The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be holding a set of meetings on Tuesday, April 21 to wrap up their regularly scheduled business until May. Here’s a look at some of the things they’re expected to discuss.
Canal Street Mural update
Manchester Connects, a volunteer initiative of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission that seeks to beautify public spaces, is requesting changes to a mural proposed at the corner of Canal and Pleasant Streets near the Queen City Center.
In mid-March, Manchester was informed that Arts Build Community would no longer be able to complete the project due to resource restraints and a portion of a handrailing in the area has been damaged by a vehicle.
With grant funding for the project requiring its completion by June 30, 2026; Manchester Connects is asking for the project to be given to Big Sam Paints, an experienced muralist that has completed 50 murals in 12 cities.
If approved, installation of the mural is expected in mid-to-late May and will cover existing graffiti while also retaining the historical and natural themes connected with the initial proposal. The Manchester Arts Commission will maintain for mural for five years after its completion.
The Lands and Buildings Committee will take up this request, providing a recommendation for the full board.
Manchester Arts Commission Bylaws
In addition to the mural at the Lands and Buildings Committee, the Accounts and Administration Committee will take a look at the draft bylaws of the Manchester Arts Commission.
In 2025, the commission was moved from the mayor’s office to purview of the Manchester Economic Development Office to help advance placemaking, cultural vitality and community engagement throughout the city.
Other responsibilities of the Arts Commission according to bylaws include initiating and executing arts-related programs such as its return of the art show at city hall as well helping the livelihood of local artists and incorporating artistic voices that enhance the cultural experience of Manchester residents.
More information on the commission can be found here.
$500,000 for Spanish translation of CDBG initiatives
In the report on the Committee on Community Improvement, there is a unanimous recommendation to accept $500,000 in grant funding to create a language access plan as required by the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), the organization that oversees the disbursement of federal grant funding.
The City of Manchester and Families and Transition recently earned a $500,000 grant through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to help meet CDFA requirements to provide assistance through a language access plan for any language group subpopulation larger than 1,000 people or 5 percent of the whole population that speaks English less than “very well” as determined by the latest applicable U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
In Manchester, the city’s Spanish-speaking population was identified at 2,380 people and was the only subpopulation meeting the threshold that requires a language access plan.
The plan’s purpose aims to provide Spanish versions of all documents, resolutions, public notices and amendments for CDBG projects and that translators can be provided at meetings related to CDBGs upon request.