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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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FREE Local Officials Workshops in May & June
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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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After Elections....Update Your Official Rosters!
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Please Update Your Official Rosters and Member Contact Information
Time to Update Changes in Municipal Positions...
And
Please Inform Staff When You're All Done!
After each town or city election, we ask our members to identify and update all newly-elected and reelected officials from your city or town. By this action, you help us to maintain the
2018-2019 New Hampshire Municipal Officials Directory
as a valuable member resource.
NHMA relies on this vital contact information to reach municipal officials and staff with timely information regarding available training, programs and services as well as important legal and legislative updates throughout the year. This publication is also used extensively as a valuable reference tool by city, town, school and other local government officials.
Please log onto
www.nhmunicipal.org
and go to Member Directory Updates in the Member Toolbox. If you don't know who in your city or town has access to do this, please contact Judy Pearson at
[email protected]
or 230.3355. This is also the time to update who receives a complimentary
Town and City
magazine subscription as part of your membership with us.
Please update this information by May 31.
Thank you in advance for all your help!
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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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NHMA/NHDES Webinar:
The Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund: Renewed Investment in Local and Regional Water Supply Infrastructure and Source Protection
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund represents a major, long-term infusion of funds for water supply infrastructure and source water protection that was created in 2016 by SB 380, using $276 million of MtBE trial judgment funds. The Trust Fund, established under RSA 485-F, is intended to provide for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the drinking water and groundwater resources of the state. As part of the establishment of the Trust Fund, the legislature formed the Drinking Water and Groundwater Advisory Commission. The Commission administers the Trust Fund with assistance provided by the MtBE Remediation Bureau and Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau of NHDES and awards loan funds, grants and matching funds to drinking water projects in a manner consistent with RSA 485-F.
Join Assistant Commissioner, Clark Freise, Johnna McKenna, and Paul Susca of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services as they explain how municipalities and water suppliers can access this new funding opportunity for drinking water infrastructure projects and for land conservation and source water protection.
The webinar will explain how this new drinking water financial assistance program will work and how it will integrate with the existing Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) program for drinking water infrastructure/construction type projects including how to apply to the 2018 DWGTF and DWSRF round. With respect to construction, topics will include eligible applicants, eligible projects, evaluation criteria, timelines and the process for applying.
This webinar is open to NHMA member and is of interest to all municipal officials and employees.
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NHMA/NHMLA Workshop: The First Amendment: Elections, Signs and More
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Recent events have caused all those involved in local government to focus on the conduct and control of local elections, particularly as to the authority for postponing them. That controversy, though, is but a part of an array of concerns that have arisen over the duties and authority of local government with respect to elections. This workshop will tackle some of the more difficult issues related to local elections, including political advertising, electioneering, the use of governmental websites, governmental speech, and control of areas within or near the polling place. This workshop is intended both for municipal officials and municipal attorneys.
Workshop presenters include James Kennedy, the City Solicitor for the City of Concord, New Hampshire; Gilles Bissonnette, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire; and Walter Mitchell of Mitchell Municipal Group of Laconia. Stephen C. Buckley, NHMA Legal Services Counsel, and Margaret Byrnes, NHMA Staff Attorney, will moderate the workshop.
Registration Fees:
NHMA Member (Municipal Officials): $40.00
NHMLA Member (Attorneys): $50.00
Non-Member (Attorneys): $75.00
Pre-registration is required one week prior to the workshop. If you register and do not attend and do not cancel with in 48 hour prior, you will still be charged the cost of the workshop to cover the cost of the materials and administrative processing fees. Personal and municipal checks will be accepted at the door.
Notice for Attorneys:
NHMA and NHMLA believe this course meets the requirements of NH Supreme Court Rule 53 and may qualify for 180 minutes toward the annual NHMCLE requirement. Actual attendance minutes must be determined and reported by attendees. Certificates of attendance will be provided to attorneys intending to report this seminar for NHMCLE credits.
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the New Hampshire Municipal Lawyers Association.
