Greatest Person: Tax Assessor Keeps 'Town Running'

Tax Assessor David Dolce was honored recently by the Portsmouth Town Council for serving as interim town administrator for the past six months.

He survived an earthquake, a major East Coast hurricane and interminable Town Council meetings, but Portsmouth Tax Assessor David Dolce said he would do it all again — as long as it was temporary.  "My job was just to keep the town running," said a humble Dolce, a former Jamestown Town Councilor and School Committee member.  Dolce was honored recently by the Portsmouth Town Council for serving as interim town administrator, as well as performing tax assessor duties, for the past six months. He received a proclamation and standing ovation for his service, which ended on Feb. 13. He is now back at work, serving his 16th year as tax assessor.  As interim town administrator, Dolce says he was able to "accomplish a few small things" like …

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Portsmouth's New Town Administrator To Be Sworn Into Office Tonight

The Portsmouth Town Council will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Many residents will get the chance to meet Portsmouth's new town administrator for the first time at tonight's swearing-in ceremony at Town Hall.  Former Barnstable, MA, Town Manager John Klimm will be sworn into office as Portsmouth's new town administrator at tonight's Town Council meeting.  A Massachusetts native, Klimm served as the town manager of Barnstable MA, for the past 12 years before being asked to take an early departure by the Barnstable Town Council this past June.  Klimm will fill the office left vacant by longtime Town Administrator Robert Driscoll, who announced he would not seek a renewal of his contract last April. Tax Assessor David Dolce has been serving as interim town administrator since late August.  Other agenda …

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Former Barnstable, MA, Manager John Klimm Is Named Town Administrator

John Klimm will begin work in town on Feb. 13.

Former Barnstable, MA, Town Manager John Klimm has been hired as Portsmouth's new town administrator, announced the Portsmouth Town Council in a press release Wednesday.  Rumors circulated around town Tuesday that the new administrator hailed from Barnstable. On Saturday, the Cape Cod Times reported Klimm was in the final negotiations for a new job.  Klimm will begin work as town administrator on Feb. 13.  A Massachusetts native, Klimm served as the town manager of Barnstable MA, for the past 12 years before being asked to take an early departure by the Barnstable Town Council this past June.  Klimm, who holds a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Boston College and a master’s degree in public administration from …

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Mystery Surrounds Identity of New Town Administrator

Who is the new town administrator? Your guess is as good as ours.

One thing was made very clear Monday night - Portsmouth has a new town administrator.  However, his identity remains a mystery.  During the Monday night Town Council meeting, President Joe Robicheau slipped when he stated he "spoke with the new town administrator."  Several faces in the audience appeared surprised and questioned this announcement. To date, there has been no announcement of a new hire.  Robicheau, Paul Kesson and other town officials refused to identity this new administrator when asked after the meeting. "He's from New England," Robicheau said. "That's all I can tell you."  Meanwhile, Portsmouth councilors said the new administrator is expected to begin working around Feb. 13.  The new town administrator will fill the …

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7 Residents to Interview Town Administrator Candidates This Week

Interviews with town administrator candidates will be held this Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. at Town Hall. The interviews are closed to the public.

Who will be the next town administrator? Seven, selected Portsmouth residents might know before everyone else.  A citizens' panel of seven residents will interview town administrator candidates this Friday at 8 a.m. at Town Hall. Residents on the panel are as follows:  The residents were recommended to the panel by members of the town council.  A professional panel, comprising town employees and leaders, will also interview the candidates that same morning at Town Hall.  The Portsmouth Town Council will meet again on Saturday at 8 a.m. at Town Hall to interview the candidates once more. All of the interviews will be held in executive session, making them closed to the public.  The candidates are being interviewed to fill the office of …

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Bob Cosgrove

1:15 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012

And then you get those who get involved only for whats in it for them and could care less about their town. They would run their town into the ground to save themselves a buck on taxes.   more ›

Town Council Sets Town Administrator Benefits, Approves Christian Academy Lease

The Portsmouth Town Council met Monday night at Town Hall.

The Portsmouth Town Council took the following actions Monday night:  A video recording of last night's meeting can be watched here. 

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Town Administrator Search Firm to Cost Town $20,000

The Portsmouth Town Council selected New Hampshire-based Municipal Resources to find candidates for the office of town administrator.

Municipal Resources, a firm based out of Manchester, NH, will be charged with finding candidates to serve as Portsmouth's next town administrator.  The council voted 4-3 , with Jim Seveney, Michael Buddemeyer and Keith Hamilton in opposition, to select this firm Monday evening. The search will cost the town of Portsmouth $20,000, which was the amount capped by the council.  "I do not support spending $20,000 for something we could have done," Buddemeyer said.  "I don't see how any committee could do what these companies will do," Judi Staven said. The Portsmouth Town Council decided in July to hire an outside search firm to solicit candidates for the office of town administrator. The town recieved proposals from three firms: Slavin …

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Question of the Week

Do You Think The Town Could Have Improved Communications During Irene?

Some residents have criticized town officials for the handling of communication during Irene? What do you think? Could the town have responded differently?

How do you think the town of Portsmouth handled communications during Hurricane Irene?  Some residents have criticized town officials for how they communicated to residents during the storm.  "Hard to get any information from Portsmouth on what was going on. What ever happened to 'reverse 911,'" wrote Doug Smith in Local Voices. "No one home at the Town Hall and no contact point for information about what was going on in town." What do you think? What could town officials have done differently to communicate before, during or after the storm? Tell us in the comment section below! 

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VIDEO: Portsmouth Town Council Honors Longtime Town Administrator Robert Driscoll

The Portsmouth Town Council presented a proclamation to Robert Driscoll on Monday, Aug. 22, thanking him for his years of service.

The Portsmouth Town Council honored outgoing Town Administrator Robert Driscoll with a proclamation on Monday evening, thanking him for his more than 10 years of service. "The Town Council recognizes your many accomplishments and congratulates and thanks you for your untiring efforts on behalf of our community," read Town Council President Joe Robicheau from the proclamation. Driscoll received a standing ovation from those in attendance.  "My best wishes to Mr. Driscoll in his future endeavors," said Senator Chris Ottiano. "He served the Town of Portsmouth with such distinction for so many years."  On April 26, Town Administrator Robert Driscoll announced he would not seek renewal of his contract. Driscoll, an attorney, has served as town …

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