Governance

Presented by NHMA's Legal Services attorneys, these VIRTUAL workshops provide municipal officials with tools and information to effectively serve their communities. 

Topics will include the Right-to-Know Law, ethics and conflicts, effective meetings, town governance, municipal roads, budget and finance, and more. Ample time allowed for questions, answers, and discussion. 

Attendees will receive a digital copy of NHMA's 2020 edition of the publication, Knowing the Territory.

Class 1:  Governing Body Roles & Responsibilities

Good governance starts with understanding the roles and responsibilities of the governing body. In this kickoff session, attendees will learn what governing body members can and cannot do and the extent of their authority. The presenters will review the most important statutes applicable to governing body members for both towns and schools, with some time spent discussing the differences between them.

Class 2:  Financial Responsibilities

This session will explain the fundamental concepts of governmental budgeting, finance and taxation. Statutory financial duties of the governing body will be addressed, including relationships with other elected officials, importance of internal controls, and measures to help mitigate the opportunity for fraudulent activities to occur in your municipality or school district.

Many municipal offices and other public facilities in New Hampshire have been closed for weeks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic although some employees have continued to work inside. Municipal officials across New Hampshire are now taking steps to make these spaces safe for residents and staff when they eventually reopen. These actions include reconfiguring public areas to allow for proper social distancing, installing plexiglass to separate staff from the public, modifying in-person visits, taking temperatures, testing employees, hand sanitizers, face masks, new signage, etc.