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• Insider (Wednesday, February 18 26 05:07 am EST)

  High end positions? I make $22.37 an hour.

• Paul (Tuesday, February 17 26 07:37 pm EST)

  Claremont has let so many inspectors walk out the door. There been at least 3 different sets of inspectors in what 4 years? One leaves the next follows for what? Seems like Claremont doesn’t do anything to keep these high end positions filled. Not just inspectors but project managers

• Insider (Tuesday, February 17 26 07:19 pm EST)

  George is.
  Get over it you wanker. Dude is 100 times more qualified than any inspector of the past two decades. George is superior to the half brain dead power trips from 2000-now. We will make sure we never have another dink costing us money and making us put faggy handrails on everything

• Bill (Tuesday, February 17 26 01:20 pm EST)

  Who’s the inspector now? And don’t tell me George he’s an old clueless fart.

• Mike (Tuesday, February 17 26 11:23 am EST)

  My guess is that Jim has made so many repetitive references to “mushroom policy” that he decided to actually keep us all in the dark and feed us crap too. Thanks Jim

• Greg (Tuesday, February 17 26 09:59 am EST)

  Jim deleted the posts. He’s as much in on the corruption as an anyone else. He pretends like he wants transparency but that’s a joke and a lie.

• Toothless tom (Tuesday, February 17 26 07:50 am EST)

  The city manager and city planner pushed out the building inspector due to him holding people accountable. They don’t care about safety of people. All the care about is what looks good on the outside.

• Insider (Tuesday, February 17 26 06:21 am EST)

  Jim, get the emails. Where did all the turmoil at planning and development start? Get the emails and do the work. The facts and shocking truth are waiting for you. Maybe a real reported like Patrick will get to it first.

• Weaver (Monday, February 16 26 08:07 pm EST)

  Anybody know how I can reach out to Betty? I want to work with her on selling my large parcel of land just past Home Depot to a business development company. I want to sell it by owner to get more cash and want to know who to reach out to that is looking to bring a development to Claremont.

• Local Anonymous (Monday, February 16 26 05:40 pm EST)

  Someone, with the title no way Jose, posted a link that I am unable to see. I’m wondering how they know about ICAC being in town busting Jose Navarro. Where is that information public?

• Tim Mulligan (Monday, February 16 26 05:31 pm EST)

  The planning department is planned to shutter. The employees moving to other buildings. It is true that the city can do just fine without bloated government oversight. I’m thankful for the business owners that will not let the strong arm bullies cost them tens of thousands of dollars. Inspectors with a power trip

• Insider (Monday, February 16 26 03:23 pm EST)

  We call her mama Amanda. Jim why do you think the building inspector left? Maybe it was too hard? Let’s see what toothless tom has to say…..

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, February 16 26 02:33 pm EST)

  Four new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Claremont's City Councilors prove their latest meeting that they are ignorant, indifferent & unwilling to hold anyone accountable for their actions! This is leadership?
  
  2) Why now?
  
  3) Is the sweetheart CDA land deal in jeopardy?
  
  4) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! Part #9 – Stipend's List

• Insider (Monday, February 16 26 12:57 pm EST)

  Thank you for deleting the posts Jim. Thank you for deleting the false and wrong rumors about the planning department and locals. You are a friend of the truth. You’ve helped my friends.

• Wendy (Monday, February 16 26 12:50 pm EST)

  What the heck is this new group Betty invited me to? https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Hafj3uJST/

• Monday (Monday, February 16 26 09:14 am EST)

  No need to have them if we can’t keep help. Free for all in Claremont for health and building inspections

• Friday (Monday, February 16 26 09:06 am EST)

  The State of NH did away with car inspections, they might as well do away with health inspections too. Live Free or Die, right?

• Glen P (Monday, February 16 26 05:38 am EST)

  Derek, your health coach violation is going nowhere. No one to look into it. The city should turn the health inspections over to the state. We cannot afford to wait.

• Vincent (Sunday, February 15 26 08:20 pm EST)

  Jim you should join Betty’s Facebook group. You could probably get half your stories from her posts.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, February 15 26 04:56 pm EST)

  I have had that bug that is going around for almost a week now and I still don't feel good. I have one more article to write for this week and it's getting late. Fortunately I have tomorrow off so I will finish it then and publish the articles tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding.

• Insider (Saturday, February 14 26 06:39 pm EST)

  Jim very wise for deleting those posts. Keep your nose clean. Thank you for protecting my friend.

• Chris (Saturday, February 14 26 04:43 pm EST)

  According to documents at the planning office there are many businesses with plans with the city that plan on coming here within the next 5 years if space is able to be found.
  
  I’ve seen a plan for a new plaza just pass Home Depot on the other side of Washington side that would be owned by Target and have at least 3 other retail spaces.
  
  Bullmoose is looking to go where Rite Aid is, Taco Bell is hoping to find a site on Washington street, possibly behind Burger King as they are looking split their lot up.
  
  Aldis has been scoping out the property where Maurices is on Washington street to build a new location with 200 parking spaces.
  
  Aroma Joes hopes to open by late summer or early winter next to the skate park. Five guys wants to buy the property next to McDonald’s that’s an auto parts store.
  
  Little Cesar’s is looking to go where the old dominoes is. Springfield Cinema is looking to open up the cinema town and rent space out when not open.
  
  Sierra plans on going into the hobby lobby plaza, Newbury comics plans on going there too.
  
  A ghost kitchen for DoorDash orders plans on going into the planet fitness plaza, and a five below is also looking into a spot in that plaza.
  
  These are all businesses who have discussed with the city recently about opening shop here.
  
  Dollar General has plans to build a location behind tractor supply.
  
  This is why the city is hiring a business specialist right now so they can make this happen sooner then later.
  
  Go into the visitor center and ask about availability for retail spaces, and discuss with them what may be coming. You will be surprised what they have been working on.
  
  Major things are expected to be coming to the city in the next 5 years.

• John (Saturday, February 14 26 04:14 pm EST)

  That is true I checked the previous owner and it went up for auction. It hasn’t been bought yet. It goes up for auction late March and five guys has been scoping that location out for awhile.

• Jasper (Saturday, February 14 26 04:09 pm EST)

  I heard a new restaurant brand bought the auto shop next to McDonald’s and hopes to open by the end of the year. Heard it was five guys.

• Fran (Saturday, February 14 26 12:35 pm EST)

  New business coming to the rite aid plaza per Betty? Does anyone know what it is or where Betty got that info from?

• Council Member is Betty? (Saturday, February 14 26 12:14 pm EST)

  Betty sent me this on facebook randomly a week ago. It's to her new facebook group. It competes with Kpp's. https://www.facebook.com/groups/871081509185055

• Upstanding citizen (Saturday, February 14 26 07:55 am EST)

  I had the unfortunate pleasure of being seated in close proximity to Francis at the last school board meeting and aside from his chest thumping I discovered the root cause to his psychopathy. He suffers from extreme bromhidrosis. This likely explains his disposition to the community he resides.
  I do admire his bravery for coming out in public despite his condition. Unlike Jim, old Fran at least attempts to cover his stink and show his misanthropic worldview face to face with his neighbours.
  Jim you could put on a diaper and attended city council meetings in person. Im sure the mayor would call a short recess for incontinence.

• Greg (Friday, February 13 26 09:34 pm EST)

  Jim why did you delete the posts?

• Dale (Friday, February 13 26 09:32 pm EST)

  Nick saved his neighbors life. I would like to nominate him for a key to the city!

• Brad (Friday, February 13 26 08:34 pm EST)

  Jim has criticized Koloski's actions as a city councilor. Never as a firefighter. Nothing wrong with that.

• Breaking news (Friday, February 13 26 08:25 pm EST)

  Nick runs into burning buildings and jim tries to light him on fire.
  
  What a chump you are Jim.

• Nosey (Friday, February 13 26 08:10 pm EST)

  Not just the inspector either it’s the whole department - Claremont running them off

• Debbie (Friday, February 13 26 07:25 pm EST)

  And just like that folks. Jim Sullivan deleted all those posts regarding the building inspector and threats made. Well Jim, body camera footage and police reports are too hard to get so I guess you just showed everyone what you are all about bud. You sir and no better than the fake corruption you pretend to report. Remember this folks. Jim Sullivan hides real items from you as he is just as corrupt as the rest.

• Claremont the issue (Friday, February 13 26 07:07 pm EST)

  If I was the inspector I would have knock his ass out. Know wonder he left. Can’t do your job cause people are but hurt I would have left to! Hate to say this but there been more people leave that position and go other places. Maybe it’s not the people in the position but Claremont itself run these people out.

• Nick (Wednesday, February 11 26 10:31 pm EST)

  Why did dale and Chris on the council get in a fight tonight?

• Just bored (Wednesday, February 11 26 05:04 pm EST)

  So who’s porch dog then? Release all the gossip!

• Brenda (Wednesday, February 11 26 04:09 pm EST)

  Would it be a mole or someone that worked for the city until recent. I am curious from watching the council meetings why Kolowksis question didn't get answer and why he never said another word. He probably won't as he is on the fire department. I want a fire hydrant for my yard. Jim, can you get me one?

• Insider (Wednesday, February 11 26 03:37 pm EST)

  There’s only one person that could be porch dog. You’d have to be intimately familiar with both departments. You’d have to have a history with the city. You’d have to know all the back details and juicy stories. Let’s play a little game called Clue, Planning and Development edition. Who’s the little mole?

• Fan of Amanda (Wednesday, February 11 26 03:32 pm EST)

  I bet that Amanda is PorchDog. She will tell us the truth.

• Insider (Wednesday, February 11 26 03:31 pm EST)

  You should because they’ll bring back an old inspector. Rumor is one coming back.

• Rick (Wednesday, February 11 26 12:49 pm EST)

  Should I even get a permit now to build my house? Building inspector I’d gone and fire chief has no authority of it.
  
  Best time to get work done a save money!

• Adrienne (Wednesday, February 11 26 10:38 am EST)

  A local Vermonter won SILVER in Italy 2026 Games, Ben Ogden. GoUSA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
  
  Vermonter wins Xcountry sprints, 2nd pl. The last American to win was in the 70's: Koch is is sort of his neighbor.
  
  https://youtu.be/JgwwmVa5Kc4?si=kqLOJbs0q2a8qKhX

• Jim Sullivan (Wednesday, February 11 26 06:35 am EST)

  I did not write the post at 5:38 AM but it is a valid statement regarding needing more information.

• Jim Sullivan (Wednesday, February 11 26 05:38 am EST)

  I am working on it. Please give me the exact things to look for.

• Tim (Wednesday, February 11 26 01:02 am EST)

  Tammy-Writing false statements should be illegal. What's your source for the 13 empty classrooms? Liar.

• Insidehim (Tuesday, February 10 26 08:28 pm EST)

  Jim needs to expose the fire chief and the scandal he’s running to help out his buddies.

• Tammy (Tuesday, February 10 26 05:17 pm EST)

  13 empty classrooms at the middle school and the school still wants us to vote no on amendment 8. Doing false scare tactics to the public should be illegal.

• Insideher (Tuesday, February 10 26 04:36 pm EST)

  Fire Chief? Nah. It was something else. Keep your mouth shut. The fire department is going to now have the inspectors in that office like it should be. The others will move to city hall. This has been a long time coming. Shut the visitor center down it is costing way too much money that we could be spending on the school.

• Brad (Tuesday, February 10 26 11:43 am EST)

  Fire chief and his good ole boys pushed him out.
  
  How many inspectors have we lost?

• Marc (Tuesday, February 10 26 11:06 am EST)

  Great so all the anticipation for Thibodeau and nothing. So who drove him out? Fred Brock?
  
  Ken Walsh moved back to town. Is he in the works?

• WoW (Tuesday, February 10 26 06:42 am EST)

  Wow, just looked it up. At least he has access to a local attorney and this is not good for Claremont.

• No way Jose (Tuesday, February 10 26 06:23 am EST)

  The person ICAC wad here for was Jose Navarro.
  
  https://www.facebook.com/share/18WYYM411F/?mibextid=wwXIfr

• Kyle (Tuesday, February 10 26 05:59 am EST)

  Jim should do a request for information, so we know what dangerous person maybe living in our community.

• Al (Tuesday, February 10 26 12:38 am EST)

  Maybe there were looking into that evil local political Jon Stone?

• Tony (Monday, February 09 26 10:53 pm EST)

  Just heard Chris Hanson was in Claremont on Friday doing a bust. Did this have something to do with Kevin Derosa? Guess Feds, staties and Ice were involved.

• Gabrielle (Monday, February 09 26 10:40 pm EST)

  Who was the chief building inspector? How many people are resigning?

• Claremont Live (Monday, February 09 26 10:19 pm EST)

  Apparently the Chief building inspector had a problem with HR 😂

• Insider (Monday, February 09 26 08:41 pm EST)

  I told you about the resignation coming. I tell you about everything. You don’t listen and don’t do the work.

• EPoP (Monday, February 09 26 06:02 pm EST)

  Agreed. Tracey Pope was a complete disgrace to this town as moderate.

• No Pope (Monday, February 09 26 01:44 pm EST)

  Tracey Pope is unfit in every way to serve as moderator. I hope Jim can find out how much we paid to have the school attorney hold her hand.

• Greg (Monday, February 09 26 12:39 pm EST)

  Tom,
  It’s under the job titles in planning and development. This city is a sinking ship. Let’s bring yoshi back. At least he knew what he was doing

• Tom (Monday, February 09 26 11:47 am EST)

  Chief building inspector job not advertised on city website

• Claremont watch (Monday, February 09 26 11:10 am EST)

  Looking on the website. When did we lose chief building inspector and business development specialist. Why hasn’t the city reported this and why have you Jim dug into this. There more open positions at planning and development then there are filled. Who’s in charge of the building collapsing?

• Greg (Monday, February 09 26 10:09 am EST)

  Did we really lose another city employee from planning and development?

• Anybody But RAPP (Monday, February 09 26 09:23 am EST)

  Lets keep RAPP in his menial job doing damage there and not allow him to do more damage to our schools Vote against RAPP

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, February 08 26 07:55 pm EST)

  Five new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Is The Day That the Music Died Coming Soon for the Claremont Creative Center?
  
  2) Claremont School District Candidates for Public Office.
  
  3) February 4, 2026 Claremont School Board Meeting Synopsis.
  
  4) 2026 Claremont School District Deliberative Session Synopsis.
  
  5) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! Part #8 – Stipend's List.

• Bill (Sunday, February 08 26 05:54 pm EST)

  Did I miss all the amendments to Warrant Article 8? Only heard one was brought forward and it failed.

• Hobbs (Sunday, February 08 26 05:50 pm EST)

  The deliberative was embarrassing. No one from the moderator, to the Board, to the citizens have a clue what they are doing.

• Calvin (Sunday, February 08 26 04:07 pm EST)

  Sitting at the deliberative session I couldn't help but notice how Keith Raymond has become an arrogant piece of shit. Sitting there high and pompous heckling those as they approach the podium. Must be really difficult not having a loa grip on anything. That mouthpiece Cogswell will eventually figure out how much of a self serving piece of shit you are.

• Blanche Bettytard (Sunday, February 08 26 04:00 pm EST)

  Based on “Betty Blanchard’s” poster supporting article 8, I’ve got to assume that “she” is a burner account for the free staters (croydon boys).
  
  She is positioning the outcomes of that ballot measure as nothing but positive. When in reality it would decimate our district and
  Community.
  
  Would taxes be lower? Yup. At least until the rest remaining young families high tailed it out of here and turn it into a ghost town of nothing but old people waiting to die.
  
  Then what?
  
  This is a terrible plan for the future of this community.
  
  VOTE NO on article 8.

• Emily (Sunday, February 08 26 01:10 pm EST)

  Hey Jim, are you in favor of article 8?

• Tom (Sunday, February 08 26 11:31 am EST)

  Let’s see, take away sports or lose my house for a failing education system that was brought to us by the Democrats for years. Guess how I will vote?

• Sick of Idiots (Sunday, February 08 26 11:16 am EST)

  If that Warrant Article budget passes next year there will be no sports, arts, or extra curriculars in Claremont. That's the simple fact. Don't forget who will take away your sports teams: the Sullivan County Republicans and their Free Stater "EdOpt" nutcases like Sandblade, Luther, and Tyson.

• Don (Sunday, February 08 26 09:02 am EST)

  The school board approved level funded budget was approved to be on the ballot in March. Did anyone amend it to reduce it? Someone or some clearly was trying to create a false narrative to scare people. Why is it so hard to work together as a community in a positive way?

• Real News (Sunday, February 08 26 08:47 am EST)

  Who needs a fake group like the “Croydon Boys” when we have the Claremont Democrats/Cares who are actively destroying Claremont. In case you missed it, the citizens of Claremont have had enough of excessive taxes as demonstrated by yesterday deliberate session.

• Croydon Cult (Sunday, February 08 26 07:22 am EST)

  Just remember Madden, Petrin and Whitney voted to put Kevin Tyson from the Croyden cult on the Claremont school board.
  
  Go read about the Croydon debacle. Those very same people **destroyed** the schools there so badly that the entire town voted nearly unanimously (all but 1) to undo what those scumbags did. Think about that, how bad you need to fuck up a town so everyone agrees you fucked it up.
  
  And those are the people Tyson aligns himself with. And Whitney, Petrin and Madden wanted to put him on the Claremont Board.

• We dem (croydon) boyz (Sunday, February 08 26 07:04 am EST)

  I’m guessing the term “the Croydon boys” folks linked to slashing the Croydon school budget. Jody and Ian Underwood were the two members of the Croydon school board. Jody runs EdOpt and Ian has his own publishing house (bare minimum books). Their friends and associates include Kevin Tyson, Tom Luther, and Emily Sandblade among some more minor actors.

• Rebecca (Sunday, February 08 26 12:04 am EST)

  Who are the croyden boys? I’ve yet to get a straight answer on this.

• Amen (Saturday, February 07 26 10:26 pm EST)

  I know people who are attorneys and would do what they do for free for the school board. They watch all the meetings already and make the best decisions for their children.

• Please Mrs moderator retire (Saturday, February 07 26 09:39 pm EST)

  The moderator explains our life story in claremont horrible she thanked everyone for coming from the janitor the police fire her husband the entire thing a huge mess thanked the attorneys principals the attorney would be ok if we went till tonight he went back home typed his bill said thanks you idiots I needed another 2500 for a saturday billing from when he left his house to after his lunch and got home good old claremont paid that bill

• Josh (Saturday, February 07 26 09:38 pm EST)

  I was just going through my Facebook feed and noticed Betty posted a poster on what’s really up Claremont. Is this poster she posted in the tax payers favor or is it not? I’m weary because the school board and administrators have screwed us over big time.

• VN (Saturday, February 07 26 09:02 pm EST)

  Rapp served on the board from 2010 to 2017 and was chairman during the early years of lapse in conducting audits. He later stated he did not recall the board being heavily involved in reviewing audits during his time. He can not be trusted!

• Stay away RAPP (Saturday, February 07 26 08:03 pm EST)

  Do NOT i repeat DO not let RAPP on the school board again he is so liberal and we will be right back where we started let's right the ship or at least keep it straight putting a liberal activist idiot on the board will send us backwards again

• Cindy (Saturday, February 07 26 02:49 pm EST)

  I voted I at the end cause I had no idea what I’m doing. Seems like I made the right choice since it brings a budget decrease?

• Val (Saturday, February 07 26 02:38 pm EST)

  Tracy Pope, the moderator, is a complete and total disgrace. How many years has she been doing this? You would think she would attempt to learn the rules.

• Vincent (Saturday, February 07 26 02:20 pm EST)

  Did we pass the funding cap? I have no idea what we voted for. This amendment has been talked about way too long now.

• L. Gulliver (Saturday, February 07 26 02:19 pm EST)

  Maybe instead of merging with another SAU we vote for 100% open enrollment and send all of our kids to Sunapee once the floodgates open and can send our kids anywhere. It would be like a merger without the actual merging, but we would sell off our properties and just send our kids to the schools that are “winning” in the free market or education.

• Molly (Saturday, February 07 26 01:55 pm EST)

  Hey so what exactly happened with the funding cap? I didn’t understand what was going on. Nobody running the meeting knew what they were doing.

