Van Ostern Issues Report

The Council last week approved 63 items including several items of regional and statewide note, below.

Additionally, the Council secured an agreement from Fairpoint Communications to hold 5 public hearings across the state in the next five months -- open to members of the public and with representatives from the Attorney General’s office and the Public Utilities Commission – to strengthen public accountability for needed improvements in their consumer service levels. Details and dates will be included in my next update.

This agreement comes after the Council delayed a contract for Fairpoint phone and internet services in state agency offices in December, and also removed a clause in the proposed contract which would have nullified Fairpoint’s obligations in the case of a labor strike (one is ongoing). The strike is still ongoing, but Fairpoint management and workers did return to the negotiating table a few weeks after the contract was delayed, and are reportedly making progress.

The Council approved a number of regional and state contracts:

IN CENTRAL NH: Extending legal advocacy services for juveniles in Concord through NH Legal Assistance; a replacement well for a property owner in Gilmanton whose well was damaged by road salt; construction of a traffic signal at NH Rt 106 & Staniels Rd in Loudon; and leased new offices in Concord for the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities.

IN MONADNOCK & WESTERN NH: Lower Warren Brook restoration in Alstead; and outreach to reduce wood smoke emissions in Greater Keene.

IN STRAFFORD CO: Extending legal advocacy services for juveniles in Farmington & Rochester through NH Legal Assistance; appointed a commission for hearing proposed improvements to Rt 4 in Durham over Bunker Creek; managing public access on Barbadoes for the City of Dover; and approved private residential waterfront work on Little Bay in Dover.

STATEWIDE ISSUES: A $2.2mm federal grant for substance abuse & treatment; a list of contracts that state agencies had approved in the prior quarter that fell under the size needed for Council approval; a contract with Fairpoint for state phone & data services, with modifications mentioned above; and a $8m construction agreement (under budget estimate) for the state Marine Patrol HQ in Gilford, NH.

APPOINTMENTS: The Council approved appointment of Tomas Donavan as Director of Charitable Trusts; and 29 positions listed below.

Detail on all items mentioned above is included below, as well as links to the original contracts and documentation for each item.

Sincerely,

Colin

Executive Councilor, District 2

FULL 1/28 AGENDA

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

FULL INFORMATION

1. DETAIL: CENTRAL NH

#10 Authorized to amend an agreement with NH Legal Assistance Inc., Concord, NH (originally approved by G&C on 1-29-14, item #27), to provide civil legal advocacy services to juveniles up to age 18 in Laconia, Nashua, Manchester, Farmington, Conway, Concord, and Rochester areas who are at risk for, or are involved with, the juvenile justice system by providing services through the Youth Law Project, by extending the end date from February 1, 2015 to February 1, 2016. No Additional Funding. 100% Federal Funds.

#26 Authorized the Bureau of Highway Maintenance, Well Section, to enter into a contract with Skillings & Sons Inc., Amherst, NH, for a 6-inch drilled well and pump on the property of Ray Breton, Gilmanton, NH, in the amount of $21,210. Effective upon G&C approval through November 6, 2015. 100% Highway Funds.

#28 Authorized the Bureau of Construction to enter into a contract with American Excavating Inc., Derry, NH, for signalizing the intersection of NH Route 106, Staniels Road and Josiah Bartlett Road in the Town of Loudon, on the basis of a low bid of $1,166,727.54. (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $116,672.75 for payment of latent conditions which may appear during the construction of the project. Effective upon G&C approval through September 11, 2015. 100% Federal Funds

#36 Authorized to enter into a lease agreement with NTC Concord Holdings LLC, Concord, NH, for lease of new office space comprised of 2,120 square feet to be located on the ground floor, in an amount not to exceed $170,274. Effective February 1, 2015 with thirty days delay thereafter providing time for completion of renovations resulting in a rental and occupancy term of March 1, 2015 through February 28, 2020. 100% Federal Funds.

2. DETAIL: MONADNOCK REGION

#43 Authorized to enter into an agreement with the Town of Alstead, NH, to complete the Lower Warren Brook Restoration Project, in the amount of $87,400. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2016. 100% Federal Funds.

#45 Authorized to enter into a sole source contract with the Southwest Region Planning Commission, Keene, NH, to implement an outreach and education program to reduce wood smoke emissions in the Greater Keene Area, in an amount not to exceed $20,000. (2) Further Authorized an advance payment to the Southwest Region Planning Commission, Keene, NH, in an amount not to exceed $20,000 within fifteen days of receiving G&C approval. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2016. 100% AEP Settlement Funds.

3. DETAIL: STRAFFORD COUNTY

#10 Authorized to amend an agreement with NH Legal Assistance Inc., Concord, NH (originally approved by G&C on 1-29-14, item #27), to provide civil legal advocacy services to juveniles up to age 18 in Laconia, Nashua, Manchester, Farmington, Conway, Concord, and Rochester areas who are at risk for, or are involved with, the juvenile justice system by providing services through the Youth Law Project, by extending the end date from February 1, 2015 to February 1, 2016. No Additional Funding. 100% Federal Funds.

