Daily News Brief

Claremont • Sullivan County • New Hampshire • U.S.  —  Saturday, October 18, 2025

Local — Claremont & Sullivan County

SAU 6 still reeling; “Wild West” plan stalls in Concord

A Senate committee balked at Claremont’s emergency school‑finance proposal as the district works through a ~$5M hole and staff changes.

Sources: NHJournal — Damien Fisher: https://nhjournal.com/senate-ed-committee-rejects-wild-west-claremont-finance-plan/  |  NHPR recap: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-10-15/claremont-school-district-budget-woes-prompt-gop-calls-for-more-state-oversight

Tag: school finance crisis

Report: Ousted business manager finally off payroll

Investigative reporting details how a payroll arrangement lingered after leadership changes, underscoring weak controls at SAU 6.

Sources: NHJournal — Damien Fisher: https://nhjournal.com/ousted-claremont-school-business-manager-finally-off-payroll/

Tag: accountability push

Whitewater Reservoir Dam needs ~$1M in repairs; no imminent failure

Engineers recommend structural/maintenance work; multiple local reports say no immediate structural danger, but repairs should not be delayed.

Sources: Valley News: https://vnews.com/2025/09/25/claremont-dam-structural-repairs/  |  Vermont Journal: https://vermontjournal.com/featured-articles/claremont-city-council-begins-lead-line-inventory-hears-dam-report/

Tag: infrastructure upkeep

Historic mill sale approved; plan for 30 downtown apartments

Council backed a $1.02M sale of the former state office/mill building; development aims to boost housing and the tax base.

Sources: Valley News: https://vnews.com/2025/08/29/claremont-council-approves-sale/

Tag: tax‑base growth

Mandatory water‑use restrictions remain in effect citywide

DPW shifted from voluntary to mandatory limits on Sept. 19 due to drought conditions; updates posted on the city site.

Sources: City of Claremont — DPW notice: https://www.claremontnh.com/index.php?prrid=824&section=press-room

Tag: drought response

Sullivan County Commissioners meet Monday; Zoom access available

County commissioners meet Mon, Oct 20 in Unity (Health Care Commissioners Conf. Room); Zoom details on the event page.

Sources: Sullivan County calendar: https://www.sullivancountynh.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=2496

Tag: county governance

City Council candidate meet‑and‑greet set for Oct. 22

City‑sponsored forum at Earl Borden Center (67 Maple Ave) on Wed, Oct 22 at 10:00 a.m.

Sources: City press room: https://www.claremontnh.com/index.php?prrid=831&section=press-room

Tag: local elections

Statewide — New Hampshire

Executive Council tables contracts; transparency fight heats up

At the Oct. 15 meeting, councilors tabled millions in contracts, protesting incomplete documentation from agencies under the Ayotte administration.

Sources: NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-10-16/executive-councilors-hold-up-millions-of-dollars-in-contracts-to-protest-ayotte  |  WMUR: https://www.wmur.com/article/governor-executive-council-clash-contracts-101525/69048329

Tag: accountability push

EFA program hits 10,000‑student cap; debate shifts to 2026

With applications reaching the cap and a waitlist forming, the statute increases the cap 25% next school year unless lawmakers change it.

Sources: NHJournal: https://nhjournal.com/efa-program-hits-cap-in-first-year-as-10000-nh-families-embrace-school-choice/  |  InDepthNH: https://indepthnh.org/2025/08/05/education-freedom-account-program-hits-its-enrollment-cap/  |  NH DOE technical advisory: https://www.education.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt326/files/inline-documents/sonh/education-freedom-accounts-enrollment-cap-policy-ta.pdf

Tag: school choice win

Court orders intensify pressure on adequacy funding formula

An August order, citing the July 1 ConVal ruling, says base adequacy remains constitutionally deficient—setting up a 2026‑27 budget fight.

Sources: NH Bulletin — order PDF: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ruoff-order-081825-215-2022-CV-00167-Order-on-Merits-157.pdf  |  NH Bulletin background: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/06/10/supreme-court-rules-swept-tax-constitutional-settling-one-school-funding-issue/

Tag: property tax risk

PUC to reconsider Eversource fixed‑fee decision; rate shock feared

Regulators agreed to review an order lifting the monthly fixed charge; consumer advocates warn of added pressure on low‑use households.