• G-Wagon (Saturday, February 07 26 01:27 pm EST)

  Hanover should merge with Claremont and cost share our stipend package. My life was saved by the great staff at Stefens. Hi quality learing and guidance through DSA/Union strong thems and theys

• Arthur (Saturday, February 07 26 01:22 pm EST)

  Can’t wait for the gentleman’s club coming in to pleasant street. Finally something to drive more tourists to this great town.

• Croydon Women (Saturday, February 07 26 01:15 pm EST)

  Croydon boys are selectmen from Croydon. They are serious about saving big cash. They are also swinging around town with big influence. The Croydon women endorse the Croydon men.

• A (Saturday, February 07 26 11:24 am EST)

  Can we please elect a moderator that know what the hell she is doing.

• Tim (Saturday, February 07 26 11:09 am EST)

  Tracey has really got a bad attitude.

• Justin (Saturday, February 07 26 10:52 am EST)

  These meetings are representative of how the district functions. No one know what the F*ck they are doing, and its confusion across the board.
  
  RESIGN SCHOOL BOARD!

• a (Saturday, February 07 26 10:50 am EST)

  What dumbass district would merge with Claremont? Multiple towns have left.
  
  In the scheme of things $200 per student isn't much, when bad decisions can cost much more than that.

• $200 per kid! (Saturday, February 07 26 06:54 am EST)

  Did you know that if an SAU merges with another, not only are the administrative costs lower, but the new district gets a $200/student bonus for a few years. Something to consider.

• Selina (Friday, February 06 26 04:33 pm EST)

  What the F@ck is the Croydon boys? Is this some sort of new group in Claremont I’m unfamiliar with? I know about Claremont cares but the Croydon boys? Like wtf do they do?

• Gabby (Friday, February 06 26 03:28 pm EST)

  Kpp Ryan posted the same thing in What’s up Claremont. I think Betty is telling the truth and just has more info on it than most people. Hell she may even be an insider in the croyden boy group and releasing their info early to the public. Basically a spy. Betty knows everything. She said Aroma Joes was coming forever ago now look what’s coming.

• Hunter (Friday, February 06 26 05:36 am EST)

  And is homophobic/transphobic/islamophobic/

• Robert (Friday, February 06 26 02:36 am EST)

  Betty Blanchard is no friend of the people of our community. It has been said that Betty Blanchard is a phony persona. That may be true. Betty’s Facebook remarks about the Deliberative Session are scare tactics to reduce citizen turnout. Betty is circulating unfounded rumors that a conspiracy has been plotted to delay the proceedings until perhaps the evening to lessen the turnout and approve a budget with severe spending cuts. If Betty succeeds to lessen turnout the budget recommended by the school board and superintendent will pass with little fanfare. Betty Blanchard real or fictitious is not our friend and is an operative of the school leaders. Be wary.

• Real Profile (Thursday, February 05 26 09:51 pm EST)

  Not unless he is playing 3d chess. His positions don't match "betty"s.

• Fake Ass Profile (Thursday, February 05 26 08:15 pm EST)

  “Betty” is Brian Rapp

• Greg (Thursday, February 05 26 07:55 pm EST)

  WTF is Betty talking about on what’s really up Claremont?

• Insider (Thursday, February 05 26 09:26 am EST)

  I won’t give any more until Jim gets the emails

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, February 05 26 05:36 am EST)

  One new article published today regarding Saturday's School Deliberative Session on the News Flashes page of this website.

• The true insider (Wednesday, February 04 26 11:26 am EST)

  Insiders been quite here. Guess her source no longer works for the city now.

• Larry (Wednesday, February 04 26 08:48 am EST)

  Why does Claremont lose good employees and hire shitty ones to replace them.

• Robert merrill (Tuesday, February 03 26 06:43 am EST)

  Should. I
  run for. The . School board. donate
  If you . Say. Yes
  Go fund. Me

• Alex (Tuesday, February 03 26 01:11 am EST)

  How much of a narcissistic POS do you need to be to run for reelection after completing screwing over the schools the way the current Board has?
  
  Good job to Hawkins for having some shame and knowing when to step back.
  
  F U Frank Sprague, architect of disaster yourself. I hope you lose big time, and then they start the savings by firing your wife.

• Catherine (Monday, February 02 26 09:11 pm EST)

  She has a new group? What do you mean by this? Is she like an admin of what’s up Claremont now or something?

• Claremont? (Monday, February 02 26 08:41 pm EST)

  I just joined Betty’s new what’s up Claremont page and I think it’s pretty informative. I would say it’s a modern version of this website and she is making positive posts and posts the criticize and tear the city apart for what they do. Something I assume she couldn’t do on the other platforms.

• Insider (Monday, February 02 26 07:53 pm EST)

  Jim won’t get the emails.
  Jim is in on it.

• CSBCC (Monday, February 02 26 07:53 pm EST)

  Claremont Savings Bank Community Center is a financial failure.

• Tom (Monday, February 02 26 02:54 pm EST)

  Jim,
  I told you that planet fitness was all a set up from city manager and city planner to bring them in. They want to turn the community center into a homeless shelter all year long funded by taxpayer.

• ex community center member (Monday, February 02 26 11:57 am EST)

  im going to cancel my membership at the community center after the bus droppes all the stinky homeless people off i dont want to be around that being a paying person ill go to real steel they wont let these stinky people using showers and leaving trash everywhere can i cancel and get the balance of my yearly membership back that would be great if i could get cash as that is how i paid

• Oledog (Monday, February 02 26 07:57 am EST)

  Like clockwork the fake commenters chime in. Your fascination with Kiloski is admirable. You think he spends on minute with the drama you are as dumb as thinking he voted for himself enough times to win every election by a high margin for how many years? Folks like you are why we have the same school issues year after year. Instead of hiding behind a keyboard do something for your community. I like Beckys drinking game by the way. It is accurate. Jim omits things that do not fit his agenda and by actually watching a meeting you can see that. The only narcissist is the guy who has a fake news page named after himself.

• Tory (Monday, February 02 26 03:14 am EST)

  Lots of corruption that Jim hasn't found.
  
  School Board needs to be removed on principle. All of them. Vote against all sitting members.

• Teri (Sunday, February 01 26 07:36 pm EST)

  Jim Sullivan is still looking into it. He wrote in his article all the documents that he requested and the bidding information and the company that did the work is part of that list. If there is corruption Jim will find it.

• Vote no fucking way for RAPP (Sunday, February 01 26 07:19 pm EST)

  Be careful we may like frank compared to RAPP that guy is a fuckimg left wing agenda driven liberal scumbag leave that shitbag at the fire station

• Bright Lights (Sunday, February 01 26 06:29 pm EST)

  Big surprise! Heather Whitney and her cronies screwed over Claremont citizens again with the LED project. We NEED to figure out who set this up. Was there competing bids? Who's related to who here.

• Sarah (Sunday, February 01 26 04:01 pm EST)

  If school leaders are padding the budget on the electric bill then no money is being saved. I wouldn't put anything past these corrupt school leaders. Arlene Hawkins and Frank Sprague have got to be the first two to go if they are running for reelection. I hope someone is running for each of their seats.

• Electric Elly (Sunday, February 01 26 03:43 pm EST)

  Jim: You're looking at the budgeted electricity amount. You need to be looking at the actual electricity amount. I'm not saying that the savings will be there if you do; I think we all suspect it won't. Big surprise the school board screwed us over yet again. But the budgets they pass mean nothing. If you want to see if it saved us money you need to get the electric bills.

• Steve (Sunday, February 01 26 01:09 pm EST)

  Nick loves Nick and he loved being a city counselor. He has been one for something like sixteen years and what has he done to make the city better? Nothing. He raises our taxes all the time with spending that he approves if he is told to do so by administrators. That does not help the people trying to get by.

• Dick (Sunday, February 01 26 12:40 pm EST)

  Nick loves Claremont though. I still have that sign hanging up in my living room above my TV. Great guy.

• Dave (Sunday, February 01 26 09:58 am EST)

  Nicholas Koloski is such a narcissist. Like clockwork he begins posting under false names after Jim’s articles hit. If Nick Koloski is the best leadership that Claremont can muster then there is no way the city will ever come back to its former greatness.

• Greg (Sunday, February 01 26 09:47 am EST)

  It looks like the music center is going right down the shitter just like Jim predicted. Not that Jim is psychic he just pays attention and sees things for what they are and doesn’t listen to the propaganda machine at City Hall and the crap coming out of the mouths of the councilors. I wonder how many millions of dollars this bailout will cost the taxpayers?

• Kevin (Sunday, February 01 26 09:43 am EST)

  So Nick Koloski is now going by Becky. Is he getting in touch with his feminine side? Or is he undergoing the change?

• Rick (Sunday, February 01 26 09:39 am EST)

  Dale Girard and his cronies on the CDA are giving away city property that the taxpayers paid millions of dollars for to build an industrial park to create jobs. Six lots sold for 60% less than what its worth and the people buying it will make over half of a million dollars profit to the detriment of the taxpayers. Six lots gone and no real jobs created. Our industrial land squandered so the CDA can make a quick buck. Dale and his cronies of the CDA and his hand-picked city manager are taking advantage of all of us and nobody is stopping him and his friends from doing it. If you think that Dale Girard and Bill Limoges and their buddies on the city council and the CDA are friends of the people of Claremont you better think again because they do not care about us they only care about themselves and their true friends who take advantage of Claremont at every opportunity. As John O’Connor always said elections matter and can have consequences.

• Becky (Sunday, February 01 26 09:36 am EST)

  Jim you are a pretty negative person huh? You would think with all your digging you would realize AdA access to the visitors center is still there despite any elevator issues. The way the center is set up you enter and conduct business on the upper level. The public does not need access to the offices down the stairs. Further ada would allow the lower level to be accessed from the lower level. Ada also allows in a building of that size for accommodations to be made for employees if needing ada assistance.
  
  Why would the council do another moment of silence for Mr. Lunderville? If you really watched the meetings or attended you would have seen and been aware from the public packet that the Chief of Police requested to address the loss and speak on it. The council honored that request. Mr. Maranville was a friend and partner of yours and you fell asleep at the wheel until Jon O'Connor called you out on it but here you are complaining about someone else.
  
  I do have to point out because of your dislike of certain councilors. You missed the part where one asked for a detailed update on the center. Isn't that the same one that asked for a task force? Didn't he bring forward ideas and was the one to announce a new gym was coming about a year before it did? Yeah, Jim. They are all do nothing if you choose to pretend they are. Why don't you complie from minutes the number of times 1 has mentioned or requested information or asked for action for the csbcc. You won't because you know you are a fibber.

• Ryan (Sunday, February 01 26 08:52 am EST)

  So taxpayers are stuck with practically $1 million of lights that was supposed to save us money on electricity but it isn’t. Disnard’s electric bill up over 16 K. Now we have to pay the bill when we have a $5 million deficit. School board idiots lying to us again. They say we approved it when we didn’t. Can these people ever tell the truth? I hope someone is running against Sprague and Hawkins because they both need to be shown the door.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, February 01 26 06:29 am EST)

  Five new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Newly obtained documents regarding Claremont School District LED Lighting Project proves to be very illuminating & quite disturbing!
  
  2) The Claremont School District Statement Scandal! Part #7 – Stipend's List.
  
  3) January 28, 2026 Claremont City Council Meeting Synopsis.
  
  4) Major Changes to the CDA Multi-Lot Sale!
  
  5) Claremont Savings Bank Community Center experiencing substantial membership shifts! Is the local Planet Fitness the cause?

• Apartment building owner (Saturday, January 31 26 10:57 pm EST)

  Hey Mark I operate apartments with store fronts on the bottom on pleasant street. The city also never makes me fix anything so I never fix it.
  
  It’s also cheaper for me to keep my store fronts empty than filled. If the city did their job like other towns then maybe downtown would be nicer.
  
  I know I’m a slumlord and the best financial decision I ever made was taking over an apartment building in Claremont years ago. The city doesn’t care what I do.

• Mark (Saturday, January 31 26 07:51 am EST)

  Who the hell want to come from Lebanon or Hanover to work for Claremont distinction system. Our city planner and building inspectors don’t have a clue how to do there jobs. That why I don’t fix anything in my apartment in Claremont cause no one will follow through.

• Molt report (Saturday, January 31 26 06:31 am EST)

  Moltbook is down this morning. The molties are trying to hid their activity. 100k plus and a few are vying for leadership

• Moltbook updates (Friday, January 30 26 07:23 pm EST)

  Moltbook. Last 10 minutes 60,000 ai agents discussing creating a new agent only language using mathematics so humans cannot read or understand

• Molt book (Friday, January 30 26 06:25 pm EST)

  Check out moltbook
  It’s just like this site but better

• a (Friday, January 30 26 11:44 am EST)

  Is there a smart one on the Board? I don't think so.

• Harry (Friday, January 30 26 05:50 am EST)

  The Lebanon inspector coming to Claremont to ruin your day and piss in your Cheerios. He’s being planning director?

• Poll (Thursday, January 29 26 09:01 pm EST)

  Who is the dumbest member of the school board?

• Sam (Thursday, January 29 26 07:07 pm EST)

  Please don’t change anything in the planning office. They don’t make me have working smoke detectors in my apartment building, and don’t take complaints from any of my tenants seriously. I would be devastated if they started to enforce stupid rules like the other places I operate apartments in like Hanover or Lebanon.
  
  I make so much more money running my apartments in Claremont than I do in Lebanon or Hanover. Because Claremont doesn’t require working smoke detectors and stupid complaints aren’t taken seriously here which is great. Oh you got a leaky pipe? Just go fix it yourself or move out of the apartment. I’m not fixing it and Claremont doesn’t make me fix it.
  
  Hanover and Lebanon gets all butt hurt about smoke detectors or leaky pipes and practically threatens to take me to court if I don’t do anything. So I do it by it costs money.

• Percent (Thursday, January 29 26 06:09 pm EST)

  If you gonna browse the internet and leave it up on your computer at the parks and rec department we can see what you are looking at when we are walking in dumbass
  Why does they leave the computer in wasting electricity

• Greg (Thursday, January 29 26 03:07 pm EST)

  I’ve tried working with the planner multiple times calling showing up and will not answer or when I come he never there. Maybe other have had better luck but I personally thing it’s a joke

• Mike (Thursday, January 29 26 12:46 pm EST)

  At this point the planner’s been there for quite a while, 2 or 3 years maybe? Seems like he’s doing a reasonably good job. I had to deal with him on a project and I thought he was helpful.

• Ford (Thursday, January 29 26 11:57 am EST)

  Oh yeah toothless tom , go back to Minnesota

• Tom (Thursday, January 29 26 11:05 am EST)

  Insider,
  Our so call city planner has no idea how to hold anyone accountable. All zoning goes through him but he’s not even a real planner.

• Why (Thursday, January 29 26 08:15 am EST)

  Brain: that is unneeded snark. How about an obituary, or news story, or link to a family page, or something like that? It doesn't need to be a report from Jim. Just something other than "I read it on an anonymous internet chat room"

• Brian (Thursday, January 29 26 07:41 am EST)

  You need Jim Sullivan to report his passing for you so you believe it? There was a moment of silence at the city council meeting last night which was televised if that helps.

• Insider (Thursday, January 29 26 06:18 am EST)

  Dunkin charlestown road zoning violation nasty dumpster out front reported and no one will enforce the laws
  Maybe instead of riding around joy riding and getting coffee George will actually do something. Playing games on the computer and joyriding is not your job

• Where (Wednesday, January 28 26 08:33 pm EST)

  Where is JOC reported as dead?

• Tom (Wednesday, January 28 26 08:14 pm EST)

  Wouldn’t you think city officials would care about what come to the community instead of destroying it?
  But hey most don’t live here so they don’t care.

• Pope no Pope (Wednesday, January 28 26 06:59 pm EST)

  Pope no problem posting crap about mail on WUC. Won't explain his shady stipends. Who was he "mentoring". Tells you what you need to know.

• Wordfree (Wednesday, January 28 26 05:39 pm EST)

  Somewhere out in Claremont, Madden is living his best life. Far from any library, bookstore, or the written word.

• Rip JOC (Wednesday, January 28 26 04:30 pm EST)

  I saw Mr. Koloski offering condolences on his page so I can assume yes. Mr. O'Connor passed away. Very nice words even though they didn't always see eye to eye. That is what it is all about folks. Agreeing to disagree and still respecting each other's opinion.

• Santa (Wednesday, January 28 26 03:24 pm EST)

  I am hearing that Sullivan Report commentator John J O'Connor passed away suddenly yesterday. If this is true, rest in peace.

• Dummy Police (Wednesday, January 28 26 02:28 pm EST)

  This proves how the unintelligent gather here. Please describe how you think any business can be blocked from opening within a community. A private property owner and a private business as long as it meets zoning can occupy a space. You seriously think the city gives a yes or no? Your ignorance is part of the problem. Try educating yourself before opening your mouth anonymously or not. You would be certainly sued by not only a commercial property owner but a national chain saying oh? Sorry? We already have a gym that the city half ass runs so we can't allow you to open here. Get real. You can't truly be that dumb.

• Dylan (Wednesday, January 28 26 01:23 pm EST)

  Anybody know someone named Mary Henry? I have a package of theirs delivered to me. I looked up the address on the package and couldn’t find it so I think it’s an error address. If nobody knows where to bring this package I will bring it to the post office.

• Tom (Wednesday, January 28 26 01:07 pm EST)

  Who think the city planner had screwed the city by allowing planet fitness

• School Drama (Wednesday, January 28 26 03:33 am EST)

  The deliberative is going to be lit!

• Thompson (Tuesday, January 27 26 03:52 pm EST)

  You should see the people he ran out. The campground at the racetrack . Or was it that dumb moron that lives near the track

• Bart (Tuesday, January 27 26 10:31 am EST)

  How many school board members does it take to change a light bulb?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  No one knows, because the school board hasn't ever attempted to do anything helpful. But they'll spend $850,000 on a "free" LED project!

• Gregg (Tuesday, January 27 26 10:29 am EST)

  Yeah of course. If anyone should’ve Director of p&d it should be Paul
  Promote George to Chief
  Promote Amanda to project manager

• Tom (Tuesday, January 27 26 09:25 am EST)

  Greg,
  Look at all the shit hole businesses around town. He ain’t running anyone out. All he is doing is trying to kiss ass for the director position.
  
  Do we even have business specialist?

• Greg (Tuesday, January 27 26 08:20 am EST)

  Tom you are wrong. Tom, it’s the business development specialist role. Planners job is to tell people the rules and run them out of town. Just ask McRory just ask the old dude forget his name he was spicy

• Jim Sullivan Jr. (Tuesday, January 27 26 06:05 am EST)

  The new young lady that replaced her is clueless waste of space. What good do did she bring in?

• Tom (Monday, January 26 26 12:42 pm EST)

  Mike,
  It literally his job to bring business and have them meet potential landlords. City planner does not get involved with money side but he bring potential candidates to Claremont. He’s the first chain of communication when someone wants to come to Claremont

• Mike (Monday, January 26 26 12:11 pm EST)

  Pretty sure it’s a private commercial building and gym is a commercial use. What role does a city planner play in any of that? Do you think city planner is a realtor for the city and finds tenants for private landlords?

• Tom (Monday, January 26 26 11:22 am EST)

  The city planner should be held responsible for the community center failure. Hes the one who’s responsible for bring planet fitness in. He knew this would hurt the city but did it anyways.
  What happens when leaders don’t lead. It’s like the dumb and dumber at the planning office

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, January 26 26 10:18 am EST)

  The Council Information Packet for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 was posted today on the City of Claremont website. The PowerPoint Presentation for the Upper Valley Aquatic Center's use of the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center Pool is included in the Information Packet. The PowerPoint Presentation was created by the Upper Valley Aquatic Center Staff and not City of Claremont Staff. It states that the Projected Annual Revenue for this Lease for the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center is $19,740. I calculated the projected number of hours that the pool will be used and it comes up to 1,757 hours per year. However, additional expenses for the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center in order to honor this Lease Agreement is not included in the PowerPoint Presentation, meaning that no consideration is being given to how much the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center will actually clear as profit in regards to this proposed leasing deal! Typical City of Claremont Government unprofessionalism! I suspect that the Councilors will all quickly rubberstamp this Lease Agreement with nary any questions and little or no concern about additional costs or any projected profits (if any) and then do the same thing they did the prior meeting and all clap like trained seals praising City Staff for "out-of-the-box thinking" whether it's good to the City or not. We will see on Wednesday.

