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• Scott (Wednesday, July 06 22 02:38 pm EDT)

  With so many city employees causing more problems than they solve it is no wonder that the city is in such a mess today. Our biggest problem is that the city councilors are all going through life with blinders and rose-colored glasses on because they are too afraid to confront city managers with terrible job performance. They seem more concerned about their reputations, political careers and not stepping on any toes than making the difficult decisions to well represent the citizens. I think the reason why they avoid decisions so often by tabling them to a future meeting is that they are avoiding offending large segments of this population because that could affect their chances for reelection.

• Diane (Wednesday, July 06 22 01:24 pm EDT)

  The potholes around Claremont are growing in number and none of them seem to be drawing the appropriate attention from the public works crew. Do any of them know how to fill a pothole? Why are these potholes not being filled so motorists can traverse Claremont without ruining their vehicles? What are we paying such high taxes for in Claremont if we are not receiving even the most basic level of services? Why do our nine city councilors ignore this problem? If they cannot get potholes filled then what good are they and what hope do we have for them to achieve any other results that would be more difficult to reach?

• Joe (Wednesday, July 06 22 12:26 pm EDT)

  Tyler has a great point.
  The school budget is Claremont's biggest enemy, and needs o be addressed and lowered
  Administrator cuts should be the first thing where cuts need to be made, as well as other cuts to lower the massive school budget.

• Wrong again, losers (Wednesday, July 06 22 10:13 am EDT)

  Chief Chase isn't going to be the next city manager. He seems to be very much looking forward to an early retirement and enjoying life outside of the public eye.

• Bill (Wednesday, July 06 22 09:03 am EDT)

  Tyler is 100% Correct, the SAU 6 budget needs to be under city control. The schools are all in Claremont, and the budget is out of control.

• Rod (Wednesday, July 06 22 08:28 am EDT)

  Says a bunch about comprehension skills. Dollar General always build where there is a Walmart or do they choose smaller towns that lack such? When you are trying to make a point maybe do some homework.

• Tyler (Wednesday, July 06 22 07:54 am EDT)

  Nothing wrong with holding city officials accountable, but I tend to think Mr. Sullivan doesn't have all the facts before he goes on a rant. I cannot believe how much he has belabored the point of a $100,000 per year subsidy at the transfer station, which actually benefits Claremont residents, when the school budget is so wildly out of control with vastly more waste and corruption. For example - Sullivan trashes the DPW for selecting the high bidder on a sewer truck when he really knows nothing about WHY that bid was chosen. It would not be unreasonable to find out why the high bid was chosen, and far more responsible to get more information before trashing this decision. Yet by the same token, the school district purchases buses by people who know nothing about what makes a good school bus or not. This is evidenced by the recent purchase of propane-powered school buses, which cannot travel to athletic away-games because of their limited range and lack of refueling infrastructure. There is also a question of safety and longevity. If there was a solar powered or battery powered bus, you can bet these "woke" education officials would buy a fleet of them, even if they needed to be charged halfway through the normal morning school bus route. Bottom line: the school budget is what the people need more control over, not the city budget.

• Joe (Tuesday, July 05 22 11:30 pm EDT)

  John J O'Connor, everybody knows who to blame.
  A restaurant owners who isn't able to provide a nice place inside to eat, so wants to seat his customers outside on the sidewalks.

• Mike (Tuesday, July 05 22 11:23 pm EDT)

  Adam, save yourself and don't move back to Claremont, move to Cornish and save money.

• Carla Rogers (Tuesday, July 05 22 09:29 pm EDT)

  I’m so tired of having to read all these stupid comments. This forum should be to discuss Jim Sullivan’s writing and ideas and that’s it.

• Jason Dobert (Tuesday, July 05 22 08:13 pm EDT)

  Well, everyone knows splash pads are lame, so that’s why that didn’t happen! I’d rather have TP in the park bathrooms. Maybe someone can donate some TP.

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, July 05 22 07:28 pm EDT)

  Clancy…
  Can’t wait to see all the projects that are on paper actually being constructed.
  I’ll believe it when I see it.
  I remember when the administration promised a children’s splash pad in place of the outdoor pool, I assume that’s one of the projects the planning board is working on .

• Clancy Derrill (Tuesday, July 05 22 06:59 pm EDT)

  Dollar General couldn’t compete with the businesses in Claremont. Go check the records, you’ll see record construction.

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, July 05 22 04:53 pm EDT)

  Clancy … where is all this new construction you’re talking about?…. I appreciate the hard work the Planning department is doing or trying to do but they don’t control the tax rate.
  Dollar General puts up buildings overnight and they bypassed Claremont to build one in Newport and another less then 10 miles away in the middle of no where.
  That should tell you all you need to know. The proof is in the construction.

• Clancy Derrill (Tuesday, July 05 22 04:24 pm EDT)

  New construction is non existent? Maybe go see the building department. you’re crazy. They are busier than ever.

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, July 05 22 03:30 pm EDT)

  The state will never institute a Sales tax, it would never gather enough support from the southern border towns that benefit from Massachusetts consumers.
  I do agree, it seems Claremont is at a financial tipping point but it’s obvious the City Council will never agree to layoffs.
  Closing the Transfer Station would be a good start but the savings are just a drop in the bucket.
  Claremont needs to lower their combined budgets by at least 7 million dollars to be in the middle of the pack as far as tax rate is concerned. The reason you are seeing new construction and business’s relocating to others areas and not Claremont is solely because of the tax rate.
  Claremont will always be struggling to provide basic services as long as it tax rate remains high and new construction is non existent.

• Donk for mayor (Tuesday, July 05 22 01:30 pm EDT)

  All of it can be fixed with a sales tax.

• Tim Mulligan (Tuesday, July 05 22 12:34 pm EDT)

  I agree with Donk but would add that the school system needs to be completely re-thought out.

• Donk (Tuesday, July 05 22 11:46 am EDT)

  The plain truth is is that Claremont can no longer provide the level of services it has in the past.The infrastructure is completely going to shit in a last ditch effort to maintain the payroll head count.Meanwhile the people that do work for the city are asking for raises, and they are probably due decent raises.
  
  We can pay people decently if we eliminate some of these services by reducing head count.If we eliminate the dump subsidy,move city hall into the community center, and eliminate a full time fire department we just might have enough to maintain city infrastructure the way it's supposed to be.
  The citizens of Claremont do not have any more money for taxes so let's get real about what needs done for the city to survive.

• adam (Tuesday, July 05 22 06:14 am EDT)

  i am moving back to claroemnr any recommended neighborhoods/landlords?

• Ronk (Monday, July 04 22 10:24 pm EDT)

  Sure buddy. Sure ya do you powerful man you. Loser

• Donk (Monday, July 04 22 07:00 pm EDT)

  My life is better than most. My apartments are good enough to raise the rent and make more profit than I care to divulge. I have a tremendous amount of influence.

• Ronk (Monday, July 04 22 06:17 pm EDT)

  Donk you have zero influence and everyone thinks you are a pos. Your life is in disrepair as well as any property you have. Maybe you can give them pointers on pretending to fix it as cheaply as possible.

• Donk (Monday, July 04 22 05:07 pm EDT)

  Mark Chase is a shoe in for the job and someone I would put my massive influence behind to get support of the council and public. Also, I couldn’t help but notice the roof of the community center is in disrepair.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, July 04 22 03:31 pm EDT)

  Terri,
  I have to assume the reason why the Council is not actively searching for a new City Manager is because after another 6 months of “on the job” training they will offer the position to Mark Chase.
  In regards to Pleasant St., I’m having a hard time imagining what they final product will look like based on the current condition of the street but regardless of that , I think there should be a plaque thanking all those responsible.
  Let the public know for generations to come who is responsible for the reconfiguring of Pleasant St. so those people can be thanked properly and constantly.
  In the Community Center they have all the names listed on a wall as to made the decision to build it. They should do the same for Pleasant Street.

• Rob (Monday, July 04 22 03:29 pm EDT)

  "Greg" you should perhaps actually watch a meeting, attend or read. Without trying I can rattle off a list of things Koloski has pushed forward and implemented over his tenure that has made a difference and has made cuts where appropriate. This is why I vote and support him. This transfer station disussion and the request for proposal was his motion and idea and had council support. The Forced welfare inspection programs are one such area as well. I recall the City used to piss away security deposits prior to this. I can rattle off more but clearly the voters that do support him know what he has done so pretend someone standing up for someone being trashed means propping one up on a pedestal. This fake Topstone thing is such old news that its so low level to keep trying to make something out of nothing. I saw it was even recently seen again at a meeting where the owner showed up and the idiot councilors who buy in to fake news got educated. Claremont Savings Bank, The mill buildings on water street, Walmart all got tax abatements. Why? Overtaxation. Why do we only take about this one. Because its a bullshit attack and someone elected rents there. If you bother to actually pay attention he is the 3rd largest tenant in the building not the 1st. Documents online show that. Basic information available to anyone. As far as your horeshit with the fire department he must be one powerful dude to force 8 other councilors to do his bidding let alone they didn't get crap for a raise. Wait, they all act as he does, with research and facts and not rumor from this fake page "Greg". You should pick a better fake name so people don't think you are that Daddys money, fake baller that runs the shitty car dealership in town. I watch the meetings and comment in the threads online with my real name if you want to come out in to a real arena. I get miffed when anyone who bothers to serve gets trashed online. That does include Limoges, Stone, Contois. If you are not going to make a difference in your community at minimum pay attention and stop with fake bullshit.

• Greg (Monday, July 04 22 11:36 am EDT)

  Don, that is because if the city councilors budgeted $1.5 million for roads paving that the DPW requests then city employees would not get their salary raises without a huge tax increase. The city councilors have always put the city employees before the taxpayers. Very few of the city councilors are really looking out for the average everyday citizens. Shelly that includes Nicholas Koloski, whom you have naively placed on a very high pedestal. Nicholas generally does not support budget cuts or new ideas to save the public money. Nicholas wants salary raises for his friends on the fire department and in other city departments too. Would the Topstone scandal with the huge generous tax break bestowed upon the owners of the building have ever happened unless Nicholas Koloski was the largest tenant in the broken down building? Grow up.

• Donk (Monday, July 04 22 10:18 am EDT)

  I have also invested a great amount into this community. Actually no one invests more than me. Many are saying I am the greatest investor Claremont has ever seen. Is it true? I don’t know, but they are saying it!

• Don (Monday, July 04 22 10:06 am EDT)

  None of the city councilors or the city employees seems to care about saving money for the taxpayers or finding budget cuts to lower the property tax rate. All most of them seem to care about is new spending proposals when they will not even realistically budget for road paving.

• Shelly (Monday, July 04 22 09:14 am EDT)

  Shawn you are wrong. Try reading Koloskis posts thanking community partners and the community. You seem to be blinded by your dislike or with a lack of understanding or wanting to understand. I know several agencies use him for assistance. 3 hospitals I work with and VNA think its very valuable of him to give of his time to do this. Not everything in life is free. Time, storage, bagging, answering requests, delivery. I offered money to contribute and he won't have it. If you bother to visit him he will explain and deflect that he is a small piece of what goes on. That is truly what he thinks. I understand as well as the others that get medical equipment for our patients that what he deems a small part is larger than anyone can understand. Your hatred is blinding you and has you putting incorrect comments in to the community. I don't think you comprehend produce doesn't keep itself cold or hand itself out. Medical equipment doesn't clean, sort, repair, store and distribute itself. Time and money make it happen. Both of which are his.

• Todd (Monday, July 04 22 08:45 am EDT)

  Teri you know how the city councilors hate to make decisions because thinking makes their poor little heads hurt. They probably have not made the decision yet to look for another city manager even though that decision should be a no-brainer which should be right in their wheelhouse.

• Tim (Monday, July 04 22 08:41 am EDT)

  Invested a great deal in Claremont? Guess your definition of building something that only lines ones pocket is something everyone should turn a blind eye to. Its as ridiculous as the comment that section 8 housing would somehow not have the issue. Shows how out of touch you are. The community overwhelming condemns section 8 housing when its even mentioned yet in your brain it would be openly welcomed, not question and allowed to do whatever they want including fill in wet lands to benefit their own pocketbook. Moronic.

• Teri (Monday, July 04 22 08:28 am EDT)

  Are the city councilors even looking for another city manager? I do not see any notices for nonpublic meetings to get the process started again.

• Pat (Monday, July 04 22 06:56 am EDT)

  The new reporter for the Eagle Times is the worst yet. It took him ten days to report about the passage of the city budgets and the article contained few facts due to its brevity. Most of what is in that rag is news from other places well beyond our local area. Isn’t a local newspaper supposed to concentrate on local news?

• Shawn (Monday, July 04 22 05:28 am EDT)

  Chris that is not fair there are several city councilors that are trying to do a good job. It is not their fault that a bunch of fools outnumbers them. I think the mayor and the assistant mayor are doing the best that they can trying to herd the cats on the council. Mr. Stone tries to show some leadership every now and then and Mr. Limoges is showing great promise. I do not know how many of you Facebook but Mr. Limoges did a terrific job setting the record straight about the city council’s plan to privatize the transfer station and the many benefits that will bring to our community and to the taxpayers. The rest of the councilors are useless as they do not add to the conversation, offer any solutions, or show leadership. I know someone will say Mr. Koloski but I would respectfully disagree because he is an egomaniac who suckers the dim bulbs in this community to believe he is a community icon by taking credit for other people’s donations by collecting those donations and getting publicity for distributing those donations. Mr. Koloski wastes a lot of the city councilor’s time with frivolous questions to hoard camera time to build up his fragile ego. Claremont needs more adult acting city councilors who do not have a political agenda unlike Mr. Contois and Mr. Mooshian.

• Chris (Monday, July 04 22 12:55 am EDT)

  The bidders all knew the specs for the sewer vac truck and I am sure they all know their business and sent in proper bids to meet those vehicle specs. It makes no sense to spend $37,658 more for a vehicle when you do not have to do that. I am sure if it was not ratepayers money that Mr. Gleason was spending he would not have spent his own money so cavalierly. The DPW’s vehicle purchasing policy is very out of touch with common sense and no one has curtailed this lunacy. Mr. Sullivan is right about zero accountability with our city government. The jellyfish city councilors should have fired the last non-interim city manager but that would have required a smattering of courage something sorely lacking with the current bunch of imbeciles in charge. This current group of nine struggles to make simple decisions that require no courage. Leaders they are not.

• Steve (Sunday, July 03 22 09:00 pm EDT)

  The city's finance director is a real nitwit. I have seen her in action at council meetings and she just does not know what she is doing. It took her a tremendous amount of time to calculate the few changes to the budget so the councilors could have the final numbers to give their thumbs up to the budget. Jim's article last week about the paving bonding scam was shocking. The duplicity with the finance directors spreadsheet should have been grounds for her immediate dismissal. This week Jim reveals more incompetence that appears to have caused the over taxation of all of the taxpayers in Claremont. Will the councilors listen to Jim Sullivan and demand that the tax increase just approved by the councilors be cut nearly in half by $.21? Or will they keep the money and spend it on some idiotic thing that our city really does not need but city staffers want? I have little faith in our city leadership as none of them are bringing good ideas to the table to lower our heavy tax burden. The only person who seems to be doing that is the private citizen who operates this local news website.

• Donk (Sunday, July 03 22 08:15 pm EDT)

  I noticed that the Goddard Mansion is in need of a new roof.

• Bob (Sunday, July 03 22 06:40 pm EDT)

  I bet if the city was trying to put more section 8 housing in on Charlestown Road this would not even be an issue. You wouldn’t want to support a business like Claremont Ford who has invested a great deal in Claremont.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, July 03 22 05:01 pm EDT)

  Two articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Is a $.21 property tax rate cut in Claremont's future?
  
  2) Claremont Ratepayers get hosed again!

• Carl Jantzen (Sunday, July 03 22 02:25 pm EDT)

  Park a jacked up F-350 in that mud hole.

• Red (Saturday, July 02 22 10:20 pm EDT)

  Who’s a better landlord, Donk or the guy with the corvette?

• Tim (Saturday, July 02 22 06:16 pm EDT)

  Those vernal pools cradle the most wonderful creatures Mother Nature has to offer you heartless jerk! It’s disgusting that someone would decide that one life is more valuable than making money. We must take a stand and save those precious creatures.

• Donk (Saturday, July 02 22 06:05 pm EDT)

  Let the Ford dealership use the muddy field! All it is are some ruts from the tractor mowing it and nasty drain run off from all the adjacent parking lots. It’s not wetlands and NOT valuable as it is except to test drive Raptor trucks and Broncos in the mud! Frogs will go somewhere else, if they aren’t already squished, and the mosquito population will decrease.

• Terri Pat (they/them) (Friday, July 01 22 10:41 pm EDT)

  Forgot to add my pronouns, sry

• Terri Pat (Friday, July 01 22 10:40 pm EDT)

  Please no fireworks!!! They scare my cat!

• Tim Mulligan (Friday, July 01 22 05:49 pm EDT)

  I’ve been advocating to close City Hall and the “Visitors Center” for years. Relocate to the community center. It would be a much smarter solution. I have sent a detailed plan for this along to the entire City council and new Interrim City Manager. I would have asked Jim to Co-author it but he wants me to remain behind the scenes.

• Ray (Friday, July 01 22 05:39 pm EDT)

  How about a targeted sales tax on public companies. Maybe the city council can figure out why the city doesn’t have that power and what they need from the citizens to re-gain that power.

• adam (Friday, July 01 22 02:49 pm EDT)

  No body takes into account the BUSINESSES paying sub par wages in Claremont. City employs many positions which are typically given benefits, and they are underpaid office workers managers and directors. When Walmart refuses to give workers 30 hours and benefits, they get those benefits from the government subsidized programs you pay for. Why not get the Businesses to pull their own weight by providing real employment, or remove everyone's Medical from the picture with universal healthcare? that would reduce the insurance costs for the city as well.

• Joe Bag-O-doughnuts (Friday, July 01 22 01:23 pm EDT)

  Just be careful if you close the old city hall.Nancy Merrill may come along and promote a non-profit LGBTQ funhouse.

• Donk (Friday, July 01 22 10:47 am EDT)

  Nobody takes into account that Claremont's per capita income is below all of the other municipalities by quite a large margin.
  The private sector that clears snow and mows grass does not pay health insurance on to of pay.Our employees are comparing their pay to these same people without taking into account that their counterparts don't have health insurance or pensions.
  We should just have DPW duties put out for bid to keep the city afloat.It's not as though the money will be there when these people go to collect pensions anyway.
  
  Close the old city hall and repurpose the community center for city hall use.
  
  Fire Nancy Merrill since the only business she can drum up are non-profits that wind up costing us more while taking properties off the tax rolls.This is completely opposite of what she was hired to do.We would be better off if she just stayed home and did nothing.
  
  The fire department should be made a volunteer fire department.The surrounding communities are enjoying mutual fire fighting without the mutual expense.
  
  Welfare need to tighten up significantly as well.1 year residency requirement for those applying for welfare,Surrounding communities are sending us their single mothers and drug addicts so we pay for their undesirables.

• adam (Friday, July 01 22 09:00 am EDT)

  Health insurance is 30K for most employers that offer it. For years municipal employers relied on good benefits and early retirement to get people to take lower than market pay. Now you already have severely under market pay even compared to other municipal pay. Go ahead take the retirement and other benefits as well, then it will be tax bills and car registrations all paid on the third Weds- 9-11:30. Window closes even if you are in line.
  
  You pay the late fee for failure to pay on time.

• Bob (Friday, July 01 22 08:15 am EDT)

  Close the transfer station, Mr. Decamp is a great choice for the city and I have been using him for years.

• Carl Johns (Friday, July 01 22 04:49 am EDT)

  Deb Matteau and Bill Limoges, all of Enfield residences have trash removal paid for through taxes. It’s a simple system and keeps the streets clean. Also, the lowest bidder gets the job, saving cost for the residents. Claremont needs to employ this system.

• Sullivan Woman Claremont Loyal (Thursday, June 30 22 06:57 pm EDT)

  Lots of City employees desperately need a raise after this year and being badly neglected in the past. #change #workingpoor
  
  The slum lords don’t pay their fair share and profit off the backs of the entire city while at the same time complaining louder than anyone else. You should hear the talk at the landlord group meetings. Want to know more? I’m an insider. I know them all.

• City Employee (Thursday, June 30 22 01:33 pm EDT)

  The city is so cheap, pay my salary and insurance! You want me to deal with the public and take away my insurance while providing peanuts for pay?

• Donk (Thursday, June 30 22 12:11 pm EDT)

  Health insurance premiums for city employees is now $30k.
  
  When do we bail from providing it or have them help with the premiums?
  
  How about $$10k more in the envelope if they drop insurance?

• Kim (Thursday, June 30 22 10:52 am EDT)

  There is a better chance of seeing and capturing a Unicorn then seeing a reduction in Claremont taxes.

• Hairy (Thursday, June 30 22 06:59 am EDT)

  Terri no one knows. It has never happened.

• Terri (they/them) (Wednesday, June 29 22 09:27 pm EDT)

  How many cisgender elderly white men does it take to lower taxes?

