March 31, 2008

TO:         All Third District Cities and Towns

FROM:   Executive Councilor Beverly Hollingworth

The Governor and Executive Council met on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 in the Governor/Council Chamber at the State House in Concord, NH and considered an agenda of over 182 items.

The next scheduled Governor and Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 9, 2008 at 10:00 AM in the Executive Councilor Chamber at the State House, Concord, NH.

The following authorized items might be of interest to District Three constituents.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY
       Authorized to enter into an agreement with the Town of Hampton, NH, for the purchase of machinery and equipment, so that Foss Manufacturing can expand its manufacturing capacity in the amount of $500,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 

OFFICE OF ENERGY AND PLANNING
          Authorized to enter into a sole source contract with Strafford County Community Action Committee Inc., Dover, NH, for the Weatherization Assistance Program in the amount of $154,768.  Effective April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009.  (2) Further Authorized to advance the vendor $26,093.  100% Federal Funds. The Office of Energy and Planning will be responsible for administering New Hampshire’s statewide Weatherization Assistance Program.  The objective of the program is to weatherize homes to reduce energy consumption and  the impact of energy costs in low-income  households.
Priority is given to the elderly, disabled and households with infant children.
          Authorized to enter into a sole source contract with Rockingham Community Action Inc., Portsmouth, NH, for the Weatherization Assistance Program in the amount of $180,428.  Effective April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009.  (2) Further Authorized to advance the vendor $30,420.  100% Federal Funds.   (See above)  

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
          Authorized Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction to enter into an agreement with Oak Point Associates, Portsmouth, NH, for professional Architectural services required for planning, design and construction of various Pubic Work’s Projects as necessary and required by the Department in an amount not to exceed $500,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2011. 
          Authorized to enter into a contract with Norris Inc., Greenland, NH, for fire alarm system testing and maintenance services at several state facilities in an amount not to exceed $322,188.  Effective upon G&C approval through January 15, 2011.

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
          Authorized Division of Arts to award a Community Arts Project Grant in the amount of $1,500 to Pontine Theatre, Portsmouth.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized Division of Arts to award an Art in Education Leadership Grant in the amount of $5,000 to the Timberlane Regional School, Plaistow.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
          Authorized Division of Parks and Recreation to accept a donation in the amount of $15,000 from the Reach the Beach Relay, Inc., Woodsville, MA.
          Authorized Division of Parks and Recreation to enter into a sole source contract with Cardinal Tracking Inc., Flower Mound, TX, for hardware, software, training, installation, and annual support for tracking out-of-state vehicle registrations for the Hampton Beach parking meter operation in the amount of $150,879.80.  Effective upon G&C approval through April 30, 2013.  100% Parks Funds. 

NH FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT
          Authorized to enter into a Cooperative Service Agreement with the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Concord, NH, to remove, by live-trapping, predators of piping plovers at Hampton Beach State Park in the amount of $8,635.  Effective April 1, 2008 through September 1, 2008.  100% Other (Nongame) Funds. 
          Authorized to enter into a contract with the Preservation Company, Kensington, NH, for the purpose of conducting a Historic American Buildings Survey of three cabins on the Weeks Property at Bracketts Point, Greenland, NH, in the amount of $8,177.50.  (2)Further Authorized an advanced payment of $4,000 to the Preservation Company to begin the HABS documentation in accordance with the terms of the contract.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized to enter into a Grant Agreement with The Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Concord, NH in the amount of $42,878 for costs associated with the purchase of a conservation easement on the Mulligan Forest property (2028+/- acres) in Nottingham, NH.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal from the Landowner Incentive Program. 
          Authorized to enter into a contract with Jean’s Waterproofing Inc., Auburn, ME, for the purpose of repairing leaks at fishways on the Oyster River in Durham and the Lamprey River in Newmarket in the amount of $22,817.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Other (NHEP) Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
          Authorized to amend a contract with the US Environmental Protection Agency for remedial action at the Ottati & Goss Superfund Site in Kingston, NH, by increasing the contract amount by $7,000,000 from $24,200,000 to $31,200,000 and by increasing the State’s share of the contract by $700,000 from $2,420,000 to $3,120,000.  Effective upon G&C approval.  100% Capital Funds
          Authorized to retroactively enter into a Joint Funding Agreement with the US Geological Survey in the amount of $120,000 to add ten streamflow gages to the existing Cooperative Stream Gageing Program.  Effective October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2009.  100% Capital Funds.  District Three communities having installation of gages are Isinglass River, Dover, Upper Lamprey River, Exeter River, Upper Exeter River, Upper Lamprey River Raymond Area.
          Authorized to enter into a sole source retroactive memorandum of agreement with the US Geological Survey, Pembroke, NH, for stream gauge operation in the vicinity of the I-93 roadway in southern NH in the amount of $10,020.  Effective October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.  100% Highway Funds.  USGS will assist DES by operating one steam gage on Police Brook near the I-93 roadway in Salem, NH
          Authorized to award a Local Source Water Protection grant to LifeWise Community Projects Inc., Hampton, NH, to complete a project to protect drinking water from contamination in the amount of $15,000.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Federal Funds. 
          Authorized Department of Transportation’s request to remove and replace concrete encasement of the steel pile supports for two bridges impacting estuarine wetlands located in Portsmouth and New Castle. 
          Authorized Town of Bristol’s request to construct a seasonal dock with two seasonal finger docks in an “F” shaped configuration on Newfound Lake in Bristol. 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
          Division for Children, Youth & Families
          Authorized to provide quality child care awards in the amount of $162,820 to a total of twenty-nine accredited child care programs throughout the State of NH who partner with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide child care services.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds.  Eligible accredited child care programs and awards in District Three are Appleseeds Day School, Inc, Exeter, NH,
Live and Learn Learning Center in Lee, NH, Rheaume, Drla, Salem, NH, Robins Childsplace, Inc. Hampton Falls, NH,UNH Child Study & Development Center, Durham, NH.
          Division of Public Health Services
          Authorized Bureau of Community Health Services, Community Public Health Development Section to grant the list of public health emergency preparedness funds to the associated All Health Hazards Regions fiscal agents in the amount of $225,882.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds.  Recipients in District Three are Southern Stratford County Region at Barrington, Dover, Durham, Lee, and Madbury and Southeatern Region including Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow, Salem, Sandown, and Windham.  Also, Greater Exeter Region including Brentwood, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Newfields, Newmarket, Newton, Nottingham, Rqymond, Seabrook, South Hampton, Portsmouth and Rye.
          Authorized Bureau of Community Health Services, Community Public Health Development Section to grant the list of pandemic influenza preparedness funds to the 19 associated All Health Hazards Regions Planning Groups in the amount of $190,000.  Effective retroactive to January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008.  100% Federal Funds.  

