City Manager's Newsletter-March 3, 2023

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Friday, March 3, 2023

In this issue:

CITY OF CONCORD NEWS & PROJECTS:
- Upcoming Meetings
- Parking Bans Declared for This Weekend
CONCORD GENERAL SERVICES NEWS:
CONCORD PARKS & REC NEWS:
CONCORD PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS:
- Oscar Party - March 9

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: Monday, March 13, 7 p.m.
Planning Board: Wednesday, March 15, 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.

Parking Bans Declared for This Weekend

The City of Concord has declared a Winter Storm Event Parking Ban for Friday, March 3, 2023, and a second ban for Saturday, March 4, 2023. No on-street parking on any street city-wide overnight tonight from midnight until 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, and again tomorrow night from midnight until 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 5.

Please move your car off the street to help the plows clear snow. Cars not removed from the street can impede snow removal and block plows, especially on narrow streets. Violators of the parking ban are subject to receiving a ticket and being towed by Concord Police's Parking Division.

Free parking is available in the City garages for the weekend starting at 7 p.m. tonight through 8 a.m. Monday for permit/lease spaces (marked with signage) and 9 a.m. for metered spaces. Public parking garages include the School Street Garage, State Street Garage, and Storrs Street Garage. Penacook residents may park at the Canal Street Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Village Street and Canal Street near Chief's Restaurant. This lot is posted for no overnight parking, but this regulation will be suspended during city-wide winter parking bans to accommodate Penacook residents. Please only park in the public spaces on the south side of the lot along Canal Street.

We thank you for your cooperation.

CONCORD GENERAL SERVICES NEWS

Transfer Station Closed on March 4

The Concord Transfer Station will be closed on Saturday, March 4 due to the impending snowstorm. The facility will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday. The community's understanding is appreciated.

Fix A Leak Week

March 20-26, 2023, is National Fix a Leak Week. More than 10,000 gallons of water are wasted in the average household each year from leaks. Sometimes leaks can be silent and go undetected until you notice an increase in your water bill. Find and fix household leaks to save water, energy, and possibly even money on utility bills.

#FixaLeak Twitter Party
Kick-off Fix a Leak Week on Monday, March 20, by joining EPA WaterSense, Concord General Services, and others across the nation for a Twitter Party from 2 to 3 p.m. Join the conversation about how to find and fix water leaks with the hashtag #FixaLeak.

Toilet Leak Dye Test Kits
Free Toilet Leak Dye Test Kits are available while supplies last at the Utility Billing Office at 311 North State Street through March 24. Grab a kit to perform a quick and easy leak test on your toilet, or use food coloring at home. Leaky toilets can be a big culprit in high water bills and wasted water.

Royal Leak Detection Contest
Water leaks can be a royal pain. Perform a “royal” leak detection to find and fix household leaks. Enter the Royal Leak Detection contest by sharing how you have found and fixed water leaks for a chance to win a new royal “throne” (WaterSense-labeled toilet). Must be a Concord resident to win. The Glacier Bay Power Flush White Elongated Toilet uses 1.28 GPF (gallons per flush) and is certified by EPA WaterSense to use at least 20% less water without sacrificing performance. This toilet features an extra-large trapway to prevent clogs and Niagara Stealth Technology for a quiet, powerful flush with vacuum-assist to fully empty the bowl and eliminate double flushing. It has a flapper-less design, which means no flapper, chains, or levers to replace or leaks to fix. There is no refill noise with an unexposed fill valve, the bowl seat is higher for added comfort, and the seat is soft closing to prevent slamming. This is the perfect throne for any king or queen!

To enter, submit a contest entry form online, by mail, or in person at the Utility Billing Office at 311 North State Street. Another entry option is to share in a public social media post how you have found and fixed water leaks. Tag Concord General Services @ConcordNHGS on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Double your chance to win by entering the contest both ways (social media and contest entry form)! All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on March 26, 2023. By entering the contest, you agree to the terms and conditions of the official contest rules.

