Lakes and Mountains and Enjoyable Focus of Executive Council Assembly at Mount Sunapee

ENTERTAINING MEETING: Myles Matteson, the governor’s authorized counsel; Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill and Megan Rose, Executive Council Assistant, carry out a track about Mount Sunapee at Wednesday’s assembly. The assembly was on the Mount Sunapee Base Lodge in Newbury, NH. Video by PAULA TRACY

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

NEWBURY – New Hampshire’s pure assets, from its mountains loved for mountaineering, foliage and snowboarding to its lakes which offer swimming, crusing, and year-round fishing had been the main target of a gathering of Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the state’s five-member Executive Council right here Wednesday.

The woods, water and wildlife usher in nearly $4 billion a 12 months, present jobs for 100,000 and create an surroundings that permits individuals to have a very good high quality of life, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, informed a crowd of greater than 100 who got here to Mount Sunapee Resort’s Base Lodge for a breakfast assembly and common Executive Council assembly.

Above, Executive Councilors Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield and David Wheeler, R-Milford, and his spouse, Joy, take the chairlift experience to the summit of Mount Sunapee. PAULA TRACY picture

The governor and council bought a chairlift experience to the summit of the state-owned ski space which is leased to Vail Resorts, held a gathering afterward, and took to the lake and boarded the MV Mount Sunapee II for a luncheon cruise. 

After the boat experience, the council held one other assembly on state transportation wants on the Lake Sunapee Protective Association Center for Lake Studies in Sunapee harbor.

The council has a practice of taking their conferences on the street in summer season and every of the 5 Executive Councilors will get an opportunity to host a gathering of their district and the governor will get to decide on a location for a gathering as properly.

So far this summer season, the council has been within the North Country with the primary assembly held on the veranda on the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, on the governor’s selecting, July 9. It was adopted with a gathering July 30 on the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Club House in a gathering organized by Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, who serves in District 1.

This assembly at Sunapee was hosted by Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, who serves in District 2.

She stated she wished to deal with the significance of the state’s lakes and mountains that are a draw for tourism and small enterprise growth in addition to an essential motive that folks select to stay right here.

Above, Andrea LaMoreaux and Sarah Stewart experience the chairlift to the summit of Mount Sunapee. PAULA TRACY picture

Presentations on the breakfast earlier than the assembly got by Sue Donnelly, normal supervisor of Mount Sunapee Resort and Sarah Stewart, commissioner of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and a presentation by the New Hampshire Lakes Association by Andrea LaMoreaux.

The council and governor additionally bought to listen to from officers of the New England Healing Sports Association, which has its headquarters on the ski space. 

The NEHSA was additionally honored by the governor for its year-round service in advancing adaptive sports activities and the influence it has had on numerous lives.

Above, Gov. Kelly Ayotte honors former state Rep. Dan Wolf, R-Newbury on the Executive Council assembly Wednesday. PAULA TRACY picture

Ayotte honored former state Rep. Dan Wolf, R-Newbury, for his lifelong dedication to service in his neighborhood and the state. 

“The award is for you people who have worked with me,” Wolf stated.

BILLIE BUTLER SWORN IN/SPECIAL ELECTION PRECEPT FOR COOS COUNTY 

State Rep. Billie Butler, D-Somersworth, was sworn in as a brand new state Representative. Butler received a June particular election after Dawn Evans moved out of the district.

The governor additionally introduced a particular election is to be held for Coos County District 5 together with Berlin. Filing for the workplace might be Aug 18-22, the first might be Sept. 16 with the particular election in November if there’s a contested race.

Above, Rep. Billie Butler, D-Somersworth, was sworn in by Gov. Kelly Ayotte at Wednesday’s Executive Council assembly. PAULA TRACY picture

CANNON MOUNTAIN TRAMWAY UPDATE

Liot Hill, whose district additionally contains Franconia Notch State Park, included within the breakfast assembly an replace on state-owned and operated Cannon Mountain Ski Area within the presentation and deliberate to get an replace on the way forward for the Aerial Tramway there, which is being decommissioned after the tip of the autumn foliage season. It is on the finish of its life.

Jace Wirth, normal supervisor of Cannon Mountain stated the realm is making ready for the “Next-Gen Tram” with $27.2 million made obtainable by the legislature this previous session as a part of House Bill 25 the (capital finances) with extra capital assets anticipated from a federal Land and Water Conservation grant.

The current tram is about to endure a structural evaluation to determine if the towers will be reused, which might save the undertaking cash, Wirth stated. 

Above, Myles Matteson, the governor’s authorized counsel and Meagan Rose, govt council assistant joined Councillor Karen Liot Hill on keyboard. PAULA TRACY picture

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY A FEW ‘FAMILIAR FACES’

The council and viewers bought a little bit of musical leisure from a band with because the governor stated, on bagpipes was Myles Matteson, the governor’s authorized counsel and Meagan Rose, govt council assistant joined Councillor Liot Hill on keyboard. They carried out three numbers together with one about Sunapee. The governor took out her cellphone for pictures of the band.

At the final assembly in Pittsburg, Executive Councilor from District 1 Joe Kenney performed in a band with Benoit LaMontagne from NH Business and Economic Affairs.

LAKE ASSOCIATIONS HONORED

Numerous lake associations within the Lake Sunapee space who monitor water high quality, restrict invasive species and enhance consciousness of lake well being had been honored by the governor with a commendation for his or her stewardship.

The view from Mount Sunapee. PAULA TRACY picture

NOMINATIONS

Kenneth Merrifield of Franklin was nominated for one more time period as Commissioner of Labor by the governor.

Ayotte additionally nominated William R. Hart Jr. of Newington to be the state’s Commissioner of the state Department of Corrections. She additionally nominated Christopher Ellms Jr. of Webster to a different time period because the deputy commissioner of the State Department of Energy, amongst different agenda objects.

ASHLAND TO GET A BRIDGE FROM NEW HAMPTON

A bridge on a Class VI street on Jackson Pond going over a railroad line might be offered for $1 to the Ashland Fire Department for the needs of utilizing the timber for a coaching facility.

Executive Councilor Janet Stevens, R-Rye stated she had concern in regards to the chemical substances within the timbers together with PFAS and wished to find out about how the dismantling would happen.

She was informed by Commissioner of Transportation Bill Cass that the Ashland firefighters would assume that as a part of the settlement and take security precautions.

It had been marketed on the market by the DOT however they obtained nothing apart from the supply from Ashland.

Councilor Joe Kenney requested if a substitute was anticipated however Cass stated none is anticipated.

LIHEAP FUNDS APPROVED AND EASIER TO APPLY

Jared Chicoine, commissioner of the state Department of Energy, stated this winter will probably be simpler for residents to use for help for house heating.

The Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP contracts had been mentioned to study extra about oblique prices on the request of Executive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester.

He stated it’s anticipated the state will obtain about the identical quantity of assist because it did final 12 months to be distributed by the Community Action Programs throughout the state.

EVERSOURCE RATES GO UP/DOE WANTS ANSWERS

The NH Department of Energy is submitting a Motion for Clarification to the Public Utilities Commission associated to charge will increase for 2026 that fall closely on residential customers.

“We were very disappointed with the commission’s order,” stated Chicoine.