A news round-up from the Town of Henniker, NH
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It feels like the only certainty these days is uncertainty. But in Henniker, there is another certainty: our community is one that supports each other. Through these challenging months, it’s been incredible to witness the hard work of our team here at the town offices, highway department, police department, wastewater treatment, water department, transfer station staff and fire & rescue department, as well as the support and care of our community. From celebrating our graduating seniors, to supporting our neighbors, I believe this time apart has brought us closer together.
Around town we’ve kept up with changing state guidelines as we learn more about the virus and its transmission. Little by little, around the state we are taking steps to restart our economy, while keeping public safety at the forefront of our actions. While we’re excited to begin reopening some parts of town, we encourage residents to continue social distancing, and follow health officials’ guidelines. We want to keep Henniker as safe as possible while enjoying some of the best months our state has to offer.
Our team at the Town Hall has returned to work in the office following the governor’s guidelines. We have also officially opened Town Hall to walk-in traffic. The staff was very excited to welcome all residents back into Town Hall. However, if you do not feel safe coming into the building, we still have the capability to handle transactions through the drop-box, online, or by phone and email.
It looks like we are going to have one of our beautiful Henniker summer weekends, and I hope you get a chance to enjoy it and everything this time of year offers us. If you’re out and about, keep wearing your face masks, keeping your distance and washing your hands.
Joe
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If you know of others who might benefit from reading "Henniker Happenings" and the ongoing COVID-19 information and resources the Town provides as relevant information becomes available, please pass this email along. It's possible to sign up to receive them directly on the Town of Henniker web page at
https://www.henniker.org/general/page/sign-non-emergency-alerts
. or use cell phone to join, text HKNEWS to 22828 to get started.
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July 15, 2020 at 6pm at the Henniker Community School.
We want to thank everyone who came out to Town Meeting on June 6, 2020. Your patience, support and understanding was amazing. We had our fair share of technical difficulties, and we appreciate everyone for working with us.
Since we adjourned to a new date (JULY 15 @ 6pm) we will continue with the warrant
articles at that point.
Thank you again!
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HENNIKERHELPS
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis that has disrupted our local, national, and worldwide economy. This disruption is creating significant financial hardships and potentially lasting economic impacts that affect Henniker residents, businesses, and nonprofits. To assist in overcoming the financial and emotional challenges many are experiencing now and, in the weeks, and months ahead, a number of programs and services are already in place or being implemented by the Town of Henniker. These measures are being coordinated with federal, state, and private efforts, and provide economic support and financial relief to all residents, businesses, and nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 crisis and in need of assistance.
Henniker HELPS (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) is a comprehensive and continually updated list of programs, services, and assistance available to the community during these difficult times.
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Town Hall has reopened to walk-in customers
In accordance with the latest guidance from the state, the Henniker Town Offices reopened to the public on Monday, June 22nd, for our regular hours. Signs at the entrance will instruct you on the process: one way foot traffic, mask use advised, etc.
A few basics things you should know:
- There is a limit of THREE people in the lobby and TWO people in the vestibule, so please plan accordingly.
- Social distancing is required, both indoors and in the outdoor waiting line.
- A mask, covering your nose and mouth, is requested if you come into the building. Children under 2 years excepted.
- Please bring your own pen.
Residents are still encouraged to utilize
online services
whenever possible. These online services include vehicle registration renewal, dog licenses, vital statistics, zoning applications, abatement and tax cards. We still also have a drop box at the front entrance of Town Hall if you prefer.
If you have a physical condition that prohibits the use of a face mask, please call our offices for options for obtaining service:
Town Clerk/Tax Collector 603-428-3240
Assessing 603-428-3221 ext. 2
Planning/Zoning 603-428-3221 ext. 1
Town Administrator's Office 603-428-3221 ext. 5
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UPDATE FROM THE TUCKER FREE LIBRARY
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TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY
Town of Henniker Highway Department 2020 Roads Program Improvements
Please be advised that the Town of Henniker Highway Department's roadway contractors for the 2020 Roadway Improvement Project will begin roadway and drainage construction improvements requiring alternate lane traffic patterns, detours and delays for vehicle traffic, weather permitting. The following Roads are included in the 2020 Program:
- Patterson Hill
- Pearl St.
- Union St.
- Water St.
- Gould St.
- Goss Dr.
Access to residences and businesses will be maintained for homeowners and authorized vehicles including deliveries, guests, business patrons, etc., however minor delays may occur. Traffic Control personnel will be in place and motorists are asked to proceed with caution and/or seek alternate routes when possible. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Please contact Highway Superintendent Leo Aucoin at 428-7200 for more information.
