FROM DEBORA B. PIGNATELLI, Executive Councilor

October 11, 2006 Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting, October 11, 2006, that might be of interest to District Five constituents.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Authorized to accept a grant in the amount of $112,749, from the Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services, entitled Children’s Justice Act Grant, to be utilized to improve the criminal justice’s response in the handling of actual or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect in the State. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds. Fiscal Committee approved.

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Authorized to conduct multidisciplinary training for professionals from around the state entitled “Reactive Attachment Disorder” to be held on November 15, 2006 at the Holiday Inn, Concord, NH, at a cost not to exceed $9,497.20. (2)Further Authorized to accept and expend registration fees for the training above in the amount of $35 from each of an estimated 150 participants for a total not to exceed $5,250 to help defray the costs of this training facility expenses. (3)Further Authorized to enter into an agreement with The Holiday Inn in an amount not to exceed $6,697.20. Of this amount, $5,250 has already been requested to expend above, the rest is for necessary facilities and food services. Effective upon G&C approval through February 28, 2007. 45% Federal, 55% Agency Income Funds.

I mention this contract because, although not a huge amount of money, there were no competitive bids sought in the city where the agency decided to hold the conference. Competitive bids were sought in another community, came in lower, yet the agency chose the higher bid. The Council, with my vote and the votes of two other councilors, rejected this contract. IT'S WORKING!!!!

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Authorized to accept and expend $350,028 in federal funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Troy Mills Landfill Cooperative Agreement for support and environmental monitoring at the Troy Mills Landfill Superfund Site, Troy, NH. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2007. Fiscal Committee approved. The Troy Mills Landfill Superfund site in Troy is on the National Priorities List, and the EPA and the Department will cooperate in the remediation and environmental monitoring efforts.

Authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Town of Peterborough, NH, to complete the Contoocook River Urban Stormwater Improvements and Low Impact Development Demonstration Project in the amount of $104,990. Effective upon G&C approval through December 31, 2008. 100% Federal Funds. The DES Watershed Assistance Section focuses on the reduction of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation water runs over land or through the ground, transporting materials which are then deposited into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, or introduced into the groundwater. Pollutants can include chemicals, sediments, nutrients, and toxics. These materials can have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife.

Authorized to amend a sole source contract with GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., Manchester, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 7-28-04, item #59, amended on 5-18-05, item #47, amended on 6-21-06, item #112, amended on 8-9-06, item #46), to provide technical support and environmental monitoring at the Troy Mills Landfill Superfund Site, Troy, NH, by increasing the amount by $138,000 from $458,140 to $596,140. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized Moore to the Point Revocable Trust’s request to dredge from lakebed and excavate shoreline to construct a dug in boathouse; reset boulders on the existing breakwater, and install bumper piles adjacent to the walkway to the dock on property located at Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton. With the support of another Councilor, this permit was denied. These Dug-in boathouses cause damage to the shoreline. The boathouse is built on land and then dredged so that there is access from the water. We have outlawed boathouses in this state for years and this is an attempt to get around this law.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Bureau of Behavioral Health
Authorized to amend contract language pursuant to the sale of real property by Community Mental Health Center contractors and Harbor Homes Inc., Nashua, NH in the accompanying schedule of contracts that provide non-Medicaid funded mental health services. Effective retroactive to July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.

Division of Public Health Services. This contract affects Monadnock Family Services in Keene, Community Council in Nashua and Harbor Homes, also in Nashua.

Authorized Bureau of Disease Control and Health Statistics to enter into an agreement with The Uriah Group, Falls Church, VA, to design, conduct and evaluate a one-day tabletop exercise of State food defense response plans in NH in an amount totaling $29,783. Effective October 11, 2006 or upon G&C approval, whichever is later, through August 31, 2007. 100% Federal Funds. The purpose of this exercise is to test the capacity and coordinating capabilities of the Department of Public Health Services, other local, state and federal agencies and food service industry in responding to an event that begins as what is presumed to be an infectious disease outbreak but will then be identified as a deliberate chemical contamination of a food source such as a dairy product, juice or produce item.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL

Authorized to enter into an agreement with Monadnock Developmental Services, Keene, NH, to provide presentations to civic and business organizations on the employment of people with disabilities in the amount of $25,000. Effective upon G&C approval through July 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds.

NH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION

Authorized to award a $6,000 grant to Rivier College, Nashua, NH, 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, 2007. 100% General Funds.

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY

Authorized Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to grant the community applicants as detailed in letter dated September 28, 2006, a total of $45,434.95 for Hazardous Materials Planning. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds. The Keene Fire Department will receive a grant.

Authorized to amend a contract with Southwest Region Planning Commission, Keene, NH, (previously approved by G&C on 6-2-05, item #170), for certain transportation related planning activities, by increasing the amount by $18,400 from $297,000 to $315,400. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds.

Authorized to enter into an agreement with the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, Nashua, NH, to develop a Regional Safety Plan for the Nashua Regional Planning Commission region in the amount of $50,000. Effective upon G&C approval through September 30, 2007. 100% Federal Funds. The general trend in fatal accidents in New England has been rising in the last decade. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission believes that the Regional Safety Plan could assist the region in identifying key intersections and roads that may require future safety improvements.

The following persons from District Five were nominated by Governor Lynch to State of New Hampshire Boards and Commissions

Richard M. Monahon, Jr. of Peterborough, NH to the Board of Architects;

Lance dePlante, of New Ipswich, NH to the Emergency Shelter and Homeless Coordination Commission; H. Charles Royce of Jaffrey, NH to the NH Land and Community Heritage Authority; Attn. Honey Hastings, of Temple, NH to the Marital Mediator Certification Board and Deborah Ann Robinson of Merrimack, NH to the Recreational Therapy Governing Board.

Debora

Debora Pignatelli
Executive Councilor
22 Appletree Green
Nashua, NH 03062
http://www.debpignatelli.com