[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6399054,"mediaKeyId","2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5","parentId",2086358,"title","Former planning-board volunteer Jim Hewitt renews demand for $28,000 legal-fee repayment after being cleared","audioSeconds",228,"startMs",1487000,"endMs",1715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5&start=1487&end=1715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5/thumbnail_1487000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6399054/New-Hampshire/Former-planning-board-volunteer-Jim-Hewitt-renews-demand-for-28000-legal-fee-repayment-after-being-cleared","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6399054-6102d270a633d5047393870d60efa1b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102728&Signature=TEpfKJu~io3OvdI~BbrG0zLJbfdWEsFiTrSqq1IKuUdgo6WYw7uvX647b~5W~sPqNt31mv-3J9xWoNQILPRwkDoZ5~1QpBaLy~swlMyBfrKjbY5GJg45tLDedSeh3enWcpU6dG4sbvwlAC2IcKIL9C2RNq3z1DnXoUz4tHZtb5nzmzWM0AHiSuxxRof0Gn4J81ESi2SjzwDScNZV39~DKQynYOYM2M5gocWjulbOedroDWgvpZTBUU3P~juyKM60NTvqvUuQZKrnA9QLT4rYhQog498VgbF2Tg30odNfFc-OdNHJjaz6a5b8havcYwL9ZsDpHEbkvWC31VrrFYAxzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-07T13:16:25Z","article","Jim Hewitt, a former volunteer planning board member, used public comment time at the Jan. 6 council meeting to ask the Portsmouth City Council to reimburse more than $28,000 he said he spent on legal fees to defend himself after malfeasance charges he called false. Hewitt said the council previously voted to find him innocent and told councilors the city’s insurer, Primex, issued a denial of coverage in November after a six-month review.

\"For us, it goes on. The wound remains open. The torment continues,\" Hewitt said. He said he had \"no choice but to spend over $28,000 to prove\" his innocence and asked the council again, for the fourth consecutive meeting, \"Will Portsmouth give us our $28,000 back? Yes or no?\"

Hewitt described the matter as administrative rather than legal and requested council authorization to reimburse his fees. The transcript records his request in public comment; the council did not announce an immediate vote or decision on reimbursement during the meeting.

Context and next steps

Hewitt said Primex issued a denial in November and that the council had previously voted to find him innocent after hearings in mid-February of the prior year. He told the council the denial by the insurer left him seeking direct council authorization for reimbursement. Councilors did not take a vote on the request at the Jan. 6 meeting; the record shows public commenters later urged the council to address the matter, and the issue may be placed on a future agenda for formal council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","1.6.2025 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, Jim Hewitt said he spent more than $28,000 to defend himself against malfeasance charges he called \"patently false,\" said Primex denied coverage and asked the council to authorize reimbursement.","taxTitle","Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire","taxId",68330,"location","New Hampshire","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6399058,"Portsmouth proclaims January 2025 Stalking Awareness Month; city highlights local resources",426,124000,550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5&start=124&end=550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6399058/New-Hampshire/Portsmouth-proclaims-January-2025-Stalking-Awareness-Month-city-highlights-local-resources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6399058-1e2e8a59f393128c32745d3171d4a411/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102728&Signature=VQbYNwOrlgH3nrGqMPacTH-v6RzwVxsDdBzcqBSK3vf3ONlss5mc3tio-ny6JfGOQC~2vYyreGGPYW3wiymdRrB5DuX~09z~gEhzrUmOR6jw66L7zk2w34ptNY~sVEIm50z1vgguvX0mYyaTmemGG90a53nAYHCmplI2~HI5tRpD~B0HaFzi0C0tgsHH1DvpjaKsaaGAqGb2j81WmN2na7-CVPm6WkS1MmxU2Ok7iZG9ZV4VM-WV6EtAi3cJ4IW07TsxZGMHlxyw~GikdVuCrfLHLRWOM0qM0xhkjTzviAts~TIXePbrouiR8Q33Rg4-NQ5rdQ9XgVJimusEJwVGsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 6 proclaimed January 2025 as Stalking Awareness Month in the city. Councilor Kate Cook read the proclamation, cited national statistics on stalking prevalence and urged residents to support survivors and local services.

\"I asked specifically to read this proclamation because I've twice been the victim of stalking,\" Councilor Kate Cook said before reading the proclamation. The proclamation noted that January was declared National Stalking Awareness Month in 2011 and cited prevalence statistics included in the text: \"1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 6 men are victims of stalking in their lifetimes.\" The proclamation also referenced President Biden’s 2024 call for Americans to speak out against stalking and support advocacy and law enforcement efforts.

