CLAREMONT — Six candidates are running for four at-large seats on the nine-member Claremont City Council in the Nov. 4 election.
Chris Cogswell and Raymond Menard are the challengers. City Council incumbents Wayne Hemingway, Nick Koloski and William Limoges are seeking reelection, and current Ward II Councilor Brian Zutter also is running for an at-large seat.
The candidates were asked about their priorities if elected. Additional question topics included road repairs and the community center’s annual taxpayer subsidy, which was not supposed to exceed $500,000 when it opened in 2013, but is now around $600,000.
Candidates also were asked about turnover in the city manager’s position. The city is now on its fourth city manager since Guy Santagate retired in 2016. Two were fired and one resigned. Finance director Nancy Bates is now the acting city manager.
Chris Cogswell
Cogswell, 35, is an engineering consultant. He has volunteered at the Sullivan County Humane Society and the Claremont Soup Kitchen.
Modernizing city systems to improve efficiency, promoting opportunities for young professionals, promoting and supporting city businesses and hiring well-qualified employees that can ensure fiscal responsibility and efficient use of taxpayer dollars are his goals, Cogswell said.
Implementing his ideas has the potential to add to Claremont’s population and bring in more businesses, which in turn can keep taxes low without cuts to services, he said.
He also promised transparency and communication with voters and would like to increase social media campaigns and strategies to better inform the public and advertise the city to a wider audience.
“Some simple wins would be things like determining what draws people and businesses to Claremont so we could better advertise the city’s strengths,” he said. “We can help the city create a more thorough business package for people looking to start a business and work more closely with local partners and nonprofits to get grants for needed city programs that lower the tax burden on all of us.”
When asked about the four city managers Claremont has had since 2016, Cogswell said the city needs to “significantly revamp and reevaluate its hiring procedures” to ensure it recruits the best people possible for city jobs.
Better advertising for the community center would increase membership and reduce the tax subsidy, Cogswell said.
“I think we can make sure that the subsidy does not increase in an unsustainable way. It is a great community resource and we should do more to promote and utilize it.”
Wayne Hemingway
First-term incumbent Wayne Hemingway, 62, is a retired master sergeant with the New Hampshire Army National Guard. He is also a Republican state representative and serves on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and council policy committee.
The city has made progress the last two years and he wants to serve and continue that “momentum,” he said.
“Claremont has seen increased interest from contractors, increased housing inventory and the Veterans Park pickleball courts are a wonderful addition,” Hemingway said. “The biggest issues are housing stock, employee workforce, and businesses and industry. The Planning Department plays an important part in business development and now with our newly hired planning director we can continue to encourage businesses to consider Claremont.”
A good maintenance program and upkeep of recently paved roads and sidewalks is essential and “improving infrastructure while keeping taxes low can be accomplished by applying for grants and focusing on needs,” Hemingway said.
The council will likely have to make a decision on a new city manager in the months ahead. Hemingway is interested in candidates that can handle multiple issues and resolve conflict effectively.
“The city manager has to be fiscally responsible and able to oversee all the departments in the city,” he said. “A city manager has to be able to share their vision, be a forward thinker, and an advocate for Claremont.”
There have been a couple new updates to the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center to help lower the burden to taxpayers, he noted.
Upgraded accounting and billing software provides better payment tracking, also getting past-due accounts caught up have improved the community center’s finances, Hemingway said. He favors 24-hour access to the gym only and a deeper review of the center’s budget.
Nick Koloski
Kolosk, 48, is a city business owner seeking his ninth, two-year term on the council. He is a volunteer firefighter and has served on several city boards, including the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, the 250th Celebration Committee and the Charter Commission.
He will continue to be vocal about any decisions that affect taxpayers’ wallets, including the current fiscal crisis with the schools and will push for accountability and open dialogue between the City Council, School Board and community, Koloski said.
It is critical the city find a balance between “wisely investing in roads and infrastructure,” while avoiding unnecessary spending to keep “Claremont affordable for the residents and families who call it home,” Koloski said.
“Claremont has to leverage state and federal infrastructure grants more aggressively and prioritize projects using real data so we’re fixing the right roads first,” he said, adding that sticking to a capital improvement schedule will avoid reacting when things hit a crisis point.
Turnover in the city manager’s office has been difficult for the city, Koloski said, adding that the council should establish a consistent performance review process, adhere to the charter, and have a professional working relationship focusing on outcomes.
