May 21, 2008

FROM: JOHN D. SHEA, Executive Councilor

NEWS RELEASE
FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO

May 21, 2008 Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting, May 21, 2008, that might be of interest to District Two constituents.

The next scheduled Governor and Council meeting will be held in The State House Concord, New Hampshire on June 4, 2008.

GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY

Authorized to accept and expend from seminar attendees an amount not to exceed $800 to cover the cost of registration fees and lunch for a Legislative Process Training Seminar to educate persons with disabilities and the general public on the Legislative process in the State of NH on May 30, 2008. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008. 100% Other Fundss

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Authorized a Working Capital Warrant in the amount of $470,000,000 to cover expenditures for the Month of June 2008. (2) Further Authorized a Working Capital Warrant reporting expenditures of $338,127,681.28 for the Month of April and recommends the balance of $71,872,318.72 be lapsed.

Authorized Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction to amend a contract with Eckhardt & Johnson Inc., Manchester, NH (previously approved by G&C on 9-5-07, item #13), for the Sutton Rest Area HVAC renovations, by increasing the amount by $38,016 from $397,431 to $435,447. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008. (2) Further Authorized payment of $1,300 to the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction for engineering services provided, bringing the total to $39,316.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

Authorized to exercise a two-year contract renewal option with Public Resources Advisory Group Inc., New York, NY (previously amended by G&C on 4-9-08, item #18), for financial advisory services, including debt affordability and debt management, by increasing the amount by $180,750 from $319,250 in an amount not to exceed $500,000. Effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010. 100% Capital Funds.

Authorized to accept and expend $1,200,000 of Unique Plan Management fee revenues from the NH Excellence in Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund for the purpose of providing educational scholarships. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008. 100% Other Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Authorized to enter into subgrants with the organization as detailed in letter dated May 7, 2008, in the total amount of $151,945 to fund programs providing direct services to victims of crime. Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to enter into subgrants with the agencies as detailed in letter dated May 7, 2008, in the total amount of $636,770 to fund programs providing direct services to victims of crime. Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds. Victims, Inc. East Rochester, NH will receive $55,200 and New Hampshire Department of Corrections will receive $113, 570.

Authorized to enter into a subgrant with the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, in the amount of $16,000 to fund programs providing direct services to victims of crime. Effective upon G&C approval to September 30, 2008. 100% Federal Fundss

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Authorized to accept and expend funds in the amount of $44,000,000 for the issuance of low interest loans. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. Fiscal Committee approved.

Authorized to award a Local Source Water Protection grant to the City of Franklin, NH, in the amount of $15,000 to complete a project to protect drinking water from contamination. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Fay’s Boat Yard Inc., Gilford, NH to provide a portable pumpout cart to service boats in the boatyard for a total of $7,262.25. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2008. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to amend an existing memorandum of understanding with the US Geological Survey, Pembroke, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 10-3-07, item #38), to continue evaluating the effectiveness of the remedial action at the OK Tool Superfund site, by increasing the amount by $69,650 from $134,900 to $204,550.

Authorized to enter into an agreement with the Town of Washington, NH, to complete the East Washington Mill Pond Project in the amount of $48,546. Effective upon G&C approval through May 31, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to enter into an Allonge to Promissory Note and amendment of Loan Agreement with Sunapee Hills Association in the amount of $310,000, which finalizes the loan amount used to finance the development of an additional groundwater supply. Effective upon G&C approval.

Authorized Chieftain Motor Inn’s request to construct a seasonal wharf accessed by two seasonal ramps, completely remove pea stone placed over the bank and on the bed of the river, and install access stairs from the beach to the waterbody on the Connecticut River in Hanover.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Business Operations

Authorized to amend an agreement with the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, to extend Social Security and Medicare coverage to the employees of the Town of Chichester whose positions are covered by the NH Retirement System-Group I. Effective date of coverage is June 1, 2008.

