A news round-up from the Town of Henniker, NH |
Thursday October 29, 2020 |
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A year ago last week I celebrated my first year as the Town Administrator here in Henniker. I have learned so much about the community and the organization over the past year and still have much to learn.
When I took this position, I had established goals for myself. I knew the future success of Henniker will come from building strong partnerships with our citizens, with our community institutions and organizations, with our businesses, with our regional neighbors and partners, and with the public servants who work on behalf of the community every day.
Key to the job is taking the long view—keeping an eye on "the future needs of the town." In these times of rapid change, it is not enough to administer our ongoing services and programs. We need to continue to re-evaluate what we do as a town and how we do it.
Often, we compare our performance to other municipalities. I find this difficult to do because of the size, needs and budgets of each community is unique. However, for a community our size, I feel we have one of the most aggressive and respected road management programs. Equally, our Police Department, Fire Department, and Rescue Department are amazing and their commitment to our community is demonstrated daily in the way they deal with the public. In fact, I feel that all Town employees demonstrate this commitment; they express a sense of ownership and a sense of belonging to the community. Such commitment is contagious and supports everything we believe in.
Yet increasingly we have to be conscious that citizens compare us to large corporations. Are we applying new technology to solving problems? Are we providing excellent 24/7 access and service? Are we achieving the results that matter most to our citizens?
To better understand both our challenges and opportunities, I focused my first couple of months as Town Administrator practicing what the Japanese call "genchi genbutsu" roughly translated as "go look" or "go see." The phrase comes from a Toyota training engineer who insisted that top executives have first-hand understanding of what is happening on the frontline of the factory floor or the customer showroom.
For me, that meant getting out to all of the schools, parks, library, wastewater plant, transfer station, and highway garage. It meant sitting down with our around-the-clock shifts, with our rescue workers and police officers. This also included meeting the citizens and business community and starting dialogue with all of them.
I learned some important lessons. The most significant were: Henniker is a complicated 44.3 square miles; we have an amazingly talented and committed town staff; and our citizens expect us to deliver the highest standards of public service.
That means the job of Town Administrator is never going to be easy, but it is always rewarding. We have the opportunity (and the responsibility) to set the bar for excellence in public service - not only to better serve our community, but as a model for other communities.
I hope this forum I have been doing since the COVID pandemic can contribute to our public dialogue and help build a vital partnership between our citizens and our government. I chose to talk about "the long view" because sometimes it seems like we live in an "attention deficit democracy." Soundbites do not do justice to the complexity of our challenges. I hope to offer substantive thoughts about "the future needs of the town" and enjoy your thoughtful feedback on how we can work together to tackle them.
In the end, it is the people of Henniker who govern. They elect the Select Board as their representatives and I never forget that in public service we work for the people. I view our job as not just to administer the affairs of government, but our responsibility to promote the wellbeing of this remarkable community. I look forward to what we can accomplish together.
Joe
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TRICK OR TREAT IS A THING IN HENNIKER!
Trick or Treat in Henniker will be held on Saturday, October 31st, from 5:30 P.M. through 7:30 P.M. for the safety of all who wish to participate, specifically, our GOBLINS, we are asking all Trick or Treaters and their families to PLEASE adhere to the basic COVID-19 and CDC safety rules.
Residents who are welcoming Trick or Treaters are asked to leave an outside light on indicating their participation; residents who are not welcoming Trick or Treaters are asked to turn off your outside lights.
Similarly, Trick or Treaters are asked to respect the "light on/light off" concept.
For the proper social distancing guidelines and CDC guidelines for Trick or Treating. Please follow this link for more information:
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Fall Back - Turn Your Clocks Back, Sunday November 1st
Every spring we move our clocks one hour ahead and "lose" an hour during the night and each fall we move our clocks back one hour and "gain" an extra hour. But Daylight Saving Time (and not Daylight Savings Time with an "s") wasn't just created to confuse our schedules.
The phrase "Spring forward, fall back" helps people remember how Daylight Saving Time affects their clocks.
At 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour ahead of standard time ("spring forward"). We "fall back" at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November by setting our clock back one hour and thus returning to standard time.
The change to Daylight Saving Time allows us to use less energy in lighting our homes by taking advantage of the longer and later daylight hours.
Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the United States during World War 1 in order to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight between April and October. During World War II the federal government again required the states to observe the time change. Between the wars and after states and communities chose whether or not to observe Daylight Saving Time. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time.
Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have chosen not to observe Daylight Saving Time. This choice does make sense for the areas closer to the equator because the days are more consistent in length throughout the year.
Other parts of the world observe Daylight Saving Time as well. While European nations have been taking advantage of the time change for decades, in 1996 the European Union (EU) standardized a EU-wide European Summer Time. This EU version of Daylight Saving Time runs from the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October.
In the southern hemisphere where summer comes in December, Daylight Saving Time is observed from October to March. Equatorial and tropical countries (lower latitudes) don't observe Daylight Saving Time since the daylight hours are similar during every season, so there's no advantage to moving clocks forward during the summer.
