Seabrook Harbor Dredging Project to Begin

Posted on October 16, 2019 by billmanzi

We have received an update on the Seabrook/Hampton Harbor Dredge project calendar. Naturally the schedule is subject to weather, but the Army Corps and the contractor are in place, with work scheduled to begin this week. This $4.6 million dollar federal project has been a major priority for our entire region, as harbor shoaling has made safe boating passage very difficult. Thanks to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, and Congressman Chris Pappas for all of their work in securing the federal money necessary for the Army Corps to proceed. The Seabrook Board of Selectmen have been actively involved in the planning for this project, offering strong and vocal support for the fishing and tourism industries that rely so heavily on the ability to navigate the Harbor. Thanks to Coral Siligato and the Army Corps, and the New Hampshire DES, who have worked so hard to make this project a reality. The below is from the Army Corps.

Dredging will begin in the Inner Harbor on the Seabrook side starting as soon as tomorrow 10/17/2019. Dredging of the Cross Channel, Seabrook Channel and Seabrook Anchorage will occur between 10/17/2019 likely through the end of December. Placement of the dredge material will be occurring first at the locations under the Route 1A Southern Bridge Abutment and then along Seabrook Beach and will continue through December. Placement at the Middle Ground Sand Flat (behind and within the existing composite sheet pile wall built in 2005), will occur approximately in the middle of November. Dredging of the Hampton Channel, Hampton Anchorage, and the State Anchorage is anticipated to occur between December through February 1, 2020 with placement at Hampton State Beach Park.

General Plan

Edit on October 23, 2019

It was great to have Senator Jeanne Shaheen in to look at the project as it has gotten started. Senator Shaheen and the entire legislative delegation worked very hard to deliver the resources necessary for the U.S. Army Corps to do this project.

Media coverage of the Dredge project.

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Seabrook Receives Federal EDA Grant for Pier Repair

Posted on October 5, 2019 by billmanzi

Seabrook has received word that we will receive a federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant of $695,965 for the repair of the Town Pier. This grant is vital to the regional economy, as the failure of the sheet pilings supporting the pier would have a devastating impact on the Yankee Fishing Cooperative and the regional fishing industry as well as on the ability of the Seabrook Station to use the harbor for the delivery of vital equipment. From the Press Release from the United States Department of Commerce:

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $695,965 grant to the Town of Seabrook, New Hampshire, to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to support the local fishing fleet and the NextEra nuclear power station. The grant, to be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act designated Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $695,966 in local funds and is expected to help retain 200 jobs.

The project will help to repair the Seabrook Seawall to ensure the continued use of the wharf and adjacent channel. The work will include the replacement of the existing bulkhead and the re-grading and paving of land behind the seawall.

The Town of Seabrook has derived the matching funds from a taxpayer authorized bond, (2017 Warrant Article 6) allowing this project to move forward. My thanks to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, Congressman Chris Pappas, and Governor Sununu and the State of New Hampshire Economic Development team, who all worked to support this application. Our thanks to the Regional Economic Development Corporation President Laurel Adams as well as Jennifer Kimball, whose work and expertise were essential to having a successful application. My thanks to NextEra for all of their support and assistance.

The Seabrook Board of Selectmen have made this project a top priority, and it was the Board that placed the bond article in 2017, going to the public with strong advocacy for both the financing, and the project itself. Without the support and advocacy of the Board this project would not have reached this point.

Finally a big thank you to the U.S. Commerce Department and the E.D.A. They have been outstanding partners, responsive and helpful throughout.

We will announce next steps very shortly.

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The 2020 Budget Committee Budget Message

Posted on September 30, 2019 by billmanzi

I have submitted, with the start of the FY 2020 Budget season, the below Budget message to the Budget Committee. The Budget delivers the same high level of service while attempting to deal with critical personnel shortages in DPW and Police. Despite that the budgetary increases, on the Town side, would be under 1%. The Budget Committee meetings have begun, and I look forward to those discussions.

Budget Message FY 2020 Budget Committee

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RSCS Opens in Seabrook

Posted on September 23, 2019 by billmanzi

The Board of Selectmen were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the beautiful building housing Radiation Safety & Control Services, Inc. (RSCS) a new business that has located in Seabrook. We very much appreciate the investment in Seabrook, and wish them much success.