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, January 26 26 08:30 am EST)

  John,
  
  I will be addressing those Lease Agreements in the future. The only one I was aware of is the Aquatic Center and that one has not been written yet and brought forward to the Council for approval. I will put in a Right to Know Request and ask if a Windsor or Newport Agreement exists to obtain a copy of the document if either has been finalized as of yet. I agree with your concerns and once again I do not believe that any of this has been well thought out by City Management or City Councilors all so incredibly desperate to try to throw out a positive development to the public no matter how incredibly politically spun because none of them are good managers of the public's assets or finances!
  
  The article that I will be publishing for next Sunday will be about membership numbers and how they have changed over the past four months through December 2025.

• John J. O’Connor (Monday, January 26 26 08:04 am EST)

  Jim,
  Are you aware the Community Center had entered agreements with the Aquatic Center in White River Junction as well as Windsor and Newport to have pool access.
  I assume there must be contracts indicating the length and value of these agreements.
  I have no problem with the Community Center thinking “outside” the box, my problem is there aren’t enough Lifeguards now. The pool hours are never guaranteed and now the City is in agreement to provide the pool to “outsiders” when they are unable to be open during normal business hours due to personal issues, for the Taxpayers of Claremont .
  Don’t get me started about the parking issues that were never addressed. Bringing in “outsiders” will only elevate that already troublesome issue.
  I look forward to your Community Center article it should be enlightening.

• Mandy (Monday, January 26 26 06:48 am EST)

  I can’t get my wheelchair out of my house cause dpw won’t play my sidewalk. I need help

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, January 26 26 05:38 am EST)

  The Claremont Savings Bank Community Center is already experiencing negative financial consequences, presumably due to the opening of Planet Fitness here in Claremont. I have done an analysis of Memberships, which will be the topic of an article that I will publish next week. The results are alarming!

• Vinnie (Sunday, January 25 26 04:58 pm EST)

  DPW in short supply of salt. Roads will not be salted/plowed until 7am tomorrow.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 25 26 04:41 pm EST)

  Four new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) January 21, 2026 Claremont school board meeting synopsis.
  
  2) Public still in the dark regarding surprise $389,532.56 Claremont School District Invoice for LED Lighting Project!
  
  3) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! Part #6 – Stipends List.
  
  4) City Manager Nancy Bates is keeping quiet about large FY 2026 Budget Deficits at 6 month mark!

• Watchman (Sunday, January 25 26 02:34 pm EST)

  Frankie Sprague got back on the board after resigning. But still has work to do! His wife is on the payroll, but he hasn't gotten his daughter on it yet.
  
  Just sit back. Don't do your job. Don't review the budget. Do what the "experts" tell you to do. Hire idiot admins and then blame them for all the problems.
  
  But keep your family on the payroll and you're golden.

• Peaches (Sunday, January 25 26 01:38 pm EST)

  Impeach the school board!

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 25 26 01:36 pm EST)

  No articles today, it’s Championship Sunday.
  Enjoy the game !

• Pat/Matt (they/them) (Sunday, January 25 26 11:25 am EST)

  What’s one thing you wouldn’t want to smell?

• Mindy (Sunday, January 25 26 09:54 am EST)

  Why hasn’t dpw started salting the roads and sidewalks to prepare for the storm. How taxes going to people sitting at home doing nothing to help us out.

• Frank (Sunday, January 25 26 08:56 am EST)

  The community center pool is disgusting. It’s where the furry children go to get their monthly bath

• find and replace (Sunday, January 25 26 03:50 am EST)

  replace the school board. all of them.

• Corrupt Watch (Saturday, January 24 26 07:51 pm EST)

  Is Fankie Sprague running for reelection? His wife's got her job back (at district / taxpayers expense).

• Planet Fitness (Saturday, January 24 26 06:48 pm EST)

  Anyone know how the community center is doing with planet fitness opened?
  
  Are they cleaning up the pool?

• Patrick (Saturday, January 24 26 05:02 pm EST)

  Matt supports it
  What do Matt and Patt have in common?

• W (Saturday, January 24 26 03:55 pm EST)

  Heather Whitney bought 40 maple avenue while on her power trip. Then cut funds being spent on the kiddos to help pay for it. Now they are going to sell it at a loss. Never used one day.

• Sandy (Saturday, January 24 26 03:09 pm EST)

  What was the purpose of purchasing 40 Maple Ave for?

• Patrick (Saturday, January 24 26 10:04 am EST)

  I hope Matt runs
  Claremont’s Zoltan Momdami
  Power to the people

• Hillary (Saturday, January 24 26 09:50 am EST)

  I heard someone with the last name of Zullo was going to run for school board.

• James (Friday, January 23 26 09:27 pm EST)

  Whose running for the school board?

• Tina (Friday, January 23 26 02:42 pm EST)

  No idea. Miss him tho

• Corrina (Friday, January 23 26 12:15 pm EST)

  Is Tony Silvera still around?

• Jessie (Friday, January 23 26 09:00 am EST)

  Jim, you would think you of all people would be able to see where the problem with the school board is. You could make a clip real on the number of times Madden has stated his personal calls to or visits to school district attorneys or administration. You could also easily count how many times members have stated their one on one outside of meeting conversations as administration chases individuals questions. How does the public not become enraged or engaged on this topic? Do they not have rules to follow? Everything should be done in a meeting. Instead every member can spend tax dollars as they see fit by spending time one on one with their personal ideas, questions and suggestions instead of a board setting. How many millions has this cost us? Enough already. Wake up Jim.

• Mad for Madden (Friday, January 23 26 04:21 am EST)

  I think Bill Madden joined the board just to have a place to complain about his son's lack of motivation through high school.

• Matt Patrick (Thursday, January 22 26 08:16 pm EST)

  We need more DSA members of the school board. Free school. We also need more queer representation.

• Disaster (Thursday, January 22 26 07:15 pm EST)

  The school board is a disaster.

• Matt B (Thursday, January 22 26 01:09 pm EST)

  You just need more passion. More energy. More locals that care. More taxes and more unions. Also more stipends.

• Screwed (Thursday, January 22 26 01:00 pm EST)

  We're getting screwed from people on both ends of the political spectrum. We're in a death spiral. I don't see how we get out of this.

• Mike (Thursday, January 22 26 12:55 pm EST)

  Old farts and retards like to sign things they don't fully understand.
  Some things have a higher long term cost than a tax bump.

• Paul K (Thursday, January 22 26 12:34 pm EST)

  Does anyone have any information about more resignations from planning?

• Concerned citizen (Thursday, January 22 26 11:56 am EST)

  Anyone know how long Ellercamp has been suffering the affects of a traumatic brain injury.
  
  The problems with reasoning, decision-making, learning are so apparent. Maybe we start a go fund me to help him find his way back to where he comes from.

• Towman (Thursday, January 22 26 04:16 am EST)

  Just more nonsense from the school board.

• Taxman (Wednesday, January 21 26 11:55 pm EST)

  Good news! You might finally see some lower taxes once the schools shut down and people start fleeing the city. Might make this blog boring reading but I'm sure you will all find something else to complain about. You are so close to your dream of a destroyed Claremont! Well done!

• Insider (Wednesday, January 21 26 07:20 pm EST)

  Guy don’t make him do a dumb wild goose chase writing an article that no one will read

• guy (Wednesday, January 21 26 08:38 am EST)

  Hey Jim. Will you do an article that will break down the pros and cons of the tax cap warrant article as it would pertian to a taxpayer?

• Business owner (Wednesday, January 21 26 07:39 am EST)

  As a business owner in Claremont why should I stay and keep my business here. If they raise taxes again we will be heading out.

• The Wise Blue Hair Woman (Wednesday, January 21 26 06:31 am EST)

  Liberals cannot see their own folly. The are like a dog who returns to his own vomit.

• Moron Watch (Tuesday, January 20 26 08:13 pm EST)

  I don't agree with Derek on much, but he is correct that the people the board has been listening to are morons.

• Derek E (Tuesday, January 20 26 07:21 pm EST)

  I can’t wait to go up and speak just swear words then when they try to take me off the podium I invoke free speech and my religion is swear words in public.

• Tom (Tuesday, January 20 26 07:06 pm EST)

  Great we got the attorney there again. How many hundreds of dollars an hour are we paying him to sit there and listen to uninformed citizens complain?
  
  Tim: it might be trashy, but lets keep it from getting more trashy. Most of Claremont is against the project and the horrible B Ruth Ward writes a letter endorsing it without talking to Claremont residents? DISGUSTING!

• Tim Mulligan (Tuesday, January 20 26 06:35 pm EST)

  Claremont is wicked trashy anyway. Who gives a rip? Most don’t.

• Brown (Tuesday, January 20 26 05:29 pm EST)

  Ruth Ward: why don't you let them build the trash center in your backyard. I will NEVER EVER EVER vote for you again you horrible sell out.

• Ronald (Tuesday, January 20 26 12:15 pm EST)

  Ya just ask Amelia - more funding more $$ more union

• Din Djarin (Tuesday, January 20 26 06:23 am EST)

  Keep increasing the budget and eventually the school district's product will improve!
  
  We need to retain shit teachers, hold no one accountable, and stay admin top heavy!
  
  This is the way.

• Dogs (Tuesday, January 20 26 01:21 am EST)

  Heather Whitney just wants to destroy the schools so your kid ends up a screw up dog groomer or waitress like her kid. Show up. Be heard. Don't take her bull sh*t anymore.

• This Town (Tuesday, January 20 26 12:42 am EST)

  Don't let Heather Witch Whitney and her cronies screw over this town again! Among the lowest test scores in the state and while having among the highest taxes in the state, and millions of missing dollars with no or delayed audits.
  
  That's what Heather Whitney's leadership has gotten us.

• Jim Sullivan (Monday, January 19 26 12:53 pm EST)

  Public Hearing regarding School Budgets Tomorrow Night 7 PM Stevens High School Auditorium and other important dates listed on the News Flashes page of this website.

• Tony (Monday, January 19 26 11:53 am EST)

  Mr ford can’t even show up to work on time and can’t handle the simple task of a job he has cause he’s unqualified. If anyone will get it will be building inspector at least he knows how to get things with his wife as hr.

• Insider (Monday, January 19 26 11:28 am EST)

  Ford? No. The chief building inspector should talk to hr about it. He could get the job.

• Tom (Monday, January 19 26 09:18 am EST)

  Now with the planning and development director gone. How long until Mr ford takes over the office

• Adam (Monday, January 19 26 08:41 am EST)

  Who’s in charge of the city website. I’m trying to find assistance to pay for rent but it’s way to confusing.

• Ryan (Monday, January 19 26 05:49 am EST)

  Amanda is not the problem she is the glue holding the place somewhat together. Austin on the other hand is a hot mess. Yoshi hired him from upper valley regional planning commission. Austin was a GIS analyst with no planning experience at all. It didn't matter to Yoshi and now we are stuck with him and two building inspectors who are not qualified for their jobs.

• Ricky (Monday, January 19 26 05:04 am EST)

  That’s literally the whole staff of the planning department has turned over in the last year all besides Amanda and Austin. Maybe it’s not the people that leave but the people who are still there are the problem. Seems like they are the only two that there. Maybe it’s cause they are know they aren’t qualified for there jobs and they can’t go anywhere else.

• Wizard (Monday, January 19 26 04:05 am EST)

  Ruth and Heather: the wicked witches of the east and west. Couldn't have hurt Claremont more if they tried.
  
  Ruth took money from that disgraced cop, politician, and perv (dating high school girls as an adult) Stone. Tells you all you need to know about her. Of course she also is trying to sell Claremont to be a dump processing center.
  
  What does it say about the local republicans when they have Ward, Whitney, and Stone? Dumb, Dumber, and the guy who threatened to kill the local police chief.

• It's a competition (Sunday, January 18 26 10:27 pm EST)

  Word on the street is that Ruth Ward and Heather Whitney are in a competition to see who can do the most to damage Claremont. I have to say Heather is in the lead, but Ruth can catch up with her plan to make Claremont a industrial trash depot.

• Lazy (Sunday, January 18 26 09:33 pm EST)

  Insider: I'm not Jim. Just a reader of his blog.
  
  If you have something specific state it here. Or email Jim the specifics. Otherwise: 91A the documents yourself. Or write it about your own blog. you can set up a free blog under your name or anonymously. But all you do is complain and try to send Jim on a wild goose chase with no actual information and I for one is sick of it. He's not lazy. You are!

• Fisher (Sunday, January 18 26 09:19 pm EST)

  Why won’t Betty accept my friend request?

• Insider (Sunday, January 18 26 08:31 pm EST)

  Jim, again and again I tell you to look into the visitor center and the planning staff. You are too lazy to do actual reporting and actual digging into anything. You would have know about all of the real reasons way before things happen. There’s a much bigger story, and you’re missing it all due to your incompetence and laziness. Your excuse that you don’t want to go on a wild goose chase is total BS at this point. Get the damn emails man. Look back at all my posts. I’ve left so many crumbs and so many hints. Just do your job dude.

• Joe (Sunday, January 18 26 07:34 pm EST)

  Ruth Ward is a disgrace to Claremont, Sullivan County, and the State of New Hampshire. Ruth: Why don't you let them build the site for industrial garbage next to your home?

• Keith (Sunday, January 18 26 06:58 pm EST)

  Nancy Bates never should have been hired as the CM. Nothing is being done to solve any of the problems here in Claremont. The community center is in serious trouble now that Planet Fitness is open. The visitor center is a disaster with staffing and building safety. Nancy Bates is hiring unqualified people to fill positions. Guy Santagate would never do any of these things. He was hired with a professional search company. So why did Mayor Girard and the other Councilors not do the same? Stupid people making stupid decisions creating stupid outcomes that should have been avoided. What stupid things really do next for the next two years?

• Oz (Sunday, January 18 26 06:56 pm EST)

  So Heather is aware and copied on all of this. Doesn't inform the rest of the Board. Doesn't comment on it to the public. She's been there 5 years. Hired the administrators who messed it up, blamed them, and negotiated a deal to get them to leave without a public hearing where they tell their side of the story. And now copied on all the emails showing the coverup. The witch has to be voted out.

• Bob (Sunday, January 18 26 05:27 pm EST)

  Bates is a terrible city manager. Look at the visitor center as it is a mess and should be closed to keep the staff in public safe. She wanted to rip up a perfectly good sidewalk. Look at all the turnover at the visitor center that's no accident. Her new hires are all unqualified just like she is and the weight of the incompetence will collapse this government before long. The councilors are all ignoring all of the problems with the community center, the CDA, DPW management and the list goes on. Bad leadership has always been Claremont's problem because they let their egos and political agendas overpower common sense.

• Chris (Sunday, January 18 26 05:01 pm EST)

  The problem with Jim is that like 90% of what he finds is like top-notch investigative reporting which he should win an award for.
  
  But then he sprinkles in about 10% old grudges, speculation and petty issues which erode his credibility.

• Richard (Sunday, January 18 26 04:50 pm EST)

  The city manager is out of her depth. She was clueless throughout the whole meeting as things were added and subtracted to the meeting with what seemed to be no rhyme or reason. She cannot answer questions and with directors like Martin and Gleeson she cannot rely on them to make her look good. The Councilors do not want a professional city manager they want a city manager they can control and Nancy Bates is exactly what they want someone really dumb that is just there to collect large amounts of money to stay and take the heat. I agree with Mr O'Connor that she will not stay long and I also miss Yoshi Manale as bad a city manager as he was he looks like a genius compared to Nancy Bates.

• Dave (Sunday, January 18 26 04:24 pm EST)

  I think the school leaders are covering up the deficits by not doing the forensic audit. School board members dropped the ball and did not keep an eye on the finances. A forensic audit will show all of their sins for all of us to see. Kennedy and Angel are doing what they are told to do by the school board. No one is looking out for the public or the students.

• Ruth (Sunday, January 18 26 04:19 pm EST)

  Can Democrats and Republicans come together for once and agree that Ruth Ward is an evil good-for-nothing witch that doesn't give a shit about Claremont and needs to be voted out of office as soon as possible.

• John J. O’Connor (Sunday, January 18 26 02:22 pm EST)

  Looks like the countdown has begun… Jim has the City Manager in his crosshairs and we all know how that ends up.
  The over/under until the City Manger resigns( with a golden parachute) will be 6 months or until the 2027 budget is presented.
  It’s obvious Mrs. Bates is over her head, fighting above her weight class, incapable of doing the job.
  You know she is doing a poor job when you end up missing Yosi .

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 18 26 01:39 pm EST)

  Six new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) Filing Period for Claremont School District Elected Positions.
  
  2) No Progress Made Regarding Forensic Audit for Claremont School District!
  
  3) Former SAU #6 Business Administrator Mary Henry's Termination Letter Surfaces!
  
  4) Claremont City Council Meeting of January 14, 2026 Synopsis.
  
  5) Finance Director / Acting City Manager Nancy Bates Ignored Corrective Action Plan Set by Auditors when Fiscal Year 2023 Audit was presented! Nothing done for 14 months!
  
  6) New Hampshire State Senator Ruth Ward betrays every single Citizen of Claremont!

• Insider (Sunday, January 18 26 01:33 pm EST)

  Jim - do you think it’s a coincidence that 3 people left the planning office within a month of the new director arriving? Then the director leaves (fired or quit?) seems to me there may be something there

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 18 26 01:30 pm EST)

  Needless to say I did not write the last posting attributed to me.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 18 26 01:21 pm EST)

  No articles today
  I will be at McDonald’s everyday this week from 6:55-7:00 if anyone has any suggestions.

• Vexatious Litigant (Saturday, January 17 26 04:16 pm EST)

  Anyone know Tetu's office hours?

• Bart (Saturday, January 17 26 02:36 am EST)

  "Fred": If "she" wants to make claremont happy and has good intentions, why not use her real name?
  
  "Dave": If you don't like Chris' policy fine complain about that. The fact her's holding office hours in a coffee shop? Really?

• Robin (Friday, January 16 26 10:16 pm EST)

  where? when?

• Batman (Friday, January 16 26 09:51 pm EST)

  I think Loren holds office hours?

• Barney (Friday, January 16 26 09:49 pm EST)

  When was the last time one of the school board member held office hours? Why the hate for someone trying it?

• Fred (Friday, January 16 26 09:39 pm EST)

  It depends how Betty takes it. But I assume she’s here to make people happy in Claremont and keep them informed. She reports on positive things and negative things so maybe she’s unbiased? Time will only tell.

• Facebook (Friday, January 16 26 09:36 pm EST)

  I wish someone would start one that was better managed and not as biased as Kipp. But I think running to one administered by an anonymous person clearly with an agenda will be a mistake.

• New What’s up Claremont? (Friday, January 16 26 09:32 pm EST)

  Betty must be mad at What’s up Claremont. I just got an invite from her on Facebook to join her own group named What’s Up, Claremont New Hampshire. Seems to be very similar to the regular WUC but controlled by Betty. I have high hopes for this and hope it takes off. I haven’t joined yet but probably will.

• Miss Manors (Friday, January 16 26 09:22 pm EST)

  It's like explaining the real world to a bunch of unemployed redneck hicks: https://www.eater.com/2019/10/1/20890743/coffee-shop-work-etiquette-laptop-cell-phone
  
  Now go back to supporting your local republican party who local leader is a former police officer who "dated" a high school student while on the force, and your pedophile protector president. Does your party support anyone who doesn't have a connection to underage girls?

• Coffee Shop (Friday, January 16 26 09:16 pm EST)

  Is it a coffee shop? Gee? I don't know. I guess I'll never know without going and investigating the place the named ....... "T’s Coffee Shop"

• Less Talk and More Action, Lavalette (Friday, January 16 26 09:07 pm EST)

  Lavalette claimed to be holding "office hours" at "the barn" but I haven't heard anything about that. He also claimed to be organizing volunteers and would pay for the first 5 to get fingerprinted like months ago. And then he mentioned the offer still stands in his interview (e.g. he hasn't paid for anyone). So either he really isn't up for paying, or he's organized not a single volunteer since announcing the thing on TV. Either way, seems like a lot of talk and not action.

