By Chris Frost
Eagle Times News Editor
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Claremont City Council has taken a step toward making it easier to create special assessments to fund infrastructure projects.
On 8-1 vote, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance 612 on Wednesday. The ordinance was introduced by Assistant Mayor Deborah Matteau and seconded by Councilor Jonathan Stone. Councilor Spencer Batchelder voted against it.
The ordinance gives notice to hold public hearings and consider imposing special assessments when receiving a petition signed by at least two-thirds of property owners in areas proposed for a special assessment.
City Manager Yoshi Manale said the ordinance is a tool that makes infrastructure investment easier. “State Law 49c-25 allows the elected body to have the power to determine that the full, or any part of a public expense shall be defrayed by special assessment upon the property especially benefitting and shall be declared by resolution,” he said.
He said it allows him to make a special assessment available for review by the public and council, without requiring half the property owners’ approval before recommendation. Upon receipt of a recommendation for a special assessment, Manale said the City Council shall consider and take action as it deems appropriate.
“To make it easier for the council to start considering a special assessment, this is something that allows us to bring this forth to you. It doesn’t say you have to approve it. It doesn’t take away the community’s opportunity to review and be noticed. It allows me to bring it to you; something that has been a deterrent in the past.”
Councilor Spencer Batchelder asked what recourse property owners have, outside of publicly noticed meetings. “Right now, we require 50 percent of the property owners for that special assessment to sign off on it. What would be the recourse if we make this change.”
Manale said the meeting would be the recourse.
“If 50 percent are bringing it forward, it starts the process within the City Council to determine if they would like to move forward with the special assessment,” he said. “We’ll send certified mail to every landowner or property owner in that area and give them the opportunity to voice their concerns to the Council.”
Manale told Koloski the council consents to the special assessment on behalf of the property owners.
Mayor Dale Girard believes doing special assessments requires someone from the city to go to every home and get 50 percent to sign off before it comes to the council.
“We wouldn’t be required to get signatures from these people, but we still would go through the process,” he said.
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