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City Council - 6/16/26
Published: Jun 16, 2026
Lilac Family Fun Festival Set for July 11th; River Day Cleanup Praised
A discussion occurred regarding the Lilac Family Fun Festival, with the date set for July 11th, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school. Information about the festival, including vendor applications and rules, is available on the city's website under the recreation page. A new rule this year restricts certain types of chairs (metal chairs with single post legs) to protect the new field; camp chairs with square base legs are permitted. Separately, the River Day event, organized by Trout Unlimited and the Conservation Commission, was praised for its success in cleaning up the Hanson Pines area along the river, despite finding a significant amount of trash including tires and furniture. The event also included fly fishing instruction.
Public Input Criticizes Tax Override, Waterstone Development Costs, and Urges Budget Scrutiny
During public input, Mr. Kaczynski criticized the city council's approval of a $1.3 million tax override, referring to it as an 'override' despite being called an 'exception.' He expressed disappointment in the lack of fiscal control and the focus on perceived 'frills' over basics in the school system, noting long-standing achievement issues. He also questioned the $1.3 million figure and the correct per-pupil spending amount. Mr. Kaczynski also raised concerns about the Route 11 U-turn agreement with Waterstone, emphasizing the lack of cost details and the potential burden on taxpayers outside the TIF district, calling it a 'giant welfare project.' Mr. Christopher Ice also spoke during public input, expressing a desire for more scrutiny of 'fluff' in city departments during budget discussions, particularly on the city side rather than solely focusing on schools or social programs. He suggested exploring cost-effective ways to deploy speed-monitoring signs. Additionally, Mr. Ice requested that quarterly reports from Frisbee Hospital, related to their ambulance services contract, be posted online for public access, citing that the contract mandates such reports.
Rochester City Council Approves Tax Deed Waivers
The council considered a resolution to accept a list of waivers for tax deeds. These waivers apply to properties with payment plans or legal/environmental liabilities, essentially allowing the city to forgo taking ownership of these properties. One specific property, 17 Quaker, located in Gonick, was discussed due to environmental concerns related to a dam on the property and extensive research into its ownership history, which led to it being declared an unknown owner property. The list of properties to be tax deeded was reduced significantly, with the majority of property owners either paying their taxes or setting up payment plans. Nine properties remained eligible for tax deeding.
Rochester Police Department Faces Staffing Shortages; Drone Use and Homelessness Concerns Raised
The council discussed the police department's ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, with eight current officer vacancies. The department is actively seeking candidates, with three people in the background process and two new hires approved by the police commission. However, one officer recently resigned. The department offers a $10,000 sign-on bonus for certified officers and recruitment bonuses for existing officers who refer new hires, acknowledging the competitive and difficult job market for law enforcement. The council also noted a mention of drone surveillance use by the GIS department and inquired about a city drone ordinance policy, as well as how other departments might be using drones. Additionally, concerns were raised about increased motel placements for medically complicated unhoused individuals and residents with service animals, and a request was made for information on the city's spending on motel emergency housing and achieved outcomes.
Route 108 Discontinuance Scheduled for Public Hearing; Route 11 U-Turn Project Sparks Cost Concerns
The council discussed the proposed discontinuance of a portion of New Hampshire Route 108. This item was scheduled for a public hearing on July 7th. The discussion included clarifying the date of the public hearing and the process. A separate, significant discussion revolved around a U-turn for semi-trailers on Route 11 related to the Waterstone development and DOT requirements. Concerns were raised about the lack of cost information for this U-turn, its potential multi-million dollar cost, and whether it would be funded by the city taxpayer as it was outside the TIF district. There was debate about whether the DOT should have funded this, the process by which this requirement was imposed, and whether the city council had sufficient information when voting on the agreement. Some councilors apologized for voting without full understanding, while others defended the necessity of the agreement to avoid project delays. Clarity was provided that the U-turn and ramp upgrades were DOT requirements for the widening project and driveway permits, and the city was put in a difficult position to respond quickly. While no specific cost estimate was available, discussions were ongoing about how costs might be absorbed by the TIF or expanded TIF.
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The Rochester News archive
Governance 6-18-2026
TLSS 6-18-2026
Public Safety Committee - 6/17/26
Special Full Board Meeting 6-16-2026
Planning Board - 6/15/26
School Board - 6/11/26
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