Highlights of NHMA's Legislative Policy Conference
The information contained in this article is not intended as legal advice and may no longer be accurate due to changes in the law. Consult NHMA's legal services or your municipal attorney.
On September 26th, nearly 60 delegates (see related table) representing cities and towns across New Hampshire convened at NHMA offices in Concord to adopt NHMA’s legislative policies and principles for the 2015-2016 legislative biennium. These policies and principles will help guide the Association’s legislative efforts for the next two years.
The process of adopting positions on a myriad of legislative issues begins many months before the regular legislative session convenes in January, 2015. In fact, the process began in early spring when local officials and NHMA affiliate groups were invited to submit policy proposals.
NHMA then convened the first organizational meeting on April 7 and the three established policy committees met separately many times between early April and the end of May to review the policy proposals assigned to each committee. Once these committees completed their work, their policy recommendations were sent to every municipal member of NHMA by mail on June 18. Each municipality’s governing body was then encouraged to review these policy recommendations and establish positions on them. In addition, floor proposals submitted by local officials were mailed to each municipality on August 20th well in advance so each member could review and take a position on them before the Policy Conference.
NHMA would like to thank all our members for their participation in this year’s policy process, but we would like to especially recognize those members who played a leadership role, including:
General Administration and Governance
Chair: Stephen Fournier, Newmarket Town Administrator
Vice Chair: Hal Lynde, Pelham Selectman
Finance and Revenue
Chair: Elizabeth Dragon, Franklin City Manager
Vice Chair: Donna Nashawaty, Sunapee Town Manager
Infrastructure, Development and Land Use
Chair: Shelagh Connelly, Holderness Selectman
Vice Chair: Jane Taylor, Claremont City Attorney
Member Municipality and Voting Delegate
Allenstown
Shaun Mulholland, Town Administrator
Ashland
Norm DeWolfe, Selectmen Chair
Auburn
James Headd, Selectman
Barnstead
David Kerr, Selectman
Barrington
Dennis Malloy, Selectman
Belmont
K. Jeanne Beaudin, Town Administrator
Berlin
Tom McCue, Esq., Planning Board
Boscawen
Bruce Crawford, Planning Board
Bow
Jill Hadaway, Selectman
Brentwood
Ken Christiansen, Selectmen Chair
Bristol
Michael Capone, Town Administrator
Brookfield
Brian Robischeau, Selectman
Candia
Carleton Robie, Selectman
Charlestown
David Edkins, Administrator
Chesterfield
Rick Carrier, Town Administrator
Columbia
Eric Stohl, Selectman
Concord
J. Allen Bennett, City Councilor
Conway
Michael Digregorio, Selectman
Deerfield
Michael Wright, Town Administrator
Derry
Larry Budreau, Town Administrator
Dover
William Garrison, City Councilor
Exeter
Russ Dean, Town Manager
Fitzwilliam
Susan Silverman, Selectmen Chair
Franklin
Elizabeth Dragon, City Manager
Gilford
Scott Dunn, Town Administrator
Goffstown
Phil D’Avanza, Planning Board
Hampton
Hon. James Waddell, Selectman
Hancock
Erik Spitzbarth, Selectman
Hillsborough
Laura Buono, Town Administrator
Hinsdale
Jill Collins, Town Administrator
Holderness
Walter Johnson, Town Administrator
Hudson
Steve Malizia, Town Administrator
Jaffrey
Dave Caron, Town Manager
Kingston
Peter Broderick, Selectman
Laconia
Scott Myers, City Manager
Lebanon
Georgia Tuttle, Mayor
Lee
Scott Bugbee, Selectman
Lincoln
Alfred “Butch” Burbank, Town Manager
Litchfield
Brent Lemire, Selectman
Middleton
Mike Schwarz, Selectmen Chair
Milton
Lawrence D. Brown
Moultonborough
Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
Newmarket
Stephen Fournier, Town Administrator
Newton
Charles Melvin, Sr., Selectman
North Hampton
Jim Maggiore, Selectman
Northwood
Brent Lemire, Town Administrator
Nottingham
Chris Sterndale, Town Administrator
Pelham
Hal Lynde, Selectman
Pittsfield
Michael Williams, Town Administrator
Plymouth
William Bolton, Jr., Selectman
Portsmouth
M. Chris Dwyer, City Councilor
Rochester
Elaine Lauterborn, City Councilor
Rollinsford
Ed Jansen, Jr., Selectmen Chair
Stoddard
Ruth Ward, Planning Board
Stratham
Paul Deschaine, Town Administrator
Sunapee
Donna Nashawaty, Town Manager
Wakefield
Teresa Williams, Town Administrator
Warner
Jim Bingham, Town Administrator
Wentworth
Dave McMullen, Selectman
Others Attendees:
Auburn: William Herman, Town Administrator
Barrington: John Scruton, Town Administrator
Holderness: Shelagh Connelly, Selectman
Middleton: Joe Bailey, Selectman
Portsmouth: Jane Ferrini, Esq.
Rochester: Sandra Keans, City Councilor
Bedford: Ed Moran, Library Trustee