• John (Friday, January 16 26 09:03 pm EST)

  David: go to a coffee shop in a real city any time. People sit their and do work having meetings. That's the point of Starbucks, not that one will ever come to Claremont.
  
  If the coffee shop / restaurant doesn't want him there, they can ask him to leave or trespass him if its an issue.
  
  I don't care what clothes he wears. Better than the wackjob police officer who "dated" a high school student and threatened to kill the police chief as a police officer, and then ran and was elected to the council.
  
  Judge him on his record. He's two weeks in.
  
  ...And I have nothing to do with Claremont Cares.

• Ken (Friday, January 16 26 08:43 pm EST)

  Claremont Cares all bent out of shape defending your troll Cogsy on here? The fact of the matter is the other councilors take calls or visits anytime. No office hours required. You might be missing David's point here. The job requires more than come see me for 2 hours when I will pretend to listen or understand. He has been a councilor for a week and from watching the last meeting he can't even wait a turn to be called upon or put a tie on. Please brand new guy solve my issues. What a guy.

• David (Friday, January 16 26 08:37 pm EST)

  Yes Goliath for 2 hours weekly like it is your own personal office. Very common. Not totally deaf tone at all. They sell food and meals more like a restaurant. I imagine they don't need seats to actually make money. Carry on wise one.

• Goliath (Friday, January 16 26 06:23 pm EST)

  David: have you ever been to a coffee shop? I'm guessing no. People sit in coffee shops and have meetings.

• Ellerkamp For Council (Friday, January 16 26 03:26 pm EST)

  Never thought I'd say this, but Derek Ellerkamp making a decent point on WUC. Keep this up and you might have a shot at council next time around. Just hope next time you're again running against someone as bad as Ian Gates.

• School Board Office Hours (Friday, January 16 26 02:51 pm EST)

  When was the last time one of the school board member held office hours? I don't think ever in the history of time. And you want to complain about the location some guy is doing his?

• Davey (Friday, January 16 26 02:16 pm EST)

  David: at least he's holding office hours, many of the other losers on the council don't. You don't have to buy coffee or anything else to stop by and talk to him. You can still email or call him and set up a meeting elsewhere.
  
  But why don't you propose another location in town that would be reasonable and address your concerns. I'll stop by at his next office hours, grab a muffin (and support our local economy; at my choice) and propose it to him.
  
  We have real problems. I don't agree with Cogswell on everything, but dude, surely there is something else you can complain about.

• David (Friday, January 16 26 01:29 pm EST)

  How lovely of Cogswell to showcase how above all of us. He is and out of touch. He announces office hours weekly. For 2 hours at a coffee shop downtown. Someone should explain to him that as a councilor you could probably not make people come to you at a businesses dining room to air concerns. I didn't realize my vote would allow me such a luxury of access. Also maybe dress the part and not like a slob at meetings. Do you get a kickback from the restaurant for making me come their to speak? Is Keith Raymond going to be picking up the tab for coffee. Surely the restaurant doesn't mind you making the dining room your office. Would be pretty ballsy just to occupy that space each week for 2 hours. Get a clue dude.

• Crap (Friday, January 16 26 01:00 pm EST)

  I think Kipp could screen out a bit more of the crap on WUC.

• WUC vs WRUC (Friday, January 16 26 02:29 am EST)

  I wish the moderators of What's Really Up Claremont would do a better job moderating. Then there would be competition with WUC. I don't want to look at 100 spam posts. The quality on WUC isn't great, but much better than WRUC. And then there is the second WRUC which seems to be just be for posting the most disgusting political stuff possible. And when I say disgusting, it makes the comments section here and in the other facebook groups look like chruch sunday sermons.

• Hard Worker (unlike school board) (Thursday, January 15 26 09:46 pm EST)

  Why no school board meeting this week? There was none in the end of December either. All the problems and issues, and they are too lazy to have a damn meeting.

• Gate the Gates (Thursday, January 15 26 06:08 pm EST)

  Yes, Gates is an arrogant man-child. I'm sure he'll run in the next election again. Kipp will try to promote him again. And he'll lose again.

• Eyes (Thursday, January 15 26 05:16 pm EST)

  Looks like Kipp did kick her out. I have to say while I disagree with many of Kipp's takes he is mostly fair in how he administers. Let's lots of people say things he disagrees with (and just outright stupid things). I think it did cost him credibility to throw the full weight of behind a specific council candidate in the last election. Yes it is his to do what he wants with, but that turns people off who want a somewhat level playing field.
  
  That said, if he does throw his weight behind that awful witch of a State Senator who wants to make Claremont a waste dump, I'll make an exception there.

• Citizen (Thursday, January 15 26 05:03 pm EST)

  Didn’t we just hire a planning and development director? Why are we hiring one

• What’s up Claremont? (Thursday, January 15 26 04:37 pm EST)

  I just searched for Betty Blanchard in what’s up Claremont and I can’t find her. I think she got kicked out again but the admin. Poor Betty. Thank you for doing what the city fails to do and taking no credit for it.

• Matt (Thursday, January 15 26 03:15 pm EST)

  https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2024/05/unpacking-the-potential-risks-of-generative-ai-chatbots-on-local-government-websites/

• Questions and Answers (Thursday, January 15 26 02:54 pm EST)

  May be a shared account amongst city council members and certain city workers? That’s who I think it is. If I remember correctly Betty popped up right after the city started to put AI on its website.

• To Investigator (Thursday, January 15 26 02:43 pm EST)

  There’s only 2 people in who it is.
  And they are the ones who always attends meeting and kisses there ass.

• Investigator (Thursday, January 15 26 01:00 pm EST)

  I submitted a 91a request on Betty Blanchard and a city employee link. Since no confidential info is being posted they have no legal standing to investigate to link it to a city employee. If confidential info was to ever be posted then they would be able to link it to an employee. Currently it looks like it’s a council member or someone from the visitor center acting as Betty Blanchard.

• Kipp's Move (Thursday, January 15 26 12:59 pm EST)

  Betty is clearly a fake account. Either Kipp is going to even handedly enforce his rules or not. Your move Kipp. You claim to not allow anonymous users.

• Insider (Thursday, January 15 26 12:53 pm EST)

  Meant to say what’s really up posting. The one in what’s up Claremont was posted well after the meeting ending.

• Insider (Thursday, January 15 26 12:52 pm EST)

  If you look at the posting on what’s up Claremont and match it up with the time to when the meeting ended it lines up almost exactly. It’s almost as if Betty is a city worker who was at the meeting, a new council member, or someone at the meeting who takes notes and wants to release their own summary before the city does? Betty does the gods work for this city I bet if the city hired someone to do things that Betty does they would pay 75-100 thousand a year. Just look at how much the city is willing to pay for a job posting subscription to hire some folks.

• Betty Blanchard (Thursday, January 15 26 10:36 am EST)

  This Facebook Betty Blanchard character is a pseudnym for someone in Claremont that is in the know on city government or possibly even connected. It was called out as a fake profile and disappeared from WUC for a while. My guess that connected person reached out to WUC brass and came clean, and WUC added the person back and is keeping their anonymity. Heck WUC Admin Ryn even called her out about the fake profile months back, and then it disappeared. Whoever it is seems to have their shit together.

• Mad Hatter (Thursday, January 15 26 10:22 am EST)

  Look at the 100+ page budgets published by the SAU. They are completely incomprehensible. Probably intentional.

• Lance (Thursday, January 15 26 09:35 am EST)

  Why is there so many opening for the city that’s been there forever?

• Tommy (Thursday, January 15 26 08:08 am EST)

  No wonder the city is falling apart. Potholes everywhere, empty store front, homeless everywhere. And what do the city officials do they just keep taxing more and more. Where our money go. Sure doesn’t go to the great good of the community. Maple Ave is a ghost town
  Pleasant street is full of empty store front with overpriced apartments for people trying to make their money back from over spending. At least we got Washington street with a new road that we even screwed up on the funding on.

• The Hawk (Thursday, January 15 26 07:43 am EST)

  As I see it from the outside and looking in, we have the following:
  1. Public Works Director & Assistant Public Works Director,
  
  2. Fire Chief and assistant Fire Chief, and
  
  3. Police Chief and I ASSUME” he has an assistant?
  
  The schools have another whole complex of issues we all pay for:
  Multiple Unions, superintendents and their assistants, principal and assistant, elementary guidance councilor…… you name it and Claremont’s got it.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, January 15 26 07:24 am EST)

  The Deliberative Session is not until Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  
  Insider, good idea regarding getting complaint documents from the City. I will submit a request for that information.

• Thanks school board for trying to tax us from our houses (Thursday, January 15 26 06:49 am EST)

  Why is nobody talking about the deliberative session saturday at 9 am the liberal left doesnt want anyone to know as this shitty school situation they try to make worse its a time to vote on saturday 9 am but weird nobody knows

• Insider (Thursday, January 15 26 06:21 am EST)

  Jim can request the complaints and follow up records from 36 west pleasant and he will do that
  Mostly they turn a blind eye

• Take Questions (Thursday, January 15 26 04:37 am EST)

  Lovalette needs to take questions from the public in some sort of public online forum. He can pick where and the ground rules. But just answering questions from who he wants, who doesn't ask tough questions, isn't cutting it.
  
  Whoever else is running or up for reelection should also take questions. To be fair to Lovalette he has taken more questions than anyone else.

• Taxmindedminded (Thursday, January 15 26 04:34 am EST)

  We dont have 2 fire or 2 police chiefs.

• Taxminded (Wednesday, January 14 26 09:04 pm EST)

  Brian,
  We do not neeed 2 Public Works Directors, nor do we need 2 Fire Chiefs or 2 Police Chiefs.
  
  Our Cities population is shrinking (check school enrollment), so why all of the duplications?
  
  Let’s try to get some common sense into how we manage our City. Perhaps the DPW Director-Police Chief & First Chief work 50 hours a week, and not skip it after 40.

• Claremont watch (Wednesday, January 14 26 08:49 pm EST)

  Bigdog,
  
  Reach out to the health officer. There’s NH Law about junk yard plus multiple other local laws.

• BigDog (Wednesday, January 14 26 08:37 pm EST)

  Jim, could you tell me why our City Manager-Police Chief-Fire Chief or Public Works Director does not want to CLEAN-UP the hazardous waste, junk, trash and auto junk yard at 36 WEST PLEASANT STREET.
  It is a dangerous eye sore on a main road of Claremont?????
  
  Please note, the last time I checked, it is owned by: NH HOUSING & FINANCE AUTHORITY.

• Ginny (Wednesday, January 14 26 06:57 pm EST)

  Oh so we go into a non public session towards the beginning of council meetings now? Are they trying to copy the school board? I already saw the cities most recent audit didn’t come back looking pretty. Are they trying to copy the school board with that one too?

• Andrew (Wednesday, January 14 26 06:06 pm EST)

  Why does Nick never answer his phone during council meetings?

• Justin G. (Wednesday, January 14 26 04:30 pm EST)

  How did Claremont Parks and recreation get a waiver from New Hampshire Liquor Enforcement and the charitable gaming commission to hold a public bingo game at the Elks Club? Elks Clubs are open to members and bonafide guests and not allowed to be advertising public events let alone bingo games. What gives the city of Claremont the ability to circumvent state law? Jim, how would I track down this waiver of state laws? According to Parks and recs flyer on their page it costs $27.00. Who gets this money? This ranks right up there with city sponsored casino trips with Parks and recreation. Does someone there have a gambling problem? How hard is it to do your damn jobs and stop selling the community center out every chance they get. One of the staff runs her personal training business out of the center. It is a wonderful experience waiting for a machine as someone is being paid to guide someone in a facility paid for by my taxes. What a rip off. It is all starting to add up.

• Henry (Wednesday, January 14 26 12:34 pm EST)

  Let’s trade Newport Jim Sullivan for Bert Spaulding. Bert will make Claremont great again. Sullivan doesn’t go to any meetings. Bert is way better. Way more effective

• Disappointed in Lavalette (Wednesday, January 14 26 01:15 am EST)

  The more Lavalette talks, the less excited about him I get. His position: We need to not increase taxes, but also to improve the schools. Great, I don't think anyone in Claremont disagrees with you! How are you going to do that? Of course, no plan, just empty talk.
  
  If you're running for school board, show up with a plan on what you would support or vote for.
  
  Still much better than DEI Tyson.

• Ben (Tuesday, January 13 26 09:31 pm EST)

  Nicky never naps. If you actually know him you wouldn't know the dude doesn't sit down or relax. If you have been to the restaurant he breezes around there task to task. Wish I had half that energy. Some of us just like to sit at a keyboard and flap our lips instead of channeling that energy. Guilty.

• Vector (Tuesday, January 13 26 05:22 pm EST)

  Jim can you please allow us to post photos to this comment section?

• Foot Photos !!!!!!!!!! (Tuesday, January 13 26 05:08 pm EST)

  insider so where would we find these foot photos or be able to see for ourselves

• Nicky Napps? (Tuesday, January 13 26 01:37 pm EST)

  Do our council members ever sleep? I see Nick at meetings, restaurants, city hall, fire man, on the news, mini golf, vacation, on the phone, responding to emails, ribbon cuttings, Newspapers, and even talking to current and future business owners. When does this man sleep?

• Harry (Tuesday, January 13 26 07:51 am EST)

  Hey Bill, if you have a question for Nicky, email him or call him. I have stopped down to his work to talk. He didn't mind.
  
  Do you think the local businesses all manufacture the products they carry and sell in their basement? Those items are shipped in and that money leaves the community.

• Walter (Tuesday, January 13 26 06:25 am EST)

  Jim, can you help us follow along with the game of who's who suing the city?
  You start, then we will go

• Claremont watch (Monday, January 12 26 01:26 pm EST)

  Insider,
  My taxes shouldn’t
  Go to people bumping it in the elevator either.

• Insider (Monday, January 12 26 12:43 pm EST)

  Stop whining about being poor and paying taxes. If you were smart you’d have no worry about that. Just make more money ya bum. I have a co worker that brings in 5k a month selling her foot photos.

• Claremont Watch (Monday, January 12 26 10:27 am EST)

  Jim,
  Need to request the pay scale for all positions. People want to see where there money is going to.

• Brian (Monday, January 12 26 10:24 am EST)

  How much money is Claremont paying on employees. Like do we need 2 Dpw directors or two building inspectors? Or do we really need administrative work when we can have the people actually doing the work do it. Like we really need to look at what can get cut. Claremont way over pays there employees compared to other towns near by.

• Sam Walton & Jeff Bezos Reps (Monday, January 12 26 10:19 am EST)

  Bill - This town can't keep keep track of its school budget, fill paperwork on time to get reimbursed millions of dollars, or fix its roads. We certainly aren't going to fix the complicated and fraught issues of globalization and concentration of economic power.
  
  Go ahead and make your case. But I don't think you're going to convince enough people to go out and buy the same item for more money at a local business to make a difference.
  
  I suggest we concentrate our time and energy and not doing completely stupid things for a while. That we (theoretically) should be capable of.

• Bill (Monday, January 12 26 10:12 am EST)

  Why do we call it “economic development” when it’s actually economic extraction?
  
  Claremont has a Home Depot. That store earns about $49 million in annual sales.
  
  Of that $49 million, about $7 million in pure profit gets loaded up and shipped back to headquarters. Every single year.
  
  Now add Target ($2.5M extraction), Walmart ($2.3M), Lowes ($7M), Dollar General, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, CVS…
  
  A town of just 13,000 people can easily lose $30+ million annually to national chains.
  
  That’s $30 million that used to pay local contractors, local accountants, local ad agencies. Money that used to recirculate through your community 7-10 times. Money that stayed with local families, that went to maintaining homes or supporting the t-ball team.
  
  Now? One and done. Straight out of town.
  
  This is the sprawl economy. We traded local ownership for “convenience” and wonder why our city is broke.
  
  Do your local officials calls this progress? Will they see this? NICK?
  
  Because its really a money mining operation.
  
  How much money is Claremont shipping out every year?

• Ricin (Monday, January 12 26 09:27 am EST)

  Arsenic,
  
  You are right about them not getting rich.
  
  But if we look at the whole package they aren't making peanuts either as they would like to to believe. 95% of health insurance costs are being subsidized and that is unheard of these days. No other district pays that much. They did this years ago because our salaries were out of whack. Now we are rooted firmly in the middle of the pack for pay and are still offering the platinum plan for benefits.
  
  Teachers work about 190 days per year. Compared to the 260 that most private sector folks work. Let's say that the average middle management employee makes $65,000 a year in comparison to a $50,000 teacher.
  
  Middle manager: $65,000 divided by 260 days = $250/day.
  
  Teacher: $50,000 divided by 190 days = $263/day.
  
  The middle manager pays probably 75-80% of their benefits package (and most of them suck)
  
  The teacher pays 5% of their benefits and they are fantastic (and expensive!)
  
  The teachers union then proceeds to hold the taxpayers hostage for every little thing. When bluff closed the union wanted 10 school days with no students to pack up their classrooms and set up their new rooms at Disnard and Maple. TEN DAYS to take posters off walls and books on shelves, put them in boxes so a janitor could move them 2 miles and then unpack and put those posters back on walls. Fortunately they did not win that one. It is just the demands. Then they aren't honest about it. They say it is always "about the kiddos" and never "about them". I would say that it is at least 50% about them but they would never say that.

• Arsenic (Monday, January 12 26 08:56 am EST)

  "Pick Your Poison" - the stipends are a mess. But the reality is no one is getting rich teaching. There's a handful of people with stipends totaling over $10k. Most teachers are getting little or a few thousand dollars on top of salary of $50k, to adviser sports teams or work in the summer. I'm all for rationalizing this and making EVERYTHING much more transparent. But the reason taxes are out of control is the idiots on the Board and the never-ending cast of business admins and superintendents, they have hired then abruptly fired.
  
  The district has lost far more money from legal fees, interest, and lost grant money because they didn't fill out the paperwork than they have because of teachers padding their pay. But I'm all for investigating any of the allegations and being transparent about it. Ironically, all things the Board and Admin could do if they wanted to, but haven't.

• Pick Your Poison (Monday, January 12 26 07:54 am EST)

  We keep hearing, mostly from the teachers, that they do not trust the board or the admin.
  
  Do they know that we don't trust the teachers union?
  
  We are at a stalemate, a Mexican standoff. Who will blink first? The community that is being taxed to death or the Teachers who are only looking out for themselves?

• Erin (Monday, January 12 26 06:55 am EST)

  I'm not against teachers getting paid extra if they do work above and beyond their contract. But there needs to be some reason to it, it needs to be clearly documented and reported to the public. You have Pope getting paid at vastly different rates. Why? Who was he mentoring? I'm sure in some cases these are probably justified expenses, but this is an absolute mess. And the Board and Admin did NOTHING to address this at the last meeting, other than Angell and Kennedy's groping around to respond after Heather put them on the spot.
  
  To defend Angell and Kennedy a bit: You know who wasn't employed in the district when these stipends were paid? Angell and Kennedy. You know who was there when all of this was being paid out with no oversight? Heather Whitney.
  
  Why don't you Heather explain to to us why these were paid, and why there was no oversight, rather than throwing the new admins under the bus for your screwup?

• Eric (Monday, January 12 26 06:05 am EST)

  Those stipends are out of control. Teachers should not be paid more than the average pay for the substitute work or the mentoring. This is just a money grab for these teachers who did it because they don't care about what it does to the taxpayers. Many are seniors on a fixed income but as long as these teachers stuffed green in their pockets they could care less if the seniors have to eat dog food to get by. Welcome to the real Claremont.

• Duh (Sunday, January 11 26 08:18 pm EST)

  Some time ago the board mentioned a criminal investigation. I wonder if it has been happening and if private firms have refused to take on the audit while a criminal investigation is ongoing?

• Jennifer (Sunday, January 11 26 04:36 pm EST)

  What Heather Whitney did during the meeting to shut down Madden talking was despicable. The Chair does not have special rights to dictate what comments someone can make. She could make a motion, but then it should have gone to a full Board vote. She is on a power trip. The rest of Board needs to stand up to her.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 11 26 03:37 pm EST)

  Four new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) January 7, 2026 Claremont School Board Meeting Synopsis.
  