The proclamation cited local services and a hotline: the Haven (violence prevention and support) hotline at 603-994-SAFE (603-994-7233) was listed as a 24-hour confidential resource. Councilor Cook also recognized the city’s victim witness advocate and the senior prosecutor, who were invited forward to receive the proclamation, and noted that a local bridge was lit yellow in recognition of stalking awareness.

Why it matters

The proclamation is symbolic policy: it reaffirms the city’s intent to promote awareness, to highlight local support services and to signal municipal solidarity with statewide and national efforts to address stalking and related violence.

What the council did not decide here

The council read and adopted the proclamation as presented; no new programs or funding were authorized during the meeting on this item.","Councilor Kate Cook read a proclamation declaring January 2025 Stalking Awareness Month in Portsmouth, cited national statistics and local support services, and recognized victim-support staff and a local organization.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6399064,"Council forms Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee after public urges deadline for police facility plan",1740,1240000,2980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5&start=1240&end=2980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5/thumbnail_1240000.jpg","/articles/6399064/New-Hampshire/Council-forms-Municipal-Building-Blue-Ribbon-Committee-after-public-urges-deadline-for-police-facility-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6399064-df8558da907ded43aa05cc482ff25323/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102728&Signature=bAtqt9QPM4Mr80ikLFaIXZOyS-kLTgJd0jxFFUrPpJVq1EWb~muNGw3~W0JcCXGtc5Xgi9898eaFKeSQZjxUPitPtksttRz2BrHWPviPg4XhH12OQyS31sX5~asMwOF7NlJbRfgmo-YnY0~9lCClyYdvZjwF-G~v9RbtOER4sXRND8qTtnqhvPBx2RgNkMwmyQBUSLakKsHNTYW1krR1EB-AGwpATkwYAqWK9bdWw~wHsThcGaQ6bmrHLw356vYRKEv4if~l23umJvpyYg03l8N2Y79H7rDb-AFoYyTZarIyLSvXFds55ygwRalog8lDEGye6mZYtNBYqqKvzQb3tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 6 appointed members to a Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee that will study the municipal complex and be a public-facing successor to the earlier working group. The committee is time-limited; city staff said it can operate for the remainder of the year and staff expect to return information in time to inform next year’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

During public comment, resident Buzz Sherr of Greenleaf Avenue urged the council and the Blue Ribbon Committee to set a date certain for completion of their work, citing rising construction costs. \"The reason I'm here tonight is one specific request that the council, the mayor set a date certain for when the Blue Ribbon Committee finishes their work,\" Sherr said, warning that delaying a vote or referendum could increase costs substantially.

The council packet lists committee members in alphabetical order, including residents and representatives from boards: Cameron Horak, Mary Lou McElwain, Renee Plummer, John O'Leary, Peter Weeks; Rick Schellman (Planning Board chair); Kate Coyle (Police Commission chair); Mark Newport (Police Chief); Karen Conard (City Manager); and council representatives John Taber and Councilor Kate Cook. The mayor asked the committee to elect a chair or co-chairs at its first meeting.

Councilors said the Blue Ribbon Committee will provide a more public process than the prior working group and asked the committee to move promptly so the CIP can reflect any recommended funding. Councilor Bagley noted that the committee’s work is focused on the municipal building but said facilities planning could overlap with longer-term school-facility discussions if space is reallocated among departments.

What matters

Sherr and staff framed the committee’s timetable as consequential because prior local projects grew more expensive when delayed. Staff asked the committee to provide findings in time for CIP decisions; councilors emphasized public engagement in the process.