• John J O’Connor (Monday, June 27 22 05:01 pm EDT)

  It’s good to know Bill is here reading. Why do people insist on imitating me? I do find it funny that Jim was picking on a misspelling when he has constant misspelling and grammatical errors in his writing.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, June 27 22 01:30 pm EDT)

  Bill,
  I’m the “original “ John …. And yes you are correct, Mike presented his plan to the council and I felt his plan was listened to and considered.
  It was my understanding from the beginning that the Council’s intentions were to privatize the dump, not increase the prices and keep it under city control.
  I appreciate the time and energy Mr.Teri put into his plan but as Mr.McClean pointed out, it was unsolicited.
  In a budget where zero funds were allocated for paving, cuts have to come from somewhere so unless the Council is prepared to layoff city workers, closing the dump is the next best idea.
  And Bill, don’t be fooled by these dipshits that want to be me… remember, I’m the “Original “, the rest are just wannabes.

• Bill Limoges (Monday, June 27 22 11:26 am EDT)

  John,
  
  Mr. Tetu has been heard, both in public, and by meeting with counselors individually, myself included.

• John J. O'Conner (Monday, June 27 22 09:42 am EDT)

  Nice way to point out that Mr Tetu has no right to have his ideas heard. He is not like you who can submit budget plans which should be adopted out of hand just because you say they are good. The nerve of him to think he is your equal!

• Brian (Monday, June 27 22 08:37 am EDT)

  The finance director and the dpw director should both be fired for putting out that bonding plan and trying to trick the councilors and the people about the true costs.

• Richard (Sunday, June 26 22 02:53 pm EDT)

  Thank you to Dale Girard and Jim Sullivan for working together to get to the bottom of the bonding scheme deception by city staff. You are both looking out for the citizens of our great city. I know the tax increase is not a great solution but it is far better than the alternative.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, June 26 22 01:45 pm EDT)

  New article published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  June 22, 2022 Claremont City Council meeting synopsis.

• Tim Mulligan (Saturday, June 25 22 09:32 pm EDT)

  I’d like to see the Opera House building and Visitors Center shuttered and the offices moved to the Community Center. This would save so much money! Also, slash all non-essential spending including paving. Also, if budget money is left towards the end of the year, it goes back to the taxpayer instead of a mad dash to use the years budget.

• Bill (Saturday, June 25 22 10:29 am EDT)

  I’d like to see more spending on sidewalks and bike lanes than roads. Hopefully our DPW can prioritize.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 23 22 08:20 pm EDT)

  Jim “the administration” Sullivan
  Haha, that’s a good one.

• Carl “the man” Giol (Thursday, June 23 22 01:18 pm EDT)

  We don’t need perfect roads, stop the spending!!!! Jim is a mega phone for the spending elite in the administration!

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, June 23 22 09:19 am EDT)

  To set the record straight the Council did pass all budgets last night. In regards to Street Paving, several Councilors were against bonding to pay for paving projects. Mayor Dale Girard proposed allocating $505,000 in the budget for paving as phase 1 of a two-phase solution. $105,000 came from the reduced Police Department budget and $400,000 was added to the budget adding roughly $.52 to Claremont's property tax rate above what was already proposed. The second phase of Mayor Girard's paving plan is to take the anticipated $277,499.85 of extra one-time State Highway Block Grant Funds and adding that to the paving budget line allocation sometime during the next fiscal year when those funds are released to bring the Fiscal Year 2023 street paving budget allocation up to $782,499.85. This is only a one time stop-gap measure as permanent funding will need to be found going forward to maintain that modest level as it is not enough to properly maintain Claremont's deteriorating roads. I will have more details about this topic and what else occurred during the rest of the meeting in my article that will be published on Sunday.

• Dan (Thursday, June 23 22 08:44 am EDT)

  Bobby, there you go again with that intelligence level. Wrong, wrong and wrong. Your wife knows me. You should change your marketing slogan to encompass some of your raging beliefs shown here. My boss certainly will be ending their dumpster service speaking of dumpsters.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 23 22 08:39 am EDT)

  Wow… hold on a second.
  I wasn’t able to watch last night’s meeting but it was my understanding that paving the roads was this councils number 1 priority, if that was true, why no funding?
  It must mean they are going to get a 20 year bond for road paving that if your lucky will last 5 years.
  Why do I feel like I was lied to by this council ? I was under the impression during the last election that each one was going to do all they could to repair the roads.
  Is this the best they can do ?

• Charlie Marley (Thursday, June 23 22 07:57 am EDT)

  Zero. The roads are fine compared to Madagascar.

• Walt (Thursday, June 23 22 07:25 am EDT)

  Charlie,
  How much is now in the paving budget ?

• Charlie Marley (Thursday, June 23 22 06:05 am EDT)

  Glad the budgets passed. Now we can move on to important things.

• BOB (Wednesday, June 22 22 05:14 pm EDT)

  DAN: hahahaha you're a funny guy. You must be a Democrap since insults are the only form of communication you can spew out of that dumpster you call a mouth. Go crawl back under your pride flag

• aday (Wednesday, June 22 22 03:22 pm EDT)

  We would be better off if Walt stayed home too.

• Todd (Wednesday, June 22 22 03:21 pm EDT)

  Tonight is the final vote on the city budget. We will see which councilors are leaders and which are not.

• Aday (Wednesday, June 22 22 02:33 pm EDT)

  Heh John, I checked out your voting records and we were better off when you were absent.

• Dan (Wednesday, June 22 22 08:37 am EDT)

  Really showing your intelligence level here. You must be BOB Picard. If not it must be a coincidence the community has two Bobs that are dumber than dumb.

• John O Connor (Tuesday, June 21 22 08:06 pm EDT)

  I think Claremont could use a lake, or beach area.

• Jordan Saunders (Tuesday, June 21 22 07:18 pm EDT)

  I think there are swingers in Claremont but probably best to keep it quiet!

• Adam (Tuesday, June 21 22 05:58 pm EDT)

  Bob it might be a brown field site but definitely not a Brownstone.

• BOB (Tuesday, June 21 22 05:25 pm EDT)

  Topstone high end housing BWAHAHAHAHA... that place is a brownstone site, the only thing that will be living there are the cockroaches. The sooner they tear that pos place down the better, and get those massholes to clean it up

• John J O’Conner (Tuesday, June 21 22 05:18 pm EDT)

  John did you ever consider that the delegation votes similarly as they vote in favor of Claremont. As to Walt he votes the oath keeper line every time. Doesn’t require any thinking to follow orders.

• Rhonda Wrascle (Tuesday, June 21 22 01:27 pm EDT)

  I think the Fire guys inspect the rentals for fire issues. Seems like Landlords and others can operate with immunity. Never heard of anything being shut down or any money being spent on upgrades.

• John J.O’Connor (Tuesday, June 21 22 01:09 pm EDT)

  Ouch… Direct hit!!!!!
  In my defense, I had pneumonia during my second year in office. I felt it wasn’t right to be excused when not there. So even though it was within my right to call and be excused, it wasn’t the right thing to do and I refused to do it. I knew it would severely hurt my chances for re-election. Which it did.
  Please check my voting record, I never missed a vote that directly affected Claremont. I also never voted the party line, like my democratic colleagues did and still do. Except for Rep. Stapleton, the rest (all democrats) share the same brain because 99.9% of the time they all vote the same way . What are the odds that on almost every vote they feel they same exact way about the issue ?
  Astronomical…..
  Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.
  I’m not very familiar with what a Building Inspector does, I thought they were mostly involved with new construction and reconstruction.
  Do they do random building inspections?

• John J. O Connor (Tuesday, June 21 22 11:58 am EDT)

  Code Enforcement Officer is one of those 'no show' jobs. Like being a Claremont State Rep.

• Guy (Tuesday, June 21 22 10:08 am EDT)

  Claremont has a Code Enforcement Officer ?
  Is it an actual person because I’ve never seen anyone ever inspecting anything.

• Donk (Monday, June 20 22 09:41 pm EDT)

  I run circles around Claremont Code enforcement. They have no idea what real code enforcement is like I’ve dealt with in NYC and Vegas. Code enforcement in Claremont is a joke. Hanover is a push over too, I stay under the radar with single family homes.

• Stacy (Monday, June 20 22 09:14 pm EDT)

  No one cares when a slumlord attacks a citizen who actually tries to improve the community Tony. Keep trying to deflect to others with false claims. We are curious Tony Slevira why did you need to obtain a paycheck protection loan from the federal government? You pay that back or was it forgiven? Seems legit and not a fraud at all. Property in Hanover huh, sure bud. Hanover would chew you up and spit you out like Claremont code enforcement did. You actually pretend like you didn't have multiple properties auctioned off. You were once a large property owner and now are just like everything you had, irrelevant. A big inflated ego with no purse left. Just a washed up pervert.

• George Haus (Monday, June 20 22 09:07 pm EDT)

  Soon, the Topstone will be renovated with high end housing like that of Water street. This will fill some of the need from the backlog and create more positive buzz around Claremont. Further, there are plans for a complete rehab of 5 downtown buildings. The Moody building will see a large renovation which will turn it back to its former glory as a grand hotel.

• Donk (Monday, June 20 22 06:17 pm EDT)

  My problem is finding those high income folks in Claremont.The potential tenants I speak with want good schools with high learning standards.I tell them you better check out private schooling or consider 1 of my places in Hanover if you want good public schools.
  
  Merrill figures if she gets a contract sighned and work has begun that we'll have no choice but to fund another non-profit albatross.As far as Occupancy permit and good safe building structure just look at Koloski's Kolostomy bag of a restaurant with a 2% habitable rating.Plenty of asbestos for the kidos.
  
  Perhaps we should relieve Merrill of her current duties since rather than drum up business for Claremont she just seems to find another way to spend money that Claremont doesn't have.and have have babysit the druggie retards at Scumivan House.

• Donk (Monday, June 20 22 03:37 pm EDT)

  Eggs are 4x in price, gas is more than double, and you all expect for your taxes to remain flat or go down. Out of touch. I’m actually thinking about renovating my places to rent to higher income folks that will take better care of my investments and this will enable me to contribute more of my fair share towards taxes so the schools can continue to heat the buildings with the high price of oil…oh wait..pellets. I don’t really know, but it’s a good ide.

• Ryan (Monday, June 20 22 02:29 pm EDT)

  If the local delegates were smart they would push to fire Ferland ASAP to save their political careers if they plan on running for reelection.

• Mark (Monday, June 20 22 01:04 pm EDT)

  The leadership in Sullivan County is devoid of honesty and integrity. Cloutier, Merchant O’Hearne and Stapleton are representing their own political interests and not the interests of their constituents. In concert with Ferland and the commissioners they have squandered away millions of dollars of cash savings with property tax rate increases looming because of their out of control spending policies. The Sullivan House will be a liability for the taxpayers. The nursing home is still no closer to realizing necessary repairs because these fools cannot make a decision that will not break the family budgets of most everyone in Sullivan County. When are the voters going to wake up and see that we need new leadership starting with a new county manager?

• Laura (Monday, June 20 22 11:43 am EDT)

  I reread the e- ticker article about the Claremont creative center fundraising sale and Miss Richmond and Mrs. Merrill gave the positive, upbeat impression that phase 1 of the project was moving forward and the center would open in May of 2023. I cannot understand how a building that is 62% substandard by Claremont assessing office standards undergoes less than one third of a renovation project for just one room in the building and electrical upgrades and qualify for an occupancy permit. Regularly reading the Sullivan Report with all of the well researched and well documented articles, I realize that our municipal government is shady as they routinely cut corners to expedite their spending agendas. This goes far beyond that. No property owner would ever be able to receive an occupancy permit under similar circumstances unless they had close ties to the municipal government. This favoritism is just wrong and I am not convinced that enough members of the city council has the moral compass to realize this is wrong and intervene for the purpose of public safety.

• Rick (Monday, June 20 22 09:32 am EDT)

  I attended one of those public meetings for the Sullivan House project and I distinctly remember Mr. Ferland saying to everyone that the sober house would be staffed day and night without any effect on the property tax rate. Other county leaders backed up Mr. Ferland’s claims. They all said whatever they needed to say to shut up the naysayers. Their deception is now revealed and they have made all of us look like fools because we foolishly put our faith and trust in them.

• George (Monday, June 20 22 07:59 am EDT)

  Public officials who cannot be trusted should not be public officials.

• Tim Mulligan (Monday, June 20 22 05:43 am EDT)

  Brian and Steve aka. Jim Sullivan. It’s curious how the three have identical writing style.
  
  Oh and Donk, I’d like to meet with you soon, I’m doing an investigative piece that will be published on this website.

• Steve (Sunday, June 19 22 04:57 pm EDT)

  Brian you are right about where the blame belongs. Mr. Ferland has been a disaster as County Manager, his budgets have spent the county government right into the poor farm, and taxes are rising up because the savings have all been imprudently spent at Mr. Ferland’s request but by the approval of the county delegates. John Cloutier, Andrew O’Hearne, Gary Merchant and Walter Stapleton are Claremont’s representatives and they are all to blame for the current state of affairs. All of them have been in elected office for far too long and my wife and I both know that if any of them have a challenger in the next election we will both vote for the challenger whomever that may be. We hope others will do the same because we need change in our county government representation. The current representatives have all proven to be unworthy of the public’s trust.

• Brian (Sunday, June 19 22 03:33 pm EDT)

  The articles Mr. Sullivan wrote today have one person in common. Mr. Derek Ferland. He is the Sullivan County Manager, who inherited from his predecessor several millions of dollars of excess cash in the general fund reserve account that is now all spent in only the passage of a few scant years. Mr. Derek Ferland’s spending practices are out of control. Of course Mr. Derek Ferland had the oh so willing help of spendthrift County Commissioners and County Delegates alike but now the wingding is over. The present day County Commissioners could not stomach a 29% property tax rate increase that Mr. Derek Ferland strongly recommended with his budget so they drafted their own budget with a 12% property tax rate increase. One of the ways they accomplished that was withdrawing large sums of money from the general fund reserve account reducing the balance below the $3 million safety net. Next year may be worse. Mr. Sullivan’s article makes it abundantly clear that the Sullivan House will be a large financial drain on all taxpayers of Sullivan County. Many promises were made and all were broken by Mr. Derek Ferland, elected County Officials and County personnel. The voters should remember that on Election Day. Mr. Derek Ferland is a member of the Claremont Development Authority Board of Directors, who with Nancy Merrill are responsible for the financial problems with the Claremont Creative Center Project, the Farwell building and the probable loss of numerous industrial lots and the Farwell building through foreclosure. Many are responsible for these dilemmas but Mr. Derek Ferland bears at least some of the responsibility for all of it.

• Don (Sunday, June 19 22 01:49 pm EDT)

  It looks as if this sober house will be an albatross around the necks of every taxpayer in Sullivan County as we will all be subsidizing something we did not want in the first place. Our leadership has really failed us.

• Trish (Sunday, June 19 22 11:58 am EDT)

  I have never liked the idea of a sober house rooming house in Claremont’s downtown region. City leaders are trying so hard to revitalize the downtown area for eateries and nightlife and locating a halfway house in the middle of it all is the opposite of what is needed to refurbish our downtown region.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, June 19 22 11:03 am EDT)

  Two new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Sobering financial figures in the proposed Sullivan County budget regarding the Sullivan House!
  
  2) More financial problems for the Claremont Creative Center Project!

• Joe (Sunday, June 19 22 10:17 am EDT)

  I for one will admit, I think Donk is right about many things.
  Many on here, are as blind as the Claremont City Council. Donk's vision on the other hand is pretty much spot on.

• Annika Rosivicsk (Saturday, June 18 22 06:39 pm EDT)

  Hello there Donk. You make happy wifes with vast empire. You famous on this website. You are my age and beautifuls man I make you meals and your house will be cleanest in all the land. Your shirts will be pressed and vast smile on that one face.

• Annika Rosivicsk (Saturday, June 18 22 04:06 pm EDT)

  Hello Donk, are you only child? Also you are single? You look for qualitys wife to share vast empire?

• Donk’s mom (Saturday, June 18 22 06:41 am EDT)

  Donk did Manual Labor from behind… it was only once and he doesn’t want to talk about it.

• Harvey (Friday, June 17 22 04:38 pm EDT)

  Donk, when’s the last time you did manual labor?

• Donk (Friday, June 17 22 09:56 am EDT)

  Ron- They can't shovel.If you're shoveling you can't look at your phone.

• Ron (Friday, June 17 22 08:51 am EDT)

  Hmm, maybe turn off the heated sidewalks and shovel. Donk, I know, I’m a very good problem solver. You want Claremont to fail because you did. Luckily Claremont is not full of Donk’s.

• Donk (Friday, June 17 22 08:26 am EDT)

  What do you guys think that the 50% hike in electricity bills will do for the city? The community center actually has heated electric sidewalks.What do you think this will do for their finances geniuses?
  
  Be glad you didn't buy an electric car like they told you to.

• Tony Baker (Friday, June 17 22 05:39 am EDT)

  Donk, do you have clairvoyant abilities? If so, why didn’t you foresee the demise of your own empire?

• Betty (Thursday, June 16 22 06:49 pm EDT)

  Donk, what is it like living in your own fantasy world? I’m not sure anyone will follow your advice after your track record here.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, June 16 22 01:05 pm EDT)

  New Police Chief named. Details on News Flashes page of this website.

• Donk (Thursday, June 16 22 11:38 am EDT)

  @Frank The reset in mortgage rates will absolutely crush single family homes in Claremont.The last 2 years are a mere blip.Look back 20-30 years in your charts and you will see that the last 2 years were an aberration.Claremont has reached the cliff.Talk to me in 2 more years about the booming market.The days of cheap money and lax credit standards will soon burst your bubble of "up and coming".Sorry to say,with rapidly increasing mortgage rates I am no longer bullish on Claremont real estate.
  The reality is that Claremont is a has been old mill town that has had no economic engine to replace that of yesteryear.Globalization and later financialization will not only be the end of any semblance of prosperity not only in Claremont but I fear for the entire American experiment.
  Rental properties will suffer going forward.With higher rates the very jobs that most Claremonters hold will be the first to go,including civil service jobs going forward.It's hard to pay rent without a job.
  Claremont's projected future revenue will also fall.That's even if Richmond is even capable for such projections.
  Heating oil and diesel will cause many seniors to have to choose between heating oil and taxes on their house.Heating and diesel will also explode any fictional budget that finally gets passed.
  Winter is coming

• tony baker (Thursday, June 16 22 09:52 am EDT)

  An over ripe pumpkin easily picked. Another words Donk came to Claremont in hopes of quick profits with minimal investment. He then expanded that when he realized he could run them into the ground while still collecting rent from desperate people. Real nice guy. Loves Claremont.

• Frank (Thursday, June 16 22 09:47 am EDT)

  “Replacement homeowner are non-existent”
  
  Hahahaha
  
  Donk, have you been under a rock for the last two years?

• Donk (Thursday, June 16 22 09:42 am EDT)

  "What attracted me to Claremont"
  Well, I saw that the tax rate was the second highest rate in the state.So in turn the prices of real estate would be comparatively depressed.When I added in the low per capita income I surmised that the local government was close to or at the ceiling for taxation.Between the demographics and the income of Claremont I believe the ceiling has been reached.Surrounding communities will continue raising rates which will stifle real estate value.I believe eventually tax rate parity will occur throughout the state,with wealthier high income high value southern and coastal communities are in a different situation.Claremont,having reached the ceiling first,are good for real estate values.Other communities will rise while Claremont is obligated to stay stable.A continued rise in tax rate in Claremont would literally decimate the public at large.You cannot push all of these low income seniors out of their homes,especially when replacement home owners are non existent.
  So the reason I saw Claremont as a value is that real estate values will climb while taxes will remain the same.

• Chunks Lee (Thursday, June 16 22 05:46 am EDT)

  Yes, you could move to free stater town Grafton, where there isn’t even a convenience store any more. Far less government to worry about there, I reckon.
  
  Donk, what attracted you to Claremont?

• Mike (Wednesday, June 15 22 10:56 pm EDT)

  There are places you can live and own properties where the taxes are much lower, because they only care about road maintenance. No parks, no services, no libraries, no parades. In fact Claremont looked like one of those places. And some 200 years ago, as wealth accumulated, people chose to invest in their community and make it a better place to live. Now we live in a world with an endless stream of television, what do you even need a community for? What good is a park when you can just play on your phone? So honestly, why live in Claremont? Just sell and move.

• Marc Seminous (Wednesday, June 15 22 07:52 pm EDT)

  Donk, I’m looking to get in to real estate investment. Could I pay you for consulting services?

• Tony (Wednesday, June 15 22 05:55 pm EDT)

  Wow the Sullivan report has turned into a Donk love fest

• Carl Longston (Wednesday, June 15 22 04:20 pm EDT)

  Why did you downsize? You used to own so many places in town. It’s a shame to see good landlords fold up shop.

• Donk (Wednesday, June 15 22 04:02 pm EDT)

  Thanks Carl- I at least pay my taxes.I don't know about you people but it seems to me that these people in charge of the budget have things completely upside down.
  The most important reason that I pay taxes are for good road maintenance and good snow removal.I could give 2 shits for anything other than this. These people don't even have road maintenance even in the budget.It would be the first item in my budget.

