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New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions 
Annual Meeting Minutes 
June 25, 2025, 1:00-3:00 PM 
Bow Municipal Offices, 10 Grandview Road, Bow NH 
 
1) Welcome and Introductions 
Chair Jerry Coogan called the meeting to order and asked for introductions: 
 
Members present: Jen Czysz, SRPC; Michael Tardiff, CNHRPC; Sarah Wrightsman, 
SRPC; Jerry Coogan, UVLSRPC; Tim Moore, RPC; Peter Griffin, SNHPC; Sandy 
Crystal, CNHRPC; Shanna Saunders LRPC; Steve Buckley, CNHRPC; Sandy Crystal, 
CNHRPC; Tim Roach, RPC; Todd Horner, SWRPC; Christine Robidoux, SWRPC 
Members attending on Zoom: Meghan Butts, UVLSRPC;  Riley Stafford, CNHRPC 
2) Action items 
a. Review and Approval of the March 26, 2025  
T. Moore motioned to approve the March 26, 2025 minutes.  
Discussion: S. Buckley stated that on page 6, paragraph 5, the correct legislative 
number is SB-456 not 455. P. Griffin stated that his name was spelled incorrectly.  
S. Buckley seconded the motion to approve the minutes with amendments. 
Following a roll call vote with all members voting unanimously in favor, the motion 
passed. 
3) Minutes Legislative Updates  
Tim Moore presented his and Noah Hodgetts top ten list: 
1. HB224: Relative to rebates to ratepayers from the renewable energy fund. 
2. HB296 : Relative to issuing building permits along private roads.  
3. HB382: Prohibits municipalities from requiring more than 1 space per dwelling 
unit.  
4. HB399: Establishing a commission to study the New Hampshire zoning 
enabling act and relative to the effective date of the C-PACER program. 
 
Discussion: S. Saunders stated that the NH Planners Association (NHPA) reached 
out to the bill sponsors; there are no planners on the commission and NHPA was 
not included in discussions. NHPA is organizing to attend meetings and can provide 
feedback as more is learned. Typically, NHPA is invited to the hearings to participate 
and collaborate.  
 
 

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5. HB413: Relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements 
and the regulation of building permits. 
6. HB457: Relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units 
7. HB504: Relative to the state energy policy 
8. HB577: Relative to modifying the definition of ADUs 
9. HB631 Permitting residential building in commercial zoning. 
10.HB682: relative to the office of offshore wind industry, the offshore and port 
development commission, and the office of energy innovation. 
11.HB685: Permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction 
of manufactured housing. Discussion: J. Czysz stated this is now dead 
12.HB690: Directing the department of energy to investigate the state's 
withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategy decisions that impact 
ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy. 
13.SB78: Relative to the zoning board of adjustments appeal period. 
14. SB84: Relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing. 
15.SB174: Prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms 
a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process. 
16. SB188: Relative to the state building code. 
 
Discussion: S. Saunders stated that the other thing that this bill does is make the 
timelines for municipal review of building permits and certificates of occupancy very 
short. That would put a burden on municipalities on their planning and building 
departments and boards. 
 
17. SB272: Relative to electric vehicle charging station funding. 
18. SB281 Prohibiting municipalities from denying building or occupancy permits 
for property adjacent to class VI roads under certain circumstances.  
 
Discussion: S. Buckly stated it does not prohibit a town from having a zoning 
ordinance that mandates frontage on a class V road, which would still require a 
variance from the ZBA. Anyone who wants to build on a class VI road and does not 
meet the frontage requirements may no longer have to get special permission from 
the select board, but they still have to get a variance from the ZBA. 
19. SB282 Relative to stairway requirements in certain residential buildings 
Discussion: A lot of urban areas only require one stairway. The state fire Marshall 
testified sprinkler systems are doing their job and mitigating risk. 
20. SB284: Relative to authority for municipalities to regulate mandatory on-
site parking requirements. 

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Discussion: S. Saunders explained that the New Hampshire Planners Association 
(NHPA) had offered to assist the drafters of the two bills in resolving technical 
issues. However, both NHPA and the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) 
were excluded from the process, which contributed to several technical problems. 
One notable issue is that some of the effective dates in the legislation do not align 
with town meeting schedules. As a result, many municipalities may find themselves 
without local regulations that comply with state law, placing them in a difficult 
position. These communities will likely require technical support from RPCs. 
Unfortunately, RPCs currently lack funding to provide this kind of technical 
assistance. J. Czysz stated that SRPC is working on a legislative toolkit. 
 
It was noted that the Governor might veto the proposed state budget, and a 
continuing resolution would take effect. If this were the case would a “default 
budget” include the target block grants? Could the Department of Business and 
Economic Affairs (BEA) speed up the contracting process, allowing funds to be 
spent in the first month? Concerns were raised about the likelihood of the 
Commissioner approving the processing of those contracts or invoices.  
 
Additionally, it was noted that in the House version of the budget, BEA lost both 
tourism funding and targeted block grant dollars. When Commissioner Caswell 
testified before the Senate, he advocated for the restoration of $4 million in tourism 
funding. 
  
4. Annual Business Meeting Items 
a. FY2025 Financial Report 
J. Czysz reported that the current checking account balance is $7,461. The financial 
reports were prepared one week prior to this meeting. Since then, two payments 
have been processed—one for staff administration and one for website 
maintenance—totaling $4,750. 
Invoices have been sent to the Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) to cover 
convening expenses for a total of $971.18. 
S. Buckley motioned to accept the FY2025 financial reports as presented. T. Moore 
seconded the motion. All members voted unanimously in favor by roll call vote. The 
motion passed.  
b. Annual Dues Assessment ($1,000/RPC?) 
S. Buckley motioned to approve the proposed $1,000 annual dues assessment for 
each RPC $1000.00. P. Griffith seconded the motion. All members voted 
unanimously in favor by roll call vote. The motion passed.  

