The April 22 Strategic Plan workshop focused heavily on public safety, emergency preparedness, and the future of Londonderry’s historic assets. Deputy Fire Chief Phil LeBlanc opened the session with a presentation on improving emergency response capabilities, including the need for modern pre-planning software.
“We did pre-planning for a long time, but we did it on paper,” LeBlanc explained. “We had our guys go out with a hand wheel and a piece of paper… There was no easy access to that.” He added that updated systems and fully staffed firehouses are essential for meeting national response-time standards.
Town Council Chair Ron Dunn pushed for clarity on the financial implications of expanding staffing. “We all want to determine the feasibility of achieving a four-person staff, but are we also going to think about how much that’s going to cost taxpayers?” Dunn asked. LeBlanc acknowledged the cost would be significant, noting that Nashua is one of the few NH communities meeting national staffing standards.
Other public safety topics included cybersecurity planning, continuity of operations, disaster recovery, and improving public communication during emergencies. Administrative Services Director Kirsten Hildonen emphasized the need for “evergreen content” to help residents respond to high-frequency events such as heat waves.
The workshop then shifted to arts, culture, recreation, and heritage. Assistant Recreation Director Doug Cole highlighted growing participation across age groups and outlined a 10-year improvement plan for parks, fields, and trails. He also noted the importance of expanding community events such as Concerts on the Common.
Hildonen underscored the role of heritage in shaping Londonderry’s identity. “We should review and update the historic properties lists to include risks and needs,” she said.
Heritage Commission member John Mahon raised concerns about the town’s most significant historic asset. “The big whale when you consider the heritage of the town is obviously the Morrison House,” Mahon said. “The Heritage Commission is certainly in favor of conserving that building, and frankly we’ve got to figure out getting the taxpayers on-board.”
Councilor Ted Combes, who is also the liaison to Heritage, questioned delays in completing the Heritage Commission’s long-awaited photographic “look-book,” a project intended to document historic properties. “The Heritage Commission was expecting a completed document last month, and that wasn’t provided,” Combes said. “I don’t understand what’s taking so long when they’ve had the pictures for three years.”
Town Manager Shaun Mulholland responded that staffing shortages have slowed progress. “Right now, I’m down half my staff in the Planning Department,” he said. “You’ve got four people in a department where other towns would have six to eight.”
Hildonen confirmed that all feedback from the Strategic Plan workshops will be incorporated into the next draft of the plan.