Hooksett Council approves series of routine purchases and ordinance changes; waives rules to accept FBI overtime reimbursement

The Hooksett Town Council on Sept. 10 voted to adopt proposed amendments to the town's recycling and transfer ordinance and approved several routine purchases and contracts, after public hearings and staff presentations.

The council also voted to waive its rules and accept an overtime reimbursement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to cover overtime for a Hooksett Police Department employee assigned to an FBI task force.

The recycling and transfer ordinance amendment (Ordinance 00-31) was adopted after a public hearing and roll-call vote. The council approved a set of purchases and contract actions covering diesel fuel and road salt purchases, a catch-basin cleaning and jetting contract, a change order to a guardrail-related purchase order, and amendments to an internal volunteer application form. The council also adopted a revised snow-and-ice removal plan and approved meeting minutes.

Councilors said many of the purchases were routine or tied to state contracts and that the ordinance change had been the subject of prior public discussion. The votes were largely unanimous on operational items; the ordinance vote was decided 6-1.

Votes at a glance - Waive council rules to allow immediate action on a public hearing item: Approved (voice vote during meeting; motion carried). - Accept FBI overtime reimbursement, federal fiscal year 2026, reimbursement not to exceed $22,155.25, per RSA 31:95-b(3)(a): Approved (roll call; unanimous among voting members present). - Adopt proposed amendments to Recycling and Transfer Ordinance (00-31), effective immediately: Approved (roll call 6-1). Yes: Councilor Walczak, Councilor Laliberte, Councilor Smith, Councilor LaPierre, Councilor Sullivan, Chair Santoulis. No: Councilor Duham. - Accept consent agenda including release of a landscape bond ($49,234) for 400 Technology Drive parking lot: Approved (voice vote). - Approve amended appointed board/committee volunteer application to include "change of status" option: Approved (voice vote). - Purchase of bulk diesel fuel for underground tank at the recycle/transfer station (state contract pricing): Approved (voice vote). Staff said the purchase uses state contract pricing and is tax-exempt for municipal use. - Purchase of road salt via state contract for FY2026 (delivered price noted in staff report): Approved (voice vote). Staff cited current delivered pricing and use of the state bid. - Accept quote from Belmore Septic Sew & Drain for catch-basin cleaning and pipe jetting ($250/hour) for the 2025-26 season, to be funded from road maintenance/stormwater budget: Approved (voice vote; staff said budget line covers the work; one councilor recorded a dissent on the motion). - Approve change order to PO 2025-1060 (Prestige Fence) for $9,150 to extend a guardrail replacement scope: Approved (voice vote). - Adopt proposed amendments to the town snow-and-ice removal plan (editorial relocation of a materials note requested by council): Approved (voice vote). - Approve minutes of the Aug. 27 public meeting: Approved (voice vote).

What this means The purchases and contracts voted on Sept. 10 keep public works and public-safety operations funded and running into the winter season. The recycling ordinance amendment was the most politically noticeable vote; after public comment and council discussion the amendment passed 6-1.

Provenance (selected excerpts from the meeting transcript) - Topic introduction (FBI reimbursement/public hearing): "Our reimbursement is not to exceed $22,155.25, and it's made up for the town of Hooksett for police department compensation, I believe, per RSA 31 95 b 3 a." (Transcript excerpt from staff presentation prior to hearing; timestamp ~174.52—206.07) - Topic finish (motion & vote on FBI reimbursement): "I'd like to make a motion that we accept the overtime reimbursement from the FBI ... for the reimbursement not to exceed $22,155.25 ..." followed by the roll-call of ayes. (Transcript excerpt from motion & vote; timestamp ~405.90—489.37)

Speakers (attributions used in this article) - Chair Daniel Santoulis, Chair, Hooksett Town Council, government - Andre (last name not specified), Town Administrator, government - Captain Roby, Hooksett Police Department, government - Leanne (last name not specified), Town staff (administration/finance), government - Ben Bertram, Public Works Director, government - Bruce (last name not specified), Town engineer, government

Authorities referenced (in meeting transcript) - statute: "RSA 31:95-b(3)(a)" referenced in staff report on the FBI overtime reimbursement, referenced_by ["FBI overtime reimbursement public hearing"] - ordinance: "Recycling and Transfer Ordinance 00-31", referenced_by ["adoption vote"]

Clarifying details - FBI overtime reimbursement amount: $22,155.25 (staff reported; federal fiscal year 2026: 10/01/2025 to 09/30/2026). - Road salt price referenced in staff report: $77.54 per ton (delivered, state contract pricing quoted during discussion). - Catch-basin cleaning rate accepted: $250 per hour (Belmore Septic Sew & Drain; funded from road maintenance/stormwater budget line with ~$13,000 available for that line as noted by staff).

Searchable tags ["Recycling ordinance","FBI reimbursement","public works purchases","road salt","diesel fuel","stormwater","Hooksett"]

proper_names [{"name":"Hooksett","type":"location"},{"name":"Recycling and Transfer Ordinance 00-31","type":"other"},{"name":"RSA 31:95-b","type":"statute"},{"name":"Belmore Septic Sew & Drain","type":"business"},{"name":"Prestige Fence","type":"business"}]

provenance":{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"174.52-206.07","local_start":0,"local_end":116,"evidence_excerpt":"Our reimbursement is not to exceed $22,155.25, and it's made up for the town of Hooksett for police department compensation, I believe, per RSA 31 95 b 3 a.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"405.90-489.37","local_start":0,"local_end":583,"evidence_excerpt":"I'd like to make a motion that we accept the overtime reimbursement from the FBI ... for the reimbursement not to exceed $22,155.25 ..." followed by roll-call of ayes.,"reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},