The Concord Monitor Just Doesn't Get It

The mayor of Concord, , has set an aggressive schedule with construction set to begin in the spring for the . That’s the statement in the Sunday editorial. So what happened to that It’s nice that , and some other politicos got together to push through a grant for Main Street, but when are they going to ask us?

You know, just because the Monitor says it’s a good idea, doesn’t make it so. And just because Duprey says jump doesn’t mean we have to ask how high. And just  because the Concord City Council and city administration go behind our backs doesn’t mean they pulled the wool over our eyes.

Here are the main issues I brought up in my recent blog, regarding the TIGER grant the city received for improvements to Main Street.

• The mayor promised that nothing was decided and that no money would be expended until there was a public hearing with public input. Yet his recent statements and actions suggest otherwise. Appointing a committee to iron out the details is a lot different than determining if we should or shouldn’t move forward with this project.
• Who pays and how. Redirecting taxes that would normally be paid for city services and using them to pay for this project ain’t skin in the game. Skin is what Manchester did. Skin is an additional assessment for all those benefitting from the streetscape improvements. And how about that $1.57 million bond that will be paid directly by us.
• The concerns of 70 merchants. Loss of parking, a two year construction timetable and four lanes to three with a loss of vehicle traffic and a minimal improvement to traffic flow. The mayor’s committee is being formed to address these issues. Score one for the mayor, almost. But shouldn’t the task force be formed after the public input for this project and after the council votes to determine if the project should go forward. Unfortunately, the mayor’s reassurance that nothing happens until after public hearings and a vote are precluded because of the mistaken promises to the Feds in the grant application. The grant states that a public hearing has already been held and the council voted to accept this project. Add to this, the timeline in the grant that states the city is ready to move forward immediately.

Now no one is arguing our Downtown doesn’t need a makeover. The points of contention are: The plan as currently represented; the cost and how it should be paid for; and the mayor’s promise and why he shouldn’t be held to his word. 

I have a confession to make here. I have been pushing for street and building improvements to Main Street and Low and Kennedy Aves for close to 30 years. And yes, father, I have sinned. I have even suggested a public private partnership to fund these improvements. The differences are that I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to go ahead and spend your money without asking and receiving your permission; I would suggest a 50/50 split between the building owners and the city; and I would have a dollar cap for the city’s contribution.

The Monitor, the administration, the mayor and the supporters of this project all forget the promise to the community by the mayor. 

Bring your supporters. Bring signs. Hire experts. But first a public hearing. Then if the council votes to move forward, the mayor can appoint his committee. Then the committee can report back to the council for another public hearing to decide on and approve a final plan (or not). And then and only then if the council approves the project should it move forward.