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2020 Town-Wide Statistical Revaluation
Revaluation Summary
The Town of Henniker has selected Vision Government Solutions to assist with the town-wide 2020 revaluation project. Vision’s Appraisal division will be working closely with the Assessing Department to make the process successful for the Town.
A revaluation will determine the fair market value of every property in town and equalizes the values of all properties for the purpose of a fair distribution of the tax burden.
The major phases of a municipal revaluation are:
- Sales Data Collection
- Market Analysis
- Valuation
- Field Review
- Informal Hearings
You can visit the Vision Government Solutions website for information explaining each stage of the revaluation process as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here:
Phases of the Revaluation
Sales data collection began in June. Vision will proceed with exterior field review. This data collection is critical, as it enables us to ensure accurate measurements both on main structures and outbuildings and to visually verify exterior characteristics of the property and condition. This is the most time-intensive phase of the project, but the most critical for data accuracy and integrity.
The Town of Henniker continues to actively monitor the evolving health situation regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and is deeply committed to the continued health and safety of our residents. Based on the recommended social distancing protocols established by the Center for Disease Control, the Town will be delaying interior inspections until it is deemed safe again to resume these procedures. This approach accomplishes the goal of ensuring the utmost safety of our residents and data collectors by aligning with the social distancing protocols that are recommended at a federal and state level.
In order to ensure continued accuracy in data, data collectors will go to each sale property and physically inspect the exterior only, to verify the measurements of each building as needed. The data collector will note a building’s size, condition, quality of construction, improvements, topography, utilities, and numerous other characteristics. Data collectors will not enter any structure. All data collectors will be wearing reflective clothing, carry an identification badge and a letter of introduction, have an “Assessor’s Office” sign posted in the vehicle window, and their cars will be registered with the Police as well as the Assessor’s Office in the Town Hall.
The Town will continue to delay all interior inspections, until the Department of Public Health and local officials have advised that special precautions to limit the exposure of the novel coronavirus are no longer necessary.
After the initial Sale Data Collection phase, market analysis and valuation will begin, followed by field review of properties to check and re-check values to ensure uniformity and accuracy of information. This will be followed by a Notice of New Values mailed to each property owner and an Informal Hearings phase, which enables anyone with questions concerning the revaluation process an opportunity to meet with a member of Vision’s staff to discuss their property value.
If you have any questions about the revaluation process or need additional information, please contact the Assessor’s Office at (603) 428-3221 or [email protected]
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EMERGENCY ALERTS
SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS FROM THE TOWN OF HENNIKER
NH Alerts is an automated notification system the town & state can use to call up to 60,000 phone numbers per hour with a recorded message.
This includes public safety notices issued by the Town of Henniker & the State of New Hampshire as well as severe weather warnings directly from the National Weather Service. The single enrollment portal allows you to enroll in both the Town of Henniker's and the State of New Hampshire’s emergency notification system.
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A medical emergency can strike at any time. By completing the File of Life medical information sheet, and ensuring it is kept up to date, it provides paramedics with important information in the event of an emergency. Print the form included in this post and put it on the front of your refrigerator. Every second counts during an emergency.
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Henniker Swap Shop is Getting Ready to Open!!
Do you love to visit the Swap Shop? Are you a people person? Will you have a few hours to volunteer doing something fun? Do you want to know more? We are looking for volunteers for the 2020 season.
We are hoping to open the Swap Shop on Sunday's, starting on June 29th. To make this happen we need your help. Please contact Kristen at the Swap Shop for more info:
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2020 HENNIKER CONCERT SERIES
IS BACK!!!
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GUIDELINES FOR 2020 HENNIKER SUMMER CONCERT ATTENDEES
Welcome to the 2020 Henniker Summer Concert Series. Due to COVID-19, things look and feel different this year, but our overall goals are for everyone to have a great time and remain safe.
The park will be fenced in on concert nights with two clearly marked entrances/exits. Concert committee members will be at the entrances to assist you in finding a spot to set up your blankets or chairs. Blankets should be closer to the stage, chairs behind so no one has an obstructed view.
We will be practicing Social Distancing inside the park and have marked off squares. Once those areas are full, no one else will be able to enter the park. Families and small groups who arrive together may occupy one or more of these squares.
Dancing is allowed but dancers should observe the 6 foot distancing recommendations.
Please do not approach the bands either before or after the concert this year.
BRING YOUR MASKS
We recommend you wear face coverings upon entering/exiting the park or if you choose to visit with a neighbor in the park. Once you are seated in your space, it is not necessary to wear your mask. Children need to remain with parents this summer. There will be no opportunity to play in the Flynn’s yard.
You are encouraged to bring your picnic supper or to purchase take out from one of the Henniker businesses. As always it is carry in, carry out.