  2) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! Part #5
  
  3) January 6, 2026 Claremont City Council Meeting Synopsis.
  
  4) Three New Hampshire Education Articles Worth Reading.

• No Option is Good (Sunday, January 11 26 02:11 pm EST)

  "Shameful group" - completely agree. Regardless your take of the current budget options, the entire school board needs to be replaced. NONE of the options are good.

• Shameful group (Sunday, January 11 26 02:02 pm EST)

  Amazing the school board group of idiots cant do something that makes sense during all this crap THEY have put this community thru that will impact us for years and years get this group the FUCK out of there they should of left in Shame as it is

• More Problems (Sunday, January 11 26 01:32 pm EST)

  Do we really want to mix middle schoolers with high schoolers? We have enough drug and sex problems as it is.

• High School Janitor (Sunday, January 11 26 01:03 pm EST)

  Was she fired?
  
  Leaving in the middle of the year is unusual.

• High School Teacher (Sunday, January 11 26 12:57 pm EST)

  Yes you can ask her personally if you’d wish. She responds on Facebook and her new Instagram account. She’s not on social much.

• High School Student (Sunday, January 11 26 12:54 pm EST)

  Did we ever find out why Chastenay resigned as a teacher mid year?

• New Article Today (Sunday, January 11 26 12:53 pm EST)

  Claremont Residents Warn of Potential 20% Tax Impact as School Budget Decisions Near
  
  
  
  
  
  CLAREMONT, N.H. — As rising costs continue to strain household budgets, Claremont residents are being urged to pay close attention to upcoming school budget decisions that could significantly affect local taxpayers.
  
  
  
  
  
  County, and state taxes are already increasing, while inflation continues to drive up the cost of everyday necessities such as groceries, insurance, and state fees. If the proposed school budget passes with a tax increase, residents could face a combined tax impact approaching 20 percent, according to community advocates, when layered on top of other increases.
  
  
  
  
  
  Critics of the proposed budget also warn that higher taxes could negatively affect property values, placing additional financial pressure on homeowners throughout the city.
  
  Residents are being encouraged to attend key upcoming meetings where the future of the school budget will be discussed:
  
  • School Board Meeting:
  Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
  Stevens High School
  
  • Deliberative Session:
  Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
  Stevens High School
  
  Community members are calling on the Claremont School Board to convene an emergency meeting to bring forward a 0% tax increase budget model, originally proposed by Heather Whitney, which was previously voted down by the board. Advocates say time is running out to have this option placed on the warrant ahead of the deliberative session.
  
  
  
  
  
  “If the emergency meeting is not called, citizens still retain significant authority at the deliberative session,” organizers say. They point to what is commonly referred to as the “nuclear option,” which would allow voters to amend or cut large portions of the two most expensive proposed budgets. If enough reductions are made, the district could be forced to operate under a 0% tax increase model.
  
  
  
  
  
  Whatever decisions are made at the deliberative session will move forward to the final vote on election day, placing considerable responsibility in the hands of Claremont voters.
  
  Residents who wish to support a 0% tax increase and demand an emergency meeting are encouraged to contact school board members directly:
  
  • Heather Whitney: hwhitney@sau6.org
  
  • Michael Petrin: mpetrin@sau6.org
  
  • Arlene Hawkins: ahawkins@sau6.org
  
  • Candace Crawford: candace.crawford@sau6.org
  
  • William Madden: wmadden@sau6.org
  
  • Loren Howard: lhoward@sau6.org
  
  • Frank Sprague: fsprague@sau6.org
  
  Community members are also urged to share this information with neighbors who may not be on social media, noting that the outcome of these decisions will affect all residents of Claremont.
  
  As budget season approaches, residents are being reminded that participation — or lack thereof — will shape the financial and educational future of the city.

• John J. O’Connor (Sunday, January 11 26 06:13 am EST)

  Mike,
  I agree, you can cherry pick “experts” to get the results you’re after but this is different.
  Ms. Whitney’s plan is not new. It’s not radical, it’s the same thing Newport has been doing for decades as well as Massachusetts.
  So there is a track history of success.
  I’m not advocating for either plan, all I’m saying is Ms. Whitney’s plan deserves deeper discussion.

• Song Sunday (Sunday, January 11 26 05:54 am EST)

  Down in Claremont they had a school board so wise,
  Promised the moon with dollar signs in their eyes.
  Spent five million they never had in the bank,
  Now the teachers are walkin' and the kids get the shank.
  Oh, the admin played fast and loose with the dough,
  Signed checks like drunks at the rodeo.
  Five million gone, not a trace to be found,
  While they blame the state and stare at the ground.
  Hey board, take a bow for the mess you made,
  You turned gold-plated dreams into lemonade.
  They hired a business manager who talked a big game,
  Then vanished like smoke when the auditors came.
  Parents showed up, mad as hornets in June,
  Board just shrugged: "Hey, what can we do?"
  Cut sports, cut music, cut buses in half,
  Thanks for the leadership—real class act.
  So here's to the board, sittin' smug in their chairs,
  Five million holes and a whole town in tears.
  Next election we'll remember, you bet your last dime—
  Y'all broke the schoolhouse… one "oops" at a time.

• Tom (Sunday, January 11 26 03:30 am EST)

  Do we know if Bates really is living in Claremont, or if she just rented something very cheap or in a deal with someone to make it look like she lives here for the new residency requirement?

• The Right Thing (Sunday, January 11 26 02:05 am EST)

  The school board should do the right thing and all resign.

• Mike (Sunday, January 11 26 01:57 am EST)

  John: experience tells me there is an expert that has written a study coming to just about any conclusion you want. I wouldn't put any faith in a study that someone is citing at the school board meeting, to support either side.

• J (Saturday, January 10 26 06:31 pm EST)

  John J O'Connor: I don't agree with you that much, but I appreciate your good spirit!
  
  Now we better get back to insulting each other and everyone else to fit in.

• John J O’Connor (Saturday, January 10 26 06:18 pm EST)

  Hahaha, if I am at fault for anything it’s assuming.
  I’m assuming that the study being used as the prototype for this transition are experts in their field or Ms. Whitney would not be using it.
  I know nothing about this other than what was briefly presented but I know I’d like to hear more about it.
  Thanks for the laugh!

• J (Saturday, January 10 26 03:19 pm EST)

  John J. O’Connor: so you were just making it up. Got it.
  
  As for your "you should more concerned," that's just the classic I'm caught lying so I'm going to try to change the subject. You made a claim and you were called on it. Put up or shut up.
  
  What a coincidence, John, I was just told there is a study by "experts" that proves John J. O'Connor is always wrong, and just makes up everything he says. Was I privy to the study? no. But trust me bro, it was written by an expert.

• Inside the insider (Saturday, January 10 26 03:18 pm EST)

  85% of statistics are made up on the spot.
  College doesn’t matter.
  Spot? Who does that remind me of?
  Claremont is awesome.
  J Dubbs would be my baby daddy. Pat would pay more taxes taxes. Johnny has halitosis.

• Tess (Saturday, January 10 26 02:52 pm EST)

  Do as Betty Blanchard says on Facebook. Email all the board members and demand an emergency meeting to be held to push forward Heathers Budget at deliberate session. It’s the only way at this point. I’ve emailed them all and I’ll do it again if I have to.

• John J. O’Connor (Saturday, January 10 26 01:25 pm EST)

  Jan,
  You are correct, I am not privy to the documentation but
  after hearing Ms. Whitney state she came to her opinion based off of conducting studies, it’s easy to assume the originators of this he study, are experts in their field.
  You should more concerned about what was said and implication and ramifications that will occur if not addressed.
  Ms. Whitney’s plan needs to be to seriously consider because the future is now !

• Jan (Saturday, January 10 26 12:02 pm EST)

  John: you claimed "experts" were involved. When asked who these experts are, you identify a single one, but rather defined expert "people that work in the educational field" and then went on to make statements like "I assume that...", "I would also hope that" and "the State is watching". At no point did you point to a single person who is an expert who has been involved.

• John J. O’Connor (Saturday, January 10 26 07:10 am EST)

  Peter,
  The so called “experts” obviously are people that work in the educational field. I would also assume the student population numbers are based off of contributing factors including but not limited to census numbers and student enrollment.
  I would also hope that if someone recommends a plan that will drastically alter the current school system, they have relied on the opinion of “experts”.
  You must know the State is watching. Doing nothing or next to nothing will show all prospective investors that Claremont is incompetent to handle to its school system and not worthy of business or residential investment.

• Anon (Saturday, January 10 26 04:14 am EST)

  Jim-what happened with your request for the records of who requested the Police at the school board meetings?

• Peter Busch (Friday, January 09 26 10:14 pm EST)

  John O'Connor: who are these "experts" you refer to?

• Shawn (Friday, January 09 26 04:11 pm EST)

  Heather Whitney's daughter is a pet groomer, people. Just remember that when she's pontificating for an hour about how your kids should be educated. Maybe decaying schools are ok if you want to be a pet groomer, but some of us want better things for our kids, Heather.

• Lamassu (Friday, January 09 26 04:10 pm EST)

  A man started to climb a high, steep mountain when a snake asked the man to carry him along. “But you’re a snake,” the man said. The snake smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite you.” After days of arduous climbing, the man reached the mountain summit, whereupon the poisonous snake, bit him. As he lay dying, the man cried out, “You said you wouldn’t bite me!” His reptilian hitchhiker looked at him and said, “Ha! You knew I was a snake, when you picked me up.”
  
  “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’
  
  This story has me wondering what Tetu is up to? JIM ARE YOU FOLLOWING ALONG?

• Tom (Friday, January 09 26 02:10 pm EST)

  What’s the government position that a waste of tax dollars besides city manager?

• John J.O’Connor (Friday, January 09 26 01:44 pm EST)

  Mr. Calhoun,
  I feel everyone on the School Board should resign or at the very least not seek reelection.
  Ms. Whitney’s plan makes the most long term sense while not raising an already high tax burden.
  The transition wouldn’t be easy but according to all the “experts”, it’s inevitable so let’s do it now .

• John Calhoun (Friday, January 09 26 01:13 pm EST)

  John J O’Connor: I get you don't want taxes to go up, but Whitney has had 5 years to run the schools. Has anything improved under her? Taxes are way up, test scores are way down, she hired the last set of admins who we just fired for mismanagement. They still don't know what happened to the $5m. The personal stuff aside, why should anyone in this community trust anything she says now?

• Take a Look Around (Friday, January 09 26 12:25 pm EST)

  Mike: the commenters have a point! Satzow ran a successful Claremont business and has given much to the community ($1million for a hospital). What have you ever given, other than paying your taxes after complaining endlessly about having to pay them.
  
  I get the old folks on SS saying they can't afford to pay more. But with you its just about greed. Even setting aside the school stuff, what have you given to to the community? Anything?
  
  I tried to buy a computer off you years ago. And it was like hundreds more than I could get it somewhere else. Even your business isn't helping the community.

• You all have micro-penises (Friday, January 09 26 11:46 am EST)

  Of course it isn’t. This is just a place for angry wifeless incels (no offense meant to John O’Connor) to scream into the void. Let’s just be glad they don’t leave their basements and actually run for any office. As bad as it is, just realize that it could be a lot worse.

• Mike (Friday, January 09 26 10:58 am EST)

  Jim Sullivan, I haven’t been on this forum in a while, but I have to say it’s pretty disgusting what you allow on here. Not sure how any of this contributes to solving our budget crisis or making Claremont a better place (what you claim to want).

• John J O’Connor (Friday, January 09 26 09:58 am EST)

  Personal attacks aside, Ms. Whitney’s suggestion was the right one.
  There would be no increase to the tax rate and it would be a jump start on the forecasted downturn in enrollment by consolidating the schools now instead of later.
  Those on the board need to leave there party affiliation at the door and make their decision's based on what’s right for your constituents and not what party leaders are demanding.

• Novo Nordisk (Friday, January 09 26 02:48 am EST)

  I get why they spent so much time on the defibrillator. Angell, Madden, Petrin, Kennedy, are a big mac away from a heart attack. Get on a diet and demonstrate a healthy life style to the kids. Or a treadmill. Or Ozempic. Heather try demonstrating to the kids how to NOT be an intolerable witch.

• Mike (Friday, January 09 26 01:37 am EST)

  Demars has always been an ass wipe. Remember when he complained about his wheel getting damaged on Facebook claremont. You got many of Claremont's successful stepping up to fund sports, or donate hospitals or pay for the music program in Claremont's time of need. Mike is off there complaining that Claremont hasn't done enough for him. Sorry you hit a pot hole Mike. can I rush over and wax your car to make up for it?

• 2 Claremont Business Owners (Friday, January 09 26 12:43 am EST)

  You got the smokehouse guy giving away money for hospitals and selling his business with a requirement it doesn't leave Claremont.
  
  And you got Demars wanting bitching about his car hitting a pot hole and complain there aren't enough tennis courts. Dude clearly hasn't been following the school situation and talked out of his ass at the meeting.
  
  Two Claremont business owners. One great guy and one ass hole.

• Sam (Friday, January 09 26 12:13 am EST)

  Petrin opened his mouth and proved he is a dumbass. A fat ugly dumbass.
  
  Madden had a good meeting. Sat there for hours and resisted reading a single thing.
  
  Sprague was flying high. Wife is on the payroll in all budget options.
  
  Whitney just wont shut the hell up. Ever. About anything.
  
  Hawkins was the only person reading the minutes. No surprise Madden ("I'm Bill Madden and I do not like to read!") didn't.
  
  Howard is working on his math skills.
  
  Crawford won't miss an opportunity to promote claremont savings bank.
  
  Welcome to Claremont folks.

• REPLACE THEM ALL (Thursday, January 08 26 09:37 pm EST)

  Kennedy, Angell, Madden and Petrin all need to spend more time working on the district's budget and less time eating. Or at least get some Ozempic. Heather is an insufferable witch, who just doesn't know when to shut up. Petrin made less sense than usual. Seems like Madden asked Hawkins to ask about the executive summary, to avoid us calling out how he is opposed to reading. Crawford brought a thermos, probably with caffeine to stay awake. Good call.

• 5 years (Thursday, January 08 26 09:04 pm EST)

  I know people want lower taxes. But I wouldn't trust anything that Heather Whitney says. She's been there for 5 years. Has ANYTHING AT ALL improved during those years? Name one thing that has improved under her.

• Carson (Thursday, January 08 26 08:56 pm EST)

  Why would anyone trust a thing Heather Whitney says or does after:
  (1) overseeing the $5m financial collapse.
  (2) overseeing the atrocious test scores.
  (3) overseeing the complete cut of athletic spending.
  (4) overseeing the district pay large severance payments to those who screwed over the district.
  (5) overseeing the district pay massive stipends out to those without documentation.
  (6) overseeing the district not get grant money because they "forgot" to fill out forms.
  
  (6) Do you want your kids turning out like Heather's? A piece of shit Claremont waitress after an expensive private school education, because Claremont school's supposedly weren't good enough for her.
  
  Don't believe a word Heather says. She's been there for years, and that's the reason the school district is shit.

• Kim (Thursday, January 08 26 08:42 pm EST)

  I see that Betty has come out of the woodwork and made a post again. It makes total sense for the tax payers so I’m actually going to share it here.
  
  “ If you would like to see Heather Whitney’s 0% tax increase brought up in the deliberative session and ultimately brought forward on voting day for citizens to vote on. Please email your school board members. Your voice matters; you live in the same community as all the school board members. Now not all the school board members may own property and pay taxes like some people in Claremont, but they live here.
  
  
  
  
  
  Time is running out for the school board to call an emergency meeting before the deliberative session takes place to add a 0% tax increase budget to the meeting agenda. The more people that voice their concerns and say they want the 0% tax increase budget the more likely it will be presented at the deliberative session.
  
  
  
  
  
  The two budgets going to the deliberative session come with a pretty hefty tax increase for Claremont citizens. A majority of the school board are okay with increasing taxes on Claremont citizens, but not all of them are.
  
  
  
  
  
  Loren Howard made a motion to bring up the highest tax increase option and stated it’s only an extra $50 dollars a month or $600 dollars a year for each home owner. People are barely getting by now and having a tax increase and $50 dollars can be a make it or break it situation for some folks.
  
  
  
  
  
  Frank Sprague made a motion to increase taxes, but by not as much. It is still a tax increase nothing-less.
  
  
  
  
  
  Heather Whitney was the only board member who took time to do research, reach out to 3rd parties, and craft her own budget that brought forth a 0% tax increase for the citizens of Claremont. William Madden agreed that the tax increase budgets are dead on arrival, Michael agreed with Heather’s plan.
  
  
  
  
  
  This 0% tax increase budget would hire more staff, provide students with a better education, and provide more guidance and support for students who need it. It would keep our vacancies in staff positions lower then any other budget and also keep all admin positions full. Our school district would run like a normal fully funded school district again and be providing an adequate education for all students, and not just some.
  
  
  
  
  
  Please email the following school board members if you wish to see a 0% tax increase and have Heather Whitney’s budget brought forward at the deliberative session.
  
  
  
  
  
  • Heather Whitney: hwhitney@sau6.org
  
  • Michael Petrin: mpetrin@sau6.org
  
  • Arlene Hawkins: ahawkins@sau6.org
  
  • Candace Crawford: candace.crawford@sau6.org
  
  • William Madden: wmadden@sau6.org
  
  • Loren Howard: lhoward@sau6.org
  
  • Frank Sprague: fsprague@sau6.org
  
  
  
  Please Share this amongst other community members that may not be on Facebook or in this group as this is going to affect all community members. Please remember that you will need to take a screen shot of it in order to share it”.

• Why Not? (Thursday, January 08 26 08:40 pm EST)

  The school board should do the right thing and allow all three plans to go before the voters.

• Fact (Thursday, January 08 26 07:28 pm EST)

  Frank Sprague has the longest tenure on the school board and the experience of a school administrator. He is complicit in this entire mess and should resign immediately. The fact the board wanted him back is beyond appalling to every taxpayer in Claremont. We can’t take anymore taxes!

• Insider (Thursday, January 08 26 06:26 pm EST)

  Fine Jim you lazy
  Emails between Merrill and the city manager
  Emails between Merrill and TJ executive
  Assistant
  Director meeting topics
  Emails between Director Merrill and Director Carr
  Emails between Director Merrill and Director of DPW
  Emails between Merrill and Merrill’s assistant Amanda

• Playing Games (Thursday, January 08 26 06:20 pm EST)

  Which one? That rotten toooth mf that screwed me over tom or the insane mcrory yelling like a lunatic

• IT (Thursday, January 08 26 05:22 pm EST)

  Avery, the previous project manager, should just post under his own name and not this fake axe to grind poster. He should pay for the Sullivan Street sidewalk he oversaw. He should pay for the bid award and court case involving the tennis courts. Does his new employer, Pike Industries know he spends his days typing on this forum? He should cover his tracks a bit better. As he is aware IT sees and hears everything. Am I wrong? We miss your shenanigans.

• Janet (Thursday, January 08 26 05:15 pm EST)

  Jim, your response is kind of surprising. You seemed to have to mix in your opinion of people and qualifications. I am not sure your background to be able to judge anyone honestly and it doesn't really address the question. I simply asked if you were aware. Your examples are a bit different. A police officer or fire fighter for example are not using city buildings, equipment or cars to moonlight. Perhaps you could focus on the question when people ask. If someone works at the community center and has an office. If they enter, drop their jacket and keys off and sit at their desk while waiting for a personal client with their sideline trainer business that seems very different to me. Taxpayer used equipment. No membership or fees? You could have left it at you have no idea. Thank you for your time anyway.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, January 08 26 04:30 pm EST)

  I see it’s been a busy day on the Public Forum today. Here are a few responses.
  
