Hanover Happenings October Recap

Welcome to Episode #4 of Hanover Happenings for a recap of the month of October! In this month's episode, we cover the following topics:

• Overview of Selectboard meeting agenda items from October 3rd and 17th

• October Town Manager report, including updates on:

  • Hiring and Staffing

  • Budget and Finance Director Search

  • Ongoing Salary Study

  • Election Update

  • Rental Housing Inspection Ordinance Update

  • Community/Economic Development

  • CIVICS update

  • A few other updates

• A special chat with New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan

  • I sit down with the New Hampshire Secretary of State to talk about elections, division, civility, and building trust in government.

• A great interview with our next "Employee/volunteer Spotlight"

  • This month we talk with Bernie Waugh and Bill Fischel from the Hanover Zoning Board of Adjustment. We talk about about what the ZBA is and isn't, what makes a good ZBA member (Hint: we're accepting volunteer applications), how the ZBA makes decisions, our non-ZBA broader reflections on zoning policy and how that can positively or negatively impact housing markets, and a bit more about Bernie and Bill, two longtime Hanover volunteers. Check out our conversation!

In this episode, I chat with New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Scanlan about elections, civics, and building trust in government. We popped next door to visit Governor Sununu, who was talking to a large group of fourth graders about the importance of civic engagement. Awesome!

Congratulations to longtime Hanover volunteers Bernie Waugh and Bill Fischel of the ZBA, this month's Employee/Volunteer Spotlight! We talk about the ZBA, how they make decisions and limit "subjectivity," why transparent and fair processes are important in government, our personal reflections on how zoning policy can impact housing markets, and whether Bernie will take his fiddle on his planned Appalachian Trail thru-hike next year!

Head over to hanoverhappenings.com or search for "Hanover Happenings" in your favorite podcast player, such as Spotfy, Apple, Google, Amazon, etc. Subscribe to stay updated and please share with one friend who you want to help get more informed in town.

Episode Resources:

• Find agendas, minutes, and meeting videos, as well as backup memos

  • https://www.hanovernh.org/node/1221/agenda/2022

• More about Hanover's Sustainability goals of 100% renewable electric by 2030 and all sources by 2050:

  • https://www.hanovernh.org/sustainable-hanover-committee

• Rental Housing Inspection Ordinance:

  • https://Hanovernh.org/rentalhousing

• Volunteer information and application:

  • https://hanovernh.org/volunteer

• Congrats to our school district for the distinction:

  • https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_hampshire/this-is-the-top-ranking-school-district-in-new-hampshire/article_fc7d08ea-f0f5-5c53-9091-7fdd83748b5d.html

• Libraries can heal a lonely and divided nation:

  • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-26/in-a-divided-nation-public-libraries-offer-space-to-reconnect