To the editor:

(Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr.) and the council again, during the last Town Council meeting on Feb. 8, avoided, transparency, failed to address many questions posed, and ignored the community support for the senior center and voted 7-0 to pass an MOU that allows third-party Church Community Housing (CCH) to submit proposals for affordable housing with claims to include a senior center. 

This MOU also included another vacant school, Coggeshall, at the south end of town. However, this property is being treated much differently; CCH will submit market-grade housing proposals for this location and the ball fields will remain in place. CCH is only in the business of housing and not senior centers. 

The question was raised due to the Town Charter, which requires a majority vote of the voters of the Town of Portsmouth for any town property of more than two acres to be transferred. The Charter further clarifies this by including an editor’s note, “original section to make it clear that voter approval is needed to transfer any portion of a parcel of land is more than two (2) acres in area.” Leasing of town property for a period of 10 years or less does not constitute a transfer provided at the end of the lease period the town retains sole right to renew or terminate. 

The question was asked of the council if proposals would go to the voters to vote. Rainer essentially try to bypass answering the direct question. It was suggested to the council that they have their legal (town solicitor) weigh in before any vote on the MOU was passed. Again, this request was ignored. 

It is unclear how and when Rainer came to the decision to consult with CCH without discussing with senior center leadership or addressing this in any of his reports for the Town Council’s agendas. Approximately one year ago, at the Feb. 24, 2020 Town Council meeting, Rainer reports on the senior center and stated over the next year in “conjunction with Senior Center Organization, we will attempt to develop alternative courses of action for your consideration.” 

Shortly thereafter, COVID-19 hit and all public meetings were halted. It appears the town’s leadership decided to take advantage of this to further their own agendas. On Aug. 25, 2020, Sen. (James) Seveney, during the course of his re-election campaign, along with Rep. Terri Cortvriend, issued a joint statement to media outlet WhatsUP Newport, indicating they had met with CCH in efforts to find a longterm solution for the senior center. This statement nor any communications with CCH were referenced in Rainer’s reports nor did any of the conversations include senior center leadership. 

Shortly thereafter, in October 2020, Seveney and Cortvriend were appointed to the Portsmouth Housing Authority. Why is a state senator and representative on town housing authority? It appears they are attempting to further their own initiatives while the seniors, the town’s most vulnerable, are being pushed out with no one to advocate for them! 

Georgie Marino

Massachusetts Boulevard

Portsmouth

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