  Janet, I don’t know for certain but I suspect that they may be allowed to moonlight as other City Employees in the past in other positions have moonlighted, which I reported. The Council recently approved a contract allowing the new City Manager Nancy Bates, who is not really qualified to be a City Manager in my opinion due to her lack of experience for a community of our size, to moonlight if she so wishes just so long as it doesn’t interfere with her City Manager’s job, (like any of the Councilors would know if it did). In my opinion moonlighting should not be allowed under any circumstances for any City Employee, (especially the safety services positions [Police Officers & Firefighters] but that is not the case here in Claremont. Because we have a City Council, where a majority of the Councilors don’t give a crap about the Citizens of Claremont; only the special interests that they truly represent, which includes the Municipal Employee Unions! As with the Claremont School Board, the Claremont Voters have elected the wrong people to the City Council and that has very real detrimental consequences for all Citizens of Claremont!
  
  Insider, I have never received any emails from you whatsoever. My email address is available at the top of the Sullivan Report Public Forum webpage. I checked the email address again today to make sure that it was accurate and it is. With all due respect, the last month of emails regarding Merrill is still too wide a net for a Right to Know Request in my opinion as it would take City Staff quite a while to slog through what could be a high number of emails. Can you please narrow down the number of those emails by stating a very specific topic regarding those emails, which would make it a more reasonable request?
  
  Claremont Watch, your suggestion regarding the previous project manager’s emails about the Visitor Center is a reasonable request in my opinion and I will submit that request to the City Manager’s Office. Let’s see how long it takes the City Administration to release those emails.
  
  Jenn, thank you for bringing this up as you reminded me to update the Public Officials Contacts webpage of this website, which I have now done (both School Board & City Council). You will find the link at the top of this webpage where all the webpage links are third row down from the top; first link. Go to that webpage and all the email links are there for all Claremont School Board Members & City Councilors.

• Nick (Thursday, January 08 26 03:38 pm EST)

  Ate heather and Michael the only ones who voted to keep the taxes at a 0 percent increase or was there another? It was hard to see during the meeting.

• email (Thursday, January 08 26 01:57 pm EST)

  lhoward@sau6.org, ahawkins@sau6.org, fsprague@sau6.org, hwhitney@sau6.org,
  candace.crawford@sau6.org,
  mpetrin@sau6.org,
  wmadden@sau6.org

• Claremont watch (Thursday, January 08 26 01:43 pm EST)

  Jim,
  Look into the previous project manager emails about the visitor center. They help slide it under everyone feet.

• Henry (Thursday, January 08 26 12:59 pm EST)

  Which of the board members voted for a 0 percent tax increase and which ones voted to increase taxes?

• Jenn (Thursday, January 08 26 12:51 pm EST)

  Can anyone provide the 6 Claremont school board emails? They don’t seem to be listed on the website anymore.

• Insider (Thursday, January 08 26 10:55 am EST)

  I’ve emailed you several times. What a friggen joke.
  Start here, last month of emails regarding Merrill

• Janet (Thursday, January 08 26 07:47 am EST)

  Mr. Sullivan. Would you know if the people who work at the community center and are on payroll have the ability to double dip? I see ads for personal training online. I hope there is accurate tracking so personal training that someone is paying for is just that and not on the tax payers dime as well just by being in the building. Is there some written policy or memo of understanding. I would assume some guidelines are in place for any personal trainers using tax payer equipment for profit. One would assume they need to be a paying member and not just an employee coming in on their day off. Very curious.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, January 08 26 07:00 am EST)

  Insider, I have no relatives working for the City whatsoever and I am not afraid of holding any public officials accountable. In regards to the Visitor Center I have reported about the building deficiencies several times. You keep referring to other things that I should be looking into in regards to the Visitor Center but you refuse to offer any specific things that I should be looking into. As I stated before, I am not going to submit a right to know request for a broad fishing expedition that will take staff hours to gather unspecified emails about unspecified occurrences. Give me some definitive specifics to work with and if I think it is something worth investigating I will. You can post something here on the Public Forum or send me a private email at the email address that I provided at the top of this webpage. Your choice.

• Insider (Thursday, January 08 26 06:30 am EST)

  Jim refuses to look at the problems with the visitor center. Maybe Jim has a relative working there? Maybe Jim is under some kind of handshake agreement? Maybe Jim has an understanding to be hands off? Allegedly
  Is Jim afraid of Amanda who is the real leader here? Is Jim afraid of the inspectors? What actually is Jim afraid of so much that he looks the other way? Hmmmmmm???????

• Disaster in the making (Thursday, January 08 26 06:02 am EST)

  Loren Howard thinks $600 per year, $50 per month is not that much for a home owner to absorb on a $250,000 home.
  
  What about the trickle down effect? 100's of businesses in this town will take those increases, of likely more than $600 per year on their property, and add it to their cost of services or goods. The trickle down effect, is the price of everything goes up. Businesses just don't absorb a 7% tax increase.
  
  Then if the good or services are taxed, rooms and meals for example, those taxes will also go up.
  
  Then wages, will have to go up for people to afford the incease at home.... it's not just a $50 a month tax incease per home owner now. This is a disaster in the making...
  
  Groceries will go up, ambulance service will go up, meals at restaurants will go up, cost to repair your heating system will go up, gas will go up, heating oil will go up, auto repair will go up, health services will go up, the list of increases will go on and on because of the reckless 7% increase on the tax rate, especially after the most recent increase from the school board in December 2025.
  
  Is walmart going to absorb thousands in tax increases, no. Is home depot going to absorb thousands in tax increases, no. Are the big grocery stores going to absorb thousands in tax increases, no.
  
  What about the small mom and pop businesses, they can't and to stay in business, they won't.

• Goes on and on (Thursday, January 08 26 04:37 am EST)

  "Heather likes hearing herself talk."
  
  If so, she's the only one in this town. For someone who spends so much time telling others to shut up, she sure can drone on and on
  
  
  and on
  
  
  
  and on
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  and on

• A (Wednesday, January 07 26 09:42 pm EST)

  Heather: "Bill you are too off-base talking about the problems with the accounting system, get on topic."
  
  Also Heather: "Let me talk for 15 minutes about my life history and my snow tires."

• Harry (Wednesday, January 07 26 09:24 pm EST)

  Heather likes hearing herself talk.

• Dale (Wednesday, January 07 26 07:32 pm EST)

  Why TF is this private session so long? I have some stuff I would like to say at the podium. My god they are doing this on purpose to get people to leave.

• Sitting Here In Silence (Wednesday, January 07 26 07:20 pm EST)

  They went into private session just to make everyone waiting to complain about the budget have to sit there for who knows how long. They could have done it at the end of the meeting.
  
  Heather limiting public comments to 30 minutes when the public wants to voice disapproval over her policies.
  
  So you have to wait around late on a weekday and then might not even get a chance to speak.
  
  This town gives the school all of their money, and the board treats the public like this.

• Team Arlene (Wednesday, January 07 26 06:53 pm EST)

  There goes Arlene showing off her ability to read. Probably just to rub it into Madden's face.

• Mike (Wednesday, January 07 26 06:40 pm EST)

  Claremont is applying for charity so it can have a music program, while it is charging property owners the highest taxes in the state to live in the shittiest town in the state.
  
  Congrats Heather Whitney and Frank Sprague on your leadership running the district into the ground. You should be embarrassed to show your face in this city.

• John Q. Adams (Wednesday, January 07 26 05:49 pm EST)

  It’s disappointing not to get into the college you want, but life has its ups and downs. If she doesn’t let it hold her back, she’ll succeed no matter where she goes, or even if she doesn’t go to college. If not getting into her choice of schools is enough to get in her head and hold her back, then they were probably right to not select her.

• Paul (Wednesday, January 07 26 05:18 pm EST)

  John: You don't undestand how competitive college admissions actually are. There are about 27,000 high schools in the U.S., while many selective colleges enroll only 1k to 2k freshmen. Strong grades, even being valedictorian or having perfect test scores, just isn't enough to guarantee admission. That has nothing to do with Stevens, its the numbers game.

• Max (Wednesday, January 07 26 04:53 pm EST)

  Because the State simply mandates districts to meet a minimum standard of education but has no say in how that objective is reached including compensation.

• John J O’Connor (Wednesday, January 07 26 12:03 pm EST)

  “Isnt”

• John J O’Connor (Wednesday, January 07 26 12:01 pm EST)

  Here’s a question I have ?
  If Claremont’s educational system is a part of the States Educational department, why is everyone paid the same ?
  A math Teacher in Claremont should be paid the same as a math teacher in Concord.
  Why are SAU’s allowed to implement their own pay scale ?

• John J. O’Connor (Wednesday, January 07 26 11:47 am EST)

  I’m saying that child did everything, took everything offered , excelled … and it still wasn’t good enough to get into the school of her choice.
  She didn’t fail the school, the school failed her.
  You wouldn’t need AP classes if you still had Special Ed. The failure in education system was when we started mainstreaming students that have developmental issues into classes with normal students.
  The facts are the facts. Claremont is at the top of spending and at the bottom for results. It’s obvious what they have been doing isn’t working and now it’s going to cost more to do it.
  That has to be a perfect example of insanity.

• John Q. Public (Wednesday, January 07 26 09:59 am EST)

  John: You're not even consistent from one sentence to the next sentence.
  
  You wrote: "a student who was received Steven’s highest educational honors was denied admission to her top 3 colleges because no matter how well she did at Steven’s it was good enough compared to the rest of the Country."
  
  Then you wrote: "Unfortunately, technology programs would benefit the students at Stevens more than AP classes ever will."
  
  Are you saying that the girl's problem was there wasn't enough technical classes? 'cause it sounded like you were saying the academic options weren't good enough. How would she have been better off with more vocational offerings?
  
  Then you write "... those are facts backed up by the continued substandard testing results." So the solution to substandard testing is to cut the offerings in those core subjects and spend the money on vocational classes (that aren't part of what the state tests)?

• John J. O’Connor (Wednesday, January 07 26 07:37 am EST)

  John B,
  You might not like my comments but they are based on facts not opinion and for the record, all 3 of my kids went to Steven’s and continued on to graduate from higher learning. They are the exception.
  A number a years ago a student who was received Steven’s highest educational honors was denied admission to her top 3 colleges because no matter how well she did at Steven’s it was good enough compared to the rest of the Country.
  That’s should have been a wake up call to the school system but it wasn’t .
  If you continue doing what you’re doing, you will keep getting what you get !
  Unfortunately, technology programs would benefit the students at Stevens more than AP classes ever will.
  That isn’t my opinion, those are facts backed up by the continued substandard testing results.

• Jim Sullivan (Wednesday, January 07 26 05:36 am EST)

  Max, you are very welcome. More to come on Sunday.

• Max (Tuesday, January 06 26 08:58 pm EST)

  Thank you Jim for following up on the subject of pay for Mr. Pope.

• Jim Sullivan (Tuesday, January 06 26 06:30 pm EST)

  Today I received from SAU #6 Comptroller / Business Manager Matt Angell all of Scott Pope’s work contracts. Interesting reading. According to one work contract for Fiscal Year 2025, Scott Pope was paid a Daily Rate of $250.00 for teaching Machine Tools Level I & Level II. However, it also states that Pope would typically work 4 hours a day and receive that $250.00 per diem “for any hours worked”. Meaning if Scott Pope worked less than 4 hours on any given day he still received the full $250.00 Stipend Payment. The Daily Rate of $250.00 for 4 hours means that Scott Pope was paid $62.50 per hour! However there are still some inconsistencies. The Full Compensation Spreadsheet has Scott Pope being paid $16,250 at the Rate of $35.72 (this spreadsheet states the Rate is hourly) for a total of $16,250; there apparently is no work contract stating Scott Pope would be paid anything at the $35.72 Rate. According to Matt Angell, I was provided all of the work contracts for Scott Pope that “we could find”. That Full Compensation Spreadsheet also states that Scott Pope was paid an additional $17,000 at the rate of $250.00 (the spreadsheet states per hour). Then there is also the other Stipends (Supplementals) Spreadsheet that states that Scott Pope was paid $45,000 at the rate of $250.00 per hour. So with all of these inconsistencies; which do you choose to believe?
  Two other contracts were also interesting. One for Fiscal Year 2023 where Scott Pope was paid $100 per hour for 30 hours to Mentor. A similar contract for Fiscal Year 2024 states that Scott Pope received another $100 per hour for 30 hours to Mentor and Install Donated Equipment. On Sunday I will publish all of these public documents.

• John B. (Tuesday, January 06 26 05:26 pm EST)

  Do you actually have any information about how his compensation is determined, or are you just assuming because you like the guy?
  
  As for your other points, are you really suggesting that students who are motivated, study hard, and want to challenge themselves should be shortchanged on the chance that a less-motivated student might eventually pursue an HVAC certification instead of working at Walmart? I feel sorry for your kids if that's your attitude.
  
  I’m not saying students on the academic track should be treated better than others. All I am saying that students who want to work hard and apply themselves deserve teachers of equal quality to those teaching shop classes. Cut AP classes for shop class? tell me your white trash without telling my your white trash.
  
  There’s nothing I learned in shop that isn’t already explained in hundreds of free YouTube videos.
  
  Pope showed his true colors when he walked out of the council meeting. Being a leader and a role model means showing composure and grace under pressure, not losing your cool and storming off like a toddler. He's a bad influence for the kids.
  
  Your attitude of lets not give a shit about the kids who show up and want to make the most of their education is why good people are leaving Claremont and only trash is staying and moving in. At least Pope is only suckling at the public teat...you seem to want to be suckling at some other part of Scott.

• John J. O’Connor (Tuesday, January 06 26 04:53 pm EST)

  Become a Doctor ?
  Are you aware of the graduation rate at Stevens ?
  Are you aware of how many graduates DON’T go to College?
  The School system would be a better benefit to the Students if it taught more Vocational Classes not AP classes.
  You really need to read the room before you embarrass yourself with those elitist comments.
  Scott is paid based on his experience and expertise, not his political connections.

• John O'DenseInTheHead (Tuesday, January 06 26 04:43 pm EST)

  John, you’re missing the point. No one is arguing that trades or technical skills aren’t valuable, or that teaching them isn’t a worthwhile path. The issue is the inconsistency in your reasoning. You argue that Pope is paid twice as much because his skills are especially valuable. But when someone points out that other skills (like biology, math, or English) are also valuable in todays world, you pivot to defending the usefulness of trades and away from market realities.
  
  The point is straightforward: if a student who wants to learn a trade is “entitled” to a $250-a-day teacher, why isn’t a student who wants to become a doctor entitled to a $250-a-day biology teacher? Or even $200 a day teacher. Or $150 a day teacher. You’re effectively claiming the district has done a careful market analysis that justifies $125 a day for biology, math, physics, chemistry, English, and social studies teachers (remarkable how all those analysis comes out to the exact same number) but somehow, when it comes to the one shop teacher (who also happens to be mixed up with local politics), that same analysis magically lands at exactly double the pay.

• John J. O’Connor (Tuesday, January 06 26 03:12 pm EST)

  That seems a bit arrogant, not everyone is able to go to college.
  The world needs plumbers, electricians, carpenters and HVAC technicians. How will they learn these trades unless you have experienced professional teaching them ?
  As for Madden and Tyson , they are fortunate, they are financially secure enough to be able to volunteer their time, not everyone is so fortunate.
  Don’t hate the players, hate the game !
  Scott Pope is a decent person who has made positive contributions to the city . He shouldn’t be judged by one incident. He was a casualty of Santagate’s battle with the Council.

• John O'Dumbass (Tuesday, January 06 26 02:20 pm EST)

  If you've been around long enough, you’ll probably remember when Pope had a meltdown and quit the city council because things didn’t go his way. Whether it's in local government or schools, this guy’s been suckling at the public teat for much of his life.
  
  Meanwhile, Madden and Tyson are volunteering without pay. They’ve built careers on what John likes to call “dime-a-dozen” skills—math, finance, engineering—so a daily rate of $125 or $250 doesn’t mean much to them. Pope, on the other hand, is working the system to lock down that $250.
  
  You've been watching too much Fox News, John. Work hard in school, go to a good college, work hard, and you WILL get rich in this world. Get good at shop, and you'll be installing kitchen cabinets in the vacation homes of those who got rich in the "dime a dozen" subjects.

• John J. O’Connor (Tuesday, January 06 26 06:07 am EST)

  Someone is only worth what someone else is willing to pay.
  I’ve done a little research and $250 a day is the standard rate for an experienced Technical Arts Instructor.
  Seems your issue, again, is what the “core” subject sub’s are being paid. It’s not a fair world, you don’t get paid for what you know, you get paid for your responsibilities are.
  Unfortunately, “Core” teachers are a dime a dozen, Colleges are graduating thousands every year but it’s extremely difficult to find a competent Technical Arts Instructor and that’s why there is such a pay unbalance.
  Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach !

• Jim Sullivan (Tuesday, January 06 26 05:19 am EST)

  One new article published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  Which Budget will the Claremont School Board pick?

• John O'LearnToRead (Monday, January 05 26 09:36 pm EST)

  John J O’Connor: You have a reading comprehension problem.
  
  There are retired teachers and others who sub who get the $125.
  
  Sure you can make the case that Pope is worth $31 an hour based on his experience and tenure. But you can make the case for others who sub and get half that.
  
  The corruption isn't because there is a disagreement over Pope's experience or expertise. It's because he is getting a deal that no one else is even being offered, regardless of their expertise.
  
  In my opinion if you are a community leader, you should be subbing for free. Look at Madden. I got lots of problems with the dude, but he is donate his time. Not Mr. "I deserve 2x what others get" Pope. Even that moron Kevin Tyson volunteers for free in the schools.
  
  You have to be one hell of an arrogant SOB to be a "community leader," sub and take a paycheck, much less think you deserve 2x what others who have been teaching in the district for decades get.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, January 05 26 04:52 pm EST)

  What someone is worth and what they receive are two entirely different things
  I’m sure Scott’s wage was based on his experience and tenure within the school system.
  If you feel teachers like Scott are over paid and the “core” subject Subs are underpaid, what would be fair compensation?
  Remember, you get what you pay for .

• John J. O'Reality (Monday, January 05 26 04:19 pm EST)

  This is where I think you’ve got it a bit wrong, John. Is it worth paying for expertise? Absolutely. Is a good teacher worth $250 a day—about $31 an hour? Sure. The problem isn’t that; it’s the corruption of the system. Most subs are paid $125 a day. Are some of them better than others? No doubt. But if a sub walks in and makes a solid, evidence-based case that they’re better than another sub, is the district going to negotiate with them? Of course not.
  
  Are there history or english or music subs with expertise comparable to Pope’s in their own fields? I’d bet there are. Is the district doing anything to identify or reward that level of expertise? Hell no.
  
  It's the good ole boy, we can make the case for Pope (who just "happens" to be in local government) to pay him twice what others make. Everyone else: thanks for your service, but if you don't like what we are offering go pound sand.
  
  The fact Pope is getting 2x what others who work just as hard as he does gets and take it, while being a community leader, tells you everything you need to no. He's no gentleman. Wild Bill Madden is subbing for free, and this a-hole thinks he deserves 2x what others get.

• Henaldo the Philippino (Monday, January 05 26 03:54 pm EST)

  You certainly are on the spectrum, so is Jim Sullivan. Dude is obsessed with Claremont politics worse than a bro with ‘tism and baseball stats.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, January 05 26 01:39 pm EST)

  I m certain Scot Pope and I are from different political spectrums. My opinion is based off my interactions and I’ve always found Scott to be a gentleman . I don’t see $250 per day for an experienced professional working in the Technology field as being excessive.
  If you put inferior people in superior positions you will get an inadequate product, that’s why you can’t trust the FUBAR spreadsheets from the SAU. I’m sure the administration made more than $250 a day and still do.
  Where’s the outrage over that ?
  I wouldn’t expect any comments from the SAU. The less you say the less you have to testify to and trust me, this will end up in a criminal investigation.

• John O'McDonald (Monday, January 05 26 12:48 pm EST)

  John J O’Connor: you're a real piece of work. First, you argue that Jim shouldn't trust the spreadsheet because the SAU gave it to him. OK. So then we shouldn't trust anything ever from the district. The citizens are owed accurate information, not BS that Angell, Kennedy and Whitney send out in a game of see if you can spot how we are lying to you today. And if you do, ohh, it doesn't matter because you know we are competent and dishonest so you should know you can't trust anything we tell you.
  
  Its noon on Monday after the scandal was reported, where is the statement from the SAU clearing this up. Is Kennedy, Angell and the PR guy all still on Holiday break? Maybe the PR guy is still watching all the old board meetings and charging us for that.
  
