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