Compiled by GLYNIS HART
October
Santagate bridge named after former city manager. At a ceremony in the Visitors Center park that his efforts helped to create, Guy Santagate pronounced himself “flattered, honored, and humbled” at the park on Saturday morning because the pedestrian bridge over the Sugar River — already named in his honor — was being officially dedicated to him with plaques at either end.
The proceedings were attended by about 50 people. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen had planned to attend the event, but she was detained in Washington by the Senate vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Bethany Yurek, a special assistant to the senator, hosted in her absence. She summarized Santagate’s tenure as city manager, which began in 2001 and ended in 2016, and was notable for transforming several of the buildings in the downtown from vacant relics into renovated public and private spaces.
When Santagate took the reins in Claremont, the city was at the point of giving up on preservation and was entertaining the idea of spending $2 million to demolish the historic mill buildings. They had, however, only $4,000 in their reserve fund. Upon arriving here, Santagate — who had been city manager of Chelsea, Massachusetts and overseen a revitalization movement there — engineered a coordinated effort to raise $40 million to redevelop Claremont’s mill district.
Students from Stevens High School posted a sign of sympathy and left flowers at the door of Temple Meyer-David Study in the wake of mass killing of Jewish congregants in Pittsburgh, PA. The students sought out a Jewish place of worship and stood in the cold, honoring the memory of the 11 people slain at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Temple Meyer-David Study is on Putnam Street, across Broad Street from the high school.
Employees of Claremont’s Public Works Department and city clerical workers expressed frustration with the city’s handling of contract negotiations with their employee union, Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Both Public Works employees and clerical workers continue to work without a contract and have showed up in force at city council meetings since the impasse. Their last contract expired at the beginning of fiscal year 2018.
A central reason they gave for rejecting the city’s last offer was the insurance package. The employee contribution for a single health plan was $2,500, and $5,000 for a family, and several support staff members would have a 20 percent coinsurance in addition to their deductible.
November
Republican governors in the twin states proved resistant to a “blue wave” that put Democrats in control.
Governor Chris Sununu won another two-year term, defeating Democratic challenger Molly Kelly. Sununu captured 52.8 percent of the vote versus Kelly’s 45.8 percent. However, the New Hampshire House, Senate and Executive Council all flipped from Republican to Democratic control.
Republican governor Phil Scott also held onto his seat, defeating Democratic challenger Christine Hallquist. Scott clocked in at 55.4 percent of the vote, versus Hallquist’s 40.4 percent. Democrats will have a super-majority capable of overriding Scott’s vetoes in 2019.
Democrats also regained control in the next House of Representatives, allowing U.S. Rep. Peter Welch to again assume a leadership position in the majority.
The New Hampshire House, Senate and Executive Council all flipped from Republican to Democratic control.
The final event of the Sunapee Sestercentennial celebration was burying of the time capsule on Nov. 3. The time capsule, donated by Charlie and Marion Hafner of the Chadwick Funeral Home, is filled with all things Sunapee from the year 2018 to show what Sunapee was like when the 350th Committee opens it in 2118. Gathering the objects was a project spearheaded by Sunapee High School student Ryan Fleury.
After an early Thanksgiving, a snowstorm Nov. 28 caused power outages on both sides of the Connecticut River. Schools were closed and many residents lacked power for up to three days after the storm.
In southeastern Vermont, the largest impact in our area appeared to have been in the western towns near the mountains. According to Green Mountain Power as of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the town of Chester had 722 customers affected by 32 power outages. Ludlow has 18 outages affected 642 customers. Cavendish had 28 outages causing 478 customers to lose power. The latter town had suffered many downed trees blocking roads, Town Manager Brendan McNamara told the Eagle Times.
December
The state of New Hamphire will receive over $1 million as part of a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank, Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announced. The bank will pay $575 million to resolve claims that the it violated state consumer protection laws. New Hampshire will receive $1,167,689 as part of the settlement.
This settlement resolved claims that Wells Fargo Bank N.A. violated state consumer protection laws by opening millions of unauthorized accounts and enrolling customers into online banking services without their knowledge or consent, improperly referring customers for enrollment in third-party renters and life insurance policies, improperly charging auto loan customers for force-placed and unnecessary collateral protection insurance, failing to ensure that customers received refunds of unearned premiums on certain optional auto finance products, and incorrectly charging customers for mortgage rate lock extension fees.
To date, this settlement represents the most significant engagement involving a national bank by state attorneys general acting without a federal law enforcement partner.
The Claremont school board struggled with a policy to handle school lunch debt, as unpaid food service debt reached $21,000 on Dec. 21, even after community fundraising efforts earlier in the semester paid off $32,000 owed from last year.
Assistant Super-intendent Cory LeClair told the board that people have continued to donate money to cover unpaid lunch debt. She asked the board to vote to accept new donations of around $150 but reminded them they had previously voted to send late donations to the local food shelves.
Arrowhead Recreation Center began making snow, hoping for continued cold weather (not rain) and a white Christmas. Despite the early onset of cold weather this season, snowstorms were followed by rising temperatures and rain; as the year closed, the city’s ski/skate and tubing center was once again bare of snow.
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