SAFETY FIRST
If you have recently traveled or used public transportation and have any symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, or if someone in your family or with whom you have visited recently has these symptoms --- please stay home.
The Community Center bathroom and the porto potty are available. Each is equipped with hand sanitizer, soap and paper towels for your use.
If we all follow these guidelines, we will have a great summer series. If, however, we notice there are unsafe practices occurring, the committee reserves the right to cancel subsequent concerts.
Let’s all do our part to insure we have a safe, music filled summer in Henniker on Tuesday evenings.
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ABNORMALLY DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSIST
NHDES is encouraging residential well users to conserve.
According to the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday, the entire state of New Hampshire has been categorized as abnormally dry. Over the last 60 days, the state has received significantly less than normal precipitation. The majority of the northern half of the state including Belknap, Grafton, Carrol, and Coos counties have received 25 to 50% less precipitation than normal. To the south, the majority of Sullivan, Merrimack, Strafford, Rockingham, Hillsborough, and Cheshire counties have received 50 to 75% less precipitation than normal.
New Hampshire is approaching a stage of drought because rainfall over the last two months is about 60% of normal, and New Hampshire had a significantly less-than-average snowpack this past winter. Consequently, stream flows throughout the state are very low and if these weather trends continue, groundwater levels and water supply wells throughout the state will soon begin to be adversely impacted.
NHDES encourages those relying on private residential wells to begin conserving now. Due to COVID-19, people are at home more often, which means a higher than usual demand on residential well supplies. To protect your well supply, it is recommended that outdoor water use be limited and water use be staggered, allowing the well time to recharge between demands
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VOTER REGISTRATION
Election officials in Henniker would like to encourage everyone who can legally vote in Henniker and has not yet registered, to consider doing it as soon as possible. We don’t know where we will stand with COVID-19 in the fall, but we would like all who are entitled to vote here to be able to do so safely.
Voter registration can be done in person at the town hall or absentee. If you come in person you will be asked to show proof of identification, age (18 by the September 8 election), citizenship (passport or naturalization papers), and domicile within Henniker. Affidavits may be signed in the absence of proofs. This may be done until about 10 days before the election. To register absentee, please call the town clerk’s office (428-3240) and ask for the absentee registration packet. Read the instructions carefully. Make sure all forms in the packet are completed and signed (some need to be witnessed, but not by a notary) before returning the necessary forms along with required proofs. Instructions are in the packet.
Voters are also being urged to vote absentee this year. Normally the majority of us would choose to vote in person, but this year, because of COVID-19, voters who are leery of COVID-19 may consider it a physical disability and do both registration and voting by absentee. Completed forms should be sent or brought to the Henniker town clerk’s office. One should be filled out for EACH election. The ballots will be sent to you when available.
For more information please follow this
link
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Fireworks Policy
Chapter 50 of the Henniker Ordinances
It is the policy of the Town of Henniker that no official of the Town shall grant to any person a permit for the retail sale of any fireworks pursuant to RSA 160-A:2, IV(a), and further, that no official of the Town shall issue permits for the purchase, possession or display of Class C common fireworks pursuant to RSA 160-A:2,III.
Permits for occasional festive displays of special Class B fireworks may be issued to persons or organizations who demonstrate compliance with rules of the NH State Police under RSA 158:9-f, and whom the Selectmen determine to be in compliance with RSA 160-A:2, V and VI,viz., that the permit is applied for at least 15 days prior to the display, that the person to whom the permit is issued has previously demonstrated his competence to handle such displays, that the display is to be of such character, and so located, and displayed, as in the opinion of the fire chief, after proper inspection, shall not be hazardous to property of endanger persons, and that the permit be subject to revocation if the fire chief determines that fire danger has increased over the 15 day period.
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TOWN INFORMATION DURING COVID-19
We are continuously updating our coronavirus web page with information and resources. You can access it here:
Henniker COVID-19 Updates
PDFs with information for residents and businesses are available via this link.
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WHY IS PET WASTE A PROBLEM?
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Do Your Part, Take the Pledge to Scoop the Poop!
Many NH towns have over 1,000 dogs living in them, and each dog "goes" once or twice a day. That's a lot of poop! Not only is it gross when it's left around, but it can be dangerous. Harmful bacteria and parasites - such as Giardia or Salmonella - that live in pet waste, can come in contact with other people and pets or wash into nearby waterways or storm drains.
Picking up our pet's waste and throwing it out is a small change than can make a big difference in keeping our waters clean.
Five small changes that make a big difference:
- Always carry a plastic bag when you walk your dog.
- Always pick up that poop.
- Always dispose of in in a trash can.
- Never put bagged or unbagged waste in a storm drain.
