Norman Patenaude - City Council

Norm Patenaude's interview and profile on seacoastonline.com

Information taken from Norm Patenaude for City Council door pamphlet

Norm Patenaude for City Council - Experience and Leadership for Portsmouth

• Former City Councilor
• Career State Government Attorney
• Veteran and Legionnaire
• Political Science Professor at UNH
• Master's Degree in Public Administration

Experience Matters!

60 Spinnaker Way
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 430-1296
normpaten@comcast.net

City Council Candidate Survey information provided by Norm Patenaude

AGE: 60

YEARS LIVED IN THE CITY: 5

OCCUPATION: State Government Attorney

CIVIC EXPERIENCE: 7 years (1990-1997) as a member of the Concord City Council with service on the budget, economic development and labor relations committees; 4 years on the Military Academy Nomination Committee for former NH Congressman Dick Swett (1990-1994); 2 years on the International Trade Advisory Committee at the Pease Tradeport (2000-2002); member of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce for 12 years (1990-2002).

PORTSMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL: LOCATION AND EMINENT DOMAIN

I endorse the recommendation of Portsmouth Listens to renovate and expand the facility on Parrott Avenue and to bring it into compliance with all building codes. The factors that influenced my decision were its convenience to the students; its proximity to the Portsmouth City Library, downtown, public transportation, and several neighborhoods; as well as its comparable cost to building a new school in a remote location. I also endorse negotiating its easterly expansion with the Senior Center and the residents of Rogers Street. The recreational uses called for in the Pierce Land Trust should be respected and not be subject to override by eminent domain proceedings. There is a waiver clause in the state law that requires contiguous athletic fields and the solution could include transporting students to existing fields converted to all-purpose turf surfaces adaptable to multiple uses.

IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHERN TIER AND COUNCIL’S ROLE

The Northern Tier comprises the city’s flagship hospitality district. Its proposed extension with another anchor hotel and convention center will generate significant tax revenue for the city as well as hundreds of new jobs. The hospitality sector is one of the city’s major economic engines and one of many reasons why Portsmouth remains a regional destination for thousands of visitors. Together with the future improvements to arterial connectors from I-95 and the Route 1 By-Pass, the Northern Tier will attract more business and conference groups to the city for the benefit of our downtown shopping district, cultural facilities and restaurants. The Northern Tier will serve as a visionary gateway to our city complemented by the charm of the adjacent residential neighborhoods along the pond. The city’s role is to guide the process in accordance with the 2005 Master Plan, to engage the neighbors and the community at large throughout the process, and to assure that the city’s financial share is reasonable and beneficial to the city in the long run in terms of tax revenue and sustainability.

ROLE OF THE ARTS IN THE CITY AND HOW TO STRENTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO

The arts constitute the city’s cultural signature. The galleries, museums, playhouses, theatres, street musicians, heritage trails, festivals and concerts provide cultural enrichment and entertainment for the whole region and make Portsmouth the cultural hub of the area. The city should continue to promote the arts because they are self-sustaining and generate significant revenue for the city through secondary spending. I endorse the long-term closure of Chestnut Street for a pedestrian walkway in front of the Music Hall. The arts also play a vital role in education when children attend or participate in cultural events to broaden their horizons and learn about diversity. The city should continue to encourage volunteerism and community spirit as was the case with the steeple restoration project in Market Square. Community Development Block Grants can assist with preservation of historical and cultural sites. All of these facilities and events enhance the city’s image and assure its cultural sustainability.

RE-USE OF THE MCINTYRE FEDERAL BUILDING AND LOT

Almost an entire block will revert to the city as a non-governmental and taxable property. Its redevelopment should be carried out in accordance with the 2005 master plan, the city’s long-term sustainability goals, the input of the business and arts communities, the chamber of commerce, and the citizens speaking through a study group like Portsmouth Listens. The project should connect the downtown to the waterfront, Prescott Park and Strawberry Banke, and it should blend in architecturally with the area’s overall theme. I would like to see a mix of uses that would include some underground parking from the Bow Street side, retail shops, the US Postal Service customer station, and an indoor Market Square on the ground floor, professional office space on the second floor, residential units with a harbor view on the third floor and a public rooftop restaurant and observation deck for visitors. The right project can yield over $1 million in new tax revenue, create hundreds of new jobs, provide downtown residents with more lodging, and serve as a catalyst for the beautification of the entire neighborhood that would include the eventual burial of all overhead utility wires in the area.

