By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
CLAREMONT – Mayor Charlene Lovett recognized Superintendent of Public Works Victor St. Pierre at Wednesday’s city council meeting.
St. Pierre is the recipient of the New Hampshire Waterworks Association Meritorious Achievement Award — originally awarded in January. However, St. Pierre was surprised by the award.
“That was a shock to me,” he said later. “I’m glad I got it for the city. We’re making a lot of progress.”
“I think it’s important we understand what a vital role public works fills in our community,” said Lovett. “A lot of people think of snow removal when they think of public works, but they do a lot more than that. Our lives depend on water that’s drinkable … they’re also an integral part of the first responders team for natural and man-made disasters.”
Lovett said St. Pierre’s efforts are evident in the water quality in the city: “You can taste the difference. It’s not as chlorinated,” she said.
St. Pierre brought the council up to date on cleanup at the boat landing. “We’ve had some issues with the culverts,” he said. “The river level, even today, is up above the culverts. We will need to replace the culverts at a drier time of year.”
The boat landing was created in 1984 thanks to efforts of the Kiwanis Club, on the site where a ferry to cross the river operated in the 18th and 19th centuries.
“It’s almost back to the original condition,” said St. Pierre. DPW crews brushhogged the weeds encroaching on the parking area, removed fallen trees, graded the road and filled potholes, as well as fixing the road where the culverts failed.
The launch pad itself is still deeply silted. Cleanup of the launch pad is the responsibility of the state and will likely happen mid-June. “That has to have a wetlands permit and the state does that every year,” said St. Pierre. “There’s one person who does all the boat launches throughout the state.”
Acting City Manager John MacLean commented on the public works staff who recently completed some continuing education credits. “Mr. St. Pierre can’t do it all alone,” said MacLean. “He’s part of an excellent department. I mention these certificates of completion to recognize that even our DPW has a continuing education program. It requires talented people.”
In other official business, Lovett declared May National Military Appreciation Month, noting Claremont’s “long and proud history of service to our nation over the centuries.”
She encouraged everyone to participate in Memorial Day observances, including the parade Monday. It starts at 10 a.m. and concludes in Broad Street Park.
Lovett also noted she had been to Lafayette Day at the State House in Concord. Claremont was one of the cities the Marquise de Lafayette visited on his Farewell America tour in 1825.
“I didn’t realize he had been wounded three times in the Revolutionary War,” she said. “He wanted to fight side by side with American soldiers, not just serve as an aide de camp to General Washington.”
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.