District 8 State Senator, Bob Odell is submitting a technical amendment to SB 486 due to the recent denial of Claremont’s school re-vote of Judge Mangones in superior court regarding the Stevens High School renovation project (22.9 million bond); this amendment will extend the school building aid program beyond the June 30 deadline contingent upon legal proceedings taking place involving the school district prior to the June 30 deadline. The school moderator Tom Connair has filed a motion to reconsider the judge’s ruling along with the blessing of the school board voting (4-1). Senator Odell presented this draft amendment to the Claremont school board on Wed., May 19, and, also, with a vote of (4-1), the board supported this amendment.
As of Thursday, May 20, a conference committee for the school building aid regarding the draft amendment has been appointed including the following members: We urge all citizens in all cities and towns statewide to contact these representatives and senators listed below and tell them their displeasure with the amendment.
Molly Kelly – molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us
Peter Bragdon – peter.bragdon.@leg.state.nh.us
Bette Lasky – Bette.Lasky@leg.state.nh.us
Emma Rous – emma.rous@leg.state.nh.us
Paul Phillip Harvey – prharvey@comcast.net
Rachel Burke, Phone: 775-3353, NO EMAIL LISTED
Rick Ladd – ladd.nhhouse@charter.net
Bob Odell – bob.odell@leg.state.nh.us
Why should Claremont have preferential treatment because officials are not happy with a voter’s and judge’s decision? Some residents feel this amendment will not only cause serious property tax implications as well as court and legal costs to taxpayers-not only in Claremont, but as well statewide. In effect, this could be opening up pandora’s box with many unforeseen circumstances.
More importantly, the people of the state of NH cannot afford the building aid program as it is currently structured because NH officials are currently bonding building aid projects rather than paying cash as was done since 1955. Therefore, a moratorium was created to revamp the program in its entirety, and there should not be a technical amendment to allow this unsustainable program to continue.