City Manager's Newsletter-November 4, 2022

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Friday, November 4, 2022

In this issue:

CITY OF CONCORD NEWS & PROJECTS:
CONCORD GENERAL SERVICES NEWS:
CONCORD PARKS & REC NEWS:
- Fall Soccer Season Wrap Up
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS:
- Halloween Community Events
CONCORD PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS:
- Library Create & Sip - Nov. 7
- Learn About Beavers - Nov. 9
COMMUNITY NEWS:

CITY OF CONCORD NEWS & PROJECTS

Upcoming Meetings

City meetings are held in person in Council Chambers at 37 Green Street (unless otherwise specified on the City's calendar). Upcoming meetings include:

City Council Meeting: November 14, 7 p.m.
Planning Board: November 16, 7 p.m.

Visit https://concordnh.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx for City Council and Planning Board agendas, which are posted prior to the meetings. View the City calendar for more meetings and events.

General Election Information - Nov. 8

GENERAL INFORMATION

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Concord and Penacook residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes during the state’s general election. City of Concord polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

More information about the election, including links to sample ballots, a list of polling locations and ward maps can all be accessed by visiting www.concordnh.gov/elections.

Please be sure to double check your polling location, as the locations in some wards have changed. If you voted in the September primary, that will also be your general election voting location.

You can also contact the City Clerk’s Office at 603-225-8500, by email at cityclerk@concordnh.gov, or by visiting their office in City Hall at 41 Green Street. Their office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

SAMPLE BALLOTS

Sample ballots for the November 8, 2022 election are available on the Secretary of State's website: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/sample-ballots. Once you click into the site, you can select your ward from the dropdown menu.

CAT & MST VOTER SHUTTLE

From their press release:
Concord Area Transit (CAT) and Mid-State Transit (MST), services of Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack Counties, Inc., are pleased to announce they are adding a special Voter Shuttle Service to help residents within the service region get to the polls on November 8 for the general election!

CAT and MST shuttle bus services will be available on November 8 to help residents get to the polls. This service will pick up individuals from their requested pick-up location, drop off at their polling location and will return a short time later for the return trip making it very convenient to get out and vote this election cycle. This service is available to any voting age individual going to the polls in Belknap and Merrimack Counties on Election Day.

Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack Counties Inc. (CAPBMCI) Transportation Director, Terri Paige said about this special service program, “The CAPBM Transportation Program is committed to being an active partner in the communities that we serve. By providing this free transportation service, in the communities where our buses are located, so that citizens can access their polling sites to vote is a natural fit for us. We are excited to roll this new service option out this year and look forward to welcoming voters on board!”

Call any time before 2:30 p.m. Monday, November 7 to schedule the service by calling our call center at 603-225-1989. You will receive a call the afternoon before the general election with the pickup time window. For residents living along the CAT bus route with a polling location also along the route, our mobility manager can help plan the trip on our regular bus service.

Veterans Day

All City of Concord offices will be closed on Friday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We thank all military veterans for their service and sacrifices for our country.

Trash collection will not be postponed and will follow its regular collection schedule for the entire week.

Manchester Street Work Continues

Grappone Mazda will be performing road and utility work on Manchester Street to accommodate their new development at 134 Manchester Street. This work will result in a lane closure and one-way alternating traffic on Sunday, November 6 and Sunday, November 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traffic delays are expected and motorists are requested to seek alternate routes during these times.

Collections Office Updates

Collections Office CLOSED on November 7; reopening in City Hall on November 8

The Collections Office renovations are nearly complete. The office will temporarily be located in the Green Street Community Center, 39 Green Street, behind City Hall until Friday, November 4. This temporary location is handicap accessible.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 for final set-up and reopening preparations. The office will be open in City Hall on Tuesday, November 8.

CONCORD GENERAL SERVICES NEWS

Veterans Day

City of Concord offices will be closed on Friday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Trash collection will not be postponed and will follow its regular collection schedule for the entire week. We thank all military veterans for their service.

Please note that Concord General Services will be collecting bulk leaves near Concord High School on Veterans Day in coordination with the school closure. Find an area map and more information below or by visiting concordnh.gov/leafcollection.