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GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020 |
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Polling Hours and Voting Location
Voting hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Henniker Community School, 51 Western Ave, Henniker, NH
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The Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office will be CLOSED
Tuesday, November 3rd due to the General (Presidential) Election.
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How to Register to Vote in Henniker, NH
If you are not yet registered to vote in Henniker, you will have to register IN PERSON at the Henniker Community School Gymnasium on November 3 between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM.
To register, you will need to provide documents that prove your identity, age, citizenship, and domicile in Henniker.
- Identity can be proved with a photo ID (driver’s license, passport/passcard, military ID, school ID are commonly used).
- Age can be proved using a driver’s license or non-driver ID from any state, a birth certificate or passport/passcard.
- Citizenship can be proved using a birth certificate, US passport/passcard, or naturalization document.
- Domicile can be proved with many things including driver’s license or car registration with local address, mail, rental agreement.
If you do not have proof of any of these things, affidavits may be filled out and signed.
Important Information
- Having the proper documentation and registering before an election saves you time.
- Once you are registered, your name remains on the Henniker checklist for all town, state, federal and school district elections. Only a photo I.D. is needed for voting once registered. If you move to another New Hampshire town, you must register to vote there. If you are a student attending NEC and residing in Henniker, in a dorm or in an apartment or house in Henniker, you may vote in Henniker or you may choose to vote where your parents live.
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New Hampshire election laws change rather frequently. For further information about voter registration requirements, election dates, and registration deadlines, visit the NH Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.nh.gov.
If you register in person you will be asked to show Proof of Identification, Age (18 by the November 3 election), Citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers), and Domicile within Henniker. Affidavits may be signed in the absence of proofs.
You may now change your party at any time at the town hall. You may check your standing at https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/Partyinfo.aspx. Your party does not matter at the upcoming election. You can also check your absentee ballot status at this website. It may take a few days to show up.
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Absentee Ballot Applications (COVID-19)
Absentee ballots are available for all elections if you are going to be absent from Henniker during polling hours (7:00 am – 7:00 pm), are physically disabled or are observing a religious holiday. Absentee ballot requests may be made in person, by mail, scanned and e-mailed or faxed. The request must include the voter’s signature, their resident address and an address to mail the ballot if different from the residence. If requesting an absentee ballot for a primary and you are undeclared, you will need to choose a party.
Absentee ballots may also be picked up in person at the Town Clerk’s office up to the day prior to the election. Ballots must be given to the voter in person or mailed directly to the voter. The ballot may be returned by mail or in person by the actual voter or by a spouse, parent, sibling or child. An Absentee Ballot Return Form must be completed if the ballot is returned by anyone other than the voter. Ballots returned in person will be accepted until 5:00 pm the day prior to the election. Ballots delivered by mail shall be accepted until 5:00 pm on Election Day.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFERENCE ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Q. What do I need to bring to register to vote?
A. You will need to bring proof of identity, age, residency and citizenship. examples: a driver/non-driver ID for identity and age, a bill, bank statement, or lease for residency and a birth certificate or passport for citizenship.
Q. What if I don’t have all the proofs necessary?
A. It is always best to bring actual documentation but Affidavit Forms are available for you to sign.
Q. What is my ward number?
A. Henniker does not have wards, you may leave this blank or mark it with “X.”
Q. I already sent in an old form do I need to fill out a new form?
A. No, both forms are acceptable.
Q. Where do I get the absentee request form?
A. They are available at the Town Clerk’s Office or on our website www.henniker.org under Town Clerk/voter information.
Q. Is there a deadline to request an absentee ballot?
A. There is no set deadline to request an absentee ballot; however, you need to allow enough time for our staff to receive the request, for us to send the allot to you and for you to get it back to us to be processed.
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TOWN OF HENNIKER UPDATE ON COVID 19
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified potential community exposure related to multiple food and beverage establishments in multiple locations in the State most notably Portsmouth and a little closer to us in Concord. DHHS is conducting contact investigations on all cases associated with these potential community exposures and is notifying known close contacts directly.
Fall is officially upon us and over the past several weeks surrounding communities have experienced an uptick in community spread of the Coronavirus which means there are more cases of COVID-19 being reported and many more associated contacts exposed to positive cases. With testing on the increase it is not surprising that the number of cases is rising. Turning our attention closer to home where Henniker residents on social media are asking a number of important questions and concerns this update will prove beneficial.
35 cases in total have been reported for the Town since the pandemic began of which 8 are currently active cases.
Nine months into this Pandemic, we are constantly reminded of the wide range of symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell. However it is going to be very difficult to distinguish this from the influenza virus that comes with the winter months.
