PORTSMOUTH — An audit of the town’s finances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 found no significant deficiencies with the town’s financial reporting, the Town Council was told Monday night.

The audit report was prepared by the accounting firm Hague, Sahady & Co., P.C. of Fall River and presented to the council by Kyle Connor, a CPA with the company. The full report can be viewed here.

Larry Fitzmorris of the taxpayers’ watchdog group Portsmouth Concerned Citizens raised several questions about the audit and noted that some numbers listed in the report appear differently or not at all in the town’s annual budget. 

He questioned the town’s fiscal transparency and said citizens should be granted more time to look the audit over — and recommend any needed changes — before it’s accepted by the council. The report was completed Dec. 26 but his group didn’t see it until four days ago, Mr. Fitzmorris noted.

“This is 195 pages long and we didn’t have enough time to review this thing. I think the citizens should have an opportunity to read it,” he said.

Council members, however, defended the report and said the town has done everything above board. Council member Leonard Katzman pointed out that the Government Finance Officers Association awarded the town a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2017.

Council member Linda Ujifusa said the current audit found no significant issues with the town’s financial reporting, which is not often the case with most municipalities.

“This is quite an achievement, to not have any problems identified,” Ms. UIjifusa said.

The council voted unanimously to receive the audit report and place it on file.

Zoning amendment hearings

In other business Monday night, the council unanimously approved Town Planner Gary Crosby’s request to advertise two public hearings on separate amendments to the zoning ordinance.

The first hearing, scheduled for Feb. 25, relates to the measurement of building heights in special flood hazard areas. 

The proposed amendment was prompted by a change in the state’s definition of building height in those areas. The change, which takes effect March 1, requires that the height of a building in a special flood hazard area be measured form the base flood elevation as shown on FEMA flood insurance rate maps, rather than from the ground itself.

The second hearing, set for March 11, concerns an amendment that would allow the town a “payment in lieu” option for affordable housing.

As an example, a development that’s required to build a certain number of affordable homes would be able to pay a fee in lieu for each house under the amendment. That money would fund an affordable housing trust which the town would control and leverage to create more affordable housing or preserve existing affordable housing.

For both items, the council also voted unanimously to seek the Planning Board’s opinion on the proposed amendments.

Coffeehouse license continued

Sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, the council continued until Feb. 11 a hearing on an application by Thriving Tree Coffee House in Island Park for a Class BVL liquor license. 

Council members said they needed more information from owner Kristen Kidd before they proceeded.

A BVL license (for beer and wine) is normally reserved for restaurants, Council President Kevin Aguiar noted. “You’re requesting a BVL license for after hours. This seems out of place,” Mr. Aguiar said. “It doesn’t seem to fit the criteria for a BVL license.”

Council member Daniela Abbott said “after hours” merely means Ms. Kidd wants to host parties outside of her regular business hours. 

Council member Keith Hamilton suggested that a catering license may be more appropriate, or the business could apply to extends its hours of operation under the existing victualler license

Ms. Kidd agreed to review her application and have more information ready for the continuation of the hearing on Feb. 11.

Resignations/appointments

The council accepted with regret the resignation of longtime Zoning Board of Review member James Edwards, who served most recently as chairman of that panel.

“With the start of the new year and after serving for more than 20 years, the time is right to step aside and let someone else have a turn,” Mr. Edwards stated in a Jan. 14 letter. “Currently, there are six other qualified and capable members on the board, so my decision should not adversely affect town business.”

The council voted to accept with regret the resignation of longtime member Claudette Weissinger from the Bristol Ferry Town Common Committee.

The council voted unanimously to appoint Evin St. Laurent as a youth representative on the town’s Economic Development Committee. Evin is a junior at Portsmouth High School.

Charter review

Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. announced that the 2019 Charter Review Committee will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, in the council chambers at Town Hall.

At its Jan. 14 meeting, the council appointed all 26 citizens who had applied for a seat on the new panel.

Thursday’s meeting agenda includes a discussion on procedural matters and the selection of a moderator.

Upcoming meetings

The council will next meet at 7 p.m. on the following Mondays: Feb 11, Feb. 25 and March 11.