Deb Roux is on a mission.
The Ward 12 resident attended the July meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and asked city officials what Manchester has planned in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
She says she then emailed each board member the day after the meeting with the same question, but never heard back.
She took matters into her own hands this past week, when she kicked off her own celebration by using her allotted three minutes during public comment to read aloud as much of the historic document as she could before time ran out, getting as far as the following passage:
"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."
Roux promised to return at the September board meeting and resume right where she left off.
The fact that this space will wait patiently for her to continue the celebration should be self-evident.
Tough on trash
City aldermen are supporting an amendment (drafted by the city solicitors office) to the city's trash ordinance, in response to "problem apartment buildings that don't seem to care about repeated fines for trash violations."
The amendment was brought forward for consideration by Ward 7 Alderman Ross Terrio. He said one four-family building in his ward has been fined eight to 10 times already this year for trash violations.
"They don't take their trash out; it's overflowing," Terrio said. "It's kind of a health hazard. "
The amendment applies specifically to curbside collection, Section 91.631 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MUNICIPAL CURBSIDE COLLECTION.
As written, the ordinance states, "Commercial uses outside the downtown collection zone that occupy a detached buildings less than 7,500 square feet that provides financial and professional services such as banking, financial, real estate, insurance, or other professional offices, or provides personal services such as beauty/nail salons and spas, photographic studios, jewelry, watch, clock and small appliance repair and tattoo parlors and that do not produce trash that exceeds allowable volume" are eligible for curbside collection.
Terrio's amendment applies specifically to curbside collection, adding language that says, "Public Works is authorized to revoke a property's eligibility for curbside collection for good cause, including, but not limited to, multiple violations of this chapter. Any such revocation shall be appealable to the Committee on Administration. Any owner of a property where eligibility for curbside pickup has been revoked shall arrange for alternate weekly trash removal at the owner of the property's expense."
City Public Works Director Tim Clougherty said the intent of the amendment is to give his department more latitude and enforcement.
"Quite frankly we -- not very often -- but we have experienced property owners that continually ignore the enforcement actions that we're taking, and we have nothing other than the ability to fine them, and the fines obviously aren't enough of a penalty," Clougherty said. "So this gives us more latitude in order to make sure that our neighborhoods are clean."
Alderman Norm Vincent asked if public works personnel would still try to work with property owners with violations before revoking curbside collection.
"They will work with them," Clougherty said. "They give them multiple opportunities to correct violations. If there are real estate issues or other things, if they're trying to arrange for private service or something like that. The department does not benefit financially -- we can't use any of the money that we assess in enforcement actions.
"Our main goal is to make sure that the streets in the neighborhoods of Manchester and clean, and this is just another tool to allow us to do that."
Terrio said that for the property that prompted him to bring forward the amendment, the landlord lives in Massachusetts.
"I feel bad for him, because he's paying the fines -- they've violated about eight times in the first half of this year," Terrio said. "The tenants are the problem, they're not bringing their trash to the curb. It's overflowing, there's rodents, there's maggots -- they don't seem to care, because they're not paying the fine. And it's happened eight times this year, and I just can't get their attention."
Alderman Christine Fajardo said if the problem is absentee landlords, she wonders if there's an opportunity to enforce at the ordinance level with city planning and "threaten their certificate of occupancy."
"I mean, if you want to get their attention," Fajardo said, "I see the situation a lot too: People will start throwing their trash in the neighbors' bins. If it's not painful enough for them to pay a fine, interrupting their capacity to do their business might be."
Clougherty said he thinks the amendment is a good trial or first interim step, but he could have a conversation with the planning department about enforcement at the ordinance level.
"Because at the end of the day, if you're revoking someone's certificate of occupancy, the people that are occupying that building are going to be on the street," Clougherty said. "That may be seen as an extreme measure for a trash issue."
"Yeah, absolutely," Fajardo said. "But I mean, at the same time -- when we think about being very specific about the concern of absentee landlords that don't have an investment in this community, they don't have an investment in the people in their building, often beyond just the money they collect from them in rent. They often don't meet standard of living that any of us would consider safe, acceptable, etc.
"I just feel like, is there an opportunity for us to turn the screws a little harder on business people who come into the city and invest in a way that is not in line with our values and the culture that we want to have for our city?"
"Certainly a conversation that we can have," Clougherty said.
Tax incentive rules
City aldermen are backing a request from economic development director Jodie Nazaka to suspend the implementation of the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive Program (RSA 79-E) within the Central Business Service District until the Board of Mayor and Aldermen can establish parameters that clearly define the public benefits deemed worthy of this tax incentive.
In a memo, Nazaka writes that the RSA 79-E program is effective due to its ability to provide "substantial incentives" for projects that may not otherwise be feasible, mainly with historic buildings.
"This program has been instrumental in assisting Manchester with the preservation and redevelopment of underutilized properties, as well as facilitating new development in underperforming areas of downtown and the Redevelopment District (RDV)," Nazaka writes. "As a larger city with a robust real estate market, Manchester no longer needs to persuade development in the downtown area; it's happening on its own."
Nazaka recommended the RSA 79-E program be tailored to ensure projects align with the city's adopted Master Plan and guarantee public benefits that surpass what would be achievable without the incentive.
Nazaka said the city can leverage the flexibility permitted by the statute and implement stricter eligibility criteria.
She recommended the board consider adopting the following:
No buildings or properties within an approved Tax Increment Financing district or in an area currently under consideration with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for a TIF shall be eligible.
Requiring that rehabilitation costs exceed 200% of the pre-rehabilitation assessed valuation.
For projects that include residential units, a maximum base tax-relief period of five years is permitted. This period can be extended by an additional one year for every 5% of units designated as deed-restricted for a maximum of two additional years, allowing for a total relief period of up to seven years.
Mandating the documentation of public benefit at the time of application, including proposed deed restrictions on rent-restricted units or agreements with relevant agencies for voucher programs. Ensuring that the covenant extends beyond the term of the tax relief, with affordable units protected for a minimum of three years beyond the tax relief term.
Stipulating that the property remain taxable throughout the relief period, prohibiting any conversion to a tax-exempt status.
Requiring that buildings within the Central Business Service District must maintain commercial uses on the first floor.
Requiring partnerships in infrastructure investments, such as enhancements to sidewalks, streetscapes, lighting, and the public right of way.
Horse appellations
The Friends of the Manchester Mounted Patrol are promoting an online contest to name the newest member of the team -- a massive 6-year-old Shire gelding standing 19 hands high (which translates to about 76 inches, or 6.3 feet.
"Don't be fooled by his size, he is a gentle giant," the Friends wrote in a social media post. "Shires are draft horses originally from the UK, and are known to be the tallest horse breed in the world. Having a Shire on our team is an honor and a privilege. We can't wait for you all to meet him."
The Friends of the Manchester Mounted Patrol are soliciting names for the city's newest equestrian officer through 8 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the following link: https://bitly.cx/GgRW
One name suggestion per entry. Chosen officer name will be announced Aug. 20.