Manchester committee accepts $500,000 opioid settlement, approves funding for Hope Connections and 231 Merrimack transitional housing

The Committee on Community Improvement of the Manchester City Commission approved a package of budget authorizations at its meeting, including acceptance of $500,000 from the state opioid litigation settlement trust and funding for local recovery and housing programs.

The votes forwarded the items to the full board and were approved on voice votes. Alderman Long moved the first motion, which was seconded by Alderman Jerio.

Committee members pressed for specifics about how opioid-settlement money would be used. Alderman Cantor asked, “Yes. I was just wondering where is this money specifically going?” The Mayor replied, “This is this is the dollar that comes from the state that go into the the CIP fund that's set up for it, and then we as a board determine where it goes.”

The committee approved two items tied to Hope for New Hampshire Recovery’s Hope Connections program: a $201,000 transfer and an additional request to accept a donated vehicle from the Fire Department to support Hope Connections. Both items were approved by voice vote.

Two related items involving 231 Merrimack Street drew the most detailed questions. A city staff member summarized the plan: “So that's the group from Nashville. It's a non profit organization. It's owned by a pastor and his wife, and they purchased 231 Merrimack Street. ... This is what we had talked about in a, a few meetings ago. But it has 16 units in it that they want to convert to transitional housing.” The staff member said the rectory portion contains 16 units that would initially house people in a transitional program with an on-site case manager to connect residents to services, employment and substance-use-disorder or mental-health treatment, and that residents would pay rent as part of making the program self-sustaining. The committee approved a $125,000 budget authorization for a “Community Engagement Training Center” program tied to 231 Merrimack Street and a separate $125,000 authorization for the 231 Merrimack Street Affordable Housing Program.

Other items approved included a $100,000 transfer for CIP Sheffield (listed as CIP 711221 in the agenda), a change to the project description for an ARPA-funded park enforcement project at CIP 410525 at the request of Chief Maher, an extension to June 30, 2026, for Carpenter Library interior abatement and painting (CIP 712425), an administrative department change for SNHU Arena capital improvements (CIP 810725) from Finance to DPW Facilities, and acceptance of the FY25 second-quarter ARPA funds report submitted by the Planning and Community Development Director. Each of those motions carried on voice votes.

Votes at a glance

- Item 1: Amending resolution accepting and authorizing expenditure of $500,000 for CIP 211,723, Opioid Litigation Settlement Trust. Mover: Alderman Long. Second: Alderman Jerio. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 2: Amending resolution authorizing transfer/expenditure of $201,000 for CIP 611225, Hope for New Hampshire Recovery — Hope Connections. Mover: Alderman Cantor. Second: Alderman Birkisch. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 3: Amending resolution accepting/expenditure of $125,000 for CIP 611225447, Union Street Community Engagement Training Center (231 Merrimack Street). Mover: Alderman Long. Second: Alderman Birkisch. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 4: Amending resolution accepting/expenditure of $125,000 for CIP 611325231, 231 Merrimack Street Affordable Housing Program. Mover: Alderman Long. Second: Alderman Burgess. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 5: Amending resolution authorizing transfer/expenditure of $100,000 for CIP 711221, Sheffield PS Force Maine. Mover: Alderman Long. Second: Alderman Burkish/Burkisch. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 6: Communication from Chief Maher requesting a change to project description for CIP 410525 (ARPA Park Enforcement). Mover: Alderman Long. Second: Alderman Birkisch. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 7: Communication from Denise Van Zandt, Library Director, requesting extension of completion date for CIP 712425, Carpenter Library Interior Abatement and Painting, to 06/30/2026. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 8: Communication from Jeff Belanger, Planning and Community Development Director, requesting change of administering department for CIP 810725, SNHU Arena Capital Improvements, from Finance to DPW Facilities. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 9: Submission of FY25 second-quarter ARPA funds report from Planning and Community Development. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Item 10: Request from Ryan Cashin, Chief of Fire, to donate a vehicle to Hope for New Hampshire Recovery in support of Hope Connections. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

Why it matters: The opioid-settlement funds create a city-level litigation trust (CIP 211,723) from which the Commission will determine allocations; the committee’s approvals also provide initial operating and capital support for two projects at 231 Merrimack Street that city staff described as a transitional housing conversion intended to become self-sustaining through rent and third-party billing (staff said Medicaid billing is anticipated for program services).

What the committee directed next: Committee members noted items 2, 3 and 4 were expected to be reported out to the full board that evening; the staff member said program funds approved are intended for start-up and facility upgrades, with the projects planned to scale to more residents over time.

Meeting context: Discussion was concentrated on clarifying program use and future funding needs rather than contesting the authorizations; most motions passed by unanimous voice vote.