Hooksett council approves paving contract, veterans monument and school newsletter; rejects park renaming amid wider budget debate

The Hooksett Town Council on May 28 voted to award a 2025 road resurfacing contract, approve a Persian Gulf War monument at Jacob Square and allow the school district to include its newsletter with the town tax bill if the district pays mailing costs, while rejecting a proposal to change the name of Lambert Park.

Town Administrator Andre Garen told the council that the state Department of Transportation held a May 15 public meeting about widening Route 3 between Whitehall Road and Alice Avenue. Garen said the town’s positions — a five‑lane cross section, lighted intersections at Alice Avenue and Mammoth Road, dual sidewalks between Alice and Mammoth and a single sidewalk on the west side from Mammoth to Whitehall — were conveyed to DOT and that the public comment period closed May 27. “The meeting was well attended,” Garen said. He also reported that Hooksett is continuing to press state legislators to keep the local courthouse open after the Senate Finance Committee moved to restore funding for the Hooksett and Goffstown courts.

On personnel, Garen announced several hires and reassignments and two upcoming retirements: Fire Chief Steven Colbert will retire effective June 26 and Human Resources Coordinator Donna Fitzpatrick will retire June 20. He listed recent hires in public works and police, and said department heads are training new truck drivers who lack a commercial driver’s license (CDL) during a six‑month probationary window.

Votes at a glance - Resurfacing contract: Approved. Council awarded the 2025 resurfacing contract to Advance Excavating and Paving LLC for $579,636.09. (Roll call recorded; chair announced motion passed.) - Persian Gulf War monument at Veterans Park (Jacob Square): Approved. The council accepted a request from American Legion Post 39 to install the monument; site details will be finalized with DPW. (Motion passed by voice vote.) - School newsletter in tax mailing: Approved. The council agreed to allow the school district to include its newsletter with the tax bill provided the school pays the additional…