COVID-19 will continue to circulate in our community, so all people need to protect themselves and help prevent further community spread, by doing the following:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
- Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. For more information on COVID-19 in NH, please visit https://www.nh.gov/covid19/
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November 3, 2020 - General Election
November 14, 2020 – Select Board and Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
November 17, 2020 – Select Board Meeting
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Winter Overnight Parking Band
November 1st to April 15th
No person shall park or leave standing any motor vehicle on any public street or highway from November 1 to April 15 of each year, between the hours 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m
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- It is against the Town of Henniker's ordinances to plow or move snow across the roadway.
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Mailboxes are often damaged during the winter. Untreated wooden posts only have a life expectancy of 2 or 3 years and can rot at the ground becoming easily knocked over by heavy snow. Check post conditions and mailboxes now to avoid damage this winter, ensuring that they are sturdy and back far enough away from the road so that snow banks will not damage them. Replacing a rotten post is the homeowner's responsibility.
- If your fence is within the Town's Right-of-Way (ROW), snow banks may damage it. Most roads have a 50-foot ROW, meaning anything closer than 25' to the center of the road is likely in the Town's ROW. Any such fences, shrubs, landscaping, etc. are at risk of damage, particularly when snowfall is heavy. Items in the Town's ROW should be moved back. Snow related damages to these items are the owner's responsibility.
- Be sure cars are well off the road and not in the area where the snowplows or emergency vehicles may need to turn around.
- Remember, if you are following a snowplow and can not see the truck's side mirrors, it's likely you are too close for the driver to see you.
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FIRE DANGER STATUS - The Governor's Proclamation has been rescinded. Per the
State of New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:
"We have worked with the Governor’s Office to lift the fire restrictions which have been in place since late September. Effective Wednesday, October 21, 2020, all open burning is back to the normal permit requirements and the online system will be up and running."
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Main Street Relief Program 2.0
COMMENCEMENT DATE: MONDAY 10.19.20
DUE DATE: FRIDAY 10.30.20
The $100 million MSRF 2.0 will be shared among new recipients and prior recipients of MSRF and GAP Fund grants using a pro-rata formula based on gross receipts losses adjusted for other COVID-19-related funding received from all sources, including all grants received from GOFERR flex funds programs. MSRF 2.0 grants will be offset by GOFERR program grants previously received on a dollar-for-dollar basis, including, particularly, from the initial round of MSRF and the GAP Fund. The maximum amount received from MSRF 2.0 cannot exceed $350,000, including grants received from the initial round of MSRF and the GAP Fund.
Important Dates & Timeline:
- Application Period: October 19, 2020 – October 30, 2020
- Deadline to Submit Completed Application: 4:00 PM on October 30, 2020
Eligibility Criteria:
For a business (or group of affiliated businesses*) to qualify for MSRF 2.0, it must:
- Be a for-profit business;
- Have its principal business office in New Hampshire;
- Have typically employed at least one non-owner W-2 employee before COVID-19;
- Have been in operation since at least May 29, 2019;
- Anticipate a loss of gross receipts from 2019 to 2020 due to COVID-19;
- Have total 2019 gross receipts of less than $20 million;
- Have received a total of less than $350,000 from the initial round of MSRF or the GAP Fund, if a prior recipient;
- Not be currently in bankruptcy;
- Not have permanently closed; and
- Not have received a Self Employed Livelihood Fund (SELF) grant.
In addition, the following types of businesses are not eligible for MSRF 2.0:
- Nonprofit organizations;
- Agriculture businesses;
- Childcare providers;
- Elementary or secondary schools;
- Institutions of higher education; and
- Hospitals or other healthcare providers.
* For purposes of MSRF 2.0, a business is considered affiliated with any other business that:
- Has the same Taxpayer Identification Number (including Social Security Number);
- Has the same corporate parent or grandparent; or
- Is majority-owned (more than 50%) by the same owner or group of owners.
MSRF 2.0 grant amounts will be calculated similar to the initial round of MSRF and the GAP Fund. The maximum amount received cannot exceed $350,000, including grants received from the initial round of MSRF and the GAP Fund. The State of New Hampshire is not directing businesses on how to spend the money. Businesses must demonstrate they have experienced or anticipate they will experience a financial loss due to COVID-19 in order to qualify for MSRF 2.0. It is expected that businesses will use the funds to assist in covering their operational costs and legal obligations.
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HUNTING IN HENNIKER
Out in the woods this fall? Wear orange!
Deer hunting season is quickly approaching, so please be as visible as you possibly can while walking through the woods. For your convenience we have provided a chart below, issued by New Hampshire Fish & Game (https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/hunt-dates.html). Please call the Durham Police Department with any questions or concerns regarding hunting, posting no hunting signs or hunters you feel are trespassing.
October 12 - October 18, 2020 in ONLY the following WMUs: D2, G, H1, H2, l1, 12, J1, K, L, M: Fall turkey/shotgun (in certain WMUs only)
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Henniker History... Did you Know?
In 1778, the town votes for electors of president, vice president and members of congress for the first time. There were 131 votes. Electors favorable to George Washington received the most votes.
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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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