September 17, 2008

FROM: JOHN D. SHEA, Executive Councilor

September 17, 2008 Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting, September 17, 2008, that might be of interest to District Two constituents.

The next Governor and Council Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at the NH Veteran’s Home, Winter Street, Tilton, NH.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY
          Authorized to award a grant to the Town of Walpole, NH, in the amount of $180,000 to help Andrus Associates LLC, to purchase Welcome Neighbor! U.S.A., a direct mail marketer that distributes promotional coupon packets to recent homebuyers in a region, and performing leasehold improvements.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2010.  100% Federal Funds. 
           Authorized to award a grant to Strafford County, Dover, NH, in the amount of $250,000 for the purpose of providing a loan to Agility Manufacturing, Inc., for working capital, leasehold improvements and equipment purchases to support moving from an 8,000 sq ft, sub-standard facility to a 25,000 sq ft space better suited to the company’s needs.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2010.  100% Federal Funds. 

OFFICE OF ENERGY AND PLANNING 
          Authorized to award a grant to the Town of Marlow, NH, in the amount of $19,796 through the Housing and Conservation Planning Program to acquire planning assistance related to future housing growth, land conservation and historic preservation issues.  (2) Further Authorized an advance payment to the vendor in the amount of $6,598.  Effective September 17, 2008 through March 17, 2010.  100% General Funds. 
          Authorized to award a grant to the Town of Salisbury, NH, in the amount of $15,990 through the Housing and Conservation Planning Program to acquire planning assistance related to future housing growth, land conservation and historic preservation issues.  (2)Further Authorized an advance payment to the vendor in the amount of $5,330.  Effective September 17, 2008 through March 17, 2010.  100% General Funds. 
           Authorized to award a grant to the Town of Acworth, NH, in the amount of $17,189 through the Housing and Conservation Planning Program to acquire planning assistance related to future housing growth, land conservation and historic preservation issues.  (2)Further Authorized an advance payment to the vendor in the amount of $6,729.  Effective September 17, 2008 through March 17, 2010.  100% General Funds. 
          Authorized to award a grant to the Town of Chichester, NH, in the amount of $9,000 through the Housing and Conservation Planning Program to acquire planning assistance related to future housing growth, land conservation and historic preservation issues.  (2) Further Authorized an advance payment to the vendor in the amount of $3,000.  Effective September 17, 2008 through March 17, 2010.  100% General Funds. 
#15A          Authorized to accept and expend funds in the amount of $3,164.02 from the Department of Resources and Economic Development for expenses incurred on May 30 & 31, 2008 Fire Fighting mission in NH.  100% Transfer (Fire Training – Revolving) Funds. 
           Authorized to accept and expend additional federal funds in the amount of $1,000,000 from the National Guard Bureau for the purpose of Joint Family Support Assistance Program for the period of G&C approval through Jun 30, 2009.  (2) Further Authorized to enter into a Inter-Agency agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services for this Joint Family Support Assistance Program.  100% Federal Funds.  Effective September 17, 2008 through September 30, 2009.  (3) Further Authorized to accept and expend Other Funds in the amount of $999,000 awarded by the Adjutant General’s Department for the continuation of this pilot project.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  Fiscal Committee approved. 
          Authorized Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction to enter into a contract with KPMB Enterprises LLC for building renovations at four of the National Guard Reservations located throughout the state, for a total price not to exceed $667,500.  (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $20,000 for unanticipated expense for building renovations, bringing the total to $697,500.  (3)Further Authorized the amount of $30,000 for payment to the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction for engineering services provided, bringing the total to $727,500. (Hillsborough $54,000, Concord, $332,500) Effective upon G&C approval through July 31, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.
          Authorized Surplus Distribution Section, to amend a contract with Belknap-Merrimack Community Action Program of Concord, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 9-27-06, item W), providing statewide surplus food distribution for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, by increasing the amount by $90,000 from $344,025 to $434,025, and by extending the end date from September 30, 2008 to December 31, 2008.  100% Federal Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
          Authorized Division of the Arts to award FY 2009 Individual Artist Fellowship Award totaling $5,000 to Lawrence Siegel, Westmoreland.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.
          Authorized Division of the Arts to award FY 2009 Individual Artist Fellowship Awards totaling $10,000 to Hillary Weisman Graham, Francestown, in the amount of $5,000, and to Hideaki Miyamura, Kensington, in the amount of $5,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARKETS & FOOD
          Authorized to accept and expend grant funds from the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in the amount of $10,000, to be used for the preparation and execution of a Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation program compliant New England State Foot and Mouth Disease Test Exercise.  Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2008.  100% Federal Funds.

