Ross L. Cunningham

The Board of Commissioners received an update on the Merrimack County Community Power program, including rate trends and future solar project plans. The County Administrator provided departmental updates, and the Finance Director secured approval to invest Tax Anticipation Note funds. The Development Coordinator reviewed grant management activities, including a recent submission for Sheriff's department radio and generator upgrades. Additionally, the Board discussed feedback from the County Delegation meeting and initiated preliminary talks regarding the upcoming budget process. A non-public session was held to discuss personnel matters before the meeting was adjourned.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the consent agenda. Key discussions included the request for approval of Assistant County Attorney Lexie Rojas' appointment, pending final Attorney General approval. The County Administrator provided updates via the County Dashboard, including discussions on recent hires and FTE counts, and a suggestion to utilize social media recruitment videos. A significant item involved approval to apply for Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds totaling $1,523,891.86 for an emergency radio system upgrade and a generator project. Furthermore, the Board approved revisions to job descriptions and FTE transfers within the Nursing Home department, specifically for a Recreation Aide III position and the creation of a new Housekeeping Supervisor position. The meeting included a non-public session to discuss personnel matters, after which the public session reconvened to endorse the payment schedule for the Solar Project.

The meeting commenced with the postponement of the consent agenda vote until a later time, although it was later approved with a 2-0 vote. Key discussions included the County Dashboard updates, a Fourth Quarter Financial Review showing revenues tracking $2.6 million over projections and expenditures $800,000 under, resulting in a positive variance of $3.4 million; an overview of the County Trust Funds ending December 31, 2026; and the approval to reclassify and update the job description for the Compliance Coordinator position, moving it to salaried, exempt status effective February 22, 2026. Commissioners also discussed subcommittee processes and scheduled an Executive Committee meeting. The Board entered and later reconvened from a non-public session, voting to seal the non-public minutes for five years, and subsequently voted not to pursue ICE at that time.

Key discussions during the meeting included the appointment of Assistant County Attorney Connor Buchholz, who is scheduled to start in March 2026 pending Attorney General approval. The Finance Director presented the fourth-quarter ARPA report, detailing expenditures of $130,177 for the quarter and noting an expected return of funds related to the Wastewater Treatment Project. The Board approved an employee education reimbursement of $920 for an LPN pursuing an RN degree. Additionally, approval was granted for an addendum to the rehabilitation contract to introduce a wellness position, which involves eliminating one FTE Recreation Aide I position to offset costs, resulting in a net impact of $29,216 to the 2026 budget. An informational update was provided regarding the MCNH 2026 budget and the impact of Medicaid rate reductions, anticipating a projected revenue reduction of $639,732 and a potential subsidy request of $500,000 for FY 2026. In New Business, the promotion of Jessica Riendeau to Assistant Superintendent of Corrections was announced. The Board also conducted two non-public sessions concerning Personnel and Legal matters.

The Board meeting addressed several agenda items, including the approval of the consent agenda and the sealing of non-public minutes from a previous meeting. Key discussions involved the RFP results for Dispatch Center consoles, tables, and cabinets, where the bid from Sustema Corp. was recommended for approval. The County Administrator provided updates on the County Dashboard, noted that the County is ahead in revenue, and discussed options for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) billing, including offset billing and contract process participation. The Finance Director sought and received approval for conducting a public Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) RFP to borrow up to $30 million, and to adjust the allowance for bad debt for 2025. The Facilities Director received approval to proceed with Unitil for the electricity supply charge, anticipating significant savings. Additionally, the Board approved a six-month extension for the jail management software maintenance agreement with Equivant. Changes to the Nursing Home's registry program, rebranding it as the per diem hourly program with standardized rates, were also approved. Finally, the Board approved drafting a letter of support for The Lawrence Welk Show.