Avoiding 'Inconvenience'
Belknap County Convention Gives Nursing Home More Than Its Anticipated Need
Also on today’s menu:
Former Senator Accused Of COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Bill Would Help To Create ‘Gentle-Density’ Housing
Bluesource Pledges To Honor ‘Productive Working Forest’
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The News Café is now open for business: The Belknap County Nursing Home projects that its revenue will be about $1 million more than budgeted, but labor costs are expected to be about $635,000 more than what was included in the 2023 budget. On August 29, members of the county convention unanimously approved a supplemental appropriation to cover those labor costs in the belief that the appropriation will not increase county taxes.
Faced with a number of unfilled staff positions, the nursing home relies on “travel nurses” who typically serve on 13-week contracts to provide the necessary patient care, but those contracts can range from $93 to $120 an hour, far higher than local nurses are paid. Staff nurses, on the other hand, receive health benefits which travel nurses do not receive.
The Belknap County Commissioner asked the county delegation to approve a $750,000 supplemental appropriation to provide a buffer that would cover potential increases in the number of travel nurses needed, but the delegation balked at approving $115,000 more than the anticipated cost. A motion by Representative Barbara Comtois (R–Center Barnstead) to appropriate just $650,000, however, failed on 4-13 a vote.
In the end, the delegation unanimously approved the full $750,000 request, which County Administrator Debra Shackett supported, saying, “There's no harm done by transferring the extra $100,000, but if you don’t transfer the extra $100,000, and it turns out they need it, then it’s just an inconvenience.”
Former Senator Accused Of COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Attorney General John M. Formella announced that the state’s Criminal Justice Bureau has opened a criminal investigation into Win Win Win, LLC, doing business as Concord Casino, and its owner, Anthony M. Sanborn, after the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the New Hampshire Lottery Commission’s Investigation and Compliance Division found “compelling evidence” that Sanborn used COVID-19 relief funds to purchase personal luxury items. Formella also made a criminal referral to the United States Attorney’s Office–District of New Hampshire.
Sanborn, a former state senator, received “at least one” Economic Injury Disaster Loan amounting to $844,000, then allegedly used the money to purchase at least three race cars, two Porsche 987 Cayman S racers for his personal use, and a Ferrari F430 challenge racer as a gift for his wife, Representative Laurie Sanborn.
“This case highlights the importance of law enforcement’s role in keeping illegal activity out of New Hampshire’s charitable gaming industry,” Formella said. “Our obligation to protect the public demands that we take action against any person who is found to have used their regulated casino to enrich themselves with fraudulently obtained taxpayer funds.”
Bill Would Help To Create ‘Gentle-Density’ Housing
The House Special Committee on Housing is supporting House Bill 423 which would increase the number of accessory dwelling units allowed “by right” from one to two, while allowing towns to require one unit to meet the definition of workforce housing.
Currently, by law, municipalities must allow owners of single-family homes to build one accessory dwelling unit, but the towns can impose restrictions. The bill under consideration would allow owners to build two accessory dwelling units on properties of a half acre or more.
HB 423 also changes the definition of “attached unit” and increases the maximum square footage from 750 to 1,000.
Representative Ellen Read (D-Newmarket), who sponsored the bill, called the change a non-intrusive way to create “gentle density” that provides additional housing without creating large apartment buildings. Many New Hampshire residents and organizations have said housing availability is the most important issue facing the state.
Bluesource Pledges To Honor ‘Productive Working Forest’
Jamie Houston IV, chief executive officer of Bluesource Sustainable Forest Company, has assured North Country residents that the company that now owns the 146,500-acre Connecticut Headwaters Conservation tract will continue to follow the long-term management plan developed by the state and will abide by the conservation easement.
Residents of Pittsburg, which receives almost 10 percent of its tax revenue from timber sales, along with local mills and loggers who rely on contracts to cut wood on the property, have been worried about the effect on the local economy since hearing that Bluesource had acquired the land as part of a merger. The company has focused on acquiring former timberlands and selling carbon credits instead of cutting timber, but Houston assured them that “sustainable and carefully executed timber harvesting is and always has been, part of BSFC’s plan for the property.”
His comments came after U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) wrote to urge the company to “seek and incorporate the feedback of local communities into your management to fulfill the purpose of the Easement.” As governor 20 years ago, Shaheen had worked with then-U.S. Senator Judd Gregg to develop the terms of the easement “to ensure the lands remain as a largely undeveloped, productive working forest.”
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