Collections Office Renovations

The renovations in the Collections Office are nearly complete. The office will be closed on Monday, November 7 for final set up and will reopen in City Hall on Tuesday, November 8.

The project included a new ceiling, lighting elements, flooring, painting, more efficient HVAC systems, electrical upgrades, and new counters. This work refreshed the office space while reconfiguring the customer counter layout for improved accessibility and a more functional ADA-compliant counter option.

Thank you to residents for all of their patience and understanding during this transition. We hope everyone enjoys the newly refreshed Collections Office. We would also like to thank all of our contractors and members of City staff in multiple departments who pitched in to help make this project come to fruition.

Fall Leaf Collection

Concord's Fall Leaf Collection started on Monday with bulk leaf collection. Bagged leaf collection will start on November 21.

Bulk Leaf Collection

Bulk leaf collection started October 31 and will continue as weather permits. Residents that elect to participate may rake leaves loosely to the curb for a one-time collection. Trackless leaf loaders are used, which requires residents to rake all leaves fully into the street to be reachable for collection. Please keep leaves tight along the curb or edge of the road/sidewalk to keep streets and sidewalks clear. Avoid piling leaves and placing them around obstructions such as signs and mailboxes. Also, please avoid on-street parking Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until collection is completed on the street to not block access to leaves.

Three crews from our Highway and Utilities Division are collecting leaves from different areas of the city. In the interest of fairness, crews alternate their starting locations each year so that residents have equal opportunity for collection.

This year, crews started collection in the following areas:

Crew 1 started at the Bow town line and is working north, as shown in green.

Crew 2 started at Blossom Hill Cemetery and is working north toward Penacook, as shown in purple.

Crew 3 started on Mountain Road near Fairview Drive and is working south along the east side of the Merrimack River, as shown in orange.

View the Fall Leaf Collection Crew Sector Map to see a city-wide map of where crews focus collection (residential areas within the City's drainage system).

Residents can also view the Fall Leaf Collection Map on our website to see where crews have finished collecting.
Due to unpredictable weather conditions and leaf volumes, it is not possible to predict when crews will reach certain areas. It's important to have leaves ready at the curb to not miss collection. We advise having leaves out ahead of the start of collection. Crews can only come by locations once and will not be able to return to areas already collected.

Veterans' Day Collection
The area near Concord High School is the only area with a scheduled collection day in coordination with the Veteran’s Day school closure. Residents in this area will have bulk collection on Friday, November 11. This area is scheduled for leaf collection on Veterans Day each year to minimize public disturbance and in consideration of public safety with less activity in the area. The public is advised to please avoid parking next to leaf piles in this area on this day to not block equipment from collecting leaves. Crews will resume collection in their previously designated areas after the holiday.

Bagged Leaf Collection
November 21, 2022 - December 9, 2022
Bagged leaf collection will start on November 21 and continue through December 9, regardless of weather. Unlike bulk collection (which is weather dependent), snow will not suspend bagged leaf collection. However, it is important to bag leaves early if necessary to avoid leaves getting covered in snow!

Leaves will be collected by the City’s solid waste contractor, Casella, and will be collected separately from trash and recycling. Residents with curbside trash and recycling collection can participate by placing leaves in biodegradable yard waste bags and/or labeled rigid containers such as trash barrels. Leaves must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. each Monday during bagged collection, regardless of your trash collection day. Bagged collection will not necessarily coincide with trash collection like it does in the spring due to variable leaf volumes at the curb.

Bagged leaf collection provides an alternative method for residents to dispose of leaves, while providing more predictability and opportunity for a guaranteed weekly collection.

Alternative Options
An eco-friendly alternative is to mulch the leaves into your lawn by running over leaves with a lawn mower or mulching blade. Residents also have the option to bring leaves to a local accepting farm or Gelinas Excavation & Earth Materials Recycling Center for free with proof of residency if the load is smaller than a pick-up truck. Brush, branches, and limbs are not acceptable materials for the City’s leaf collection, but can be dropped off separately at Gelinas Excavation & Earth Materials Recycling Center for a nominal fee. Gelinas Excavation & Earth Materials Recycling Center is located at 10 Intervale Road, off Fort Eddy Road, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on November 5, November 12, November 19, and December 3. No Saturday hours on November 26 due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Hours are weather permitting. Please call them to confirm hours ahead of drop off.