Next steps

The council approved the appointments by voice vote. The Blue Ribbon Committee will meet in public; the council encouraged prompt scheduling and a work plan that aligns with the CIP calendar.","The Portsmouth City Council appointed members to a time-limited Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee and heard public comment urging the group to set a firm completion date to avoid rising construction costs for a proposed police facility.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6399069,"Council ratifies emergency CSX agreement, approves open-space covenant and passes consent and committee measures",586,2054000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5&start=2054&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2086358-1bd6edc569fda0c1f88832860646f5b5/thumbnail_2054000.jpg","/articles/6399069/New-Hampshire/Council-ratifies-emergency-CSX-agreement-approves-open-space-covenant-and-passes-consent-and-committee-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6399069-3865ccf7dd72caab98d7d6e5edd00b2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102728&Signature=oPSNCWuGfJ-IPmh-TgG9LtEoY~3kQ~ZcQtVl9sRx7EVeU0SFiwfLbqgNq0aeEEClz5P3eT4ozU0iCDfIObBtiIVKENCFEELBm31eAcjvMQIC4kiW0qHUAKXo9IQYptNXPhnxLRnObRY7eirl9hBuA3nP0KwPuskPvBcFC4OYmWbCNYqxYCuy8bhyL1oWkYiLfVZ99CCUvcPvmzsKyHjFkfRlyAl5z273MxJQ2pmHHsLizdPM4aGKTY3N4CnRBGUKjzmIl0ydW-bRzoPZYTbJLQpf56ZU60tTJYT5DPBFA3JEYBch-UCzL7u4DyOsHv~~3cuRoXZUpwyLsJox1NWBBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 6 ratified a facility encroachment agreement with CSX Transportation to allow emergency waterline work and approved a restrictive covenant protecting a roughly 1.72-acre open-space parcel in Osprey Landing (lot 2-1950). The council also accepted multiple grants and donations, approved routine minutes and committee reports, formed an evaluation committee for the city manager and appointed members to a Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee.

City staff said the CSX agreement enabled crews to perform timely waterline improvements while CSX required access for track work; the city brought the signed agreement to council for ratification because of the emergency nature of the work. Senior manager Karen Conard told the council the city’s public works and legal teams reviewed and approved the scope of work before ratification.

Separately, the planning board recommended that the council accept and record a restrictive covenant to protect a 1.72-acre parcel between Shearwater and Sanderling in Osprey Landing as open space. The council approved that recommendation; staff noted a map of the parcel was added to the meeting packet as a late inclusion.

Councilors also moved and approved a package of routine consent items and appointments, including referral of a request to hold the Seacoast Walk in Alzheimer’s to the city manager with authority to act, placement of several letters on file, the formation of a city manager evaluation committee, and adoption of a volunteer training, standards of conduct and ethics policy and handbook for boards and volunteers.

Votes at a glance

- Move to accept and approve execution and recording of a restrictive covenant for Osprey Landing (lot 2-1950, ~1.72 acres): Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Ratify city manager’s execution of a facility encroachment agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. (emergency waterline work): Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Accept FEMA Public Assistance Disaster Grant for Fire and Public Works, $9,703.48: Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Accept donation to Fire Department from Paul Gormley and Kimi Iguchi, $1,000: Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Refer Seacoast Walk in Alzheimer’s (Oct. 26, 2025) to city manager with authority to act: Referred/approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Place correspondence and policy letters on file (including outdoor dining/chair-fee correspondence): Placed on file (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Form City Manager Evaluation Committee (assistant mayor Kelly Adams, Councilor Blaylock, Councilor Bagley): Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Appoint Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee (list of members included in packet): Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Adopt Volunteer Training and Standards of Conduct/Ethics policy and board handbook for volunteers: Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

- Accept Parking, Traffic & Safety Committee action sheets and minutes (Dec. 5, 2024): Approved (voice vote: “Aye”).

What the council said and noted

City staff described the CSX work as an emergency opportunity to perform waterline improvements that otherwise would have required a separate, costly street closure. City staff credited project manager Dave DeFosse and the public works team with coordinating expedited work so downtown access could be maintained while CSX performed its operations.

On the restrictive covenant, staff noted the planning board’s recommendation and that the covenant adds the parcel to the city’s open-space inventory. Councilors who spoke in favor described the action as stewardship of publicly accessible open space adjacent to recreational amenities.

What’s next

Staff said maps and documentation for the Osprey Landing parcel will be included in the public record. The Blue Ribbon Committee is a time-limited body (the packet indicated the committee can operate for the remainder of the year) and the city manager said staff would aim to return recommended information in time to inform next year’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adoption.

","At its Jan. 6 meeting the Portsmouth City Council ratified an emergency encroachment agreement with CSX to allow timely waterline repairs, accepted a restrictive covenant protecting a 1.72-acre open-space parcel in Osprey Landing, approved several grants and donations, and appointed members to a Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Former planning-board volunteer Jim Hewitt renews demand for $28,000 legal-fee repayment after being cleared

Portsmouth proclaims January 2025 Stalking Awareness Month; city highlights local resources

Council forms Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee after public urges deadline for police facility plan

Council ratifies emergency CSX agreement, approves open-space covenant and passes consent and committee measures