New Hampshire Town and City Magazine, November-December 2021

November/December 2021

TownandCity N E W

H A M P S H I R E

A PUBLICATION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

In This Issue:

Workplace Wellness Trends for 2022...........................................................10 The Corigen Medication Safety Program....................................................14 Valuable Tips to Educate Your Employees about Benefits......................16 Important Tips for Employee Benefits Bargaining....................................18 Chronic Stress Workplace Well-Being, and Preventing Burnout............20 Legislative Preview..........................................................................................24 Remembering John B. Andrews.............................................................. 26

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New Hampshire Public Deposit Investment Pool (NHPDIP or the Pool) has been providing New Hampshire public entities with professional investment services since 1993. The Pool is designed to meet the distinctive investment needs of cities, towns, school districts, and other political subdivisions, focusing on safety, liquidity, and a competitive yield.

TO LEARN MORE

Call Beth Galperin at 1.800.477.5258 or the Client Services Group at 1.844.464.7347 or visit www.nhpdip.com Thisinformation information is is for for institutional investor This investor use use only, only, not not for for further furtherdistribution distributiontotoretail retailinvestors, investors,and anddoes does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security.

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Investors calling 1-844-464-7347 available on the NHPDIP at www.nhpdip.com.

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Pool’s current Information Statement, which or any other government agency.

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Management LLC. An investment in the Pool is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) (www.finra.org) and Securities Investor Protection or any other government agency. Shares of the Pool are distributed by PFM Fund Distributors, Inc., Corporation (SIPC) (www.sipc.org).

PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. (www.finra.org) is a wholly ownedand subsidiary of PFM AssetProtection member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Securities Investor Management CorporationLLC. (SIPC) (www.sipc.org). PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PFM Asset

Management LLC.

Contents Table of

Volume LXIV • Number 6

November/December 2021

3

A Message from NHMA Executive Director

5 Happenings 9 Upcoming Events 28 Tech Insights: 5 Legal, Financial, and Operational Penalties for Municipalities Not Addressing Cybersecurity Risks 32 NHARPC Report: Sidewalk Planning 36 Legal Q&A: Do You Need a Warrant for That?

40 This Moment in NHMA History 41

Court Update

41 Name That City or Town 42 NLC Report: How to Spend ARPA Funds With an Equity Lens 44 2021 Index of Featured Articles Center Spread NHMA's 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition Progress Through Partnerships

10 14 16 18 20 24 26

Workplace Wellness Trends for 2022 The Corigen Medication Safety Program: Personalized Medicine for Safe Effective Drug Prescriptions Valuable Tips to Educate Your Employees about Benefits Important Tips for Employee Benefits Bargaining Chronic Stress Workplace Well-Being, and Preventing Burnout Legislative Preview

Remembering John B. Andrews

Cover: Town of Meredith by Ryan Brunk

New Hampshire Town and City Magazine Staff Executive Director Editor in Chief

Margaret M.L. Byrnes Timothy W. Fortier

Contributing Editors Margaret M.L. Byrnes

Natch Greyes Production/Design

Evans Printing Co.

Official Publication of the New Hampshire Municipal Association 25 Triangle Park Drive • Concord, New Hampshire 03301 Phone: 603.224.7447 • Email: nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org • Website: www.nhmunicipal.org New Hampshire Municipal Association Phone: 800.852.3358 (members only) NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY (USPS 379-620) (ISSN 0545-171X) is published 6 times a year for $25/member, $50/non-member per year, by the New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, New Hampshire 03301. Individual copies are $10.00 each. All rights reserved. Advertising rates will be furnished upon application. Periodical postage paid at Concord, NH 03302. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY serves as a medium for exchanging ideas and information on municipal affairs for officials of New Hampshire municipalities and county governments. Subscriptions are included as part of the annual dues for New Hampshire Municipal Association membership and are based on NHMA’s subscription policy. Nothing included herein is to be construed as having the endorsement of the NHMA unless so specifically stated. Any reproduction or use of contents requires permission from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Address correction requested. © Copyright 2021 New Hampshire Municipal Association

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New Hampshire Municipal Association

B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S

As of July, 2021

Shaun Mulholland -

Laura Buono - Chair Town Administrator, Hillsborough

Elizabeth Fox - Vice Chair Asst. City Manager, HR Director, Keene

Lisa Drabik - Treasurer Asst. Town Manager, Londonderry

Cheryl Lindner Chief of Staff, Nashua

Candace Bouchard City Councilor, Concord

Butch Burbank Town Manager, Lincoln

David Caron Town Administrator, Derry

Conservation Commission, Holderness

Shelagh Connelly

Phil D’Avanza Planning Board, Goffstown

Jeanie Forrester Selectman, Meredith

Stephen Fournier Town Manager, Newmarket

Joanne Haight Selectboard Chairman, Sandwich

Bill Herman Town Administrator, Auburn

Neil Irvine Town Administrator, New Hampton

Pamela Laflamme Community Development Director, Berlin

Patrick Long Alderman, Manchester

Harold Lynde Selectman, Pelham

Conner MacIver Town Administrator, Barrington

Selectman, North Hampton

Judie Milner City Manager, Franklin

Donna Nashawaty Town Manager, Sunapee

David Stack Town Manager, Bow

Eric Stohl Selectman, Columbia

David Swenson Selectman, New Durham

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Immediate Past Chair

City Manager, Lebanon

Jim Maggiore -

Immediate Past Vice Chair

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A Message from the

NHMA

Executive Director

L

Margaret M.L.Byrnes

ast November, NHMA put on its first ever virtual Annual Conference, which was a great success. Although we had hoped 2021 would allow us to return to our normal two day, in person conference, we determined that the safest decision was to hold a hybrid event—with something for everyone! The first day, Wednesday, November 17, will take place at the Doubletree in Manchester, for all of you who are ready to network and connect again in person. The core educational sessions on Wednesday will also be live streamed, so attendees who prefer to attend virtually can do so. Thursday and Friday will be entirely virtual, with numerous presenters sharing their time and expertise to educate local officials on everything from The Right-to-Know Law to ARPA funds and cybersecurity. It is almost inconceivable to think that it will have been two years since we were all able to meet in person at the Annual Conference, and NHMA staff are really looking forward to seeing our members there, whether in person or through the computer screen!

We’re so grateful that technology—although it’s not without its challenges—allows us to stay connected and to continue to serve our mission of advocating for and supporting local government.

This year’s keynote presenter theme is Progress through Partnership. The theme was particularly important to us this year. As we looked back on all the challenges that have been presented to us and to our members since March 2020, we reflected that the most successful outcomes were achieved when we were forming partnerships and collaborations—working together rather than working against each other. We were grateful for collaborations with other organizations and individuals, as well as with partners at the State.

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on our local officials trying to do their job, while respecting all perspectives and accounting us for: for the safetyContact of their residents.

Roberts & Greene, PLLC Roberts & Greene, PLLC Despite some of the challenges of the current times, NHMA will not lose sight of its purAccuracy Governmental Auditing Comprehensive

Audits of Financial Statements Financial Statement Preparation pose. We were formed by local officials in 1941 with a singular goal: to serve as a unified Accounting Assistance CommunicationServices Accounting voice for cities Staff and towns in New Hampshire. No matter our differences of opinion, we Training Timeliness know we are stronger together, especially when advocating for local government. This is Management Advisory Services

Comprehensive Governmental Auditing and and Accounting Services

Contact for: to keep in mind as we gear up for another legislative session: While it particularlyus important Audits of Financial Statements Contact for: Street may feel as if the legislative 47usHall session just ended, over 800 LSRs (“legislative service requests,” 603-856-8005 Concord, New Hampshire Financial Statement Preparation Email: info@roberts-greene.com most of which will become bills for the 2022 legislative session) have been filed so far—and Audits of Financial Statements Accuracy Accounting Assistance those are just House bill requests. If you followed our reporting in the Legislative Bulletin this Communication Financial Statement Preparation Staff Training omprehensive Governmental Auditing past year, you know that there was a disturbing trend of anti-local government sentiment, Accuracy Comprehensive Governmental Auditing Timeliness Accounting Assistance Management Advisory Servicesdownshifting, and threats to local control. nd AccountingCommunication Services reflected in a mixture of mandates, and Accounting Services Staff Training mprehensive Governmental Auditing Timeliness 47 Hall Street But you also know that, in the end, the advocacy from local government officials across 603-856-8005 d Accounting Services Contact us for: Management Advisory Services Contact us for: Concord, New Hampshire Email: info@roberts-greene.com the state made the difference, and Audits of Financial Statements Audits of Financial Statements that the session ultimately includFinancial Preparation Contact us Statement for: Financial Statement Preparation 47 Hall Street uracy ed some great wins—as well as Warmest regards, Accuracy Accounting Assistance of Financial Statements Accounting Assistance Concord, NewAudits Hampshire Email: info@roberts-greene.com unication Communication many important defeats.

NHMA Staff Training Financial Statement Preparation Staff Training eliness acy Timeliness members will once again be called Management Advisory Services Accounting Assistance Management Advisory Services cation on in 2022 to speak up and exStaff Training ess plain why local government is so Street 47 Hall Street 603-856-8005 Management Advisory Services 603-856-8005 Margaret M.L. Byrnes, w Hampshire important why partnerships Email: info@roberts-greene.com Concord, New Hampshire Email:and info@roberts-greene.com NHMA Executive Director and collaboration, not mandates, treet 603-856-8005 Hampshire are the key to success.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

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HAPPENINGS

NHMA Welcomes Katherine Heck as New Government Finance Advisor

We are pleased to introduce Katherine Heck as NHMA’s new Government Finance Advisor.

In this capacity, Katherine provides legislative advocacy and serves as a resource to municipal officials and staff on a variety of government finance and taxation issues. Moreover, she works collaboratively on publications and workshops for local finance officials to assist them in understanding and successfully performing their fiduciary responsibilities to promote fiscal health in New Hampshire cities and towns.

Katherine lives in Greenfield where she has served as the Town Treasurer for the past 15 years and is elected to the local School Board. Katherine received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and certificates in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago and in Public Financial Management form the International Monetary Fund.

In addition, Katherine provides financial consulting and project-based financial services to New England cities, towns, schools districts and U.S. based non-profit organizations.

Welcome aboard, Katherine! We hope our members will take the time to introduce themselves and welcome Katherine to NHMA. She can be reached at kheck@nhmunicipal.org or by calling 224.7447.

www.nhmunicipal.org

Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire Incorporates with Membership of 13 Municipalities and 1 County

Photo from left to right: Steve Holmgren, Durham; Ned Hulbert, Harrisville; Andrea Hodson, Harrisville; Everett Hammond, Lebanon; Julie Gilman, Exeter; Peter Kulbacki, Hanover; Lori Wilshire, Nashua; Kim Quirk, Enfield; John Tabor, Portsmouth; Doria Brown, Nashua; Andrew Maneval, Harrisville; Don Kreis, Consumer Advocate; Matt Miller, Pembroke; Howard Kalet, Rye; Peggy Schirrer, Walpole; Clifton Below, Lebanon; Renay Allen, Exeter; Craig Putnam, Hudson; Evan Oxenham, Plainfield; Penti Aalto, Pembroke; Dori Drachman, Peterborough; Jo-Ellen Courtney, Enfield; Phillip Stephenson, Hollis; April Salas, Hanover; Sam Evans-Brown, Clean Energy NH; Mary Day Mordecai, Growing Edge Partners; George Packard, Warner; Henry Herndon, Consultant; Tad Montgomery, Lebanon; Samuel Golding, Community Choice Partners; Lew Hitzrot, Exeter.

Do you know where your power comes from? If you live in select municipalities in New Hampshire, soon you will be able to have more control over the source of your electricity.

Plainfield, Newmarket, Enfield and Durham; and Cheshire County. Each member community has appointed a Director and an Alternate to serve on the Coalition’s Board of Directors.

On October 1, 2021, thirteen municipalities and one county joined together to incorporate Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (The Coalition). The nonprofit Joint Powers Agency was created to assist participating cities and towns in launching Community Power programs by which they aggregate and sell electric power on a community scale. Community Power was made possible by recent legislation enacted in 2019 amending RSA 53-E, also known as the Community Power Law and is a voluntary program for residents and municipalities.

“This is the most exciting thing to happen to the electricity sector in New Hampshire in decades,” says New Hampshire’s Consumer Advocate, Don Kreis. “If you are fortunate enough to live in a Community Power municipality, your municipality is going to be intimately involved in delivering to you not just cheaper electricity, but a whole menu possibly of energy initiatives that will deliver concrete benefits to you, that it will make you a more empowered and flexible consumer of the electricity grid and of energy generally.”