NH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
The following four items will be implemented on a statewide basis.
          Authorized to award a $24,000 grant to Southern NH University 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, 2008.  100% General Funds.  (State-Wide)
           Authorized to award a $8,000 grant to Rivier College for the purpose of granting scholarships to full-time or part-time students who are NH residents enrolled in approved programs in a workforce shortage area in the State of NH, and who will be selected for scholarships by the college on the basis of financial need.  100% General Funds.  (State-Wide)
          Authorized to award a $6,000 grant to Colby-Sawyer College for the purpose of granting scholarships to full-time or part-time students who are NH residents enrolled in approved programs in a workforce shortage area in the State of NH, and who will be selected for scholarships by the college on the basis of financial need.  100% General Funds.  (State-Wide)
          Authorized to award a $7,000 grant to the Community College System of NH for the benefit of NH students pursuing approved programs of study in a workforce shortage area in the State of NH.  100% General Funds.  (State-Wide)

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
COUNCILOR HOLLINGWORTH VOTED NO ON THIS ITEM because of the transfer of highway and turnpike funds.
          Authorized Divisions of Administration and State Police to enter into a sole source contract with HSM Electronic Services Inc., Manchester, NH, for the upgrades and monitoring of intrusion/security systems, Concord, NH, in an amount not to exceed $15,886.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2010.  54% Highway, 38% Federal, 8% Turnpike Funds. 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
          Authorized Bureau of Right of Way petition for a hearing on the replacement of five bridges and the removal of one bridge along the US 1 Bypass from the Sara Long Bridge southerly to the US 1/Greenleaf Woods Drive intersection with a suggested budget of $14,040.  The following Commissions were suggested to Executive Councilor Hollingworth on February 19, 2008:  Richard Adams of Portsmouth, NH, Thomas Tatarczuch of Durham, NH, Harley Featherston of Salem, NH.
          Authorized Bureau of Construction to enter into a low bid contract with Pike Industries Inc., Belmont, NH, on the basis of a low bid of $1,648,160 for roadway resurfacing of 31.5 miles in maintenance District VI and in Strafford and Rockingham Counties.  (2) Further Authorized that a contingency in the amount of $164,816 be approved for payment of latent conditions, which may appear during the execution of the project.  Effective upon G&C approval through September 19, 2008.  100% Betterment Funds. 
          Authorized to enter into a contract with Howard Systems Voice, Data and Video Wiring LLC, Barrington, NH, for Security Cameras and Related Equipment Services in the amount of $8,937.50.  Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2009.  100% Turnpike Funds. 

The Governor nominated the following individuals from District Three to serve on state boards and commissions

Michael J. Griffin, Portsmouth, NH to the Fish and Game Commission
George N. Campbell, Jr. Portsmouth, NH Commissioner of the Department of Transportation

 Please feel free to contact me with concerns or support for these individuals or any other issues you might have. 

Represents the cities and towns of Atkinson, Barrington, Brentwood, Chester, Danville, Dover, Durham, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampstead, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Lee, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Nottingham, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Rye, Salem, Sandown, Seabrook, South Hampton, Stratham, and Windham.
For additional information on the cities and towns in this district, go to www.nh.gov/municipal/.