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NORTH COUNTRY COUNCIL ANNUAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 
161 Main Street Littleton, NH 03561 – 603-444-6303 – www.nccouncil.org 
 
AHEAD Conference Room Mt Eustis Commons | 262 Cottage Street Littleton 
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
 
Representatives Present: Mark Decoteau (virtual), Vicki DeLalla, Charles Goulet, Mark Dindorf, Sandra 
Butson, Michele Cormier, Ben Gaetjens-Oleson, Paul Robitaille, Ray Gorman, Gil Rand, Tim Sappington, John 
Carpenter, Stan Judge, Carl Martland, Jon Swan, Cassandra Mason, Dan Whittet, Steven Schwartz, Pat Garvin 
 
Guests: Jay Poulin HEB Engineering, Rip Patten Credere Associates, Dave Walker Hart’s Location Board of 
Selectman 
 
Staff Present: Michelle Moren-Grey; James Steele, Taylor Roy, Countney Bowler, Angela Cleveland (virtual), 
Nick Altonaga (virtual). 
 
 
Call to Order & Welcome 
Representative & Chair Robitaille welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 4:08 pm. 
 
A round table of introductions was made. 
 
Minutes from November 30, 2023 Commission Meeting Approved 
MOTION Representative Comier moved to approve the minutes. Representative Judge seconded it. No 
discussion.  All in favor. Motion Carried 
 
Representative & Chair Robitaille turned the meeting over to Michelle Moren-Grey, Executive Director of 
North Country Council. 
Ms. Moren-Grey reviewed the agenda and welcomed new representatives to the full commission meeting. 
 
Overview 
History & Role of Regional Planning Commissions 
Ms. Moren-Grey provided and overview of the history and role of Regional Planning Commissions (see 
attached presentation). Ms. Moren-Grey reminded the group that the Council’s outreach material has a list of 
the Council’s services. 
Questions: Representative Swan asked is we are aware that HB 1221 was signed by the Governor that adds 
landfills to DRI. Ms. Moren-Grey commented that yes we are aware that it passed. 
 
Highlights of FY2024 
Ms. Moren-Grey provided highlights of FY 2024 work plan. Reminding the group that this is not a 
comprehensive list, of the work plan Ms. Moren-Grey reviewed the following: 
• NH CDFA, CDBG Grant Administration 
• Local Contracts (master plan updates, capital improvement plan updates, land use planning support) 
• Technical assistance and project development service’s for NBRC applicants and grantees 
• Housing Opportunity Planning Grants – wrapping up this last round and looking forward to the next 
potential round 
• Regional – Update of the Regional Plan, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), Ten 
Year Transportation Plan project solicitation and support to the National Collaborative for Digital 
Equity for the facilitation of Coös County Broadband Committee & broadband work in the county 

• Climate Resiliency HUB – through the work of North Country Rising and Collaborative work through 
EDA Grant lead by Stacey Doll the Climate Resiliency HUB was developed by Stacy and Cathlin Lord. 
 
Review FY2024 
Mr. Steele provided an overview of FY2024 financials and reviewed the snapshot (attached) noting the 
following: 
• Sixth year that the Council has been on the positive side  
• October of 2023 there was a loss as a result reduced billable time due to unforeseen staff extended 
medical leave and timing of audit bill. 
• Added an insured sweep account to protect funds over $250,000 threshold for being insured. 
• Net position positive $318,352, five years ago the net position was negative $165,000. 
• Local portion of revenue has increased to 30% historically this was around 10%. 
 
Approval of FY25 Draft Budget & Work Plan 
Mr. Steele presented the FY2025 draft budget (attached) reviewing sources of revenue and expenses, changes 
and pending projects/contracts. 
 
Question – how are municipalities assessed for membership dues? The formula is based on population, 
valuation and amount that is needed to be raised. Ms. Moren-Grey commented that since start of COVID the 
Council has reduced and held dues at that discounted rate. 
 
Federal grants are they secured and are they federal FY year? Yes, they are secured and currently active running 
on different FY years depending on funder and grant type. 
 
MOTION Representative, Vice Chair Gaetjens-Oleson moved to approve the FY2025 draft budget as 
presented. Representative Dindorf seconded it. No discussion.  All in favor. Motion Carried. 
 
Ms. Moren-Grey introduced two guest consultants: Jay Poulin from HEB Engineering – HEB Engineering is the 
Councils current on-call engineer support though the UPWP contract. Rip Patten from Credere Associates was 
the Council’s environmental engineering firm throughout the past Brownfield Grant. 
 