The founding members of the Coalition are: Cities of Lebanon, Nashua and Dover; Towns of Hanover, Harrisville, Exeter, Rye, Warner, Walpole,

“A lot of work has occurred over the past two years to get us to this point, and I’m thrilled that we are kicking off the Coalition with such a robust and diverse membership,” said Hanover

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HAPPENINGS from page 5 Sustainability Director April Salas, who was elected Chair of the Coalition. “This new institution is going to have a real impact in empowering our cities and towns to really lead on energy issues.”

Coalition Membership is open to all New Hampshire cities, towns and counties, and to regionally operated Community Power programs. The Coalition is subject to New Hampshire’s Right to Know law and all official meetings will be noticed and open to the public.

“It is finally here” was a resonant sentiment heard often throughout the day.

Consultants Samuel Golding and Henry Herndon have been working with these fourteen municipalities, among others, over the last year and a half to help form and launch the Coalition.

The inaugural board meeting and incorporation were followed by a luncheon, where the long-term supporters were recognized for their trailblazing work. Closing remarks were given

by Lebanon Assistant Mayor Clifton Below, who was elected Vice-Chair of the Coalition. Mr. Below is the primary author of the legislation enabling Community Power.

“Community Power Aggregation is a deliberate double entendre,” says Mr. Below. “We will be providing electric power in aggregate to our communities, with the goal of lowering costs and expanding access to renewable energy and other innovations. But the Coalition also aggregates the political power of communities so their interests may be better represented in state policy decisions that impact energy.”

The 13 city and town members of the Coalition represent more than 210,000 residents, or ~15% of the population 6

of New Hampshire with a potential default service load larger than Liberty Utilities’ default service, approximately equivalent in size to both Unitil and the New Hampshire Electric Coop, and all of which are smaller than Eversource (New Hampshire’s largest investorowned distribution utility).

Plainfield Director Evan Oxenham was elected Secretary and Exeter Director Nick Devonshire was elected Treasurer of the Coalition. Nashua Director Doria Brown was appointed as the fifth Director to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board, along with the four officers.

State law directs the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules governing the relationship between Community Power programs and distribution utilities with regard to metering, billing, access to customers data and other aspects of programs. Prior to incorporation, Coalition members collaborated with the PUC, utilities and other stakeholders to draft regulatory rules. The Coalition intends to continue to collaborate with state regulators and utilities on rules that enable an expeditious launch of New Hampshire’s Community Power market.

Electric distribution utilities continue to own and operate the local electrical grid, while Community Power programs serve as the default electricity supplier within the municipality. The programs operate on a competitive basis and are self-funded through the revenues received by participating customers, who can choose to take default service from their distribution utility

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

or from a Competitive Electric Power Supplier.

The Coalition aims to begin providing electric power supply for initial communities in 2022. For more information or to be involved, visit www.cpcnh. org or email info@cpcnh.org.

Valley Celebrates 25 Years of Service with NHMA

Top row, left to right: Judith Pellowe, Cordell Johnston, Natch Greyes. Bottom row, left to right: Pam Valley, Katherine Heck, Stephen Buckley.

Pam Valley was recently recognized by staff (see photo above) for her 25 years of service to NHMA. Pam was hired by the Association to serve as an office assistant back in 1996. Pam came to NHMA after her position with a Concord law firm and provides office support and clerical assistance mainly for the legal services department, but also for the legislative advocacy team as well. After 25 years, Pam continues to serve dutifully in this position today.

Pam, we could not have accomplished all that we have over the past 25 years without you and your steady presence!

Thanks so much for your service to NHMA’s board, staff, and to all our municipal members.

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Bristol Flips the Switch on Broadband Service Network will serve the town’s residents, businesses and government.

By John Koziol, Union Leader Correspondent Thanks to a public/private partnership, Bristol recently flipped the switch on a high-speed internet network that will serve residents, businesses and government in the small Newfound Lake area town.

Even when Bristol’s population doubles in the summer with seasonal residents, it’s still home to fewer than 7,000 people. Its economic development committee recognized the town was too small to attract broadband providers that could deliver affordable service and reach all its residents — a challenge faced by many rural communities in New Hampshire.

The Bristol Broadband Now network began last year when the town received a $1.5 million Connecting New Hampshire Emergency Broadband Expansion grant through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. That money allowed the creation of a 24-mile fiber route that connects Bristol to the NetworkNH system at Plymouth State University and will let 400 residences on Peaked Hill and Hall Road and vicinity — about 30% of the town — access the Bristol Broadband Now network within approximately a month, Town Administrator Nik Coates said.

The completion of Phase I of the network, which also connects all six municipal buildings and the three public schools in Bristol, was marked by a Sept. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony at town hall.

The Grafton County Broadband Committee, which Coates chairs, recently was awarded $250,000 to begin engineering on a 353-mile network that will connect Bristol and all the other 38 communities in the county. The committee is applying for a $26.2 million grant through the American Rescue Plan Act, he said, and hopes to hear later this fall whether it will receive it.

Coates said eX2 Technology LLC of Omaha, Neb., built the infrastructure for the network, and Hub66 of Acton, Mass., will provide the internet and wireless services.

Unlike the typical model where private broadband providers, based on economics, cherry-pick which communities or parts of communities they serve, Bristol, through its agreement with Hub66, has “basically flipped the script,” Coates said.

“Nobody’s ever done this before,” he said.

As Hub66 hooks up the rest of Bristol over the next five years, it will increasingly gain a larger ownership stake in the network, but the town will always maintain a level of ownership, Coates.

The overall goal, said Coates, is to provide “stable, reliable internet” that will serve the needs of Bristol residents, the town and schools. The network is also eyed as a key element in making Bristol a “hub” on the nascent Interstate-93 tech corridor.

While Hub66 is the initial internet service provider for Bristol Broadband Now, the system is an “open” one, said Coates, so that other providers can use it, too.

The network “is meant to be neutral. We’re not picking winners and losers,” he said.

The hope is that as the network expands, it will drive competition and bring down the cost of broadband in Bristol and throughout Grafton County, Coates said.

The importance of broadband – and the need to bring it to or expand it within underserved Granite State communities – has been recognized by many, including the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, which serves 118 cities and towns and has more than 85,000 members, including 244 in Bristol.

In 2020, the co-op created a subsidiary, NH Broadband, through which it is working “to ensure that all members we serve have access to high-speed internet,” said spokesman Seth Wheeler.

Wheeler said that NH Broadband currently provides fiber-optic, highspeed internet to about 350 subscribers in Colebrook, Clarksville, Stewartstown and Lempster.

In July, the co-op announced it would extend the service to all residents of Sandwich and Acworth by early 2022. NH Broadband is working with consultants and engineers to develop its buildout plans.

“The availability of grants, member interest and reaching those NHEC members who do not have any broadband service are all key factors that we are considering,” Wheeler said.

SOURCE: www.unionleader.com/news/business John Koziol/Union Leader Correspondent Oct 2, 2021 Updated Oct 4, 2021

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Please Join Us! Interested in Joining the Statewide Broadband Investment Planning Network?

The New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) has partnered with the National Collaborative for Digital Equity (NCDE), founded and based in New Hampshire, to help communities that are interested in using Local and Fiscal Recovery Funds (LFRF) to improve broadband. NHMA and NCDE are working together to bring interested members the opportunity to join a NHMA/NCDE broadband planning network and to undertake broadband investment planning together.

Overview of the Statewide Broadband Planning Network NCDE proposes that interested members allocate to NCDE a portion of their municipality’s ARPA Local Relief Funds (based on population, see below) to join the broadband investment planning network, whose priorities will be to: (1) assist the participating municipalities to develop one or more joint broadband investment funding proposals, (2) design investment plans to support for-profit and nonprofit business models that incorporate affordable pricing (<$15/month) for low- and moderate-income households; (3) assist participating municipalities to become “Broadband Ready” communities while developing NHMA’s capability to provide this support as an ongoing support to members generally; and (4) other broadband projects as deemed fundable.

Broadband planning network cost schedule, based on population:

25-4,999: $5,000 5,000-9,999: $7,500 10,000 and greater: $10,000

Please note that NHMA receives a fee for each municipality that joins the Statewide Broadband Planning Network with NCDE.

Sign-up Today to Learn More About the Network If you are interested in learning more about this Network, please contact NHMA’s Executive Director Margaret Byrnes at 603.224.7447 or via email at mbyrnes@nhmunicipal.org. Your name and contact information will be shared with NCDE, who will follow-up directly with you.

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Upcoming

Events

For more information or to register for an event, visit our online Calendar of Events at www.nhmunicipal.org. If you have any questions, please contact us at nhmaregistrations@nhmunicipal.org.

NOVEMBER 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition (Live and Virtual) Wednesday, November 17 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition (Virtual) Thursday, November 18 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition (Half-Day/Virtual) Friday, November 19 Thanksgiving Day (NHMA Offices closed) Thursday, November 25 Day After Thanksgiving Day (NHMA Offices closed) Friday, November 26

DECEMBER Christmas Eve (NHMA Offices closed) Friday, December 24 Please visit NHMA’s website @ www.nhmunicipal.org frequently for the most up-to-date event and training information.

Thank you.

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Workplace Wellness Trends for 2022

By Kerry Horne, M.Ed., Assistant Wellness Manager, HealthTrust

T

he COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to pivot and rethink how and where we work. With many workplaces going remote, employees’ homes turned into offices, schools and daycare centers. The thought of offering wellness programs for employees simply fell to the bottom of the list for many employers.

issues. To put it simply, many employees are stretched to capacity between work and home and something has to give.

While the thought of remote work may have seemed ideal at the beginning of the pandemic, today many people are still struggling with being an employee and caregiver at the same time.

As we move toward what we hope will be a post-COVID world, offering wellness programs for your employees should once again become a priority. But which components of wellness programs are most important now? Wellness priorities have shifted as a result of the pandemic, and it’s important for public employers to take a fresh look at the wellness programs you offer and make sure you are providing the resources your employees need as they continue to navigate the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Combine these factors with the increased challenges of finding work/life balance while working from home, and it becomes clear that providing mental health resources to employees will be essential. Looking forward over the next three years, 93 percent of employers surveyed by Willis Towers Watson say that behavioral health will be a priority.

In this article, we will explore some emerging trends in workplace wellness and why you might want to incorporate them into your own workplace culture.

A Focus on Mental Health, Stress Management and Mindfulness The impact of COVID-19 will be felt for many years to come and unfortunately, one of the leading areas of concern is employee mental health. In a recent survey of employers at 494 organizations in the U.S., the global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson found that employers’ biggest wellbeing challenges amongst their employees are rising stress and burnout, and higher mental health-related claims. In addition, the survey found that improving social connections will remain a challenge as nearly two in five employees are expected to be working remotely at the end of 2021, which makes them more likely to feel disconnected from their teams or organizations.

Financial Wellness and Employee Stress Another emerging trend in workplace wellness is a focus on financial wellness. Many people were impacted financially by the pandemic and are still trying to recover. Financial worry has a way of becoming a major driver of employee stress. The Willis Towers Watson survey found that 37 percent of employees live paycheck to paycheck and of those, 57 percent say they are struggling financially and have suffered in the last two years, and one in four employees say their finances have worsened over just the last six months. We have all learned to tighten our belts and find ways to stretch our budgets, but this may not be enough for many employees.

Providing tools and resources around financial well-being is

What is driving this trend? The WillisTowersWatson survey revealed that increased caregiving demands (67%) followed by decreased social connections (61%) and the impact of family and friends who have contracted COVID-19 (57%) are the leading drivers of increased mental/behavioral health 10

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

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something many employers may want to consider moving forward.

Maintaining High Productivity The chronic stress of the ongoing pandemic and all its impacts can also affect employee productivity, and even lead to “presenteeism”--employees may actually be at work but their focus is on something other than work, like financial issues or the stress of being a caregiver or finding balance working from home. Where does that leave employers?

At the end of the day we all want healthy and productive employees who feel like they have the tools and resources available to address all areas of wellness. As we move forward, employers should consider increasing programs with a focus on mental health,

stress management and financial wellness. Adding these three components to any established wellness program is a step in the right direction.

What Can Employers Do to Help? 10 Steps for a Healthy, Productive Workplace Here are a few simple things to consider offering or doing at your worksite today to help improve employee health and well-being.

1. Promote your Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Make sure all of your employees are aware of the services available. Create a communication campaign about your EAP to support your employees. If you are a HealthTrust Member Group, your employees, retirees and their dependents and

household members can access the LifeResources Employee Assistance Program through their HealthTrust coverage by calling 800.759.8122.

2. Stay connected. Find a way to keep your team connected.

Schedule check-in meetings in person (when possible) or virtually to connect and listen to your employees to see how they are doing. Look for signs of stress and burnout and provide resources as needed. Be present! Let your employees know you are there for them and keep reminding them of all the resources they have available.

