KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene City Council’s Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee recommended several housing, infrastructure and financial proposals Thursday, including support for a historical marker honoring the Keene Glass Company, tax relief for a housing project at 429 Elm St. and multiple public works initiatives. The recommendations now head to the full City Council.

The committee unanimously backed a request from the Yankee Bottle Club to install a historical marker recognizing the Keene Glass Company along the Cheshire Rail Trail.

Steve Saraichick, a Keene native and longtime antique bottle collector representing the Yankee Bottle Club, said the existing trail markers overlook the Marble Street Glass Factory despite its importance to the city’s industrial history.

The proposal has already received support from the Heritage Commission, Historic District Commission and Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Advisory Committee. The Heritage Commission pledged $500 toward the project, while the Yankee Bottle Club committed $200 and will lead fundraising efforts to cover the remaining costs.

The committee also recommended approval of a Residential Property Revitalization Zoneapplication for 429 Elm St., granting about four years of property tax relief for a project that will convert a historic barn into two rental apartments.

Developer George Hansel, representing property owners Cheryl and Joe Bagster, said the approximately $200,000 project will expand the property from three to five apartments through adaptive reuse of the existing barn. City staff recommended approval, saying the proposal meets the goals of the city’s housing revitalization program.

Committee members also approved an ordinance creating a new legal assistant position to replace a retiring paralegal.

Several public works items also received favorable recommendations.

The committee authorized the city manager to negotiate a change order of up to $150,000 with Lakes Region Fuel Systems for additional work on the Martell Court Pump Station fuel tank replacement project. City Engineer Brian Roof said completing the work under the existing contract would be more efficient and cost less than seeking new bids.

Members also approved transferring $50,000 in unused funding from the Martell Court Sewer Force Main Inspection Project to the Island Street Sewer Improvement Project to help repair the collapsed Pearl Street sewer main.

The committee also recommended a change order of up to $1,000,330 for McFarland Johnson to provide additional engineering services, including right-of-way acquisition assistance, for the Lower Winchester Street Reconstruction Project.

The committee approved updates to several property tax exemption programs by raising income and asset limits for elderly, disabled, blind and deaf or severely hearing-impaired residents. Members also increased the city’s optional veterans tax credit and combat service credit.

Councilors spent much of the meeting reviewing proposed revisions to the city’s fiscal policies, including changes to nonprofit funding guidelines, budget development procedures, capital project reporting and ambulance billing policies.

One of the longest discussions focused on how land use change tax revenues should be allocated to the Conservation Fund. Rather than take action, the committee voted to place the proposed fiscal policy revisions on “more time” so staff could revise the language based on the committee’s feedback before bringing it back for further review.

All recommendations now go before the full Keene City Council for consideration.