Portsmouth council declines repeal of open‑space tax classification and votes not to advance three charter changes

The Portsmouth City Council on an item submitted by counsel failed to repeal the city’s open‑space use‑value tax classification and declined to advance three proposed charter amendments to the General Assembly.

The council’s action preserves the existing open‑space assessment classification and left unchanged proposed charter language on noninterference in appointments, recall of elective officers, and a proposed council authority to remedy disparities in city contracting.

Council members debated each subitem after public comment. Resident Mark Yotrowski urged the council to retain the open‑space assessment, saying it can enable the city to arrange public access to culturally or historically valuable private land and produce public benefit. Aaron Cody, a resident who testified on multiple counsel items, urged the council to oppose changes that would weaken recall or noninterference protections.

On item a, an ordinance to repeal Division 2 (use‑value assessment of certain real estate) of the city code, the council took a roll call vote after the city attorney clarified that a “yes” vote would repeal the open‑space…