3. Encourage self-care. Remind employees about the importance of physical activity and the positive

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SHAPING THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR OVER 100 YEARS Concord 603.224.7791

Hillsborough 603.464.5578

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WORKPLACE WELLNESS from page 11

own health, but to help maintain a healthy workplace.

impacts it can have on physical and mental health. Consider hosting a walking or step challenge to give your employees something fun to focus on.

6. Promote positivity. There are many simple ways to do this.

One example would be “High 5 Friday,” a day on which employees are encouraged to praise one another for a job well-done. Nothing like a little positivity to end the week.

4. Remind employees about the importance of sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, “Millions of people suffered from insomnia before the coronavirus, and unfortunately, the pandemic creates a host of new challenges — even for people who previously had no sleeping problems.

‘Coronasomnia’ is a new term that refers to sleep problems related to the pandemic. With increased stress and anxiety, there is a definite impact on our sleep and mental health, and the best way to combat it is to stick to good sleep hygiene practices.” The National Sleep Foundation has many great tools and resources you can use to create a campaign to remind employees of the importance of sleep.

5. Remind employees to stay home if they are sick! If we have learned anything from COVID19, it is that the best place for someone who is sick is not at work but at home – not only for their

7. Give back. Many people have been impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. As an organization, you can find a way to contribute to your community and give back together. Help clean up a park or run a food drive for a local shelter.

Paying it forward feels good!

8. Encourage vacations! Time away from work is healthy and in today’s stressful environment employees should be encouraged to use their time and take a break.

9. Consider offering financial wellness resources or consultations.

Consult your EAP to see if it has services available. Many employees have been financially impacted by the pandemic and adding a resource for financial wellness might be something employees need right now. Reminder to Groups that offer HealthTrust Medical

Coverage: Your employees, retirees and their dependents and household members can access one free 30- to 60-minute consultation with a financial planner, credit counselor or certified public accountant for each financial issue at no cost to them by calling the LifeResources Employee Assistance Program at 800.759.8122.

10. Have FUN. Create an employee wellness board or virtual board and ask everyone to submit pictures of themselves doing something healthy (“Healthy Selfies”) like taking a walk, preparing a nutritious meal, or enjoying family time. If you have many employees working remotely, encourage them to share pictures of at-home co-workers (aka pets) or have a desk decorating contest based on a holiday or a theme. Remember: Laughter is a great stress management tool.

Kerry Horne, M.Ed., is the Assistant Wellness Manager for HealthTrust.

Sources: 2021 Emerging From the Pandemic Survey – Willis Towers Watson https://www.sleepfoundation.org/ sleep-guidelines-covid-19-isolationNational Sleep Foundation

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NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

www.nhmunicipal.org

Go Go Green!

Green!

Help Digital!

Us Go Go Digital!

Help Us September/October 2021

TownandCity N E W

H A M P S H I R E

A PUBLICATION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

Currently New Hampshire Currently bi-monthly magazine, New New Hampshire Hampshire Currently our our bi-monthly bi-monthly magazine, magazine, member benefit and Town and City, is published as a member benefit and Town and City, is published as a member benefit and distributed approximately 2,300 municipal municipalofficials officials distributed 2,000 municipal officials distributedtotoapproximately approximately 2,300 acrossNew NewHampshire.

Hampshire. across New Hampshire.

In This Issue:

Weare arepleased pleasedtoto continue the print edition toto deliver thethe print edition We are pleased tocontinue continuetotodeliver deliver print edition member subscribers, however, should you find the digimember subscribers, however, should you find the digito member subscribers, however, should you find the version sufficient and no no require a aprint taltalversion sufficient and longer require printcopy, digital version sufficient andlonger no longer require a copy, print please let us know at nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. ororbyby please please let us know nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. copy, let usatknow at nhmainfo@nhmunicipal. contacting Tim Fortier. contacting Tim Fortier.Tim Fortier. org. or by contacting Advancing Racial Equity in Local Government ...........................................8 Town and City Clerks: What Do They Do? .................................................12 Legislative Updates to RSA 128: Town Health Officers...........................20 2021 Legislative Update: Be on Your Guard ..............................................22 Remembering Jessie Levine ................................................................... 26

Thank you for your consideration to move from a print

Thank you for your consideration consideration to move move from a print Thank edition to a digital version of Town and City magazine. edition to to aa digital digital version versionof ofTown Townand andCity Citymagazine. magazine.

Help Us Out! Go Green with Town and City!

Help Us Out! Go Green with Town and City!

Contact Timothy Fortier, Communications Coordinator, at 603.226.1305 or at

Contact Timothy Fortier, Communications Coordinator, at 603.226.1305 or at tfortier@nhmunicipal.org tfortier@nhmunicipal.org

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

13

The Corigen Medication Safety Program: Personalized Medicine for Safe, Effective Drug Prescriptions

By Krista Bouchard, Wellness Advisor, HealthTrust

M

edications don’t work the same for everyone. An individual’s unique genetic makeup, health conditions, and lifestyle are all factors in how they will respond to a particular medication.

The Corigen® Medication Safety Program, available through HealthTrust and provided by Coriell Life Sciences (CLS), uses the science of pharmacogenomics and DNA analysis to take a personalized approach to prescribing medications.

This voluntary and confidential program can help providers tailor treatment to an individual’s genetic makeup, medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle. Participants in the program can find out if medications they take now or could take in the future are identified as being safe and effective for them, potentially reducing their risk of side effects and adverse reactions and improving how they feel every day.

How Does the Program Work?

Individuals enrolled in a HealthTrust medical and prescription drug plan* are eligible to participate in the program at no cost to them. They enroll in the program online and if they qualify, they are sent a test kit. Then they follow the simple directions in the kit to provide a saliva sample and return it in the included prepaid mailer for secure pharmacogenomics testing.

The analysis reveals how the individual’s DNA and lifestyle factors such as age, medical conditions, and food and drink consumption impact their response to medication. A CLS pharmacist trained in pharmacogenomics reviews the results and works directly with individuals and their providers to identify recommended changes to medication regimens based on what the science says is safe and effective for those individuals.

Keeping Information Secure Participation in the Corigen Medication Safety Program will not impact an individual’s health coverage or health benefits. Neither HealthTrust nor the individual’s employer will receive the results of their DNA testing. The DNA testing results are confidential and maintained securely, just like any other medical record, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

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NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

Prescription Medications by the Numbers Close to 6,800 prescription medications and countless over-the-counter drugs are available in the United States.

- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Nearly 7 out of 10 American adults ages 40-79 take at least one prescription drug, and 22% take five or more prescription drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Every year in the U.S., adverse drug events account for over 3.5 million physician office visits, an estimated 1 million emergency department visits, and approximately 125,000 hospital admissions. - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The total cost of caring for patients with medication-associated errors exceeds $40 billion each year. In addition to the monetary cost, patients experience emotional and physical pain and suffering as a result of medication errors. - NIH

More information about the Corigen Medication Safety Program and resources to share with their staff are available to HealthTrust Members in the Secure Member Portal (SMP) on the HealthTrust website.

This innovative and valuable program is available as part of HealthTrust’s commitment to providing the resources covered individuals need to achieve and maintain optimal health so they can make the most of every day. *Note: Enrollees in a Medicomp Three plan that does not include prescription drug coverage are not eligible for the Medication Safety Program.

Krista Bouchard is a HealthTrust Wellness Advisor. www.nhmunicipal.org

Corigen® Medication Safety Program No two people are exactly alike, and medications don’t work the same for everyone. The Corigen Medication Safety Program takes a personalized medicine approach to prescription drugs by analyzing an individual’s DNA, lifestyle, and other factors to determine which medications are identified as being the most safe and effective for them. That can mean avoiding risky, costly trial-and-error prescribing. It can mean fewer side effects and adverse outcomes. It can mean feeling really good every day.

HealthTrust provides the tools and resources your employees and their families need to achieve and sustain optimal health. Contact our Wellness Team to learn more about the Corigen Medication Safety Program and all the resources available through HealthTrust.

800.527.5001 | www.healthtrustnh.org

Medical and Prescription Drug | Dental | Benefit Advantage FSA and HRA Services | Disability and Life Slice of Life Wellness Program | HealthTrust 360 | LiveHealth Online | LifeResources EAP SmartShopper | Grand Rounds | Corigen® Medication Safety Program www.nhmunicipal.org

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

15

Valuable Tips to Educate Your Employees about Benefits

By Andrew Struth, Benefits Advisor, HealthTrust

A

re your employees getting the most from their coverage plan? Providing a comprehensive benefits package is one of the most important things you can do as an employer, but you want to be sure to educate your employees so they understand their benefits and the resources available to help them stay healthy.

To take full advantage of their benefits, employees need to understand the coverage, programs and services available to them and how to access them. Employees who are well-educated about their benefits tend to make informed healthcare decisions, utilize preventive services, join wellness initiatives and take steps to prevent serious, costly health issues in the future.

8 Effective Ways to Keep Your Employees in the Know As you communicate to your employees, avoid using a single, one-size-fits-all approach, but identify a variety of methods that work for you as the employer and for your employees and retirees. Below are some tips you can implement to educate employees about their benefits, wellness programs and other resources available. If you are a HealthTrust Member, you can find posters, flyers, forward-ready emails and other

Can you use email to communicate with employees about their health coverage?

Yes! You can send an individual information about benefit options and wellness resources to their personal email, as long as the email does not contain protected health information.

– Mark Broth, Attorney, Drummond Woodsum Attorneys at Law, speaking as part of the HealthTrust webinar, Employee Privacy and Confidentiality in Human Resources Communications on March 31, 2021.

If you are a HealthTrust Member and would like to watch the full webinar recording, log in to your account on HealthTrust’s Secure Member Portal and click on “Toolkit > Watch-Read-Learn.”

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materials in the Secure Member Portal to help you spread the word and educate your employees.

1. Post notices and flyers about their benefits and wellness programs available in community areas such as breakrooms and remind them to check out online resources. If you are part of a HealthTrust Member Group, encourage your covered employees and retirees to create an account on HealthTrust’s Secure Enrollee Portal (SEP) so they can access coverage documents, digital ID cards, program information, single sign-on buttons to vendor partner sites including Anthem, CVS Caremark®, Delta Dental, and SmartShopper, and many other resources.

2. Use your intranet and internal newsletters, if available, to share benefit and wellness program information and reminders. If you are a HealthTrust Member, you can post your custom benefit education video, packets and comparisons on your intranet.

3. Send emails (work or personal) beginning at least one month before and throughout the open enrollment period. You could also send monthly emails with benefit reminders or new programs. If you are part of a HealthTrust Member Group, you can find all the open enrollment resources you need in one handy place on the Secure Member Portal.

4. Provide electronic and printed material with detailed information about their benefits, wellness programs, resources available and important deadlines.

Consider providing informational payroll stuffers with your employee’s paychecks or attaching flyers to electronic payroll notices.

5. Hold in-person and/or virtual Benefit Education sessions not only at open enrollment but throughout the year. In addition to offering sessions at different times that work for your employees, offer an evening session and invite spouses to attend, too. If you are a Member of HealthTrust, you can simply contact your www.nhmunicipal.org

Benefits Advisor to schedule a Benefit Education session virtually or in-person (depending on COVID-19 protocols).

6. Host health fairs and invite all of your vendors. Leverage “Health Awareness” observances (such as Breast Cancer Awareness month in October or Men’s Health Awareness month in June) to highlight a specific topic and let employees know that their benefits include resources to help and support them.

7. Designate a group benefits champion to educate employees on plans, provide resources and answer questions. If you are a HealthTrust Member, consider having someone on your staff apply to be a HealthTrust Wellness Coordinator and ask them to help you find ways to engage your employees and retirees in their benefits and wellness

programs. Among HealthTrust Member Groups, those with a Wellness Coordinator on staff have consistently higher participation rates in wellness programs than Groups that don’t have a Wellness Coordinator on staff. For more information, contact your HealthTrust Wellness Advisor.

8. Survey your employees and retirees to find out what they are most interested in learning about. If you are part of a HealthTrust Member Group, direct them to log in to their SEP account to access more information about the benefits, programs and services available to them.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun! Although you may use one or more of the tips above, it is vital to keep the information flowing throughout the

year. A fun way to do this is to pose a monthly trivia question to your staff related to the benefits and wellness programs you offer and award a prize to the person who submits the correct answer. Highlighting different features of your benefits or wellness programs each month will keep your employees engaged and informed! If you are part of a HealthTrust Member Group, your Wellness Coordinator can access ideas and program materials through HealthTrust’s secure Wellness Coordinator Portal.

