Allenstown sewer plan

Allenstown sewer officials have firmed up a $15 million plan to double the capacity of the town’s sewer treatment plant, which has been stalled at maximum capacity for more than a year. Sewer commissioners have said they intend to present the $15 million bond proposal to voters at the 2007 Town Meeting.

According to an intermunicipal wastewater services agreement signed in November by sewer commissioners in Allenstown and neighboring Pembroke, Pembroke would absorb 52 percent of the cost of the upgrade.

Michael Trainque, the project’s engineer, said as much as 60 percent of the total cost could be covered by a combination of grant sources. The state Department of Environmental Services ordered a moratorium on new hookups to the decades-old plant more than a year ago, and officials both from Pembroke and Allenstown have suggested the moratorium dissuades new businesses from moving into their respective towns.

The Allenstown Sewer Commission is currently drafting the warrant article for the 2007 ballot, but hasn’t yet determined whether repaying the bond will be covered by all taxpayers, or just sewer rate payers, Trainque said.

McGonigle arrested for theft

Former Allenstown Police Chief James McGonigle was arrested in June and charged with stealing more than $8,000 from three separate police organizations. McGonigle, 58, is out on $30,000 bail, and is scheduled for a March trial after pleading not guilty to three felonious theft charges.

The Concord resident is accused of stealing the money over a span of several years from three independent organizations: the Allenstown Police Department, the Allenstown Police Association and the New Hampshire Police Cadet Training Academy.

McGonigle was a longtime Concord city councilor, a member of the Concord Police Department for 20 years, and was with Allenstown police for the last 10 years. He resigned from the department and the Concord City Council before he was arrested in June.

The state Attorney General’s Office investigated McGonigle for three months. According to an affidavit supporting McGonigle’s arrest, witnesses said he was seeking help for depression. The maximum penalty for each of the three felonies is seven-and-a-half to 15 years imprisonment and a $4,000 fine.

After selectmen placed McGonigle on paid leave, they promoted Lt. Shaun Mulholland to the chief’s position. Mulholland, who’s had a long career with Allenstown police, has held the post ever since.

Allenstown turns 175

Hundreds of residents turned out to Bear Brook State Park at the end of July to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the incorporation of Allenstown. Many of the event’s organizers helped put together the town’s 150th bash 25 years ago. Selectmen’s Chairman Sandy McKenny led the ceremonies burying a time capsule on the grounds of the Old Allenstown Meeting House.

Pembroke hires new chief with familiar face

A changing of the guard occurred at the Pembroke Police Department when longtime Police Chief Wayne Cheney stepped aside and was replaced by another longtime Pembroke policeman, Scott Lane.

Cheney, who was with the department for 27 years, was instrumental in planning for the town’s new Route 3 safety center, which he said has allowed the department be one of the best of its size in the state.

Lane, who was Cheney’s right-hand man and headed the department’s criminal division as a lieutenant, officially took over on Sept. 1. Lane has been with the department for 22 years.