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NewsLink
is a bi-weekly newsletter of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Its purpose is to keep you up-to-date on the latest information
of interest to municipal officials.
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Does Your City or Town Have a Need for a Legislative Remedy?
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If So, Policy Proposals Due by April 20
Every NHMA legislative policy begins with a proposal submitted by a local official, board, or committee. If there is a law affecting municipal government that you think needs to be fixed, or if you have an idea for how the functions of local government might be improved through legislation, this is your opportunity to make a change. A legislative policy form
that can be used to submit a proposal for consideration is available here.
The deadline for submitting proposals is April 20
, although earlier submission is encouraged. Please follow the instructions on the form for submitting your proposal.
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Property Taxes in the News!
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NHMA
continually connects actions under the gold dome in Concord with property tax impacts back home. It's refreshing to see that Gary Rayno, with a three-decade career closely covering State House activities, also sees that connection.
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NewsLink Now Available on NHMA's Website
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That's Right,
NewsLink is
Now on NHMA's Website
Although many members receive our bi-weekly electronic newsletter, NewsLink,
directly via our communications provider, Constant Contact, some members have asked us whether or not this newsletter was available online somewhere on our website. Now it is. If interested, please go
www.nhmunicipal.org
and go to the Resources tab, then hit
NewsLink
in the side table of contents, and you will be brought to the most recent issue of
NewsLink
. We are glad to get this newsletter out to as many municipal officials as possible, so please feel free to share NewsLink in this fashion.
Thank you.
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March 11-17, 2018 is Sunshine Week
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March 11-17 is Sunshine Week, America's Annual Celebration of Government Transparency
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On July 4, 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first federal sunshine law in the United States. The text of the bill stated, "a democracy works best when people have all the information that the security of the nation will permit."
For New Hampshire cities and towns to comply with both federal (FOIA) and state (RTK) sunshine laws, NHMA has a new publication,
A Guide to Open Goverment: New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law" to ensure compliance with RSA Chapter 91-A.
To order your office copy today,
go here.
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A Closer Look at First Responders and the Opioid Crisis
The International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) has created an Opioid Litigation Work Group to try to keep municipal attorneys abreast of what is happening with opioid litigation and other efforts to address the opioid crisis. In a recent email, IMLA recommended the 39 minute documentary
Heroin(e)
- an Oscar-nominated documentary about the heroic efforts of the public servants of Huntington, West Virginia, including some remarkable women-a Fire Chief and a Drug Court Judge. This documentary is
a ground-level look at the battle being fought by municipalities to turn back the overdose crisis in West Virginia (which is of similar scale to New Hampshire's problem). NHMA includes this link to the film because it "should leave you intensely proud of the people you work with in local government." This documentary will give you some insight into the every-day experiences of New Hampshire's first responders who deal with this issue.
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS
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Stranger Streets: A New Hard Road to Travel Workshop
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, April 27, 2018
If a Class VI road is washed out, can the town really do nothing?
Can public works cut trees on a scenic road?
Do there really need to be summer cottages on a "highway to summer cottages"?
Join NHMA Attorneys Stephen Buckley and Margaret Byrnes for the answers to these questions ----and many more! The attorneys will discuss the
"stranger" side of municipal road law, including bridges, municipal trails, sidewalk maintenance, scenic roads, highways to summer cottages, and winter roads. Ample time will also be spent on Class VI and private roads, including what municipalities-and residents-can and cannot do on these roads.
Registration and continental breakfast start at 8:30 a.m.
Workshop registration: $60.00. Book not included in workshop. If you would like to purchase the 2015 publication, please visit
NHMA's online shop.
Pre-registration is required one week prior to the workshop.
This workshop is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
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2018 Local Officials Workshops
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
(
Registration at 8:30 am)
Free workshops for seasoned and new municipal officials and employees of NHMA member municipalities.
Presented by NHMA's Legal Services attorneys, these workshops provide municipal officials with tools and information to effectively serve their communities. Topics will include the Right-to-Know Law, ethics and conflicts, town governance, municipal roads, and more. Ample time allowed for questions, answers, and discussion.
DATES AND LOCATIONS
Continental breakfast will be provided. Lunch is on your own and time will be provided for attendees to get lunch.
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Sponsored by:
Benefits for the Public Sector
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NHMA Webinar: Legislative Half-time
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
It's half-time and time for teams to swap ends of the field of play.
Join Government Affairs Counsel Cordell Johnston and Government Finance Advisor Barbara Reid for a look at the status of legislation affecting municipalities after "Crossover." Crossover is the date by which a bill must pass either the House or the Senate in order to "cross over" to the other chamber for consideration.