ATTORNEY GENERAL
          Authorized to accept a gift of 2,500 copies of a guidebook (“Guidebook for NH Charitable Nonprofit Organizations”) from Fidelity Investments and the NH Charitable Foundation with an approximate value of $4,000.
    
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
          Authorized to enter into a contract with Geographic Solutions Inc., Palm Harbor, FL, for a new Job Match and Labor Exchange System in the amount not to exceed $650,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2011.  100% Federal Funds.  

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
          Authorized to accept and expend $80,536 from the Department of Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management for stream gageing.  Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2008.  (2) Further Authorized to amend an agreement with the US Geological Survey to add five streamflow gages to the existing Cooperative Stream Gaging Program and increasing the amount of the state’s share of the agreement by $80,500 to $200,500 from $120,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2009.  100% HSEM Funds.  Fiscal Committee approved. 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
   Division of Public Health Services
          Authorized Bureau of Community Health Services, Community Public Health Development Section, to enter into an agreement with Southern Strafford Community Health Coalition, Dover, NH, to provide Public Health Network services with responsibility to improve the capacity and capability of public health response partners to mount a coordinated response to public health emergencies within a defined region in an amount not to exceed $75,000.  (2 ) Further Authorized an advance payment in SFY 2009, not to exceed 25% of the agreement amount, for costs for projects within the agreement, which includes the burden of a program coordinator and associated program costs.  Effective retroactive to July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 74% Federal, 26% General Funds. 
          Authorized Office of Minority Health (OMH) to amend a sole source contract with Richard Hunt, Littleton, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 4-4-07, item #73), to provide consultation, technical assistance and development support services to OMH and to continue coordination of the Waolowzi Native American Youth Health and Wellness Program, by increasing the price limitation by $14,167 from $41,333 to $55,500, and by extending the completion date to August 31, 2009, retroactive to September 1, 2008.  100% Federal Funds. 
      Division of Community Based Care Services
          Authorized to extend a sole source agreement with Easter Seals NH Inc., Manchester, NH, to provide support services to NH reserve military families and military members deployed or returning from combat, in an amount not to exceed $700,000.  Effective October 1, 2008 or upon G&C approval, whichever is later, through September 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
      Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services
          Authorized to enter into an agreement with Southwestern Community Services Inc., Keene, NH, to provide services to homeless individuals in the amount of $85,206.60.  Effective retroactive to July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized to enter into an agreement with Southwestern Community Services Inc., Keene, NH, to provide services to homeless individuals in the amount of $78,720.  Effective retroactive to July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.
          Authorized to enter into an agreement with Community Partners, Dover, NH, to provide services to homeless individuals in the amount of $41,095.  Effective retroactive to July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized to enter into an agreement with Center for Life Management, Salem, NH, to provide services to homeless individuals in the amount of $241,391. (Including Concord, Deerfield, and Warner) Effective retroactive to July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.  

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
          Authorized to accept, budget and expend additional grant funds received form the US Department of Education for required state assessments in the amount of $668,884.07.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.  Fiscal committee approved.

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
          Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to enter into grant agreements with the communities as detailed in letter dated August 18, 2008, for a total amount of $106,344.62 (Acworth $4090.00) for
          Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to enter into a grant agreement with the Town of Allenstown, NH in the amount of $2,000 for the purpose of providing a FEMA approved updated local multi-hazard mitigation plan.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to execute grant agreements with the Regional Planning Commissions as detailed in letter dated August 18, 2008, totaling $120,000 for the purpose of developing local multi-hazard mitigation plans.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to accept and expend Emergency Assistance funds in the amount of $10,000,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.  Fiscal Committee approved. 
          Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to accept and expend Emergency Assistance funds in the amount of $5,000,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds.  Fiscal Committee approved.  activities associated with enhancing local all-hazard planning.  Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds
          Authorized to enter into contract agreements with eight Regional Planning Commissions as detailed in letter dated August 18, 2008, for a total of $368,392 for transportation planning activities.  Effective upon G&C approval through August 30, 2009.  97% Federal, 3% Highway Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
          Authorized Bureau of Right of Way to grant a Right of Way across State of NH property, to be known as the Chesterfield Welcome Center, to PJB Real Estate LLC.  Effective upon G&C approval. 

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

Peter S. Helm, Contoocook, NH, Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee
Terry L. Callum, Unity, NH, Air Resources Council
Judith E. Houston, Contoocook, NH, Pre-Engineering Technology Advisory Council
Michele Munson, Concord, NH, Pre-Engineering Technology Advisory Council

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/.