Remember, offering comprehensive benefits and wellness programs, and educating your staff so they can fully use them, are important steps to creating a healthy, productive workplace.

But it’s equally important to let your employees know their health and wellness is as important to you as it is to them!

Andrew Struth is a HealthTrust Benefits Advisor.

Reminder to HealthTrust Members!

At HealthTrust, we offer our Members a variety of benefit resources to help them educate their covered employees and retirees, including:

• Benefit Education Presentations – These presentations are customized for each Member Group. They include an overview of the tools, programs and services available to their employees and retirees.

• Benefit Comparisons Charts – These contain detailed plan information with links to additional plan resources.

• Electronic Benefit Packets - For open enrollment (employees and retirees) or new hires, these fully customized electronic benefit packets contain links to all of the documents and fillable forms employees need to learn about and enroll in their benefits.

In addition, HealthTrust Benefits and Wellness Advisors are available to provide benefit education sessions virtually or in-person (depending on COVID-19 protocols), as well as to participate in Member-sponsored health fairs. These events allow employees to ask questions and stay informed about their benefit and wellness programs throughout the year.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

17

Important Tips for Employee Benefits Bargaining

By Teresa Williams, Benefits Advisor HealthTrust

M

anaging employee benefit plans in a collective bargaining environment can be challenging for both employers and unions. It is important to work with your benefit providers to access their support, resources and expertise early in the negotiation process. Keep education at the forefront of the process so that all parties have a comprehensive understanding of current benefits and any potential benefit options. It is important to know before a contract is finalized which benefits are available and can be implemented by your provider.

• Rating Summary – A report showing how rates are calculated.

• Plan designs and options – Strategies to reduce costs and promote consumerism while continuing to provide comprehensive employee benefits.

• Wellness and condition management programs – Programs that build awareness and encourage collaboration to promote healthy lifestyles and mitigate rising healthcare costs.

2 Key Steps to Take

HealthTrust is Here to Help

1. Share information. Share information across the entire committee, with both management and union representatives. HealthTrust, and most benefit providers, have staff available to help provide information. HealthTrust’s trained representatives can attend meetings, review reports about claims and rates, discuss benefit options, and provide education sessions for the committee and larger union audiences.

The above tips are important to take into consideration before entering negotiations, but remember, you don’t have to do it alone. It is important to work with HealthTrust or your coverage provider before agreeing to a benefit plan change, whether it is medical, dental, life, short-term disability or long-term disability coverage.

2. Use the resources and tools available to you from your benefits provider. For example, if you belong to a HealthTrust Member Group, you have access to these valuable resources:

18

• Stewardship Report (for Groups with 100 or more Enrollees) – A customized and detailed report showing membership data, medical and prescription claims utilization data, wellness program participation and recommendations.

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

Whether you are a HealthTrust Member or not, the HealthTrust team is a valuable resource. Changes to the collective bargaining agreement can affect employers, employees, elected boards and taxpayers. By working with your benefits provider, and by communicating with your employees about their options, you can reach an agreement that allows you to provide the benefits your employees and retirees need, while helping to contain healthcare costs for everyone.

Teresa Williams is a HealthTrust Benefits Advisor.

www.nhmunicipal.org

The HealthTrust Summit will explore “Connected Care” and how it is propelling us toward a new age of personalized medicine, accessible to everyone. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare has changed, with more options available now than ever before for individuals to access the most appropriate care from the location that best suits their needs. HealthTrust staff plan to be on site* to reconnect with you and share insights into our programs.

Telehealth, Emergency Care, Urgent Care: What changes have occurred and how will these changes impact the future of healthcare in New Hampshire and regionally?

Presented by: Maria Proulx, Regional Vice President Sales, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Hampshire.

Based on local and regional trends, learn how COVID-19 has shifted the way consumers access their healthcare, what changes are here to stay and how they may affect you and your employees.

Welcome to the Future of Medicine: Connected Care Presented by: Todd Thames, MD, MHA, FAAFP, Senior Regional Medical Director, Grand Rounds, Inc. Discover how the new generation of connected care can bring the greatest minds in medicine to those who live in the smallest corners of the world, and help in managing both chronic and acute conditions while integrating behavioral health services in ways that outpace traditional brick-and-mortar models.

Harness the Power of Generational Change Presented by: Kim Lear, Founder, Inlay Insights In this presentation we will explore how the barriers between work and life eroded during the pandemic and, by examining change through a generational lens, we will discuss our most pressing questions: Where have we been? How did we get to where we are today? Where might we go from here?

Corigen® Medication Safety Program: Personalized Medicine for Safe, Effective Drug Prescriptions Presented by: Scott Megill, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coriell Life Sciences Learn how the science of pharmacogenomics and DNA analysis can identify medications that are safe and effective for each individual, potentially reducing adverse reactions and side effects, and lowering healthcare costs for all of us.

Summit attendees will be provided with a connected care toolkit to share with their covered employees to help them understand all of their options for care. All HealthTrust Summit presentations will be available for viewing by our Members on our Secure Member Portal after the event.

The HealthTrust Annual Meeting and Board Elections will follow the Summit at 2:00 p.m. For more information, please visit our website, www.healthtrustnh.org. *Please note: While HealthTrust is looking forward to visiting with our Members in person at this exciting event, the health and safety of conference attendees, our staff, and New Hampshire’s communities remains our priority. We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and safety protocols related to it and will keep you informed if we need to make any changes to our Summit plans.

www.nhmunicipal.org

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

19

Chronic Stress Workplace Well-Being, and Preventing Burnout

By Lisa Maloney, Account Manager, LifeResources Employee Assistance Program (This article, sponsored by HealthTrust, is provided as part of our collaboration with LifeResources, provider of our Employee Assistance Program to HealthTrust Member Groups that offer HealthTrust medical coverage.)

H

ow many of us have thought to ourselves or uttered aloud, “It’s been more than a year and a half, and we’re still dealing with COVID”?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread impacts.

Some people postponed 2020 vacations and travel, rescheduled them for 2021, then realized that the Delta variant has stamped an unforgiving red “X” on their vacation. For others, the COVID-19 pandemic has had more dire effects than just modifying leisure plans.

Under the weight of an ongoing pandemic, people tend to be more vulnerable to the effects of chronic stress. As employers, it’s important to consider what steps you can take to help your employees, and to ensure that long-lasting stress does not lead to burnout—marked by mental, emotional, and even physical exhaustion, or a “numbing” of feelings and regard for yourself or others.

Stress: The Good, the Bad, the Chronic Not all stress is bad for you. Stress is a normal ingredient in the soup of our existence. Experiencing low levels of stress every day is part of a healthy life; it is what gets you out of bed in the morning, prompts you to take care of children relying on you, helps you work, and serves as a motivating factor to handle your many responsibilities, self-care, and relationships effectively. But excessive stress over a prolonged period of time—chronic stress—can be harmful.

Many employers and employees—including those who might already be dealing with challenging issues outside of work—are experiencing the effects of chronic stress in the workplace. U.S. Census Bureau surveys conducted from June 2019 to March 2020 found that 11 percent of people reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. By December 2020, that figure had jumped to over 42 percent. The numbers may be even higher today, given the fact that COVID has continued to impact our lives longer than many of us expected. The increase in requests for mental health services 20

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

to the LifeResources Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for these issues reflects this growing trend.

Factors related to COVID-19 may have compromised the operations and staffing of your workplace, which can worsen an already challenging situation. Chronic stress can negatively impact employees’ mental and physical health, and overall morale. Productivity, engagement, effectiveness, and safety on the job can also be diminished. Left unchecked, chronic stress among employees can lead to burnout.

Employees on the Edge of Burnout: Signs to Look For When it comes to the risks of chronic stress and burnout in the workplace, it’s important to pay attention. Observe and listen to your colleagues and staff. Keep attuned to signs of chronic stress and burnout in your employees. Perhaps they’ve been late or absent more often than they used to be.

They may appear tired or irritable. They might complain of headaches, stomach upset, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. The quality of their work may drop off.

As an employer, you may be able to find ways to help your employees before they get to the point of burnout. Try to keep an open line of communication with your employees and encourage them to talk to you if they are feeling stressed or have work-related concerns. Regular one-on-one “checkin” meetings may help establish an ongoing dialogue and help you work together to resolve issues before they escalate into bigger problems.

8 Key Steps to Preventing Employee Burnout How can you support your employees and enhance the wellbeing of your workplace? Here are a few strategies that can help.

1. Assess whether employee workload and the capacity to complete it is in balance. One Gallup poll showed that employees who say they usually have www.nhmunicipal.org

enough time to complete their work are 70 percent less likely to experience burnout. Provide staff with clear goals, set realistic expectations for work while still keeping it challenging, and problem-solve any imbalances.

2. Set boundaries for work/life balance. Discuss expectations around maintaining a healthy balance, and consider flexible work schedules when possible.

3. Increase psychological safety.

Create a culture of cooperation, support, and shared accountability, one where it is okay to ask questions and to learn from mistakes. Ensure your employees feel heard by administration or management and encourage and recognize any “thinking outside the box.” Model selfcare and open, respectful communication for your staff.

4. Normalize mental and physical breaks during the workday. Consider providing active, stress-relieving activities such as ping-pong, a walking club, or putting up a basketball hoop.

5. Set up “focus spaces” to allow employees in open office lay-

outs to work in a quiet, uninterrupted space as needed.

6. Leave five minutes free at the end of meetings, then adjourn so employees can focus on matters of their choice (or just breathe!) before going to the next meeting.

7. Help your employees take care of their own mental and physical health. Promote ongoing health initiatives and research new ones. Provide and “talk up” important health benefits, including your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), if you offer one. Look into providing meditation, yoga, or other stress management classes at your workplace.

8. Steer your employees to quality online resources. If you are part of a HealthTrust Member Group that offers medical coverage, your employees can access the LifeResources EAP website through their account on HealthTrust’s Secure Enrollee Portal. They can find information for all ages about managing stress and preventing burnout, updates and help for COVID-19 related issues, fi-

Reminder for HealthTrust Members: If you offer HealthTrust medical coverage, you, your employees, retirees and household members can access the comprehensive benefits available through the LifeResources Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Employers can seek help from the EAP for critical incident response, management consultation, organizational development, or substance use disorder issues, and provide trainings on dozens of subjects for managers and/or employees. For more information, log in to your account on HealthTrust’s Secure Member Portal and select “Slice of Life Programs” to access the EAP catalog.

Learn tips for minimizing stress during the holidays! Join us on December 8th at noon for a HealthTrust Wellness Webinar: Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Care This Holiday Season. Watch for registration details on our website at www.healthtrustnh.org.

www.nhmunicipal.org

nancial calculators, support and tools for applying to and choosing a college, finding childcare or eldercare, career guidance and skill-building, and countless other resources.

When you make positive changes in the face of unfavorable circumstances, you enhance the psychological, cognitive, and physical wellness of employees. Early recognition and response to a chronically stressed workforce will prevent burnout and foster new opportunities for employee health, happiness, engagement, and overall workplace well-being.

Lisa Maloney, M.A., is an Account Manager at LifeResources Employee Assistance Program.

Sources: How to Prevent Employee Burnout. (n.d.). Gallup. Retrieved August 18, 2021, from https://www. gallup.com/workplace/313160/ preventing-and-dealing-with-employee-burnout.aspx Employee Burnout: Causes and Cures. (2020). Gallup Report.

Retrieved August 18, 2021, from https://www.vanede.nl/ media/2669/gallup-iii-employeeburnout.pdf Hoppe, K. (2017, November 17). 10 Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress. Justworks. Retrieved August 19, 2021, from https://justworks. com/blog/10-ways-reduce-workplace-stress Sutton, PhD, J. (2021, July 15). How to Prevent Burnout in the Workplace: 20 Strategies.

Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/burnout-prevention/

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

21

Progress Through Partnerships NHMA’s 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition

Join Us

November 17—19, 2021

In-Person and Virtually!

MEMBER RATE: $100.00; $90.00 if paid electronically NON-MEMBER RATE: $130.00; $120.00 if paid electronically Bringing you inspirational speakers, a vast array of educational sessions, ample networking opportunities, and a live and virtual Exhibit Hall!

Most program sessions will be recorded and accessible to attendees during and after the conference. If you have a time conflict during a session you want to see, you’ll be able to watch it whenever it’s convenient to you.

NHMA is committed to ensuring all members have the opportunity to participate in the conference by making registration very affordable for eve-ryone.

And if networking is what you’re looking for, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to build new connections and have fun while you’re doing it.

Visit Sponsors & Exhibitors up to 6 months on the Whova Web and Mobile App. Sponsors and Exhibitors will be accessible in many ways to provide attendees with information about the products and services they need for successful municipal governments.

