KEENE, NH – The Keene Downtown Infrastructure Improvement and Redesign project is moving on to the Municipal Services, Facilities, and Infrastructure committee following Wednesday’s workshop.

Only about half the full Keene City Council was present at the workshop, with Councilors Michael Giacomo, Bobby Williams, Phil Jones, Andrew Madison, Bettina Chadbourne, Kate Bosely, and Raleigh Ormerod absent.

The councilors who were present heard presentations answering some questions out of the previous workshop from City Engineer Don Lussier, City Manager Elizabeth Dragon, Public works director Kort Blomquist, and Ed Roberge of Stantec, the consultant hired on he project.

Roberge had presented a new version of the redesign that added parking into the additional proposed recreational space at the head of the square.

They also heard from seven members of the public, with a mixed bag of folks who were for and against bike lanes, the roundabout option, and various other design options.

The matter now goes to the MSFI committee where the public and other councilors will still have a chance to speak. Councilor Mitch Greenwald, who chairs the committee, said he thinks it’ll take more than one meeting to come up with a recommendation, but Dragon said a final decision must be reached before the council adjourns for their summer recess.

The MSFI committee is scheduled to meet next on May 24th.