What's New

This spring, twelve cities and towns in New Hampshire, including Rye, Durham and Exeter are planning to go live with a new electricity supply option with the potential of lower costs, more renewable options and future prospects for “green” energy projects. Portsmouth may join them in June.

The City has "left the lights on" the holiday tree in Market Square, and with another holiday coming up on February 14, is inviting residents to help decorate the "Tree of Love."

The Portsmouth community can now access the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the Fiscal Year-ended June 30, 2022 (FY22) on the City of Portsmouth website. The City of Portsmouth prepares the two documents under the guidance of Director of Finance and Administration Judie Belanger following the close of each fiscal year.

City Manager Karen Conard announced that the City has selected a partnership of VHB, Resilience Planning & Design LLC and the Rockingham Planning Commission to create the City’s first Climate Action Plan in partnership with the City Planning and Sustainability Department and the local community. Planning and Sustainability Director Peter Britz and Associate Environmental Planner Kate Homet are leading the initiative on the City staff side.

Following the recommendations of the Governance Committee, the Portsmouth City Council has directed the creation of a new Public Art Review Committee (PARC) to assist the City in reviewing proposals for public art and conducting practical assessments of the feasibility of installing and maintaining such art works in the public sphere.

PARC responsibilities include: 

City Manager Karen Conard is pleased to announce the promotion of Peter L. Britz to City Planning and Sustainability Director, effective January 3, 2023. He is currently Assistant Director, Environmental Planner and Sustainability Coordinator, and previously served as Interim Planning Director from September to December 2021.

The City of Portsmouth Clerk’s Office is now accepting applications for the seasonal boat slips at the Prescott Park docks. The application period is December 5, 2022 through 4 pm on January 5, 2023. Go to the 2023 application package.

Josh Denton, Commander of VFW Post 168, reports that Veterans Day will be commemorated in Portsmouth with a wreath-laying at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Goodwin Park on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11 am. In case of rain, the event will move indoors to the Legion Post where a post-event gathering will take place for those unable to attend the outdoor ceremony.

On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the Citywide Neighborhood Committee hosts a panel of Portsmouth city officials to discuss projects and issues specific to the Ward 1 neighborhood. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm, in-person at the New Franklin School located at 1 Franklin Drive.The meeting is open to residents of Ward 1 as well as to the public at large.

The Ward 1 Forum is part of a series of Neighborhood Outreach Forums hosted by the Citywide Neighborhood Committee. Additional Ward Forums are being planned.