Explore Exhibitors with a searchable listing of exhibitors Step into Exhibitor booths for a variety of interactive opportunities The Video Chat tab allows you to view the booth staff and have direct one-on-one contact with informative vendors Read now or take it home. PDFs, slideshows, videos, and website links will all be available under the Resources tab.

On-demand recordings are available from most sessions and can be assessed directly from the WHOVA app.

Just like our program recordings, exhibitor information will be available throughout the year to come!

thank you to our 22

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

Conference Sessions In Legislative and Court U Right-to-Know La Fire Service Issue Conflicts of Intere Community Powe Tax Deeded Proper ARPA Funding Wellness Trends Cybersecurity And More…!

Who Should Atten Mayors Select Boards Council Members Municipal Manage Finance Officers P ublic Works Road Agents Planners Assessors Welfare Officials Code Enforcemen Building Inspector Anyone in Municipal Governm

SPONSORS www.nhmunicipal.org

Join Us for 3 Days of Training, Networking and Fun! Join Us

Join Us

Live and Virtual Streaming Opportunities!

It’s Not Too Late!

n-Person and In-Person and Virtually!

Virtually!Register Now to Benefit from Conference Resources All Year Long!

How to Get the Most Out of the Live and Virtual Annual Conference

rence Sessions Include: ative and Court Updates ight-to-Know Law Fire Service Issues onflicts of Interest Community Power ax Deeded Property ARPA Funding Wellness Trends Cybersecurity And More…!

Put the dates on your calendar: Clear your schedule from Wednesday, November 17 through noontime Friday, November 20 so that you can better focus on conference presentations and get the most from your participation

Create the right environment: Put away your cell phone, shut down other programs running in background, and create an environment that allows you to focus on the conference

Make sure you (or your computer) are ready: If you attend in person, drink your coffee to get ready. For virtual attendees, test your internet connections, your audio/video, so that you are ready when the first program session starts.

Download speaker presentations: Some speakers will provide handouts and are available for

ho Should Attend?

Mayors Select Boards Council Members Municipal Managers Finance Officers P ublic Works Road Agents Planners Assessors Welfare Officials Code Enforcement Building Inspectors Anyone in nicipal Government

download to view on your computer.

Ask questions and share information: Use the Chat tab during each session to ask questions of the speakers and other participants and to share information that might be helpful to others.

Visit the Live and Virtual Exhibit Halls: Just as you would do at the in-person conference, you will want to visit the Exhibit Hall during breaks to learn about products and services that will benefit your municipality.

Be inspired, social and learn network.

Join the funnew, and conversation municipal colleagues that aregain atGet something connect with withother municipal colleagues, tending the conference. new skills and bring this newfound knowledge back to your city or town.

Get inspired, learn something new, connect with municipal colle

For details, visit www.nhmunicipal.org under Calendar of Events. Questions? new skills and bring this newfound knowledge back to your city Get inspired, learn something new, connect with municipal colleagues, gain new Call 5603.224.7447 or email NHMAregistrations@nhmunicipal.org skills and bring this newfound knowledge back to your city or town.

For details, visit www.nhmunicipal.org under Calendar of Event

For details, visit www.nhmunicipal.org under Calendar of Events.

Call 5603.224.7447 or email NHMAregistrations@nhmunicipal.o Questions? Call 5603.224.7447 or email NHMAregistrations@nhmunicipal.org

www.nhmunicipal.org

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

23

Legislative Preview

By Natch Greyes, Municipal Services Counsel

W

e’re halfway through the two-year legislative term, and the hoped-for “return to normal” is already looking a little different than pre-2020.

Unfortunately, Covid is still with us, and with it some health and safety procedures and recommendations. While the New Hampshire legislature won’t be remote this year, there are already more committee proceedings scheduled to be broadcast online than pre-2020. In addition, air purifiers now hum throughout the hallways, and masks are a not uncommon professional accessory.

It’s also the time of a big transition at NHMA. I’ll be stepping into the Government Affairs role as Cordell transitions to his next adventure. Katherine Heck has been hired as our new Government Finance Advisor. And, we’re in the process of finalizing onboarding a new Municipal Services Counsel.

Appropriately, our fairly new team is not looking to push any major legislation this session, and we anticipate that – much like the first year of the term – this year will be more about defense than offense. We anticipate revival of the dreaded HB 111 – or at least some form of “qualified immunity” bill, bills imposing new regulations on New Hampshire’s municipalities in an attempt to find a solution to the

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state’s housing shortage, and a spate of well-intentioned but misguided bills on other matters of municipal concern.

The good news is that we do anticipate some helpful bills being filed as well. Municipalities and legislators across the state have been reaching out about bills ranging from amendments to help them build river walks for their communities to changing abatement interest to funding the 11 water and wastewater projects that were left out of the budget. We’re eager to get out and advocate for these important issues – and all the other ones that you’ve let us know about since the end of the 2021 session.

There will be some heavy lifting this year, and – as always – we’re going to need your help to do it. It was you – the hundreds of municipal officials and employees – who took the time last year to call, email, and meet with your legislators who were instrumental in turning the legislature away from the siren song of bad bills. Despite the oddity of committee recommendations of ought-to-pass, your efforts with your legislators caused the legislature to put a stop to bills that would have: • Imposed a constitutional 2 percent tax cap in every municipality;

www.nhmunicipal.org

• Severely limited the authority of city councils to enact ordinances; • Allowed gunfire on any municipal property and penalized local officials who try to regulate such activity; • Eliminated immunity for municipal employees and officials for innocent mistakes in the performance of their duties; • Micromanaged the municipal budgeting process by imposing needlessly complex requirements.

These efforts were matched with lobbying efforts that led to modest improvements in the law: • Through the budget process, the meals and rooms tax statute was amended to require distribution of 30 percent of the revenue to municipalities—not the 40 percent that was originally guaran-

teed, but far better than what has actually been distributed over the past several decades.

• After a disturbing supreme court decision threatened the confidentiality of communications between municipalities and their legal counsel, the legislature quickly amended RSA 91-A to clarify that those records are exempt from disclosure.

• A broadband matching grant initiative was established to help municipalities expand broadband coverage.

• The net metering capacity limit for “municipal hosts” was increased from one megawatt to five megawatts.

• A pilot program for the use of electronic poll books to check in voters at state and municipal elections was made permanent.

• Numerous small changes were made to improve municipal budgeting, finance, and tax collection processes.

While much is uncertain about the upcoming session, we know that we’ll need your help to replicate these successes. There’s no better advocate than a legislator’s hometown, and we know how important it is for us to do everything we can to facilitate that relationship. To that end, we are – as always – happy to take your emails and calls to help you improve your community and make New Hampshire an even better place for everyone to stay, work, and play.

Natch Greyes is the Municipal Services Counsel with the New Hampshire Municipal Association. He may be contacted at 603.224.7447 or at legalinquiries@ nhmunicipal.org.

3

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Remembering John B. Andrews Editor’s Note: John B. Andrews, former Executive Director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the former Local Government Center, passed away on September 2, 2021 in Rochester, New Hampshire surround by those he loved.

J

ohn retired from public service on September 4, 2009.

He shared his reflections and thoughts for the future in the September 2009 edition of New Hampshire Town and City magazine. These were his final written words (excerpted) to the municipal members he loved so much and dedicated his life to serving and his words resonate as strongly today as they did over 12 years ago.

in smaller communities. However, our legal staff ’s reputation for knowledge of municipal law makes them a valuable resource to elected officials and staff in larger communities too. The knowledgeable legal staff is responsible for our comprehensive training program and our first-class handbooks and guides for local officials.

In the legislative arena, there are dozens of “highlights,” many of which have changed the fundamental State-local relationship and structure of governance in New Hampshire. The “Top 10” include:

One of the hardest things for anyone to do is write their own “Swan Song.” You have to be careful not to blow your horn too loudly or take false credit; work hard not to sound too much like an obituary; and, yet, recall important highlights of your career. Upon reflection of the past 34-plus years, the most notable achievements that the organization has made on behalf of local governments fall into the general areas of legal services, legislative advocacy and risk management programs.

• Article 28-a (1984) prohibiting mandated costs and our legal defense of it in a challenge by the House Speaker and Senate President • NH Municipal Bond Bank and Public Deposit Investment Pool • RSA 53-A, Interlocal Agreements • RSA 49, Home Rule Process • State-Municipal Revenue Sharing • Liability Limits and Tort Immunity Laws for weather, street and highway defects and airport runways and taxiways • Municipal Registration of Motor Vehicles • Tax Increment Financing • Public Sector Collective Bargaining • Penalty Assessment Law and New Hampshire Police Academy

The institution of legal advisory services through toll-free WATS lines (Wide Area Telephone Service, for those that may be too young to recall) was a milestone because it represented the first major “hands-on”, daily presence of the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) through services to local officials and employees. A service that began in 1976 with attorney availability at three days per week (five days in 1977) is now four full-time attorneys handling thousands of inquiries per year. The legal inquiries service is used by officials in municipalities of all sizes, but primarily

Finally, in the arena of risk management, NHMA and its successor, the Local Government Center (LGC), has been an innovator and national leader. We began the first pooled risk management program in New Hampshire for workers’ and unemployment compensation in 1979. While that first program later separated from NHMA, we followed that success in 1984 with the HealthTrust and, in 1986, with the Property-Liability Trust. In 2000, we established another workers’ compensation program in response to our members’ needs for a high-quality, member-focused program and

John B. Andrews

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www.nhmunicipal.org

to provide all their needs in one location. By 2009, these risk management programs are nationally-recognized as leaders in pooled risk management, with the HealthTrust being the largest in the country with over 70,000 lives covered and annual revenues in excess of $350 million. The Property-Liability Trust covers $4.9 billion of property value and 5,270 vehicles. The amount of payroll covered by the workers’ compensation program is over $675 million.

The professional success of a person is usually not because of their personality, knowledge or skills alone. Most successful people are successful because they know enough to hire the right folks to work for them, give them general instructions, supply them with staff and other resources they need, provide some occasional guidance, run interference for them, and then step aside and let them run with it. I have been very fortunate to have been successful in doing that for 34¾ years here in New Hampshire and 3½ years before that in Maine. On the anniversary of each and every staff person, I write personal notes of congratulation, and a common theme is to thank them for what they do to make us a success in serving our members. When a person who works for LGC does a good job, it makes us all look good, especially me who was smart enough to hire them or to hire the person who hired them or to hire the person who hired the person who hired them … you get what I mean. No one succeeds alone.

Finally, no one succeeds professionally unless they have the support of their family and I’ve certainly been blessed with that for 40 years from my wife, Sharon … truly “my better half.” She has been the shoulder I sometimes cried upon, the patient listener I often unloaded on and the clear head who always gave me wise advice. But most www.nhmunicipal.org

of all, she loved me and supported me 110 percent as we put down roots in New Hampshire and raised our family.

I truly wouldn’t be here today if not for her.

I hope you’ll look back on the last 34 years and agree that we’ve been able to fulfill the mission of the New Hampshire Local Government Center to provide programs and services that strengthen the quality of its member governments and the ability of their officials and employees to serve the public by being:

• A catalyst for dialogue and action; • An advocate on issues; • An advisor on problems; • A provider of benefits and riskmanagement services; • An educator/trainer in skills; and,

• A resource for information.

I hope you’ll keep foremost in your hearts and minds: • The value of public service • The role of local government as the cornerstone of government in the United States • The virtue of participatory democracy • Civility and mutual respect • A commitment to the highest ethical standards • The importance of joint action and services • An unwavering conviction that local government makes a difference in people’s lives.

Best regards, John B. Andrews

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Tech

Insights

By Joe Howland, Chief Information Security Officer, VC3

5 Legal, Financial, and Operational Penalties for Municipalities Not Addressing Cybersecurity Risks

C

ities and towns—even the smallest municipalities—not addressing fundamental problems with information technology and cybersecurity are not simply risking a virus that could wipe out data. They risk serious legal, financial, and operational penalties. As stewards of private, sensitive, and confidential information, municipalities must take information technology seriously.

and confidential data, you may lose access to it.

Imagine if your police department was unable to access state or national crime databases.

The impacts of IT and cybersecurity underspending, obsolete systems, and poorly trained staff can hurt municipalities from a variety of angles.

Today, so much information access and sharing requires interdependence—and with interdependence comes responsibility. Do you think a friend would feel comfortable leaving valuables at your house if you never locked it? The same logic applies here. Towns and cities need to implement basic cybersecurity best practices or risk losing access to important information from government agencies.

1. The high costs of a cybersecurity incident.

3. Paying higher cyber insurance premiums.

When municipalities experience a cybersecurity incident without proactive IT support and cybersecurity best practices implemented, the costs in the aftermath of that incident will rise quickly from:

Some municipalities think that cyber insurance will help take care of the high costs of a cybersecurity incident. However, municipalities may have renewals declined or will pay much higher premiums for what’s already costly insurance if they don’t address some of the following issues:

• The time needed to notify authorities and regulatory agencies.

