A Message from NHMA
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.
Summer days may linger into September, but here at NHMA, we are ready to get back to business! The fall is our busiest time for member workshops and training programs, as staff have been planning and preparing over the summer to get them all ready.
Speaking of staff, we are excited to introduce Katherine Heck as our new Government Finance Advisor! 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 from the International Monetary Fund. In addition to her public sector position, Katherine also owned her own firm which provided financial consulting and project-based financial services to New England cities, towns, schools districts and U.S. based non-profit organizations. Welcome aboard, Katherine!
September brings the Budget & Finance Workshop, one of our most attended workshops, which always provides up-to-date and valuable information about budget and municipal finances. This year’s program will include an update of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and how to get the most out of ARPA for your community and the latest info on the new state budget and the status of state aid, so join us virtually on Tuesday, September 14th. Don’t delay, register today!
The fall also brings the Municipal Land Use Law Virtual Conference – a sure sign that summer is over. This full day workshop is Saturday, September 18th and will introduce you to the “new” Office of Strategic Initiatives as well as introduction to the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board. The workshop will also explore New Hampshire’s workforce housing law, meeting mechanics of land use boards, as well as “dig” into RSA 155-E dealing with excavations.
The ever popular It’s a Hard Road to Travel virtual workshop features everything you want and need to know about roads. This half-day workshop will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 22nd and attendees will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the NHMA's publication, A Hard Road to Travel: New Hampshire Law of Local Highways, Streets, and Trails.
Save the dates of Wednesday through Friday, November 17-19 for the 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester. NHMA plans this annual event months in advance, so with uncertainty about the state of the COVID-19 environment in the fall, we are bringing the conference to our members in a new hybrid format—both for safety and convenience. With this hybrid format, the first day will be held live and in-person at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester with video streaming of popular program sessions to members who chose to attend virtually. Thursday will be a full day of virtual/remote streaming of educational sessions and Friday will be a half-day of remote streaming of educational sessions as needed. Whether live and in person or virtually, we hope you join us this year!
You can learn more and register for any, or all, of these events through the Calendar of Events on NHMA’s website: www.nhmuncipal.org. These workshops all feature NHMA staff and other knowledgeable professionals from around the state who deliver quality presentations and information to keep you informed and up-do-date.
We hope you will join us for one or more of these September workshops and for our Annual Conference in November.