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NHMA Webinar: Controlling Junk: Junkyard Enforcement 101
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Since 1965, all municipalities in New Hampshire have had the responsibility to regulate junkyards at the local level. The term "junk," however, is not well defined and means different things to different people. The issue is complex, and municipalities must deal with accumulations as small as an individual property owner with unsightly piles in the yard to large commercial junkyard operations that are many acres in size.
Municipal officials, specifically code enforcement officers, fire chiefs, health inspectors, and building inspectors, are responsible for the regulation and enforcement of junk and junkyards. "Junk" regulations are intended to preserve public safety by preventing a fire; to protect public health by preventing the spread of disease; or to serve the general welfare by preventing harm to the environment.
Join NHMA's
Staff Attorney Margaret Byrnes and
Attorney Matt Serge of
Drummond Woodsum in Manchester who will discuss the approaches available to local officials to prevent the creation of nuisances, enforce licensing requirements, and otherwise take effective enforcement action to protect public health and safety.
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
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NHMA Workshop: A Guide to Effective Enforcement: Investigating and Enforcing Code and Land Use Violations
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, June 1, 2018
Cost is $90, includes workshop and new publication,
A Guide to Effective Enforcement: Investigating and Enforcing Code and Land Use Violations.
Municipal officials, specifically code enforcement officers, fire chiefs, health inspectors, and building inspectors, are responsible for the enforcement of a variety of codes, regulations, and ordinances. These codes include the State Building Code; health and safety ordinances; and the municipality's respective zoning ordinance, site plan review regulations and subdivision regulations. In addition, municipal officials are responsible for ensuring compliance with the conditions of approval that accompany variances, special exceptions, conditional use permits, site plan approvals and subdivision approvals.
Effectively enforcing these various codes and regulations can pose a challenge to municipalities. Join Legal Services Counsel
Stephen Buckley, Staff Attorney
Margaret Byrnes and
Attorney Matt Serge of Drummond Woodsum for this half-day workshop which will provide municipal officials with practical guidance on how to navigate the nuanced procedures associated with code enforcement, as well as practical advice in pursuing an enforcement action against non-compliant property owners. Our legal experts will address some of the most difficult issues under the law, including junkyards, hoarding, dilapidated buildings and junkyards. There will be ample time for questions and answers on all aspects of the law.
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Attendees will also receive a new NHMA
/Drummond Woodsum publication
, A Guide to Effective Enforcement: Investigating and Enforcing Code and Land Use Violations.
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Read About It in the
Legislative Bulletin!
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By THE EXCHANGE from New Hampshire Public Radio
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Julia Griffin - Town Manager, Hanover.
Michael Joyal - City Manager, Dover.
Scott Myers - City Manager, Laconia.
Kevin Smith - Town Manager, Londonderry.
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2018 New Hampshire Air & Water Regulatory Conference
8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Thursday, May 31, 2018
The Manchester Downtown Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Manchester, NH
On May 31st, the Business and Industry Association and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, in partnership with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, will present a day-long conference dedicated to both air and water regulatory issues in New Hampshire. The conference will run from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm followed by a networking reception until 4:30 pm at The Manchester Downtown Hotel.
The 2018 New Hampshire Air & Water Regulatory Conference is ideal for consultants, municipal officials, attorneys, and environmental compliance officers. The conference will focus on key development challenges facing New Hampshire and the region and look at what stakeholders can expect the regulatory environment to look like in the future. The conference offers a unique opportunity to bring federal, state, and local officials together with business leaders to examine the key issues related to understanding and achieving regulatory requirements for air and water quality in the state.
The cost to attend is $125 per person for BIA members and NH Municipal Association members; and $150 per person for future BIA members. Registration fee includes breakfast, light refreshments, lunch and reception. Please contact Lora McMahon at 603-224-5388 x101 with any questions. Cancellations accepted up until May 24th, after that only substitutions allowed. Online pre-registration will close on May 30th at Noon.
For more information click here.
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Maximum Rates Proposed for Hazardous Materials Incident Responses
The New Hampshire
Department of Safety is adopting administrative rule Saf-C 5200 which outlines the methodology to create and set maximum allowable rates used by regional hazardous materials teams in recouping their costs for responding to hazardous materials incidents. A copy of the proposed rule is available by contacting Keith Lohmann at 603-223-3852 or [email protected].