• Hiring emergency IT consultants to address the incident.

• Notifying citizens about the incident and providing them financial reparations (such as free identity theft monitoring services).

• Paying lawyers lots of money to deal with legal issues related to the incident.

• Many hours spent by municipal staff in crisis mode addressing the incident.

Even after addressing the incident, the repercussions may continue to be costly. Lawsuits, fines, and a damaged reputation in the eyes of citizens and businesses will haunt your municipality for months and years.

• Creating a strong password policy—including multifactor authentication for email, administrative access, and remote access • Establishing a data backup and disaster recovery plan— with at least two copies of your data backup offsite • Using enterprise-class antivirus software managed and maintained by IT professionals • Using endpoint detection and response (EDR)—a tool to detect attackers already inside your systems • Using modernized, professionally supported hardware • Keeping software modernized, upgraded, and patched • Protecting wi-fi access points

2. Losing access to national and state databases (such as crime databases).

• Conducting ongoing employee training about cyber threats

When your municipality appears unable to handle sensitive

• Establishing clear data access and authorization policies

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www.nhmunicipal.org

By taking more proactive steps, municipalities both lower cyber insurance premiums and reduce the risk of having a cybersecurity incident at all.

4. Cybersecurity continuing to affect municipal borrowing.

Credit-rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s, and Fitch take municipal cybersecurity into account when considering borrowing rates for municipalities. If towns and cities want to borrow money at lower interest rates, they need to proactively address cybersecurity.

According to Fitch from a press release early in 2021, “Fitch includes cybersecurity in its credit analysis of the municipal sector and as part of its corporate-wide environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework. In

example, the Town of Allport almost got its charter revoked this year.

addition, we believe cyber events pose financial risk which could impact municipal credit quality. This risk is not limited to the upfront cost of responding to a cyber-attack, but the costs of recovery and realignment of systems as well, which are many times more than the initial cost.”

Revoking a charter is serious, rare, and extreme—but it could mean the end of your municipality. The Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA) includes both general controls and application controls around information systems. For municipalities, accounting systems are often the most important information system they oversee.

5. Arkansas municipalities can lose their charters if they do not maintain specific cybersecurity standards.

There are three important points related to this law:

In one state, not following cybersecurity standards can lead to the loss of a municipality’s charter. An Arkansas law states that an Arkansas municipal charter can get revoked (yes, revoked!) if the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee finds two incidents of non-compliance with accounting procedures in a three-year period. For

Arkansas municipalities can now lose their charter from non-compliance with IT-related accounting practices.

While the law applies to application controls, it’s wise to follow all IT best practices recommended by the Arkansas Legislative Audit.

Basic Loan Requirements: • Bond issue approved by governmental entity

The Bond Bank’s Next Bond Issue will be on January 5, 2022 July 2021 Bond Sale Results True Interest Cost for: 5 year loans .75% 10 year loans .96% 15 year loans 1.49% 20 year loans 1.74% 25 year loans 2.01% 30 year loans 1.98%

Are you planning a capital project for 2022?

We can assist you with your planning by providing various scenarios based on level debt or level principal payments for different terms. Contact us now for your estimated debt schedules.

• Completed application approved by Bond Bank Board • Audit by CPA firm • Local bond counsel opinion

To schedule a meeting, obtain debt service schedules, or for details about our schedule, fees, Bond Anticipation Note programs, and current interest rates, please contact Tammy J. St. Gelais, Executive Director, at tstgelais@nhmbb.com. Visit our website at www.nhmbb.org.

Lebanon Middle School, Lebanon, NH

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

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TECH INSIGHTS from page 29 Other states should see Arkansas as a sign of what’s to come—and prepare.

--See a pattern? Today, proactive IT maintenance and support goes far beyond just making sure your hardware, software, and systems are running smoothly. Lack of proper “cyber hygiene” can impact the way you protect information, comply with the law, and stay financially sound as a municipality.

About Joe Howland Joe has been in the IT industry for over 20 years and has extensive IT manage-

ment experience that spans multiple industries. A UCLA grad with a degree in Mathematics Computation with a Computer Specialization, he worked with Computer Sciences Corporation for 10 years supporting defense and financial sector contracts. Joe joined VC3 in 2009 and during his time with VC3, Joe has performed in the role of Virtual CIO for some of VC3’s largest government customers. Joe is currently VC3’s Chief Information Security Officer and is responsible for VC3’s IT security as well as advising on security for VC3’s customers.

About VC3 VC3 is a leading managed services provider focused on municipal government. Founded in 1994 with offices across the east coast, VC3 forms part-

 Telecommunica�ons  Tax Assessment  Eminent Domain

nerships with municipalities to achieve their technology goals and harness their data. In addition to providing comprehensive managed IT solutions, VC3 offers cybersecurity, website design, custom application development, and business intelligence services.

Visit www.vc3.com to learn more.

We represent towns and ci�es throughout the state and bring value to our clients through decades of experience and adhering to the budgetary constraints under which municipali�es operate. We emphasize preven�ve and �mely legal counsel to our clients with a view toward avoiding problems that result in li�ga�on.

Special counsel services include:

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

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NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS

This segment is another in a series highlighting NHARPC’s efforts to provide education on planning-related topics.

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Sidewalk Planning Jay Minkarah, Executive Director, Nashua Regional Planning Commission; Susan Slack, Principal Planner, Lakes Region Planning Commission; and Scott Bogle, Senior Transportation Planner, Rockingham Planning Commission Is your Select Board or Planning Board hearing more from residents about desire for safe pedestrian accommodation than in years past? The COVID-19 pandemic has led more people in New Hampshire and around the country to seek their exercise outdoors, in some cases leading to a realization that they don’t feel as comfortable walking on local roadways as they’d like. Regional Planning Commissions can often help municipalities assess their non-motorized access and safety needs, whether for sidewalks, simple shoulder widening, or separated paths where right of way doesn’t exist for on-road improvements.

The following paragraphs offer snapshots of several local and regional pedestrian planning initiatives, resources for facility design and considerations around funding and maintenance. Examples range from large cities to small towns to multi-town regional efforts.

A Network Planning Approach for Nashua In the fall of 2019, the City of Nashua engaged the Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) to characterize areas with the greatest potential for expansion of its pedestrian transportation network with an emphasis on routes to high demand destinations, especially in areas of high transit dependency.

The goal of the project was to gain a greater understanding of current conditions and areas where improvements are needed most so that City resources can be allocated equitably and efficiently. The project involved extensive data compilation and outreach activities including a public outreach survey, two public participation sessions, a GIS-driven hotspot mapping exercise, and targeted field work.

To help assess current conditions and guide future planning efforts, the project team compiled an in-

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

ventory of the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Nashua, including sidewalks, bike lanes and trails, together with bike/ped-involved crash data over a four-year period. NRPC then completed a high-level GIS “scan” and data review of existing conditions to help identify areas with both a high potential demand for pedestrian travel and a need for infrastructure improvements. To determine demand and need, Census blocks were scored according to characteristics that quantify the relative quality of the walking experience together with factors that are likely to generate pedestrian activity. These included the presence or lack of sidewalks, proximity to key destinations such as parks and schools, public transit usage, and demographics factors such as households lacking access to a personal automobile. The sum of these inputs formed the basis of a cumulative level of service (LOS) index score for each census block illustrated on a Hot Spot Map that visually depicts areas of highest need and demand.

The next phase of the project involved an assessment of the sidewalk network in the high demand/high need areas previously identified which, not surprisingly, were concentrated around Nashua’s urban core.

For this analysis, NRPC used the Statewide Asset Data Exchange (SADES) framework and ArcGIS mobile technology to collect field data on sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian signals, all of which were compiled into a geodatabase that includes the presence or absence of relevant features, their relative condition, and associated physical barriers. Between spring and fall 2020 NRPC surveyed approximately 17 linear miles of pedestrian assets around downtown Nashua and adjacent neighborhoods.

Of the 17 miles of sidewalk assessed, approximately 57% were www.nhmunicipal.org

rated as being in good condition, 35% were rated fair, and 8% were deemed poor. The curb ramp assessment revealed that approximately 68% of the 350 curb ramps assessed were in good condition, another 25% were Fair, and 7% were in Poor condition. Of the crosswalks assessed, 70% had markings in good condition and 80% featured adequate ambient lighting and a minority of crossings had additional pedestrian amenities. Approximately one-third were equipped with pedestrian-actuated buttons, 15% had pedestrian-specific signage, and there were five crosswalks with raised humps.

These findings were then complied and mapped to allow the city to prioritize improvements based on areas with the highest need and potential demand.

Though much of the sidewalk network in Nashua’s core area is in good condition, several gaps in the network and areas where improvements are needed were identified.

Finally, the project suggested a series of strategies for implementing improvements to the City’s pedestrian network. The overall analysis was also informed by the extensive public engagement undertaken as a central part of the project. The result of this analysis provides a foundation for the community to develop a comprehensive plan for improving its pedestrian transportation network in an efficient and equitable way that maximizes public benefit and return on public investment.

Sidewalks, Streetscapes and Economic Vitality in the Lakes Region Taking a regional approach in a more rural part of the state, the Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC) is working with a handful of its member towns to provide information and training on implementing streetscaping concepts designed to imwww.nhmunicipal.org

prove pedestrian safety while also enhancing downtown economic vitality.

The work has been funded through a USDA Rural Housing Service grant.

As part of this work LRPC is undertaking sidewalk inventories in several of the communities. These data collection efforts follow NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) protocols to assess the condition of existing sidewalk infrastructure, including crosswalks and curbs. The project has also engaged municipal planners, vol-

that allow town officials to gauge public support for project proposals.

Temporary crosswalks, curb extensions, or bicycle lanes can be established to show how such traffic calming devices can work to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

Other streetscaping infrastructure can be designed to enhance public gathering places with benches, greenery, and lighting using resources such as AARP’s Pop-Up Placemaking Tool Kit. Providing music, food, and games are ways to attract public participa-

Complete Streets are streets designed to support safe travel and accessibility for all users. A complete streets design approach isn’t a one size fits all prescription, but rather a design process to ensure the safety needs of all likely users of a roadway are considered and addressed.

unteers, and local businesspeople in roundtable discussions on Complete Streets concepts, streetscaping improvements, funding sources available and the planning process needed to access those funds.

A lot of community outreach and planning is required before streetscaping projects can move into the queue for federal, state, and private funding sources. Locally adopted pedestrian and bicycle plans can harness a community’s vision and goals for providing safe access for all users of the transportation network. A review of local transportation plans with an eye toward integrating land use regulations and transportation planning is part of the process.

Community planners can engage the public in some creative brainstorming to determine how effective a potential streetscaping infrastructure project may be. These demonstration projects, using readily available “pop-up” tool kits, can be used to involve the public in planning infrastructure projects.

These can be fun community events

tion in these temporary project design events, which build energy, enthusiasm, and hopefully financial support for downtown improvements.

A healthy tourism economy is important to many Lakes Region communities. Sidewalks, pathways, and other transportation infrastructure that connect destination points can bring people downtown, spur economic vitality and enhance the attractiveness of a small town’s commercial district.

Resources and Strategies for Smaller Communities For small communities a good resource for planning safer pedestrian access, with or without their regional planning commission, is the Federal Highway Administration Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks Guide, referred to as the ‘STAR Guide’. It summarizes physically separated facilities like sidewalks, side paths, separated bike lanes and shared use paths; as well as shared facilities like shoulder bike routes, pedestrian lanes and advisory shoulders. The guide discusses the NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

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NHARPC from page 33 importance of a network approach, as well as common challenges in small towns such as accessibility requirements, design solutions that don’t require specialized sidewalk plows, and balancing safety and throughput when state highways serve as main streets.

A network approach is important in pedestrian planning to ensure that ultimately facilities connect people where they want to go, making walking a safer and more attractive option for short utilitarian trips (to school, to the library) as well as for exercise. How many neighborhoods within a half mile of your town’s elementary school are connected to school by safe pedestrian accommodation? What other destinations in town would residents like to be able to reach on foot? In addition to travel along a road, are road crossings safe and pedestrian friendly?

Are crosswalks marked only with paint or with advance warning signs and/or with pedestrian-activated beacons? Are crosswalk markings maintained annually so they remain highly visible to oncoming drivers?

A range of solutions are available to improve safety and accessibility for people walking. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Sidewalks – Sidewalks are the standard pedestrian accommodation. They provide physical separation from traffic on the adjacent roadway through a curb or an unpaved buffer space. They are recommended for all but the most lowspeed and low volume roadways. Considerations though include their cost to construct and maintain, potential drainage impacts and expense if curbing is used, and right of way availability.