Program Questions & Concerns
We realize bulk leaf collection faces some challenges, including: collecting leaves too early from an area before all the leaves have fallen, having to suspend collection before reaching all residents due to the onset of winter weather, and the uncertainty of when collection will occur due to unpredictable leaf volumes and weather conditions. However, we know bulk collection provides convenience and is an appreciated program. Adding the bagged collection in 2018 added an additional service to address the challenges of bulk collection while providing more predictability and opportunity for residents to participate in leaf collection.

If you have any questions or concerns, we ask you to please view our updated FAQs. Find more information at www.concordnh.gov/leafcollection.

RSVP on the Facebook event page.

New City Audi Sign

Our Public Properties staff recently installed a new billboard for the Concord City Auditorium at the corner of Prince and Green Streets. The original sign, installed over 30 years ago, was showing its age and was due for replacement. Keep an eye out for exciting upcoming events at the Audi!

CONCORD PARKS & REC NEWS

Fall Soccer Season Wraps Up

The 2022 Concord Parks and Recreation fall soccer season wrapped up this past weekend following the completion of a week-long tournament for our 5^th and 6^th graders. Congratulations to Team Chile and Team Jamaica for winning their championships! A huge thank you to all of our participants, parents, volunteer coaches, officials, and staff for making this season great!

CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

Halloween Community Events

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween.

Top photo: A big thank you from the Concord Police Department to these Concord Regional Technical Center (CRTC) students who assisted during Halloween Howl last Friday.

Bottom photo: Officer Tarwo had a great time celebrating Halloween with some friends at their Truck or Treat.

We love joining in on fun events in our community.

CONCORD PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Library Create & Sip - Nov. 7

Learn About Beavers! - Nov. 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Ski the Beav 5K Run/Walk - Nov. 6

Spread Joy, Shop Concord Returns

Whether you are preparing for Hannukah, the winter solstice, Kwanzaa, or Christmas, the upcoming holiday season is a special time for many of us, and shopping for gifts is often part of the celebration. If you’re preparing for this gift-giving season, don’t overlook the treasure trove of unique shops and one-of-a-kind items that can be found right here in Concord, New Hampshire.

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, Intown Concord, and NBT Bank, N.A. are partnering once again to present Spread Joy, Shop Concord, an initiative that highlights local businesses and shares their stories. Last year’s campaign was a huge success, drawing attention from statewide news organizations, and reaching nearly 30,000 people on social media.

“ConcordTV was an essential part of this effort,” said Chamber Creative Director, Emily Marsh. “They filmed and produced four videos that really captured that magical feeling of community that is a huge part of shopping locally.” In the video featuring Gibson’s Bookstore, ConcordTV, Your Community Media Center, filmed interviews of bookstore staff, local writers, and dedicated customers. “I am constantly filled with joy every time I put a book in someone’s hand and I see their face light up. Or I hand a book to a little kid and I watch the love of reading happen on their face in that moment,” said bookseller Ryan Clarke in the video. “After filming that interview with Ryan, I had a list of book recommendations that I couldn’t wait to buy,” continued Marsh.

Spread Joy, Shop Concord also connects the community to events and holiday happenings in the area. One of the campaign highlights is Midnight Merriment, presented by Intown Concord. This special event brings thousands of shoppers to downtown Concord for festive fun on Friday, December 2 from 5 p.m. to midnight. Main Street is filled with holiday music, the storefronts are sparkling with lights, and families can pick up hot cocoa or s’mores as they shop their way through Concord’s beautiful historic downtown. The event also features a “Winter Giftopolis”, presented by Concord Arts Market, that lets shoppers browse a wide variety of hand-crafted wares made by local artists. “These downtown businesses pull out all the stops for this event, and offer their best discounts of the season,” said Intown Concord Executive Director, Jessica Martin. “It really is a magical night, with caroling, festive costumes, light displays and so much more.”

Area businesses are invited to jump in the spotlight and participate in this popular shop local campaign. Learn more about Spread Joy, Shop Concord at concordnhchamber.com and use the hashtag #SpreadJoyShopConcord to post your gift ideas and shopping finds. Let’s spread our love of local businesses this holiday season!

