By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – A new Executive Council got to work with lots of questions for commissioners and department heads about ways to get more with less money.
A number of contracts got tabled for more questions to be answered in the days to come by commissioners who should expect more of a look under the hood from the incoming councilors.
In addition to approving money for PFAS mitigation in Nashua and authorization which will help build a new factory for federal defense products in Charlestown, the council also got a chance to thank a Tuftonboro centenarian for his slogan for a safety bumper sticker and issued arts grants for communities all across the state.
This was the first full meeting with the state’s new Republican Governor, Kelly Ayotte. It was held at the State House on Wednesday.
New at the table of five councilors are Executive Councilor John Stephen of Manchester, a Republican who replaces the retiring Ted Gatsas and Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, a Lebanon Democrat who replaces former councilor Cinde Warmington of Concord, who ran instead for Governor but was not successful.
Stephen comes from a background as commissioner of the state Department of Health and Human Services and in the private sector has consulted states on how to find efficiencies in government, while Liot Hill has a long background serving at the municipal level of government and understands budget development.
Also new at the table is Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator and state Attorney General.
There was discussion over annual dues paid to various associations, which add up. It is something that Ayotte said would be included in a comprehensive review of state expenditures, though she did not say if that was something that would be undertaken by her new Commission on Government Efficiency.
The state is heading into rough seas financially, as revenues are shrinking. This is the beginning of efforts to craft a new state, two-year budget as well and all eyes will be on finding ways to cut costs while maintaining vital services.
The council agenda was rather light for a typical meeting but there were many questions particularly posed by Councilor Stephen who has an eye on saving money and making sure contracts are competitively bid.
WIOA CONTRACT TABLED.
A half million dollar contract to hire an Indiana-based company to implement a four-year, state plan for the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act using federal dollars was tabled by the council following questions about whether this work could be done in-house, in-state and whether another bidder who offered half that amount should be considered.
PFAS MITIGATION
The largest contract approved was for Pennichuck, a public drinking water system which serves over 39,000 customers. It will dip into a state PFAS remediation response fund to the tune of $11.4 million to finance water system improvements in southern New Hampshire.
PFAS has been detected in the water supply which is linked to various cancers. The money will be used to design and construct a new treatment and storage facility.
Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services Robert Scott said the state created a $50 million fund to deal with PFAS mitigation and uses the state’s general fund to pay for that. Eventually, the likelihood is that the manufacturing industry responsible for the contamination will be billed for that as part of litigation.
Separately, but on the same subject, former Governor Chris Sununu and Attorney General John Formella announced last summer that New Hampshire would begin to receive tens of millions of dollars in settlement funds as a result of the State’s ongoing litigation against the manufacturers of PFAS and aqueous film-forming foam and part of a national settlement.
New Hampshire is estimated to receive a total award in excess of $65 million from the 3M and DuPont water provider settlements, and the majority of these funds are expected to be received over the next two to three years.
There are other companies and other litigation to help the state clean up PFAS contamination.
These and other public water system settlements cover just one category of damages sought by New Hampshire. The State will continue to seek full recovery for the damages caused by the manufacture and sale of PFAS and AFFF by the defendant companies, a statement from the Attorney General read.
“These substantial settlements we’ve been working to secure from the manufacturers of PFAS and AFFF are a victory for New Hampshire. These settlement funds will bolster the Granite State’s clean water programs and directly support our public water systems, helping to ensure that every citizen has access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Attorney General John Formella. “New Hampshire has led the charge against these emerging health threats, and we will continue to hold those responsible accountable. I want to thank the members of our New Hampshire Department of Justice Environmental Protection Bureau for all of their excellent work on these efforts.”
New Hampshire has been a leader in identifying and addressing the emerging health threats of PFAS. New Hampshire was one of the first states to adopt drinking water standards for PFAS and filed suit in 2019 on behalf of the citizens of the State, including all public water systems, against the PFAS manufacturers.
Money received from settlements, after fees and costs, will be deposited into the N.H. Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund where it will be used to provide loans and grants to public water systems that are impacted by PFAS over applicable standards.
TUFTONBORO CENTENARIAN HONORED FOR SAFETY BUMPER STICKER
Gov. Ayotte’s first commendation went to Fred Antell of Tuftonboro, 100, who has developed a new safety bumper sticker for the roads. He was honored for his “SAFETY 4 LIFE” bumper strip idea and brought along a prototype.