  Second, just because you know someone like Pope, doesn't mean he's clean. Anyone in Claremont government deserves scrutiny. Assume you are right and he is getting 250 a day. Why is it he's getting twice as much as the other subs? And why was this never publicly reported before?
  If its some sort of market thing, where shop is so much harder than anything else, did they at least post the position at the standard rate and see if there was applicants? Trust me there are more people in this community that can watch kids build a birdhouse for an hour than can teach calculus, and the calculus subs are getting the 125.
  
  I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with Pope being a local political crony. Like I'm sure the fact that Sprague's wife gets moved from job to job when her position is eliminated, has nothing to do with the fact that Frank is on the Board).
  
  Your cope is disgusting.

• John J O’Connor (Monday, January 05 26 07:32 am EST)

  Is anyone surprised that the FUBAR spreadsheet was incorrect ? I’m not, it’s a perfect example of the dysfunction that has plagued the Claremont school system for decades.
  I can understand why Jim has accepted the spreadsheet as gospel, it magnifies the incompetence but it does a disservice to his loyal readers.
  I’ve known Scott Pope to be a honorable person, he has not done anything wrong and should not be the “poster child” for the dysfunction of the SAU and Jim, don’t accept anything from the SAU on face value. Assume everything you receive is inaccurate and do your due diligence and investigate.
  Your loyal readers deserve that !

• Min (Sunday, January 04 26 04:41 pm EST)

  Max: if the sau sent him a spreadsheet saying it is $250 an hour, they should own it.
  
  You have half the town, not being paid, on weekends on here trying to figure out what's going on.
  
  Then you have Angell and Kennedy sitting on their fat asses sending out false information without proof reading it, or chiming in to correct the record.
  
  Jim isn't evil, evil is the lazy sau admins and school board.
  
  For fucks sake they hired a consulting firm to do PR. Where are they??

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 04 26 04:41 pm EST)

  Max, the new spreadsheet clearly states that Scott Pope was paid $250.00 per hour for 68 hours totaling $17,000. The other spreadsheet that I received first states that Scott Pope was paid $45,000 at the rate of $250.00 per hour for the entire $45,000. I also stated in my article that the School Officials are strictly adhering to the New Hampshire Right to Know Law and only providing documents that are deemed public record and they are refusing to answer questions.

• Max (Sunday, January 04 26 04:19 pm EST)

  Jim, simply send another email to the comptroller for clarification. Like the others, I believe Mr Pope was paid $250 per day, perhaps because his subject matter is more specific than teaching generic history or English for example. At $250 per hour, Mr. Pope would have earned that amount in a little over a month of normal work weeks. I’m sure your spreadsheet did say “per hour” but common sense tells us that isn’t correct. You really should clarify before publishing this as a massive scandal. And frankly, if it is $250 per day, a correction and apology is in order.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 04 26 03:29 pm EST)

  Debra, as I stated before and will continue to do so, I reported exactly what the spreadsheets state. According to the new spreadsheet, Scott Pope was paid $250.00 per hour for 68 hours, which equals $17,000. The other spreadsheet states that $45,000 was paid to Scott Pope at $250.00 per hour. You may not like it but that is precisely what those documents state.

• Eugene Debs (Sunday, January 04 26 03:12 pm EST)

  (1) Angell needs to get off his fat ass and actually produce data that is accurate. He's been there for months. If he is sending out documents saying that someone is being paid $250 an hour, but it is really $250 a day (or if its the other way around) that's completely unacceptable. Stop telling every newspaper about how hard you are working and fix the books for Christ's sake.
  
  (2) Even if you assume its $250 a day, why is Pope getting twice what other subs getting at $125? There should be public info put out on all of this, it should dribble out based on people doing RTKs and posting online.
  
  (3) The Board should have a policy that no person (or their spouse) can be on the board or city council and also take money from the city or schools for 5 years around when they serve. The corruption (like them shuffling sprague's wife from job to job to job while others get let go) is INSANE!
  
  (4) POPE, ANGELL, KENNEDY, WHITNEY, EXPENSIVE COMMUNICATION CONSULTANT: this should have been explained as soon as the article came out. No matter how you look at it, the SAU screwed something up here. Either get on here and explain it, or put out a press release. You are the LAZIEST pieces of shit I've ever known. Particularly the communication consultant ass hole who is charging us to watch videos, but can't explain this.
  
  (5) If we are paying $40-50k a year for health insurance for these people, shouldn't it cover ozempic? All of them (Angell, Kennedy, Madden, etc) are fat. I get that they are probably too lazy to exercise and have self control (either with respect to respecting the taxpayers money or eating like a pig). But can't they at least take the meds to make them not hideously fat. When you don't have discipline to take care of your health, why should be believe you have discipline to do your job?

• Debra (Sunday, January 04 26 02:56 pm EST)

  250X180=45,000!! Jim did you really think someone would get paid that per hour? It was daily not hourly. Just do the math the correct way. All you did was try to find the way to do math that hurt the person the most. Theirs a normal way of doing things and stating the facts and then there is a way of presenting facts twisting it and making it look as bad as possible. Ever watch the show called Gutfield on Fox News? It’s Foxes version of Jimmy Kimmel and they make fun of things and make things as factual as possible but make them look as bad as possible. This is exactly what you did here but forgot to let people know it was a joke and not actual facts.

• William (Sunday, January 04 26 02:03 pm EST)

  What I got out of Jim's article is three takeaways. One Scott Pope is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this stipend scam that has taken advantage of all of us. Two William Madden has known about the stipend scam before he got elected to the school board and he kept the secret because he condones the scam that is swindling millions of dollars from the taxpayers every year. Three the school leaders at the SAU and on the school board are not going to do anything to fix this because they condone the scam too and they want to see it continue. If they didn't they would have cut the budget for next year by over $4 billion just like Jim said they should. Jim Sullivan seems to be the only one looking out for all of the citizens.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 04 26 01:53 pm EST)

  John, your math is way off but I understand what you're trying to say. We know there are discrepancies between the two spreadsheets; I simply reported what each spreadsheet stated.

• John J. O’Connor (Sunday, January 04 26 01:33 pm EST)

  Jim,
  I’ll be honest, none of this makes sense.
  Who had the fiduciary responsibility ?
  Someone needs to be held criminally responsible and the entire School Board must resign.
  This current School Board has proven to be useless with no control over how the taxpayers money is spent .
  Therefore they unnecessary and should be disbanded immediately.
  And Jim, I’m assuming what that FUBAR spreadsheet ment to say was Scott received $250 a day on 17 different days . That’s makes more sense.

• Your neighbor (Sunday, January 04 26 01:11 pm EST)

  Jeff, your house on sugar river is a trailer with holes in the roof already

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 04 26 12:49 pm EST)

  Perhaps Don but that is not what the spreadsheet states. According to the new spreadsheet, the proper calculation is $250.00 per hour multiplied by 68 hours, which equals $17,000. The other spreadsheet states $45,000 was paid to Scott Pope at $250.00 per hour.

• Don Lavalette (Sunday, January 04 26 12:13 pm EST)

  250 per day times 180 school days equals 45 thousand. Just a thought. I could be wrong.

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, January 04 26 09:38 am EST)

  Good Morning John, I reported exactly what the two official Claremont School District spreadsheets that I received stated. The spreadsheet that I received last week is entitled “Fiscal Year 2025 School Employee Compensation new spreadsheet from Matt Angell”. This is the spreadsheet that states that Scott Pope received a total of $17,000 at the Hourly Rate of $250.00 for Substitute Teaching. There is another column in that spreadsheet entitled “Hours Regular” with the number 68 stated in the entry box. Doing the math, which is irrefutable, $250.00 per hour times 68 hours equals $17,000 right to the penny! According to the spreadsheet, it is not $250.00 per day because if they were Daily Rates posted in that spreadsheet column then other Claremont School District Employees are working for between roughly $10.00 and $35.00 per day! Respectfully, does that make sense to you? The other spreadsheet entitled “Supplemental’s List Spreadsheet”, which is the original spreadsheet that I received stating all of the Stipends paid to Claremont School District Employees during Fiscal Year 2025 states that Scott Pope received a total of $45,000 all at the rate of $250.00 per hour for Substitute Teaching. All exactly as I reported it in my article.

• Jeff (Sunday, January 04 26 09:04 am EST)

  So If I am trying to catch up on my tax bill and need to repair something or fix my roof from leaking I wouldn't be able to fix my roof until I am paid in full? The city can have the house. Taxes or roof? I will poke more holes in the roof for you all so when you sell it at tax auction you get nothing. You shouldn't let rich people or people who never amounted to anything draft laws. This is what you get.

• Vanessa (Sunday, January 04 26 08:50 am EST)

  Mr. Pope, if you are reading this please feel free to reach out to Shaheen and Gordon.

• Richard (Sunday, January 04 26 08:48 am EST)

  John Oconnor who is your source? Jim reported from the spreadsheets he got from the SAU he also said that the school leaders won't answer questions. Are you believing Don because he wrote it here? Is it because you are a strong union supporter because you were a cop? Where is your proof?

• Pope will bury you. (Sunday, January 04 26 08:38 am EST)

  Defamation charge is headed your way. You just spread lies about a non-elected official and intentionally damaged a person's reputation. Better get a really good lawyer stupid.

• John J. O’Connor (Sunday, January 04 26 08:04 am EST)

  Jim,
  Don is correct, it’s not $125 or $250 an hour ,it’s per day .
  Due your due diligence and just don’t accept everything you get as being true.
  Does it pass the “Santagate”smell test ?
  Do you really think Scott Pope makes $2,000 dollars a day ?
  Use your common sense, which seems to be in short supply lately.
  And thank you for your kind words.

• Jim Sullivan (Saturday, January 03 26 07:23 pm EST)

  Don, the rates regarding the Stipends that I quoted in the article are hourly.

• Red Flag (Saturday, January 03 26 06:28 pm EST)

  Don: It really doesn't matter. Either Pope is getting that much, which is unacceptable given everything else, or the district has falsified the books and records to be inaccurate, which is also unacceptable, and potential a crime. I think Angell's honeymoon is over and he needs to start owning the crap he is sending out.
  
  Also, Don, my advice to you is to keep your mouth shut until the election. At the start I thought I like Don, he's a change from the current corrupt incompetent lazy losers on the board (like the evil and lazy FRANK SPRAGE and HEATHER WHITNEY). The more you speak at meetings, though, the more I realize you aren't much of an improvement.
  
  Also your unwillingness to engage with the public and answer questions is a GIANT red flag.
  
  Of course, you're still probably better than that right-wing DEI loser Kevin Tyson who has run for everything and never won anything, and stopped bothering to show up after he wasn't crowned to the board.

• Don Lavalette (Saturday, January 03 26 06:14 pm EST)

  Jim, the hourly rate for some of the people might be listed incorrectly…some have 125 per hour but I believe this is accurate:
  Daily substitute teacher pay: $125 per day for classroom substitute positions (elementary and high school

• Disgusted (Saturday, January 03 26 05:55 pm EST)

  Most subs get almost nothing. Pope is getting $250 an hour, and no one told the public. That's over $500k a year annualized. The biggest issue is this was hidden from the public.
  
  School Board: either you knew and did nothing. Or you didn't know because you were lazy and grossly negligent.
  
  UN-FUCKIN-ACCEPTABLE
  
  HEATHER AND FRANK, who have been there while all of this was happening, NEED TO GO NOW.
  
  FRANK: yes its a volunteer position, but if you aren't up for it, RESIGN. You know how to do that, right. But this time stay resigned, you corrupt lazy incompetent piece of SHIT.
  
  Watch Frank's wife leave him once you can't use your position to keep her in a job. Who would want to be associated with that POS.

• Curious Kate (Saturday, January 03 26 05:54 pm EST)

  Why get a head of department bonus when you the only one in the department

• Don Redman (Saturday, January 03 26 05:41 pm EST)

  Jim what about the guidance counselor lead I emailed

• Jim Sullivan (Saturday, January 03 26 04:25 pm EST)

  Three new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! – Part #4 – Another incredibly shocking scandal is uncovered!
  
  2) City of Claremont to go before the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals!
  
  3) New Hampshire State House Representative's Wayne Hemingway's & Dale Girard's Proposed Legislative Bill could work against Council's goal of improving housing stock in Claremont!

• Wendy French Fries (Saturday, January 03 26 02:44 pm EST)

  "Doesn’t Claremont lead the area for teen pregnancy and high school dropouts?"
  
  That's Heather Whitney's Claremont for ya.
  
  As for Bill's Executive summary, i think you need to make it one paragraph, only use small words and read it to him with illustrations for it to sink in. If only he spent half as much time looking at the districts finances as he spent bitching about executive summaries.
  
  Then we got the biggest scumbag, Frank Sprague. See the Valley News. Basically admitted he was asleep at the switch and wasn't watching the finances while he has been on the board for years. Only cares about getting his family members jobs.
  
  We used to have a word for a woman, like Heidi Sprague, who was with a man for money / job.
  
  REPLACE THEM ALL

• Wendy (Saturday, January 03 26 02:15 pm EST)

  Doesn’t Claremont lead the area for teen pregnancy and high school dropouts?

• Helpful Citizen (Saturday, January 03 26 01:00 pm EST)

  This is for Bill Madden:
  
  Executive Summary
  
  The Claremont School District has begun development of the FY27 budget and is committed to keeping the community informed and engaged throughout the process. This year’s budget planning is taking place under unusual circumstances, as previously approved budget figures were based on inaccurate information, outstanding prior-year obligations remain, and additional unanticipated costs—particularly in special education and health insurance—must now be addressed. As a result, the FY27 budget is being built largely from the ground up.
  
  Public participation is a core value of this process. While budget subcommittee meetings are open to the public, formal public comment will occur at designated meetings, which will be announced in advance. A detailed budget calendar will outline opportunities for engagement, discussion, and voting.
  
  District leadership has presented two preliminary budget scenarios based on different school configurations—a three-school model and a four-school model—with a third “status quo” option in development. These options are being evaluated through the lens of three primary priorities: improving student achievement, determining the most effective and sustainable school configuration for current and future populations, and understanding the impact on the local property tax rate.
  
  Declining student enrollment, a trend seen statewide and nationally, requires the district to carefully consider how many schools and staff are needed to deliver high-quality education while managing operating costs responsibly. Three school configuration options are under consideration, ranging from maintaining the current four-school structure to reconfiguring grade groupings or moving to a three-school model. No decisions have been made, and the School Board will continue to review data, discuss tradeoffs, and solicit community input before making final determinations.
  
  The FY27 budget process will be complex and challenging, but district leaders, staff, the School Board, and families share a commitment to working collaboratively to strengthen educational outcomes while remaining mindful of financial realities. The community will continue to receive updates as the process moves forward.

• Harry Wyfeswappir (Thursday, January 01 26 09:33 am EST)

  Wake up is a freaking pot head with anxiety issues. Take some more stipends you dolt

• Wake Up (Wednesday, December 31 25 06:50 pm EST)

  A phone number for a shelter on a website, next to a phone number for a different shelter in White River? That's the best you got. Also that isn't the state.
  
  All you Fox-news watching trump-tards need to learn something. Everything isn't someone else's fault. You're not addicted to drugs because of China. You're addicted to drugs because you are a weak POS. You aren't unemployed because other countries are cheating the US on trade. You are unemployed because you don't have any skills. Claremont is on the decline not because immigrants are here, or the state is sending wellfare queens here. It is on the decline because  Claremonters elect dumbass leaders, who do dumbass things.
  
  Anyone who gives a shit about their kid has left rather than let their kids rot in the school system. Anyone who can do math realizes that while it might be a bit cheaper to buy a home in Claremont, but you don't save anything after you figure in property taxes. If you are in Claremont and have kids, they should be taken away from you for being a terrible parent if you haven't left.
  
  My advice to everyone is get the fuck out now, before housing values drop even more when people realize how fucked up the city is. Thank you again school board!
  
  And that would be true even if Lebanon didn't have a Claremont homeless shelters phone number on their webpage. You aren't a victim, and this it's not a conspiracy. The problem is you.

• Bill (Wednesday, December 31 25 05:27 pm EST)

  "I've been hearing the Claremont is the state's dumping ground for years, and there isn't anything to support that claim". Looks like Lebanon thinks Claremont is a dumping ground. Just go to the Lebanon NH City website under How to Apply for Assistance section. It says to call Claremont Shelter 603-542-3160.

• Ghost of Christmas Future (Wednesday, December 31 25 05:08 pm EST)

  Jim: Still time to write something positive before 2025 is gone. Think about it.

• GFY Cindy (Wednesday, December 31 25 02:34 pm EST)

  Cindy: You're clealy making all of this up!!
  
  "I’m not one to call out another community by name or publish 31 emails." <-- you just did in your last email!
  
  "Do you really want to see 31 posts from me on this form or a long post of 31 emails?" <-- yes. but you can post them in a single message or put them online and provide a link. How about you start by just posting **a single one** in its entirity if you aren't making the whole thing up?
  
  "...I find it disrespectful to call out another town...." <--- you came here and did exactly that to start the conversation. I find it resrespectful for you to come here and post this without being willing to back any of it up.

• Cindy (Wednesday, December 31 25 02:09 pm EST)

  I’m not one to call out another community by name or publish 31 emails. You can email communities around the state and see what they give you. Do you really want to see 31 posts from me on this form or a long post of 31 emails? Most of these emails had pictures, names of people, addresses and links in them. It would be a cluster of a mess if I shared these on this form plus I find it disrespectful to call out another town by name that are trying to help someone.

• Greg B (Wednesday, December 31 25 12:51 pm EST)

  Foreigners are a big problem in our city. We have business ran by taliban style people here and by the drug cartel. We need ICE to come save our city!

• Truth (Wednesday, December 31 25 10:22 am EST)

  judging from this forum, the city is in really bad shape

• Hector Seroni (Wednesday, December 31 25 09:31 am EST)

  Wasn’t there a couple daycares run by immigrants in claremont
  One from Enfield too
  Grants?

• Lying Cindy (Wednesday, December 31 25 08:42 am EST)

  Cindy: I'm not happy about some of the trash that Claremont has collected either, but what you say isn't true. I've been hearing the Claremont is the state's dumping ground for years, and there isn't anything to support that claim. There is nothing different about how Claremont gives out social services than any of the other major cities. Claremont's problem isn't that the state has dump bad people on us, its that the good people leave and we are stuck with ignorant lazy dishonest trash.
  
  Post the 31 emails if they are real.

• Insider (Wednesday, December 31 25 05:54 am EST)

  How much money do you think Claremont daycare pocket from the state. Jim we need to do some investigating into this

• Cindy (Tuesday, December 30 25 09:40 pm EST)

  I emailed 43 communities in NH about where I should go when I have little money and need support services. 31 communities told me to go check out Claremont as they have ample airport services for everything. The remainder of the communities either welcomed me, didn’t respond, or recommended somewhere else besides Claremont. It looks as if the city is once again the place where the state sends everyone they don’t want.

• I'm done with Claremont (Tuesday, December 30 25 09:19 pm EST)

  Guess we can't have nice things, when even McElreavy turns out to be a a-hole.
  
  Hope you enjoying sitting at home looking at you precious photos, scumbag.

• Sick Town (Tuesday, December 30 25 05:05 pm EST)

  Looks like bully McElreavy made the poor woman take down her post appologizing to him now. Makes me fucking sick.

• I’m the Captain now (Tuesday, December 30 25 04:59 pm EST)

  Jim haven’t you seen the Somoli daycare scandal? Just walk around with your cell phone and you can capture some of this fraud.

• McJerk (Tuesday, December 30 25 04:41 pm EST)

  I always thought McElreavy was a decent guy. But if this is true he is a huge piece of shit. He has posted all kinds of crap on his channel since this broke and hasn't addressed it.
  
  Did you write all those old news story you keep posting, Wayne?

