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APPROVED 03/21/2024 
North Country Council Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 
161 Main Street Littleton, NH 03561 – 603-444-6303 – www.nccouncil.org 
Thursday, January 18, 2024 
 
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Paul Robitaille, Chair; Mark Decoteau, Treasurer; Mark Dindorf, 
Member; Carl Martland, Member 
 
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:  Michelle Moren-Grey, Executive Director; James Steele, Finance 
Manager & Special Projects Planner (virtual) 
Call to Order 
Chair Robitaille called the meeting to order at 2:06 
 
Attendance by Roll Call 
Paul Robitaille, Chair; Mark Decoteau, Treasurer; Mark Dindorf, Member; Carl Martland, 
Member 
 
Minutes of 11/30/2023 Approval 
MOTION Treasurer Decoteau made a motion to approve the 11/30/2023 minutes as 
written. The motion was seconded by Member Dindorf, Member Martland abstained. 
The motion carried – 3 in favor/ 0 opposed / 1 abstention. 
 
Financial 
 
Audit Review by RKO 
Ms. Connors provided the BOD with an overview of the FY 2023 audit. Ms. Connor 
commented that we are meeting later than usual; however, the reports were issued in 
October.  She also noted that the audit was completed the week of July 24th which is a 
testament to the staff being ready for the audit early at year-end. The staff is very good 
at providing information when needed and being prepared for the first week of the audit. 
Ms. Connors reviewed the presentation highlighting –  
• There were no material weaknesses. 
• The Council has consistently had a significant deficiency related to the 
segregation of duties. This is due to the small staff size and the inability to 
financially afford to have enough staff for segregation. 
• Financial statements received an unmodified opinion meaning they are correct. 
• Net position over the last 5 fiscal years the net position has increased. 
• The FDIC provides coverage up to $250,000. The Council may want to consider 
dividing the current account balance to have full coverage. 
 
MOTION Treasurer Decoteau made a motion to accept the FY23 audit. The motion was 
seconded by Member Dindorf. 
The motion carried – 4 in favor/ 0 opposed / 0 abstention. 
 
Financial Report 

Mr. Steele provided the BOD with an update of the two items from the previous meeting. 
• First the FDIC $250,000 insured limit. He contacted the bank, and they 
recommended a cash sweep account that would move funds over the limit each 
day and be federally protected. This account is with the same bank and will be 
available to us if needed. Mr. Steele asked how the BOD would like to proceed. 
Member Martland inquired about moving an amount to a higher interest-earning 
account. There was a discussion regarding whether an amount could be moved 
considering our organization and funding. Treasurer Decoteau inquired if being 
over the $250,000 is anticipated to continue. Mr. Steele commented that, yes, 
the account will likely be under and over depending on the Council's activities. 
This is where the sweep account would automatically move overage into an 
interest-earning account.  
 
MOTION Treasurer Decoteau made a motion to authorize Chair Robitaille and Treasurer 
Decoteau to establish a sweep account to protect funds over the FDIC $250,000 
threshold. The motion was seconded by Member Martland. 
The motion carried – 4 in favor/ 0 opposed / 0 abstention. 
 
• Regulations regarding ending the year in a deficit. Review of RSA and connection 
with the state of NH there is nothing cited regarding this. 
 
Mr. Steele presented the monthly financials provided in the packet. 
• At the last meeting, we were concerned about potential losses in November and 
December: We were $1,030 to the positive in November and $918 to the positive 
in December. Losses for the year are now $11,216, with a goal of $2,000 to the 
positive per month. We are slightly behind in direct labor for the month of 
January due to holidays, and staff was hit with another round of COVID-19. 
• 64% of the time was billable; IDCR is 139%, which is higher than approved, but we 
are keeping an eye on this. 
• There are 9 members today, including Campton, who has not been a member 
since 2010; the town of Carroll is expected to become a member as well. 
 
Questions – Member Martland noted that  NCC halfway, through the year, has spent a 
third of the funds and earned a quarter of the revenue. Some of these funds are for 
contracted work, or we are at the timing of our funders. One of the funds that is 
approved is the CDS funds but we are still working the way through the paperwork. 
 
There was a discussion regarding unspent project amounts that are carried forward. The 
adjustments are typically done in the new budget year but can also be adjusted at any 
Commission meeting. Mr. Steele will review the budget and make adjustments for next 
BOD meeting. 
 
MOTION Member Dindorf made a motion to approve the Financial Report. The motion 
was seconded by Member Martland. 

The motion carried – 4 in favor/ 0 opposed / 0 abstention. 
 
Other Business 
 
OHRV State Commission – Ms. Moren-Grey commented that we put back out the notice 
for this appointment. We received one response and some late interest, and she 
recommended that we notice this longer, providing a chance for more interest. BOD 
agreed. 
 
Approval of additional contracts over $25,000 
• NBRC Grant Project Predevelopment Coaching – Ms. Moren-Grey explained that 
the Council has been providing technical assistance for the NBRC projects for five 
(5) years, being supported by an MOU with NBRC and NH BEA. These funds 
support technical assistance through the application phase of the NBRC grant 
round and assist awarded grantees in the early stages of the award before they 
can access their administration funds. Over the last several years, we have also 
worked with NH BEA-hired capacity contractors, providing training and technical 
assistance and working alongside that team. This year, we were informed that we 
were not going to receive $35,000 in funding to support this work because there 
was a question regarding the process at the state level. Upon learning this, Ms. 
Moren-Grey reached out to other regional funders, secured $35,000 to cover this 
gap, and continued providing technical assistance to NBRC grantees. She also 
noted that the NH BEA State TA Contractor is not in place as of today. 
• Coos County Broadband will assist the National Collaboration of Digital Equity 
(NCDE) in continuing to facilitate CCBBC. Contract for over $25,000. 
• Town of Whitfield CDBG CCIP Grant Administration Contract over $25,000. 
Question regarding any risk to these contracts – Ms. Moren-Grey commented that these 
contracts are nothing different than other contracts. Ms. Moren-Grey will provide the 
BOD with contracts in the future for review. 
 
MOTION Treasurer Decoteau to approve the Executive Director to enter into three (3) 
contracts as mentioned. Seconded by Member Dindorf. 
The motion carried – 4 in favor/ 0 opposed / 0 abstention. 
 
Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3, II (if needed) 
None needed 
 
Public Comment 
Chair Robitaille asked for public comment – there was none. 
 
Adjournment 
 
MOTION Treasurer Decoteau made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Member 
Dindorf 

The motion carried - 4 in favor/ 0 opposed / 0 abstention 
The meeting adjourned at 3:14 
 
Respectfully Submitted, 
Michelle Moren-Grey, Executive Director