KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) In its final meeting before a summer recess, Keene City Council’s Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee on Thursday swiftly approved a slate of spending measures, infrastructure contracts, and administrative changes—all with unanimous support and little debate.

Among the most notable actions was the committee’s recommendation to sell a city-owned lot at 100 Church St. to an abutting property owner. City officials said the parcel, a leftover from a decades-old redevelopment effort, has become a magnet for illicit activity, including drug use and loitering. By transferring ownership to a private party, officials believe the area can be better managed.

“We don’t need it as a public park,” said Public Works Director Don Lussier. “As a private property owner, they have tools at their disposal for managing the property that as public space we may not have.”

The vote comes amid broader discussions around the city’s role in managing underused parcels and addressing public safety in densely populated neighborhoods.

The committee also greenlit a series of infrastructure and administrative projects:

  • Transportation Heritage Trail – Phase 1: Engineering services for the trail project received approval, with City Engineer Dan Langille noting the cost estimate was conservative and likely to come in under budget. The trail project is partially federally funded, with Keene responsible for 20% of the cost.

  • Airport Taxiway Reconstruction: A construction contract and related grant funding were approved for upgrades at Dillant-Hopkins Airport. The city will pay just 2.5 percent of the overall project cost, thanks to funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

  • 2026 Citywide Property Revaluation: The committee endorsed a contract with Vision Government Solutions, a vendor familiar with Keene and other New Hampshire communities, to conduct the upcoming revaluation process. The work begins this fall and runs through September 2026.

  • Police Department Budget Amendment: The committee approved a reallocation of personnel funds within the 2025–26 fiscal year. The adjustment will not affect the tax rate but allows for budgetary flexibility amid ongoing hiring efforts.

  • Legal Department Staffing: With the assistant city attorney position still unfilled, the committee recommended allowing the city attorney’s office to use $60,000 in unspent funds from the previous year to bring on outside legal help. The move is intended to ease a growing backlog of legal work.

In a final personnel matter, the committee backed changes to the city’s classification ordinance, eliminating performance bonuses in favor of base salary increases for certain public safety roles.

The next scheduled full City Council meeting is set for Aug. 21.