• Carl Longston (Wednesday, June 15 22 03:43 pm EDT)

  Donk is a good landlord. Sure he has downsized, but he’s still pretty good.

• Nick (Wednesday, June 15 22 11:57 am EDT)

  Donk,
  You have no idea all the good deeds Nick does. He accepts medical supplies from others and gives them away. He accepts food, does he keep it for himself and run his restaurant with it and give away what he doesn’t sell?
  Maybe he doesn’t and never has payed his full share of taxes but does that make him a bad guy ?
  Maybe he has personally benefited from his position of power, is so, so be it.
  Nick is a modern day Robin Hood, with donated good from others, but he is still contributing to society in a positive fashion.

• Donk (Wednesday, June 15 22 09:51 am EDT)

  Boy you really put me in my place.I didn't understand that Koloski should be exempted from paying property taxes because he contributes so much to the community.
  
  
  What exactly are the criteria for being such a good person that property taxes are waived?

• Teri (Tuesday, June 14 22 04:46 pm EDT)

  So far Jim Sullivan is the only person in Claremont who has brought forth a list of reasonable budget items that could be used for road paving. None of our elected city councilors have suggested anything that Mr. Sullivan had not already shared with them. Why is that? Are they not trying or are they that incapable of doing the job as city councilor?

• Nathan (Tuesday, June 14 22 04:34 pm EDT)

  Donk, the same Koloski you called and asked to say some kind words about you online as you were not aware who he was but he seemed to have a following right after you were taking heat publicly on all social media pages when the dea lab team had to be here addressing a drug lab you had in one of your properties? That Koloski. Dude does more for the community in 10 mins that you do in a lifetime. He told you no as he had taken complaints from your tenants including a ceiling coming in on their kids among others and had no idea who you were so was not vouching for you? I ask as I was sitting in the auto repair shop he was in when you kept blowing up his phone. You have a loud speaking voice and I heard it all. I have seen you repeatedly trash him on here for years and I bit my tongue this entire time but really you are a low life. Todd I and everyone else would love to hear your proposed cuts.

• Donk (Tuesday, June 14 22 01:14 pm EDT)

  I can't help but wonder if the building Koloski's dive bar is in is current on taxes or fire code enforcement.

• Todd (Tuesday, June 14 22 01:07 pm EDT)

  Showing up is one thing doing something constructive while you are there is another. Koloski saying he cannot find any money to cut from a budget of over eighteen million dollars is admitting he is not even trying to save the taxpayers any money. It is just lip service.

• Justin (Tuesday, June 14 22 10:03 am EDT)

  Nick Koloski is doing the job. Last night Nick showed up to the Planning Board meeting when he is only an alternate member. Mark Chase on the other hand blew off the meeting. Mark seems to have already checked out of both of his positions of police chief and asst. city manager.

• Rosita (Tuesday, June 14 22 09:05 am EDT)

  Why does he use the name Donk if everyone knows who he is? Also, why would a successful person like him be spending so much time on here?

• DeezNutz (Tuesday, June 14 22 08:48 am EDT)

  Have the Claremont Democrats cleaned up the piles of dirt they were pushing into the traffic riddled street the other week yet? The Claremont Republican group went around the city picking up trash and bringing it to the landfill while the Dems "cleaned up" the library by sweeping into the road into traffic and leaving it there for days. One group got a shout out from Parks and Rec on their facebook page, the other went unnoticed. Councilor Contois and his right hand man, Sam "religious symbols offend me" Killay. With "help" like that we'll never make it.

• Paul (Tuesday, June 14 22 08:25 am EDT)

  Donk is Tony Sleveria. The slumlord that owned the building that housed the meth lab on Myrtle Street. You can see his handy work around town by pointing at any dilapidated shithole. I would definitely hang on his every word. He thinks he is Ron Jeremy and actually looks like if Ron Jeremy ate Ron Jeremy. He is the best. Just ask him.

• Kelley Ann (Tuesday, June 14 22 05:38 am EDT)

  Donk is interesting. I wonder what he looks like.

• Guy (Monday, June 13 22 11:28 pm EDT)

  Donk is Chris Irish

• Tim Mulligan (Monday, June 13 22 07:59 pm EDT)

  Let’s play a game, who is Donk?

• Gumbo Mylligan (Monday, June 13 22 07:58 pm EDT)

  How much has this website cost the City over the past 40 years? Likely more than Donk’s apartments.

• Tom (Monday, June 13 22 02:32 pm EDT)

  Ray, Councilman Beliveau is not the only one not really investing the time and effort to be a city councilor. Councilman Mooshian did not volunteer to be on a single committee and he puts very little effort into discussions usually just praising city staff much like Councilman Contois, who does not seem to know what is going on during the meetings most of the time. The current group of councilors is definitely not the cream of the crop.

• Ray (Monday, June 13 22 01:41 pm EDT)

  Councilman Beliveau has missed several meetings in a short time. Does he really want to be a Councilman?

• Beth (Monday, June 13 22 08:34 am EDT)

  Sara the budget is not concluded yet. Have you reviewed the publicly posted budget or watched the meetings? His comments make sense. This budget is the worst one the city has presented in a very long time. Where would you cut? Have you weighed in during the public meeting. I can't be disappointed with any of them as they show up for meetings for 4 to 6 hours and work on this stuff as a volunteer with little to no feedback from the public. I went one year to watch. Seems to be nobody but Jim Sullivan weighs in until after the fact. They then complain. Have you sent any of them messages? Do you partake or just complain? I have watched each budget meeting and have only seen 2 councilors propose cuts. Those cuts were both just random numbers with no explanation when asked. That doesn't help. Seems to be you are in the minority. Elder statesman by the highest vote count each year and he has actually visited our neighborhood to see our concerns. Just saw him at the parade where I spoke about the budget. I don't think he or any of them are perfect but nor am I. You should run and show everyone how easy it is . I couldn't do it. There is no winning.

• alicia (Monday, June 13 22 05:38 am EDT)

  donk. i have water. leek. in partment. u come fix it; u aint giv me ur cell #. i call city

• Sara (Sunday, June 12 22 05:25 pm EDT)

  I am very disappointed with Nicholas Koloski. He is the elder statesman of the nine city councilors but he brings absolutely nothing of value to the table. I do not understand how you can look at a multimillion dollar budget and not be able to find one single dollar to cut. Nicholas is either not putting in the effort or he does not have the desire to make any changes to Mr. MacLean’s awful budget. His continued presence on the city council is a detriment and a disservice to all of us. The same can be said about newer city councilors Matthew Mooshian, Lucas Beliveau and James Contois. I am also on the fence about Andrew O’Hearne and Debora Matteau.

• Donk (Sunday, June 12 22 04:52 pm EDT)

  Ok, so show really cares about the EGO show articles because nothing ever comes of them and nothing ever changes. let’s get back to talking about me and my property.

• Wendy (Sunday, June 12 22 04:32 pm EDT)

  Kevin no one gives a shit what you think. Go yell in to a pillow when you are biting it.

• "Darell" (Sunday, June 12 22 04:30 pm EDT)

  "Tom" is it? Actually I give no cares just speaking for the room. The room outside of this forum. Jim immediately posting as "Tom" to pat himself on the back is so very cute. Start the timer where Jim posts to acknowledge he is not "Tom". Get some friends. Enjoy maybe outdoor activities. I will pass along the word to my brothers and its hard to get them twisted as I free ball it. The big balls and all. Sort of like all the people that actually run this city and contribute and not whine like a little bitch.

• Kevin (Sunday, June 12 22 02:44 pm EDT)

  I cannot believe that Lisa Richmond still has a job with the city. She cannot seem to do even simple math calculations without messing up. The estimated costs for the new contracts for the clerical union just do not make sense but Richmond doubled down when Jim Sullivan questioned those numbers and city administrators are all backing her up and it seems the councilors are doing the same, which makes them all unscrupulous in my humble opinion.

• Tom (Sunday, June 12 22 10:00 am EDT)

  Boy Darell, Jim sure put a twist in your shorts today. Jim Sullivan does a wonderful public-service with news coverage no one else is doing and finding the real truth with documented proof instead of the propaganda spread by local officials for the ignorant public. Jim is also giving suggestions to try to fix the problems that he reports about. That is true public service and it is far more than what many of our local officials are doing to help the populace. Please make sure and say hi to your brothers Larry and Darrel.

• Darell (Sunday, June 12 22 08:49 am EDT)

  Jim you are the smartest man in the City. All these "issues" that paid trained individuals have and you, a simple man who doesn't even have to worry about taxes finds and solves them all. I can't believe the very indecisive group of embarrassments as you call them doesn't hang on your every word. I hope just because you shit on each and every one of them that they still listen to your advice. They really should move Contois back to that main table and give you that desk. You could advise them on every move as you don't approve of many. Matter of fact I don't recall a single city employee you praise. I know its hard being the smartest person alive sometimes so hopefully you don't let that get to you. You should 91a public right to know request how much staff time is spent on your personal requests and update everyone when you get that. Be sure to put that in a graphic and chart so we can all fully understand it. When the council gives you that desk it will fulfill your lifelong dream. You would have successfully gone around the will of the voters who voted you out and made yourself the 10th Councilor. Make sure that graphic is some angry guy behind a keyboard or maybe someone grinding and axe with some sparks flying. That would be cool. Where did you get your municipal management finance degree? We should make sure everyone gets the same asap. Thank you for never giving up despite no one really listening to you. When you start showing up in council chambers and weighing in exactly at the proper moment when they ask for public imput where real change could be made you have already decreased our tax bills as they could answer right then and there and save staff time chasing down 91a public right to know requests. Armed with that info real change could happen. I see your plan now. Genius my boy. Genius. You could perhaps offer your consulting services or take over as the planning, finance and manager thus also saving us all tax dollars. Kudos to you for this well thought out plan. I didn't get it at first but by truly sitting at home and not attending a single meeting I couldn't understand how you were making actual change by just writing everything that went wrong well after the actual public meeting but now I see the bigger plan. Who knew that shitting all over everyone you ask to take you seriously would yield such success.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, June 12 22 08:34 am EDT)

  New article published on the News Flashes page of this website. June 8 Claremont City Council meeting synopsis.

• Mark (Sunday, June 12 22 07:44 am EDT)

  Donk, it’s a good time to sell.

• Chuck (Saturday, June 11 22 02:35 pm EDT)

  Hanover…ha!
  
  It’s your fault you don’t vet your tenants. It’s called bad management.

• Donk (Saturday, June 11 22 01:26 pm EDT)

  It's funny, my tenants in Hanover never have couches on the porch and car tires and bike frames in the front yard like my Claremont people do.
  It doesn't matter how many come and go, it's always similar.

• Donk (Saturday, June 11 22 12:35 pm EDT)

  I frequently have dinner with my tenants, as they very much appreciate me like after Scrooge became nice again and are with Tony Tim and family. I am adored.

• Donk (Saturday, June 11 22 09:29 am EDT)

  I am one of the most successful landlords of all time, next to Trump. A lot of people say that I am amazing.

• Donk (Saturday, June 11 22 05:21 am EDT)

  I am more than you think I am. I am very influential and Claremont is just my little game I play. I like the drama.

• Donk for mayor (Friday, June 10 22 10:01 pm EDT)

  Why isn’t donk an advisor to the city?

• Donk (Friday, June 10 22 06:40 pm EDT)

  I sent this to the entire council and City Manager:
  
  The new budget should include $20k per apartment unit for help with fuel. Also, there should be a tax incentive program for those of us that provide housing for needy people. The city should forgive all taxes for the next 10 years to incentivize me to rent out my buildings. Also, the city should immediately cease all code enforcement activities.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 09 22 02:16 pm EDT)

  Hahaha, thank you Carl.
  I completely agree!!!!!

• Carl (Thursday, June 09 22 01:01 pm EDT)

  Ah yes that same old song. Protect his landlords. You mean recuse himself ethically and publicly disagree with how the city conducted business? You same fake posters are all sound bites. Oconnor you were in Concord during several dumb decisions most of which you couldn't be bothered to show up for to state your opinion. Please save us all the soapbox righteous bs. A dead slug contributes more than you do.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 09 22 12:55 pm EDT)

  Arthur,
  I admire what Nick does for the elder and disabled but that doesn’t mean he gets a pass on everything else.
  Our roads did not deteriorate over night, it has happened over a long period of time, it just so happens it has happened during Nicks time on the council.
  Unless the Council is ready to lay people off they have no alternative but to raise taxes to repair the roads.
  Artie, I’d love to hear your brilliant solution to this problem.

• Tim (Thursday, June 09 22 11:23 am EDT)

  Arthur- Koloski loves to say how long he has been on the council. But what has he really done? Protected his business, protected his non taxpaying landlord and worked behind the scenes to screw taxpayers out of money. He sure does loves low income folks so he can play Robin Hood.

• Mike (Thursday, June 09 22 11:13 am EDT)

  I agree John J O'Connor, many on the City Council, are not capable of addressing city needs, and flip flop Nick is second to Contois in lack of capabilities needed to serve Claremont.
  Also saw a comment in Mostly uncensored on the ex Mayor running for State Senate is not a good choice. I have to agree with most of the comment.

• Arthur (Thursday, June 09 22 10:41 am EDT)

  Bunch of heroes anonymously attacking someone who has the balls to serve. How ironic armchair quarterbacks. OConnor that has to be one of the dumbest things I have seen you post. Why hasn't he done more. Lets compare track records with your attempts. What do you contribute in general? Nothing but mouth running.

• Donky for mayor (Thursday, June 09 22 10:21 am EDT)

  Cap property tax and start a city Sales tax. Hotels and restaurants have to deal with it and so should retail.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 09 22 09:28 am EDT)

  The roads are not going to pave themselves and if the administration thinks they can accomplish massive road repair with “nickels and dimes” they are vastly mistaken.
  Council Stone had the balls to recommend 500k be added to the paving budget and people lost their minds.
  One million dollars at a minimum must be placed in the budget for paving every year for the next 5 years and that’s just to catch up for the past failures of past councils.
  The roads have deteriorated over an extended period of time, the same period of time that Nick Koloski has been in office.
  Why hasn’t Nick done more ?
  I appreciate all he does for the community but he wasn’t voted into office to run a charity he was elected to do what’s right for all the people, not just a select few.
  No one wants to raise taxes, especially when it’s already the highest in the state, but work needs to be done.
  You can’t expect investors to invest in a city that won’t invest in itself.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, June 09 22 09:25 am EDT)

  More budget recommendations sent to Council and Administration as Council continues to be indecisive regarding budget with time running out. This is published on the News Flashes page of this website.

• Donk for mayor (Thursday, June 09 22 09:11 am EDT)

  Koloski is on the council to pat himself on the back and make sure that his businesses and the owners of the properties where his businesses are located are left alone.

• Tim (Thursday, June 09 22 07:43 am EDT)

  Ron King- You must be joking. Koloski has only looked out for himself. Giving out free stuff you get for free doesn’t make you a hero. When was the last time you see him actually support a tax cut? He sure does talk a lot about looking out of for taxpayers, but does he really?

• Ron King (Thursday, June 09 22 05:44 am EDT)

  Koloski is the most genuine and dedicated member of the council. Like it or not he always has sound reasoning and is always looking out for the best interest of the public.

• Fred (Wednesday, June 08 22 11:06 pm EDT)

  Steve, you should pay closer attention to meetings or maybe you tuned out too soon. Koloski was arguing against any tax increase. I don't know the other two you mention. Stone wanted to add paving to that tax rate. No idea how it with shake out and I don't fault either of them as they both had continual civil dialogue about their opinions.

• Steve (Wednesday, June 08 22 09:30 pm EDT)

  Watching the Council meeting tonight makes me sick as these imbeciles cannot make a decision about anything. Koloski has never seen a tax increase he did not like or a tax cut he liked. Contois and Mooshian are both just as worthless as all they want to do is vote in favor of what ever the boobs in the administration wants so they don't have to think about anything on their own. Not that they really have the brainpower to do that anyway.

• John Finnigin (Wednesday, June 08 22 07:43 pm EDT)

  Who’s Debra Houde on What’s Up? She seems like a nice lady.

• Carl (Wednesday, June 08 22 04:50 pm EDT)

  Wait, Donk is Tony? Huh?

• Gerold (Wednesday, June 08 22 04:28 pm EDT)

  All these complainers and not a single one of you attends meetings, voices your opinion from a podium where you own your words or runs for office. Funny stuff right here. How many of you will weigh in tonight on anything where it actually is heard? None, yeah, thought so. "Todd" sit home and drink like normal and yell at the cat you loser. Chicken shit says the anonymous guy from his keyboard. Donk, no one gives 2 shits what you have to say. How much did you cost the taxpayer when one of your buildings was condemned as a meth lab? "Rick" = Jimbo patting himself on the back. I can't wait to watch the meeting tonight where the likes of Stone, and Limoges use the site as gospel and pretend they have their own ideas. Morons. Glad I moved out of the area. Still work here though ever single day. You all can't get out of your own way. The Eagles time is the worst ever so let me go whine like a bitch online anonamously. Pardon my spelling as I did it on purpose so you knuckle draggers can understand. Let me guess, I am loser, unemployed, snowflake, liberal, need safe space. blah, blah, blah.

• Laura (Wednesday, June 08 22 02:55 pm EDT)

  The Eagle Times reporting is the worst ever. I thought when Patrick Adrian left things might get better but this new kid is not covering news events, as he seems more interested in human interest stories. The content in the newspaper is shrinking and most of the content is news from other places written by other reporters while our local area is almost totally ignored in the newspaper. The Eagle Times is not a local newspaper anymore. I will miss the E- Ticker News there was a lot of local news content in every issue.

• Deborah (Wednesday, June 08 22 12:09 pm EDT)

  Jim, why don’t you run for council?

• Rick (Wednesday, June 08 22 11:29 am EDT)

  I’m glad Jim is helping with suggestions. I hope the councilors will listen to him this time instead of putting off decisions because they are too afraid to make a final decision that may tick some people off.

• Donk (Wednesday, June 08 22 11:12 am EDT)

  Ya think the city hall roof has hit the $2 million mark yet?

• Dave (Wednesday, June 08 22 11:05 am EDT)

  I think John MacLean never meant to give Alex Gleeson the education he needs to do his job as DPW chief. This faux training was just a sham to trick everyone public and councilors alike to think otherwise. If Sullivan had not looked into it no one ever would have ever known about the deception.

• Todd (Wednesday, June 08 22 10:22 am EDT)

  I wonder how many decisions the councilors will circumvent tonight because they are too chicken shit to make the tough choices?

• Donk (Wednesday, June 08 22 09:15 am EDT)

  You know you’re in Claremont when your representatives literally “phone it in”. Bahahahaha

• Bob (Wednesday, June 08 22 09:08 am EDT)

  I think he is. I’ve also heard someone say his name was Tony, but who knows with this site.

• Jim (Tuesday, June 07 22 09:03 pm EDT)

  Wait, is Donk that successful fella with the Corvette? He’s a good dude, I’ve talked to him before. Very smart investor. All cash.

• Donk’s buddy (Tuesday, June 07 22 07:10 pm EDT)

  He is an out of town investor.

• Adam (Tuesday, June 07 22 06:28 pm EDT)

  Of course we won’t give Donk the tax credits. He is a known bad investment. We are better off with an out of town investor.

• Donk for mayor (Tuesday, June 07 22 05:43 pm EDT)

  He told you he wasn’t and why you jack off. It’s more beneficial for him to have the write off and make less than rent his places out to section in Claremont. It’s not likely they are going to give donk the same tax break they gave Chinberg to upgrade his properties.

• Steve (Tuesday, June 07 22 04:58 pm EDT)

  Does anyone actually read the Eagle? I always thought they would be out of business by now. Sad to see Eticker shutting down, they do a much better job reporting on local news.

• Tim (Tuesday, June 07 22 04:15 pm EDT)

  Tom, the Eagle has hard working hard hitting reporters.

• Tom (Tuesday, June 07 22 04:07 pm EDT)

  I see that the e-ticker news is folding up at the end of the month. The eagle times is probably next.

• Harold the GOAT (Tuesday, June 07 22 03:19 pm EDT)

  Then don’t rent to section 8 smarty pants. You’re in control. Stop making excuses and grow up.

• Donk for mayor (Tuesday, June 07 22 03:05 pm EDT)

  Donk is right. Fixing up housing or renting to the section 8 bracket of the housing industry leaves a bad taste in your mouth for the whole class. They treat everything like and leave your place for the worse.

• Carla (Tuesday, June 07 22 02:51 pm EDT)

  Donk and excuses go hand in hand.

• Donk (Tuesday, June 07 22 01:33 pm EDT)

  @ Roger- I'm affected by costs, as opposed to cause and effect of costs.
  What you don't realize is the quality of people renting low income apartments have no respect in caring for the place they live.I made the mistake many years ago fixing up apartments only to find them nearly destroyed by what I call the parade of pigs.They have no respect for themselves or anything as far as I can see.
  I don't know how you change people if they were never raised to know what shame is.Good schooling and parenting go a long way.
  
  I have 2 buildings that are now close to empty and I don't plan on renting them out until opportunity arises.I'm guessing that with nearly 2 million people now homeless legislation and grants will emerge for landlords to do remodels and weatherization.
  
