The Keene City Council agenda for September 17, 2026, includes several key items. The Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee recommends adopting Resolution R-2026-40, appropriating $80,000 from the unallocated General Fund balance for the Marlboro Street & Cheshire Rail Trail Improvements Project. This represents the City's 20% funding match for the project, with the actual change order approximately $265,000 and the Department of Transportation providing 80% federal funding. The vote was 4 to 0 in committee. Other agenda items include public hearings on Thompson Road alterations and Community Development Block Grant mid-grant hearings, a proclamation for Dr. Dottie Morris, and consideration of an ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. No additional decisions, votes, or dollar amounts were specified in the provided text for the September 17 meeting date.
Source: https://keenenh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026_09_17_City-Council-Agenda_optimized.pdf
The Keene Historic District Commission did not meet on September 16, 2026. The provided text summarizes the June 17, 2026 meeting. At that meeting, the Commission approved minutes from May 20 and May 13. A public hearing for HDC-26-02 addressed a proposed mural at 95 Main St. Keith Marks, representing the Colonial Theatre, sought a waiver to allow the mural to cover 60% of the wall, exceeding the typical 40% limit. The Commission unanimously approved the waiver from Section 22.6.1.B and approved the mural installation application with no conditions. Staff updated the Commission on the Downtown Project, with Phase I scheduled from mid-July to August 2026. The next meeting was set for July 15, 2026.
Source: https://keenenh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026_09_16_HDC_Agenda.pdf
The Ashuelot River Park Advisory Board meeting agenda for September 15, 2026, was set to include the approval of July 14, 2026 meeting minutes and reports from the Friends of Ashuelot River Park Arboretum and Finance. The Finance Report noted a total budget of $12,800 (Trust Funded), with a current balance of $6,931.47. Specific budget lines included Landscaping ($1,500), Replanting Program ($1,000), Bartlett Tree - Arboretum Health ($5,500), Tree Removal ($1,500), Educational Signage ($2,300), and Invasive Treatment ($1,000). Project tracking updates were expected for the Permanent Sign, with updates from Martin Royle, and Bird Ecology. Recent and upcoming events included Art in the Park on September 5-6, 2026. The next meeting was scheduled for October 13, 2026.
Source: https://keenenh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026_9_15_ARPAB-Agenda-Budget.pdf
The Keene Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee met on September 10, 2026, and took several actions. They unanimously voted to accept the FY25 Audited Financial Statements presentation by CBIZ CPAs, P.C. as informational.
Regarding downtown construction, the committee voted 4-0 to recommend free on-street parking for the remainder of the 2026 construction season. Councilor Lake estimated this would cost $45,000. Staff will report back before the next construction phase.
The committee accepted several grants: $46,988 from the NH Juvenile Court Diversion Network for Youth Services; $6,519 from the DOJ Byrne JAG Program for police equipment; and $2,143,024 from the FAA/NHDOT for the airport's wildlife fence.
Other approvals included carrying forward $32,500 for code conversion; extending a fire grant period; authorizing early ambulance ordering for 2028; approving a $75,000 grant increase for the skate park project; and executing agreements with KeyNetGPS and Structural Preservation Services for $65,325. They also authorized selling surplus ventilators for $6,000. All votes were 4-0.
Source: https://keenenh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026_09_10_FOP_Minutes_Adopted.pdf
The Planning, Licenses and Development Committee met on September 9, 2026, with Chair Filiault presiding. The Committee voted 5-0 to place Councilor Williams' request regarding restricting the sale of 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and concentrated Kratom products "on More Time"; the Committee will seek further input from police, youth coalitions, and experts at the next meeting. The Committee voted 5-0 to recommend the City Attorney draft a new ordinance prohibiting dogs within the footprint of all licensed downtown community events, returning it as a draft at the next meeting. The Committee voted 5-0 to refer a request for a temporary moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities to the Planning Board. Finally, the Committee voted 4-1 to recommend adopting Ordinance O-2026-14, which updates the Keene Food Code from the 2009 to 2022 FDA Food Code; Councilor Haas opposed. Implementation will occur after license renewals on September 30, 2026.
Source: https://keenenh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026_09_09_PLD_Minutes_Adopted.pdf