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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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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE!
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Deadline is Friday, November 9th!
2018 Registration Rates & Deadlines
Registration fees include all conference sessions, materials and meals.
You must be an NHMA member municipality (employee, elected or appointed official), or a member of an NHMA Affiliate Group to attend.
For employees and elected or appointed officials from NHMA member municipalities.
NON-MEMBER RATES:
For non-municipal officials who are members of an Affiliate Group and for officials from a non-member municipality.
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ENGAGE!
Mobile App: Conference Information at Your Fingertips!
Download the NHMA Annual Conference Mobile App with many new features!
Choose your sessions and have your schedule at your fingertips as well as post messages for other attendees!
New this year: Tracks are color coded so you can find your sessions at a glance!
Included on the App:
Schedule of events
Session/room locations
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Map of the hotel
Interactive exhibit hall map,
Rate sessions with our quick-poll feature
You can even connect with other Conference attendees.
Returning this year: Engage!
Our social-interaction game. Earn points for posting pictures, comments, and feedback! A prize will be awarded to the attendee with the highest point total at the end of the Conference.
The App is free and can be found in iTunes or Google Play by searching for "NHMA Conf 2018."
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!
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Mobile App Sponsor: Peter J. Reimer, LLC
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Exhibitor
Reception Sponsor:
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Support Donation:
Hilton DoubleTree Manchester Downtown Hotel
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Please Take
Municipal Shared Services Survey Below
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Interested in Sharing Services to Cut Costs?
Are You Already Working with Neighboring Towns to Provide Services Together?
Please take a moment to take this brief survey and tell us a bit about it.
We know some New Hampshire cities and towns are small and struggle with economies of scale in providing essential public services. Caroline Kendall is a UNH graduate student wrapping up her Masters of Public Administration with a capstone project on municipal shared services agreements.
The goal of the project is to quantify how many inter-municipal shared services agreements exist and gauge interest in finding ways to save money through sharing services with neighboring towns.
When survey findings are complete, we will get back to you with the results so we can further the conversation!
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Upcoming Webinars -
Training Without Leaving Your Office!
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NHMA Webinar POSTPONED: Municipal Trustees Training
The webinar,
Municipal Trustees Training, scheduled for Wednesday, November 7, 2018 has been postponed.
We will work with our presenter to reschedule this webinar to a future date. Thank you for your understanding.
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NHMA Webinar: How We Fund Public Services in New Hampshire
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
How are the programs and services provided by different levels of New Hampshire government funded?
What role does the state have in funding these programs and services?
Many people think of the property tax as a primary funding source, but there are a range of other revenue streams that we rely on to fund public services such as education, child care and protection, public safety and health, roads and bridges, and environmental programs. Public services at the state level are funded through
a collection of tax, fee, and enterprise revenue sources, with different degrees of variation due to economic cycles. Federal funds also support a broad range of programs and services at the state and local levels.
Join New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute's Policy Analyst Phil Sletten and NHMA's Government Finance Advisor Barbara Reid for this presentation, which will explain the primary revenue sources we rely on to fund public services in New Hampshire and some key policy decisions that have had effects on state and local revenues. It will also review the interplay with federal funds and the impact potential federal budget decisions could have on public services here in New Hampshire. There will be ample time for audience question and answer session.
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
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NHMA Webinar: Planning for the Unexpected
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Disasters can happen anytime. Whether its flooding, fire, tornado or any other natural disaster, being prepared is critical.
Join General Manager Tyler Gaudet and Sales Representative Luke Morris of
ServiceMaster by Gaudet who will discuss professional cleanup services, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, mold removal, as well as other restoration services.
Ask them about the FREE preventative facilities site visits for NHMA members!
Learn what sets
ServiceMaster by Gaudet apart and how they can save your city or town money by planning ahead!
You never know when the unexpected will strike, until it does!
This webinar is open to members of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
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NHDES WEBINAR: How Do Your Water Rates Compare?
Introducing the New Hampshire Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard Tool
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
* How do your rates stack up against other utilities and established benchmarks?
* Are you charging enough for your services?
* Are you charging more than your customers can afford?
* Are your conservation pricing signals strong or weak compared to others?
Get insights on these questions and more with our new tool, the New Hampshire Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard.
On November 13th, the NHDES invites you to tune in for a no-cost, 60-minute, interactive webinar to learn about the tool and information about benchmarks for sustainable rates and finances for your system. The Rates Dashboard features data from a 2018 survey conducted by the Environmental Finance Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, with assistance from Tighe & Bond, Inc.
