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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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Interested in Serving on the Lakes Management Advisory Committee?
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NHMA Seeking "Municipal Official of a Lakefront Community" to Volunteer for Service
Administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES),
RSA 483-A
establishes a Lakes Management Advisory Council (LMAC) composed of 19 members, including representatives from state agencies, municipalities, the conservation community, the fishing community, academia, and the marine, tourism, and real estate businesses, thirteen of which are appointed by the governor and council. NHMA's nomination requires this person be a "municipal official of a lakefront community" and the term of service is a three-year term.
RSA 483-A:6 outlines the responsibilities and membership terms of the LMAC.
The LMAC
meets throughout the year to discuss and advise the NHDES regarding the Lakes Management and Protection Program. The LMAC has created "The New Hampshire Guidelines for Coordinated Lake Management and Shoreland Protection Plans," the "Comprehensive Lake Inventory" and the "Lakes Management Criteria for New Hampshire State Agencies". The LMAC working in cooperation with the Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) has also developed a document titled "The Sustainability of New Hampshire's Surface Waters". The LMAC has taken positions on dozens of pieces of legislation and has studied numerous lake-related topics and issues. In addition, the LMAC is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on plans to dispose of state-owned property adjacent to or providing access to a lake. See NHDES website for more information regarding the LMAC.
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Look for Final
Legislative Bulletin in Late July!
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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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Building Great Places Through Small-Scale Manufacturing
Applications Due June 29th!
Is your city or town interested in using small-scale manufacturing as a strategy to create economic opportunity, boost the prospects of Main Street, and build great places? Supported by the Economic Development Administration, Smart Growth America (SGA) is offering free technical assistance designed to help communities incorporate small-scale manufacturing into their plans for revitalizing downtown or other close-in neighborhoods.
Small-scale manufacturers such as woodworkers, fabricators, hardware prototypers, microbrewers, and coffee roasters with regional and national distribution have emerged as a significant force in today's urban economy. This emerging sector can serve as a powerful tool in the effort to revitalize downtown and other core neighborhoods-while also creating jobs and connecting more residents to economic opportunity.
Find out more about this free technical assistance opportunity by registering for a brief informational webinar with SGA on
June 11th at 2 p.m. Eastern where you can learn about the process and ask any questions.
Last year, SGA helped four communities learn how to boost the economic prospects of downtown through small-scale manufacturing, and released a preliminary report about how others can learn from their experiences. This year they're offering assistance to six communities. You can find that report and all information about the application process at
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/manufacturing. Applications are due on
June 29th.
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Building Code Review Board Practices and Procedures
up for Re-adoption with Amendments
The Building Code Review Board is readopting with amendments various sections of administrative rule Ber 200. A copy of the proposed rule is available by contacting David Hilts at 227-4032 or
David.Hilts@dos.nh.gov
. A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for Friday, June 8, 2018 at 10:15 a.m. in the second floor conference room, Department of Safety, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is Friday, June 8, 2018 by the end of the public hearing.
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NHLBA Conducting Stakeholder Survey of NHDES Wetland Bureau Permitting Processes
Survey Open Until Wednesday, June 13th
The New Hampshire Office of Legislative Budget Assistant - Audit Division (NHLBA) is currently conducing a performance audit of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Wetland Bureau permitting processes.
NHLBA is interested in obtaining feedback from a variety of stakeholders including municipal officials. If you have had interactions with NHDES' Wetland Bureau, your feedback is very important. Below is a link to a 10 minute survey, which will remain open until noontime on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.
If you have any questions, please feel freee to contact NHLBA's April Han via phone at 603.271.2785 or via email at april.han@leg.state.nh.us.
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NHDRA Launches Property Tax Relief Program
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DMV Proposes Amendments to Initial and Vanity Plate Registration Rules
The Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is proposing to readopt with amendments administrative rules Saf-C 509 and Saf-C 514.61(d) dealing with initial and vanity plate registrations. Affected groups include municipal agents of the Department who register motor vehicles. A copy of the proposed rule is available by contacting David Hilts at 227-4032 or
Rules@dos.nh.gov
. A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for Friday, June 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the first floor auditorium anteroom at the Division of Motor Vehicles, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments by fax (603-271-3903) or email (
Rules@dos.nh.gov
) is Friday, June 29, 2018.
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The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) Releases 2018 Survey Findings
The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) recently released its 2018 survey findings and 10-year trends regarding state and local government workforce.
This new
research finds that state and local governments report that they continue to face steep challenges filling a wide array of positions. Policing, engineering, information technology, emergency dispatch and skilled trades top the list of positions hardest to fill. It also finds that more public employers are turning to "gig economy" workers to fill key positions. Among the top workforce priorities, 82 percent report staff recruitment and retention, with employee morale close behind at 80 percent. In 2012, those concerns were cited by 39 and 67 percent, respectively. A copy of the report "State and Local Government Workforce: 2018 Data and 10 Year Trends" can be downloaded from
here
. SLGE will hold a
webinar
on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at 1 PM ET to review the findings and respond to questions. Register for the webinar at no charge
here
.
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Click Image Above to Begin Webinar!
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Everything You Need to Know about the "Trust Fund" in 45 Minutes!
