The Board of Selectmen announced a one year contract agreement with the Seabrook Police Association, affiliated with Teamsters Local 633, this week. The agreement will have a “true zero” for FY 2020, with a 2.5% wage adjustment beginning January 1, 2021. There are educational and longevity incentives included, and those changes are also deferred until January 2021. This unit has been without a contract for several years. My thanks to the Teamsters, the SPA, and the Board of Selectmen, who worked very hard on this agreement. This contract will be on the 2020 warrant as Article 7.
The Seabrook Board of Selectmen announced a contract agreement with the Seabrook Firefighters Association Local 2847 this week. The three year contract has no wage adjustment for FY 2020, FY2021, and FY 2022, with a 3% wage increase in January of 2023. Thanks to the Board of Selectmen and the Professional Firefighters for all of their work on this contract. There were three “open” contracts in this cycle, and the Board of Selectmen reached agreement with all three. This contract will be on the ballot in March as Article 8.
The Seabrook Board of Selectmen, after hearing a report from Chairman Aboul Khan, voted unanimously to suspend participation on the Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Task Force. The letter suspending participation is below. The Board expressed, at their meeting and through the letter, a very strong concern for how the placement of turbines would impact the fishing industry. With those potential negative impacts the Board felt that the fishing industry needs to be afforded membership on the Task Force. Without that change being made the Seabrook Board of Selectmen felt it advisable to suspend Seabrook’s participation.
December 6, 2019
Mr. Matthew Mailloux, Energy Advisor
Office of Strategic Initiatives
107 Pleasant Street, Johnson Hall
Concord, NH 03301
Dear Mr. Mailloux,
Please accept this email as a suspension of the Town of Seabrook’s participation in the Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Task Force. While the Task Force is addressing the vital issue of offshore wind it is our firm belief that due to potential impacts to the fishing industry this Task Force should have representation from that industry. Seabrook, which we represent, is a fishing community that hosts the Yankee Fisherman’s Cooperative, and has a long history of participation in, and support of, the fishing industry. As a major stakeholder in any potential placement of wind turbines the fishing industry is entitled to a seat at this table. Without a voice for fisherman we feel that the potential impacts to their livelihood may not be fully understood, or addressed, by this task force, as currently constituted.
Respectfully,
Aboul Khan Chairman
Theresa Kyle Vice Chair
Ella Brown Clerk
Seabrook has received word that we will receive a federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant of $695,965 for the repair of the Town Pier. This grant is vital to the regional economy, as the failure of the sheet pilings supporting the pier would have a devastating impact on the Yankee Fishing Cooperative and the regional fishing industry as well as on the ability of the Seabrook Station to use the harbor for the delivery of vital equipment. From the Press Release from the United States Department of Commerce:
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $695,965 grant to the Town of Seabrook, New Hampshire, to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to support the local fishing fleet and the NextEra nuclear power station. The grant, to be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act designated Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $695,966 in local funds and is expected to help retain 200 jobs.
“President Trump is committed to helping communities across the nation develop the critical infrastructure they need to support business development and growth,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “This project will support the needs of the local commercial fishing and power sectors. The nearby Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone will further incentivize businesses to invest in the area and help reinvigorate the local economy.”
The project will help to repair the Seabrook Seawall to ensure the continued use of the wharf and adjacent channel. The work will include the replacement of the existing bulkhead and the re-grading and paving of land behind the seawall.
The Town of Seabrook has derived the matching funds from a taxpayer authorized bond, (2017 Warrant Article 6) allowing this project to move forward. My thanks to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, Congressman Chris Pappas, and Governor Sununu and the State of New Hampshire Economic Development team, who all worked to support this application. Our thanks to the Regional Economic Development Corporation President Laurel Adams as well as Jennifer Kimball, whose work and expertise were essential to having a successful application. My thanks to NextEra for all of their support and assistance.
The Seabrook Board of Selectmen have made this project a top priority, and it was the Board that placed the bond article in 2017, going to the public with strong advocacy for both the financing, and the project itself. Without the support and advocacy of the Board this project would not have reached this point.
Finally a big thank you to the U.S. Commerce Department and the E.D.A. They have been outstanding partners, responsive and helpful throughout.
I am pleased to present the 2020 CIP Book to the Seabrook Planning Board, the Seabrook Board of Selectmen, and the Seabrook Budget Committee. I have also prepared a seven year history of capital spending, as well as a separate book (CIP Supplemental) that looks at how we fund CIP Projects, as well as how we are progressing with our 2019 articles. The additional information is designed to assist policy makers as they determine how to proceed in 2020 and beyond in authorizing, and funding, vital capital projects. Thanks to Shaylia Marquis for all of her work on this project, and a big thank you to all of our municipal departments for their contributions as well.
Click HERE for the Memorandum and Order from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
C-10, in light of the successful license amendment and license renewal of Seabrook Station, filed an “emergency petition” with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, seeking review of those decisions by the Commission.
C-10 Research and Education Foundation filed a petition related to concrete degradation caused by alkali-silica reaction (ASR) at Seabrook Station, Unit. C-10 asks us to exercise our inherent supervisory authority to direct the NRC Staff to address the safety risk posed by ASR in the Seabrook containment building before the Staff acts on the ASR license amendment request (LAR) or license renewal application filed by NextEra Energy Seabrook.
The NRC has issued its decision on this matter, which is attached below. The C-10 request was denied in full.
Congratulations and best wishes to Seabrook Water Department Foreman Herb Fowler, who is retiring after 42 years of service. Herb has been an integral part of the growth and development of the Seabrook Water Department. The Board of Selectmen traveled to the Water Department to honor Herb and recognize his service to Seabrook with the entire Water Department. Thank you Herb for your outstanding service to Seabrook.
The Seabrook Firefighters Memorial has been moved to the Seabrook Fire Station, and the Town remembered those that have come before us in the Fire Service in Seabrook with a ceremony on Saturday. Thanks to Chief William Edwards for making this day possible with a lot of excellent planning and work. Many thanks to the Seabrook Board of Selectmen for all of their support. It was wonderful to have former Chief Jeff Brown on hand, and deep appreciation to Chaplain Craig Everett as well as bagpipers Bill Shute and Jim MacDonald, and Newburyport Chief Chris LeClair. The weather did not cooperate much but it was a great ceremony despite that.
A beautiful day for the Seabrook Memorial Day celebration yesterday. Thank you to Katie Duffey for all of her hard work, as well as our DPW for all of the preparation. As always our thanks and gratitude to the Raymond Walton American Legion Post 70 for their work, and for their hospitality after the parade. A big thank you to all of the parade participants.
Below I have posted the seven year review of Seabrook Capital Spending, along with a supporting document of tabs that show the basis of the numbers in the main report. This document is designed to show how much we are spending on capital, how we are financing it, and where those capital tax dollars are going. There have been some important changes made, principally the adoption by the Board of Selectmen of capital reserve accounts, which are highlighted in the report. The new annual financial report will be up next. For those that might dismiss the vital importance of annual capital plans please look at the dollars spent over the past seven years. There may not be a more important document produced by localities than the annual CIP.