A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the 2nd floor conference room at the Department of Safety, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is noon on Friday, May 25, 2018.
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Federal Transit Adminstration (FTA) Announces Availability of $84 Million for Energy Efficient Vehicles
Yesterday, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $84.45 million of FY2018 funds for the purchase or lease of low or no emission vehicles as well as related equipment or facilities. The main purpose of the Low-No Program is to support the transition of the nation's transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Eligible applicants are local governmental authorities, a designated recipient of FTA grants, states, and Indian Tribes. Proposals must be submitted electronically through
www.Grants.gov
website by June 18, 2018. A webinar for this opportunity will be held May 10, 2018 from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT.
Register here
for the webinar.
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NHRS Issues "Reporting Exceptions" Instructions
The New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) has developed a set of written instructions explaining how to clear some of the most common exceptions found during the monthly employer reporting process. Each month, employers are required to submit member wage and contribution information (data file) and corresponding member and employer contribution payments to NHRS. Once the data has been submitted, it may contain exceptions, or errors, that must be corrected. Data files must be submitted and error free (posted) by the 15th of the month to avoid penalty. Payments must be received by the 15th of the month to avoid penalty.
Several new exception reporting documents provide information on why the particular exception occurred, as well as step-by-step instructions on clearing common exceptions. To view these instructions, visit the
Employer Resources page of the NHRS website and scroll down to "File exceptions".
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USEPA Announces Availability of $5.5 Billion in Credit
Letter of Interest (LOI) Required by July 6, 2018
T
he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the availability of approximately $5.5 billion in credit that could finance over $11 billion in water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.
Prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA credit assistance must submit a letter of interest by
July 6, 2018.
Learn more in this year's
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2018 Labor Law Training Seminar Schedule
All programs are 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Date
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Location
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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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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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NHDES and
American Ground Water Trust
8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Thursday, May 17, 2018
Grappone Conference Center - Concord, New Hampshire
Clean drinking water is vital to public health and the potential for future economic development. Even very small quantities of contaminating substances in lakes, rivers, or aquifers can limit their use as sources of clean drinking water. Local land use policy, open space planning, and conservation tailored to protecting these resources promote public health and ensure a long-term supply of clean drinking water. Consequently, there are important roles for local officials to play in protecting currently operating public water systems as well as water resources that can serve as future sources of drinking water.
Each year, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) convenes a conference concerning how to protect local drinking water resources that is designed for local planners, conservation commissioners, water supply managers, and other local leaders. This conference has become the largest drinking water "source protection" event in New England and is the only statewide event focused solely on how to protect local sources of drinking water.
This year's conference will feature a total of 18 presentations on:
- PFAS and other emerging contaminants
- Update on NH's Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund
- Legislative updates involving drinking water
- Research from Dartmouth concerning health impacts associated with arsenic exposure
- Projects related to source water planning, land conservation, and community engagement
The conference fee is $65 and includes lunch and refreshments. Qualifies for 5.0 Technical Credit Hours toward the NH Water Works Operator Certification Program.
Registration questions? Contact Andrew Stone at AGWT:
[email protected] or 603-228-5444.
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Stormwater Management Conference
May 7-8, Sheraton Hotel, Portsmouth, NH
The first day is dedicated towards technological and design advances in stormwater management infrastructure, and strategies for building resilient stormwater networks around significant physical and financial constraints.
A special feature has been added to this year's conference targeting elected and appointed municipal leaders. This highly interactive workshop on
Tuesday, May 8 is all about moving communities from contemplation to implementation of their stormwater management plans.
A special rate of $80 for this half day workshop is intended to encourage local officials to attend.
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CommuteSmart Central NH invites you to participate in the third annual CommuteSmart Commuter Challenge! During the week of May 14th-18th log all of your smart commute trips taken in place of driving a single occupancy vehicle. Try walking, biking, transit, carpooling, or telecommuting!
Don't forget to log your trips!
Log in or sign up to log all of your smart commute trips taken between
May 14th and May 18th. You'll be able to compete with others around the region and be eligible to win prizes.