HOW TO BALANCE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE AND COSTS

The 2005 master plan and the sustainability initiatives of 2006 identified short-term and long-term goals to maximize the benefits of recycling, energy efficiency, the preservation of open space, the reduction of pesticides, water conservation, affordable housing, building restoration, pollution reduction, and public transportation. Those goals should be incorporated into the 6-year capital budget plan with benchmarks to monitor progress and with the cost spread over several years. The city can also leverage government and foundation grants as additional resources. While sustainability is really a global issue, every community needs to take the first steps and participate in regional efforts through organizations like the Rockingham Regional Planning Commission. It’s a quality of life issue and our efforts will define us as a livable city.

PLANS FOR THE PIERCE ISLAND WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT

The plant represents a critical infrastructure issue for the city and its environmental sustainability. We have exhausted our waiver permits with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the NH Department of Environmental Services. The city has to proceed to a secondary treatment process and cease dumping only partially treated waste water into the river. The plant already operates at capacity due to continuing development throughout the city and a new plant would require a larger land surface. I would propose relocating the new plant to another acceptable location in the region and restrict all of Pierce Island to recreational uses. It’s already tax-free government land so there would be no loss from that perspective. The additional space could also accommodate sorely needed playing fields as well as more boat ramps, tennis courts, picnic areas and pet-friendly open space.

ONE THING I WOULD CHANGE ABOUT PORTSMOUTH

Without considering costs, I would connect the commercial districts and downtown to the highways without passing through residential or school zones. Traffic and pedestrian concerns have arisen over the years with the city’s growth and long-range traffic improvement plans should attempt to bypass densely populated residential neighborhoods if environmentally and economically feasible.

Press Release issued August 28th provided by Norm Patenaude

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 28, 2007 12.01 A.M.

NORM PATENAUDE JOINS COUNCIL RACE

Former Concord City Councilor Norm Patenaude entered the race for the Portsmouth City Council on Tuesday. Patenaude, a resident of Spinnaker Point on Market Street, is an attorney and career state government employee.

As a member of the Concord City Council in the 1990’s, he served on the finance, recreation and labor relations committees. During his tenure on the council Patenaude said that the biggest challenge was to hold the annual tax rate increase close to the rate of inflation, a difficult task in a state capital where 25% of the property consists of tax-free government buildings. The goal was achieved by working closely with citizens, city employees and City Hall staff to justify expenses while promoting a balanced economic development plan that brought enough new property on the tax rolls each year to absorb the pressures of inflation, contractual obligations like health insurance premium increases, and mandated state costs like public employee pension contributions. He knows something about those subjects because he worked at the NH Retirement System for 10 years as an administrative hearings officer before moving on the Attorney General’s office and then to the Board of Nursing when he serves as legal counsel. Last February Gov. Lynch nominated him to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board at the NH Labor Department.

With the departure of several experienced councilors this year, Patenaude believes that his many years of experience in state and local government will help to fill the gap and provide some continuity on various policy matters.

Patenaude also enjoys training others interested in government service. He teaches in the political science department at UNH one evening a week and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He has also served on the International Trade Advisory Committee at the Pease Tradeport as well as on the Military Academy Nomination Advisory Committee for the Second NH Congressional District.

Patenaude moved to Portsmouth a few years ago because of everything the city has to offer like its history, its cultural facilities, its sense of community, its diversity, the seacoast, Market Square, Strawberry Banke, the vibrant downtown, good schools and good city government.

If elected Patenaude would like to work on economic development or parks and recreation issues and replace the outgoing councilors who serve as liaison to the veterans’ organizations since he was on active duty during the Vietnam War.

For further information:

Home: 430-1296
Cell: 496-9064
normpaten@comcast.net