Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell goes online to research airline tickets for an exotic ex-pat location. Destination: Timbuktu. Number of passengers: 1. One way or roundtrip: One-way. Then, with a sniffle, he reconsiders: “Nyah, who’s going to bust my chops over there!” With a renewed love for Concord, he donates his frequent flier miles to the Friendly Kitchen in the city memo!
Want a building?
Make us an offer then
The city, in conjunction with the state of New Hampshire, has extended the deadline for development proposals for the New Hampshire Employment Security Building from May 1 to May 15, Aspell writes. That’s almost two extra weeks!
The extension was made at the request of interested developers. Sounds clandestine. The request for proposals was released Jan. 25, with responses originally due by March 15. However, since the dog apparently ate everyone’s homework, the deadline was extended in order to provide ample time for developers to complete due diligence in order to refine their proposals. Doing due dilligence is apparently done, though.
Playing in the sand box
Replacing dirt with dirt
The city recently undertook additional soil boring activities within the Canal Street parking lot, Aspell writes. Soil boring activities include watching paint dry and watching grass grow.
The purpose of the borings was to determine whether soils beneath the parking lot were suitable for removal and replacement with coal ash and crushed masonry soils from the Allied Leather property. Those not suitable will be given a full makeover and brand-new wardrobe.
Relocated, the ash/masonry soils would serve to help facilitate redevelopment of the former Tannery site while ensuring that said materials would remain encapsulated to safeguard the environment and human health. Safeguard human health? That’s a hefty responsibility to put on dirt’s shoulders.
It is anticipated that a bid package for the cleanup project will be issued in late May with cleanup activities commencing in July.
Cannonball!
Pools prepped for peeps
The Public Properties Division of the General Services Department is busy preparing the city’s public swimming pools for summer activities, Aspell writes. And by that he means they are currently floating on inflatable rafts and sipping cool drinks to make sure the pools are operational.
New handicap lifts will be installed at all the pools to maintain compliance with present regulations and offer all patrons safe access to the pools.
(This week’s City Briefly intro was submitted by reader Matt St. Onge.)