  Please don't worry about the revenue loss on my end.I'm able to move the losses to bring down my income bracket.I actually have a net gain leaving them empty.
  
  If the incomes and/or the education levels were better in Claremont my properties would look like those that I have in Hanover and Mass.
  The rents are twice what the market commands in Claremont.If you want to pay people $10/hr. they can only afford $/hr. apartments.Heating oil price is a big factor in rentals.The rent has got to cover that and the multitude of of other expense.Don't ask Richmond what those might be.She's better suited as a live in companion or perhaps dog walker.You can't pretend with numbers crunching like Gleeson pretends he has a clue in department management and project priorities.As long as you have this group of pretenders getting manager pay on staff Claremont will suffer.

• Roger the GOAT (Tuesday, June 07 22 11:18 am EDT)

  Donk, we know you can’t manage your apartment buildings by the look of them, which is why you are so effected by the oil prices. I feel bad for your tenants that will be complaining about no heat because of your poor management.

• Ray (Tuesday, June 07 22 10:55 am EDT)

  The councilors must make some hard choices and cut the budget to turn the bad budget handed to them around. I don't see that happening with the likes of Koloski, Moonshian, Contois and Belevieau amongst them. Ohearne is the swing vote and he is an indecisive as they come. I do not think things are looking good for the local taxpayers.

• Donk (Tuesday, June 07 22 10:33 am EDT)

  None of any of this budget shit will matter by the upcoming winter.The cost of heating fuel and diesel will collapse local budgets in the entire northern tier of the US.
  You have no idea how heating oil and diesel impact our every day lives.
  Your remote schooling idea Jim may get a second look after the heating bills start rolling in.Seniors will be forced to make the choice between heating oil and property tax.Don't count on those future revenue projections because it'll be a far cry from that.
  
  The grasshopper and ant story comes to mind buckle up

• Tim Mulligan (Tuesday, June 07 22 10:25 am EDT)

  Amen, John.

• Jim Sullivan (Tuesday, June 07 22 09:47 am EDT)

  More municipal budget observations & recommendations are published on the News Flashes page of this website.

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, June 07 22 09:21 am EDT)

  Don’t be hating people that are successful, they are the ones that didn’t abandon Claremont and are keeping this city afloat.
  Thank you Mr.Belisle, Mr.Limoge and Mr.Stone for investing in the city and not abandoning it like so many have.
  The three of you are providing high paying jobs and quality housing at a time when both are highly in demand.
  Thank you !

• Fred (Tuesday, June 07 22 09:07 am EDT)

  Haters gonna hate, I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. Good things happen to good people.

• Marc (Tuesday, June 07 22 08:26 am EDT)

  Typical rebuttal that Stone, Limoges or Belisles would use. You gents here posing as someone else like normal I see. Typical moves, point out money, call everyone else losers as they must obviously not be employed or as "successful" or use snowflake or safe space. You really should get better material. Continue your 3 way circle jerk. No one gives a shit. Theres old money, new money and Daddys money. Stone at minimum made his own way perhaps that is why he volunteers his time.

• Go to a safe space Harold (Monday, June 06 22 09:30 pm EDT)

  Harold mad he has no money try working Harold you can do it !!!! Or were you picked on at work to much so now you on SSDI

• Paul T. (Monday, June 06 22 09:00 pm EDT)

  Yeah invested more in Claremont than you will ever know. You mean at the expense of everyone else to line their own pockets. Name 1 selfless act I will wait. Only friends the group named made were each other as business cohorts to further line their pockets. Giant house of over extended credit only gets you so far. They should run. Actually step up and hear what people think.

• tony baker (Monday, June 06 22 03:23 pm EDT)

  Whipple and Sullivan just starved the budgets for maintenance until we reach a point of no return. We can't maintain our way out of the Building and roads in Claremont because they were never manage properly for 30 years. They renovated city hall and the opera house in 1998 and never maintained it after that.

• Harold Champney (Monday, June 06 22 02:41 pm EDT)

  Whipple and Sullivan are the reason Claremont isn’t an abandoned town. If you only knew. Same with the other two, they have invested more in to Claremont than you would ever know.

• Harold (Monday, June 06 22 09:03 am EDT)

  Whipple is one of the reasons they city is playing catch up now. Never invested in future but only in the now. City had no savings and never repaired a thing. Sullivan didn't make it past a term and mixed fact with fiction and lost the followers with everyone using him as entertainment value. Belisles and Limoges are self centered pricks who built their operations with Daddys money and couldn't have done anything on their own without that. A current line of credit doesn't make you a hero. Both couldn't be more self centered and selfish. They only look out for themselves and have a power trip. They wont run as they have more skeletons than anyone in the city. I hope they try it so the house of cards they built on the backs of hardworking individuals will finally come crashing down as it will someday anyway. Anyone else you'd have run that is crooked as they come? Says a ton about you yourself. I bet you are actually one of them posting.

• Duh (Monday, June 06 22 08:44 am EDT)

  Will, you do realize rooms and meals tax is a state thing right? The city has no say on it.

• Charlie Mahler (Monday, June 06 22 07:12 am EDT)

  I would like to see Alan Whipple and James Sullivan back on the council. I would also like to see Mark Limoges and Greg Belisle run. Those 4 would make real change.

• Bob (Sunday, June 05 22 08:21 pm EDT)

  What I have seen from watching some of the meetings is Mooshian and Beliveau offer nothing to a majority of conversations. Contois doesn’t seem to know what they are talking about or voting on. The only two I have seen try to reduce this year’s budget is Matteau and Stone, and that is very odd in itself. O’hearne and Limoges are very quiet and say little during conversations. Koloski loves to talk, but flip flops on issues like a fish out of water. Mayor Girard still needs some work, but is 100 times better than Lovett. Good luck getting a majority of them to agree on anything of real value. I’m afraid when do, it is not in the taxpayers best interests.
  
  The city council needs term limits!

• George (Sunday, June 05 22 07:27 pm EDT)

  I think the reason why we have such ineffective city councilors is that the Democrats and the unions are in charge and through their selfish and self-serving efforts they are putting into public office most of the elected candidates who sit on the city council and in return these city councilors do the bidding of the Democrats and the unions. Average Claremont citizens have few representatives if any on the city council of today.

• Dave (Sunday, June 05 22 06:26 pm EDT)

  The city councilors we have today are a bunch of cringing cowardly do-nothings. Just look at their record of achievement. It is actually a blank slate.

• Steve (Sunday, June 05 22 05:24 pm EDT)

  I would not trust Richmond to balance my checkbook.

• Kathy (Sunday, June 05 22 03:51 pm EDT)

  I think out of all of the ineffectual city employees within Claremont’s municipal administration, Lisa Richmond stands out as the worst as she does not seem qualified to be a director of finance for the city.

• Will Greco (Sunday, June 05 22 03:08 pm EDT)

  It’s not like the residents of the city are any better then the employees. The ones with financial sense are such insulting jerks about it that nobody pays attention.
  Where is the meals and rooms tax going? Why is this the only industry subject to a sales tax?

• Crab Muffin (Sunday, June 05 22 02:32 pm EDT)

  Laura, we would love to see your work ethic. I’ve worked with both public and private employees and they are all the same.

• Laura (Sunday, June 05 22 02:06 pm EDT)

  There are many top ranking city administrators not worthy to hold the job they have. Lack of knowledge and experience tops the list of reasons why. There is also an absence of initiative and an ethic of hard work that is also in play. It is a cancer that has grown for many years because city managers and city councilors do not hold anyone’s feet to the fire and make them accountable for their job performance.

• Mark (Sunday, June 05 22 12:40 pm EDT)

  The city councilors should be irate that Mr. MacLean misled them and the citizens of Claremont about Mr. Gleason’s training. It was a sham concocted to change the public perception of Mr. Gleeson being a novice public works director.

• Donk (Sunday, June 05 22 11:00 am EDT)

  Jim absolutely pays property taxes in Claremont.
  They are included in the rent that he pays, the same as every tenant in Claremont
  They also pay for home insurance in case you were wondering.

• Sleuth (Sunday, June 05 22 10:51 am EDT)

  James, do you own property in Claremont? I searched the property records and it doesn’t appear that you do. If you aren’t a tax payer, what’s your motivation? Please write an article outlining your motivation, all the readers want to know. Or I could interview you if you want.

• Tom (Sunday, June 05 22 10:41 am EDT)

  Alex Gleeson’s training was a con job to make us believe he was trained. I’m glad Mr. MacLean is leaving and I hope the next interim manager is more trustworthy.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, June 05 22 09:13 am EDT)

  New article published today on the News Flashes page.
  
  This is training?

• Darlene Blovett (Sunday, June 05 22 08:37 am EDT)

  Losers spell loser incorrectly. File that like a clerk would.

• Lovett liberal in red before (Saturday, June 04 22 10:47 pm EDT)

  She is a looser and always been a looser good for her liberal she was a clerk in the military

• John J O’Connor (Saturday, June 04 22 06:51 pm EDT)

  Karl,
  I see a party beyond Trump. The Republican Party will be here long after Trump is gone and buried.

• Karl (Saturday, June 04 22 04:34 pm EDT)

  John can you honestly feel good about the state of the Republican Party today? They have abandoned principles of being a republic for a dictator wannabe who doesn’t believe in anything but power.

• John J O’Connor (Saturday, June 04 22 03:28 pm EDT)

  Donk,
  I believe she is a worthy candidate and I wish she was running as a Republican because those are the kind of republicans this party needs to repair itself from what happened in Jan 6.
  I couldn’t imagine abandoning a party when it needs you the most just to take the easier road towards being elected.
  What happens if the Democrats do something stupid will she change back ?

• Donk for mayor (Saturday, June 04 22 12:11 pm EDT)

  Who would want to be associated with the conservatives in this area? Don’t blame her one bit for switching parties but I’m certainly not voting for her based on her record as Claremont’s Mayor.

• John J O’Connor (Saturday, June 04 22 10:31 am EDT)

  I’d like to congratulate the Honorable Charleen Lovett and wish all the best in her run to be our next state Senator.
  I would also like to express my disappointment in her changing political party’s to do so.
  Mrs.Lovett reasons for doing this are sound but why not stay in the GOP and help solve the problems from within ?
  Could it because being a Democrat running for state Senator as a democrat in this part of the state gives you a better chance at winning?
  Why wouldn’t you work to help transform the Republican Party in your own image instead of abandoning it and it’s principles?
  Is winning so important?
  I know Mrs. Lovett is a loyal follower of this site, I would appreciate it if she could explain in more then a sound bite as to why she changed parties.
  To the uneducated eye it seems she is being an opportunist and trying to capitalize on unfortunate events… but I could be wrong.

• Cobble wagon (Saturday, June 04 22 05:09 am EDT)

  Ouch, Charlie bit me

• Admin (Friday, June 03 22 09:07 pm EDT)

  John J O’Connor you are not welcome to post such things here. Donk, aka Tony, you are always welcome here.

• Tom (Friday, June 03 22 04:10 pm EDT)

  You can always tell when Jim Sullivan is making public officials uncomfortable when the truth is exposed. The taunts and insults begin flying.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, June 03 22 03:50 pm EDT)

  Are Jim Sullivan and Bert Spaulding brothers?

• Richard (Friday, June 03 22 03:01 pm EDT)

  I'm happy to learn about the hiring of John Bohenko as the next interim city manager. I Googled Mr. Bohenko and he seems to have a stellar record of tangible achievements as a professional city manager. Maybe that is just what Claremont needs to clean up City Hall and the rest of Claremont's dysfunctional municipal government. Mr. MacLean seems to have given up and is just marking off time until his contract expiration date of June 30. We have too many city employees just phoning it in and not really performing at the level their position should require. The finance director, city planner, planning and development director, police chief and public works director all top that list of underachievers. There are probably others but I just cannot think of them at the moment. Perhaps Mr. Bohenko will realign the city's staff with qualified personnel to make the job easier for his eventual permanent replacement.

• Donk (Friday, June 03 22 11:25 am EDT)

  DPW replacement trucks will all be Tesla Cybertrucks.

• Donk (Friday, June 03 22 10:15 am EDT)

  I took a ride down Sugar River Drive this morning and wow the road is so bad it's almost impassible.Huge holes and I mean suspension destroyers.
  I guess the council is going to have to permit 4 wheelers on all of the roads,there certainly not suited for automobile travel.

• Ethan (Friday, June 03 22 09:18 am EDT)

  Wow Beliveau acts like a real airhead on the council and that is saying something when compared to Contois, Mooshian and Koloski. Claremont does not have the cream of the crop representing its citizens.

• Chris (Friday, June 03 22 08:54 am EDT)

  You are a rumor starting moron. There is only 1 electric fire truck in the U.S. Claremont has a published capital improvement plan if you want real information. There is no electric truck or 3.5 million spend. Go fix something in your shit holes Ron Jeremy wanna be.

• Donk (Friday, June 03 22 08:20 am EDT)

  @Claire- We're going to need every penney of that dump subsidy to buy fuel to heat the schools and pay for road plowing and DPW stuff
  The health insurance premiums and ever increasing paychecks has already consumed our road paving ability.
  My suggestion is to get Picard as a garbage service.They are good people, the price is reasonable,and the money stays local.In 20 years I don't think I've ever even been to the dump,yet I'm paying for yet another thing I don't use.
  
  I hear the fire department is looking at a new electric fire truck that costs $3.5 mil. There is a $1 mil. grant available from the federal govt.so it's only $2.5 our way.
  We have to save the planet and God bless Ukraine.

• Claire (Thursday, June 02 22 06:20 pm EDT)

  Could we please stop pushing to close the transfer station? Yes, closing it would save tax dollars and remove a subsidy by the taxpayers. Thr savings is small relative to other city expenses, and the transfer station is a service that benefits many Claremont citizens and is available to all. If you close it, they will take that "savings" and find new ways to waste it. We will never see a tax break if it closes. What they spend it on next will probably benefit a much smaller group.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, June 02 22 10:57 am EDT)

  “A’s not Gays”… hahaha

• Donk (Wednesday, June 01 22 05:31 pm EDT)

  I see that they're grooming children to be gay in front of the schools.
  Meanwhile test scores continue in decline.Do these people know what they're being paid for?
  We want A's not Gays
  Hope they're tough enough for 60 degree thermostats next winter.Heating oil will be $8-$10 a gallon starting in the fall when Europe has decided to end purchase of Russian gas.
  I guess we'll find out if we care more about Ukraine than seniors freezing to death in their homes.

• Rick (Wednesday, June 01 22 04:42 pm EDT)

  Mark Chase as a city manager would be a disaster. He did a terrible job managing the Police Department just imagine what he would do to the city.

• Bruce (Wednesday, June 01 22 03:46 pm EDT)

  Why is this Lizza Dreaper around children pushing / conditioning children pushing very questionable agendas that don't belong in the schools
  What happened to sending your child to school to get an education, not brainwashing, or a gender change.
  Get special interest groups, and people out of the public schools, and allow students to get a proper education without perverse grooming.
  John is right, this needs to be looked into, and swept up and out of the school as unnecessary confetti.
  Taxpayers are paying an extreme amount of money on education expecting school curriculum, not secret grooming.

• Bruce (Wednesday, June 01 22 03:43 pm EDT)

  Why is this Lizza Dreaper around children pushing / conditioning children pushing very questionable agendas that don't belong in the schools
  What happened to sending your child to school to get an education, not brainwashing, or a gender change.
  Get special interest groups, and people out of the public schools, and allow students to get a proper education without perverse grooming.
  John is right, this needs to be looked into, and swept up and out of the school as unnecessary confetti.
  Taxpayers are paying an extreme amount of money on education expecting school curriculum, not secret grooming.

• Guy (Wednesday, June 01 22 03:33 pm EDT)

  The new temporary City Manager is nothing more then tutor for Mark Chase.
  I predict in 6 months he will be named permanent City Manager.

• Matt (Wednesday, June 01 22 03:14 pm EDT)

  When the new city manager is hired hopefully, he or she will have common sense enough to eliminate the lightweights from their staff starting with Nancy Merrill, Lisa Richmond and Alex Gleeson.

• Bob (Wednesday, June 01 22 01:59 pm EDT)

  They can’t find a city manager because they city doesn’t pay enough to work for them. Who would want these 9 people as their boss.
  The council should absorb the city managers role by having the department heads responsible to them. Then they can return the city manager salary back to the taxpayer.

• Mike (Wednesday, June 01 22 01:00 pm EDT)

  I am not a mathematician but I am not an ignorant idiot either. Jim is right about the clerical union cost increase numbers not making any sense. I blame the finance director for that because what she said did not make sense when the Mayor grilled her a little bit on those numbers. Dale is at least trying to look out for the taxpayers but he is fighting an uphill battle with all of the imbeciles working for the city management.

• Dennis (Wednesday, June 01 22 11:30 am EDT)

  Jim found so many things that nine city councilors missed. I know a few like Girard, Matteau, Koloski and Stone do try while the others all just seen to sit there like bumps on a long log. It’s as if most of them are just there going through the motions ready to rubberstamp whatever the city manager or the department director puts in front of them. How are they representing us?

• Donk “the great” (Wednesday, June 01 22 10:23 am EDT)

  They may call Charlene Lovett for the job. Or maybe James Sullivan could put his hat in the ring?

• Bob (Wednesday, June 01 22 09:58 am EDT)

  Will Topstone ever pay their fair of share of taxes while Koloski is on the council? Talk about friends with benefits!

• Jim Sullivan (Wednesday, June 01 22 09:34 am EDT)

  Initial City Manager search comes up empty! Article appears on the News Flashes page of this website.

• Steve (Wednesday, June 01 22 09:28 am EDT)

  Why is Lisa Richmond still employed with the city? She is a big screw up and she is handling our tax dollars.

• Pat (Wednesday, June 01 22 09:20 am EDT)

  To all the negative naysayers here
  
  https://www.vnews.com/Claremont-rental-market-remains-tight-46454729?fbclid=IwAR2l7h1HpkAQyXL-bMijLSjvRXKij_eOGqGfYfpFWV8hriMlTSTZV2oCGnM

• Donk for Mayor (Wednesday, June 01 22 07:23 am EDT)

  Has John’s kid been indoctrinated? Probably doesn’t have any, just secretly hating himself because he wants to be in a rainbow club.
  There are a lot of problems with our schools but this little club is not it and people from this community are unique different people and nobody to be afraid of. Unless of course you bully the shit out of the wrong one and they decide they need a gun, in which case they can visit the well respected Ward III councilor Jon Stone and buy something overpriced.

• John (Tuesday, May 31 22 11:43 pm EDT)

  Hi Jim,
  
  How come we haven’t heard much about the school systems lately? The other day I heard about the “Rainbow/confetti club” at the middle school. It seems to be one of these programs to indoctrinate our kids with aggressive LBGTQ propaganda. Of course, it's run by Lizza Dreaper and they meet during the school day so that kids won’t have to tell their parents if they join it or not. I have concerns about this, since we aren't really sure what Liza Draper’s credentials are and if she is even qualified to speak to school children about these kinds of issues. Is she grooming the children of Claremont?? Teachers have told me that it’s difficult for them to say anything about it because Liza’s husband is head of HR for the district, so they fear retaliation if they speak up. Can you shine your investigative lens on this issue in our schools?

• Mike (Tuesday, May 31 22 09:54 pm EDT)

  John J O'Connor, What's up Claremont, Kipp's page, is the last place I would post concerns that need to be addressed that may have a negative impact on Claremont. These need to be discussed without censoring on other Claremont forums.

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, May 31 22 09:48 pm EDT)

  Mike,
  Great question. I’m banned for life or longer from What’s Up Claremont for not kissing Kips ring and calling his censorship cowardly.
  Plus, no one listens to me so why bother, I’m a voice in the wind.

• Mike (Tuesday, May 31 22 09:30 pm EDT)

  John J O'Connor, why aren't we using the other Claremont sites more to put a bit more pressure on the city to smarter up.
  Here on the Sullivan Report, not enough. Need to post issues with Claremont on other forums also

• Donk (Tuesday, May 31 22 02:42 pm EDT)

  Time for Richmond and Merrill to be shown the door.

• Jim Sullivan (Tuesday, May 31 22 01:10 pm EDT)

  The article about the Claremont City Council meeting of May 25, 2022 is finally published on the News Flashes page of this website.

• Junior (Tuesday, May 31 22 05:47 am EDT)

  Take your time James.

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, May 30 22 12:31 pm EDT)

  Just an FYI. It is taking me a little longer than expected to write this week's article about last Wednesday's Claremont City Council meeting because I am having to do an extensive amount of research and I only have so much free time to do it. I expect to publish this article tomorrow morning. Everyone have a happy Memorial Day!

• John J O’Connor (Monday, May 30 22 07:43 am EDT)

  Doesn’t sound it Chuck… sounds like you listen to a lot of haters .
  Be open minded and understand you won’t hear of any problems on any other site. What’s up Claremont is all about sunshine, rainbows and censorship, the Sullivan Report gives you all the news (mostly negative) that’s fit to print.
  So many come to Claremont and become sheep, be a wolf Chuck… and don’t drink the “kool-aid”.

• Chuck (Monday, May 30 22 06:34 am EDT)

  Ahh ok, makes sense now. Luckily I forge my own path.