- Take the Pledge HERE to tell your town you're making a difference.
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INFORMATION ON BURN PERMITS
A reminder from Henniker Fire. You must have a permit to burn. Written permission also is required to burn if you don’t own the property. Materials can’t be treated, tires are illegal, and so is trash to burn.
If you are looking for a burn permit they can be obtained through the NH Forests and Lands Division. Burn permits can be purchased online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a cost of $3.00. Although online burn permits can be purchased at any time, open burning can only be conducted after 5 p.m. and before 9 a.m.
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FARMERS' MARKET
Henniker Community Market - NOW OPEN
Every Thursday 4-7 pm
Community Center Park
57 Main Street
Henniker
During these challenging times, more and more people are realizing the value and resilience of a local food system. We are committed to providing our community with access to locally grown food. Products will include certified organic fruits and vegetables, pasture raised pork, beef, lamb, and chicken, eggs, maple syrup, goat milk & yogurt, and soap.
They are also excited to be bringing music back to the farmers market. This Thursday (6/24) Beechwood will be performing.
Stay safe and see you at the market!
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The Henniker Rotary Club will be giving out free masks on Saturday Jun 27 from 9am-1pm at the Henniker Community School and on Sunday June 28th from 12pm-4pm at the Osram Sylvania parking lot. Stop by either event and get 2 masks per person in your household.
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APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE NONPROFIT EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND GRANT PROGRAM
More information about the application process, eligibility criteria, and upcoming informational webinars — to be hosted on June 11 and 15 — is available on the
GOFERR website
. Nonprofits are encouraged to complete an organizational profile as soon as possible. An online portal to complete the profile is also available at the
GOFERR website
. A completed profile is required as a first step to completing an application, and profiles may be completed before the application opens on June 11.
Grant funding is intended to reimburse the costs of business interruptions caused by required closures, and sustain nonprofits’ ability to contribute to the state’s recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. Grants will not be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis; all applications will be evaluated based on program criteria. To receive funding, organizations must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The NH Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund program supports three purpose areas:
- Nonprofit organizations that mitigate the critical public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis for residents who rely on those organizations for critical services. This includes, but is not limited to, organizations providing essential human services.
- Nonprofit organizations that contribute to economic, cultural, and civic vitality. This includes, but is not limited to, arts organizations, nonprofit community development corporations, economic development organizations and technical assistance providers, organizations that provide safe outdoor places for people to recreate, community-based organizations that deliver timely and sometimes life-saving information about COVID-19, and civic organizations that unite people across differences to find solutions.
- Coalitions, networks, and collaboratives of nonprofit organizations that maximize cooperation and impact, and also speed the state’s distribution of funds to meet urgent needs.
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GREEN GRASS AND CLEAR WATER!
Did you know that you can have a healthy, green lawn that is both attractive and safer for the environment?
Some lawn care practices create local water quality problems. Excess nutrients (including nitrogen and phosphorus found in fertilizers) that run off our properties into nearby waterbodies can trigger harmful algal blooms. Many of us enjoy the time we spend working on our lawns and are willing to try new practices as long as our lawns continue to look good. Below are some simple and easy tips, customized for northern New England, that can lead to Green Grass & Clear Water.
- Choose the right grass seed. The best seed mixes include low maintenance varieties with higher % of fine-leaf fescues and turf - or compact-type tall fescues, and lower % of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye grass.
- Mow smart. Leave grass at least 3” high. Cut no more than one-third (1/3) of the blade each time you mow to encourage longer, stronger roots. Leave the grass clippings after mowing so they can return nutrients to the soil.
- Have your soil tested. To learn more about specific characteristics and needs of your lawn, contact UNH Cooperative Extension HERE.
- Don’t overwater. 1” of water per week (from rain or irrigation) is usually enough. Overwatering can cause nutrients to move out of root zones and into waterbodies or groundwater.
- Only if your lawn requires added nutrients from fertilizer:
- Avoid overapplying. Measure the area where you plan to apply and calculate the square footage. For lawns 10+ years old, apply half (1/2) the amount recommended for your square area one time per season. New lawns may need another application. Apply no more than 4 times per season.
- Choose the right fertilizer. Select fertilizers with zero or low phosphorus unless a soil test says otherwise. Slow release nitrogen fertilizer is generally preferable. Over applying fertilizer (any type) can cause water quality issues.
- Know when and where to apply. Apply only after spring “green up” and before mid-September. Avoid applying in mid-summer. Never apply near waterbodies or storm drains.
View more details about these tips and others
HERE
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Joe
Joseph R. Devine, Jr - Town Administrator
Town of Henniker
a: 18 Depot Hill Rd., Henniker, NH 03242 USA
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