This webinar will discuss the current status of bills at the State House, and offer a postmortem on a few that have been killed. The discussion will include, among others, assessing issues, water quality standards, the Right-to-Know Law, the retirement system, planning and zoning issues, election law matters, and of course, postponement of town meeting.
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
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Your #1 Source for Legislative Updates
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Help Celebrate New Hampshire Energy Week
Series of Events During Week of March 12 - 15, 2018
Join statewide energy stakeholders, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association, for a series of events featuring the latest conversations on NH's Energy Future.
March 14th will feature an Energy Roundtable in Dover, and Governor Sununu has been invited to the NH Energy Breakfast on March 15th in Concord! Stick around for the Awards Ceremony and Reception on the evening of March 15th, at which time businesses, municipalities, and legislators leading the way for New Hampshire's energy future will be honored. Learn more about Energy Week and
register here
.
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Trust Fund/State Revolving Loan Fund Workshops
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
NHDES Offices, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) will be hosting a Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGWTF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) Workshop on April 18th at NHDES offices on 29 Hazen Drive in Concord.
Cost is free! Space is limited so register early.
Time & How To Register:
Construction Projects Session
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.) On-line:
Non-Construction Projects Session
Who Should Attend? Drinking water utility managers, public works directors, city and town managers, commissioners, selectmen, community/financial decision makers, consultants/engineers, water system operators, land trusts, conservation commissions, municipal and regional planners, and others interested in drinking water infrastructure, source water protection, and/or land conservation projects. Registration Deadline: April 9, 2018 (Space is limited so register early)
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2018 Labor Law Training Seminar Schedule
All programs are 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Date
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Location
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March 21, 2018
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March 22, 2018
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March 27, 2018
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March 29, 2018
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Fratello's Ballroom
155 Dow Street
Manchester, NH 03101
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April 3, 2018
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April 5, 2018
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April 10, 2018
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April 12, 2018
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April 17, 2018
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80 Country Club Lane
Greenland, NH 03840
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April 19, 2018
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April 24, 2018
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April 25, 2018
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11 Whitehall Road
Rochester, NH 03867
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April 26, 2018
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Keene Ice, Blastos Room
380 Marlboro Street
Keene, NH 03431
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May 1, 2018
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Northland Restaurant and Dairy Bar
1826 Riverside Drive (Route 16)
Berlin, NH 03570
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May 3, 2018
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Zip's Pub & Grill
1 Skimobile Road
North Conway, NH 03860
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May 10, 2018
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4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Meredith Community Center,
One Circle Drive, Meredith
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions, and Belknap County Conservation District are hosting an information program funded in part by the New England Forest and Rivers Fund. Speakers will cover topics including:
* How streams and roads interact with transportation and ecosystem services.
* Aquatic Resources Mitigation Fund and other resources available & how to use them.
* State Stream Crossing Initiative stream assessments and culvert replacement.
* Examples of successful flood resiliency and stream restoration projects.
Who Should Attend?: Conservation Commissions, road agents, town engineers, Regional Planning Commissions, non-profit groups, land trusts, lake and homeowner associations, interested public and elected officials, and consultants interested in stream restoration, flood resiliency and infrastructure improvements.
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Coös County Energy Efficiency Workshop
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
AMC Highlands Center, Crawford Notch
The workshop is designed to be a thoughtful, productive, "roll-up-your-sleeves" event with lots of opportunity for interaction, discussion, and brainstorming among participants. During the workshop, participants will:
- Learn the results of a Coös County study that determined the portion of household income spent on energy in order to assess the energy burden of low to moderate income residents in the region.
- Share new information on the amount of money estimated to be spent on energy in Coös County, and the impacts of those expenditures on the local economy.
- Hear from utility, weatherization, and energy efficiency financing providers on current offerings and the demand for those offerings in the region.
- Explore what is - and is not - working well and where there are gaps in demand for services or in the ability to meet the demand.
- Brainstorm opportunities for addressing the gaps through local action and initiative.
The workshop is being offered free of charge. Check out the
tentative agenda here. A complimentary lunch and snacks will be provided. Space is limited. Please register today by emailing Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) Kate Cahalane at
kcahalane@veic.org. The final agenda and directions will be sent via email one week before the event.
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NHDES Solid Waste Operator
Training and Certification
Program
North Country Solid Waste Operator Training Event
Thursday, April 19
Town & Country Inn and Resort, Shelburne, NH
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) will be offering a Solid Waste Operator Basic Training workshop on April 19th at the Town & Country Inn and Resort in Shelburne.
