Portsmouth council amends administrative code after school board raises jurisdiction concerns

Portsmouth city council on Aug. 18 approved an amended second reading of updates to Chapter 1 of the administrative code, moving language that clarifies administrative duties and the city manager’s responsibilities and scheduling a third and final reading for Sept. 8. The council approved a legal-department amendment narrowing wording about IT oversight after members of the Portsmouth School Board and public commenters urged explicit protections for school authority. The council’s action keeps further review and a possible tweak before final adoption. The changes recast department names and duties, reflect charter amendments adopted earlier this year, and relocate a handful of operational provisions from Chapter 2 into Chapter 1. Regulatory counsel Suzanne Woodland told the council the updates modernize the…