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Seabrook Financial Report for FY 2018

Posted on September 20, 2019 by billmanzi

Each year I produce a financial report which is a tool for Seabrook policy makers as they make budgetary decisions. This book looks at some of the multi-year financial data for the Town, compiled from multiple sources. Numbers include total dollars raised (tax levy) as well as the sources of that revenue, the impacts of the tax payments (and structure of those payments) made by NextEra, the breakdown of where those dollars go, as well as tax rate information over the past five years. This report has been provided to the Board of Selectme and the Budget Committee in advance of the deliberation on the FY 2020 Budget.

Financial Report 2018 Fund Balance Amendment

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Methuen Mayoral Primary Results (Unofficial)

Posted on September 17, 2019 by billmanzi

The unofficial results from the Methuen Mayoral Primary September 17, 2019 (Two to advance)

Riccio 147

*Kannan 1212

*Perry 2607

Shibilia 929

Central District Council Primary September 17, 2019 (Four to advance)

*McCarty 595
*Faretra 397
*Deeb 372
*Campagnone 368
Normandia 252

West District Councilor Primary September 17, 2019 (Four to advance)

*Simard 1199
*Bryant 706
*Gallo 612
*Saffie 540
Batal 281

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Methuen Democratic Town Committee Annual Breakfast 2019

Posted on September 8, 2019 by billmanzi

The Methuen Democratic Town Committee held its annual breakfast yesterday. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the assembled group, and wonderful to have Congresswoman Lori Trahan, State Senator Diana DiZoglio, and State Reps Linda Dean Campbell and Christine Minicucci on hand to speak. The candidates for local office were on hand, and if they were in the audience they had an opportunity to speak. There was a straw poll, and those results are below. It is not easy to get up and give a short presentation on your candidacy, but everyone did a terrific job. Thanks to Chair Lisa Ferry, Vice Chair James McCarty, and all of the Committee members for all of their hard work.

Straw Poll Results:

Mayor:
Jennifer Kannan 95
Neil Perry 81
Dan Shibilia 8
Don Riccio 6

Councilor at Large:
David DJ Beauregard 136
Jessica L. Finocchiaro 95
Nicholas DiZoglio 77
Stephen J. Angelo, Jr. 59
Arthur L. Hardy III 14

Central District City Councilor
James McCarty 72
Joyce C. Campagnone 67
Jordan A. Normandia 62
Joel P. Faretra 28
Dennis “D.J.” Deeb 8

West District Councilor
Mike Simard 121
Allison Mary Saffie 80
Frank P. Gallo 52
William S. Bryant 49
Jeri-an Batal 14

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Senator Tom Sherman on Seabrook Community Meeting

Posted on September 7, 2019 by billmanzi

State Senator Tom Sherman is convening a community meeting, in conjunction with the Seabrook Board of Selectmen, on September 16, 2019 at the Seabrook Community Center, 311 Lafayette Road, at 6:30 p.m. Senator Sherman is an MD, and he will bring some important speakers to this program to discuss, and look for solutions, to the very serious opioid crisis negatively impacting so many lives, in Seabrook and beyond. Our thanks to the Senator for his leadership. Hope to see you at this event.

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The Seabrook CIP Book for 2020 is Posted

Posted on August 22, 2019 by billmanzi

I am pleased to present my sixth CIP Book to the Seabrook Planning Board, the Seabrook Board of Selectmen, and the Seabrook Budget Committee. I have also prepared a seven year history of capital spending, as well as a separate book (CIP Supplemental) that looks at how we fund CIP Projects, as well as how we are progressing with our 2019 articles. The additional information is designed to assist policy makers as they determine how to proceed in 2020 and beyond in authorizing, and funding, vital capital projects.

2020 CIP final

Seabrook 2020 CIP Submission Supplemental

Seabrook CIP Spending Seven Year Review 2019

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Seabrook Receives MS4 (Stormwater) Permit from EPA Region 1

Posted on August 6, 2019 by billmanzi

The Town of Seabrook has just received its MS4 Permit (General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems in New Hampshire (MS4 General Permit) from the U.S. E.P.A. The Board of Selectmen discussed this at their July meeting, and have been committed to meeting the requirements of the Permit. My thanks to DPW Manager John Starkey and our engineers TEC, who worked diligently to get our NOI (Notice of Intent) in timely. Of course there is much more work to be done to stay current, and our team is working on the next phase currently. The EPA documents are below.

NH_MS4_Authorization_Seabrook_NHR041033

Seabrook-MS4_SWMP_6-28-19

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