Be a leak detective for Fix A Leak Week! Common leaks around the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Most leaks are easy to fix. Sometimes a valve or fixture tightening is all that is needed. Learn more about Fix A Leak Week, how to find leaks, the EPA WaterSense Program, and the Royal Leak Detection contest at www.concordnh.gov/leaks.

Solid Waste Changes

In this Community Conversations episode, Concord TV interviews the City of Concord on changes in the solid waste industry and how that will soon impact the Concord community.

The solid waste industry has faced challenges over recent years regarding recycling, diminished landfill capacity, and increased costs. The City of Concord has been fortunate to not have to face these challenges thanks to its locked-in solid waste contract, but things could change when the City enters into a new contract after this one expires in June 2024.

Watch the video above to learn more about what has been changing and how the City is looking ahead to find solutions. Answer some commonly asked questions by viewing our Solid Waste - Trash & Recycling FAQs: https://bit.ly/SolidWasteFAQs.

Learn more about Concord's trash and recycling at www.concordnh.gov/solidwaste.

Road Load Limits Posted

The City of Concord has posted weight limits to streets in Concord as of Monday, February 27. This practice is performed annually at the onset of spring to protect roads from heavy vehicles during the spring thaw. “No Trucking – Load Limit 9 Tons” signs are posted on roads to help minimize damage from heavy vehicles on weakened road structures.

Road structures are naturally weakened around this time of year from the freezing and thawing cycles. Fluctuating temperatures can cause the ground to shift, leading to cracks in the pavement. Frost heaves are formed when snow and rain get through the cracks and freeze underneath the roads, expanding the road upwards. As temperatures warm, the ground thaws and the roads contract back down, causing breaks in the pavement and potholes.

Load limits are dependent on weather and road conditions. Restrictions will continue as long as conditions require and will likely remain in place through the end of March or early April. Limits will not be removed until all snow has melted and ditches are clear of any standing water.

The road load limits of 9 tons will not affect the average car or truck, but will impact heavy construction vehicles and commercial trucking. The weight restrictions will help maintain road conditions as Concord General Services crews continue to patch potholes and make road repairs when possible. Residents can report potholes using the City of Concord’s reporting tool at www.concordnh.gov/seeclickfix or on the MyConcordNH mobile app.

The City of Concord does not issue permits for drivers for spring load limits. Drivers can call Concord General Services at (603) 228-2737 to request for travel permissions if necessary of 1-2 loads before noon. Find the list of streets that will be posted in Concord and more information at www.concordnh.gov/springoperations.

Everett Arena Ice Season Almost Over

There’s just a couple of weeks left of ice season at the Douglas N. Everett Arena.

Thursday, March 16 will be the last day for ice skating. Saturday, February 25 was the last Saturday skating session and Sunday, March 5 will be the last Sunday session.

Skating hours are now Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6 and free for ages 3 and under. Skate rentals are available for $6 at the arena's pro shop. Skate sharpening is available for $7 per session or a $60 punch ticket can be purchased for 10 sharpening sessions (that’s a $10 savings, with no expiration).

Adult stick practice continues through March 15 for ages 14 and up. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Admission is $10 and free for goalies. Helmet and gloves are required, and full equipment is recommended.

Find more information at www.concordnh.gov/skating.

CONCORD PARKS & REC NEWS

Lifeguard Certification

Want to be a lifeguard? Concord Parks & Recreation will reimburse any lifeguard hired for summer 2023 with a valid certification. Swim NH has a variety of certification classes available. Please visit www.swimnh.com for more information.

Spring Brochure Available Now

Check out all of the offerings in our 2023 Spring Brochure, including activities for youth, adults, seniors, and summer camps! View the brochure online at www.concordparksandrec.com.

Middle School Trip Series

Blanket Making Workshops - March 18 & April 22

CONCORD PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Oscar Party - March 9

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