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Portsmouth council approves license, RFQ tasking and ARPA reallocations; appoints school committee member
Summary
Council approved a liquor license for Graphic Coffee, directed staff to draft an RFQ for solicitor services, reallocated ARPA funds for pipe relining projects and appointed Brett Fox to the school committee; several motions were unanimous while the RFQ and a vote to schedule a solid‑waste ordinance hearing recorded split votes.
In a session that combined routine business with controversial hearings, Portsmouth councilors handled several procedural and administrative items:
- Liquor license: The council approved a Class BV liquor license for Graphic Coffee Company LLC at 205 East Main Road. The Board of License Commissioners opened and closed the public hearing without speakers and approved the license (motion made by Councilor Pollero, seconded by Vice President Gleason); the vote was recorded as 7–0.
- Solicitor RFQ: Council directed the administration to prepare a request for qualifications (RFQ) for town solicitor services, circulate the draft to councilors for review and vote to release in January. The motion passed after discussion; the roll‑call vote in the record is reported with opposition(s) and final tallies recorded in the minutes (final record shows votes called and ultimately recorded as 5–2 in favor on the motion to proceed).
- Solid waste ordinance hearing: The council set a public hearing for Jan. 13 to consider rescinding/repealing Ordinance 2024‑11‑12 (solid waste). That motion passed 5–2; the president noted that if the ordinance is repealed, related cost discussions on the transfer station and curbside service will be deferred.
- School committee appointment: Facing an open school‑committee seat, councilors appointed Brett Fox to the post (motion and second; passed 7–0); members cited the superintendent’s request to fill the vacancy promptly so the committee can meet budget deadlines.
- ARPA reallocation: To meet federal obligation deadlines, the council agreed to reallocate unobligated American Rescue Plan Act funds—combining leftover allocations and unobligated cesspool replacement funds—to obligate $571,247 for Island Park and Portsmouth Park pipe‑relining projects. The motion passed 7–0.
Votes at a glance: Graphic Coffee liquor license approved 7–0; RFQ tasking to staff (vote recorded in minutes as 5–2); public hearing to repeal solid‑waste ordinance scheduled 5–2; appointment of Brett Fox to school committee 7–0; ARPA reallocation for pipe relining approved 7–0.
What happens next: The solicitor RFQ will be drafted for council review with anticipated release in January; ARPA projects will be obligated before the federal deadline; appointed members will assume committee duties as specified by town policy.