It was noted that Antell has never had a moving violation on the roads in his more than 80 years of driving.
Commissioner of Safety Robert Quinn said before the meeting that he loved the simple and heartfelt message conveyed in Antell’s idea and a genuine interest in people and keeping them safe. Antell, who will soon be 101, said he has also been named an honorary state trooper.
ARTS AWARDS
The council also authorized the state Division of the Arts to award public value partnership grants to the North Country Education Services Agency in Gorham ($29,000), North Country Chamber Players Inc. of Franconia ($15,000), Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner ($15,000), Friends of the Music Hall in Portsmouth ($15,000), Arts Alive Inc. in Keene ($15,000), and Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in Sullivan ($13,500.)
The grants are aimed to strengthen capacity for affordable diverse arts programs.
COUNCIL APPROVES TAXABLE LOAN FOR FABRICATION PROJECT IN CHARLESTOWN
A public hearing was held for the Business Finance Authority’s authorization of a $50 million taxable loan for the construction of a 98,000 square foot facility in Charlestown for Whelen Engineering Inc. https://www.whelen.com/ which will manufacture printed circuit boards for the defense and aerospace industries and for infrastructure projects for its affiliate, Greensource Fabrication LLC https://greensourcefab.com/home.
Joe Haas, a member of the public, asked questions about the Bank of America and its policies as it and Claremont Savings Bank are issuing Series B bonds for the project.
The taxable loan was approved 4-1 with Executive Councilor David Wheeler, R-Milford voting to oppose it.
Janet Stevens, Executive Councilor for District 3 in Rye and a Republican, said the company has been awarded a $46.2 million Department of Defense contract and will add another 100 employees in the state as part of the project.
There will also be increased tax revenue, she noted.
“I’m very excited about this project,” said Liot Hill who noted this will be a huge boost to the economy of Sullivan County, which is in her district.
She asked officials about how they hope to source the needed labor.
Officials from the company said they will tap into the communities and urged the state to address the need to grow workforce talent in manufacturing.
FOSTER CARE TRANSITION PROGRAM PRAISED
Councilor Stephen congratulated Lori Weaver, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, for its contract to expend $20,642 from the federal government for a transition program for foster youth who are aging out of foster care.
The program works to support the expanding array of services for youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care.
CONWAY BYPASS SURPLUS LAND SOLD
The council approved the sale of 32 acres northeast of Eaton Road and Stark Road in Conway, to James and Jean Drummond for $175,000.
The land was acquired by the Department of Transportation for the Conway Bypass which was not used.
The state paid more than that for the tract, it was noted, but the land is now declared surplus.
The deal will allow for a deed restriction allowing a 34 foot wide pedestrian corridor through the property.
WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN STRATEGIES
A $62,000 sole source agreement with Audubon Society of New Hampshire was approved with Fish and Game for implementing wildlife management plan strategies.
TRAMWAY UPDATE
Sarah Stewart, commissioner for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, was asked by Councilor Kenney for an update on the replacement of the tramway at Cannon Mountain.
She said while the state legislature approved an $18 million allotment to replace the aerial tramway in Franconia Notch State Park, the state got only one bid and it was for way more money.
“It’s a big undertaking. You just can’t buy a tram off the shelf,” she said. When the state got information four or five years ago on a replacement the thought was that $25 million would be what would be needed to cover the cost.
When the lone bid that did come in was for $33 million, Stewart said the state has gone back to the drawing board to figure out a new solution which would be less expensive.
Feedback from tramway companies was for the state to consider verifying the health and security of the towers which carry the cars on the mountain as leaving them in place would reduce the costs.
Stewart said it is her understanding that the state Department of Public Works is looking to find an engineer to verify that safety and if that can be accomplished, the state may go back to look at bidding it out again, with no idea what the cost will be.
OPERATION STONEGARDEN FUNDS ACCEPTED FOR NORTH COUNTRY BORDER SECURITY
The council also voted to authorize the New Hampshire Department of Safety to enter into grant agreements with municipalities such as Colebrook and Pittsburg, Coos County Sheriff and state agencies in the amount of $134,279.00 for the Operation Stonegarden portion of the 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program.
The national operation is intended to support international border states and territories in increasing capabilities to prevent, protect against, and respond to border security issues.
The state has beefed up its support for protecting the border and while statistics have shown few arrests, officials believe both Operation Stonegarden and the Northern Border Alliance is providing a deterrent for illegals who want to enter the United States from Canada at its border with New Hampshire.