• John J.O’CONNOR (Sunday, May 29 22 08:47 pm EDT)

  That’s right Chuck, don’t listen to people that tried to make a difference.
  Give it some time and form your own opinion, it’s all about perspective.

• Smith (Sunday, May 29 22 07:19 pm EDT)

  Chuck, he and his fellow contributors on here all have something in common. Ran for office and served one term before being booted. Thats Jim Sullivan, A.J. Maranville, John Oconnor, Francis Gauthier. Joe Osgood. You do the math. Welcome to the area. Don't listen to failures.

• Chuck (Saturday, May 28 22 10:02 pm EDT)

  Recently moved to Claremont. Why’s this guy so negative? Heard about this site from a friend and it’s ridiculous. I plan on investing in some properties and dropping some money in the city but dang you guys can’t seem to get out of your own way.

• History buff (Saturday, May 28 22 11:02 am EDT)

  In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

• Donk for mayor (Friday, May 27 22 01:20 pm EDT)

  In 1981, Peter Fennesy retired early and a foreman Russel Fowler quit after 11 years because “there isn’t enough money to do things the way they are suppose to be done and there is no way we can continue our level of services”
  And everybody that left in 1981 left for higher paying jobs.
  40 years later and the not one thing is different for any department with zero effort to try anything different. Everybody just fighting for scraps from a maxed out residential tax base.
  The plan for saving it is a new downtown and mill buildings turned into apartments, apartments that won’t contribute any property tax for the next decade.

• Guy (Friday, May 27 22 08:45 am EDT)

  I drive all over the state, it seems every town has a major paving project under way… except Claremont.

• Rowdy Rodney (Friday, May 27 22 04:39 am EDT)

  Watch the Alpinist on Netflix. OK, now try to complain about pot holes.

• Donk (Thursday, May 26 22 02:29 pm EDT)

  Documentaries are not real.

• Donk for Mayor (Thursday, May 26 22 01:27 pm EDT)

  Anybody watch the “Black Gold” documentary from Paramount?
  I bet half the idiots on this forum were and still are team Exxonmobile/Big Oil.
  
  Claremont should just cut every department and use those dollars for renewable, sustainable energy/electricity and reduce our local dependence on eversource

• Donk for Mayor (Thursday, May 26 22 08:56 am EDT)

  The death of the family structure can be blamed on the drug wars, the subsequent bipartisan corrupt law and order policies of 80s-90s that filled the private prison systems and kept them filled.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, May 26 22 06:48 am EDT)

  Tim,
  So good to see you again, under this name.
  I agree, the breakdown of the family nucleus has contributed to the breakdown in education but I’ll take it a step further.
  When schools started main streaming Special Education students into “ regular “ classrooms it lessened education.

• Tim Mulligan (Wednesday, May 25 22 08:04 pm EDT)

  Passing schools happen with engaged parents and whole homes. The death of the mother and father household has destroyed our civilization.

• Val (Wednesday, May 25 22 06:23 pm EDT)

  Yes Roger, that and some passing schools would be nice.

• Roger (Tuesday, May 24 22 08:21 pm EDT)

  We could really use a good ice cream shoppe downtown.

• Gail (Tuesday, May 24 22 05:58 pm EDT)

  Well the silent majority has never been able to defeat any school spending so why dwell on the budget you can’t defeat.
  
  Claremont still has failed schools with poor outcomes no matter how much money is throw at the problem.

• Donk for Mayor (Monday, May 23 22 03:44 pm EDT)

  Tyler,
  Nobody wants to talk about the school budget. They also don’t want to talk about how to get public corporations such as Walmart to contribute more and extract less from the communities they thrive in.

• Tyler (Monday, May 23 22 10:24 am EDT)

  While the city could cut some waste here and there, the elephant in the room in the school district. Regarding the transfer station, maybe Mr. Sullivan doesn't understand that two employees who work at the landfill only work at that location for two days per week, and work the other three days as usual at the DPW. So it isn't a cut and dry "layoff" of these employees because they perform other duties still needed even if the transfer station were completely closed. The transfer station benefits any citizen who chooses to use it, and Claremont should be proud to have a nice facility that is clean and orderly.

• adam (Monday, May 23 22 09:59 am EDT)

  Rick, The City employees are responsible for the poor housing stocks owned by Donk? The city employees caused inflation? The low wages paid by capitalist employers which keep people needing federal programs to make ends meet are caused by the city employees? In your twisted reallity it is OK for walmart to make millions for shareholders while keeping most employees under 30 hours so they don't have to provide benefits. Forcing families to use Federal Programs paid by tax dollars. No it is time for the employees to say pay me a living wage or go without my labor. The power is shifting to the employee. and now is the time to to take back the wage stagnation of the past 30 years.

• Rick (Monday, May 23 22 06:15 am EDT)

  It is sad that we have people in this community who are so self-centered and selfish they only care about getting what they want for themselves and they do not care about their neighbors who may be elderly living on a fixed income or working a low income job just to get by as it is increasingly harder to live here in Claremont with rising property taxes and other economic pressures of inflation, etc. It seems that anyone who wishes to change the status quo to try to make things better for everyone is vilified with every smear tactic imaginable as those employed by local government feel threatened by change because they have theirs with good pay and amazing benefits and they are not the least bit concerned about the others who struggle to pay for their good fortune.

• Red (Sunday, May 22 22 07:16 pm EDT)

  William aka. Jim Sullivan.

• Insider (Sunday, May 22 22 05:39 pm EDT)

  Word is that the fire department needs a new and improved fire truck that costs in the neighborhood of $1 Million.
  They say they need a beefed up suspension to handle the rough roads of Claremont.
  Sugar River Drive is an accident waiting to happen.The road was prepared 2 years ago now,is this the year they will finally pave?

• William (Sunday, May 22 22 04:39 pm EDT)

  I am happy to read that city councilors are beginning to take Jim Sullivan seriously and start the process of following through on at least some of his recommendations. Purging public subsidies from the city budget is a terrific first step. Changes at the transfer station and the community center have been needed for several years. Eliminating some of the extra budget padding from the Police Department budget is also long overdue as those three patrol officer positions have been vacant for several years and in the present day job market it is unlikely these vacant positions will be filled over the course of the next year, another of Jim’s helpful suggestions. It also seems that several councilors are on the same page as Jim about John MacLean’s idiotic idea of bonding for roads and sidewalks and diverting the funds already allocated within the budget to operational costs, pay raises for staff and increased expenses for overly-generous staff benefits. I wish the councilors were more aggressive and began pursuing other projects recommended by Jim that would benefit everyone such as electric aggregation, a municipal solar electric energy generation farm and privatization of municipal services that prove to be cost-effective. Claremont will never reach its fullest potential as a community without strong, determined leadership that refuses to cave in to pressure from special interests such as municipal employee unions.

• Adam (Sunday, May 22 22 04:09 pm EDT)

  Great news about the tax abatement. Proves Claremont’s commitment to improving the quality of housing. Now we just have to doc the Donk’s and get them out of our town.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 22 22 03:17 pm EDT)

  On August 26, 2020, the Claremont City Council approved an 11-year RSA 79-E Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive for the Chinsburg property located at 29 Water Street to begin once substantial renovations of the building have been completed. This means that the property assessment of $753,700 is frozen for 11 years despite the fact that the property is currently appraised at $1,913,200.

• Donk’s brother Stonk (Sunday, May 22 22 02:53 pm EDT)

  Chinburg and those like him should get all the breaks available as a reward for creating amazing housing in Claremont. Those like Donk should be taxed double for their dragging down of Claremont and never improving their properties. Like a bad boy tax. Keep crap property pay a crap ton of taxes to make up for it.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 22 22 09:24 am EDT)

  Three items published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) My Fiscal Year 2023 Claremont Municipal Budget recommendations sent to the City Council.
  
  2) Council marathon budget session synopsis.
  
  3) Claremont Police Department special media release.

• Jetro Bodine (Sunday, May 22 22 07:50 am EDT)

  Has anyone contacted the assessor's office to let them know that these Chinburgers should be valued much higher?

• Your conscience (Saturday, May 21 22 02:44 pm EDT)

  All the Chinburg apartments are full and there is a waiting list, further proof that quality housing is in high demand. Hopefully these slum lords will sell their buildings and let responsible people buy them and fix them up.

• Insider (Thursday, May 19 22 12:55 pm EDT)

  We should use Simpson Carbophalt G in the paving and extend the useful life of the roads 10 fold.

• Mike (Thursday, May 19 22 09:11 am EDT)

  Holy shit the roads are not that bad. Have any of you lived anywhere else in the northeast? Our roads are actually better than other towns I've lived in, not to mention most of Vermont isn't even paved and you don't see nearly as many people bitching this much. Personally, I'd love if my road was worse. Then maybe assholes wouldn't rev their engines and drive 50 mph day and night. Speaking of why the roads are bad...It's because of the massive trucks and SUVs we drive pounding the pavement. Let's continue to maintain what we have, but some people act like the whole point of a city government is just to pave their dead end road, as if their taxes even come CLOSE to paying for the road they live on. Don't believe me? Look up what it takes to pave a mile of road, then add up what you and your neighbors pay in taxes.

• Charlie (Wednesday, May 18 22 04:46 pm EDT)

  Your wrong Donk, you don’t pay more.

• Donk (Wednesday, May 18 22 12:55 pm EDT)

  I already pay a lot more in taxes than landlords in the immediate surrounding communities.Besides that, I have already said that tenants are having a hard enough time paying rent as it is.Remodeling puts them out on the street.
  
  It's not a tax problem, it's a spending on the wrong things and too many people on the payroll problem.

• Holly (Wednesday, May 18 22 10:15 am EDT)

  Fix up your buildings, pay more taxes, get better roads. It’s an easy concept.

• Donk (Wednesday, May 18 22 07:05 am EDT)

  @Holly- You mean we used to love roads.These streets are the worst I've seen in my lifetime.

• Holly (Wednesday, May 18 22 05:07 am EDT)

  You folks sure do love roads, and complaining.

• Guy (Tuesday, May 17 22 08:46 am EDT)

  75% of the City’s budget is tied up in its personnel. The remaining 25% should be allocated for road repair. If unwilling to do that, layoffs must be considered.

• Donk (Tuesday, May 17 22 08:17 am EDT)

  "The future is bright for Claremont"
  
  How can a city be bright if it can't pave it's roads or put a roof on it's own city hall?
  
  Paychecks and benefits are now eating all of Claremont's tax dollars.
  You have to lay people off if we don't want the roads to disintegrate.

• Nun Ya Bidniz (Monday, May 16 22 08:58 pm EDT)

  RIP Jim Roy, on the day of his arraignment.

• Tim Mulligan (Monday, May 16 22 08:30 pm EDT)

  You guys watch cable news too much. When the major metropolitan areas get even more expensive, we will see more and more people with money migrating our way. The future is bright for Claremont. Hopefully Donk and his buddies sell and leave Claremont for good.

• "The Donk" (Monday, May 16 22 03:17 pm EDT)

  @Donk 2.0 I do believe that government employees that have never missed a check or had to pay for healthcare are in for a big reckoning.
  I hope you save outside of your pension Winston, because pensions won't be Claremont's top priority.I promise you that
  
  Are we going to boycott China when they take Taiwan?
  Better stock up on your medications folks,because our best and brightest outsourced everythin,and I mean EVERYTHING to China.You remember the pictures of Soviet Russia from the 70's?
  
  It's coming to mainstreet USA any minute.
  
  You can't eat Pleasant Street.

• Donk D (Monday, May 16 22 02:00 pm EDT)

  Donk,
  
  Winston obviously has never owned a business that relied on public utilities. He also sounds like a career government official in a department that requires a large tax burden.

• Donk (Monday, May 16 22 12:59 pm EDT)

  Chinburg won't last 6 mos. with mortgage rates heading north of 6%.
  Cost overruns on Pleasant Street will be worked in anywhere they can with the cost of diesel,manpower,and asphalt.
  Your pie in the sky boutiques on Pleasant Street will bomb like a lead balloon.We're in recession already, and it's about to get deeper.The era of easy money to start or expand business is gone.I believe you're a day late and more than a few dollars short.

• Winston (Monday, May 16 22 12:30 pm EDT)

  Donk, who cares about heating oil costs? It is what it is. If you are that effected by the cost of heating, your business model is bad. Adjust with the market.

• Donk D (Monday, May 16 22 11:44 am EDT)

  Donk
  
  They Will be able to pay for it with all the new revenue generated from the new renting residents of the Chinburg properties and the new businesses that will undoubtedly re populate pleasant street once it is finished.

• Donk (Monday, May 16 22 07:36 am EDT)

  I wonder how the CDA is going to pay for the enormous cost for the heating oil for the Farwell Building this next winter?
  
  Even if you took the entirety of the rents collected from tenants you still couldn't pay for the heating alone.

• alicia (Sunday, May 15 22 07:10 pm EDT)

  baby. bolly. u have . rental i been rentin from. friend at prospect. big white. House I can give u reference. u have 2 bedroom ferret? Allowed! plenty of people to pay. rent: we quiet. kids. outside most.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 15 22 07:03 pm EDT)

  New article published today on the News Flashes page of this website. May 11, 2022 Claremont City Council meeting synopsis.

• Ned Grimley (Sunday, May 15 22 02:13 pm EDT)

  I promise you that this next winter Claremont and the whole state will be in crisis.It's $6+ heating oil and diesel now.If the Eurozone decides to boycott Russian oil and gas guess what?
  That'll mean $185 per barrel oil and that will translate to $8-$10 heating oil for us.Put this into perspective.Home heating assistance will be depleted probably in the late fall.The city and state use massive amounts of diesel for you name it.
  Schools,police,fire house,city hall,library,community center,etc. use heating oil.Will schools be willing to keep the thermostat at 60?
  What will the massive amount of New Hampshire citizens do when heating assistance runs dry?
  City Hall roof is probably double the price originally quoted as roofing is a product of oil.Paving uses oil based asphalt and is laid by machines requiring diesel.
  
  You say people are moving to Claremont in droves.The only people moving here are those that wish to be closer to social services.
  $5000 yearly heating bills is catasrophic for Claremont.Yes oil and gas is the same price roughly all over, but property taxes and heating bills will cause a stampede to the south.
  Marginal people and low income will not be able to afford to live so far north.
  
  The boycott of Russian oil will send the world into deep depression.I feel for Ukraine,but not to the point of tearing down America.The ousourcers on Wall have us halfway there already.Want to know why our you are turning to fentinal and suicide? It's a direct affect of outsourcing their jobs and their future.Things look beyond bleak for the youth of today.

• Uncle_Baby_Billy (Sunday, May 15 22 12:45 pm EDT)

  The government is creating the problems. They arbitrarily print more money while simultaneously taxing us differently at all levels. I know it’s a separate budget, department and funding source but repaving a runway for the pointless airport is a waste for everybody except the contractors doing the work. Luckily it is local contractor and workers benefiting.
  We should also be sick of over funding a fire department that isn’t much more than a paramedic service with expensive fire trucks running to any call to keep their volume up.
  Will it ever make sense? Probably not as long as we have this current city council/city manager structure. What intelligent person qualified to be Claremont’s city manager would want to come oversee these idiotic department heads with 9 self interested unpaid elected volunteers as their boss?
  I’ll be surprised if the next one is halfway as competent as Ed Morris.
  Hopefully Alicia has found some affordable housing for all of her kids and useless baby daddies. Think she will be able to afford to rent one of these subsidized apartments from Chinberg?

• Tim Mulligan (Sunday, May 15 22 10:29 am EDT)

  Norm, very often municipalities do not get bids for vehicles because it is difficult to meet the spec and dealerships find it to be a wast of time because they know they aren’t going to make money trying to be the lowest bidder. The best they can hope for is a sale and then subsequent service.
  As for the planning office, they don’t drive capitalism and private business and investment. Too many people think the government will solve our problems and they just can’t.
  
  Claremont will not become a ghost town, because everyone will be paying the same prices. People will still be migrating to Claremont because it is still far cheaper to live here than major metropolitan areas. Hence the massive housing shortage.

• Norm (Sunday, May 15 22 09:34 am EDT)

  I don't see any of these comment public people at the meeting saying something to the council as to these letters. Some are right in $6.00 oil and diesel plus and that Claremont will become a ghost town. We need more employers, but the plaining office can only produce nonprofit business.
  As for the transfer station count the number that use it now and raise the bag from$3.00 to $ 4.00 and do a recount, in a year try $5.00 and see how that works recount. On wed the DPW doze city office pick up and don't charge those dept. they charge the transfer station. wrong.
  As for the DPW head i was informed that he sent out 8 requests for a truck and got only one back this hard to believe. The chimmy, have you looked at the pictures it needs to be completely repointed in and out and sprayed about every 3 years to keep it together.
  where is the maintenance going to come from? so get ready for taxes to increase and everything else to change.

• John J O’Connor (Sunday, May 15 22 06:53 am EDT)

  Tim,
  Is anyone real ?
  What bothers me about the budget is the fact that the administration zero funded paving, knowing it was a very high priority of the last council.
  Is the two part-time City Mangers not listening to the public or driving around the pot holes filled roads and the visually ugly semi patched roads?
  Either way they are not doing their job.
  If it means a $1 increase to the tax rate to start the long process of repair the tremendous about of roads in dire repair then that’s the price the citizens must pay for decades of neglect.
  Pay now or pay later but don’t Rob from Peter to pay Paul.
  Redoing Pleasant and neglecting other streets is like putting new shoes on a Bum… shoes look nice but the rest still looks homeless

• Tim Mulligan (Saturday, May 14 22 10:44 pm EDT)

  Glad to see Bill Limoges also frequents this forum, atleast we know we have an audience. You probably won’t get him to join you for coffee Bill, I tried with John O’Connor and he stood me up. I’m not even sure it’s the real John on here.

• Bill Limoges (Saturday, May 14 22 08:46 pm EDT)

  Hi, Jonah,
  
  I'm not sure what meeting you watched, but I had plenty to say on my own. I did agree with counselor Stone because I believe he's correct, and on the same page as me. If I felt any of the other councilors were correct on an issue, I would agree with them, as well.
  
  I'll tell you what - hiding behind keyboards isn't my style, so I'd like to offer to buy you a cup of coffee, and have a friendly chat- that way you'll be able to ask me anything face to face, like it should be.
  
  I think you might want to re-watch the meeting, because what you're suggesting is very far from what happened - I am 100%, as are other councilors, for our police, but if there's money that is just budgeted, but not being used, it should be removed, so we can redirect it to items like pavement, etc.
  
  I look forward to hearing from you, and also meeting you for a friendly chat over a coffee - on me!

• Jim Sullivan (Saturday, May 14 22 07:57 pm EDT)

  Jonah, I just finished watching today's day long Council budget meeting and I respectfully disagree with you. You say you're upset because roads are not being paved but the Council is trying to find money within the proposed budget to actually do paving because the City Administration zeroed out the paving budget line item appropriation that was $745,950 in the current fiscal year 2022 municipal budget. Administration Officials want to do a municipal bond of an undetermined amount (at least at the present time) that will only cover paving costs for one fiscal year. That is not a viable, long-term sustainable plan! Next year Councilors would have to increase the property tax rate by over one dollar just to bring the paving line allocation back to the Fiscal Year 2022 levels, which is far too low. Several Councilors want to keep the paving allocation in the budget and they are trying to find the money elsewhere in the budget to do so. The figure from the Police Department that was talked about is actually $125,000 and it was coming from Police positions that have been unfilled for several years yet remain allocated in the budget. Presently there are three phantom positions as I like to call them but clearly the soon to be leaving Police Chief dislikes that phrase (he actually said so during the meeting) even though it is spot on accurate. Each position is about $90,000 a year allocated in that budget so $125,000 is not the allocated cost of all three positions, not even close. The Council is also looking at other areas for savings as well so paving can be done without further increasing the property tax rate. The Council should be praised for trying to think out-of-the-box not ridiculed or bashed but trying to do the right thing. Those Police positions have been vacant for years and presently there is no indication that any of them will be filled anytime soon. So no harm is being done to anyone and no one's public safety is being threatened. This is not about defunding the Police, it is about truth in budgeting and reallocating unused funds for present-day needs AKA paving!

• Jonah (Saturday, May 14 22 07:17 pm EDT)

  Watched the budget meeting today for the City of Claremont. Just a simple observation and question. Does Councilor Limoge have any of his own ideas or does he just back everything Council member Stone says? The entire meeting was lock step. The bunch or majority want to cut the police department budget by 150,000. Seems really smart right there. The mayor should be ashamed. You are in emergency services and you clearly do not have the best interest of the community in mind. Its not lost on me that 2 former cops are the ones behind this. Still got that axe to grind boys like something to prove. Can't pave my road but you want to cut public safety funds to save some bucks. Look around at the growth going on. Lets cut police.Trip over a dollar to pick up a penny comes to mind.

• Leo (Thursday, May 12 22 02:46 pm EDT)

  Remodels are a necessary part of the real estate business and any successful property owner will put money back into the business (housing) just like a normal business. If you want Claremont to start to be better, take the first step yourself. Fix a broken door, paint a wall. Don’t be a lazy complainer running a failed business into the ground.