Dashboard Features:
* Features unique to New Hampshire
* Four benchmarking dials (rates comparison, conservation pricing signal, affordability, and cost
* Rate increase simulation slider, with consumption ranging from
0-15,000 gallons
* Meaningful comparison groups based on system characteristics, customer demographics, and geography
* Edit Data or Add Utility function to use even if a system is not
in the survey
* New features unique to New Hampshire: price per gallon, averages in addition to medians for dials with comparison groups, and average annual bill amounts for the state
Who Should Attend: The Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard is a great tool to help utility managers, finance directors, council/board members and others evaluate their rates, benchmark rates with other utilities, and determine if utility rates are encouraging conservation and covering costs of operations and capital. It can also serve as a communications tool for explaining utility rates and finance concepts to a variety of audiences.
Presenters:
Glenn Barnes, Associate Director & Annalee Harkins, Data Specialist and Project Manager - Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Check Out Special
Legislative Bulletin!
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Be a part of the Resilient Nashua Initiative!
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Rivier University - Dion Center Reception Area
The City of Nashua cordially invites interested stakeholders to discuss community resilience, sustainability and initiatives being undertaken to create a more livable Nashua.
- Projected Climate Impacts to our Region from the Southern New Hampshire Climate Assessment
- Dr. Cameron Wake - Josephine A. Lamprey Professor of Climate and Sustainability - University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute
- Efforts the City of Keene has Taken to Reduce their Greenhouse Gases and Adapt to Future Hazards
- Rhett Lamb - Director of Planning - City of Keene, NH
- Overview of Nashua's Current and Future Resilience and Sustainability Initiatives
- Sarah Marchant - Director of Community Development - City of Nashua, NH
- Kim Lundgren - CEO - Kim Lundgren Associates
- How to Use the New Resilient Nashua Toolkit - Simple Tools and Templates to Prepare Your Business, Organization, or Department
- Making the Case for Resilience as a Competitive Edge
- Dr. Stephen Flynn - Founding Director - Northeastern University Global Resilience Institute
- Findings from the City's Risk Assessment and Path Forward with our Community Resilience Plan
- Justin Kates - Director of Emergency Management - City of Nashua, NH
Breakfast and lunch will be included.
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New Hampshire's State Transportation Innovation Council
Looking for Municipal Representative
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is seeking a municipal representative to serve on New Hampshire's State Transportation Innovation Council (NH STIC), which serves as a forum for initiating and overseeing the rapid deployment of innovation strategies and technologies to accelerate project delivery and to enhance project quality and effectiveness with the goal of making the innovations routine practice.
Typically NH STIC meets twice a year and members are expected to attend meetings and come prepared to those meetings. For more information about roles and responsibilities as outlined in the STIC Charter, click here.
If interested in being considered for this NHMA appointment, please contact us at 800.852.3358 or email us at [email protected].
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
Instream Flow Program Designated River Prioritization for Protected Instream Flow Study
Monday, November 26,
2018 - 5:30 pm
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), in compliance with RSA 483:9-c, II will hold a public hearing to receive comments on determining the next river on which to conduct a protected instream flow study. The hearing will be held jointly with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee.
When:
Monday, November 26, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Where: Conference Rooms 111-114 of the NHDES offices at 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH.
The comment period is open November 1, 2018 through December 7, 2018 at 4:00 pm. After the close of the comment period, NHDES will consider all public comments received before commencing the next protected instream flow study.
You may submit written comments even if you do not attend the public hearing.
Deadline for written comments: Monday, December 7, 2018 - 4:00 pm
Submit comments to:
Wayne Ives, Instream Flow Specialist
NH Dept. of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
Concord, NH 03302-0095
Phone #: (603) 271-3548
Fax #: (603) 271-7894
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New Hampshire's Clean Diesel Program Provides Rebates to Help You Upgrade Your Equipment and Vehicles
The New Hampshire's Clean Diesel Program provides rebates to help you upgrade your equipment and vehicles. NHDES will have funds available in October 2018 through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Diesel
Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program to help diesel equipment owners in New Hampshire to reduce emissions.
Timeframe for applications:
Round 2 of funding (if needed) applications accepted October 23rd through November 16th
Round 3 of funding (if needed) applications accepted November 17th through December 14th
How do I apply?
The project proposal form is short and simple. Just let NHDES know about your diesel emission reduction project and they will review it. All eligible applicants and projects will be considered and selection will be based upon certain criteria, including potential emissions reduction, where the vehicles/equipment will operate, impacts to nearby populations, and other factors including secondary benefits (e.g. impacts on water quality and societal benefit). If you have presented a viable project NHDES will contact you for additional information.
