Manchester aldermen approve $400,000 CBSD collection rate, refer First Amendment Coalition suggestions to committee; finance forecast shows $1.308 million FY25‑

At a meeting of the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen, members voted to set the Central Business Special District (CBSD) collection rate at $400,000, referred recommended changes to the board’s public‑comment rule from the New England First Amendment Coalition to the administration committee, and received a city finance forecast projecting a $1,308,000 general‑fund operating surplus for fiscal year 2025.

The CBSD request drew the most discussion. Jody, a CBSD representative, told the board the district had expanded its street‑team program and staffing to extend services beyond the downtown core. She said the street team grew “from 2 elderly employees to 6 employees that were operating in a 6 day work week,” and that the district had adopted a grid to distribute cleanup work across neighborhoods rather than repeatedly servicing a small downtown area. “They were able to beef that up from 5 days to 6 days,” Jody said, adding the district is beginning to create heat maps to track pickups and problem areas so other city departments can be notified.

Aldermen moved to approve the CBSD advisory board’s request to adjust the collection rate to $400,000 and leave district boundaries unchanged. The motion, moved by Alderman Fajardo and seconded by Alderman Long, carried on a voice vote.

City finance staff presented the fiscal‑year‑2025 forecast. Sharon, a finance staff member, said the current projected general‑fund operating surplus is $1,308,000, made up of a $492,000 expenditure deficit and an $1,800,000 revenue surplus. She attributed the expenditure deficit primarily to police and public‑works overtime and said the revenue surplus reflects stronger interest income, motor‑vehicle registrations and higher permitting receipts; the permitting projection included an $867,000 estimate tied to a district‑provided project. Sharon also reported severance paid through March 14 of $1,157,071 and an anticipated severance reserve balance of $771,283 after entries are posted.

The board’s administration of public comment and its Rule 3 drew a separate public presentation. Mark Hayward, speaking for the New England First Amendment Coalition and identifying himself as a semi‑retired journalist, urged the board to remove or revise rules restricting profanity and similar content during public comment. “The First Amendment doesn’t say speech has to be polite, or speech has to be erudite, or speech has to be informed,” Hayward said, arguing the rule contains restrictions he characterized as unnecessary and unenforceable. Alderman Sapienza moved to send the coalition’s written recommendations to the administration committee for review; Alderman Long seconded the motion. The referral passed on a roll call, 7–4.

Other actions taken by the board included acceptance of several communications and resignations, confirmations of Board of Health appointments, and a committee recommendation to appropriate $500,000 for a capital improvement project. The lands and buildings committee recommended — and the board approved — an amendment to the use‑of‑premises agreement between the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the city for the Terrell House through June 30, 2027.

During public comment, residents urged wider public access to meetings and highlighted local events. Rick Glatz asked the board to livestream meetings on YouTube to increase participation. Dana Dexter, representing the Merrymakers planning team, thanked the board for Community Event Assistance Grant (CEAG) funding that supported the Merrymaking on West Merrimack event and said the event drew about 450 attendees and 53 local businesses.

The board approved a motion to take the public comments under advisement and receive the written material submitted. Several nominations were laid over and a set of confirmations (including appointments to the Board of Health and Zoning Board of Adjustment) were approved as announced from the floor.

Votes at a glance

- CBSD: Motion to adjust CBSD collection rate to $400,000 and keep boundaries unchanged. Mover: Alderman Fajardo; Second: Alderman Long. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Notes: Discussion focused on expanded street‑team staffing, district service grid and future heat maps for tracking pickups.

- Rule 3 / First Amendment Coalition: Motion to send coalition recommendations to the administration committee for review. Mover: Alderman Sapienza; Second: Alderman Long. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–4.

- Finance forecast acknowledged: Finance staff presented FY25 general‑fund projection showing a $1,308,000 operating surplus (revenue surplus $1,800,000; expenditure deficit $492,000). No formal vote required beyond acceptance of the report.

- CIP appropriation: Committee on Finance recommended appropriation of $500,000 for a CIP project; committee report accepted by the board.

- Terrell House: Motion to authorize the mayor to execute an amendment to the use‑of‑premises agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services extending through 06/30/2027. Mover: Alderman Long; Second: Chairman Levasseur. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

- Communications and personnel items: Multiple resignations were acknowledged; one nomination (Adam Langloy to Senior Services Commission) was laid over until the next meeting pursuant to rule 23. Confirmations announced for the Board of Health and other boards were approved from the floor.

What happens next

The administration committee will review the First Amendment Coalition’s suggested changes to Rule 3 and may return recommendations to the full board. CBSD staff said it will begin including heat‑map tracking in its reports. The finance office will continue monitoring overtime, permitting receipts and other revenue drivers before the close of fiscal year 2025.

The meeting record includes public comments from residents, written materials submitted to the board and committee reports placed on file.