Sources: NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-09-23/regulators-to-reconsider-controversial-eversource-decision-that-raised-fees-puc  |  PUC docket: https://www.puc.nh.gov/VirtualFileRoom/ShowDocument.aspx?DocumentId=fdd50d1c-fba0-4ff7-9f46-36ac33282a0c

Tag: ratepayer alert

NH House/Senate operating at Granite Place; 2026 LSRs ramp

With State House repairs ongoing, committees meet at Granite Place while 2026 bill requests stack up—expect EFA, adequacy, permitting bills.

Sources: New Futures guide: https://new-futures.org/blog/new-hampshire-state-house-closed-state-house-business-will-continue-granite-place

Tag: session prep

AG faults Berlin PD response before DV murder

The Attorney General called Berlin police response ‘wholly insufficient’ before the Marisol Fuentes killing; training and policy reviews expected.

Sources: NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-10-15/nh-ag-finds-berlin-police-response-wholly-insufficient-to-prevent-domestic-violence-murder  |  WMTW summary: https://www.wmtw.com/article/berlin-new-hampshire-murder-suicide-report-domestic/69033951

Tag: policing reform

National Highlights — Policy, Courts, Elections

SCOTUS to review Hawaii private‑property carry restrictions

The Court will test whether Hawaii can default‑ban carry on publicly accessible private property absent explicit owner consent.

Sources: Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-supreme-court-hear-challenge-hawaii-handgun-limits-2025-10-03/  |  AP: https://apnews.com/article/ed5a815c9f9c3f1397a3dd710fd7e17c  |  SCOTUSblog: https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-cases-on-guns-government-taking-of-property-and-several-other-issues/

Tag: 2A test case

Title IX overhaul vacated; litigation keeps policy in flux

A nationwide vacatur of the 2024 Title IX rule spurred new suits, including NYC’s challenge over grant conditions tied to transgender policies.

Sources: Ballard Spahr explainer: https://www.ballardspahr.com/insights/alerts-and-articles/2025/01/federal-court-strikes-down-title-ix-rule  |  Higher Ed Dive: https://www.highereddive.com/news/federal-judge-strikes-down-biden-administrations-title-ix-rule-nationwide/736975/  |  AP — NYC suit: https://apnews.com/article/4799eadf5dd7c6dfe40b1bda4d194844

Tag: education/civil rights

Shutdown drags on; federal program volatility continues

Reporting highlights freezes and legal challenges; continued uncertainty will shape Q4 budgets and planning across states.

Sources: Reuters overview: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/judges-keep-blocking-trumps-policies-despite-us-supreme-court-injunction-curbs-2025-07-09/

Tag: regulation watch

Energy bills: fixed‑fee hikes and mixed supply outlooks

NH fixed charges move higher even as supply rates adjust; community power programs may offer alternatives—compare carefully.

Sources: NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-09-23/regulators-to-reconsider-controversial-eversource-decision-that-raised-fees-puc  |  Daily Energy Insider: https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/48721-eversource-files-new-default-service-rates-for-new-hampshire-customers/

Tag: energy costs

Action Items — Dates • Times • Locations

• Sullivan County Commissioners — Mon, Oct 20 (All day), Health Care Commissioners Conf. Room, Unity — Zoom link on event page. Link: https://www.sullivancountynh.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=2496

• City Council Candidates Meet‑and‑Greet — Wed, Oct 22, 10:00 a.m., Earl Borden Center (67 Maple Ave). Link: https://www.claremontnh.com/index.php?prrid=831&section=press-room

• SAU 6 Finance Subcommittee — Mon, Oct 27, 1:00–2:30 p.m., Sugar River Valley RTC (Claremont). Link: https://www.sau6.org/

• Claremont ZBA — Mon, Nov 3, 7:00 p.m., City Hall (regular schedule). Link: https://www.claremontnh.com/

Watch List — Developing Stories

• Claremont rescue legislation (terms, conditions, caucus positions).

• Executive Council vs. Governor over contract packet transparency.

• Adequacy funding remedies post‑ConVal; 2026 session LSRs.

• EFA cap mechanics for 2026 (25% bump unless changed).

• Eversource fixed‑fee glidepath; potential reconsideration outcomes.