By Devon Cormier
Staff Writer

Although Hooksett must allow the Manchester School Board to meet and make decisions about the high school Hooksett's children attend, many of the final decisions are formed out of view of Hooksett residents. This motivated resident David Paquette to make a plea for the return of Manchester community television channels Hooksett residents used to be able to watch.

"The Hooksett taxpayer, whether they have children or not, pays taxes to Hooksett that then go to the city of Manchester," Paquette said. "We get to see the school board meetings, but the budget and a lot of things are determined with the mayor and the board of aldermen. The Hooksett taxpayer doesn't know where their money is going."

Paquette took his plea, along with the consent of more than 70 other residents, to the Hooksett Town Council on Wednesday, March 23. The town council, in turn, agreed to send a letter to Manchester officials asking them to order Comcast to unblock the two community channels Hooksett used to get.

"We're just hoping to get information out there to try and better educate the community," Paquette said. "It's just another medium for people."

Paquette said channels 22 and 23, both Manchester community television channels, used to be broadcast in Hooksett until some residents asked that they be blocked.

Town Councilor Michael DiBitetto said he isn't sure when or why the channels became blocked, but the town council is more than happy to see if they can get the channels back.

"We will send a letter to Manchester public officials asking that they authorize the signal to come to Hooksett," DiBitetto said. "If they ask the cable company to do it, I see no reason why they can't just pipe it in to Hooksett."

Paquette said he hopes it's a simple process because he was planning to request airtime to show Hooksett residents information about the upcoming Town Meeting and election. Paquette owns a nonprofit company in Manchester which makes him eligible to request airtime on their community television stations.

"We will at least have our foot in the door," Paquette said. "I don't care if it airs at 10 o'clock at night or 5 o'clock in the morning. People have VCRs and can tape things to watch at their leisure. Getting a spot is better than not getting any spot."

This request came weeks before voters will be asked to approve a warrant article for $40,000 to create a community access television channel - again. Voters shot down the article last year, although a footnote this year will tell voters that about that amount of money is collected from the taxpayers each year for cable franchise fees. That money goes into the general fund. Many suspect that the article has failed in the past because the details of who would run it and how have not been decided.

Paquette said he isn't asking to receive the Manchester channels in lieu of Hooksett's own channel, but he just wants to get information out any way he can.

Dawn Stanhope, chairman of the Community Economic Development Corporation of Hooksett, said they had considered gathering signatures for a formal petition, but the desire to get things done quickly so Hooksett can possibly have airtime before the Town Meeting didn't allow for it.

Stanhope and Paquette gathered names, signatures and emails from those interested and rushed over to the town council to get the ball moving. Both are pleased that the first step is done, but aren't sure what obstacles may remain.