Portsmouth City Council approves Pease wastewater loan authorization, schedules ordinance readings and waives Sherburne project fees

The Portsmouth City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a series of routine and financing actions, including approving participation in a state Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan for Pease wastewater treatment work, scheduling further readings for two administrative-code ordinances and waiving city permit fees for the Sherburne Road housing project.

The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing participation in the New Hampshire Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) for up to $25,128,000 to fund rehabilitation work at the Pease wastewater treatment facility and rescinded a prior $20,000,000 authorization related to the same project. Councilor Bombardier moved to adopt the SRF resolution; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with eight yes votes and one absence (Councilor Bagley absent). City Engineer Eric Fiedler told the council the state identified additional grant and principal-forgiveness funds after other communities were unable to meet match or schedule requirements, increasing the city’s borrowing authorization without proportionate additional city cost in many scenarios. Fiedler said the additional authorization would translate to roughly…