Tim Pipp, owner of Bee’s Teas on Main Street, asked the committee to consider installing poles and cable infrastructure to support seasonal banners across Main Street. Pipp said the banners would promote downtown events and could coincide with planned downtown lighting and revitalization work.

Donald (Public Works) told the committee he had contacted manufacturers and that a system sized for a 75‑foot span could cost roughly $25,000–$30,000 for materials (installation not included). He said existing downtown light poles are not sufficient to carry large banner loads and that the poles would be substantial, with guy wires and pulley systems for retractable banners.

Council members and business owners discussed how other New Hampshire cities manage content (Concord, Manchester), concerns over First Amendment questions about content on banners, the potential for sponsorships to offset banner costs, and whether banners should be attached to buildings rather than poles (city attorney review suggested for legal/indemnification concerns). The committee voted unanimously to accept the communication regarding banners as informational and asked staff to report back with findings.