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c. Contracts for Services for FY2026 
• 
Administrative Support ($8,000) 
• 
Website/Communications ($1,500) 
J. Czysz stated the contracts are the same as FY25 with SRPC contracted for the 
administrative services for $8,000 annually and CNHRPC contracted for the website 
and social media services for $1,500 annually. 
S. Buckly motioned to award the Administrative and Website/Social Media Contracts 
for FY2026 as stated. P. Griffith seconded the motion. All members voted 
unanimously in favor by roll call vote. The motion passed.  
d. FY 2026 Budget 
J. Czysz stated the budget is the same as in the last few years: 
 
 
S. Buckly motioned to approve the proposed FY2026 budget as presented. S. 
Saunders seconded the motion. All members voted unanimously in favor by roll call 
vote. The motion passed.  
Discussion ensued about the $250 put aside for a legislative breakfast. S. Saunders 
stated the NHPA has partnered with NHARPC in the past on legislative breakfasts 
and the events were successful. Scheduling conflicts have been an issue. Staying 
within budget remains a consideration.  
Some representatives are interested in knowing who we are; we need to build 
relationships with legislators, so they understand our value to communities. S. 
NH Association of Regional Planning Commissions 
Proposed FY2026 Budget 
Income: 
  
   Membership Dues 
$9,000.00 
   Annual Convening RPC payments 
$1,250.00 
                                      Total  
$10,250.00 
Expense: 
  
   Staff Support 
$8,000.00 
   Website/Communications Support 
$1,500.00 
   Conferences/Support of Affiliate Activities 
$500.00 
   Annual Convening 
$1,250.00 
   Legislative Breakfast 
$0.00 
   Incidental Expenses 
$250.00 
                                       Total  
$11,500.00 
Check Register Balance as of 6/16/2025 
$7,461.39 

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Buckly suggested engaging with Denis Parker, former RPC Director and former 
lobbyist, who has strong connections. A presence at the beginning of the legislative 
session in January would help to get our message out. S. Saunders stated that the 
NHPA has used lobbyists, but the costs have quadrupled; they are currently 
exploring alternatives due to limited options. 
The group was at a consensus to revisit the matter at the September meeting.  
e. Election of Officers 
S. Buckley presented the proposed slate of officers for FY 2026: 
Peter Griffin-Chair 
Bill Chaison-Vice Chair 
Katrin Kasper-Treasurer 
J. Czysz stated that Katrin Kasper is stepping down. SRPC commissioner Sarah 
Wrightsman, a new member to the NHARPC, accepted the nomination for the 
treasurer position.  
S. Buckly announced he will be stepping down from the CNHRPC as of June 30.  
S. Buckly motioned to nominate P. Griffin as Chair, Bill Chaison as Vice Chair, and 
Sarah Wrightsman as Treasurer. C. Robidoux seconded the motion. All members 
voted unanimously in favor by roll call vote. The motion passed.  
f. Re-cap of Commissioner Convening 
P Griffin stated he thought the Convening was a success and thanked the planning 
group and all involved for organizing. It was well organized, and the speakers were 
great.  
4) Priorities for FY 2026 
The group discussed priorities for fiscal year 2026: 
• 
Build relationships.  
• 
Show up as directors to the meetings. 
• 
Members update their commissioners on the Association on what we 
talked about and the legislative updates. 
• 
Presentations: 
o Present at conferences like NHMA, Primex, Housing, Field Events 
o Demonstrate a visual example of our projects and end product 
successes at conferences like the;  
o make the invisible visible.  

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o Partner with other organizations, to be more front and center in 
presentations and projects.  
o Each RPC present a year in review.  
o Submit 2 Town and City articles Resources for Volunteer Planners 
and How Investing in Regional Planning Gets Results to NHMA 
sessions. 
The group discussed breaking up the location for meetings and was in consensus to 
keep the meetings centrally located in Concord 
5) NHARPC - NHMA Partnership  
a. Town & City Articles and Webinars 
Investment and transit and mobility management is due July 25. Megan sends out 
reminders a month before and will start to send reminders a week before.  
J. Czysz stated that the RPC directors come up with a list and present it at the 
NHARPC meeting. 
 Suggestions for 2026 articles: 
• 
SRPC’s Housing and Habitats Webinar 
• 
Highlight work of RPC’s 
• 
Public engagement generally, surveys 
• 
Hazard Mitigation/current funding opportunities 
• 
Natural resources inventory/story maps 
• 
Household hazardous waste 
• 
Help communities to keep up to date on ordinances; wetlands 
• 
Transportation/ TAP grants 
• 
Follow up to a 10-year plan article from May/June; other grants available 
other than the Ten Year Plan 
• 
Other types of circuit riders like housing navigators, resilience 
coordinators. 
J. Czysz stated that she will present this list of ideas at the next RPC directors’ 
meeting and come back with a revised list at the September NHARPC meeting.  
6) RPC Updates 
M. Tardiff reported that CNRPC is receiving more requests for circuit riders. He is 
also seeing towns are having difficulty retaining recording secretaries. The group 
discussed how the pool of skilled and trained planners is thin; less are entering the 
field. Often Land Use Clerks make up for the lack of planners. Suggest we look into 
a shared pool of planners.  
 

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The committee thanked Jerry Coogan for his run as Chair. 
7) Public Comment 
There was no public comment 
8) Adjourn 
Following a motion and a second, all members voted in favor of adjourning. The 
meeting ended at 2:50PM.