January 14, 2009

FROM: JOHN D. SHEA, Executive Councilor

Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting, January 14, 2009, that might be of interest to District Two constituents.

The next scheduled Governor and Council meeting will be held in The State House in Concord, New Hampshire on, Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY
Authorized to enter into an agreement with the Town of Belmont, NH, for improvements to the water, drainage, and roadway system of the Pleasant Valley neighborhood in order to bring the systems up to compliance with DES regulations
in the amount of $500,000. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2010. 100% Federal Funds.

OFFICE OF ENERGY AND PLANNING
Authorized to accept and expend federal grant funds in the amount of $40,304 from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, for the refugee cash and medical program. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
Authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Fish and Game to perform Habitat Management and Monitoring of the Concord Municipal Airport Conservation Zones in the amount of $177,860. Effective upon G&C approval through March 31, 2011. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized confirmation of James P. Challender, Bow, NH, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, NH Army National Guard.
Authorized to accept and expend monetary contributions in the amount of $270 for the NH State Veterans Cemetery to be used for the betterment of the cemetery. Donations received during the period of July 25, 2008 through August 26, 2008.

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Authorized a Working Capital Warrant in the amount of $400,000,000 to cover expenditures for the Month of January 2009. (2) Further Authorized a Working Capital Warrant in the amount of $400,000,000 to cover expenditure for the Month of February 2009. (3) Further Authorized a Working Capital Warrant in the amount of $500,000,000 to cover expenditures for the Month of March 2009.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Authorized to issue a warrant from funds not otherwise appropriated and the State Treasurer to issue checks in the amount of $139,410.85 to the rightful owners of abandoned or unclaimed funds. (Hillsborough County $31,038.16)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARKETS & FOOD
Authorized to amend an agricultural preservation restriction on land in the towns of Boscawen and Salisbury. Effective upon G&C approval

NEW HAMPSHIRE BANKING DEPARTMENT
Authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the NH Housing Finance Authority in an amount not to exceed $900,000 to provide assistance to either first time home buyers or homeowners wishing to refinance their residential mortgage. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2011. 100% Assessment Fees.

DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Authorized Division of Forests and Lands to accept and expend $76,267 of federal funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency to be used to enhance protection of NH wetlands. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

Authorized Division of Forests and Lands to accept a Federal grant up to $2,351,000 and assign it directly to The Nature Conservancy to pay the purchase price for acquisition of a Conservation Easement on 801 +/- acres in the Towns of Madison, Ossipee and Freedom, Carroll County, NH, known as the Ossipee Pine Barrens (the project). (2) Further Authorized to accept the 801 +/- acre Conservation Easement, and enter into a Snowmobile Agreement, to protect natural resource values and insure continued access to the property. (3) Further Authorized to reimburse The Nature Conservancy for the cost of appraisal and title policy, not to exceed $5,000 for the property on which the Conservation Easement will be acquired. Fiscal Committee approved

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Authorized to pay $1,630,000 in overtime for permanent personnel services out of the Salary Adjustment Fund. 100% General Funds. (Note: approximately 160 vacant positions.)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services
Authorized to enter into an agreement with Merrimack Valley Assistance Program, Concord, NH, to provide supportive services, long term rental assistance and short term assistance to homeless, low income and very low income individuals who have HIV/AIDS and their families, in an amount not to exceed $940,530. Effective March 1, 2009 or upon G&C approval, whichever is later, through February 29, 2012. 100% Federal Funds.

Division of Public Health Services
Authorized Bureau of Prevention Services, Nutrition & Health Promotion Section to accept and expend federal funds in the amount of $380,847 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund the Obesity Prevention Program. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. (2) Further Authorized to establish four full-time temporary positions utilizing funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program Cooperative Agreement. #73 Authorized Bureau of Community Health Services, Maternal and Child Health Section to renew a contract with Good Beginnings of Sullivan County, Claremont, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 5-16-07, item #101), to provide home visiting services, by increasing the price by $60,704 from $60,704 to $121,408, and by extending the end date to June 30, 2011. Effective upon G&C approval. 100% Federal Funds.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
Authorized to award a $10,000 grant to Saint Anselm College for the purpose of granting scholarships to NH residents who have completed their freshman year and who will be selected for scholarships by the college on the basis of financial need or merit. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009. 100% General Funds.

#79 Authorized to enter into a sole source contract with Granite State Management & Resources, Concord, NH, to improve access to college planning and admissions information for students, parents and education professionals, assist North Country students with the financial aid process and increase the number of North Country students enrolling in postsecondary education in the amount of $52,093. Effective upon G&C approval through August 13, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
Authorized to enter into a sole source contract with NH College and University Council, Concord, NH, to promote student participation in an rigorous high school curriculum to enhance preparation for college, to enhance the quality and number of tools available for schools to encourage postsecondary education, and to expand professional development opportunities for middle and high school guidance personnel regarding academic rigor and areas relating to rigor to enhance college-going rates, in the amount of $138,300. Effective upon G&C approval through August 13, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorized to grant funds to Strafford County Department of Corrections to assist in the operation of their approved career and technical education programs for male offenders in the amount of $19,530. Effective upon G&C approval through November 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to grant funds to Strafford County Department of Corrections to assist in the operation of their approved career and technical education programs for female offenders in the amount of $17,864. Effective upon G&C approval through November 30, 2009. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired to enter into an agreement with NH Department of Transportation for vending services at the Seabrook Welcome Center facility on Interstate 95 for a period of two years. 100% Vending Revolving Funds.

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to enter into a sole source grant agreement with Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties Inc., for recovery activities associated with the July 2008 Tornado in the amount of $25,000.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Authorized Bureau of Construction to enter into a contract with SUR Construction Inc., Rochester, NH, for roadway reconstruction and widening of the northbound barrel of the Spaulding Turnpike at Exit 12, on the basis of a low bid of $17,197,100. (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $859,855 for payment of latent conditions, which may appear during the construction of the project. Effective upon G&C approval through October 15, 2010. 100% Turnpike Funds.

The following persons from District Five were nominated by Governor Lynch to State of New Hampshire Boards and Commissions

Thomas Rafio, Bow NH, State Board of Education
James Robertson, Spofford, NH, Oil Fund Disbursement Board
Laurel Clute, Lempster, NH Physical Therapy Governing Board
Ronald R. Poirier, Pembroke, NH, Public Water Access Advisory Board

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/.