Manchester committee approves a slate of grant acceptances, extensions and park lighting requests
July 07, 2025 | Manchester Board Mayor & Aldermen, Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
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Chairman Morgan called the Manchester Committee on Community Improvement to order and completed a roll call before the panel approved a series of amending resolutions to accept and expend grant and project funds across multiple capital improvement program (CIP) accounts.
The committee approved funding measures ranging from a $3,469 access-control upgrade to a $2,006,685 MPD vehicle training program and authorized grant applications and deadline extensions. Most items passed by voice vote; one alderman registered a recorded no vote on a budget amendment related to Beach Street programming.
Why it matters: The votes allocate grant and CIP resources for police training, youth services, parks lighting and infrastructure work, and position city departments to apply for or close out federal and state grant-funded projects. Two items were presented for information only: the city’s planned early termination of a HUD Healthy Homes production grant and an expenditure report for the city’s ARPA funds through Sept. 23, 2025.
The committee handled routine budget-authorizing resolutions for grants and CIP projects with minimal debate. Motions were typically made and seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee’s actions included:
- Acceptance and expenditure authorizations for small and mid-sized grants: a $24,874 volunteer New Hampshire engagement project grant (CIP 211525); a $38,097.76 package covering multiple small CIPs; a $90,000 allocation for Beach Street programs (CIP C16006052639); and a $1,000 award for the Boys to Men program in the Office of Youth Services (CIP 180060926).
- Public-safety and police-related grants and CIP funding: a $3,469 appropriation for a card reader access system to MPD and the Niban machine room (CIP 330040926); a $93,000 FY26 STOP Violence Against Women allocation for the Manchester Police Department (CIP 330041026); and a $2,006,685 appropriation for FY26 MPD car trainings (CIP 3300411126).
- Infrastructure and inventory grants: a $60,000 New Hampshire DES lead service line inventory grant (CIP WCA 23.2026); approval to extend the completion date for the STOP School Violence grant to Sept. 30, 2027 (request from Whitney Dade, MPD grant coordinator); and approvals of extension requests for various highway-related CIP projects (communication from Caleb Dobbins, chief highway engineer).
- Parks and recreation requests: items submitted by Alderman O'Neil and Alderman Morgan included a proposed $2.5 million Manchester Skate Park at Lally Sullivan Complex, $400,000 for field lighting replacement at Dairy Field Park, $250,000 for Pony League baseball field lighting replacement, and a $150,000 request to improve field lighting at Livingston Park. The committee moved and approved the lighting and skate-park funding requests in committee for referral to the full board.
- Grant application authorization: the committee granted permission to apply for a $30,000 Firehouse Subs grant to purchase technical rescue suits (request from Ryan Cash, fire chief).
- Informational reports: Jeff Belanger, planning and community development director, advised the committee the department intends to end administration of the HUD Healthy Homes production grant before its planned completion date of Nov. 15, 2026. Belanger also submitted a report on the city’s ARPA expenditures through Sept. 23, 2025; both items were provided for informational purposes only.
Votes at a glance
Item 1 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $24,874 for volunteer New Hampshire engagement project (CIP 211525): Motion to approve; mover recorded as Alderman Long; second Alderman Nolan Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 2 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $38,097.76 for multiple CIP projects (CIP 61192921, CIP 210725610025, CIP 610125): Motion to approve; second recorded as Alderman Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 3 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $90,000 for Beach Street programs (CIP C16006052639): Motion to approve; mover recorded as Alderman Alba Long; second Alderman Nolan Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote; Alderman Cantor recorded a no vote.
Item 4 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $1,000 for Boys to Men program, Office of Youth Services (CIP 180060926): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 5 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $3,469 for card reader access system to MPD and Niban Machine Room (CIP 330040926): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 6 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $93,000 for FY26 STOP Violence Against Women (MPD) (CIP 330041026): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 7 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $2,006,685 for FY26 MPD car trainings (CIP 3300411126): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 8 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $60,000 for New Hampshire DES lead service line inventory grant (CIP WCA 23.2026): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 9 — Communication from Whitney Dade requesting extension of STOP School Violence grant completion date to Sept. 30, 2027 (CIP 411324): Motion to approve extension; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 10 — Communications from Caleb Dobbins requesting extensions for various CIP highway projects: Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 11 — Permission to apply for a $30,000 Firehouse Subs grant to purchase technical rescue suits (request from Ryan Cash, fire chief): Motion to approve permission to apply; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 12 — Communication from Alderman O'Neil: Manchester Skate Park at Lally Sullivan Complex ($2.5 million); Field lighting replacement at Dairy Field Park ($400,000); Pony League baseball field lighting replacement ($250,000): Motion to approve communications/referrals; outcome: approved by voice vote and moved to full board for consideration.
Item 13 — Communication from Alderman Morgan requesting $150,000 to improve field lighting at Livingston Park: Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote and moved to the board for consideration.
Item 14 — Communication from Jeff Belanger advising intent to end administration of HUD Healthy Homes production grant prior to planned completion (11/15/2026): Informational only; no committee action requested.
Item 15 — Report from planning and community development director on expenditure of city ARPA funds through 09/23/2025: Informational only; no committee action requested.
Notes on procedure and record keeping: Most approvals were taken by voice vote; the committee recorded one named no vote (Alderman Cantor) on the Beach Street programs appropriation. Where the transcript did not identify a specific mover or seconder by full name for every item, the minutes list motions as moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee adjourned after completing item 15.
