Police transparency in the spotlight during Senate hearing
A police recruit simulates a night time traffic stop under the eye of a New Hampshire Police Academy instructor inside the building at NHTI campus recently. GEOFF FORESTER
Published: 1/19/2021 4:51:06 PM
Three months after the New Hampshire Supreme Court delivered a transformative ruling over government personnel practices, including police disciplinary records, state lawmakers are considering creating new laws around them.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, members of the public testified on Senate Bill 39, which would bar public access to police officers’ personnel files.
Senate Bill 39 would directly exempt any information in an officer’s personnel file from becoming public under the state’s right-to-know law, which allows citizens to request and receive government documents. Currently, police personnel files can only be disclosed if there is a compelling public interest, a determination that can o
School officials say they hope this will help every student feels safe and welcomed. We are taking this seriously, both reactionarily and proactively, these are issues that are challenging but they are vibrant and they are critical to student learning, Dana Carver-Bialer, Title IX and Affirmative Action coordinator for Bangor schools said.
Bangor students will have more diverse guest speakers and class discussions regarding different religions, cultures, traditions, and backgrounds. It s holding more educational events on diversity and inclusion, establishing a better process for reporting bad behavior, and changing its dress code, to name a few. From signage in the bathroom stalls to emails, to me popping into classrooms and being a familiar face, Carver-Bialer says.
NH Business Review
Newly established panel seen as expediting development process
January 13, 2021
New Hampshire’s newly established three-member Housing Appeals Board has begun accepting planning and zoning appeals, ushering in what proponents of the panel see as an important change to help meet the state’s affordable housing shortage.
Created in the last legislative session, the board is modeled on the Board of Tax and Land Appeals. It is as an attempt to settle disputes between developers and municipalities without going to Superior Court. The board, like a court, can overrule or remand a local board’s decision and then either side could appeal the board’s decision, just as in Superior Court, to the state Supreme Court.
New Gloucester residents start petition to recall selectman
Following public outcry against George Colby s comment at a Dec. 3 meeting, some residents have begun an effort to remove Colby from his post.
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New Gloucester selectmen on Monday censured a Dec. 3 statement by their colleague, George Colby, that has been interpreted as racist.
Screenshot / Zoom
NEW GLOUCESTER A petition to recall Selectman George Colby is underway following a public outcry against his comment at a Dec. 3 meeting.
The Board of Selectmen on Monday night issued an official condemnation of Colby’s comment.
Colby, at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance during the Dec. 3 meeting that lasted less than five minutes, said, “Liberty and justice for all, for everyone. Even us white folks!”
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LIVERMORE The Livermore Board of Selectpersons met Monday night with the town’s auditors and lawyer to discuss the municipality’s financial issues, but no action was taken after more than an hour of executive sessions.
Prior to the closed-door sessions, Ron Smith and Ed Warren with RHR Smith & Co. of Buxton shared what they had found since Smith met with the board Nov. 23.
A four-page letter was sent to the board Dec. 11 detailing the firm’s findings and concerns.
Smith said certain municipal practices have led to some residents being overtaxed or undertaxed.
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“For the last three years, the Town of Livermore has made errors in its preparation of the certificate of assessment,” according to the letter. “In Fiscal Year 2018, the town overassessed … by $20,249. This error was the result of the ‘municipal appropriation figure’ of $1.48 million being $20,249 higher than what was approved at the annual town meeting.”