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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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Seats Still Available for 2020
Traditional Meeting Moderators Workshop!
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Beginner & Advanced Training Provided!
Topics include:
The Basic Law of Town, Village District and School District Meeting
Statutes governing the moderator's duties at town, village district and school district meetings, and elections will be discussed along with issues related to warrant articles, the operating budget, secret ballot voting, polling place management, and other town meeting issues. These topics will be addressed in two concurrent sessions tailored for new and experienced moderators. Ample time will be devoted to questions and answers.
Strategies for Running a Smooth Meeting
Moderators are faced with a challenging task: keeping meetings focused and fair to all participants, while effectively facilitating the flow of debate. This session will highlight suggested strategies for running respectful and efficient meetings, and polling places.
Sample Scenarios
A series of sample scenarios will help attendees prepare for a wide range of meeting challenges.
Online pre-registration required one week prior to each date.
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NHMA Webinar: Is Recycling Still Worthwhile In New Hampshire?
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Are you concerned about the economics of recycling in your community?
Are you wondering if you should continue to recycle or change your current practices?
And what does China have to do with all this?
Join Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association-the nation's oldest recycling cooperative-for an informative discussion about the economics of the current recycling markets. Reagan will cover the basics of what has happened and what the future portends for recycling, composting, and trash.
If you have input into or manage any part of a municipal budget-including town administrators, planners, selectboard members, and clerks-this session will prove valuable for you.
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NHMA Webinar: The Role of Municipalities in Asbestos Regulation Today!
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Asbestos may be found in insulation, flooring, ceilings, shingles, and siding materials. Health studies have linked inhalation exposure of asbestos fibers to serious health problems.
The presence of intact and undisturbed asbestos in buildings may not pose an immediate risk to people and the environment, however, inhalation exposure hazards are created when asbestos containing materials (ACM) are damaged and or improperly removed causing the release of asbestos fibers into the air.
Join Thomas Livingston, Asbestos Program Inspector with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), who will review the state and federal regulations that govern the handling and removal of ACM in New Hampshire
. Come learn details on asbestos abatement; how and when it must be performed, and by whom. This webinar will cover a range of other issues, including: the single family/owner occupant exemption; firefighter live fire training burns; renovation & demolition activities, hazards encountered at transfer stations and accident sites; and how to respond and who to contact when hazards are identified.
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NHMA Webinar: Retooling Your Zoning to Improve Housing Affordability and Supply
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
New Hampshire is facing a housing crisis that threatens to suppress economic growth in the state. Many cities and towns are now recognizing that restrictive zoning and/or outdated land-use regulations can drive up housing costs and constrict supply. This webinar will primarily focus on the "do's and don'ts" in your efforts to improve housing affordability and supply at the local level.
Join Legal Services Counsel Steve Buckley and Municipal Services Counsel Natch Greyes for an insightful review of the challenges faced by municipalities as they address some innovative solutions designed to help meet the housing needs of current and future residents. This webinar will also explore current "hot topics" including tiny homes, accessory dwelling units (ADU's), short-term rentals, workforce housing and housing density.
This complimentary webinar is open to all NHMA members and is of special interest to land-use boards and code enforcement personnel.
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Assessing Standards Board North Country Public Forum
5:30 pm, Thursday, January 30
White Mountain Regional High School, Whitefield
The Assessing Standards Board (ASB) will be holding a public forum at the White Mountain Regional High School, 127 Regional Road, Whitefield on
Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
The snow date, if needed, is
5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2020
at the same location.
The purpose of the forum is for the ASB to receive public input regarding assessment issues and to inform the public about positive and negative attributes that contribute to the overall valuation for property tax assessment purposes.
Selectboard members and other municipal officials involved in the assessment process are encouraged to attend this public forum.
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NHDES Proposes Amendment to Rule Regarding Alteration of Terrain Permits
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is proposing to amend administrative rule Env-Wq-1500 relative to the issuance of alteration of terrain permits. The proposed rule is in response to a recent Supreme Court decision (Case No. 2018-0617,
Appeal of Fournier) involving endangered or threatened species identified on the property by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
A copy of the proposed rule (Env-Wq 1503.19) is available
here. Questions may be directed to Ridge Mauck at 271-2303 or
[email protected]. A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled at
9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020 at the DES Office, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is
4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2020.
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Interim Administrative Rules Regarding Recreation Camps
Chapter 346 (HB 4) of the 2019 legislative session transferred responsibility for licensing youth recreation camps and youth skills camps from the N.H. Department of Environmental Services under RSA 485-A, to the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU) under RSA 170-E. These statutes are identical. However, since the new law became effective January 1, 2020, CCLU is adopting
interim administrative rules He-C 4003 and 4004 addressing a broad range of health and safety issues including buildings, equipment, water supply, bathing beaches and pools, fire safety, background checks, and more. Here is a copy of the
Interim Rulemaking Notice and He-C 4003 - 4004.