The committee approved funding measures ranging from a $3,469 access-control upgrade to a $2,006,685 MPD vehicle training program and authorized grant applications and deadline extensions. Most items passed by voice vote; one alderman registered a recorded no vote on a budget amendment related to Beach Street programming.
Why it matters: The votes allocate grant and CIP resources for police training, youth services, parks lighting and infrastructure work, and position city departments to apply for or close out federal and state grant-funded projects. Two items were presented for information only: the city’s planned early termination of a HUD Healthy Homes production grant and an expenditure report for the city’s ARPA funds through Sept. 23, 2025.
The committee handled routine budget-authorizing resolutions for grants and CIP projects with minimal debate. Motions were typically made and seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee’s actions included:
- Acceptance and expenditure authorizations for small and mid-sized grants: a $24,874 volunteer New Hampshire engagement project grant (CIP 211525); a $38,097.76 package covering multiple small CIPs; a $90,000 allocation for Beach Street programs (CIP C16006052639); and a $1,000 award for the Boys to Men program in the Office of Youth Services (CIP 180060926).
- Public-safety and police-related grants and CIP funding: a $3,469 appropriation for a card reader access system to MPD and the Niban machine room (CIP 330040926); a $93,000 FY26 STOP Violence Against Women allocation for the Manchester Police Department (CIP 330041026); and a $2,006,685 appropriation for FY26 MPD car trainings (CIP 3300411126).
- Infrastructure and inventory grants: a $60,000 New Hampshire DES lead service line inventory grant (CIP WCA 23.2026); approval to extend the completion date for the STOP School Violence grant to Sept. 30, 2027 (request from Whitney Dade, MPD grant coordinator); and approvals of extension requests for various highway-related CIP projects (communication from Caleb Dobbins, chief highway engineer).
- Parks and recreation requests: items submitted by Alderman O'Neil and Alderman Morgan included a proposed $2.5 million Manchester Skate Park at Lally Sullivan Complex, $400,000 for field lighting replacement at Dairy Field Park, $250,000 for Pony League baseball field lighting replacement, and a $150,000 request to improve field lighting at Livingston Park. The committee moved and approved the lighting and skate-park funding requests in committee for referral to the full board.
- Grant application authorization: the committee granted permission to apply for a $30,000 Firehouse Subs grant to purchase technical rescue suits (request from Ryan Cash, fire chief).
- Informational reports: Jeff Belanger, planning and community development director, advised the committee the department intends to end administration of the HUD Healthy Homes production grant before its planned completion date of Nov. 15, 2026. Belanger also submitted a report on the city’s ARPA expenditures through Sept. 23, 2025; both items were provided for informational purposes only.
Votes at a glance
Item 1 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $24,874 for volunteer New Hampshire engagement project (CIP 211525): Motion to approve; mover recorded as Alderman Long; second Alderman Nolan Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 2 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $38,097.76 for multiple CIP projects (CIP 61192921, CIP 210725610025, CIP 610125): Motion to approve; second recorded as Alderman Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 3 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $90,000 for Beach Street programs (CIP C16006052639): Motion to approve; mover recorded as Alderman Alba Long; second Alderman Nolan Birkisch; outcome: approved by voice vote; Alderman Cantor recorded a no vote.
Item 4 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $1,000 for Boys to Men program, Office of Youth Services (CIP 180060926): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 5 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $3,469 for card reader access system to MPD and Niban Machine Room (CIP 330040926): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 6 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $93,000 for FY26 STOP Violence Against Women (MPD) (CIP 330041026): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 7 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $2,006,685 for FY26 MPD car trainings (CIP 3300411126): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 8 — Amending resolution to accept and expend $60,000 for New Hampshire DES lead service line inventory grant (CIP WCA 23.2026): Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 9 — Communication from Whitney Dade requesting extension of STOP School Violence grant completion date to Sept. 30, 2027 (CIP 411324): Motion to approve extension; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 10 — Communications from Caleb Dobbins requesting extensions for various CIP highway projects: Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 11 — Permission to apply for a $30,000 Firehouse Subs grant to purchase technical rescue suits (request from Ryan Cash, fire chief): Motion to approve permission to apply; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Item 12 — Communication from Alderman O'Neil: Manchester Skate Park at Lally Sullivan Complex ($2.5 million); Field lighting replacement at Dairy Field Park ($400,000); Pony League baseball field lighting replacement ($250,000): Motion to approve communications/referrals; outcome: approved by voice vote and moved to full board for consideration.
Item 13 — Communication from Alderman Morgan requesting $150,000 to improve field lighting at Livingston Park: Motion to approve; outcome: approved by voice vote and moved to the board for consideration.
Item 14 — Communication from Jeff Belanger advising intent to end administration of HUD Healthy Homes production grant prior to planned completion (11/15/2026): Informational only; no committee action requested.
Item 15 — Report from planning and community development director on expenditure of city ARPA funds through 09/23/2025: Informational only; no committee action requested.
Notes on procedure and record keeping: Most approvals were taken by voice vote; the committee recorded one named no vote (Alderman Cantor) on the Beach Street programs appropriation. Where the transcript did not identify a specific mover or seconder by full name for every item, the minutes list motions as moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee adjourned after completing item 15.
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