Minutes
The Executive Committee approved the October 9, 2024 minutes and the 2025 Personnel Policy with corrections. The Committee approved Budget Amendment #1 for FY 25 following revenue and expense corrections. Coppelman recused himself from the budget vote. The Committee voted to sunset the Electricity Aggregation program upon the Executive Director's recommendation when the contract with Community Power ends. Financial reports noted "contracted services" expenses running ahead, which the budget amendment addresses. Regarding the $1.4 million RAISE grant for the Seacoast Greenway project over three years, staff discussed potential financial hardship risks associated with passing through consultant funds and suggested asking NHDOT to assist with fund management. Roache reported failing to secure an NH Charitable Foundation grant for website redesign but will pursue another funding option. Discussions are ongoing with Doug Finan regarding the Member At Large vacancy. Source: https://www.therpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/01_January_Minutes.pdf
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MINUTES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
January 22, 2025
Rockingham Planning Commission
RPC Office, Exeter NH
Committee Members Present: B. Moreau (Chairperson); L. Cushman (Vice Chair); A. Davis (Past Chair);
G. Coppelman (Secretary); D. Hebert, T. Moore (Members at Large)
ZOOM: M. Turell (Treasurer)
Staff: T. Roache (Executive Director); A. Pettengill (Business Manager)
1. Vice Chair Cushman called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
2. Minutes of October 9, 2024
Coppelman moved to approve the Minutes of October 9, 2024 as presented; Davis seconded. SO
VOTED.
3. Financial Report December 2024
Roache noted that December was a very normal month and revenue to expenses aren’t far
apart other than “contracted services” running ahead. He explained that is not unexpected and
that item will be adjusted with a budget amendment.
4. Old Business
a) Personnel Policy Update 2025: Roache noted that at a previous meeting the Committee
reviewed amendments to the Personnel Policy and gave consensus for the changes,
however there was no vote taken to approve the amended document. Moreau also noted
several typos and small formatting items to correct. Hebert moved to approve the Personnel
Policy as amended and with corrections; Cushman seconded. SO VOTED.
b) Executive Committee Vacancy: Roache stated that he is in discussion with Doug Finan
regarding the Member At Large vacancy on the Executive Committee.
c) Electricity Aggregation Sunset: Roache explained that the electricity aggregation service that
the RPC had been providing communities was a vital cost savings to many, however, the
program will be effectively ending when the remainder of the contract with Community
Power ends. The market has changed considerably and the scheduling of power companies
is changing as well, making the program unnecessary. Staff will reach out to communities to
explain the ending of the program closer to the contract end date. Hebert moved to sunset
Rockingham Planning Commission
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the Electricity Aggregation program at the Executive Director’s recommendation when
appropriate; Coppelman seconded. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
a) Budget Amendment #1: Roache presented Amendment #1 on the screen during the meeting
and reviewed amended revenues as highlighted in Attachment 4. He corrected the Total
Dues line item on screen and made a few other small corrections. He also reviewed changes
to the Expenses side of the budget. Hebert moved to approve Budget Amendment #1 FY 25
as corrected; Moore seconded. Coppelman recused himself. SO VOTED.
b) RAISE Grant Benefits & Risks: Roache explained that the RAISE grant is an infrastructure
grant for planning and design for the Seacoast Greenway through the Hampton Marsh and
Seabrook totalling 1.4 million over 3 years. It’s a direct contract with FHWA for planning &
engineering design so there is a large amount of partnering with NHDOT. It would involve a
large amount of consultant engineering services. Due to the large amount of funds passing
through the RPC for consultant services, it may cause financial hardship and/or cashflow
problems for the RPC and it may be appropriate to ask NHDOT to manage the funds for us
or share in the responsibility in some way to avoid that.
c) Website grant update: Roache stated that he had applied for a community grant through
the NH Charitable Foundation to revamp the RPC website but he did not receive that grant.
However, there may be another option available through NH Charitable Foundation and he
will pursue that option.
6. Public Comment: None
Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Annette Pettengill, Recording Secretary