One morning class will be held for
NEW
Solid Waste Operators who have yet to be certified and another workshop will be held at the same location on the evening of April 19.
F
or more information on these classes and to register, please contact Tara Mae Albert, SWOT Coordinator at
Tara.Albert@des.nh.gov
or (603) 271-3713.
For more information about the NHDES Solid Waste Operator Program, go here:
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Employment Security Proposes Amendments to Various Rules
The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security (NHDES) is proposing to readopt with amendments a variety of administrative rules including Emp 303, 402, 405, and 500 dealing with records and reports, payments and electronic communications, and claimant requirements. Copies of the proposed rules are available by contacting Marie-Helene Bailinson at 228-4072 or
Marie-Helene.Bailinson@nhes.nh.gov.
Public hearings on the proposed rules are scheduled for
Friday, March 23, 2018 at the NHDES Office, Tobey Building, 45 South Fruit Street, Concord at the following times:
Emp 303 - 9:00 a.m.
Emp 402 and 405 - 10:00 a.m.
Emp 500 - 11:00 a.m.
The deadline for submission of written comments is
Monday, April 2, 2018.
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CDFA Proposes Rules for Community Development Block Grants
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) is proposing to adopt administrative rule CDFA 300 dealing with the applications process, criteria and procedures for evaluating applications, and administrative procedures regarding community development block grants. An "Application and Program Guide" is included as an appendix to the proposed rules and is intended to provide a user friendly guide to apply for these federal block grants.
Copies of the proposed rule are available by contacting Meena Gyawali at 717-9112 or
mgyawali@gmail.com
.
A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the CDFA Office, 14 Dixon Ave, Suite 102, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is 4:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, April 11, 2018.
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NHDRA Offers Refresher Courses for Municipal Tax Rate Setting
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA) will be offering
Budget Drafting Refresher Training
courses in both webinar and classroom format.
These sessions cover the municipal budget drafting process (MS-636/MS-737, MS-26/MS-27, and MS-6C). These following courses will be held:
Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (Webinar)
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (Webinar)
The NHDRA is also offering
County Budget Drafting Training.
This session covers the budget drafting process specifically for counties (MS-46).
If interested in either of these training programs, please click here for
Registration Page.
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Join NHDOT for New Hampshire Freight Summit
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Thursday, March 22, 2018
Claremont Savings Bank - Community Room,
145 Broad Street, Claremont
New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is currently developing a Statewide Freight Plan. This strategic planning document will define a short and long-term vision for the freight system in New Hampshire. The Statewide Freight Plan will be multi-modal; including air, pipeline, rail, truck and maritime transport. For more information about this planning process, please visit the project website at
www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/planning/freight-plan/
.
This two-hour discussion will provide both public-sector and private-sector professionals, with an interest in the future of freight movement in New Hampshire, an opportunity to hear experts discuss key issues affecting the state's freight networks. Topics will include:
- New Hampshire Freight Plan Overview
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) General Updates
- New Hampshire Port Updates
- Autonomous Trucks and Connected Trucking
Please share this email and
event flyer with others who you think will be interested in attending the Freight Summit. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register Online Now!
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CDFA Hosting 2018 Application Workshops
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) will be conducting workshops for organizations interested in applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in 2018 or learning more about the program.
The workshop is encouraged for grant administrators, grantees and any projects that intend to apply for the following programs in 2018: Housing, Public Facilities, Economic Development, Emergency or Feasibility.
Interested applicants should register for only one of the following events as space is limited and the same content will be covered at each workshop:
CONCORD
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Deadline to register for Concord workshop is
Friday, March 23, 2018.
LITTLETON
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Mt. Eustis Commons - REGISTER HERE
Deadline to register for Littleton workshop is
Friday, May 18, 2018
.
If you have any questions, please contact Meena Gyawali, Director of Community Development, at 603-226-2170 or
mgyawali@nhcdfa.org.
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Plan NH to Host Unpacking the International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
8;30 am - 4:00 pm., Thursday, April 5
Massabesic Audubon Center 26 Audubon Way, Auburn
Renovating existing buildings can be a challenge, and meeting adopted codes is a huge part of it. Whether small alterations to a single tenant space or a complete gut, it is often hard to be sure how much of the work should comply with the provisions of current building codes, and how the IEBC interfaces in the compliance of the project.
This workshop will give an overview of the IEBC, the three compliance methods from which to choose when doing the work, and point out what some see as the more "useful" parts of it. The sessions will be led by Rick Wood, FLS Risk Services LLC - Code and Training Consultation, past Vice Chairman of the IEBC Code Development Committee; and Eric Kronberg, a "zoning whisperer" of Kronberg Wall in Atlanta.