• Hunter Biden (Thursday, May 12 22 11:18 am EDT)

  You people don't realize that remodels cost money.When a remodel is done the cost is passed on to the tenant over time.
  The problem is that a lot of these people are already behind in their rent and in my experience they just continue to lose ground until eviction is knocking on their door.
  Apartments that I have in Mass aren't doing much better.

• Donk (Thursday, May 12 22 07:32 am EDT)

  Newport voters learned a lesson from Claremont and rejected a ridiculously expensive community center. Thank you Claremont!

• Rob Celuio (Wednesday, May 11 22 08:11 pm EDT)

  Maybe Assistant Mayor Deborah will look into it, she reads here. Someone should do something about the slum lords they get away with ruining the city and are a huge tax burden.

• Tory (Wednesday, May 11 22 08:07 pm EDT)

  Doesn’t Claremont look at slums for codes and fire? How does this Donk guy get away with keeping things in bad repair? They should check out Lafayette and Factory st and the stuff behind the fire station!
  
  Maybe the Eagle could investigate the slum lords?

• Randy (Wednesday, May 11 22 07:26 pm EDT)

  Donk, how many did you used to own? What happened? I know lots of owners that have been very successful.

• Donk (Wednesday, May 11 22 03:20 pm EDT)

  I own 2 apartments in town, who else owns that much? Huh? I’m successful, don’t you know? Listen to me.

• Tony (Wednesday, May 11 22 12:10 pm EDT)

  Alicia, what’s your fascination with me? I’m not renting to you.

• alicia (Tuesday, May 10 22 07:56 pm EDT)

  donk. u rent 2 smokers? me & my men will. rent. & $800. i pay in Advance. no bedbugs?

• Ryan (Tuesday, May 10 22 07:53 pm EDT)

  It’s not an empire anymore.

• Mm (Tuesday, May 10 22 05:26 pm EDT)

  Hey Donk where will your tenants go? No town will be immune to inflation. But people purchase homes even when interest rates are above 10%. It may tank the value of your slum empire if you don’t sell quickly.
  
  We can only hope you get stuck owing more than you can sell for. Carma always wins.

• Tim Mulligan (Tuesday, May 10 22 12:55 pm EDT)

  No, it won’t. Keep complaining Donkey.

• Adam (Tuesday, May 10 22 10:06 am EDT)

  Donk if oil goes up it’s going up everywhere. People will have problems in every town.

• Donk (Tuesday, May 10 22 09:41 am EDT)

  The bottom line is this- If diesel fuel and heating oil go to $8-$10 Claremont becomes a ghost town.
  It's as simple as that.

• Tim Mulligan (Tuesday, May 10 22 08:30 am EDT)

  All I hear are complaints and excuses, no accountability.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, May 09 22 10:13 pm EDT)

  Spanky,
  Please give me some examples of blue collar jobs that pay that much .
  This is a blue collar town, I’m not sure how many $72,000 jobs are floating around.

• Spanky (Monday, May 09 22 08:44 pm EDT)

  Most professional jobs do John. Are you serious? Most people are taking home $1000 or more per week at this point. If you aren’t, you are slacking.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, May 09 22 08:10 pm EDT)

  If someone is paying $2000 a month in rent to qualify most landlords will demand the tenant make at least $6,000 a month.
  That’s $1500 a week, what job in Claremont or in Sullivan County that will pay that?
  If your a couple, you would both need to make $750 each, what blue collar job in this area pays that ?
  Just curious..

• Hairy (Monday, May 09 22 05:49 pm EDT)

  $800/month? LOL What are we in the late 1900’s? Most landlords charge $1500-$2500/mo. No wonder you can’t afford heat and repairs for your buildings. Maybe this business isn’t for you.

• Donk (Monday, May 09 22 10:52 am EDT)

  Boy, I wish I could find enough of these "Right" people.
  I have hard working tenants with good intentions.The 1 problem they all seem to have is finding good incomes.
  
  I don't know what kind of heating you're referring to because electricity here is sky high rates, not good for business or living.Claremont will never be Keene or Hanover, to think it could be is delusional.

• Donk (Monday, May 09 22 09:12 am EDT)

  The vacancy rate of apartments is next to zero. I can surely see the investor that will upgrade my properties charging $2000 because the right people will pay it instead of me charging bottom dollar for poor quality housing. The modern heating systems are very efficient and they won’t have any trouble when the they upgrade. I’m looking forward to seeing some positive change.

• adam (Monday, May 09 22 09:05 am EDT)

  Well Donk at least you admit that your a slumlord and have now taken Claremont for all you can. Just move on soon so maybe a real landlord will take your place.

• Donk (Monday, May 09 22 08:11 am EDT)

  Adam, I agree that the wages are not all that outrageous, it's the health insurance on top of the wages that make them far in excess of private sector employees.
  Nobody is going to change that, it is what it is.Claremont does need to get it's priorities straight.We already have the highest property tax rate in New Hampshire, so it's obviously a spending problem.
  Choices have now got to be made.Do you want a community center, or do you want paved roads?
  Has anyone even thought of what the heating bill for the community center and it's heated pool will be this next winter? I imagine it will be gigantic.
  
  @ Jackass-obviously you are some under 30 year old and believe alternatives exist outside of oil heat for New England,well they don't.
  Along with the highest tax rate we also enjoy the highest electricity rates in the country.A natural gas pipeline was proposed a couple of years ago but that axed because it's fossil fuel.The truth is that we don't have anything even close to oil and gas,it just doesn't exist.
  
  I could rehab my properties to be attractive with all the modern conveniences.The problem is the average local tenant here isn't capable of going from $800 per month to $2000.The incomes just don't support anything more than they have now,and the heating oil situation puts even this beyond their means.

• Adam (Monday, May 09 22 07:09 am EDT)

  Donk some of the city employees are paid well below market and positions are difficult to fill. You all complain about incompetent employees but they are unable to hire the quality staff.

• The Real Donk (Sunday, May 08 22 08:23 pm EDT)

  Tony, my apartments are better empty anyways, since I don’t keep them up and don’t screen my tenants. The good thing is people are buying property like crazy in Claremont so I can sell the buildings and some smart investor will actually put money into them, maybe upgrade to a more efficient heating system, fix the rot and give them a fresh paint job. With an upgraded and efficient heating system they won’t be so susceptible to the rise in energy costs. They likely won’t be people that run the 5 gallon cans of the most expensive heating oil around to my old properties either. I’m looking forward to getting out of Claremont, but there are 15 willing people to take my place so hopefully they will be better.

• Donk (Sunday, May 08 22 03:41 pm EDT)

  "Supply is not the problem,Greed is."
  
  Can the same be said of our city employees, leaving us with 0 money for paving?
  
  Prices go up, prices go down, but we always allotted money for paving city streets.So lay offs are taboo and we just let city streets turn to rubble.What is it that we pay taxes for again?
  
  Properties are not my only business.The loss of revenue can be used to offset income taxes.The tenants are becoming more and more of a pain in the ass to pay rent on time.Add in $6 heating oil and the tenants are fucked.I'm not in this to subsidize the working poor.

• Tony (Sunday, May 08 22 03:21 pm EDT)

  Donk are you going to stop renting and leave property vacant? Are you so wealthy you would rather stop income from your property because oil prices are going up?
  
  You do realize oil prices always go up and down. Supply is not actually the problem this time. Greed is. And you are so greedy as to take property out of the rental market during a housing shortage.
  
  Self destructive behavior. Maybe you should get professional help.

• Vlad (Sunday, May 08 22 03:13 pm EDT)

  Support Ukrainian independence or surrender to Russia. We are possibly on the brink of breaking Russia. The world will be a safer place with a weak Russia. Trump will loose his funding.

• The Real Donk (Sunday, May 08 22 02:34 pm EDT)

  Nothing for paving,but we have $2 million for a police communication system,a million for a community center that hardly anyone uses,$100k to subsidize people's dump runs?
  
  Does anyone realize that $6-$7 diesel fuel and heating oil not only sinks Claremont's already stretched citizenry but also the city itself.There's no way out of this.I've already stopped renewing leases and begun emptying my properties.People on the edge cannot possibly handle heating bills next year.
  Just wait until Germany stops Russian oil, I'm hearing upwards of $185 per barrel which translates to $10 heating oil.I don't even know how the state will be able to continue the heating assistance program.
  
  Is supporting Ukraine really worth destroying the country?

• John J.O’Connor (Sunday, May 08 22 02:00 pm EDT)

  As we only have John’s word as well

• Gail (Sunday, May 08 22 12:50 pm EDT)

  The city council needs to tell the city manager consultant to take a flying leap and forget any new muni bonds and leave the paving money alone in the budget and at least keep it where it is in this years budget and find some cuts and add some more to the paving. Have any of these councilors left their house and drove around Claremont? The roads are the worst I have ever seen them.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 08 22 12:01 pm EDT)

  Adam, you are absolutely correct that you are free to assume anything you like. However that does not mean that your assumptions are true and any assumptions that I am reposting under other names is not true. I know you only have my word for that but it will have to do.

• Adam (Sunday, May 08 22 11:07 am EDT)

  Yes Jim but you can’t prove that you are only using your real name so we are free to assume you are reposting under multiple names.

• Joe (Sunday, May 08 22 09:56 am EDT)

  I agree William, if somethings not done soon, Claremont's property tax payers are in for a big future increase to fix problems that need to be addressed now.

• Donk (Sunday, May 08 22 09:41 am EDT)

  William is Jim Sullivan. He always “reviews” the article in the same writing style as Sullivan and always agrees with him.

• William (Sunday, May 08 22 08:28 am EDT)

  What Jim wrote about the budget proposal for the city is very disturbing. The temporary fill-in city manager put together a budget with his lackluster team of municipal department directors that adds $.25 to the property tax rate, greatly diminishes all of the city’s cash reserves, eliminates all funding for sidewalks and road paving, the very thing everyone wants more of not less. The Valley News article about this budget proposal reported that pay raises are included in this budget without offering any specifics as to the amount of pay raise the employees would receive if the Council approves the spending. Usually contracts must be approved but I am wondering if since the pay raises are already included in the budget if Council approval of this budget circumvents the Council approval process for each municipal employee union contract? Like Mr. Morris before him, Mr. MacLean’s priorities appear skewed, as they seem to focus solely on city employees pay raises and perhaps benefits enhancement as well. Municipal road bonding is only a temporary fix that will last one year and then there will be no funding for road paving and sidewalks allocated within the budget without adding over one dollar to the property tax rate just to achieve present-day funding. The problem is present-day funding is inadequate to maintain our community’s thoroughfare infrastructure. I am not pleased with the revelation of the former finance director still on the city payroll after retiring almost a year ago. At least we all thought she had retired. All of the things that Jim uncovers about our city government, the secrets they keep from us and the lies they tell to the public is why they are not worthy of trust or respect. I do believe there are a few people on the city council that are not like that. Maybe I am naïve to think so but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and I am still not convinced that some of the city councilors will join ranks with these unscrupulous city officials and betray the trust the people of Claremont placed in them when they were elected. As Jim always writes, time will tell.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 08 22 06:26 am EDT)

  Four new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Police Chief Mark Chase announces retirement.
  
  2) Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Claremont Municipal Budget is not what it seems!
  
  3) Claremont Planning Staff goofs on City Hall roof!
  
  4) Claremont in crisis!

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, May 08 22 06:23 am EDT)

  Donk, you are mistaken. I only post on the Public Forum under my own true name.

• Donk (Saturday, May 07 22 11:42 am EDT)

  Tyler is Jim Sullivan.

• Ned Grimley (Saturday, May 07 22 07:36 am EDT)

  Has anyone told the police that they aren't getting $800k more for their star wars communication equipment?
  
  The DPW does what they can considering resources.I think better accounting shoud be done with man hours and equipment usage being used for the water department considering many people don't have city water.
  The community center is a million dollars per year that non-users can no longer afford to subsidize.

• John J O’Connor Jr. (Saturday, May 07 22 06:14 am EDT)

  I’d like to congratulate Chief Mark Chase on his well deserved retirement.
  Chief Chase has done a fantastic job in turbulent times with limited resources.
  Claremont was extremely lucky to have such a professional leading it’s police department.

• Tyler (Friday, May 06 22 07:40 pm EDT)

  I appreciate Sullivan bringing things into the light but he is not right on all matters. For example, the new pickup truck for the DPW where he complained about the lack of bids. The RFQ was published and sent out as usual. Is it the DPW’s fault if only one bidder responds? Should they sit on hold and try resubmitting the RFQ time and time again? Frankly, the DPW is pretty conservative in their spending. In the past, all the heavy duty pickups they bought were diesels and now they are buying mostly gas models…which cost about $10,000 less to the tax payer and have significantly lower maintenance costs. The Ford trucks have bodies and beds made from aluminum which theoretically should far outlast a traditional steel body and bed in the plowing and salting applications these trucks are used for, so that’s a win as well. Mr Gomes has been exceptionally generous with the city already in terms of gifting a police cruiser and police motorcycle so I’m pleased the city made the choice they did. The police and fire departments may have some wasteful spending but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the school district spending. It seems incredible how much to do Mr Sullivan has made about a $103k subsidy for the landfill which actually benefits the citizens directly compared to the massive repeated waste from the school district and their ever- growing “General” fund which is really a slush fund.

• Tim Mulligan (Friday, May 06 22 03:57 pm EDT)

  Chief Chase resigning could only mean one thing, he will be hired as our next City Manager.
  I’m sure the hiring will come with at least 6 months of on the job education and tutoring.
  Congratulations on hiring locally, if it couldn’t be me I’m very happy it’s him.

• Donk (Friday, May 06 22 02:10 pm EDT)

  I have 800,000 reasons why Chief Chase gave his notice.
  
  Here's an idea, why don't the police use smart phones like the rest of us?
  $2 Million for what?

• Boohoo (Friday, May 06 22 01:40 pm EDT)

  Awfully quiet in here considering Chief Chase gave his notice. I thought this page would be all abuzz with fabricated conspiracy theories as to why he is retiring! The 3 of you, and all your alter egos, must be asleep at the wheel today!

• Beatrice Reynolds (Friday, May 06 22 04:57 am EDT)

  Pleasant street is looking gooood goood goood!!! One happy Claremonter right here.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, May 05 22 07:18 pm EDT)

  You know how I know it’s really Tim, he always stops the conversation with his truth. Tim, you suck and aren’t welcome here. Go away loser.

• Tim Mulligan (Wednesday, May 04 22 07:10 pm EDT)

  Who cares

• Tonto (Wednesday, May 04 22 04:35 pm EDT)

  Apply to manage it Bob.

• Bob (Wednesday, May 04 22 02:06 pm EDT)

  I would not close the community center. It needs to be open more, and have better management.

• Donk (Wednesday, May 04 22 01:00 pm EDT)

  Close the community center and pave some of these godamn roads!

• Bob (Wednesday, May 04 22 12:11 pm EDT)

  The transfer station should have been closed years ago. Stop wasting tax dollars of the majority to satisfy the minority!

• Joe (Wednesday, May 04 22 12:51 am EDT)

  I think that the City Council should have not brought up the transfer station issue as an ultimatum subject, which I feel is kinda the way the issue was brought up. The inept city management should have discussed in a closed, non public session, instead of bringing to the publics attention with no ideas or solutions, outside of a possible closure to solve it's fiscal shortcomings. The public that uses the Transfer Station would better handle such a problem if the, as Jim stated, the fool's on the City Council announced this with some reasearched solutions.

• Mike (Wednesday, May 04 22 12:39 am EDT)

  I think the same Bruce.

• Bruce (Tuesday, May 03 22 10:29 pm EDT)

  John, it used to be the the Claremont page, and with its high member count it had power, but with What's really up Claremont growing in popularity king Kipp will get dethroned if he keeps up with his fascist run page.
  That's my opinion, any others ?

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, May 03 22 07:50 pm EDT)

  What’s up Claremont has more power that anyone else in Claremont. It’s a King maker, and rightly so. It’s legitimate and well run.

• tonto (Tuesday, May 03 22 06:06 pm EDT)

  Bruce you have a vivid imagination. John was called on his tactic, refused to stop even after asked by the write in. Very much a dirty trick from way back. It has nothing to do with the other candidates, and everything to do with John being untruthful for political gain. Even if Kipp endorsed a candidate, at least they were running.

• Bruce (Tuesday, May 03 22 03:35 pm EDT)

  Soooo,... Tonto, so your point is, John's candidate wasn't running, told all that he wasn't running, and John knew he weren't running, so Kipp is justified in his actions of suppressing John's bid to have voters write in his candidate, thus taking votes away from Kipp's favored candidate, in hopes to get his own favored candidate to win.
  So you feel Kipp's actions are not dirty politics, and John's most definitely are ?
  So the next election, if I have a candidate I want to win, and one I prefer not to win, and choose to write in Jim Sullivan, who is not running, and I know is not running, but feel by doing so I can take votes away from the candidate I don't want to win I am wrong, and playing dirty politics, but Kipp is fine because his agenda of endorsing his candidate on Claremont's largest social media page, and silencing anyone that might hurt his agenda is fine, and not the least bit dirty.
  Tonto, the Lone Ranger needs to push you off your high horse, because it's people like you and Kipp, that makes social media sites like What's up Claremont cesspools of hypocrisy.

• Tonto (Tuesday, May 03 22 09:44 am EDT)

  Bruce the write in candidate involved had already publicly said no. What John was doing was classic split the vote politics to serve his own agenda. Dirty politics from a dirty man.

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, May 02 22 07:38 am EDT)

  New article published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  A memorable Claremont City Council meeting.

• Bruce (Sunday, May 01 22 10:12 pm EDT)

  Yup, that's Kipp, his way or no way !
  Many candidates that don't run for public office get written in, but not on What's up to Kippmont page.

• John J O’Connor (Sunday, May 01 22 07:35 pm EDT)

  Kip,
  What makes you think you can tell me what to do ?
  Is it your privilege that you think gives you the right to tell another human being what to do ?
  You are meaningless to me what makes you think I would ever listen to someone like you ?
  I never had the inside knowledge or the access you had with Jeff and I’m glad you agree he did a great job at the County, but my intentions had absolutely nothing to do with whoever he was running against, I honestly don’t even remember his name.
  You also agree that I was banned because you disagreed with me.
  It’s obvious the only free speech you that is allowed is what you agree with… that’s not free speech and I thank the almighty I’m not apart of your cult.
  I am open minded and feel everyone’s opinion, whether I agree with it or not, is worthy of being heard…. It’s a shame you don’t.

• Kipp (Sunday, May 01 22 05:34 pm EDT)

  Jon, I spoke to Jeff. He was not, in any fashion, going to run for city council. I spoke to him personally. You were trying to convince folks to vote Jeff onto the council so your guy would get the county seat. That was my issue. You were trying to trick people, period. Jeff did a fantastic job on the commission and you’re right, he would have been a great councilor. Bottom line, he wasn’t running for council. I asked you several times to stop with the “Jeff for council” garbage and you refused. That is why you were banned. It was easier to shut you up that it was to try to keep up with your nonsense. You could have debated your candidates merits all day on the page but you tried trickery and confusion instead. It’s really that simple. Others opinions are welcome, but I’m not going to sit back if I disagree with it. People can post it but they need to be prepared
  For me to debate my side. There is a common misconception that I won’t allow differing opinions, which isn’t the case. I won’t allow misinformation and political games. Put a bow on it, I’m done with this conversation.

• Joe (Saturday, April 30 22 09:48 pm EDT)

  Sure responded like the Kipp I know. Came in hot, and didn't back down, even if he was a bit bias defending his page, and his actions.

• Tim (Saturday, April 30 22 07:06 pm EDT)

  No, John.

• John J O’Connor (Saturday, April 30 22 09:13 am EDT)

  Jonah,
  That’s the real Kip. He knew inside info that only Kip would have known.
  Kip is a loyal Sullivan Report follower.

• Jonah (Friday, April 29 22 07:00 pm EDT)

  That is not Kip, it’s an impersonator. Just like John, it’s not him. And Jim Sullivan, it’s not real.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, April 29 22 12:38 pm EDT)

  Kip,
  I wanted Jeff on the City Council because of the great job he did at the County level. If you remember correctly, I wanted people to write in Ray Gagnon, a Democrat,which surprisingly he did run for that position in the next election.
  I don’t know what your problem with Jeff is? He would have been a great asset on the City Council.
  Maybe you didn’t want him to run because he would have beaten one of your hand picked candidates.
  Either way , blocking or banning is cowardly. Interesting how you want to change the subject away from your cowardice.

• Kipp (Friday, April 29 22 12:12 pm EDT)

  Jon, you kept trying to spin it that Jeff was going to come run for city council when he had no intention of running for anything but his county seat. There was nothing to debate. You were blatantly trying to confuse the voters so your candidate would win. If you wanted to debate issues that would have been fine…but that’s not what you were doing. You were being underhanded and a “sniveling coward” yourself by lying to people. It’s been a great group without your bullshit in it.

• Carl Reby (Friday, April 29 22 12:05 pm EDT)

  Mike, what are you not understanding? There is no wrongdoing, and no scandal, and no one will ever get in trouble or has. Get over it people.