Things to know:
● Replacement projects are only eligible for funding if the equipment is being replaced in advance of a normal replacement schedule. Vehicles scheduled for replacement prior to three years from the start date of the project are not eligible. Applicants will be required to document that the project is an early replacement.
● Replaced vehicle and engines must be destroyed.
● Recipients must fund the project and request reimbursement. No project costs may be incurred prior to approval of the grant agreement by the Governor and Executive Council.
● Quarterly reports on operating details of the vehicle must be submitted to NHDES for a period of up to three years.
● Grant recipients must comply with EPA DERA program requirements - See:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-02/documents/fy17-state-program-guide-2017-02.pdf
For more information contact Elizabeth Strachan at the contact information below.
[email protected] or phone (603) 271-8330
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National Civic League Now Accepting Applications for 2019 All-America City Award
Applications Due March 5, 2019
The National Civic League (NCL) is accepting applications
for the 2019 All-America City Award, focused on celebrating examples of civic engagement practices that advance health equity in local communities. NCL is looking for communities that demonstrate inclusive decision-making processes to create better health for all, and particularly for populations currently experiencing poorer health outcomes.
The National Civic League views civic engagement as more than presenting information or having people respond to questionnaires (though both are important); instead, we promote efforts that seek to listen to, and learn from, residents in ongoing conversations and leverage those insights to shape the way programs are administered, designed and executed.
Started in 1949, the All-America City Award program has recognized 500 communities that excel in collaborating to address pressing problems in the community.
In New Hampshire, one community has won the All-America City Award.
Cities interested in applying for the All-America City Award should submit a letter of intent to apply by November 14th, which saves applicants $100 on the application fee. Please note: a letter of intent is not required to apply. The a
pplication can be downloaded here
and is due March 5, 2019.
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GASB Webinar on the "Preliminary Views" for Financial Reporting Model Improvements
Registration is now open
for the upcoming webinar
IN FOCUS: GASB Preliminary Views,
Financial Reporting Model Improvements,
which will take place on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, from 2:00 to 3:40 p.m. Participants in the live webinar, which is offered free of charge, will be eligible for up to 2 hours of continuing professional education (
CPE
) credit. Participants are encouraged to
preregister
. (CPE credit is
not
available for group viewing of the live broadcast.)
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued a Preliminary Views on September 28, 2018 proposing improvements to key components of the financial reporting model. In a separate, related document, the Board also proposed new concepts intended to guide the Board in developing standards on recognition in financial statements. The Preliminary Views, Financial Reporting Model Improvements, presents the Board's current thinking on targeted improvements to the financial reporting model-the blueprint for the annual audited financial report. The proposals are designed to improve the model's effectiveness in providing information essential to decision making and assessing a government's accountability. The webinar will provide information on the proposals in the Preliminary Views and will include an audience question-and-answer session.
Click here to access the GASB Project Page regarding the Re-Examination of the Financial Reporting Model.
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NHDRA Proposes Re-Adoption of Utility Property Tax Administrative Rules
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA) is proposing to readopt with amendments administrative Rule Rev 1400 which contains the rules governing the Utility Property Tax. It is being readopted in its entirety with amendments. Specifically, Rev 1402.01 is being readopted with amendments to specify utility property as defined in RSA 83-F:1, V; and Rev 1406.03 is being readopted with amendments to implement RSA 83-F:5, V, which requires the utility to file a form each year that details its actual financial operating performance. The proposed rule contains other amendments to assure clarity and consistency, as well as editorial changes.
A copy of the proposed rule is available on the
NHDRA website
. A hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2018 in the 2nd floor training room at the DRA Offices, Medical & Surgical Building, 109 Pleasant Street, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is Monday, November 19, 2018.
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CDFA Offers Application Workshop for CDBG Program
Deadline is November 23, 2018!
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) will be conducting workshops for organizations interested in applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds or learning more about the program. Deadline to register is Friday, November 23, 2018.
The workshop is encouraged for grant administrators, grantees and any projects that intend to apply for the following CDBG programs: 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:
If you have any questions, please contact Meena Gyawali, Director of Community Development, at 603-717-9112or [email protected].
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program awards funds to support economic development, housing and community-based initiatives that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons or households.
Eligible applicants for CDBG funds include most New Hampshire incorporated counties, cities, and towns. A nonprofit agency may also apply through its municipality or county as a sub-recipient of CDBG funds.
All applications must be received by CDFA through its online grants management system (https://nhcdfagrants.org). Additional information on the CDBG Program, including application information and resources, can be found by visiting http://nhcdfa.org/block-grants/cdbg-resources.