Nomination of Officers 
Representative & Board Member Martland presented the slate of officers: 
 
Paul Robitaille – Chair 
 
Ben Gaetjens-Oleson – Vice Chair 
 
Mark Decoteau – Treasurer 
 
Carl Martland – Member 
 
Mark Dindorf – Member 
 
Representative & Board Member Martland ask if there are any other nominations- none 
 
MOTION Representative & Member Martland moved to approve the slate of officers as presented. 
Representative Butson seconded it. No discussion.  All in favor. Motion Carried. 
 
Representative & Board Member Martland thanked the officers for their continued participation. 
 
Update of the Regional Plan 
Ms. Cleveland, Planning Coordinator, introduced herself and provided the group with update of the regional 
plan and progress.  Ms. Cleveland reminded the group that as an RPC we are tasked with development of a 
coordinated plan.  The update of the regional plan is being supported through a grant via HUD and assistance 
through Stratford RPC. All nine RPC’s are updating regional plans during the same timeframe. Currently the 

Council has two surveys that are live, and we are attending existing events to gain input from residents & 
businesses (to date we have attended three events). We are asking what people appreciate about the region and 
what they want to see changed or improved.  
Ms. Traylor Roy, Planning Assistant distributed the survey to the group. 
 
Representative Swan commented on the permitting Grantie State Landfill are there any thoughts regarding 
impact to traffic patterns, transportation and regional plan. Ms. Moren-Grey commented that this has the 
potential to come out in the feedback received through the current active surveys. Currently we have not been 
engaged in conducting traffic surveys around this. 
 
Ms. Moren-Grey reviewed opportunities for participation through committees. 
 
Question regarding incorporating single town’s Master Plans into the regional plan, while we won’t necessary 
incorporate individual Master Plans into the regional plan they will be looked at for like themes for 
incorporation. 
 
Ten Year Plan Update 
Mr. Altonaga, Transportation Planner, provided an update about the ten-year plan process. The TYP is a two-
year cycle and we just finished solicitation of TYP Projects and received 19. These will be reviewed against the 
criteria and ranked to be reviewed and approved by the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The top 
two to three will be moved to engineering for conceptual design. In the late fall the top ranked project goes to 
NHDOT for review. 
 
Regional Traffic Counts are underway the Council conducts between 160 to 170 counts for NHDOT. Local 
counts can be requested by contacting the Council. These counts provide data to support local planning and 
project efforts. 
 
Mr. Altonaga reminded the group of other data collection the Council can assist with such as traffic calming 
projects, road surface management and stream crossings. 
 
Member Martland commented that the Regional Transportation Plan does have identified freight routes and the 
proposed GSL is not located on a freight route. 
 
Discussion occurred regarding EV Charging Corridors in the region. 
 
Comment regarding climate change an impact on local road infrastructure. Mr. Altonaga commented on the 
projects, services and outreach to communities that incorporate this information. 
 
Ms. Moren-Grey – recognized Cathlin Lord and Kevin Driscoll that are not here who conduct traffic counts and 
support a majority of the transportation fieldwork. 
 
Other Business 
 
Northern Border Regional Commission – Catalyst Grant round is open reach out to the Council if you are 
looking for project coaching, idea development and technical assistance. 
 
NHBEA Office of Broadband Initiatives – 196m for NTIA BEAD funding to be awarded in support of 
broadband investment. The BEAD Challenge is happing if there is a location that is unserved or underserved, 
submitting a challenge is recommended.  For questions reach out to Ms. Moren-Grey. 
 
Ms. Moren-Grey shared the new guide book for representatives in the materials and thanked Courtney Bowler, 
Planning Assistant, for her work on this material and support behind the scene to make things happen. 

 
Representative Swan commented that with the current round of permitting for GSL and that it runs counter to 
what North Country Council’s work represents, Representative Swan still welcomes a letter to NHDES, 
NHDOT, Army Corp Engineers in opposition to the GSL project. 
 
Representative and Vice Chair Gaetjens-Oleson recognized the North Country Council staff for another positive 
year and commenting that it was not that long ago that the Council was not in the black and it was challenging 
times. Thank you to the great work of the current staff but also for the staff that have stuck with it through the 
challenging & tough times to get the Council to where it is today. 
 
Representative and Chair Robitaille thanked the Representatives for their dedicated participation to their 
municipalities as well as the work of the Council. 
 
Public Comment 
none 
 
MOTION Representative Dindorf moved to adjourn. Representative and Vice Chair Gaetjens-Oleson 
seconded it. No discussion.  All in favor. Motion Carried 
 
The meeting Adjourned 5:56 pm 
 
Respectfully Submitted, 
 
Michelle Moren-Grey, Executive Director