Division of Public Health Services

Authorized Bureau of Prevention Services, Nutrition and Health Promotion Section to accept and expend additional federal funds in the amount of $4,711,438 from two grant awards from the US Department of Agriculture for the purchase of food for participants of the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and for a Special Project grant entitled FitWIC. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. Fiscal Committee approved.

Authorized Bureau of Community Health Services, Community Public Health Development Section to grant the list of pandemic influenza preparedness funds as detailed in letter dated April 18, 2008, to the 13 associated All Health Hazards Regions Planning Groups in the amount of $213,805. Effective upon G&C approval through July 31, 2008. 100% Federal Funds.

NEW HAMPSHIRE VETERANS HOME

Authorized to accept monies totaling $39,620.41 received during the period of January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2008 as a result of fundraising drives from various organizations and from personal contributions.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION

Authorized to accept and expend additional federal grant funds in the amount of $123,105 from the US Department of Education for the purpose of providing grants to college students. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008. 100% Federal Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY

Authorized Division of State Police to accept and expend a $25,154.58 grant from the NH Highway Safety Agency entitled “NH State Police Statewide DWI Hunter Patrols”, for the purpose of conducting DWI enforcement patrols on weekend and holiday evenings. Effective upon G&C approval through August 31, 2008. 100% Other (Transfers from Other Agencies).

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Authorized Bureau of Materials and Research to enter into a collection agreement with the USDA Forest Service on a sole source basis to develop computer modeling services that will aid in determining when to post seasonal weight restrictions for a fee not to exceed $25,000. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2010. 80% Federal, 20% Highway Funds.

Authorized Bureau of Highway Design to enter into a sole source agreement with The Student Conservation Association Inc., Charlestown, NH, for a time-and-equipment fee not to exceed $32,100 for landscaping services related to the State’s transportation system. (2) Further Authorized to purchase landscaping materials not to exceed $25,000. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2008. 80% Federal, 20% State Funds.

Authorized Bureau of Construction to enter into a contract with Pike Industries Inc., Belmont, NH, on the basis of a low bid of $2,772,847 for roadway rehabilitation on US Route 202/NH 9 beginning east of Rush Road in Henniker proceeding east 7.3 miles to Putney Hill Road in Hopkinton. Effective upon G&C approval through October 17, 2008. (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $194,099.29 for payment of latent conditions which may appear during the construction of the project. 80% Federal, 20% Highway Funds.

The Governor nominated the following individuals from District Two to State of New Hampshire Boards and Commissions

Robert Simpson, Bow, NH to the Amusement Ride Safety Advisory Board
Marjorie S. Waters, Concord, NH to the Division of Children, Youth and Families Advisory Board
Alan W. Johnson, Penacook, NH to the Executive Branch Ethics Committee
Herbert J. Hodgdon, II Epsom, NH to the Board of Hearing Care Providers
Arthur Nickless, Jr., Rochester, NH to the Pease Development Authority

Over 300 citizen appointments are confirmed annually for citizens to serve on various state agencies, boards and commissions. Commissions, advisory boards and other similar bodies are continually being created or eliminated by state statute. For the most accurate listing of current boards and commissions visit the Red Book at http://www.sos.nh.gov/redbood/index.htm.

Represents the cities and towns of Acworth, Allenstown, Alstead, Andover, Antrim, Barnstead, Bennington, Boscawen, Bow, Bradford, Brookfield, Canterbury, Chesterfield, Chichester, Concord, Danbury, Deerfield, Deering, Dublin, Epsom, Farmington, Francestown, Franklin, Gilmanton, Gilsum, Goshen, Greenfield, Hancock, Harrisville, Henniker, Hill, Hillsborough, Hopkinton, Langdon, Lempster, Loudon, Marlborough, Marlow, Middleton, Milton, Nelson, New Durham, Newbury, New London, Northfield, Northwood, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Rollinsford, Rochester, Roxbury, Salisbury, Somersworth, Stoddard, Strafford, Sullivan, Surry, Sutton, Unity, Walpole , Warner, Washington, Weare, Webster, Westmoreland, Wilmot, and Windsor.
For additional information on the cities and towns in this district, go to www.nh.gov/municipal/.