARING REGARDING A RESOLUTION TO FLOAT A

TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE (THE AMOUNT WASN'T

LISTED IN THE NEWSPAPER). THIS IS USUALLY

DONE IN JANUARY, YET CITY OFFICIALS WANT TO

FLOAT ONE NOW BEFORE NEXT YEARS BUDGET HAS

EVEN BEEN PRESENTED OR PASSED. THEY VOTED

TO BOND $2 MILLION JUST LAST MONTH.

         ARE THEY OUT OF MONEY ALREADY?

   WHERE'S OUR $2 MILLION FUND BALANCE?

IS THIS WHY THE AGENDA ISN'T ON THE WEBSITE?