Somersworth approves additional funds for wastewater facility improvements

Feb. 21--SOMERSWORTH -- The City Council approved $519,200 for necessary improvements at the city's wastewater treatment facility at its meeting on Tuesday night.

The additional funds were taken from the sewer utility fund and added to the original budget of $2,159,074.

A resolution was also approved to authorize the city manager to amend the contract with Wright/Pierce engineering firm to include the additional funds.

Another resolution was approved to authorize the city manager to enter into the contribution assurance program with Primex of Concord for property liability insurance.

The council also voted to send a letter to its legislative delegation and Gov. Chris Sununu opposing Senate Bill 193-FN, the school-voucher bill that is under consideration in the Legislature.

"The bill is presented as a school-choice bill, but in reality is nothing short of a coupon for those who can afford to send their children to a private school," said Mayor Dana Hilliard in his report to the council, "while leaving struggling families to continue to send their children to underfunded public schools."

The council also amended the city's personnel rules and regulations to establish the regular rate of pay for a designated deputy city manager shall be three pay grades above the regular rate of pay that would otherwise be paid for performance of their department head duties.

During his report to the council, Hilliard made an impassioned plea to members of state legislatures and Congress to enact stronger gun laws in wake of the Valentine's Day shooting at a public high school in Parkland, Florida.

"In 51 calendar days, this nation has experienced 19 acts of school shootings, averaging three per week," Hilliard said. "(It) is the fault of both parties and their inability to move beyond personal egos and partisan politics, which has and will continue to result in the deaths (of) young Americans."

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