Council Mulls Home Heating Funds, Cost To Replace Cannon Tram, And Accepts MacDonald Resignation

By PAULA TRACY, InDepth NH

HANOVER, NH — With winter around the corner, the Executive Council took on issues Wednesday related to home heating for the vulnerable, and bids that came in much higher than anticipated for the state’s only tramway for skiers and tourists at Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch State Park.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the five Executive Councilors also discussed and the Council approved a $20 million contract for the state’s GO-NORTH initiative among other issues, and without discussion accepted the immediate resignation Tuesday of Gordon MacDonald, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, to settle a Judicial Conduct complaint without a hearing.

Ayotte, who can now nominate a new judge and/or a new chief justice, did not immediately offer a nominee at the meeting.

But later at a meeting with reporters, Ayotte said she was disappointed in the findings detailed in the JCC report about its investigation into MacDonald. She said she will ask her Judicial Selection Commission for a recommendation on someone to replace MacDonald, but said she wouldn’t be rushed. Ayotte wouldn’t say whether she hoped to have someone nominated and confirmed before the elections Nov. 3.

The Executive Council also tabled a request by Loon Mountain to get financial help with a groomer.

HEATING AND HOME EFFICIENCY

About $26 million in home efficiency rebates and about $30 million in heating assistance for the upcoming winter months were approved by the Executive Council when it met at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College Wednesday.

Councilors expressed concern that there are more residents who will need help keeping warm this winter, as costs are going up. Jared Chicoine, commissioner of the Department of Energy, was pressed on why rebate dollars have not gone out for projects.

The council approved $26 million for home rebates for the purchase of certain electric appliances through June 2027.

Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, expressed frustration that the rebate program has taken so long to roll out and he blamed the federal government.

“We’ve been talking about this program for two years…and you said it was going to be rolling out in July,” Kenney said “…we know it’s a five year program, we know …there will be a big rush to the front….have you seen in your years…a program so delayed?”

“It has been the most challenging,” Chicoine said. “Obviously the change in the federal administration,” has been an issue” but it has been difficult.”

Kenney said for LIHEAP funding for heating there is $6 million left over and $34 million incoming but people can’t lock in on and have to wait until Dec 1 before they can get their allotment of fuel to heat their homes.

He asked if it is possible to lock in a month earlier, like in November. “Really, it is a serious issue up north,” he said. Kenney said the cost of fuel has gone up considerably.

Chicoine said they can tap into the $6 million left over and there has been an increase in average allocations from $1,000 to $1,200.

In terms of vulnerable households with elderly, disabled and children they were enrolled as early as July and there are 6,000 now enrolled. He said they are hearing from people who have never applied before.

Chicoine said he would be willing to have that conversation with providers to move up allocations to November instead of December.

Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, said it is frustrating that it has taken so long at the federal level to disburse these funds though she is happy now that that can move forward, but she said many are concerned about how they are going to stay warm all winter.

The state has a number of Community Action Programs that received funding.

CANNON TRAM BIDS COME IN HIGH

The state has received two bids to replace the state’s tramway at Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch State Park and both are far higher than the state anticipated, Ayotte and council were told.

The bids came in with the low bidder Doppelmayr at $44.6 million. The state’s estimate was much lower, $33 million. Another bid came in higher from Poma.

“So we are assessing with the low bidder on price reductions,” said Adam Crepeau, acting commissioner of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. He said the bids were broken down into three components with the one related to the buildings coming in much higher than anticipated.

The state will be working on whether there is additional funding out there and what other options exist, Crepeau said.

The existing tram is at the end of its useful life and has been decommissioned for public use.

It has been a tourist draw particularly during foliage season and is used by skiers and snowboarders during the winter months to ski at state-owned Cannon. The public has been told not to expect to have use of a tram for at least the next two winters.

“We are turning over every rock,” for additional funding, Crepeau said.

To increase capacity in the tram, they have to design for more weight because people are heavier, Crepeau said.

“It’s an important landmark,” said Kenney.

The state is also looking for a new leader to operate the ski area at Cannon after its new director, Jayce Wirth was hired to work at Bretton Woods. Crepeau said there are two top applicants who are from outside of the state.

“We want to have a face to face discussion,” Crepeau said. The hope is to have a new general manager before the ski season begins in several months.

CANADA OFFERS NEW HAMPSHIRE A GIFT OF MAPLES UPON THE NATION’S 250th

The council accepted a donation of 15 maple tress from the government of Canada in honor of the nation’s 250th. Other border states are receiving trees as well and in total there are 250 being donated.

Ayotte said they will be coming in the spring and she said there will be plans to plant them perhaps at the State House, Bridge’s House, and perhaps one for each county among other ideas.

CYANOBACTERIA TESTING IN DRINKING WATER

A contract with Cyano Holdings LLC DBA Greenwater Laboratory was discussed and approved at the meeting. Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Bob Scott said while this year was not so much a problem, cyanobacteria is a growing problem in the state. There are 11 public water bodies that rely on surface water for drinking and this organization tests for cyanobacteria.

COMMENDATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS

Ayotte said September is Hunger Action Month and urged individuals and communities to raise awareness. Executive Councilors agreed to a competition to see which district can raise the most donations of food.

The New Hampshire Food Bank was honored for their service to individuals and communities throughout the state.