Multi-Use Shoulders – While lacking the safety benefits of separation by vertical curb or horizontal buffer, on 34

low volume/low speed roads with tight right of way constraints a widened shoulder may work to accommodate people both walking and bicycling.

A key consideration is whether there is enough room for both a sidewalk and shoulder bicycle route. A narrow shoulder on a busy road creates a high stress environment for bicycling or walking, but a narrow shoulder next to a vertical curb is even more dangerous as it leaves someone riding a bicycle little or no room to maneuver if forced over by a passing car.

Separated Paths - Sometimes pedestrian access can be provided outside of the road right of way. Multi-use paths (including rail trails) can provide important pedestrian connectivity, especially when they parallel a roadway such as the Salem Bike/Ped Corridor paralleling Route 28 in Salem. A multi-use path is typically 8’-12’ wide and designed to carry both pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Much narrower paths can be suitable for people walking. When Stratham developed their Safe Routes to School Plan in 2019 it was clear that many of the roads connecting residential areas to schools had very constrained rights of way making sidewalks impractical without expensive land acquisition. What the town did have was a good deal of open space and an active trail-building program through their recreation department. With an easement from a

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

landowner whose land abutted a key stretch of roadway in the school zone an off-road path was built at low cost to allow a safe walking route for kids off the road. Other path connections were identified to allow connections between cul de sac neighborhoods without using roadways.

A well-planned network of sidewalks and other pedestrian accommodations enhances the safety and livability of your community. The role of streetscape improvements in supporting economic revitalization in downtowns is well documented. Safer places to walk support recreation and healthy physical activity, and also create opportunities for walking to replace driving for more short trips – whether to school, the library or the grocery store. Check out the STAR Guide as a starting place, and contact your regional planning commission for more resources and technical assistance.

Jay Minkarah, Executive Director, Nashua Regional Planning Commission, can be reached at jaym@nashuarpc.org or via phone at 603.417.6570 x6564; Susan Slack, Principal Planner, Lakes Region Planning Commission, can be reached at sslack@lakesrpc.org or via phone at 603.279.5337; and Scott Bogle, Senior Transportation Planner, Rockingham Planning Commission, can be reached at sbogle@therpc.org or via phone at 603.658.0515. www.nhmunicipal.org

Access to Employment Law Attorneys

at NO COST! Drummond Woodsum labor law attorneys are available to provide legal advice on matters including Title VII, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, employee discipline, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and age, sex and race-based discrimination.

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Drummond Woodsum attorneys will be available to answer employment-related questions --before you act -- and will make every effort to have every call responded to within 24 hours by an employment lawyer. The Hotline attorneys will let you know if you are facing a potential liability and how to best proceed. Drummond Woodsum

will keep confidential any information which it receives relative to the employment matter.

Who Can Call the Hotline?

The Hotline is a service available to only administrators, managers, department heads and elected officials from NHMA city and town members, and only concerning questions regarding employees subordinate to the caller. For example, the Hotline will not respond to inquiries from a department head regarding the authority of a town manager, or from a town manager regarding the authority of elected officials.

Is There a Fee? The Hotline is FREE, available at no charge, to NHMA city and town members, and will provide up to ½ hour of legal advice per employment issue. It is anticipated that most general employment law questions can be answered in less time.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

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Legal

Q and A Do You Need a Warrant for That?

By Natch Greyes, Municipal Services Counsel

I

t’s not uncommon for select boards or other local enforcement agencies to learn about health, safety, or other violations (including zoning!) that are occurring throughout the municipality. As is the case with everyone who values solving problems, boards often first think: we need to visit the location to determine the extent of the problem. That’s an admirable thought, but sometimes a problematic one.

The issue may be one that’s not observable from a simple drive-by of the location where the problem exists. It may be a problem that is occurring out-of-sight of the public highway, either in a remote portion of the property or inside someone’s house. If that’s the case, local officials should remember that the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution gives citizens the right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects” in the absence of a warrant.

Q. What does it mean for a person to be “secure” in the absence of a warrant?

At its core, the Fourth Amendment prevents the government – yes, including you, the local official reading this article – from showing up to someone’s property and demanding entry for the purposes of seeing whether an alleged violation of a statute or ordinance is really occurring. This right is not absolute. There are exceptions. Most of those originated in the police realm, but it’s important to keep in mind the key concept: You – the government – can’t just show up at someone’s house because you think they’re doing wrong and start to investigate.

Q. What can I do, if I can’t just demand that they let me in to see if anything is wrong?

Get a warrant! They’re not just for police departments. In fact, there are some good reasons why another local enforcement official, such as a local health officer might need to get a warrant. Take for example, the case of a somewhat derelict 36

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

house where the police suspect that methamphetamine is being manufactured. The local police might be called to the house time-and-again, and inform the select board that they suspect methamphetamine manufacture. Why? Perhaps, they’ve arrested individuals indicated that they purchased the drug from that house, or maybe they’ve even arrested the owner for manufacturing the drug. They may have observed suspicious activity, or been given reports of it from the surrounding neighbors.

There’s a great statute – RSA chapter 155-B – that allows a governing body to order that a hazardous or dilapidated building be repaired by its owner (or razed, if repair is not an option). Although it’s most often used when citizens start reporting clowns popping out of sewers around the scary, old abandoned Victorian, there’s no reason that it can’t be used in the context of a building where a highly toxic drug manufacturing process takes place. The residual chemicals from methamphetamine manufacturing can soak into the drywall and leech out, poisoning occupants years later.

That’s clearly a hazardous condition.

But in order to get the proof that an invisible hazard is present, the board is going to need proof. (Otherwise, their order won’t hold up in court if challenged.) Getting that proof is going to require lab results – tests of the existing drywall to prove that sufficient manufacturing occurred to make the house toxic. The only way to get those lab results is to get samples of the drywall. And that’s not necessarily going to fall under the search warrant obtained by the police. But the police may be able to provide sufficient evidence to provide the local health officer – or whoever is acting on behalf of the select board – probable cause to obtain a warrant from a judge to allow the board to obtain and test that drywall.

Q. Do we – the government – always need a warrant?

No. There are exceptions to the warrant requirement. While www.nhmunicipal.org

your municipal prosecutor should be able to give you a comprehensive overview of what those exceptions are, there are some that are going to come up more frequently in non-police contexts.

First, if you can see the violation from a public space (or another space into which you were invited), no warrant is required. Often, in the zoning context, it’s usually pretty easy to see whether the approved 1,800 square foot onestory single-family-home has morphed into a three-story monstrosity from the public highway. No warrant needed.

Or, it may be easy to see whatever is going on in the back lot from the (very angry) neighbor’s yard. If the neighbor invites the government in, no warrant is needed because, again, the government can see the violation from the neighbor’s yard. (But remember, don’t trespass onto the subject property!)

www.nhmunicipal.org

Second, you might be invited. For example, in order to get an occupancy permit, the owner has to invite the inspector in for a final inspection. So, it’s easy for the inspector to see the death-trap of a staircase that clearly violates code and can refuse to issue the permit. The inspector might also see whatever zoning or other violation is also occurring and wasn’t observable or known about from elsewhere. The inspector doesn’t have to ignore the existence of these other violations.

Third, as an ancillary to the second, you might be behaving as a reasonable person might – walking up the driveway/walkway to the front door in order to ask for permission to do whatever inspection that you want to do – and observe the violation while on the path to the door. Now, the government can’t intrude upon someone’s land for the purpose of finding the

violation, nor can it revisit it in such a manner upon observing the violation, but it can note it on the way in for the legitimate purpose. (Although there might be some argument about the admissibility of the quick photo that you snapped with your phone.)

Q. Okay, but what if we show up at somebody’s house and say we want to do an inspection because we believe a violation exists and the person doesn’t say anything?

Unless you – the government – have express permission to be in someone’s house, you need a warrant. Express permission is either clearly written permission granting the government access or, at the very least, a statement out-loud inviting you – the government – in. Otherwise, you’re

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

37

LEGAL Q&A from page 37 like a vampire and unable to cross the threshold.

Q. And what about New Hampshire law?

While the Fourth Amendment applies in New Hampshire as it does in all states, those municipal officials who may need to seek out a warrant in the health and safety or zoning or other non-criminal context should be aware of RSA chapter 595-B. That chapter covers Administrative Inspection Warrants – the kind of warrants that we’ve been discussing in this article. It reiterates the requirements of the Fourth Amendment – that such warrants can be issued only upon a

showing of probable cause supported by affidavit – and details the process by which the warrant may be executed and a return given to the issuing court.

Importantly, officials obtaining such warrants should be aware that they can perform the search authorized by them (i.e. “execute” the warrant) only between 8:01 a.m. and 5:59 p.m. unless otherwise authorized by the court, and cannot forcibly enter the location specified unless otherwise authorized by the court. In addition, a copy of the warrant and receipt of items taken must be provided to the owner, and a return (a list of seized items) must be filed with the issuing court. And the warrant – much like probable cause – goes stale. In the case of the warrant, it cannot be used after 7 days.

Given the myriad of complex issues that can come-up with warrants and their usage, it is often a good idea for municipal fire departments, building inspectors, or other code enforcement officials, health officers, members of local land use boards, and assessing officials, and other local officials who fall within the scope of RSA chapter 595-B to discuss any pending need for a warrant with their local experts – the local police department – and, as necessary, municipal counsel. You may need their help while you’re doing your best to keep your community safe.

Natch Greyes is the Municipal Services Counsel with the New Hampshire Municipal Association. He may be contacted at 603.224.7447 or at legalinquiries@ nhmunicipal.org.

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Manchester, Portsmouth & Lebanon, NH

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Go Green!

Go Green!

Green!

Help Us Go Digital!

HelpGo Us Go Digital!

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Digital!

Help Us Go Currently our our bi-monthly magazine, New Hampshire Currently bi-monthly magazine, New Hampshire

Town and our City,bi-monthly is published as a member benefit and Currently magazine, New Hampshire Town and City, is published as a member benefit and Currently our bi-monthly magazine, New Hampshire distributed to approximately municipal officials Town and City, is published as 2,300 a member benefit and Town and is published as2,300 a member benefit and distributed to approximately 2,300 municipal officials distributed toHampshire. approximately municipal officials across NewCity, distributed to approximately 2,300 municipal officials across New Hampshire. across New Hampshire. across New Hampshire.

We are pleased to continue to deliver the print edition to We are pleased to continue to deliver the print edition to digimember subscribers, however, should you find tothe We are pleased to continue to deliver the print edition We are pleased to continue the print edition to member subscribers, however, should to youdeliver find the digisubscribers, find thea digitalmember version sufficienthowever, and noshould longeryourequire print copy, tal version sufficient and no longer require a print copy, member subscribers, however, find the digital version sufficient andnhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. no longer require a should print copy,you please let us knowatat please let us know nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. or byor by please let us know at nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. or by contacting TimFortier.

Fortier. tal version sufficient and no longer require a print copy, contacting Tim contacting Tim Fortier.

please let us know at nhmainfo@nhmunicipal.org. or by Thank you foryour yourconsideration consideration to move a print Thank your consideration move from a print Thank you you for for totomove from afrom print contacting Tim Fortier. edition to of of Town andand CityCity magazine. edition to aa digital digitalversion version Town magazine. edition to a digital version of Town and City magazine.

Help Us Out! Go Green with Town and City!

Help Us Out!Thank Go Green Green Town and City! you with for consideration Help Us Out! Go withyour Town and City! to move from a print Contact TimothyFortier, Fortier,Communications Communications Coordinator, atat603.226.1305 oror at and Contact Timothy Coordinator, 603.226.1305 at edition to a digital version of Town Contact Timothy Fortier, Communications Coordinator, at 603.226.1305 or atCity magazine. tfortier@nhmunicipal.org tfortier@nhmunicipal.org

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Help Us Out! Go Green with Town and City!

Contact Timothy Fortier, Communications Coordinator, at 603.226.1305 or at 2022 Town and School Moderators

tfortier@nhmunicipal.org (Live, InҊPerson and Virtual) Workshops

Beginner & Advanced Training Provided!

SB2 Workshop—January 2022

Register online at www.nhmunicipal.org under CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Online preҊregistration required one week prior to each date.

Questions? Call 603.224.7447 or email:

Traditional Town Workshop— February 2002 9:00 am—2:00 pm 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord Attendees receive a copy of NHMA’s 2021 edition of Town Meeting and School Meeting Handbook.

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Virtual workshop to be delivered in Zoom if you chose to attend from the comfort of your own home or office.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

39

— This Moment in NHMA History — 25 years ago…

Pam Valley was hired by the Association to serve as an office assistant in 1996. Valley came to NHMA after her position with a Concord law firm. Valley provides office support and clerical assistance mainly for the legal and governmental affairs department.

