Press Releases/What’s New

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CLIPPER STRONG FUND ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE

May 18, 2020

Portsmouth is a unique historic, and progressive seacoast city with a strong sense of community supported by residents, businesses and visitors. Much of the City’s character is defined by the small businesses that comprise over 91% of the local economy.  Those were the people Mayor Rick Becksted had in mind and most wanted to help when he came up with the idea of the Clipper Strong Fund.

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Business Reopening Work Group Presents Restaurant Action Plans

May 14, 2020

Before Governor Sununu announced his first Stay At Home order and essential business guidelines effective March 16, City Manager Karen Conard and senior staff from every department were meeting daily and continue to work to formulate the City’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first priority and continuing concerns are managing the health impacts of the pandemic: flattening the curve, allocating PPE and monitoring vulnerable populations.

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City Manager Presents FY21 Budget with 0% Tax Rate Increase; No Water/Sewer Rate Increase

April 24, 2020

City Manager Karen Conard released the FY21 City of Portsmouth Budget to the public on Friday, April 24, 2020. A Public Hearing on the Budget is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, with Work Sessions for Departmental Review and Listening Sessions scheduled for May 11, 13, 14 and 19, followed by a Budget Review City Council Work Session on Thursday, May 21.

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Fire Chief Todd Germain offers COVID-19 Emegency Management Update

April 20, 2020

Each Friday, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth hosts the zoom conference call, "Chamber Chat Live." Each week, since the first Chat when Chamber President Valerie Rochon welcomed City Manager Karen Conard and City Health Officer Kim McNamara to update the small business community, the Chamber has hosted City staff to provide insigh

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KAREN CONARD TAKES HELM AS CITY MANAGER

January 6, 2020

Karen Conard, appointed Acting City Manager as of December 16, 2019, assumed the role of City Manager on January 3, 2020. She arrived in Portsmouth from having served as Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, located in Haverhill, MA.  Ms. Conard holds a B.A.