Renewed Investment in Local Water Supply Infrastructure & Source Protection
Join Johnna McKenna, and Paul Susca of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in a quick 45 minute webinar
(click image above) 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.
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NH Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) Program and NH Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) Program
Pre-Applications are due Friday, June 15th!
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is now accepting pre-applications for the 2018 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) for drinking water infrastructure projects.
Municipalities, community public water systems, and non-transient non-profit public water systems are eligible to apply for important water system infrastructure improvement projects such as replacing pipes (including lead service lines) and pump houses, rehabilitating tanks and treatment systems, or upgrading meters.
The Pre-application is available online at these links below:
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Coffee and Conversations: To Stay or to Go -- A Look at Why Young People Are Leaving New Hampshire, Why They're Staying, and Why it Matters
8:00 am - 9:30 am, Wednesday, June 13
UNH School of Law, Room 204, The Rich Room
Facing an array of demographic challenges -- including being the second oldest state in the country -- New Hampshire's future prospects will depend on how successful we are in attracting and retaining young people. In this conversation, Stay Work Play Executive Director Will Stewart will share the results of a recent survey looking at what factors young people take into consideration when making the decision to leave, or remain in, the Granite State.
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NHDES Drinking Water Rules Incorporate Federal Regulations
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is adopting a new section of administrative rule Env-Dw 101 to explicitly identify an edition date for all federal regulations incorporated into drinking water rules under subtitle Env-Dw. The proposed addition of Env-Dw 101.04 specifically incorporates the 07-01-17 edition of 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations).
Groups affected include owners and operators of public water systems subject to federal requirements. A copy of the proposed rule is
available here. A hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in room 110 at the DES Office, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 and should be emailed to
Holly.Green@des.nh.gov or fax'd to 603.271.0656.
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Federal Transit Adminstration (FTA) Announces Availability of $84 Million for Energy Efficient Vehicles
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently 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.
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NRRA Reminds Cities and Towns that Glass is Recyclable
The statement reads, "Glass is an extremely valuable recyclable material. Whether crushed to a 3/8-inch-minus specification for reuse under roads, sidewalks and parking lots, or melted and reused for other glass products, it most certainly is not trash and it can be recycled at a much lower cost per ton than either single-stream recycling or trash disposal. Glass is detrimental for both incinerators and single-stream processing plants and its disposal as waste will only accelerate the loss of landfill capacity. The recent international recycling market upheaval has put a tremendous strain on municipal recycling budgets and programs. NRRA recognizes that cities and towns are in a tough spot with no easy answers. They are facing rapidly rising recycling costs unheard of only a year ago, and NRRA stands ready to help them recycle right."
Municipalities are encouraged to call 1-800-223-0150 for assistance with options other than disposal.
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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
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NLC Releases 2018 State of the Cities Report
The National League of Cities (NLC) released its 2018
State of the Cities this week
with city leaders and policy experts. The report shows that economic development, infrastructure, budgets, housing and public safety continue to top the list of agenda priorities for U.S. mayors, as well as revealing that opioids, broadband access and climate change have emerged as new and growing concerns.
Top 10 SOTC Issues in 2018
1.
Economic development 58%
2.
Infrastructure 56%
3.
Budgets and Management 49%
4.
Housing 39%
5.
Public Safety 36%
6.
Health and Human Services 34%
7.
Education 28%
8.
Energy and the Environment 25%
9.
Government Data and Technology 14%
10.
Demographics 12%
While the major topics in SOTC speeches have remained relatively consistent for the past five years, subtopics in this year's report revealed several new trends. Mounting concern over broadband access was expressed in 14 percent of SOTC addresses, and 11 percent of mayors highlighted the need for cities to address the opioid epidemic.
Strained partnerships with state and federal governments was another theme of many SOTC addresses this year. As a subtopic within budgets and management, intergovernmental relations increased to the number three issue for mayors in 2018 due to concerns over broad policy conflicts between state, federal, and local government, as well as specific concerns on tax and revenue tensions.
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New in 2018, NewsLink will periodically feature a segment that highlights recognition of our members (and any other good news that deserve notice) in a new segment called
"Members in the News."
So please send your any recognitions, awards, distinctions or any news worthy items to us at
newslink@nhmunicipal.org
. The emphasis is on good news and/or stories of how municipal professionals are transforming the way we serve our residents every day.
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Congratulations to the City of Nashua for recently becoming a member of the National League of Cities (NLC).
Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.
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June 6th TRIVIA QUESTION:
According to its website, name the New Hampshire city or town that was originally chartered in 1762 and named Preston, after Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston of Scotland. Settlers failed to meet the terms of the original grant, so the plantation was transferred in 1770 to grantees including Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet, after which it was named Cockburn Town, incorporated in 1797. It's current name was changed by Governor John Langdon in 1811 in the lead-up to the War of 1812.
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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May 23rd TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town that has been called "Number 3", "Great Falls", Lunenburg" and Bellowstown." The first bridge across the Connecticut River, an engineering feat in its day, was built in 1785, and is regarded as one of the most famous early spans in the United States.
Correct Response: Town of Walpole
May 23rd Winner: Laurie C. May, Finance Director, Town of Rindge
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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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Yes,
NewsLInk is a Free Member Service!
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New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
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