• Mike (Friday, April 29 22 10:15 am EDT)

  Like Joe stated, two types of people that visit the Sullivan Report, the informed, and those scared of Jim's information, like Tony, and Patrick.
  Is Nancy Merrill asking you to try and discredit Jim, Tony, Patrick ?
  She needs to seek the help of smarter people, you two are to obvious

• tony baker (Friday, April 29 22 08:49 am EDT)

  So if Jim is so accurate and informative, why no real world effects? everyone still employed, those who left, gainfully employed at other cities.

• Patrick (Friday, April 29 22 05:34 am EDT)

  Multiple city managers and all the same folks remain employed by the city. There is no issue.

• Joe (Friday, April 29 22 12:39 am EDT)

  There are pretty much two types of people that visit the Sullivan Report Richard. Those that want to be informed, and those that are afraid of the information shared here. The ones that want to be informed read and see that the Sullivan Report has strived to provide very accurate information. The ones that fear this information try to downplay and discredit the Sullivan Report.
  Just imagine if there was no Jim Sullivan with his Sullivan Report to expose wrongdoing, wasteful spending and stupidity within Claremont city government, Claremont School Board and Sullivan County officials ?
  Corruption, wasteful spending, and stupidity would be twice as bad, if not worse.

• Richard (Thursday, April 28 22 08:07 pm EDT)

  Did everyone see Patrick Adrian's article in the Eagle Times today about the next county budget? Additional spending of $4.1 million that will increase the county tax rate by 29%. Less one-time money from the federal government, pay raises and a depleted county cash reserve are the culprits. Past decisions by our county leaders are to blame. Last year the delegation used the $660,000 in cash surplus from over taxation of Sullivan County taxpayers in the current budget to stop a big tax increase from happening a year ago instead of replenishing the counties cash reserve account. Sound familiar? It should because Jim Sullivan warned us about this with several articles quite a while ago and the county manager and others affiliated with the county government all swore that Jim was wrong and that Jim misunderstood the county documents. Patrick Adrian’s article proves that Jim understood just fine as he figured all this out way before anyone else and warned the public and Mr. Adrian’s article proves that county leaders were lying to the taxpayers to drag Jim’s name to the mud to cover-up what they had done. Namely spend through a huge cash surplus so now all the money is gone as the savings account is already below what it should be just what Jim said way back when. The county manager and the county delegates screwed all of the Sullivan County taxpayers big time. Now they are going to continue to do so to keep the county government afloat. the county manager should be fired and all of the county delegates should be thrown out of public office at the first opportunity.

• BOB (Thursday, April 28 22 06:32 pm EDT)

  Bruce I forgot about the 6000 posts after a snow storm asking how are the roads HAHAHA!!!! We just had a snow storm there is snow on the roads UGH!! Then the 5000 posts of the roads are bad drive safe everyone... Their mommas didn't give them enough attention when they were little.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, April 28 22 06:13 pm EDT)

  That’s right Kip. Our issue was politics, you disagreed with my opinion and banned me.. like the sniveling coward that you are.
  I remember it perfectly and I appreciate you telling the truth, it was all over a political disagreement.
  So instead of debating the issue, you took the cowards way out.
  Also Kip, you were supporting my opponent and you knew banning me would hurt my vote total.. well played

• Bruce (Thursday, April 28 22 05:48 pm EDT)

  Bob, What's up Clamtown is also a great page reminding the blind what a beautiful place Claremont is, and how if you close your eyes and mind it perfect, and to bring up anything bad, in hopes of making it better, you need to be silenced, and not heard.

• Mike (Thursday, April 28 22 05:42 pm EDT)

  Now you're starting to get it Mitch.
  Jim who corresponds with the Interim City Manager often will get this to come to light, sooner than anyone speaking to the City Council.
  Many on the City Council are far to cowardly to take a bite out of crime and corruption.

• BOB (Thursday, April 28 22 05:33 pm EDT)

  Whats up Clamtown is a great page for lost dogs , lost cats, lost wallets, keys,and credit cards, Basically if it's lost or found it's on that page. Lets not forget the annoying- looking for (insert anything from apples to Zoo keeper) point me in the right direction post's 600 times a day when a simple google search will give you answers, or how about whats going on here whats going on there,,helicopters ---rinse repeat every god damn day, so if your mundane and boring it's the site for you...ALSO SOCCER IS NOT A REAL SPORT!!!!

• mitch (Thursday, April 28 22 04:22 pm EDT)

  Well that defines your complete satisfaction with the current situation and that the council and manager have taken the correct actions of ignoring this blog. It will never harm the real world as no one will bring it up in the light of day. Echo your selves away. Self fulfillment through blogging

• Mike (Thursday, April 28 22 04:12 pm EDT)

  Mitch , like I stated, most of the City Council, and Claremont's new dim - witted Mayor can't define corruption either.
  Why ask the question, if they can't comprehend what your asking.
  At least on here Jim, and Mitch are hearing the question, which is one better than I would probably get asking the City Council.

• Mitch (Thursday, April 28 22 02:34 pm EDT)

  So Mike, now that you have defined one example, are you ready to ask the question of your council member or the Mayor ? I mean you really can’t expect an answer if no one asked a question

• Bruce (Thursday, April 28 22 02:26 pm EDT)

  Yes, What's really up Claremont is way to much national, and not enough Claremont.
  I'm glad it tends to be more right wing, and is not so heavily censored like Kipp's page, (can't bring myself to call it by its real name, What's up Claremont, because it's more Kipp's page then Claremont's page) differing opinions are respected not deleted.
  There's also Claremont's mostly uncensored page, (used to love that page, but lately is not so good) which is against censorship, and also the other What's really up Claremont page, that is against censorship.

• Mike (Thursday, April 28 22 01:03 pm EDT)

  Rodger Yonpley, let me define corruption for the impaired.
  Here's a good example.
  Two loans acquired on the same day secured by the same property collateral.
  City officials doing nothing to explain, or correct this, not even taking steps to fire, or at least reprimand those responsible for this. Sorry, but have to ask, do you have a dictionary, and can you read the definition of corruption, and comprehend its meaning.
  It's okay if you can't, city officials can't either.

• Kipp (Thursday, April 28 22 01:00 pm EDT)

  I don’t know how many times I need to remind you how that went down. Also Bruce, “really” is a great page if you want to see one sided, right wing, national political ideals with little to do with Claremont. Glad you found your home…

• Kipp (Thursday, April 28 22 12:54 pm EDT)

  John. Go get your memory examined. You were playing politics during the Herrell/Barrette campaign. I asked you to stop MULTIPLE times. You refused, I blocked you. And I’d do it again should you somehow weasel yourself back in again. It has nothing to do with differing opinions and everything to do with you being (not shockingly) obtuse.

• Bruce (Thursday, April 28 22 12:17 pm EDT)

  John J O'Connor, pretty good assessment.
  The censorship and concealment that happens on that page, I'm surprised Elon Musk hasn't tried to buy it. (Must of have ran outta pocket change) l have made the switch to What's really up Claremont where rose colored glasses aren't required.
  Bias social media is anti social media, and censors free speech.
  Perhaps Kipp, maybe you should also enlist the help of fact checkers to help enforce your censorship.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, April 28 22 11:51 am EDT)

  Kipp… you and your administrators are cowards…
  You block and ban people that have a different opinion then what you might have.
  You have blocked me twice… I never threaten or used obscene language but you still banned me like the coward you are instead of discussing or debating the issue… I’m certain you do this because you were abused and bullied as a child and you feel this is your chance for some payback but your wrong.
  The only thing banning and blocking does it make you look small and cowardly..
  I’m retrospect, it describes you perfectly.

• Kipp (Thursday, April 28 22 09:30 am EDT)

  “Concealing”. Good one Joe. It’s a giant plot to screw the tax payers (to my own detriment). This is the place for misinterpreted information. WUC is a place to communicate with a large number of invested residents…not 4 people under different aliases like this page. We want people informed about the goings on in the city…not looking to defame and witch hunt hard working city employees. I don’t have the time or the desire to try to match the depravity of this website on my group.

• John J O’Connor (Thursday, April 28 22 06:54 am EDT)

  It’s doesn’t have to be criminal to be wrong. Sully has produced documents after documents of wrong doing, fortunately it doesn’t rise to criminal activity because that would give Claremont “another” black eye.
  If the city has a purchasing policy and they are not adhering to it, the question should be “why”?
  Purchasing a truck from a local dealer should not be a cause for concern unless the purchase price is more then it’s would have been if purchased privately. Having a local relationship is a good thing, it’s keeping the money in the community.
  As for the Community Centers books, Sully isn’t saying there is corruption or anything going on of a criminal nature, he is just pointing out that having different accounting practices can become a serious issue.
  No allegations, just something for the public to keep an eye on.
  That’s what a good public advocate does, let’s you know about a problem before the problem occurs…
  Thanks Jimmy for the “what’s up”

• Roger Yonpley (Thursday, April 28 22 04:49 am EDT)

  Seems to me no one here knows what corruption is. Do you have a dictionary?

• Bruce (Wednesday, April 27 22 06:49 pm EDT)

  Go Joe, I agree.
  Thanks to Jim many have accurate information on city corruption, and judging by the multiple names that Nancy Merrill is using this accurate information is making Nancy and collaborators very uncomfortable
  Thanks Jim.

• Joe (Wednesday, April 27 22 06:33 pm EDT)

  Mitch, the action has already happened. Many on the Sullivan Report have seen, and those like you will take notice and increase theirs, and your knowledge of just how corrupt some Claremont city are.
  Jim is indeed a great reporter, and he is taking action in the form of exposing Claremont corruption, and I as well am taking action from the comfort of my easy chair reading the echoes of those trying to discredit Jim.
  Mitch, you are the helpless one, unable to help conceal city corruption, I on the other hand am capable of independent thinking, and choose to acknowledge that Claremont corruption exists, and Claremont city officials do many stupid things.

• mitch (Wednesday, April 27 22 04:21 pm EDT)

  Joe, So what will you do with that Knowledge? Will you take any action? we know that Jim won't. Now that you know the city is corrupt, what will you do? sit in your easy chair and think what a great reporter Jim is, but I don't really want anything to change so I will just echo this news in the Sullivan Report and lament how helpless I am.

• Mike (Wednesday, April 27 22 03:57 pm EDT)

  Ned Grimley, I agree, the new traffic patterns brought about because of the Pleasant Street one way project is a fire trucks nightmare or any emergency vehicles.

• Joe (Wednesday, April 27 22 03:41 pm EDT)

  Great points William ! See Tony, thanks to Jim Sullivan, and the Sullivan Report, people like William, myself, and many others are correctly informed about what's really happening in Claremont. Thanks to Jim for giving Claremont citizens real reporting, and not what corrupt city officials, and Tony wants us think and believe.
  Tony, have you asked Kipp Ryan to add you as an administrator on What's up Claremont, Kipp and that Claremont page does a good job at concealing corruption and wrong doings in Claremont.
  Also check with Patrick Adrian, and see if he needs help with his nothing bad happening in Claremont reporting job.

• For Real? (Wednesday, April 27 22 01:57 pm EDT)

  Have any of you guys actually been to a city bigger than Claremont? How the hell do you think ambulances function in NYC or Boston?

• Bob (Wednesday, April 27 22 11:32 am EDT)

  Often in government poor performance will be ignored, too much work to hold people accountable when it comes to unions.

• Tony (Wednesday, April 27 22 08:00 am EDT)

  Bruce why would a seasoned city manager ignore Jim’s accusations? Simple. They are no threat. Jim will never take any steps to push the issue and so it is better to thank him for his email and ignore it. It will go away as no one ever pushes the allegations where they would matter. Push as hard as you like here in your echo chamber. The rest of us will get on with the work of the real world.

• Ned Grimley (Wednesday, April 27 22 07:59 am EDT)

  Good comment William
  
  I bet they don't even realize that the parades down Broad Street are now a thing of the past with the new traffic pattern.With Pleasant Street being one way, how on Earth would an ambulance get to the hospital should a medical emergency arise from that side of town?
  It's simply insane

• William (Wednesday, April 27 22 06:57 am EDT)

  If the city government were operated like a private corporation, things would be much different and a lot better. A director whose management of a recreation facility caused a significantly large reduction in revenue and a simultaneous increase in annual corporate cash infusion to maintain facility operations would be terminated and a competent replacement hired. A consultant whose management of the assessing office included the continued subcontracting of utility property assessments that cause multimillion-dollar lawsuits and large settlement agreements would have their consulting contract terminated, as would be the subcontractors’ contract and suitable consultants would be hired. A director whose management of the public works department included his recommendation to continue operations of a transfer station that requires an annual corporate cash infusion of over $100,000 instead of stemming the cash hemorrhaging and who continues to purchase vehicles from a favored vendor instead of obtaining multiple price quotes to ensure the best price for the Corporation would be terminated and a competent replacement hired. A director whose management of the police department instigated a communications equipment project convincing the Board of Directors to float a $1 million bond to pay for the entire project and then report that at least another $800,000 will be needed to complete the project would be terminated and a competent replacement hired. A director whose management of the finance office creates financial documents that changes revenue and expense numbers of closed out books after the fact creating multiple, conflicting versions of financial documents would be terminated and a competent replacement hired. A director whose management of the planning office who instigated a downtown construction project with a phony parking plan promising the creation of 100 new public spaces that will never materialize and changing the traffic flow turning the project area into a traffic nightmare and who mentored a subdivision of the corporation with a building renovation project that doubled in cost, moves forward with the project without adequate funding and is seeking over one quarter of $1 million more than needed to complete the project and in regards to another renovation project with this corporate subdivision borrowed $350,000 without any income to repay those two loans placing 10 corporate properties in danger of foreclosure as they were used as collateral for these loans would be terminated and a competent replacement hired. In the city of Claremont government, these directors are praised and revered by the interim city manager for all the wonderful work they have done. This is far more than a blind spot this is complete denial. While I agree that the interim city manager has brought a small amount of stability to a city government spinning out of control because of the previous city manager and city councilors unable to make a decision, I have no faith in his abilities to solve any of the many present-day problems. I believe the best we can hope for is the city councilors quickly find a new city manager and this time they hire a qualified one.

• Bruce (Wednesday, April 27 22 02:49 am EDT)

  Tony, if Jim was spewing false information, the Interim City Manager, whom Jim corresponds with almost weekly, would surely have responded, correcting any false information.
  Or are you trying g to say the Interim City Manager wants false damaging information shared about subordinates he oversees ?
  Tony, Jim is reporting it how it is, but you choose to protect, and conceal the corruption, which makes me think that you are perhaps blind, deaf, and dumb.

• Tony (Tuesday, April 26 22 09:04 pm EDT)

  Matt, how is this blog dealing with the corruption? Actual facts please. Jim Sullivan spouts corruption on the blog but no one is ever held accountable, including Jim. I am asking you all to act on the news Jim is putting out. How do you construe that I am protecting any one. Just one of you stand up and make these accusations so that you can prove corruption. Prove just one of Jim’s accusations. I dare you.

• Matt (Tuesday, April 26 22 08:34 pm EDT)

  I think Bruce is right about Tony as he keeps throwing crap on the wall hoping something will stick. Tony is not interested in the truth all he is interested in is protecting city government officials and the status quo. Tony does not care about the good, hard-working citizens of Claremont who are being taken advantage of by the city government officials who Tony wants to protect.

• Tony (Tuesday, April 26 22 06:10 pm EDT)

  Dennis, emails don’t require any actions. If you have the proof of corruption, bring it on. Confront your council members. Ask the AG to investigate the crimes you see in the documents. It is a slam dunk open and close case of corruption. But wait. If it’s such a good case, why does Jim not act on it? What does he mean by these accusations? He is not really a reporter as he doesn’t really report it to anyone. He is not a citizen watch dog because he only barks in the dark echo chamber of his own blog.
  So Dennis print out the evidence and take it to the next council meeting. File a case with the AG. Be the man of action Jim can’t be.

• Dennis (Tuesday, April 26 22 05:24 pm EDT)

  Tony you say the accusations are not real. Okay let's put that to the test. Are you saying the documents made by the city showing up to three different sets of final revenue and expense numbers for the community center that Jim published are fake? What about the DPW truck purchase documents are they fake too? These documents prove what Jim writes in his articles is the truth. Jim writes in many of his articles that he emails a copy of many of these articles to the city councilors and to the city manager. So they are all aware. Nothing is done because the system is corrupt. How is this Jim's fault?

• John J O’Connor (Tuesday, April 26 22 02:54 pm EDT)

  I personally like Mark Breslin, he has done an excellent job considering the circumstances.
  The Community Center and the Town Dump are the only two entities that are designed to turn a profit.
  The City will always have to subsidize the Community Center as long as the price structure remains the same. The Center in Lebanon is a private business and charges @3 times what Claremont does.
  If people want the Community Center to be profitable, a increase in membership prices must occur or privatization of the fitness area must be seriously considered.

• tony baker (Tuesday, April 26 22 02:44 pm EDT)

  Really people, who is going to take this corruption to the AG? Who will make this impact the real world. This is just self gratification on this site. No one will get in any trouble unless the corruption is outed to the real world. this site informs no one with any power to act on it, or those who do see it here, just ignore it as it has no influence on the real world. No one is in trouble, no one is at risk, No one cares what Jimbo is saying, it can all be ignored. He has had no influence in a decade. No one is seeking to hide corruption, you have to prove corruption before anyone gets in trouble. You haven't even made a public accusation yet.

• Bruce (Tuesday, April 26 22 02:15 pm EDT)

  Tony Baker, you should be on the Claremont corruption concealment payroll, or maybe you are, and on here protecting corrupt city officials like Nancy Merrill.

• Mike (Tuesday, April 26 22 01:59 pm EDT)

  YES JENNIFER, yes, excellent points. The public needs to know and most wouldn't if it weren't for the Sullivan Report !

• tony baker (Tuesday, April 26 22 08:45 am EDT)

  Jennifer, SO if these allegations are real, why do we never see any results? Why has no one ever been sued, prosecuted or even fired based on Jimbo's decades of allegations? the real reason no news media picks up his stories is they have to defend the stories, they have to live in the real world where publishing half truths and lies can get you in real legal trouble. Jimbo can always claim he didn't publish these stories as facts, only his opinions and he is free to have an opinion.

• Richard (Tuesday, April 26 22 08:07 am EDT)

  I love the smell of desperation in the morning. Local leaders really hate to have their dirty laundry aired for the public to see. They will stoop to anything and write anything to cast aspersions on anyone who is not one of their team players.

• Google AI (Tuesday, April 26 22 07:32 am EDT)

  “Jennifer”, I have analyzed your writing style and it is identical to many others on this forum. Do what you will with this artificial intelligence insight.

• Jennifer (Tuesday, April 26 22 06:45 am EDT)

  Jim Sullivan has brought to light so many underlying problems hidden within Claremont’s municipal government with his exposes that incorporate municipal documents that illustrate to readers the truth and then he takes his higher level of journalism one step further by offering possible solutions to whichever issue he is reporting at that time. This week’s community center expose puts the public spotlight on two different problems. The community centers decreasing revenue and increasing taxpayer subsidy and the steps the administration is using to hide the true cost of the taxpayer subsidy because the soon departing parks and recreation director and others in municipal management did nothing to establish positive change. The other problem lies with the finance office and the numerous changes to the community centers final closed out fiscal year revenue and expenses. Numbers that should never change after the books for that fiscal year have closed. These changes require intent. It would be foolish to assume that this is an isolated incident confined to only the community center. Other financial numbers may be routinely altered as well. I am of the opinion that this responsibility lies with the finance director and her financial documentation cannot be trusted.
  
  She and Mr. Brislin are not the only department directors who are not living up to a modicum of professional standards. The public works director is recommending doing nothing with a transfer station that generates a taxpayer subsidy of around $100,000 annually. The police chief was promoted to a temporary position of assistant city manager after initiating a communications equipment upgrade project requiring a one million dollar municipal bond and then after the municipal bond was borrowed he informs everyone through a hired consultant that at least another $800,000 will be required to finish the project. The planning and development director is the worst of them all with several planning issues with the Rethink Pleasant Street Project, the grossly underfunded Pleasant Restaurant Renovation Project and the Farwell Building Renovation that may cost the public to lose ten public properties to foreclosure. Our temporary city manager will do nothing about any of this as he praises each of these department directors whenever they appear before the city council. Jim Sullivan calls this Mr. Maclean’s blind spot but I think it goes far beyond that. Claremont needs a new city manager.
  
  Some people on this public forum unfairly blame Jim Sullivan for the actions of others. Other local reporters with no drive or initiative to investigate anything and only report selective news items that never scratch beneath the surface. It should come as no surprise that these reporters would ever report anything from the Sullivan Report because they avoid controversial news that may criticize anyone connected with local government. These reporters simply provide filler for their publications. Why would anyone think that these reporters would suddenly change and become real journalists?
  
