Claremont voters to decide on binding citizen referendums and city manager residency

CLAREMONT — Voters will decide on two proposed changes to the city charter at the polls next Tuesday.

One change would add a binding citizen referendum provision to the charter.

The second change would drop the requirement that the city manager reside in Claremont.

Both amendments require a simple majority to pass.

Incumbent city councilors running for reelection declined to comment on either charter change based on advice from the city’s legal counsel, Sean Tanguay of the firm Drummond and Woodson. According to the incumbents, Tanguay said giving an opinion could influence the vote and lead to a legal challenge, depending on the results.

Tanguay did not respond to an email asking for an explanation on his advice to the council.

Citizens referendums

When the amendment allowing for a citizens referendum was initially presented by petition, with the required number of signatures, several councilors balked at putting it to the voters, even though state law required them to do so. They also asserted residents could propose an ordinance with no funding source and that could prove costly to the city because the council would have no choice but to enact the ordinance.

Resident Mike Tetu, who along with Sam Killay drafted the charter amendment, dismisses those claims and said they show a lack of respect for the city’s voters.

“Claremont voters are savvy and knowledgeable and are more than capable of making intelligent decisions on any ordinance,” Tetu said this week.

The wording of the provision, approved by the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue Administration and Attorney General, would give voters the authority to override City Council decisions on ordinances proposed by petition.

The charter amendment states, in part, that registered voters “may propose an ordinance with an initiative petition signed by at least 10% of voters in the most recent municipal election.”

The ordinance would then be presented to the council and if the council, which cannot make any changes, declines to pass it, then the council would be required to put it to a citywide vote. If approved, the ordinance would take effect on Jan. 1 of the next calendar year.

In spring of 2024, the council voted to put the amendment on this year’s ballot, but when told later by state officials it could be voted on last November the council did not change the date. Both state and local election officials said counting an additional ballot during a national election with turnout as high as 80% would be a burden to election workers.

Ward II candidate Derek Ellerkamp, at-large candidate Ray Menard and mayoral candidate James Campos give strong support to the change.

“I believe in government for the people, by the people,” Ellerkamp said.

“Citizen involvement is the key to a strong city,” said Menard. “Citizens referendums allow for more citizen involvement.”

Similarly, Campos said he supports it. “Empowering citizens to have a direct say in important local matters is a fundamental component of transparent and responsive government,” he said.

Ward III candidate Chris Irish and at-large candidate Chris Cogswell also support the initiative, while Ward III candidate Jon Stone was steadfastly opposed.

Irish, said increasing voter participation is a good idea.

“I think anything that will encourage more input from citizens is not necessarily a bad thing,” Irish said.

Cogswell believes the initiative petition question is more of a citizen issue than a city council one, “so people should vote their conscience.” But he added, “Democracy works best when we are all involved.”

Stone said the citizens petition initiative seems appealing, but ordinance decisions should remain with the council.

“It opens the door for special interest groups to hijack the process, especially during low-turnout elections,” Stone said. “Major policy decisions should be made through a transparent, accountable process — not driven by narrow groups pushing their own agendas.”

City manager residency requirement

The council voted 9-0 in September to put the city manager residency requirement change to voters and have said it would broaden the pool of potential candidates. The current acting city manager, Nancy Bates, lives in Wilmot, N.H.

Stone would like to make the change.

“I support dropping it to attract the best candidate, not just the most convenient,” he said.

Irish, Stone’s opponent, had the strongest opinion against the amendment.

“I understand the reasoning, but I don’t believe a manager can be successful if they don’t live in the city that they are managing,” Irish said.

The best managers were a big part of the Claremont community, he said.

“They knew the community and had a vested interest in it,” Irish said. “Others have come for the money, not for the community. Not to mention the logic of having someone being responsible for spending $20 million of our property taxes who doesn’t have to pay those same taxes? They don’t have any accountability to the taxpayers.”

Menard strongly opposes dropping the residency requirement.

“Local employees have a more serious stake in our community,” said Menard.

Ellerkamp also supports keeping the residency requirement for the city manager.

Cogswell, an at-large candidate, said it is worth considering, but may not be the issue that has resulted in four city managers the last nine years.

“I think it’s something that needs to be considered, but I don’t think we have enough data at this point to make a good decision,” Cogswell said. “Is the residency requirement what is keeping us from hiring good talent, or is it the salary, benefits, or other parts of the hiring package? How has the hiring process gone in the past?”

Campos said there is merit on both sides.

“Requiring residency ensures that the city manager has a personal and financial investment in Claremont’s success, fostering a deeper commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility and improving our quality of life,” he said. “Conversely, removing the requirement would expand the pool of qualified candidates, allowing us to attract experienced professionals from other well-managed municipalities.”

Voting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling locations for Ward I and II are at the Claremont Middle School on South Street, while Ward III voting takes place at Disnard Elementary School on Hanover Street.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached pogclmt@gmail.com.