The council also offered commendations to the retired Honorable Jean Burling, the first woman to serve on New Hampshire’s Superior Court. She served for almost 30 years as a judge in Grafton County Superior Court and said she was thankful for the opportunity to serve the people of New Hampshire in that capacity.

Dr. Sian Beilock, the first woman president of Dartmouth College was also honored. She is the 19th president of Dartmouth College. The governor honored her for her many accomplishments.

She said she is really excited about what Dartmouth is doing for the state of New Hampshire and noted this was the first time the Executive Council has met at Dartmouth College.

Also honored was state Rep. Susan Almy, D-Lebanon who is retiring after serving in the House since 1996.

LOON REQUEST FOR PARTIAL FUNDING TABLED

Loon Mountain in Lincoln had $117,494 for replacement of a 2021 snow groomer from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund approved despite concern raised.

The state got money from Volkswagen following violations of the MtBE and the money is used to reduce dirty diesel engines.

“This is taxpayer funding going to a private business,” said Executive Councilor David Wheeler, R-Milford, who urged the request be tabled.

Agreeing with him were Executive Councilors Janet Stevens, R-Rye and John Stephen, R-Manchester.

Councilor Liot Hill said she supported the request, noting that the north country needs this business and all the jobs and tourism they provide.

Councilor Kenney asked if the funds are prioritized for municipalities.

Scott said yes though they don’t have as many requesting the money as they have funds. He said scoring on bids needs to show a public benefit and added the state is not being able to meet federal targets to get the money out the door because municipalities have not applied.

He said about $640,000 is left in the account and there is a potential for another round of funding.

“Other ski mountains are going to line up,” Kenney said. “Would Bretton Woods or Attitash be treated the same?”

Scott said potentially they could be eligible.

Executive Councilor Janet Stevens, R-Rye, noted this is a 25 percent match and a fraction of what the state typically awards for municipalities is more. The matter could come up again when the council meets in October.

FREE STATE PROJECT SIGN STILL UP ON THE HIGHWAY

David Rodrigue, commissioner of Transportation was pressed by Councilor Liot Hill on why the Free State Project still has a sponsored sign on the interstate. She said she was concerned that it sends a message that the government is behind the Free State Project.

Rodrigue said there is a policy to not allow those sort of signs and there may be others similar. He said the department is developing a plan to remove all of them.

$20 MILLION GO-NORTH SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT QUESTIONED, APPROVED AS FEDERAL CLOCK TICKS AND CLAW BACKS OCCUR IN OTHER STATES

A sole-source contract through 2028 for $20 million with Health Strategies of New Hampshire, an affiliate of the Endowment for Health in Concord was questioned and approved by the council.

This organization will serve as the lead coordinating organization for distribution of some of the almost $1 billion in federal funds to improve rural health across the state.

Donna Lee Lozeau is heading up GO-NORTH, which aims to find innovative solutions to rural health needs. She said, “we don’t have a lot of runway left” in terms of timing to use the federal money and although the council said they wanted the bids to be competitively offered there was little time to do that.

There is a three month stretch, she said, between going out to bid and awarding competitive contracts and that is too much time as the federal government wants quick movement and has taken money away from some states already because they are not acting quick enough.

The state received $204 million in federal money in February for the first budget period in five and about $100 million is already committed, Lozeau said. The state should hear whether it gets the next amount in October.

Lozeau said she would not be surprised if there might be more money coming for the state due to claw backs from other states that have not performed to federal standards. She said the state has been complimented on its work to date by the federal Centers for Medicaid Services.

She said this firm knows a lot about the issues that New Hampshire’s rural areas are facing in terms of health care.

Asked if the state is at risk of losing the funding, Lozeau said “absolutely.”

Councilor Liot Hill questioned why this was not bid out for a single year instead of two. Three states are having all their funds going back to the federal government Centers for Medicaid Services because they have not acted quickly, Executive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, said.

He said to Lozeau “we are trusting in you in making sure the oversight works.”

When the contracts come for final approval and looking at the rates, he said he hoped there would not be a a lot of training and other padding of the contracts.

“I want to see it after it is approved,” Stephen said.

She assured it will be on the website and he would be notified.

“I want to see complete and detailed budget,” Stephen said.

Liot Hill said while this is $1 billion, the state is losing almost $3 billion over that same period of time from federal healthcare funding. Stephen said we ought to be complimenting the governor and others “for getting this money out there quickly.”

DAMS AND REMOVALS

Councilor Liot Hill asked the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services about the 2,500 dams in the state. New Hampshire has 273 dams and removal of the them is sometimes controversial. In many cases the removal is beneficial to aquatic resources and fish.

Councilor Wheeler suggested a “deeper dive” into the dam issue and prioritizing them. He asked to table three dam removal requests which was approved. Those are dams in Brentwood, Jaffrey and Bethlehem.

Kenney said he has been working on dam issues and said he has been hearing from constituents who are concerned. He noted that the draw down allows for inspections and he said there is a rumor that the state is going to kick down a dam in Alton into Merrymeeting Lake.

That is not going to happen because there are no funds for that, though there is federal money to partially redesign that dam, Scott said.

“What we are doing now is partially lowering it,” he said noting it is a “high hazard dam.”

Full replacement of that dam in Alton is years away, Scott said.

Rene Pelletier, director of the water division, said this is a time of year when there are lake lowering efforts and this year the water is lower than usual. He noted that most of the money the state spends is on state-owned dams, not private.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.