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ATTENTION: First Responders Have Support from Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team
Formed in 1992, the Granite State Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team was designed to meet the needs of first responders statewide in the event of a critical incident.
CISM is a multi-discipline approach to crisis or disaster intervention and serves firefighters, police, emergency medical and rescue, military and emergency room personnel.
The Granite State CISM Team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and may be contacted by calling the answering service, provided through St. Joseph Hospital and asking for the CISM person on call. Calls are anticipated to be answered within thirty minutes.
To schedule an information or educational session, call 603.881.9611.
To view the CISM brochure and learn more about this free service,
click here.
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NEIL AND LOUISE TILLOTSON FUND:
2019 Community Practitioners Network
The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund's Community Practitioners Network (CPN3) is an 18-month program designed to advance the resiliency of Coös County and surrounding communities in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The program seeks to achieve this goal by cultivating the leadership and networking skills of 15 talented local residents.
For a more in-depth information on the program visit:
Application Procedure and Deadline
All application materials, including supporting materials, must be submitted to Jean Clarke by email at
[email protected] by Monday,
November 12th, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by early January 2019.
For More Information
Logistical questions and contact for CPN alumni willing to answer questions about their experience in program can be directed to Jean Clarke at
[email protected]
or at (603) 263-8368.
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Winnipesaukee River Basin Administrative Rules
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is proposing to readopt with amendments administrative rule Env-Wq 1200 which deals with the parameters of the Winnipesaukee River Basin program. The existing rules include sewer use rules, requirements for discharges to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), charges and billing procedures, industrial pretreatment requirements, commercial discharge requirements, prohibited discharges, and provisions relating to enforcement and notice of violations. Most of the rules expired on October 9, 2018, and so all of Env-Wq 1200 is proposed to be readopted with minor amendments for clarity. NHDES intends to make substantive changes to Env-Wg 1200 but did not have time to complete the revisions prior to expiration of the existing rules. NHDES intends to continue to work on the revisions and will publish a draft final proposal if changes are made to incorporate revisions to clarify existing requirements for discharges to the publicly owned treatment works, clarify requirements applicable to septage haulers, align the rules with updated federal requirements including those in the WRBP's EPA-approved pretreatment program and current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, and update fees and billing procedures.
A copy of the proposed rules is available on the DES website. A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 16, 2018 in the auditorium at the DES Offices, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2018.
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New Hampshire Road Agents Association Contributes Major Donation to Public Works Memorial
The New Hampshire Road Agents Association, a professional association that supports municipal workers in the State of New Hampshire, has given a major financial boost to making the New Hampshire Memorial to Public Works Employees a reality by donating $5,000 towards the construction of this project.
"The Road Agents Association has been a supporter of this memorial for a long time," says Association President Rick Riendeau, Public Works Director in the Town of Milford. "Public Works is an emergency service."
Construction of the new memorial to remember those public works employees who have died while serving New Hampshire communities began in July 2018 and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019. Financial donations are still needed to complete the memorial, and ensure ongoing maintenance.
Photo: Pictured with the $5,000 "check" from the NH Road Agents Association are (left to right): Brian Barden, Dublin (retired); Bud Moynihan, Rye (retired); Paul Paridis, Rye; Rick Riendeau, Milford; David Rodrigue, NHDOT Director of Operations and Memorial Committee Chairman; Richard Lee, New London (retired); Cal Prussman, Newbury; and Bob Strout, North Hampton (retired).
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November 7th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire town or city that houses Bucks Corner and Cheever. It was granted three times due to inability to meet settlement agreement terms. Its first moderator was one of the first settlers of Odiorne Point, New Hampshire.
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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October 24th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire town or city that was first chartered in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts. According to Wikipedia, it was granted to soldiers returning form the war in Canada so it was named Sylvester-Canada in honor of Captain Joseph Sylvester of Scituate, Massachusetts, who was killed in 1690 during an attempt to capture Quebec.
After the boarder between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was fixed, the town fell on the New Hampshire side of the line. It was incorporated in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth and he named it after the title position of Charles Lennoz, a staunch advocate of colonial independence.
Correct Response: Town of Richmond
October 24th Winner: Jamie Pike, Town Administrator, Town of Francestown
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US Census Bureau Seeking Recruiting Assistants
The US Census Bureau is now accepting applications for Recruiting Assistants in
Keene, Manchester, Concord, Claremont, Lancaster, Littleton and Portsmouth
.
Recruiting Assistants will travel throughout geographic areas to visit with community-based organizations, attend promotional events and conduct other recruiting activities.
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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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Please Forward
NewsLink to Your Fellow Workers!
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New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
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