Report from Councilor Van Ostern

Submitted by Joanne Ruel, Executive Assistant, Executive Council on Feb. 20.

Great news: today Fairpoint and its labor force announced a tentative deal which would end the nation’s longest ongoing labor strike and bring 1,700 workers back to work next Wednesday.

Resolving this strike will be a big step forward for thousands of workers and their families, for Fairpoint’s consumers, and for our state economy as a whole. All parties involved should be proud of this progress, and I thank Governor Hassan and our state agencies for playing an active role in giving NH consumers a louder voice to encourage a deal.

Many of you may remember that in the course of delaying a $13 million state contract with Fairpoint, the Executive Council asked the company to agree to hold public hearings across the state in the coming months to give consumers a chance to elevate any questions or concerns. At last week’s Council breakfast, we scheduled the first two of these hearings:

Wed, March 11, Manchester City Hall, 5pm hosted by Councilor Chris Pappas

Wed, April 15, Rochester City Hall, Noon hosted by Councilor Colin Van Ostern

A third hearing will be hosted in March in the North Country (TBD) with more following in the spring.

Also at last week’s meeting, the Council approved 56 items, including:

IN CENTRAL NH: A series of culvert repairs along I-93, 293 and Rt 3 from Concord to Nashua; federally-funded agriculture projects including food stamp redemption at the Merrimack Co winter farmer’s market and promotion of local foods and organic food production; and community service programs for seniors in Merrimack & Belknap Counties.

IN THE MONADNOCK REGION: A small grant for the Monadnock Region Child Advocacy Center to apply for national accreditation.

IN STRAFFORD CO: Expanding of work surrounding the removal of the Sawyers Mills Upper & Lower Dams.

STATEWIDE ISSUES: $20 mm in federal grants for municipal wastewater treatment systems; establishment of a new position to help NH colleges develop best practices for responding to sexual violence on campus; and a large 17-year contract to improve energy conservation and decrease fossil fuel use at four state buildings, at a net savings of $1mm or more.

APPOINTMENTS: Governor Hassan nominated 9 individuals for a future confirmation vote, including Department of Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes for reappointment, and the Council confirmed 15 individuals for posts, including George Bald of Somersworth to the Pease Development Authority Board.

Full details on all items mentioned above are included below, along with links to original contracts and documentation.

Sincerely,

Colin

Executive Councilor, District 2

FULL 2/11 AGENDA

(or follow the links below for documentation of each item)

FULL INFORMATION

1. DETAIL: CENTRAL NH

#23 Authorized the Bureau of Construction to enter into a contract with Busby Construction Co Inc., Atkinson, NH, for repairs to outlet/inlet pipes, culvert headwalls and scour protection at 13 culvert and slope pipes, located on the F. E. Everett Turnpike in Nashua, Merrimack, Manchester, Hooksett, Bow and Concord, on the basis of a low bid of $494,335.50. (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $24,716.78 for payment of latent conditions, which may appear during the construction of the project. Effective upon G&C approval through September 25, 2015. 100% Turnpike Funds.

#33 Authorized to accept and expend grant funds from the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, in the amount of $273,101.12. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2015. 100% Federal Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

#37 Authorized the Office of Workforce Opportunity to enter into a contract for services with the Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties Inc., for the delivery of Senior Community Service Employment Program services, in the amount of $1,840,000. Effective July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2019. 100% Federal Funds.

2. DETAIL: MONADNOCK REGION

#51 Authorized to enter into two sub-grants totaling $6,000 with the Child Advocacy Center of Coos County, and with Granite State Children’s Alliance/Monadnock Region Child Advocacy Center, utilizing funds from the Federal Fiscal Year 2013 Children’s Justice Act Grant for the purpose of providing funds to apply for accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2015. 100% Federal Funds.

3. DETAIL: STRAFFORD COUNTY

#44 Authorized to amend a sole source agreement with Sawyer Mill Associates Inc., Dover, NH, (originally approved by G&C on 1-29-14, item #44), for feasibility and cultural resource studies, engineering, and permitting associated with the removal of the Sawyer Mills Upper and Lower Dams, by increasing the amount by $95,000 from $10,000 to $105,000, and by extending the end date to December 15, 2016 from December 15, 2015. 100% Federal Funds.

4. STATEWIDE PROJECTS AND POLICIES

#39 Authorized to accept and expend federal funds in the amount of $20,000,000 for wastewater treatment system low interest loans to municipalities. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2015. 100% Clean Water State Revolving Fund (Federal). Fiscal Committee approved.

#50 Authorized to establish one part-time temporary Program Specialist IV, LG 24 position to provide NH’s Colleges and Universities with information and support to develop best practices for responding to sexual violence on campus in accordance with state and federal mandates, assist colleges and universities with developing first responder training, and promote cross training among crisis centers, law enforcement, and colleges and universities. (2)Further Authorized the Office of Victim Witness to accept a sub-grant from the Department of Justice in the amount of $72,216 for the purposes of providing NH’s Colleges and Universities with information and support to develop best practices for responding to sexual violence on campus in accordance with state and federal mandates, assist colleges and universities with developing first responder trainings, and promote cross training among crisis centers, law enforcement, and colleges and universities. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2015. 10% Agency Income. Fiscal Committee approved.

#56 Authorized to enter into a contract with Consolidated Edison Solutions Inc., Valhalla, NY, to install energy and fossil fuel energy conservation measures at four state owned buildings located on Hazen Drive in Concord, in the amount of $12,691,282. (2) Further Authorized to install and pay for additional energy and fossil fuel energy conservation measures with the use of any rebates or grants that may be obtained during the life of the project for a not to exceed cost of $971,991. Contingent upon receipt of any rebates and or grants. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2021.

5. DETAIL: APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS

( * = District 2 Resident)

New Nominations by Governor Hassan:

Advanced Manufacturing Education Advisory Council

Maureen O’Dea, Merrimack, NH

Enhanced 911 Commission

Sandra Teti, Rochester, NH*

Medical Review Subcommittee

Frank M. Mele, Plymouth, NH

Leonard M. Rudolf, Cornish, NH

Ira S. Schwartz, New Castle, NH

Public Water Access Advisory Board

Gary L. Clark, Merrimack, NH

Commissioner of the Department of Safety

John J. Barthelmes, Hopkinton, NH*

Water Council

Eugene R. Clark, Bethlehem, NH

David J. Joubert, Wolfeboro, NH

Confirmed by the Council:

Karen K. Irwin , Hopkinton, NH to the Cannon Mountain Advisory Board*

Richard McLeod, Concord, NH to the Cannon Mountain Advisory Board*

Dennis E.E. Adams, Deerfield, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Mary Ann Ashcroft, Derry, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Leo D. Kelly, Goffstown, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Ronald E. Ludwig, Manchester, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Robert H. Morneau, Wolfboro, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Dennis E. Murphy, Center Harbor, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Constance J. Roy, Wolfboro, NH to the Compensation Appeals Board

Carole A. Palmer, Penacook, NH to the Board of Licensed Dietitians*

Gary Groleau, Laconia, NH to the Board of Education

Patrick Robinson, Manchester, NH to the Enhanced 911 Commission

Shari J. Landry, Loudon, NH to the Judicial Council

George M. Bald, Somersworth, NH to the Pease Development Authority Board of Directors*

Douglas M. Goumas, Bedford, NH to the Advisory Council on Worker’s Compensation