TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
May 8th - Town Clerk offices closed due to mandatory training.
Important upcoming State Legislation:
Tuesday, April 9, at 2:10 p.m., the Senate Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1279 in State House Room 103. HB 1279 would permanently reinstate a 7.5 percent state contribution toward the employer’s cost of the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) contribution for teachers, police, and firefighters beginning on July 1, 2024. The fiscal note prepared by the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) indicates that enactment of this bill would reduce local government (municipal, school, county and village district) retirement costs by an estimated $27.13 million in fiscal year 2025, $27.78 million in fiscal year 2026, and $28.46 in fiscal year 2027.
ZONING PROPSED CHANGES:
Tuesday, April 9, starting at 9:40 a.m. in LOB Room 103, the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee will hear testimony on two important zoning-related bills: HB 1215 and HB 1399.
HB 1215, as amended by the House, significantly alters RSA 674:39, by extending the time period a subdivision plat or site plan is exempt from subsequent changes in subdivision regulations, site plan regulations, impact fee ordinances, and zoning ordinances. Currently, recorded plats and plans are exempt for a period of five years, as long as “active and substantial development” began within 24 months of the approval. The bill would change this period to ten years, and extend the ‘active and substantial development’ period to five years. HB 1215 would also alter the local appeal process for building and fire codes when the zoning board of adjustment serves as the local building code of appeals. When the appeal is of a locally adopted amendment to either the building or fire code, the appeal would stay with the zoning board of adjustment. However, when the appeal is of the state code – i.e. where there is no local amendment – the appeal would go to the state building code board of appeals. (Municipalities, such as Manchester, with a separate local building code board of appeals would continue to hear appeals of the state code.)
HB 1399 is the more concerning of the two bills. It is inaccurately titled “allowing municipalities to permit two residential units in certain single family residential zones,” but would actually require municipalities to allow duplexes. The bill creates a formula that requires that municipalities allow duplexes for all lots that are two acres or less in size, and for at least 50 percent of all lots in a municipality zoned for single-family residences where a “proposed development” meets certain criteria.
2. The Zoning Ordinance has been updated on the website to reflect amendments passed at Town Meeting (Updated: 2024)
3. New Website :
LAST UPDATE TO CURRENT SITE - except for minutes and public meetings is 3/29/2024
Design concept approval 5/3/24
Planned website reveal (internal ) 5/7/2024
Website corrections due by 5/17/2024
Training of Staff 5/14,15 and 16th - Pre Launch meeting (internal) 5/27/2024
Website Launch 5/30/2024
4. Stormwater : Meeting Held at the April 2, 2024 Planning Board of updated Stormwater Regulations drafted with the assistance of CEI, our engineering consultant. Will require a Public Hearing tentatively scheduled May 7th.
5. PFAS/Saint-Gobain : The Town received notice of letters to over 40 Town residential properties from NH DES. (see below) The NH DES is recommending well sampling for these homes. In order to protect your interest in receiving free bottled water or a permanent water alternative you must respond to the letter. Well testing is free and anyone wanting more information can contact Andrew Fuller, the project manager at 603-271-6573 .
6. Cemetery Trustees - The Cemetery trustees issued a new RFP for Property maintenance earlier in April. The public opening of sealed proposals was conducted at 3:00 PM on March 29, 2024 at 2 Liberty Way, Litchfield, NH. The awarding of the bid was done at a publicly noticed meeting at 5:30 PM on April 1, 2024. The contract was awarded to Mark K. Coulomne & Sons LLC.