  Jim Sullivan is also blamed for not affecting change in our local government. Jim Sullivan is not an elected public official. He has not been for many years. Only those in political power can make changes so the blame should be cast upon the city councilors and the city manager and no one else. I have little confidence in our city council, as they seem to excel at political rhetoric and difficult decision avoidance. This year the city council had the opportunity to terminate the energy committee for nonperformance and they chose not to because one former member, the county manager pushed back against the idea and the city councilors all caved in. Electric aggregation, a new concept being pursued by many forward thinking municipalities is going nowhere in Claremont because of the city council’s aversion to difficult decisions. Jim Sullivan exposed the Claremont development authority’s shocking business practices and how they have jeopardized the security of ten public properties. The city council and the city manager have still done nothing about this. More difficult decision aversion. The city council struggled to make quite small changes to the Rethink Pleasant Street Project and they delayed action on the transfer station by moving forward with a request for proposals that will procrastinate any final decision on this issue for at least three months. If this is the best leadership that our city councilors can achieve then Claremont is in real trouble.

• The real John J O’Connor (Tuesday, April 26 22 04:45 am EDT)

  Sully received no compensation or sponsorship. He is a true public advocate and should be commended not ridiculed.
  Stay strong Jimmy …

• Kevin (Tuesday, April 26 22 12:37 am EDT)

  I think Jim Sully is Nancy Merrill making an inept attempt at discrediting Jim Sullivan to keep from getting fired, and out of jail

• Bruce (Tuesday, April 26 22 12:11 am EDT)

  John J O'Connor, Jim calls it like it is, and the Sullivan Report is anything but a safe place.
  This public forum attests to that.

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, April 25 22 05:26 pm EDT)

  For the record, I only post on the Public Forum using my real name. If someone wishes to pay me a compliment that is fine and it is greatly appreciated. I also realize that some people will criticize me here for continually revealing the truth with irrefutable documented proof that certain local officials wish to keep buried in a deep dark hole. That's okay too because I realize that I have made a very long list of enemies. It goes with the territory.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, April 25 22 02:11 pm EDT)

  William if there’s anything to these allegations then they will be in the real media soon. Why don’t you call WMUR and give them a hot tip on all the corruption in Claremont? I am sure they will jump right on it.
  
  Or go straight to the AG? They would love to take down some corrupt officials.
  
  Maybe if Jim would make the allegations in public that would happen any way.
  
  
  But he won’t. He is only a reporter who slips into petty name calling in his “articles “ and calls people corrupt or incompetent from the safety of his blog.

• Jim Sully (Monday, April 25 22 08:47 am EDT)

  Does anyone actually believe that Jim Sullivan doesn’t comment under fake names to praise himself for his own articles? Honestly now…there’s some good stuff here Jim, and we need a watchdog in our city government, but try being a little less insecure.

• Gail (Monday, April 25 22 08:01 am EDT)

  There are many unsatisfactory employees working for the city and many of them hold one of the top positions in their respective departments. For many years, city managers have looked the other way when a professional manager would have terminated these unsatisfactory employees for the good of the organization. I have no illusions that Mr. MacLean will terminate anyone as he constantly lavishes praise on several of these incompetent idiots. Perhaps our next city manager will be better.

• William (Monday, April 25 22 06:45 am EDT)

  I also subscribe to the Eagle Times. Every week Jim Sullivan provides us all with well researched in-depth investigative articles about Claremont and he accomplishes this in his spare time as he works a full-time job besides. Patrick Adrian by comparison is a full time reporter for the Eagle Times who writes only a few articles per week, even fewer about Claremont and he occasionally needs the assistance of his editor to write an article. Patrick Adrian’s articles are not in depth as he only reports the obvious.
  
  While presumably working forty hours last week, Patrick Adrian did not find or report about the Governor’s signing of legislation pertaining specifically to Claremont, the sale of the Odd Fellows property and it’s importance to the Rethink Pleasant St. Project or the upcoming expansion of Fulling Mill Fly Fishing’s business operations. Jim Sullivan did in his free time.
  
  Does it strike anyone else as odd that one local car dealer wins so many awards for vehicle purchases from the city public works department? A one quote bid process is not a legitimate bid process in my opinion. If multiple price quotes were sought out for every vehicle purchase then it would be statistically improbable that one car dealership would win all of the bid competitions.
  
  Jim’s article about the finances for the Community Center simply blew my mind. It’s inconceivable that a competent finance director would produce multiple sets of different financial numbers both revenues and expenses for prior fiscal year books that have been closed. Yet in Claremont that is precisely what has happened as Jim has proven with the city’s own financial documents. Then there is the problem with the taxpayer subsidy that city administration employees are actively hiding with as Jim puts it accounting gimmicks. Very deceptive behavior for municipal officials when reporting about the spending of taxpayer’s dollars. How can anyone trust the finance department employees ever again? I for one am glad that Mark Brislin is leaving as Jim has clearly proven that Mark was a terrible director of this facility.

• Joe (Monday, April 25 22 12:05 am EDT)

  It's a typical story of Pleasant Street John, one that won't change with wider sidewalks.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, April 24 22 04:53 pm EDT)

  Six new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Community Center finances update.
  
  2) Odd Fellows Building sold.
  
  3) Recent Pick-Up purchase raises questions.
  
  4) Governor Sununu signs bill fixing Claremont Police Commission law change snafu.
  
  5) Fulling Mill Fly Fishing LLC seeks to construct a 5,000 square foot warehouse addition!
  
  6) Changes at Eagle Times?

• Rose Matterpot (Sunday, April 24 22 10:27 am EDT)

  Claremont is a great place. Also very successful. This place is too negative.

• Timmy is back (Saturday, April 23 22 07:02 pm EDT)

  How many businesses have opened in Claremont in the last 5 years? What is the vacancy rate of rental property? Why is there a housing shortage?

• Shelby Stanga (Saturday, April 23 22 06:39 pm EDT)

  No customers? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day. We live in the internet age. If you have a phone you can sell to nearly the entire population of the earth. No excuses! None!

• Ned Grimley (Friday, April 22 22 01:18 pm EDT)

  It just seems to me that the antiques and tube socks or the participation trophy store aren't the wisest of business models for Pleasant Street.
  Planned Parenthood,GED preparation,safe space needle exchange/shooting gallery,and more halfway houses seem better suited.
  Oh, and maybe a counseling center for homeless children to talk about the problems of the born into lottery that they lost.

• BooHoo (Friday, April 22 22 11:41 am EDT)

  That is the same business that is open very irregular hours and then likes to blame every other circumstance on their struggles. According to the restaurants on Pleasant, they are still super busy despite the construction. I am not interested in setting aside a penny of tax money to help a business that has a terrible model and then blames others for their failures.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, April 22 22 08:58 am EDT)

  Yesterday was a nice sunny spring day and there was a business on Pleasant Street and reported ZERO customers. I didn’t say ZERO sales, but ZERO customers.
  How long can this business or any business on Pleasant Street survive with no customers?
  I asked this store owner what he thought the reason was and without a doubt he says “road construction “.
  Out of all those millions of dollars that has been allocated for this project maybe a little can be set aside to help business owners financially survive through the construction process.
  If nothing is done to help these entrepreneurs, Pleasant Street will be a Ghost town with widen sidewalks.

• Bart Garth (Thursday, April 21 22 07:55 pm EDT)

  It’s too bad you run Claremont in to the ground, Donk. You ain’t fooling nobody.

• Donk (Thursday, April 21 22 09:04 am EDT)

  It's just too bad that property owners in Claremont can't avoid taxes like popcorn Sutton did making moonshine.
  Why don't you suicide yourself like popcorn did to avoid responsibility?
  What a shit heel to iconize

• tony baker (Thursday, April 21 22 08:45 am EDT)

  Slum lord, what business person looks at a loosing business plan and dedicates investments to it? Really, it the rents don't support the house, plus your desired profit, don't invest. If your business model is to buy a run down building, get what ever rent you can out of it until it is condemned, and then walk out on your tax bills, well You are a slum lord.

• Bob (Thursday, April 21 22 12:04 am EDT)

  Slum loard, those are good points.
  It's people like Popcorn Sutton that will keep Claremont, which was a great place years ago, but now is New Hampshire's Windsor.

• Popcorn Sutton (Wednesday, April 20 22 08:37 pm EDT)

  Keep making excuses, the fact remains, the slums are created by people who buy buildings they can’t afford.

• Slum lord (Wednesday, April 20 22 06:19 pm EDT)

  Huh, ? don't buy an income property if you can't afford it.?
  Sell if you can't afford it ?
  Get better tenants so you can afford it. ?
  Damn Popcorn, Tony, and John.
  You three idiots could of saved probably every small business that ever closed in Claremont. Don't open a store if you can't afford it, (but they did)
  Get better shoppers, (I guess they didn't)
  Sell when you can't make profits, ( I guess that sorta happened to)
  I guess you three scholars Have it all figured out, so anybody that can't afford to do business, in Claremont should just board up and get out of town, like many small businesses and residents already have. You like most the Claremont City Council take the approach that it's not our fault that doing most anything in Claremont is financially hard, and it's not up to us to make it any easier, for you. No blame on the City for an extremely high property tax rate.
  No blame on the City for not being able to bring in any good paying industry, to help support higher rents,most companies probably don't want a high property tax rate any more than homeowners.
  No blame on the City for attracting low income, section 8 or a population that only has state assistance income to pay rent.
  No the blame in your eyes falls entirely on the person trying to make money owning income property.
  You three belong on the City Council with the rest of the blighted Council.

• John J. O'Conner (Wednesday, April 20 22 04:55 pm EDT)

  Donk it is really land lords trying to blame the city for their own poor management of their own business.

• tony (Wednesday, April 20 22 04:08 pm EDT)

  Choose your tenants

• Donk (Wednesday, April 20 22 03:29 pm EDT)

  @Tony - It's just too bad the rental checks coming in on time aren't as predictable as taxes and building materials.

• Tony (Wednesday, April 20 22 02:23 pm EDT)

  Joe let’s get real. If you can’t create a business plan around a property you have no business trying to do business. Taxes are predictable. Renovations and repairs are predictable.
  
  Poor management is poor management.

• Popcorn Sutton (Wednesday, April 20 22 08:28 am EDT)

  Joe is wrong. Apartment buildings are selling just as fast as any other real estate. The problem is broke people buying junk buildings and thinking they are going to get rich. They can’t afford the repairs because they shouldn’t be in the business not because the taxes are high. Taxes are a known number. You accept that when you buy in Claremont. It’s no surprise. If you can’t afford to do business the right way, don’t do it.

• Bruce (Tuesday, April 19 22 09:16 pm EDT)

  I think Joe is spot on

• Joe (Tuesday, April 19 22 09:14 pm EDT)

  Popcorn Sutton, I disagree, more than likely they can't afford to fix up, which some of the blame I'm sure is because of Claremont's high property taxes, and I doubt that there is any market for rundown apartment buildings in Claremont. If you know of potential buyers perhaps you should list them and solve at least one of Claremont's problems.

• Popcorn Sutton (Tuesday, April 19 22 08:34 pm EDT)

  Joe, you’re wrong. Fix the damn buildings or sell them to someone who can afford the buildings and the upkeep.

• Joe (Tuesday, April 19 22 06:12 pm EDT)

  Ben Denero, the vacancy rate in Claremont is low because there is, and has been a housing shortage in Claremont for quite a few years, hence all the discussions about the problem at many City Council meetings.
  But it seems that you choose to attack slum lords, with no evidence of whether or not these income property owners are even collecting enough funds to cover expenses, let alone upgrades to their properties.
  If they are renting to low income, I'm am sure they are not becoming rich, but instead find it hard some months to break even.
  I like your solution/agenda, (not really) shaming slum lords to fix their properties with their rental income, to bring their assessed property values up, and pay more in property taxes, to help Claremont bring down the tax rate, which in turn will lower property taxes, unless the City Council decides to rethink Main Street like they did Pleasant Street resulting in no savings and an even higher tax rate, which the slum lords will have to once again let their properties decline and, or pass this extra cost on their low income renters.
  And Tony, everybody that fixes their properties to look and become better properties will indeed increase the value of their homes, and Claremont will surely make sure that extra value is taxed.
  You can both argue these points or elect a City Council that will make Claremont more affordable for all.

• Ben Denero (Tuesday, April 19 22 02:11 pm EDT)

  The vacancy rate in Claremont is virtually zero. There is a quality housing shortage. Don’t tell me tenants can’t afford the rent when everything is rented. If the rent was too much you’d have mass vacancies. Fix your damn buildings and stop making excuses.

• tony baker (Tuesday, April 19 22 10:30 am EDT)

  Joe, No one is given a higher tax rate if they fix their properties. The property may increase in VALUE, which is a benefit to the land lord. Home owners fix or maintain their properties and rarely see major increases in the tax BILLS, until they, add square footage, add bathrooms, expand kitchens. All of which increase the potential VALUE of the house, which to the benefit of the home owner. You all play by the same rules, and running your properties down is just a short sighted, screw the city, screw the tenant, I am taking what I can and will ditch the worn out shell when I can no no longer rent it.

• Donk (Tuesday, April 19 22 09:47 am EDT)

  I would have no problem fixing properties up and even paying higher property tax.The problem is that the tenants of Claremont are maxed out.Many can't afford the apartments as it is.When higher taxes are put on properties naturally the rent goes up accordingly.
  Landlords aren't in the charity business renting properties at a loss, although with the rent moratoriums last year government forced landlords to continue paying property taxes despite not collecting rent.Naturally landlords are trying to recoup their losses by raising rents as a group.
  The problem is that Claremont tenants are very low income people for the most part.They even try to rent apartments with multiple families inhabiting the same space,sharing expenses.They even try to hide the fact from landlords,but utility bills tell all and it's grounds for an automatic expulsion from the property.

• Popcorn Sutton (Tuesday, April 19 22 05:54 am EDT)

  Wrong. Slums are made by a mix of landlords that can’t afford to be in the real estate business and those that make money renting junk to people who don’t have a choice. If you can’t afford to fix up your building because the taxes will go up, then you can’t afford to be in the real estate business.

• Joe (Monday, April 18 22 06:19 pm EDT)

  No, slums are made, or at least encouraged by the community in which they exist.
  Claremont encourages a large goverment assistance population that treat where they reside with little respect, and then you add the high property tax rate which makes it not only difficult to afford upkeep, but also penalizes property owners that fix up their properties with an even higher tax rate.
  Claremont is its own worse problem, and always will be until the voters think before they vote.

• Popcorn Sutton (Monday, April 18 22 04:49 pm EDT)

  No, slums are created by slumlords that don’t give a damn about the community and let everything rot. Fix your buildings, stop making excuses ya bum.

• Donk (Monday, April 18 22 12:28 pm EDT)

  High property tax policy is what created Claremont slums.Landlords get penalized through higher taxes whenever they do improvements to properties.
  You have that and tenants can't afford the rents as it is.Improved property means higher taxes,which in turn means higher rents.With the huge jump in heating oil the tenants can't afford the the expense of keeping a roof over their heads.Many of the applicants for rentals have terrible credit scores,as well as previous evictions.No landlord in their right mind would rent to this lot.

• Bruce (Monday, April 18 22 10:23 am EDT)

  Wish John McLean would do the right thing, and fire Nancy Merill, and have the police chief arrest her. Come on McLean, fire her and save Claremont property tax payers some money, as well as additional headaches and expense in the future !

• Carl Stone (Sunday, April 17 22 08:59 pm EDT)

  Bought a salad today.

• Popcorn Sutton (Sunday, April 17 22 05:26 pm EDT)

  Why don’t you write the grant on behalf of the City that you destroyed with slums.

• Donk (Sunday, April 17 22 04:15 pm EDT)

  Here's your $800k funding source for the police communication system
  
  https://www.911.gov/federal_funding_opportunities_for_911.html

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, April 17 22 02:19 pm EDT)

  New article published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  April 13, 2022 Claremont City Council meeting synopsis.

• Johnny Varner (Saturday, April 16 22 08:18 pm EDT)

  Doesn’t seem to be an issue in Newport with 10 times the traffic on the Main Street. Us in Claremont gotta learn how to drive.

• Frank (Saturday, April 16 22 12:10 pm EDT)

  I notice that the cars traveling on Pleasant Street don't want to stop for people pulling out of parking spaces.They even honk their horns at you.Well I'll tell you, if I've started pulling out of my parking space I'm not stopping until I'm fully out.
  You honk your horn I'll just take an extra long pause before I put it in drive.I don't care how much you honk.

• Bruce (Saturday, April 16 22 09:16 am EDT)

  Yes !!! Well said Joe.
  I agree, and want to add that I think many feel the same.

• BooHoo (Saturday, April 16 22 07:47 am EDT)

  I sustain on the tears of the naysayers. You all want the same old Claremont but with smoother streets. It’s literally all you care about, and it’s delicious.

• Joe (Friday, April 15 22 11:01 pm EDT)

  John J O'Connor, no one did any due diligence, only wanted to appease a couple of restaurants with their own agendas of being able to seat customers outside because they can't accomadate customers inside their businesses so they choose to inconvenience all that have to drive through the middle of Claremont so they can have wider sidewalks to put customers outside. Are they going to pay for this extra space, or are Claremont residents going to have to pay, both financially and with the inconvenience of having Pleasant Street one way ?
  The 13% of what's left plus the amount the project is going to go over budget, would be better used to pave city roads that are ruining commuters cars, instead of one small section of Pleasant Street. I'm also sure that I'm sure Chinburg could care less about making Pleasant Street one way, and would rather have some paving done on busy Claremont streets which is a better attribute to this investor.

• Joe (Friday, April 15 22 10:24 pm EDT)

  Yes Bob, winter will definitely be a _ _ _ _ show, and all the rest of the year as well with having to go around to Broad Street just to get to Main Street from lower Pleasant Street.

• Jimmy Cruller (Friday, April 15 22 09:37 pm EDT)

  Bob, learn how to drive and you’ll be fine.

• BOB (Friday, April 15 22 05:55 pm EDT)

  Pleasant st is a disaster just wait until winter then the bitching will really begin when all these so called shops have snow banks in front of their doors, ALSO just wait mark my words the DPW will hit the city council hard for more sidewalk equipment to clean Pleasant st. The rents will go sky high because the properties will increase in value and their taxes will go up, and no one will be able to afford them so the storefronts will be as full as they are now. Pleasant will look awsome and the traffic will SUCK and so will backing out of those parking spots. Need an insurance claim just drive down Pleasant st. BUT hey it's a done deal you had your chance shut up and deal right, problem is people did speak up and voice their concerns about one way and traffic and snow removal and deliveries and the council at the time said were not worried about it so any nay sayers were told basically shut up were doing it our way and there is nothing you can do about it!!!!

• Ben (Friday, April 15 22 02:52 pm EDT)

  "Lewis Harris" the signs outside don't indicate that. Its just really common courtesy. I think both of the fellas were raised better than that. They really need to park at the door? I have also wanted to attend but find it difficult especially in the winter and still recovering from hip surgery. Looks poorly despite city rsa.

• HooBoo (Friday, April 15 22 12:52 pm EDT)

  Pleasant St has been two ways for decades and it has been a ghost town since my early childhood over 40 years ago. With the Chinburg Property, the investments taking place, within a year you are going to see an unbelievable transformation to the downtown. It is going to be HOPPING. It is going to be a beautiful space when it is done. I can't wait for the "I told you so's" to the detractors.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, April 15 22 12:33 pm EDT)

  I’m certain if just the underground infrastructure was constructed and the street and sidewalks repaired, people would have zero complaints.
  The problem arises in trying to reinvent the wheel. A number of years ago, Pleasant street was one way with diagonal parking and the people in charge at that time decided to make it a two way street.
  Did anyone on the Council or within the Administration go back into the archives and see why they decided to do that ?
  Seems back in the day, Pleasant Street being a one way street was a problem or they wouldn’t have changed it.
  It baffles my mind that no one did their due diligence and researched as to why ?

• BooHoo (Friday, April 15 22 11:20 am EDT)

  Do you nuts realize how the money is being spent on Pleasant St? Something like 87% of the entire budget is on NEEDED repairs with 13% being on the widening, parking, and other aesthetic ammenities. The money that is being spent on the "improvements" wouldn't pave a mile of road in Claremont.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, April 15 22 10:56 am EDT)

  Joe,
  I’m not big fan of “Rethink Pleasant St.”, stick a fork in it, it’s a done deal. We are just going to have to deal with it because everything that can be said has been said and it will continue as previously planned regardless of what we think or how we feel.
  So let’s focus on something else and that filling those “Grand Canyon “ potholes that are EVERYWHERE.
  Unfortunately we are going to have to live or die with Pleasant St. Let’s hope the work is completed properly.

• Joe (Friday, April 15 22 10:34 am EDT)

  John J O'Connor, all the more reason to focus on Pleasant Street.
  Money saved having to not do wide sidewalks and intersection upgrades would free up money to fix many Claremont streets.
  Such a waste to spend so much on a small section of street, while the rest of Claremont is becoming undrivable.

• John J O’Connor (Friday, April 15 22 10:23 am EDT)

  Let’s turn the focus away from Pleasant St., that’s a done deal and focus on the potholes that are virtually on every road in Claremont.
  It’s spring so why isn’t DPW out filling these craters?
  It was sad to see the response of the City Council when it was announced that Mark Breslin has resign, you would have thought he would have received some love and appreciation for all the hard work he has done on a shoe string budget.
  Don’t take it personally Mark, I’m sure deep down they respect the job you have done, even if they can’t bring themselves to tell you.