“To make a future manager successful, the council needs to set clear, measurable goals and then allow the manager to manage,” he said. “Political interference, shifting priorities, and lack of stability hurt both staff morale and public confidence.”
Koloski has been vocal about the community center’s growing tax subsidy and warns that Planet Fitness, which is slated to open in a former Big Lots on Washington Street, will threaten membership numbers. He has pushed for a community center task force to focus on increasing membership and cutting the tax subsidy. He said there are opportunities to boost revenues with birthday parties, special events and recreation programs.
“I believe the Council needs to address this immediately — not sit on our hands and deal with it when it hits crisis levels, expecting the public to keep writing larger checks,” Koloski said. “I’ll continue advocating for a full task force and a business-minded approach that makes the community center a true asset rather than something that relies on a growing taxpayer subsidy to remain.”
William Limoges
Limoges, 65, owns a heating business and is completing his second, two-year term on the council. He is a council representative on the Claremont Development Authority, serves on the council’s policy committee and chaired the Purple Heart City project and The Wall That Heals project.
Limoges said it is time to give the council oversight of the school budget because of the district’s current financial crisis.
“It would be more work for us, (the council) but having another set of eyes looking at the budget should be helpful in making sure that we have what we need for the students and faculty, while eliminating non-essential spending,” Limoges said.
Completion of infrastructure projects including lights on Washington Street, the North Street project, paving of Washington Street and the new roof being installed on the Claremont Creative Center on Opera House Square show the city is moving in the right direction and he “wants to keep it that way,” Limoges said.
“It’s important that the city part of the budget is as lean as possible, while providing essential services,” Limoges said. “That means taking a hard look at what is essential and what can be cut.”
Regarding the turnover in the city manager’s position, Limoges, who hopes Bates becomes the city manager, said the council did its due diligence with Yoshi Manale after no acceptable candidates were presented by the search firm.
Manale, fired earlier this year, did move “the city forward,” Limoges said. “He was impressive when interviewed, and had taken the time to study Claremont, and present ideas that we hadn’t heard before from any candidate.”
To improve the community center’s finances, Limoges said rates have to stay competitive, expenses carefully tracked, other revenue sources found, such as sponsors and grants, and pool features added like the slide and diving board.
Ray Menard
Menard, 64, is a self-employed heavy equipment mechanic.
“I am running because somebody has to step up and help make decisions for our city,” Menard said in an email. “I think the city needs a new perspective on some of its views.”
The biggest issue facing the city is construction and infrastructure project management, Menard said. He believes that going with a local option is great in the bidding process, but bids should be competitive and councilors should explore all the options before contracting.
On the issue of the growing taxpayer subsidy for the community center, Menard said he isn’t concerned.
“This is over 12 years, so I don’t see much of an issue in terms of keeping pace with inflation,” Menard said. “The valuation of properties in Claremont has increased far more proportionate to this subsidy. The CSBCC provides services at fair prices.”
Brian Zutter
Zutter, 57, is an information technology project manager and small business owner. He was appointed to the council in May 2024 and is the president of the Arrowhead Recreation Club Board of Directors, in addition to serving on the council’s policy committee.
Economic growth, improving infrastructure, managing tax dollars efficiently and improving lines of communication between city government and residents will be Zutter’s priorities if reelected, he said.
“We can attract investment by streamlining our permitting process, making redevelopment opportunities clearer, and promoting Claremont’s strengths — our location, affordability, recreation offerings and sense of community,” Zutter said. “Supporting small business startups and encouraging responsible property redevelopment are key steps.”
To improve transparency and communication, Zutter wants to see better use of technology, town hall meetings and open data dashboards.
Regarding road repairs, being proactive by using data on safety and traffic use to prioritize repairs and pursuing available state and federal funding will help the city make road improvements in the most efficient way, Zutter said.
To bring stability to the office of the city manager, Zutter said the council needs to establish clear goals and expectations from the start, maintain its support and communication, while providing resources and autonomy.
“Good planning, stable leadership, and open communication are what keep a manager and a city moving forward,” Zutter said.
Zutter sees the community center as a cornerstone of the community with numerous programs. In order to reduce its tax subsidy to $500,000 or less, the council has to continue to look for ways to raise more revenues while maintaining the services, Zutter said.
Voting is Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wards I and II vote at the middle school on South Street and Ward III votes at Disnard Elementary School on Hanover Street.
