The Londonderry Town Council opened their Monday night, June 18 meeting with a proclamation honoring retiring Music Director, Andy Soucy, for his long-time service to Londonderry High School.
Chairman John Farrell acknowledged that such an honor was not something that Soucy would seek because he was not one to seek the limelight. The proclamation established Friday, June 22 as Any Soucy Day in Londonderry.
Farrell noted Soucy’s 46 years at LHS and the renown of the matching band as one of the best in the country. According to Farrell, “Londonderry’s on the map because of Andy Soucy.”
Soucy thanked the council and reassured residents that the music department will be in good hands.
In other business during the Monday night meeting.
- The Council renewed the licenses of junkyards S & S Metals and Murray’s Auto Recycling after Code Enforcement Officer Richard Canuel presented that there had been no major violations at either location in the past year. He said that there were some minor issues, but the businesses responded quickly to address then when they arose.
- Code Enforcement Officer Richard Canuel attended the meeting for a public hearing on an amendment to the town’s Itinerant Vendors, Hawkers and Peddlers licenses. It had been brought to his attention that the monty renewal is difficult for seasonal vendors, so a change was made to the ordinance to allow for a three month license.
The council voted in favor of the change.
- Doug Smith, Finance Director for the town shared that there would be proposed updates to the town’s financial management policy.
He recently provided an updated draft to the Council and used the meeting to explain the need for changes. The policy was adopted in 2003 with the intent to review it annually; however, no review had been done in the intervening years. He asked councilor to review proposed changes and provide feedback at or before the July Town Council meeting.
- Farrell brought up the house at 209 Rockingham Road. He believes that this was the site of the former Morrison Junior High School about 60 years ago and that it may be the only former schoolhouse in town not currently serving as a residence. He asked the other councilor to check it out as he may explore funding preservation of it in the next budget cycle.
- During liaison reports, Councilor Tom Dolan expressed his dismay at the visual appearance of the Blue Bird Self-Storage facility going up on Rockingham Road near exit 5. He and others on the Council felt that the 3-story structure looming over Rockingham Road as drivers exit from I-93 south was not a great way to introduce people to Londonderry.
While acknowledging property owner’s rights, he asked the Town Manager and Planning Board liaison Jim Butler to explore what could be done to prevent something like this in the future.