KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A proposal to impose new fees on anyone digging into freshly0paved city streets met a cool reception Tuesday night, as Keene’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee signaled it was not ready to back an ordinance members said could unfairly burden homeowners.

The meeting — held a day early because of the Thanksgiving holiday — featured two major discussions: a lengthy debate over Public Works Director Don Lussier’s draft “protection of streets” ordinance and the latest progress report on the upcoming downtown infrastructure overhaul.

Street-Protection Fees Get Pushback

Lussier’s proposal called for raising the city’s basic excavation-permit fee and adding a new “pavement life reduction fee” designed to discourage cutting into newly0resurfaced roads. The plan included a $5-per-square-foot damage charge and multipliers — triple the cost for work within two years of paving, and double for work between two and five years.

Lussier said the goal was to protect new pavement and recover the long-term cost of road degradation caused by street openings. But committee members said the plan appeared to solve a problem Keene doesn’t have, noting the city averages just one emergency residential sewer- or water-line failure per year.

One resident urged caution, saying the system would feel like a penalty at a time when homeowners are already grappling with expensive repairs.

Committee members questioned whether the approach would punish residents for emergencies they can’t foresee. Several suggested a modest permit-fee increase instead of sweeping multipliers. Lussier said waivers for “surprise” emergencies would be difficult to verify.

Ultimately, the committee declined to endorse the ordinance, accepting it only as informational and urging Public Works to rework the concept.

Magnolia Way Sidewalk Request Withdrawn

The committee also heard from contractor Mike Pappas of Pappas Contracting in Swanzey, who asked the city on behalf of residents to remove a little-used sidewalk on the north side of Magnolia Way because it reduces driveway depth for several homes. Public Works recommended denying the request, warning it would set a precedent and noting the sidewalk meets code.

After extended discussion, Pappas withdrew the request and will instead work with staff on the possibility of relocating the sidewalk to the south side of the street.

Downtown Project: Events Will Continue, Communication Expands

Lussier also delivered his monthly update on the city’s two-year downtown construction project, confirming that downtown events will continue during the work. Event organizers will soon receive a letter with three example layouts that avoid Central Square and active construction zones. The city is exploring ways to streamline and speed up event approvals while roads and sidewalks are disrupted.

A representative from Stantec, the city’s engineering consultant, addressed last month’s misstep involving a state Department of Environmental Services requirement that temporarily jeopardized the bidding timeline. He took responsibility, emphasized the issue had been fixed quickly, and said bids remain on schedule.

Project ombudsman George Downing said his team’s outreach to downtown businesses has been extensive, but reaching downtown residents remains a challenge because many apartment buildings have secure access. He is now working through property managers, while Lussier said the city will likely send a mailer to all residents in the project area as the construction start draws closer.

The committee accepted the downtown update as informational.