Press Releases/What’s New

The City has taken several steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure at City Hall. Starting Monday, January 25, the City is requesting residents with City Hall business to please make appointments in advance.

​CAPTION: The Clipper Strong Fund Committee presented a $1000 check to Deb Anthony, executive director of Gather, the largest hunger relief agency serving the Seacoast, including local business employees hard hit by the pandemic.

Mayor Becksted presented a Proclamation to Raymond Goulet on his 98th birthday, declaring today "Raymond Goulet Day" in honor of the Portsmouth resident, Pease Greeter and member of "The Greatest Generation," who participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy and then the famous "Red Ball Express" truck convoys delivering Allied materiel across Europe. Send him a birthday card at 245 Middle Street, Apt. 324, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

Mayor Rick Becksted has announced the formation of a Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Arts and Nonprofits, designed to respond to the needs of arts and culture nonprofits during the reopening and recovery phases ahead.

As part of the Sagamore Avenue Sewer Extension Project, borings are needed to collect data about the soils and bedrock in the project area. The first phase of borings was completed in the spring of 2020; and this work will complete the boring data collection.

Taking another significant step in its effort to protect the City of Portsmouth’s surface water supply by conserving lands surrounding the Bellamy Reservoir, the City’s Department of Public Works Water Division has partnered with Southeast Land Trust (SELT) to purchase a conservation easement on approximately 107 acres owned by Mary Ellen Duffy, adjacent to the Reservoir.

The Portsmouth community can now access the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) on the City of Portsmouth website. The City of Portsmouth prepares the CAFR and PAFR following the close of each fiscal year under the guidance of Director of Finance and Administration Judie Belanger.

The City of Portsmouth has accepted a $9,760 grant from the New Hampshire State Library for the preservation and digitization of nine volumes of historic “Overseers of the Poor” documents, dated 1853 to 1885.

A panel of judges aged 21-months to 18 years old has reviewed all 76 Holiday Lights Contest participants and selected three winners of the $500 gift cards donated by Ricci Lumber, Lowe’s and Home Depot:  Al Bailey, Jane Sprague and Nicole Beyer.