Target audiences include municipal building inspectors, architects, builders, owners, historic preservationists, municipal building review committees. For more information, contact Robin BeBlanc at 603.452.7526 or at
r_leblanc@plannh.org.
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National Service Recognition Day - April 3rd
Each year, thousands of elected officials across the country take time to honor national service members through social media, official proclamations, thank-you videos, appreciation events, and more. Last year was a great success-over 4,520 local elected officials participated, including bipartisan mayors of large and small cities alike.
Please help spread the message to municipal leaders who might want to participate. It's a great opportunity for local officials to highlight local initiatives, engage their constituents, and thank those who serve.
What Can You Do?
If you have any questions, please contact David Hughes, Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. David can be reached by email at
dhughes@cns.gov or by phone at 202.606.6867.
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NESGFOA to Host its 26th Annual Spring Training Seminar
April 5-6, 2018
Conference Center, Waltham Woods
Waltham, Massachusetts
The New England States Government Finance Officers Association (NESGFOA) is holding it's 26th annual spring training seminar on April 5-6, 2018 at the Conference Center at Waltham Woods, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Topics include :
Overcoming Management Deficiencies & Improving Internal Controls (Burlington, VT Case Study); Economic Update; A Case for New Pension Accounting Standards; Wellness, Nutrition & Stress Management Skills; Impact of Tax Reform on Local Governments; Developing Leadership Skills & Boosting Employee Morale;
Legislative Update from National GFOA Federal Liaison.
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April 30 - May 2, 2018
Radisson Hotel, Manchester, New Hampshire
Antioch University and NOAA are hosting their 3rd Biennial Eastern Climate Preparedness Conference from April 30 - May 2 at The Radisson Hotel in Manchester.
This capacity-building program is geared towards small government planners and decision-makers striving to create healthy resilient communities that are better able to handle severe weather and climate impacts. Through sessions, speakers and workshops, this conference guides local government planners on how to make climate resilience an aspect of their daily operations.
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Become a first-time member of the New Hampshire Government Finance Officers Association (NHGFOA) and receive $100 off this year's Annual Conference Registration!
Become a first time member of the NHGFOA and join your colleagues in promoting the use of appropriate financial management and accounting standards in our state and receive $100 off this year's conference registration. The 33rd annual meeting is on May 3-4, 2018 at the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway, NH. The NHGFOA annual membership fee is $35. The membership application and conference details can be found on our website at
www.nhgfoa.org. Once you submit your application for membership, register for the conference and use member code NMEMBER18 at checkout. If you have any questions, please contact Jill McNeil at
jmcneil@nhmbb.com
or dial 603-271-2595.
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Plan NH's Municipal Technical Assistant (MTAG) Grant Applications Due June 1st
New Hampshire's population is changing rapidly, and housing inventory in most communities cannot meet future or even current demand - in part, due to outdated local ordinances and regulations.
Plan NH's MTAG Program provides funding, through a competitive application process, to communities who wish to expand options for places to live through zoning regulations.
Funds are used to hire a qualified consultant to assist with identifying a community's housing needs, reviewing current regulations, and then re-writing or creating new regulations to address those needs.
A 25% cash match is required, as is community engagement in the process.
Plan NH, in partnership with New Hampshire Housing, is pleased to announce a fourth round for applications to this program. Applications are
due June 1, 2018.
For more information about the program, and application materials, use
this link.
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March 14th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town that has been known as "Sligo" and "Great Falls." A notable inhabitant includes Fred H. Brown, mayor, governor and United States senator. It was first incorporated as a town in 1754.
Please send your response to
newslink@nhmunicipal.org
. A winner will be recognized in the next
NewsLink
issue and be eligible for a grand prize of no particular value whatsoever at the end of the year.
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February 28th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town that was originally knows as "Great Meadows." One of Paul Revere's bells hangs in the Park Hill meetinghouse. First settlers came up the Connecticut River in canoes from Northfield, Massachusetts in 1741.
Correct Response: Town of Westmoreland
February 28th Winner: Cindy Frazer, Administrative Assistant, Town of Monroe
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Granite State Police Career Consulting, LLC.
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Benefit Plans for the Public Sector
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Before you act on an employment or labor issue,
call the
Drummond Woodsum
EMPLOYMENT LAW HOTLINE
The Employment Law Hotline is an NHMA Member Benefit
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Don't Wait: Subscribe to
NewsLink Today!
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New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
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