What's New

Given the public interest in the litigated matter -- City of Portsmouth v. 150 Greenleaf Avenue Realty Trust et al -- the City of Portsmouth reports that on June 23, 2021, the State of NH Board of Land and Tax Appeals (BTLA) rejected Mr. Boyle’s claims for over $2.4 million in damages and instead awarded total damages of $135,450 for temporary taking by eminent domain of Mr. Boyle's property.

Per New Hampshire law, all municipalities in the state must certify their lists of registered voters every ten years. The last time this was done in Portsmouth was 2010.

City Manager Karen Conard submitted a preliminary FY22 budget for the City in March, estimating $124,259,033 that included an unanticipated $1.65 million (20%) increase in the City’s required NH Retirement System contribution to the State. The final FY22 budget approved by the City Council at their June 7, 2021 meeting is $123,209,033, a 3.44% increase over FY21.

At its May 26 meeting, the Citywide Neighborhood Committee (CNC) announced that after consulting with City Health Officer Kim McNamara, Portsmouth will join more than 17,000 communities nationwide to celebrate the 38th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 (with a rain date of Tuesday, August 10.)

Spinnaker Point Adult Fitness Center reopens on Monday, June 7 at 6am. All members and new members can register upon their first visit.

The City of Portsmouth closed Spinnaker Point a year ago as a precaution to protect against the spread of COVID-19. One of the concerns that needed to be addressed before reopening was an evaluation of the air circulation inside the facility. 

Construction of the new Athletic Field located off of Campus Drive is complete, and the field opened on June 9, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 am.

In agreement with guidance from Portsmouth City Manager Karen Conard and City Health Officer, the City Recreation Department will open the Peirce Island Outdoor Pool for the summer season, June 21 through August 20, 2021, with no reservations required. The pool will be open from 11 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. Only Portsmouth residents will be admitted, with a limited number at one time.

At the Third Reading on May 17 of the amendment to the City of Portsmouth Ordinance on parking penalties, the City Council voted to accept the recommendation of the Parking & Traffic Safety Committee (PTSC) to increase fines for four citation categories: session expired, parking in no parking area, parking during an emergency snow ban and parking in a commercial loading zone.

The City of Portsmouth Recreation Department and Department of Public Works have worked together with local resident skateboarders to make modifications and upgrades to the Greenleaf Skate Park located at 195 Greenleaf Avenue. The park has now reopened.

Appointments Still Required for Planning, Inspections and Assessing Departments

As the NH Department of Health and Human Services continues to report declines in cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates of COVID-19, and as more of the local population becomes fully vaccinated, the City Manager and City Health Officer have determined that City Hall walk-in services can be made available again. Appointments will no longer be required, as of Monday, May 24.