The opportunity for public comment will occur during the regular (rather than interim) rulemaking process. Question regarding these administrative rules may be addressed to Allyson Zinno at 271-9604 or
[email protected].
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Handy Link to State Agency Contact Information
The State of New Hampshire Telephone/Email Directory Search page allows immediate access to agencies and personnel working for the State of New Hampshire.
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NHDOS Proposes Amended Fire and Life Safety Rules
The New Hampshire Department of Safety (DOS) is proposing to readopt with amendments administrative rule Saf-C 6000 "Fire and Life Safety Rules", previously known as the "State Fire Code". These rules were last adopted in 2011 based on the 2009 editions of the NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. However, in recent years the legislature has adopted, in statute, the 2015 editions of those codes, superseding many sections of the rules enacted in 2011. The proposed rule currently under consideration deletes many sections of Saf-C 6000, and amends other sections such as those dealing with the State Fire Marshal's role and responsibilities, requirements to report fire incidents into the statewide reporting system, and requirements regarding certified private firefighting units. Local fire departments, local fire and code officials and private fire fighting units are listed as groups affected by the proposed rules.
A copy of the proposed rules is available by contacting David M. Hilts at 227-4032 or
[email protected]. A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled at
1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at the NH Department of Safety Second Floor Conference Room, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord. The deadline for submission of written comments is
Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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State Budget for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021
After an extended process, New Hampshire policymakers finalized a State Budget that increases investments in key areas, such as public education and health services, and includes significant changes to State appropriations and policies.
This
Issue Brief
compares the State Budget, approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in September 2019, to the predecessor budget passed during the 2017 Legislative Session, and explains important provisions and investments enacted for State Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.
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USDA Rural Development Grant Applications for the
Broadband Reconnect Program Due March 16, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it will fund another round of the Broadband Reconnect Program, an initiative that offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don't currently have sufficient access to broadband, defined by the law as 10 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. The USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. Applications for this new round of funding will be accepted beginning
January 31, 2020. All applications will be due no later than
March 16, 2020. To learn more visit the
USDA Broadband Reconnect Program website.
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NHDRA's Municipal Tax Rate Setting Portal - Webinar Series
Financial Report of the Budget Webinar
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
This is a free online webinar that will cover the process of entering and submitting your Financial Report of the Budget in the Municipal Tax Rate Setting Portal. There will be a brief presentation followed by a demonstration and time for questions.
This webinar will cover the preparation and submission of the actual revenues and expenditures in the MTRSP Portal.
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National Civic League Seeking Applications for the 2020 All-American City Award
Applications due February 19, 2020
The National Civic League is accepting applications for the 2020 All-America City Award, focused on celebrating examples of civic engagement practices that enhance health and well-being in local communities. We are looking for community-driven projects that demonstrate inclusive decision-making processes to enhance health and well-being for all, and particularly for populations currently experiencing poorer health outcomes.
With the National Civic League's Co-Title Sponsors, Kaiser Permanente and Well Being Trust, the 2020 Awards reflect the concept that good health for the entire community requires a focus on mental, physical, spiritual, cultural and economic well-being. Addressing disparities and ensuring a thriving environment for all requires work from diverse sectors and stakeholders in a community.
The All-America City Award (AAC) is given each year by NCL to 10 communities in recognition of their outstanding civic accomplishments. The award spurs communities to use innovated approaches to create stronger connections between residents and nonprofit and government leaders. The ACC Award celebrates those efforts and becomes a platform for sharing innovation, inspriration, and insight with other communities throughout the country.
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National League of Cities: Which Federal Programs Will be Funded? Tracking the FY 20 Congressional Budget
The National League of Cities (NLC's) Fiscal Year 2020 budget tracker tracks specific FY20 spending bills as they are introduced so you can find where the numbers stand on the programs that matter most to your city, town or village.
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Benefit Plans for the Public Sector
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OMNIA Partners is the largest and most experienced organization for public and private sector procurement.
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January 15th TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or town that was granted in 1721 but not incorporated until 1831. It takes its name in honor of a 17th century provincial governor. A state park covers half the town and it has been known as Suncook and Blodgett.
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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January 1st TRIVIA QUESTION:
Name the New Hampshire city or
town that was formed with land from two neighboring towns. It is one of the towns who attempted to join Vermont in 1781. It houses Shaws Corner. It is known for being an excellent geological area with quantities of quartz, gold, silver, copper and lead.
Correct Response: Town of Surry
January 1st Winner: Mary Walter, Finance Director, City of Claremont
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NewsLink. It's Ridiciously Helpful Information!
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New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
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