Tag: 200716

Governor’s updates
In a July 7 press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu shared the latest unemployment numbers in the Granite State, which reflect a consistent downward trend since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. About 4,800 unemployment claims were filed in New Hampshire for the week ending June 27, according to Sununu — an 11 percent decline in new claims over the previous week and a nearly 90 percent decline from its highest peak during the pandemic.

On July 8, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announced more awardees for the Healthcare System Relief Fund, according to a press release, including nearly $11 million in CARES act funding for long-term care facilities in the state and about $6 million for other health care facilities.

The application period of the New Hampshire Self Employed Livelihood Fund will end on July 17. Self-employed businesses that qualify can access applications online at goferr.nh.gov.

Bill decisions
On July 10, Gov. Chris Sununu took action on a handful of bills, according to multiple press releases from the Office of the Governor.

Sununu signed HB 1129, which contains a portion of the Senate Democrats’ Granite Promise Plan addressing municipal, school district and village district budgets during the state of emergency, into law. Among other things, the bill allows for optional town meeting procedures during the state of emergency declared in response to Covid-19.

Sununu vetoed HB 712, a bipartisan bill that would have created a mandatory family and medical leave insurance program funded by a 0.5 percent tax on wages. “Whether one chooses to characterize it as a ‘premium on wages’ or a ‘payroll deduction,’ the reality remains that if it looks like an income tax, functions like an income tax, and takes more money out of the paychecks of hard working taxpayers like an income tax, then it is an income tax,” Sununu said in a press release.

Sununu also vetoed HB 1247, relative to mortgage defaults and nonpayment of rent during the Covid-19 state of emergency. The moratorium on evictions that was ordered in March expired July 1; this bill would have extended the moratorium. Sununu wrote in his veto message that in phasing out the moratorium, the eviction notice requirement has expanded from seven days to 30 days for new evictions initiated for nonpayment of rent that came due during the moratorium. He also noted that the $35 million in CARES Act funds used to create the New Hampshire Housing Relief Program will help people avoid losing their housing by offering assistance for past due rent and other housing-related expenses like utilities, and assistance to maintain or secure more permanent housing. “We must remember that property owners have also struggled throughout the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sununu wrote. “Small property owners who rent 10 units or fewer account for 90 percent of rental units in New Hampshire. They too have financial obligations that must be met, including mortgages, taxes and utilities. Denying property owners the opportunity to pay their bills is a recipe for them removing these rental units from the market … and further exacerbating the shortage of rental units that already exists across New Hampshire.”

Sununu vetoed HB 1672, relative to absentee voting, as well. According to his veto message, Sununu’s administration supports HB 1266, which makes temporary modifications to the absentee voter registration, absentee ballot application, and absentee voting processes that are specifically in response to Covid-19. He is expected to sign that bill this week.

Sununu will also take action on HB 1166, a portion of the Senate Democrats’ Granite Promise Plan addressing worker safety and unemployment insurance.

Jury trials
The New Hampshire Superior Court will conduct a walk-through for a pilot jury in late July with the first pilot trial planned for mid-August, according to a press release. Jury trials had been postponed since the start of the pandemic; since then, a committee has met weekly to create guidelines that will allow for jury trials to resume while making sure that jurors, witnesses, attorneys, judges and court staff follow stringent health precautions. Although the New Hampshire Judicial Branch stayed open during the Emergency Order, the Superior Court put nearly 1,000 jury trials on hold. “With a thorough plan for sanitation and careful enforcement of mask wearing, social distancing and symptom screening, we think we have the necessary template for beginning in-person jury trials,” Chief Justice of the Superior Court Tina Nadeau said in the release. “The committee, with the input from defense attorneys and prosecutors, determined that virtual criminal jury trials are not feasible at this time because they raise a host of constitutional concerns.”

Catholic schools
All Catholic schools in the state will reopen in the fall with classroom-based instruction, according to a press release from David A. Thibault, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Manchester. “Since March, many parents have struggled to balance their own telecommuting with assisting in the education of their children at home,” said Thibault. “Teachers have missed the one-on-one interaction with their students, and students have missed their teachers and friends. Everyone involved rose to the challenge but we recognize that remote learning is not ideal.” The diocese has worked with each school to ensure that the reopenings will be safe and is prepared to adjust plans if the Covid-19 situation changes. The Catholic Schools Office also announced a new Transfer Incentive program for any students in grades 1 through 8 who are transferring from a non-Catholic school; they will get $1,000 of tuition for the first year and $500 off the second year. Students in grades 9 through 12 transferring from a non-Catholic school will get $2,000 off tuition in the first year and $1,000 off in the second year, according to the release.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was scheduled to visit the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region’s Early Learning Center in Laconia on Tuesday to talk about the challenges that child care providers are facing during the pandemic, according to a press release from Shaheen’s office. Shaheen also planned to talk about her efforts in the Senate to include child care support in the next round of Covid-19 legislation.

The New Hampshire State Library in Concord has reopened to the public, with safety measures in place, including appointment-only access. Appointments will be scheduled in 30- and 60-minute sessions between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to a press release. Onsite services include genealogy resources, microfilm and other materials. To schedule an appointment, visit nh.gov/nhsl or call 271-2144.

Tupelo Drive-In Derry will host the 12th annual benefit concert for the Center for Life Management, a nonprofit mental health center, at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 17, according to a press release. Broken Arrow – A Tribute to Neil Young will perform. Tickets are $100 per car and can be reserved at tupelohall.com.

The Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce announced on July 9 the winners of its 17th annual Eminence Awards, which highlight people, businesses and nonprofits that contribute to their industry and the Greater Nashua region, according to a press release. The winners are: Non-Profit of the Year: Nashua PAL; Small Business of the Year: TS Event Productions; Volunteer of the Year: Nashua Police Department’s Chief Michael Carignan for his work with Marguerite’s Place; Business of the Year: Optiline Enterprises; and Young Professional of the Year: Grant Morris of New Sky Productions.