After 25 years, Pam continues to serve in this position today.

NHMA’s president, Russell R. Marcoux (town administrator in Bedford), urged members to get involved in legislative matters. Marcoux often reminded members that NHMA lobbyists “cannot do it alone.” He emphasized the need to speak up and keep local legislators aware of how their “decisions” affect local government. “If you don’t,” he said, “local governments budgets will pay the price of silence.”

Editor’s Note: In 2013, NHMA named Russ the first recipient of the Municipal Advocate of the Year award. Unfortunately, Russ died several days before he was to receive the award so it is in his memory and honor that we name it after him. The NHMA Board voted unanimously to rename the award the Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of Marcoux’s enthusiastic and passionate advocacy of local government.

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Don’t be caught without it!

NewsLink gives you all the latest information on upcoming workshops, webinars and other training events.

The E-newsletter of the New Hampshire Municipal Association

This bi-weekly electronic newsletter is the most comprehensive resource for local government officials in New Hampshire.

To get all the news you can’t afford to miss, subscribe to NewsLink at www.nhmunicipal.org.

40

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

www.nhmunicipal.org

Court

Update

By Stephen C. Buckley, Legal Services Counsel and Natch Greyes, Municipal Services Counsel

Now available online:

October 2021 To Permit Removal Under Oath of Office the Divulged Information Must be Defamatory; Notice of a Nonpublic Session Based on Harm to Reputation Need Not be Provided to the Person Whose Reputation Could be Adversely Affected. Tejasinha Sivalingam v. Frances Newton, New Hampshire Supreme Court Case No. 2020-0216, 2020-0352

?

?

NAME

THAT

TOWN OR

CITY

? ?

?

?

www.nhmunicipal.org

Name the town that also includes the villages of Kidderville, Upper Kidderville, and Factory Village. According to Wikipedia, this territory was first granted in 1762 and named “Dryden,” after English poet and playwright John Dryden.

Due to the inability of its original grantees to settle the remote area, however, it was regranted in 1770 by Colonial Governor John Wentworth who renamed it after the East India Company’s chairman of the board.

When you have figured out the answer, email it to tfortier@nhmunicipal.org. The answer will appear in the January/February 2022 issue.

Editor’s Note: Regarding last issue’s contest, we heard from Chuck Fuller, chairperson of the Effingham Board of Selectmen, and he shared the following: The New England Masonic Charitable Institute was built in 1858 as Masonic Temple and education academy. 146 students enrolled in 1861. Later in 1891, the building was sold to the Town to be used as a Town Hall. In 1893, the Effingham Free Public Library came to be and used a large 1st floor room until 2004. At that time, the Town Offices moved to new quarters, and the library took over the entire 1st floor. Listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, today the building is undergoing a multi-year restoration. More information can be found at www.historiceffingham.org We also heard from Karen Payne, the president of the Effingham Preservation Society, who offered the following: Built by descendants of Robert Drake (1) and Abraham Drake (2) of Hampton, the siblings led by eldest Brigadier General 7th Brigade Cyrus K. Drake (9), included Josephus L. Drake, Esq. (9), Exa L. Drake (9), and Huldah L. Drake (9).

Opening Doors Across Time, a 501(c)(3) founded in 1999, effinghampreservationsociety.org. Thanks to Chuck and Karen for these historical and informational updates!

ANSWER TO PHOTO IN THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ISSUE: The photo on page 46 in the last issue of New Hampshire Town and City magazine is that of the town hall in the Town of Effingham.

Thanks to: Marshall A. Buttrick (Greenville); Vicki Gohl (Walpole); Cathy Raymond (Laconia); and Bill Herman (Auburn) who all responded with the correct answer.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

41

How to Spend ARPA Funds With an Equity Lens

By Jen Aceto, partnered with Polco

W

ith the arrival of American Rescue Plan Act funding, local leaders are looking at resource allocation through the lens of equity. Instead of limiting the focus to a single department or coordinator, they are taking a broader view, gathering community input and data before they make decisions about where the funds will go.

Gathering Data Through Community Engagement Before deciding how to allocate ARPA funds, local leaders need to understand the needs of residents and businesses.

Underserved populations and neighborhoods may have the greatest recovery needs. Hearing from community members will help leaders uncover valuable insights and guide decisions on how to spend funds equitably, both immediately and in the long term. Doing this work now will build a foundation for continued engagement and informed decision-making in the future.

U.S. Treasury guidelines urge local governments to engage their communities in deciding how to spend the funds.

The funding has the potential to produce a significant change in communities around the country, especially when it comes to mitigating inequities. The guidelines also require that funds promote equitable outcomes. So leaders must design public input programs and interventions with equity in mind. Not only is equity a requirement for local governments in ARPA spending – it is also in the best interest of the city’s overall success.

Data Tells a Story Survey data will help local governments tell the story of their recovery and help them decide how to move forward, building the foundation for long-term success. It also meets Treasury guidelines, which will help the federal government understand the impact of ARPA dollars on the community. Gathering data on an ongoing basis is critical for local governments to qualify for ARPA funding in the coming years.

Gathering data through public input can help leaders see differences in access to resources and services across groups.

Once municipalities have this data, they can begin to align funding with efforts to promote equity. They must also collect data on an ongoing basis regarding how the funds benefit residents, how they promote equitable outcomes, and progress equity goals.

Polco, a trusted partner of National League of Cities (NLC), is an online civic engagement company that serves the community information needs of local governments. Polco is working with NLC and Treasury guidelines to help cities across the nation incorporate public input that captures diverse feedback from constituents, local businesses, and residents. Polco’s ARPA Engagement Package involves community surveys to help cities get the data they need to establish a baseline and see changes over time. The package also shows a results dashboard that allows leaders to see how they are doing in the area of equity and inclusion.

Read more at National League of Cities website: https://www.nlc.org/article/2021/08/13/how-to-spend-arpafunds-with-an-equity-lens/

42

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

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New Hampshire Town and City

2021 Index of Featured Articles Up Close and Personal Cindy Kudlik, Selectboard, Town of Grafton...............................................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr ..................... 24 Ann Bond, Chair, Selectboard, Town of Pembroke......................................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 25 Becky Baldwin, Office Manager, Southwest Region Planning Commission.................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 22 Kathy L. Seaver, Fomer Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Town of Farmington....................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 23 Tavis Austin, Director of Planning and Development, Town of Wolfeboro..................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 32 Ashlee Crosby, Recreation Director, Town of Swanzey.................................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 33 Sara Smith, Administrative Assistant, Town of Groton.................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 29 Robert Bubba Ellis, Public Works Director and Road Agent, Town of Groton............................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 28 Budget and Finance Municipal State Aid and Revenue Sharing: Critical Needs Amidst Challenging Budget Times....................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 20 Governance A Nightmare on Main Street - Town Meeting in a Pandemic.......................................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 14 Virtual Town Meetings are More Efficient and Increase Participation..........................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 32 How to Get Young People to Join a Board or Committee............................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 30 Advancing Racial Equity in Local Government............................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct........................ 8 Energy Energy Improvements to Existing Buildings.................................................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 20 Keene’s Path to Community Power in New Hampshire...............................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 12 HR Report Sanbornize It!................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 44 Preparing for the EndÖWork in the Post-Pandemic World..........................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 38 To Mandate or Not to Mandate - The Vaccine Question on Everyone’s Mind.............................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 34 Show Me the Money: Vaccination Incentive Policies....................................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 44 Paid Family Leave in New Hampshire?.........................................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 36 Tech Insights A 2021 Cybersecurity Checklist: How Do You Rate Your Organization?.....................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 36 Why Strong Passwords Aren’t Enough - 3 Tips for a Better Password Policy................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 26 Water Supply Attacks Illustrates Security Lessions for Municipalities...........................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 24 Combating Evolving Threats: A Cybersecurity Framework for Towns and Cities.........................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 34 7 Benefits of a Technology Partnership.........................................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 30 5 Legal, Financial, and Operational Penalties for Municipalities Not Addressing Cybersecurity Risks.........................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 28 Land Use and Environment Timber Harvesting and Local Government..................................................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug......................... 8 Wellness Workplace Wellness Trends for 2022............................................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 10 The Corigen Medication Safety Program: Personalized Medicine for Safe, Effective Drug Prescriptions.....................................................................................Nov/Dec.................... 14 Valuable Tips to Educate Your Employees About Benefits............................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 16 Important Tips for Employee Benefits Bargaining........................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 18 Chronic Stress, Workplace Well-Being, and Preventing Burnout..................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 20 Legal Questions and Answers Practical Considerations for Conducing a Successful Optional Annual Meeting Under HB 1129...............................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 40 Municipal Officials vs. Municipal Employees: What is the Difference and Does it Matter?.........................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 34 The Oath of Office for Municipal Officials..................................................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 30 Village Districts: A Commonly Misunderstood Municipal Entity................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 40 Town Clearks & Their Officies.....................................................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 38 Do You Need a Warrant for That?................................................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 36 Legislative 2021 Legislative Outlook: Foggy with Storm Clouds...................................................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 34 The 2021 Legislative Session........................................................................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 10 Legislative Halftime 2021.............................................................................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 18 It’s Down to the Wire...................................................................................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 16 What a Year It Has Been!..............................................................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 22 2022 Legislative Preview...............................................................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 24 Miscellaneous 2020 Annual Report.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb......................... 4 Are You Aware of the Low-Income Drought Assistance Program?................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 26 Town and City Clerks: What Don’t They Do?..............................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 12 Town and City Clerks: Pandemic Perspectives..............................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 13 Remembering Jessie Levine...........................................................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 26 Remembering John B. Andrews....................................................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 26 Planning and Local Land Use Municipal Asset Vulnerability and Climate Resiliency Considerations when Developing Your CIP.............................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 12 What Exactly Do Hydrogeologists Do for Municipalities?...........................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 16 Roads Created by Prescription Are Not Yesterday’s Problem.........................................................................................................................................................May/Jun........................ 6 Intersect - Where Data and Results Converge..............................................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 10 Planning a Municipal Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex...............................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 20 Four Considerations That Will Impact Your Next Infrastructure Project.....................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 24 Public Safety Legislative Update to RSA 128: Town Health Officers.................................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 20 NHARPCs Report What Can Your RPC Do For You?...............................................................................................................................................................................................Jan/Feb....................... 28 Regional Planning and Coordination are Critical to Addressing New Hampshire’s Housing Crisis.............................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 34 COVID-19 Impacts on Transportation and Mobility..................................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 26 Regional Planning Commissions and Recreation Planning..........................................................................................................................................................Jul/Aug....................... 36 True or False: Debunking Common Master Plan Myths..............................................................................................................................................................Sep/Oct...................... 34 Sidewalk Planning........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 32 NLC Report Exploring State Interference Before, During and After the Crisis.................................................................................................................................................Mar/Apr...................... 40 A Message to Congress: Cities are Ready to Rebuild....................................................................................................................................................................May/Jun...................... 33 How to Spend ARPA Funds With an Equity Lens.......................................................................................................................................................................Nov/Dec..................... 42

44

NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN AND CITY

www.nhmunicipal.org

Statement of Ownership Management, and Circulation (Required by 39 U.S.C. 2685)

New Hampshire Town and City (Publication Number: 379-620) is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) at the New Hampshire Municipal Association, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301. The editor/managing editor of New Hampshire Town and City is Timothy Fortier and the publisher is the New Hampshire Municipal Association. Annual subscription price is $25.00 for members, $50.00 for nonmembers.

Date of filing: September 30, 2021. Statement of Ownership is published in the November/December issue.

Extent and Nature of Circulation:

Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

a. Total number of copies (Net press run) 2,157 b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) 1. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated 1,909.0 on Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser's proof copies, and exchange copies) 2. Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 223.0 3541(Include paid distributioon above nominal rate, advertiser's proof copies, and exchange copies) 3. Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales -------Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® 4. Paid Distribution by Other Class of Mail Through the -------USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail®) c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b, (1), (2), (3), and (4)) 2,132 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) 1. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County 18.0 included on PS Form 3541 2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies 7.0 included on PS Form 3541 3. Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes -------Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail) 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail -------(Carriers or other means) e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 25

2,121

(Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4))

f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c, and 15e.) g. Copies not distributed h. Total (Sum of 15f and g) i. Percent paid and/or requested circulation (15c/15f x 100) I certify that all information shown above is true and complete.

Timothy Fortier Editor

2,157 2 2,159 98.841%

1,873

223

--------------2,096 18 7 --------------25 2,121 2 2,123 98.821%

Periodical Postage Paid at Concord, NH

25 Triangle Park Drive Concord, NH 03301

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