#E. Authorized the Bureau of Right of Way’s request to appoint a Commission for a hearing on the proposed improvements to US 4 bridge replacement over Bunker Creek, and if the necessity if found, to lay out the new highway and purchase land as necessary, with a suggested budget of $1,319.10.

#41 Authorized to enter into a Lease Agreement with the City of Dover, for the purpose of managing and maintaining the City owned public access site on Barbadoes Pond. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2019. No Funding.

#50 Authorized Michael C. McDonough’s request to perform work on Little Bay in Dover.

4. STATEWIDE PROJECTS AND POLICIES

#C. Authorized to appoint Thomas J. Donovan as the Director of Charitable Trusts and as Assistant Attorney General at a salary level of $92,000. Effective January 30, 2015 through March 22, 2019.

#19 Authorized to accept and expend federal funds in the amount of $2,187,927.93 for Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Bloc Grant federal Funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2015. 100% Federal Funds. Contingent upon Fiscal Committee approval on January 23, 2015.

#62 Authorized to accept and place on file a report containing a list of vendors that agencies have contracted with for the period of October 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

#63 Authorized to enter into a contract with Northern New England Telephone Operations LLC & Enhanced Communications of Northern New England Inc., (FairPoint Communications), Manchester, NH, for telephone and data communications services, for a total price not to exceed $13,000,000. Effective upon G&C approval, with actual services starting July 1, 2015 to allow time for cut-over, and expiring on June 30, 2020.

#37 Removed from the Table and Passed– The Governor and Council on motion of Councilor Sununu, seconded by Councilor Wheeler, voted to table the request of the Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction to enter into a Construction Management contract with Harvey Construction Corp., Bedford, NH, for the Department of Safety Marine Patrol Headquarters, Gilford, NH, for a total price not to exceed $7,998,717. (2) Further Authorized a contingency in the amount of $225,000 for unanticipated expenses, bringing the total to $8,223,717. (3) Further Authorized the amount of $234,000 for payment to the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction, for engineering services provided, bringing the total to $8,457,717. Effective upon G&C approval through May 1, 2016. 100% Other (Navigation Safety) Funds.

5. DETAIL: APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS

( * = District 2 Resident)

New Nominations by Governor Hassan:

Cannon Mountain Advisory Board

Karen K. Irwin, Hopkinton*

Richard McLeod, Concord*

Compensation Appeals Board

Dennis E.E. Adams, Deerfield

Mary Ann Ashcroft, Derry

Leo D. Kelly, Goffstown

Ronald E. Ludwig, Manchester

Robert H. Morneau, Wolfeboro

Dennis E. Murphy, Center Harbor

Constance J. Roy, Wolfeboro

Board of Licensed Dietitians

Carole A. Palmer, Penacook*

Board of Education

Gary Groleau, Laconia

Enhanced 911 Commission

Patrick Robinson, Manchester

Judicial Council

Shari J. Landry, Loudon

Pease Development Authority Board of Directors

George M. Bald, Somersworth*

Advisory Council on Worker’s Compensation

Douglas M. Goumas, Bedford

Confirmed by the Council:

Carmela C. Amato-Wierda, Durham, NH to the Air Resources Council*

Deborah Chabot, Hancock, NH to the Air Resources Council*

Robert Duval, Manchester, NH to the Air Resources Council

Timothy G. Lena, Kittery, ME to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Commission

Jeffrey Dubal, Manchester, NH to the Appellate Board

Eric D. Gelinas, Warner, NH to the Athletic Trainers Governing Board*

Edward F. Caron, Hudson, NH to the Business Finance Authority

Guy A. Santagate, Claremont, NH to the Business Finance Authority

Chuck Souther, Concord, NH to the Current Use Advisory Board*

Lisa J. Malfait, Concord, NH to the Board of Dental Examiners, Dental Hygienists Committee*

Scott A. Brooks, Quechee, VT to the Enhanced 911 Commission

Steven S. Roberge, Peterborough, NH to the Board of Foresters

Jennifer L. Tansey, Merrimack, NH to the Genetic Counselors Governing Board

Sally S. Fellows, Exeter, NH to the Historical Records Advisory Board

Anne T. Packard, Holderness, NH to the Historical Records Advisory Board

Tim Sappington, Randolph, NH to the Historical Resources Council

Carolyn W. Baldwin, Gilmanton, NH to the Historical Resources Council*

Catherine Hackett, Manchester, NH to the Human Rights Commission

Cameron Eldred, Hanover, NH to the Motor Vehicle Industry Board

Maris M. Wofsy, Salisbury, NH to the Occupational Therapy Governing Board*

Gillian Cavezzali, Plymouth, NH to the Physical Therapy Governing Board

Erik Anderson, Portsmouth, NH to the Ports and Harbors Advisory Council

Richard W. Mozier, Belmont, NH to the Respiratory Care Practitioners Governing Board*

Chris Rand, Weare, NH to the Telecommunications Planning and Development Advisory Committee

Bobby D. Broneske, Londonderry, NH to the Veterans Council

Robert Beaurivage, Auburn, NH to the Water Council

John Joseph Boisvert, Statham, NH to the Water Council

John A. Gilbert, Exeter, NH to the Water Council

David R. Hunt, Washington, NH to the Water Well Board*

###

Joanne Ruel, Executive Assistant

Executive Council