On Thursday, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais held a Ward 6 Town Hall Meeting at McLaughlin Middle School. Here’s a recap of what was discussed.
Zoning/Housing/Traffic
Ruais provided an update about the ongoing series of community meetings about the proposed zoning ordinance changes and also announced that concerns from Ward 6 residents about proposals to allow congregate housing, homeless shelters and other related uses by right within certain parts of Candia Road and Hanover Street in the new plan will not be part of future drafts.
A congregate housing facility in Ward 6 that received a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, better known as the Dismas House, will not be moving forward with its plans to open, according to Ruais. Under New Hampshire state law, Dismas’ variance will be in place for two years and will expire if development does not occur in the parcel attached to the variance.
The mayor also mentioned a 79-E tax incentive to a property on Elm Street that will provide more affordable housing, and said that Aldermen are working on enticing other developers to work on affordable housing after residents stressed concern that housing is becoming too expensive for seniors.
There was also concern for parks proposed near parking trails and water run-off. Ruais said that the location of parks is not set in stone and that a meeting regarding flooding can be scheduled like a comparable meeting recently in Ward 5.
Schools
Several residents asked about various programs that schools could hold that would teach students about certain behavioral choices.
Ruais agreed that drug programs in schools are important, stating that the earlier any child uses drugs, the more sensitive they are to it later in life. He mentioned some programs already in place through MPAL and Makin’ It Happen and OYS. He also said that while a hiring freeze in place, existing city employees and programs are in place providing everything from gang prevention to Hampton Beach trips.
There was also a call for programs to teach students about bike safety, noting that many children do not realize that bicycles have to follow the same rules of the road as cars and children violating traffic laws should receive tickets like motorists.
Following a question from a parent regarding parental rights and a recent New Hampshire Supreme Court case on the topic, Ruais said that parental rights don’t end between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., which was met with applause. He said that the best case scenario occurs when parents, teachers and students work together for the students’ best interest. He also noted recent efforts by the Board of School Committee to limit cell phone usage in high schools.
Traffic, Going Downtown and everything else
There concern about traffic at certain times of the day on Candia Road and Hanover Street and motorists coming off the highway going to fast down Paige Street.
One resident expressed concerns about a lack of patrols along Lake Shore Road, saying that water works 18-wheeler trucks are down there often and asked if rubber speed bumps could be put in during non-winter months comparable to those near the airport. Ruais joked that he’d prefer a ramp to a speed bump for motorists going too fast near his house on Somerville Steet.
He also said that police resources are limited due to the fact that the department roster is still not full, but resources can be redeployed
There was also praise for the new downtown cleanup crew and confusion over whether the city’s director of overdose prevention can go into city parks (he can.) Regarding recent allegations regarding abuse of homeless individuals by city police, Ruais said that 99 percent of officers were great guys and we only hear about the one percent that are not, stating that they were incredibly empathetic and compassionate. Regarding another question, he also said that it is not the city’s policy to confiscate the items of homeless individuals, even if they are being watched by another person that does not own them.
For previous town hall meetings, see below.
February 16, 2024 (Ward 1) – Ruais discusses city issues during Ward 1 meeting
March 13, 2024 (Ward 11) – Ward 11 Town Hall: Talking the talk with residents on crime, housing, garbage and West High School
March 23, 2024 (Ward 3) – Mayor hears from downtown residents at latest town hall
May 17, 2024 (Ward 9) – Ward 9 Town Hall: Mayor fields questions on tax breaks for developers, bail reform, traffic and school safety
June 19, 2024 (Ward 7) – Ruais tackles questions from Ward 7 residents
June 20, 2024 (Ward 12) Sparse crowd at Mayor’s Ward 12 Town Hall
July 24, 2024 (Ward 10) Homelessness, housing, education and more discussed at Ward 10 town hall with the mayor
August 28, 2024 (Ward 8) Eighth mayoral town hall held in Ward 8