Votes at a glance: Hooksett council approves ambulance monitors, engineering and guardrail contracts; appoints new councilor; rejects outdoor-dining ordinance

The Hooksett Town Council on April 9 recorded several formal actions: it appointed Lindsay Laliberte to fill a council vacancy, approved the purchase of cardiac monitors for the ambulance service with five-year 0% financing, approved engineering oversight for the safety center roof and masonry work, awarded a steel guardrail replacement contract, accepted a $2,000 donation, and renewed the town health officer appointments. The council also considered and rejected a proposed outdoor-dining ordinance.

Appointment Lindsay Laliberte was nominated and appointed to fill the council vacancy. The chair called the appointment and the council voted by voice; the chair announced no opposition and Laliberte was sworn in after the meeting.

Major approved expenditures and contracts - Cardiac monitors (ambulance): The council approved a motion to allow the town administrator to contract to purchase three Stryker LifePak 30-5 cardiac monitor/defibrillators under a 0% five-year financing option for a total of $174,367.33, to be paid from the ambulance revenue account. Assistant Fire Chief David Naino and Captain Joe Stalker presented the proposal and explained that the financing includes a four-year service plan and a one-year warranty. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval (members recorded as voting aye at the roll call included Councilor Sullivan, Councilor Duham, Councilor Walzick, Councilor LaPierre, Councilor Laliberte, Councilor Nayan and Chair Santoulis).

- Safety center roof and masonry oversight: The council approved a contract amendment for Gale Associates Inc. to provide construction-phase engineering and inspection services, not to exceed $24,700, to be funded from the Building Maintenance capital reserve fund. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with one abstention recorded (Councilor Laliberte) and the remainder voting aye.

- Bicentennial Drive guardrail replacement: The council awarded a steel guardrail replacement contract to Prestige Fence for a total contract of $60,269.20, with part of the bid (Part A, $31,035.40) eliminated and to be funded from the road maintenance professional services budget line. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Other approvals - Consent agenda: The council approved a $2,000 donation to the town from HealthTrust under the consent agenda.

- Health officer appointments: The council renewed the appointment of Dana Pendergast as Hooksett Health Officer and Captain Joe Stalker as Deputy Health Officer for terms expiring March 6, 2027. The motion passed by voice vote.

Failed motions and other business - Outdoor-dining ordinance: After extended public comment and council questions, a motion to approve the proposed outdoor-dining ordinance failed on a roll-call vote (see separate article for full discussion).

Minutes and nonpublic session The council approved the public and nonpublic minutes of March 26, 2025 with recorded ayes and two abstentions on the public minutes.

What this means: The council moved forward with several operating and capital items for public safety and road infrastructure while stopping short of adopting a regulatory change for outdoor dining. Funding sources for the major approvals included the ambulance revenue account and capital reserve and maintenance funds appropriated in current or previously authorized budgets.

Provenance: The appointment was introduced during the meeting opening; the cardiac monitor presentation and vote occurred during the New Business section; contract and procurement votes occurred later in the agenda.