by Lonnie Brennan
SALISBURY – Salisbury Chamber of Commerce President Linda
Boragine opened the group’s 2026 Annual Dinner last week, welcoming members and guests, and listing a few of the chamber’s events this past year, including ribbon cutting ceremonies, a fall festival kickoff at the Discount House at Salisbury Beach, and the extensive America 250th Anniversary events held at both the beach as well as in the square.
Linda went on to detail a list of upcoming events, including the planting of a Christmas Tree at the Common, an upcoming tree lighting ceremony on December 1 in conjunction with Parks and Recreation, and the group’s holiday party which will be held on Dec. 10 at the Sea Glass.
After brief updates from the local senator, Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington summarized a number of initiatives the town has undertaken, and touched upon a number of projects which should be coming to completion or into focus in the upcoming months.
“Financially, the town – I have to say – is in very good shape,” Harrington noted. He praised the town’s staff for their work on the finances, including Finance Director Karen Snow who he said “does an excellent job.”
He went on to detail the town’s bond rating which he said ranks the town in the top third in the state, the certification of “free cash” (tax dollars received but not budgeted), and then gave a preview of what voters faced on Monday, regarding requests to expend approximately $870K of the free cash on various projects, and make substantial deposits into the long-term stabilization fund, as well as the capital equipment fund.
Harrington reviewed the expenditures with the sewer project which had caused significant angst, and pointed out how the project came in millions under initial projections, and, combined with a $2 million state grant, helped reduce the significant assessment upon rate payers.
Harrington spoke with enthusiasm about what he termed “a lot of development going on on our entrance corridors, and we’re very encouraged that we’re going to see new businesses coming into town, new tax revenue, etc.”
At the beach, the “big block” transformation project with 235 condos is expected to have its ground breaking taking place “sooner rather than later.”
He expressed angst with the North End Blvd. Project, but noted many improvements made there by the state, and cited that while the total reconstruction is delayed, much more should be coming forth in the new year.
Regarding schools, Triton appears ahead of schedule, but the Whittier project and its 11 communities remain at a deadlock regarding financing a new school, of which he continues to work to find a solution.
Harrington noted a few recent events including the 911 Memorial, the 250th Anniversary events, and the Trunk or Treat event at the beach that drew perhaps 1,000 kids.
“This year has been a great year of Salisbury community pride,” Harrington shared, “and I’m just proud to play a small role in this, along with my colleagues on the board of selectmen. We would not be able to do what we do here without the upfront leadership of the Salisbury board.”
Harrington went on to thank the Chamber and business community for all the support he gets “encouraging us to work hard every day to make Salisbury not only a great place to live, but to shop and do business as well.” ♦
