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Votes at a glance: Portsmouth City Council, Jan. 21, 2025
Summary
Summary of formal actions taken by the Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 21, 2025, including roll-call votes, appointments, hearings set, and grant acceptances.
The Portsmouth City Council took the following formal actions on Jan. 21, 2025. Where roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript, they are noted.
- Leave nonpublic session and seal minutes of the nonpublic session: Motion moved and seconded; recorded as unanimous (roll call conducted). (Outcome: approved)
- Accept and approve minutes of Dec. 2, 2024 and Dec. 9, 2024 City Council meetings: Motion moved, seconded and approved by roll call (unanimous). (Outcome: approved)
- Suspend the rules and move up Councillor Taber’s item on FY26 budget guidance: Motion passed (unanimous roll call). (Outcome: approved)
- Adopt guidance for the City Manager on FY26 budget: Council adopted amended guidance directing a 2.9% target and requesting a 0% impact analysis (final vote 8–1; Councillor Cook opposed). (Outcome: approved)
- First reading and schedule public hearing: Amendment to Chapter 10 Zoning Ordinance (remove 185 Orchard St., Tax Map 152 Lot 2.1, from the Historic District Overlay); passed first reading and public hearing scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025. (Outcome: first reading passed)
- Appoint Albert Pratt (Al Pratt), Water Resources Manager, as the city’s representative to the Seacoast Commission on Long Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water. (Outcome: approved)
- Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a parking agreement with Strawberry Bank (17 Hancock St.) permitting public parking during snow‑emergency bans: Motion approved. (Outcome: approved)
- Schedule public hearings (Feb. 3, 2025) to review: elderly property‑tax exemptions, disabled exemptions, and to consider borrowing up to $3,500,000 from the NH Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for galvanized service line replacements and inventory compliance. (Outcome: hearings scheduled)
- Accept the consent agenda (letters and field signage requests) and place email correspondence on file. (Outcome: consent items filed/approved)
- Appointments and reappointments: Reappoint Jeff Stern to Board of Library Trustees; appoint Bill Bowen and Ryan Wolf to the Planning Board; reappoint Anthony Coviello to the Planning Board; appoint Frank Perrier as alternate to the Planning Board; appoint Frank Castellini and Rayanne Talarizio to the Sustainability Committee; reappoint Thomas Watson to Trustees of the Trust Funds. (Outcome: approved)
- Bring forward adoption of the Fees Ordinance for first reading at the Feb. 3, 2025 City Council meeting (Outcome: scheduled for first reading)
- Accept grants/donations: Overwatch.gov grant ($10,000) to advance city cybersecurity work; $10,000 donation from the David and Jacqueline Mahoney Fund for North Cemetery restoration. (Outcome: approved)
- Adjourn meeting: Motion approved. (Outcome: approved)
Where the transcript recorded detailed roll‑call tallies, those tallies are presented above (for example, the FY26 budget guidance final motion passed 8–1). Other routine motions were approved by voice vote or unanimous consent as noted in the meeting record.