High School Sophomores Can Apply for CASL

Capital Area Student Leadership (CASL) is an immersive program that encourages students to learn more about their community, and their own unique skills and strengths as leaders. Presented by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, and generously underwritten by Northeast Delta Dental, CASL has been in existence for more than 25 years, graduated over 700 leaders, and is the only regional student leadership program in the state.

The program includes three day-long sessions in March 2023 that feature activities in public speaking, mindfulness, networking, teamwork and creative problem-solving. CASL students interact with professionals from diverse industries, including civic leaders, members of the judiciary, and young entrepreneurs. One of the program highlights is a panel discussion with area business leaders. "Someone I met [during the panel] was Dan," wrote a student in the CASL class of 2022. "I just remember him the most and his story about how he wasn't the best student in high school and didn't get the best grades. He started his own business at 13 by doing yard work and fencing, he met a few people along the way and now he owns a multi-million-dollar company. He said that not procrastinating was and is a major part of his success."

All area high school sophomores are invited to apply; the CASL class of 2023 will include students with unique backgrounds and skills who are curious about their local community, developing real-world skills, and exploring career opportunities by connecting with local leaders. "I learned that I thought I was very shy and quiet, however I am capable of speaking in front of large groups of people, sharing my own ideas and opinions, and interacting with others who I do not know. I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I originally had thought," wrote another student in the CASL class of 2022.

Students may learn more and apply online by Monday, December 12 at concordnhchamber.com/casl.

Capital Region Food Program Announces
2022 Holiday Voucher Pilot

The Capital Region Food Program (CRFP) is pleased to introduce the 2022 Holiday Voucher Pilot to strengthen its mission to reduce hunger in the Greater Concord Area for individuals, families, and local agencies.

Since 1974, the non-profit’s well-known Holiday Food Basket Project has distributed holiday meal boxes to more than a quarter of a million individuals in Concord and the surrounding 17 communities. Throughout this time, the CRFP has consistently made modifications to best serve the needs of local communities. The latest enhancement is a Holiday Voucher Pilot to replace the traditional Holiday Food Basket Project with a more flexible, customizable, and sustainable food support program.

“Over the past decade, we have seen the landscape change considerably,” said Maria Manus Painchaud, CRFP Holiday Project Lead. “Coupled with necessary alterations during the pandemic, the trustees had the opportunity to research, rethink, and realign the Holiday Food Basket Project onto a new path that strengthens our mission.”

The Holiday Voucher Pilot is strategically designed to give families and individuals the ability to tailor the assistance received in the best way possible for their own unique situation. Vouchers will be provided to eligible participants on December 10, 2022, to shop for food and other basic necessities at local Market Baskets. The amount allotted for each family’s voucher is based on the number of individuals per household. The vouchers will be redeemable until January 31, 2023. Vouchers are non-transferable and exclude alcohol, tobacco products, and lottery items.

“We are excited to partner with the Holiday Voucher Pilot,” said Liz Robinson, Director, Epsom Food Pantry. “We see this as an opportunity to support clients over the holidays while giving them the autonomy to choose their own food and personal items that best meet the needs of their family. For many of our clients, this brings a sense of dignity and control.”

The Holiday Voucher Pilot also provides an opportunity to maximize the impact of community donations and reduce unintentional food waste. By providing families with more choices for their specific dietary and nutritional needs, CRFP can reduce unused food donations and create a more sustainable program.

“Participating families will now be able to customize their food selections to not only accommodate various dietary restrictions but also to accommodate their cultures and holiday traditions that are important this time of year,” explained Karen Emis-Williams, Director, Concord Human Services, City of Concord. “The voucher program helps ensure clients receive the right food they need.”

Those seeking food assistance this holiday season are invited to connect with one of the 33 partner agencies participating in the program this year. Voucher applications are only accepted through these agencies until November 30. For more information and a complete list of participating agencies, please visit https://www.capitalregionfoodprogram.org/holiday-project-2022/.

The CRFP Holiday Project and Year-Round Distribution Project are made possible through the tremendous contributions of hundreds of community members. For those interested in supporting the Capital Region Food Program, please visit www.capitalregionfoodprogram.org.

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