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Public Works presents draft 'protection of streets' ordinance proposing new pavement‑damage fees
Summary
Public Works presented a draft ordinance to raise excavation permit fees from $75 to $100, add a street‑damage fee ($5 × trench area) and multipliers for newly paved streets (3× within 2 years, 2× for 2–5 years); councilors raised equity concerns for homeowners facing emergency repairs.
City Public Works presented a draft "protection of streets" ordinance proposing new fees and fee multipliers intended to offset pavement deterioration from excavations.
Public Works Director Don Lucey said the city currently charges a $75 excavation permit fee and a refundable $500 security deposit, and that comparable New Hampshire cities charge higher fees and street-damage charges. Under the draft, the permit fee would rise to $100 to cover administrative costs. A street damage fee of $5 would be charged based on trench area (length × width × $5). For newly paved streets, the draft would multiply the damage fee by three if work is completed within two years of paving and by two for streets paved within two to five years; the draft also proposes a two‑year waiver window for streets in the capital improvement plan.
Councilors and members of the public raised concerns about fairness if emergency homeowners or tenants face large additional charges for urgent repairs. Some councilors suggested a smaller fee increase or a mechanism to waive fees for verified emergencies; Public Works staff said they lack routine maintenance records to reliably adjudicate emergency claims and expressed skepticism that a waiver system would be workable. The committee accepted the draft as informational and did not advance it to first reading at the meeting.
Staff said the aim of the proposal is to have revenue available for follow-up maintenance on patches (edge sealing, milling and overlay) so that new pavement retains its service life. If adopted, the ordinance would require council action and further public hearings.
