Council schedules hearings on social districts, keno and games‑of‑chance ballot questions

Portsmouth City Council voted Monday to schedule public hearings on Sept. 24 to consider whether the council should place three referendum questions on the Nov. 4 municipal ballot: allow social districts, opt out of keno and opt out of games of chance. The measures respond to new state legislation providing municipalities local option on those topics. City Manager staff explained the vote would only decide whether the city seeks voter direction in November; state rules and administrative guidance are not yet finalized. Assistant City Attorney Jane Farini provided a memo in the packet and told council that rescinding an affirmative municipal vote would require a subsequent referendum process. She also advised the council that the statutory wording for ballot questions is similar to what the council used in its suggested motions, and she agreed to provide clearer definitions of “games of chance” for the Sept. 24 public hearings. Council discussion highlighted uncertainty about operational impacts — public‑safety staffing, litter and enforcement for social districts, and the precise games captured by the “games of chance” definition — and several members asked for participation from the Economic Development Committee and police at the hearing. Councilors stressed the hearings will be an opportunity for public input before any ballot language is finalized.