Town and consultant engineers presented 60% design progress for the Pickpocket (Pickpocket Falls) Dam removal, reported a dense archaeological record that altered plans, described phased construction with a 6-inch-per-day drawdown protocol, and flagged permitting timing as the key schedule risk.

Public Works Director Steve Cronin told the advisory committee the Exeter River was one of three rivers nominated for the next round of DES in‑stream flow studies; comments have been submitted and the New Hampshire Rivers Management Advisory Committee met July 10 to review submissions.

The committee finalized logistics for a Plan New Hampshire design charrette on Aug. 7–8, set public session times, asked members to recruit volunteers and pledged outreach including flyers, a press release and website updates; members also discussed a community-driven rail-safety education push.

The Select Board voted unanimously to hire Wright‑Pierce for a desktop alternatives analysis up to $10,000 to clarify options for the Park Street Bridge, while residents urged the town to resolve ownership questions and consider pedestrian-only or grade‑crossing alternatives.

The foundation started after a 2011 student death in Exeter; founder Tara sought to provide free suicide-prevention education to Exeter High School and expanded the effort statewide, organizers said.

Speakers highlighted that suicide is the second leading cause of death for New Hampshire youth ages 10–24 and said the foundation's education and community 5K aim to reduce stigma and get trusted adults talking.

The Connor's Climb Foundation will hold its annual 5K on Sunday, Sept. 20 in Exeter to raise money for suicide-prevention education delivered to trusted adults in schools statewide; registration opens around 8–8:30 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m.

Public Works told the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee that CSO barrel cleaning proposals are pending, a clarifier replacement may need an additional ~$5,000 for manufacturer QC, and the Drinkwater Road groundwater well is expected to be online by early next year.

Chair Steven Jones opened the Pear Pointe Park stakeholders advisory committee kickoff; members approved the draft minutes, thanked volunteers for a publicity video and heard from KZLA about next steps for design, schedule and grant work.

Public Works Director Steve Cronin told the Select Board that Exeter’s current water system has limited margin on peak days and that pending infrastructure projects (Drinkwater Road well; Larry Lane replacement; surface water plant replacement) are needed before the town should commit major new demand. The board heard the presentation but took no formal vote.

The Train Station Committee approved a slate of low‑cost, community‑focused activities for Rail Safety Awareness Week (Sept. 21–27), including public pledges, school outreach, volunteer training with Operation Lifesaver and a platform presence coordinated with Amtrak police and rail carriers.

After reviewing proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the commission voted to draft and send a brief letter to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance opposing the changes; the motion passed with one abstention.

Planning staff moved the master-plan update from 2028 to 2027 ($90,000), flagged a placeholder for train-station design in 2028, and reviewed a competitive Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant proposal totaling about $16.1 million (80% grant, 20% local match ≈ $3.2M).

Staff reported completion of an initial lead service-line inventory and presented a staggered 10-year plan to identify roughly 2,200 unknown services; they described a Drinkwater Road groundwater source (estimated 400 gpm) expected online by June 2027 and previewed a surface-water treatment project estimated between $30 million and $50 million.

Town staff reported an estimated 2027 Highway Block Grant allocation of $325,564.99 to Exeter, comprised of $289,246.57 in regular aid and $36,318 from Senate Bill 367; payments are expected in four installments and subject to state revenue audit adjustments.

Town staff say Wright‑Pierce will document conditions and evaluate alternatives for the Park Street Bridge. Neighbors asked engineers to analyze options to shore up the bridge for pedestrian use or limited emergency access rather than full replacement; town staff will meet with NHDOT and SHPO as next steps.

Presenters gave a preliminary compensation estimate of about $4,250,000 for the proposed bridge/connection and said a congressional appropriation request of $2,000,000 would be sought; they said the project aligns with typical appropriation priorities.

A Plan New Hampshire design team presented a two-day charrette proposing a mixed-use station building, unified wayfinding, pedestrian improvements and zoning suggestions; presenters will deliver a formal report to town staff in 8–10 weeks.

Housing presenters recommended modest zoning tweaks to allow manufactured housing in rural zones, permit duplexes/triplexes in R2/R3, extend single-family conversion allowances and relax detached ADU size limits to produce more small, affordable units.

The Town of Exeter will close the Front/Linden/Pine intersection for construction of a roundabout beginning with mobilization Aug. 3; a detour starts Aug. 6 and the town aims to reopen the roadway Aug. 29.

The station committee announced a Plan New Hampshire charrette Aug. 7–8, including a public input session Aug. 7 at 3:00 p.m., to develop recommendations for amenities, wayfinding and multimodal connections to better integrate the train station with downtown Exeter.

A town history program tracing Exeter's river hub, railroad era, and the 1967 end of passenger service announced a public design session at Lincoln Street School on Friday, August 7 for residents to weigh in on plans for a future train station.