NH State Representative Steven Smith

Sullivan County NH Delegation Public Hearing & Meeting
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center
John Goodrich Business & Community Room
111 South Street, Claremont, NH, 03743

AGENDA

1. Welcome, Introductions & Pledge
2. Public Hearing for Comments and Questions on:
   a. Issuance of $26,000,000 in bonds to finance the Sullivan County Health
   Care Renovation
   b. Supplemental appropriation of $63,000,000 to fund the Sullivan County
   Health Care Renovation
3. Executive Finance Committee Recommendation on Bond for the Sullivan
   County Health Care Renovation
4. Vote on Bond Recommendation, Chair Cloutier
5. Vote on Supplemental Appropriation
6. Review & Approve Draft Meeting Minutes of the:
   a. Draft 26-July 2022
   b. Draft 29-July 2022 EFC Meeting Minutes
7. Any Other Old Business
8. Any New Business
9. Adjourn meeting

I have served in the New Hampshire House for 12 years. As a result of redistricting, I will run to continue to represent Charlestown, and now two new towns… Newport and Unity. I’m pretty excited about this. I lived in Newport when I first moved to New Hampshire 33 years ago. I lived in Claremont for a few years, but the remainder have been spent living in Newport and Charlestown.

In 1983, I spent a summer here in Newport. Besides the natural beauty of the area, I was struck by the low cost of living and availability of jobs. Finding it harder to survive economically on Long Island, I moved here with my family with hopes and very little money. Within a week, we found an apartment on Laurel St. and I got a job at Arlington Sample Book. It was a good move. I’m a Realtor now, but have spent those 33 years racking up a lot of life experience. I worked at Holson Photo Albums, The Claremont Foundry, Whelen, and then served in a variety of roles for a Lebanon tech company. I was a trainer for 6 years, and a software and systems integration tester.

I have sponsored bills to bring New Hampshire to the forefront of technology. I served on the commission that established the rules allowing Uber and Lyft to work here. I filed and passed the bill that made us the first state to allow flying cars (https://pal-v-nh.com/). I’ve made common sense reforms to the car inspection process. Most of all, my real passion is finding ways to send your tax money back to you. Whether it is sending road and bridge aid to your towns, or engineering a $100 million dollar reduction in your state wide education property tax, I never stop looking for ways to get your money back.

As Deputy Speaker of the NH House, I am in a position to ensure that Sullivan County is not forgotten when it comes to be represented in Concord. I’m asking for your vote so that I can continue serving Sullivan County, and Charlestown, Newport, and Unity.

~Steve

Description of the Water Assistance for Natural Disasters Program for Low-Income Residential Well Owners
The Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust fund Commission approved funding of $500K to this program in February 2022.  The program is for low-income qualifying homeowners experiencing a loss of a safe, reliable source of drinking water at their primary residence. This program may provide short-term relief with the provision of bottled water and financial assistance for activities associated with improving or replacing the homeowner’s well or connecting the residence to a community water supply nearby. The program also includes water treatment (if deemed appropriate based on water quality results).

For more details about the program, please read the: Water Assistance for Natural Disasters Initiative (approved Feb. 14, 2022)

Income Eligibility Criteria
This program is to assist low-income New Hampshire residents with a primary residential water well impacted by a natural disaster. Compare your total household income to the income criterion which is based on  latest U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines and the average statewide Median Household Income (MHI). You can self-screen by viewing the Attachment A – MHI Worksheet. For questions regarding project eligibility please see application or contact: John.Pasquale@des.nh.gov

Bottled Water Assistance
Bottled water assistance is intended to be a short-term measure to households during well mitigation. Bottled water assistance is available if requested. Note: Temporary bottled water assistance shall be discontinued when well impacts cease to exist, well remediation is complete, or the applicant is determined ineligible for the program.

Well Mitigation Assistance
Well mitigation assistance applications shall be submitted by the homeowner and a licensed NH Water Well Contractor/Pump Installer. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”) will review the two part application to determine project eligibility and may request additional information as needed. Approval of the proposed well mitigation  is required before work begins, Funding is discretionary and subject to the availability of funds. Any residential well improvement project must first be granted official approval to successfully receive contractor payment or reimbursement.

Note: Well contractors/pump installers are extremely busy; if you have not already contracted a licensed NH Water Well Contractor/Pump Installer, scheduling an appointment for a well assessment now is strongly recommended. You can search for currently licensed water well and pump contractors in your area here: Licensed Well Contractors in NH

Current Conditions

Currently, areas of the State are affected by drought. We are accepting assistance applications for drought stricken drinking wells. More information on the current drought condition, helpful tips for homeowners and known water use restrictions can be found here: Drought Management Program

Application for Water Assistance for Natural Disaster Impacts to Low-Income Residential Well Owners
WAND Application 2022 (Word format)
WAND Application_July 2022

Vendor Codes
Reimbursements costs for approved projects will be paid directly to the contractor or homeowner. A State of NH vendor code will be required to receive payment. Obtain a vendor code here: Applying for a Vendor Code

General Assistance
Send inquiries to:  droughtwellinfo@des.nh.gov

https://www4.des.state.nh.us/nh-dwg-trust/