All trips must be logged by 11:59 PM on Monday, May 21st.
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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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Green Your Fleet!
Workshop
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Friday, June 1, 2018
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 1122 NH-106, Loudon, NH 03307
Calling all Fleet Managers, Fuel Providers, Municipalities, Planning Commissions and alternative fuel/advanced vehicle enthusiasts and advocates!
- Opening Remarks : NH State Senator David Watters
- Keynote Speaker: Jamie Page Deaton, Managing Editor of U.S. News & World Report's Best Cars rankings
- Alternative Fuel Fleets (e.g. CNG & Propane) & Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Panels with representation from Cummins, Revision Energy & ChargePoint
- Procurement Programs & Funding Opportunities with representation from NHDES, Westport Fuels and EPA Region 1
- Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Vehicles in Transportation with representation from Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and the U.S. Dot, Volpe Center
- Alternative Fuel (e.g. CNG & Propane) Fleet Modifications & Fuel Storage with representation from Stantec and Clean Fuels USA
- Telematics ... turning raw data into useful information with representation from NHDOT and SkyHawk
- NH Workforce Development with representation from C2 Alt Fuels
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The Missing Middle in Housing Options
8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Thursday, June 7
McLane Center at Concord Audubon
85 Silk Farm Road, Concord
Plan NH is pleased to announce its next workshop - this time addressing the "Missing Middle" of types of places to live.
"Missing Middle" is a range of multi-unit or clustered housing types compatible in scale with single-family homes, including duplexes, four-plexes, bungalow courts and more. Missing Middle Housing provides a solution to the mismatch between the available U.S. housing stock and shifting demographics combined with the growing demand for walkability.
In this full-day workshop, you will learn about Missing Middle designs and the challenges they address, and what kinds of zoning to consider to support it in your community. The afternoon session will give you an opportunity to apply what you have learned in real neighborhoods, deepening your knowledge and understanding.
As most of our New Hampshire communities face challenges in providing choices in places to live - choices in design, in location and in price-point - here is a new look at traditional designs that just might work in your town.
This workshop is for planners, architects, landscape architects, builders, real estate professionals, municipal leaders and anyone interested in the topic.
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NLC Focused on Infrastructure as Key Legislative Priority
The National League Cities is focusing on infrastructure as a key legislative priority this year because now is the time to rebuild and reimagine America's infrastructure. The nation's transportation network is a knot of congestion and disrepair, our Internet lags behind the rest of the world, and families drink from bottled water in the absence of safe tap water. All the while, federal partnership for infrastructure has faltered, allowing America to fall behind an ever-increasing demand.
That's why NLC launched our Rebuild With Us campaign- to tell the story of the current state of America's infrastructure. Cities and towns are leading in rebuilding America's infrastructure, but municipalities cannot address the infrastructure gap alone. We need congressional action.
INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK 2018 (MAY 14-21)
There is no better time than May 14-21 for you to tell your infrastructure story to your federal congressional delegation. NLC has developed two action guides to help you tell your infrastructure story.
With Infrastructure Week 2018 (May 14-21) on the horizon, now more than ever we need you to highlight your city's or town's greatest infrastructure needs and why a federal partnership on infrastructure is important to your municipality. Take the first step today by submitting an op-ed to your local newspaper or planning an infrastructure site visit in time for Infrastructure Week.
By highlighting successfully completed projects or places where fixes, modernization or where new investments are needed in your city, together we can make a difference in moving a federal infrastructure plan forward.
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April 25th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town
that houses Coffin Mill, Eastman Point, Elmwood Corners, Smith Colony, The Five Corners, The Plantation and The Willows? It was one of the four original New Hampshire townships chartered by the General Court of Massachusetts, which then held authority over the colony.
Please send your response to
[email protected]
. 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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April 11th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town which has been known as "New Concord" and "Camdem." It was the first town to be named after a famous president. A notable inhabitant was Sylvanus Thayer, known as "the Father of West Point."
Correct Response: Town of Washington
March 28h Winner: Kristina Ostman, Administrative Assistant to Town Manager, Hampton
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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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NewsLink is FREE, Subscribe Today!
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New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
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