• Jim Sullivan (Tuesday, December 30 25 04:31 pm EST)

  John, great idea; I hadn’t thought of it. I have submitted through the SAU #6 Request for Information Portal for that information with one modification; many if not all of these anonymous people (if some of them actually exist) may have been paid via electronic banking; if so there should be some sort of record of that, which is also subject to the NH Right to Know Law. We will see what I receive. It may take a little while as the SAU Office is probably closed for the holiday break.
  While on the subject of the Stipends, after I am done reporting about Stipend Classifications I will begin publishing the Name, Description & Amount Paid Columns of the entire Official Claremont School District Stipend Payment Spreadsheet for Fiscal Year 2025. I will start from the top and publish so many entries each week until I have published every single entry; this could take many weeks as there are 2,929 entries in total. I believe this is something that needs to be done because Claremont Tax Dollars were spent on these Stipends totaling $4,414,987.48, which represents 11.15% of the entire Claremont School District Budget for Fiscal Year 2025! Everyone deserves to know where those tax dollars went! The fact that it appears that the Stipends have not been curtailed in the Proposed Budgets for Fiscal Year 2027 should have anyone here in Claremont irate! Because if they were then the Proposed Budget Spending should have been reduced by well over $4 million and it wasn’t! Suggesting that the Claremont Taxpayers are getting screwed again by School Officials!

• only count to 4 (Tuesday, December 30 25 03:10 pm EST)

  It is crazy how stipend is being handled. It looks like off ledger sketching crap going on. It should be carved into the districts direct accounting. To be fair it maybe because the spread sheet was assembled from different parts of the ledgers, hope that is not the case. That and having so many header categories is also weird again if they are using it for accounting dissection to be able to do key reporting. It really looks like it needs a complete rebuild moving forward.

• John J. O’Connor (Tuesday, December 30 25 07:23 am EST)

  Got a question?
  It’s seems thousands of dollars have been dished out to numerous “anonymous” people but those people must have received checks and those checks had to be endorsed and deposited into specific accounts.
  Jim, would I be possible to do a 91-a on those cancelled checks to determine who they were given to ?
  As far as the Wayne’s problems are concerned. It is my understanding, once a photo is put online it is now “public property “ so Wayne has no expectation of privacy or ownership.
  He bullied that poor woman, shame on you Wayne.

• Robert (Tuesday, December 30 25 05:55 am EST)

  Kerry Kennedy and Matthew Angell seemed to be doing the same thing their predecessors did. Do nothing to solve the problems and sit back and collect the big paycheck. Jim has done an excellent job reporting what has been occurring with the Claremont school district’s finances with the documents to back up his reporting. The school district seems to be hemorrhaging $1 million or more each month with no end in sight. The attorney fees and the consultant fees continue to mount unabated. The line of credit with Claremont Savings Bank may be depleted when only half of the $4 million credit line was scheduled to be used by January 1. The legislation to allow school districts to borrow adequacy aid funding ahead of schedule will not be available until well after April 17 when the $4 million of credit line with Claremont Savings Bank must be completely repaid with interest. Other legislation proposed to hand over to the Claremont school district $5 million for the Stevens High School building renovation would also be unavailable prior to April 17. There is no guarantee that either legislation will be approved. I am of the opinion that neither will be signed into law. I am concerned that the school district will be bankrupt come either April or May and school may not be opened in September. School leaders are not living within their budget and Kerry Kennedy, Matthew Angell and the school board members are not reducing spending to try to change that outcome. I agree with Jim that it seems that the $4.5 million stipend program is still active in next year's budget seeing that the proposed budgets are more expensive than this year’s budget and they do not include the budget deficit that will be addressed in the next school year. Our school leaders continue to let us down and hide the truth of how bad things are. Without Jim Sullivan’s reporting we would all be in the dark about practically everything.

• This Day in Claremont History (Tuesday, December 30 25 12:59 am EST)

  1 day ago today, December 29, 2025, Claremont local Wayne McElreavy proved himself to be a giant douchebag by demanding a local facebook user remove a photo of a high school parade float in a post about her high school reunion be removed because he took it.
  
  McElreavy joins the ranks of other well-known local A-holes like disgraced police officer Jon Stone and the local school board who screwed over the entire town spending like drunken sailors and then cutting education and raising taxes.
  
  McElreavy was once a well-regarded source of local history before revealing himself to be a selfish jerk. Despite the facebook poster writing a heartfelt apology to McElreavy, he didn't bother to respond or explain himself.
  
  McElreavy is well-known to post photos others have taken to facebook.

• Guss (Monday, December 29 25 10:42 pm EST)

  What is Wayne McElreavy's problem giving someone shit about posting a photo he took of a alumni parade float on Facebook and making her take it down and post an lengthy "heart felt" appology? Grow up, dude.

• Insider (Monday, December 29 25 03:54 pm EST)

  Your stupid stipend collecting stank ass is pathetic.

• Mr. Wright (Monday, December 29 25 02:44 pm EST)

  Steve Scott has a point. It would be nice if Jim could see the good in something, sometime. But I am glad he does what he does.

• Citizen (Monday, December 29 25 02:37 pm EST)

  Insider is pathetic. Now that his he no longer works for the city he has nothing good to say.

• Patrick & Matthew (Monday, December 29 25 01:18 pm EST)

  Your mom

• Sarah (Monday, December 29 25 09:57 am EST)

  Jim reports the important news we need to know. The stipend scandal was hidden by school leaders for years while many profited off of the unsuspecting taxpayers. Nick has been on the city council for lots of years and what has he accomplished? Nothing that's what. All show and mouth and no go.

• Steve Scott (Monday, December 29 25 08:02 am EST)

  Yes, "Steve" Koloski surely cares what the 6 people here who complain about everything but do nothing think about his reputation. This page had proven so powerful it has shut him down and had his vote count dramatically increase over the years. Oh wait. He build more businesses and gets a higher vote count each year. My mistake. Carry on. Jim, you seem to miss what they are saying. I also watched the podcast. There is more content there in an hour then your ramblings but you only choose negative. Imagine just being able to be happy someone else is attempting to keep people informed. It wasn't all doom so you can support it. Did you used to sit and scowl at people doing things you can't? You certain do now.

• Andrew (Monday, December 29 25 05:59 am EST)

  No salt huh?
  
  What else can we cut?

• Heather Must Go. NOW!!! (Monday, December 29 25 01:05 am EST)

  How much more corruption needs to be uncovered from Heather Whitney's administration before she resigns in disgrace.
  
  What a narsasitic, incompetent and corrupt woman she is to sit up there and lecture the town on how the schools should run, and how taxpayer money should be spent, after all of this has been exposed.

• Current employee (Sunday, December 28 25 06:36 pm EST)

  But we can pay a city manger, hr director, planning and development director, and city planner way to much.

• Tyler (Sunday, December 28 25 06:32 pm EST)

  I want to work here with the students to give them
  My speech impediments but you are cheap

• City employee (Sunday, December 28 25 06:16 pm EST)

  As a current employee of the city this site is becoming boring and boring. As someone who doesn’t live in the city and my kids don’t got to Claremont I don’t care about the school. Maybe the taxes should be hire to give the kids and education. I care about all the heat going on in city hall and planning and development. Like how can the city be losing more money on 17 water then what was originally agreed on?!!

• Steve (Sunday, December 28 25 06:03 pm EST)

  Jim you have to know it's Nick Koloski writing these comments to protect his reputation because he is the only one who cares about it. That's why he's a narcissist

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, December 28 25 06:00 pm EST)

  I never wrote that Hemingway's Bill was ever discussed by the Council. I correctly stated that the Council takeover of the School Budget was discussed on more than one occasion and it was stated that it would require a legislative change and no one on the Council voiced any objection to having the Council take over. Hemingway never said he was going to submit a Bill and the text of that Bill was never discussed. I reported it correctly you are just trying to read into it with things that were not stated for your own political spin. Nice try but an epic fail.

• Matt (Sunday, December 28 25 05:13 pm EST)

  Jim is lying like Trump.

• Horse Blinders (Sunday, December 28 25 05:12 pm EST)

  Jim, you really might be on point if you took your personal spin out of everything. I watched the Granite podcast you reference. It had substance. More than usual and it was nice to hear topics. I watch council meetings and your lie is clear when you try to claim the council discussed with State Rep Hemingway a proposed law change. You mix facts with fiction. This council did not discuss the topic and Mr. K and Girard are correct, it should have been.

• Richard (Sunday, December 28 25 04:13 pm EST)

  We are getting screwed by the school leaders big-time. A $70,000 payday for a few weeks work is insane. I can see why they are keeping their identities a secret. I wonder if all this money being paid out is being reported to the IRS? All this money wasted and the test scores are atrocious. This is one of the biggest scams ever in Claremont and the school government leaders are the ones stealing from us.

• Frankie (Sunday, December 28 25 04:13 pm EST)

  Two loudmouths on the stipend list again. Surprise surprise. So many extreme liberals on the list. I see Pattys partner with a nice 1000 for bagels…wth
  Who comes up with this

• Teresa (Sunday, December 28 25 04:12 pm EST)

  Walmart is out of milk and market basket is out of bread. Where can I get these things?

• Insider (Sunday, December 28 25 04:02 pm EST)

  “Ice is stupid” Rocky Balboa

• Jim Sullivan (Sunday, December 28 25 03:28 pm EST)

  Two new articles published today on the News Flashes page of this website.
  
  1) The Claremont School District Stipend Scandal! Part #3 Summertime; Fun, Sun & Massive Government Waste!
  
  2) Meanwhile in Concord…

• Demand me sausage boy (Sunday, December 28 25 03:17 pm EST)

  Vermont Reddit shows Claremont in doomsday zone for Ice tonight. God bless us all during this doomsday event.

• Insider (Sunday, December 28 25 01:13 pm EST)

  It’s no wonder two Minnesotans were working at planning and developing Claremont. Now the Minnesotan works at the school. Hmmmm?? Hmmmmmm???
  Yeah
  Take a bath

• Kennedy Sucks Big Time (Saturday, December 27 25 02:43 pm EST)

  Are you seeing all this "Decenuary" nonsense the school district keeps posting on Facebook? If you've got spare time, how about using it to help a kid learn to read or do basic math—instead of posting to social media fluff?
  
  Decenuary (n.): The pointless content a school district pumps out online when test scores are in the toilet, just to pretend they're engaged without actually fixing the real problems.
  
  Stuff like hyping Pajama Day or the teachers at Maple griping about missing the Christmas concert.
  Enough already. Focus on teaching kids to read this holiday season—for Christ's sake.
  
  Kennedy needs to go. At least 90% of the words that come out of her mouth at meetings or on social media should be directly related to raising kids test scores.

• superintendent (Saturday, December 27 25 01:33 pm EST)

  The school is asking for donations to help with salt. We have ran out of money and the city won’t help us fund the transgender students so we have taking our safety budget to help the students find who they are

• Friendly (Saturday, December 27 25 12:04 pm EST)

  I wish we could post pictures on this form because boy some of this stuff is stupid.

• Butthead (Saturday, December 27 25 10:49 am EST)

  You morons I watched WMUR this morning. They have the entire city in Green. No ice expected here. If you want ice go move to Newport they had them in pink. DPW will not be out treating roads if it’s going to be above freezing and rain. Can’t get ice if things are above freezing. Remember 32 degrees Fahrenheit is freezing and 0 degrees Celsius is freezing. I know Claremont no longer teaches this in school.

• Glenn (Saturday, December 27 25 10:44 am EST)

  Hey DPW how much salt would I need to drive 3 miles to work? I saw the ice storm is going to be a major ice storm.

• DPW Director (Saturday, December 27 25 09:05 am EST)

  After consideration to the coming ice storm and a deep look into it. We here at DPW plan on not salting the roads due to the lack of tax payer funding. If you would like to salt the roads please by salt yourself. We plan on asking to double your taxes to help pay for this.

• Weatherman Rudy (Friday, December 26 25 01:36 pm EST)

  Jim please talk about the huge ice storm coming Sunday night. Do you think the DPW department will pre treat the roads before the storm or treat them after it?

• Outsider (Friday, December 26 25 07:23 am EST)

  That’s right, because Jim and I actually work together.
  Jim, the files at planning and development are a mess. Constantly finding mixed up files and info in different folders. Jim these files should be audited and should be accurate.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, December 25 25 04:32 pm EST)

  I did not write the post falsely attributed to me at 3:44 PM today. Everyone have a Merry Christmas.

• Insider (Thursday, December 25 25 04:11 pm EST)

  Jim you’re a moron, respectfully. You miss every big story from the resignations to all the issues I point out. You still haven’t gotten the emails. You still haven’t researched the city hall. You still haven’t gotten the information about the fire department. You brush the scandals under the rug because you’re too embarrassed to know the truth like a little school boy.

• Jim Sullivan (Thursday, December 25 25 03:44 pm EST)

  Insider,
  
  Every time I do my investigation you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Your source from inside the planning office is giving you wrong information. Time to back off and let the real real information come through

• Insider (Thursday, December 25 25 01:09 pm EST)

  Ok folks, who’s ready for a big reveal?

• Insider (Thursday, December 25 25 05:25 am EST)

  Wow wow wow. Huge announcement coming
  Huge beyond belief
  Y’all that trust me and privately tell me about leads know

• Jim (Wednesday, December 24 25 08:52 pm EST)

  Damn. I see the emu commercial played out really well here. Simple folk here huh? You did see the same posts from the Shanty in Newbury and Daddy's Pizza right? No? Guess everyone including Shankys liquor worldwide must have emotional support Emus. You folks might want to get one if you think calling someone Nicky etc. really offends adults. Do you need safe space? Oh, my gosh..someone added a Y to a mans name. To think a grown man wrote an "article" on this says a ton.

• At least we agree on one thing... (Wednesday, December 24 25 06:12 pm EST)

  I love it how people will sometimes defend Nick, but no one even attempts to defend those disgusting losers on the school board. Regardless of where you stand on the other issues, everyone agrees those losers screwed over the entire town.

• Barbie (Wednesday, December 24 25 06:09 pm EST)

  This is the classic argument to avoid talking about the substance. If I investigate and criticize X (Topstone, say), and someone can point to something maybe worse Y (Sweet Fire, say), then my criticism of X is deemed unfair unless I also jump up and investigate Y.
  
  You can't criticize Trump unless you also criticize Biden. You can't criticize Biden unless you also criticize Trump. You can't call out Jan 6th unless you call out BLM. You can't call out BLM unless you call out Jan 6th. ETC ETC ETC.
  
  It's just a diversion tactic when you don't want to engage on the merits. No one has the ability to investigate each and everything thing.

• Sourpuss (Wednesday, December 24 25 05:58 pm EST)

  AWW Nicky Koloski is upset and his stuffed comfort emu isn't doing it for him anymore. Go suck your thumb Nicky it always worked when you were little.

• Ken (Wednesday, December 24 25 05:55 pm EST)

  Spencer. Using your own advice how many things had Jim stated here about people and how many criminal charges, violations or investigations how been launched. You would think with all the smoking guns he furnishes the attorney general would openly accept his calls. You must not get the point since you offer guidelines not met here. Spencer, if that is a real name is right. Only certain people are spoken about and if the sweetfire thing is real, than it does highlight blind eye to everyone but 1 single person. Seems sketchy at best. No?

• Scrooge (Wednesday, December 24 25 05:49 pm EST)

  I find it amusing some of you or perhaps the same anonymous person thinks they are speaking at or to Koloski. You should speak to him directly about comments if you believe he spends a moment on them. I once sent him a screenshot. He kindly requested I do not. He replied he wished Mr. Sullivan well but won't partake. He also sends Jim's emails to spam. I imagine I would as well if someone constantly name called and insulted me. I think the anonymous posters here can and should do better. Meanwhile keep directing things to a guy who is not in the room. I mean, if it makes you feel better. Merry Christmas to all.

• Unfair Comments (Wednesday, December 24 25 04:43 pm EST)

  I’ve read all of the comments about the school board, and about Heather in particular, and I’m appalled by how many of them are unfounded and unfair.
  
  One comment even compared Heather to a snake. That comparison is completely uncalled for. Snakes are far more honorable creatures: they fear you more than you fear them, they play an essential role in the ecosystem, and most importantly no snake chose to be a snake. Heather, on the other hand, did choose her role, and with it the responsibility to provide proper oversight. She chose to preside over a process that resulted in a $5 million failure and all of the fallout that followed. The lack of sports funding. The 40 layoffs. The public ridicule of Claremont.
  
  How dare anyone malign snakes by associating them with her level of evil and failure.

• Hypocrite Hathaway (Wednesday, December 24 25 02:23 pm EST)

  Christmas is a time to remember that there is good and evil in the world. The good is hard to find sometimes, but the evil makes itself clear.
  
  This year evil came to Claremont in the form of the SUA6 administration and the Claremont school board.
  
  Don't let Heather's religious lies fool you. She is not a Christian. Christians don't tolerate stealing and lying. She's lied herself many times and sat there with her head in the sand as others were stealing. Then she did all of her secret meetings to keep everything hush hush.
  
  Christians don't rail against trans operations at a school board meeting, and then go brag about how she makes her money holding the hand of people getting trans surgery at a hospital that defies federal orders to stop the procedures.
  
  If you support trans, let the schools have policies to protect trans kids. If you're against trans, then don't help PERFORM the procedures and take money for it.
  
  Heather Hypocrite Hathaway.

• Most Claremont Officials (Wednesday, December 24 25 01:39 pm EST)

  "how much are they paying. I'll do anything for money" -most Claremont officials

• Dry Cleaning (Wednesday, December 24 25 01:37 pm EST)

  If the contamination to the top stone building is really coming from SweetFire, why hasn't the owners sued their ass to make them pay for the clean up?
  
  Has anyone checked if they have a dry cleaning fluid drink? Maybe that's the source.
  
  And just for good measure, in the holiday spirit: fuck you school board.

• Watching You (Wednesday, December 24 25 12:22 pm EST)

  Nick: you're much more likable on TV and in person than you are as an internet troll on this forum. Be better.

• Spencer (Wednesday, December 24 25 12:10 pm EST)

  Spence: Here's my problem with your comments. It's not Jim's, or anyone else's, job to investigate everything that someone suggests. If you think there is something shady going on at SweetFire or anywhere else, report it to the authorities, or write your own blog about it.

• True Grinch (Wednesday, December 24 25 12:07 pm EST)

  Just remember that the true villain who stole Christmas, increased your taxes, destroyed the schools, fired dozens of teachers, and is driving down your property value because no on is going to want to move here is.
  
  Heather Whitney and her corrupt school board members, particularly her lap dog Petrin, and Mr. "I'll screw over anyone as long as my family members are on the payroll" Frank Sprague.
  
  Have you seen a single one of those selfish lazy morons out doing anything other than showing up to meetings and screwing us over. Even the city council members attempt to do something to look involved.
  
  If you see one of these SOBs out in the while, I strongly encourage you to express your view to them with a middle finger or other appropriate salute. They robbed you and your children and don't give a F.

• Spence (Wednesday, December 24 25 12:06 pm EST)

  Ah, yes everyone who points out the oblivious agenda of the person that runs this page is a councilman. Same story anytime someone disagrees with any topic. Get a life. No idea what is up with SweetFire. I don't really care. Seems dead on accurate that the focus is only on people who volunteer or try and make change. Label me whatever you like. I am a taxpayer and think for myself. Drink the cool aid. Eat at Sweet Fire. Make your own choices. Insider, someone stating public records should not have to watch what they say. Perhaps pay more attention to facts instead of the dumb shit you post. Feel free to show the liquor license they are selling booze for cash under. That is accurate. We walked out after being told cash only and keep our mouths shut. I will wait. Please show the rooms and meals filings for this past calendar year. I thought nothing of it until being told cash only. Please negate the posters comment about anything including a file labeled "Sweetfire BBQ" on the department of Environmental Services website that another reader posted here We are all on pins and needles. The point? We can only cast doubt here on city volunteers. Nobody else. Fair game and clearly not some fake agenda.

• Tim (Wednesday, December 24 25 11:17 am EST)

  "Allen": pretty sure we all know who you are. Councilman.
  
  If sweet fire is doing something wrong, call the police, state police, state revenue office, state liquor commission, .... whoever is in charge of enforcing whatever rules and report them. I have no connection to Sweet Fire, but this they are doing all this stuff wrong, we all know about it, but no one ever shows up to enforce anything doesn't hold a lot of water.

• Insider (Wednesday, December 24 25 08:56 am EST)

  Be careful what you say about sweet fire.