After a break in July, back to work…. The Executive Committee of the Cheshire County Delegation met this past week to review how the budget was matching revenue & expenditures for the second quarter of this year. I am pleased (and impressed) that the numbers relating to funds spent have come in remarkably close to projections. Since we are funding as close to no tax increase as possible, this is good news. We discussed the Drug Court Grant ($1million),insuring that there would be a full analysis of the value of this program on an on-going basis. The Executive Committee reviewed the proposed collective bargaining agreement relative to Maplewood Nursing Home Employees and agreed to recommend to the Delegation that the agreement be approved. This would be a 3 year contract. We agreed to recommend several capital spending adjustments and authorized the spending of Proshare money in part, while reserving a portion for later projects. This money, again, relates to Maplewood Nursing Home. None of the actions will affect the amount of 2013 taxes to be raised, and all will be considered and voted upon at the meeting of the full Delegation this coming week. On the legislative front, I note that the Legislature passed a bill, signed into law by Governor Hassan that established a joint House-Senate Study Committee relative to improving the Children in Need of Services program. I am proud to have been a co-sponsor of that Bill. In due course the Committee was established. As it happens, I wrote and distributed a letter to fellow House Representatives answering a question relating to courts, custody and children in need. The Chair of the Study Committee (who also Chairs the Children & Family Law Committee in the House) read my letter, checked on my background, and asked me to sit in as the Committee meets. While it was too late to make me a member of the Study Committee, I can “sit at the table” and add my expertise. I am happy to do so – and we have met once already to organize our work. I will attend a conference in Boston in September that will focus on best practices in this area. A formal report to the Governor, House, Senate and other bodies is due in November, so any proposed legislation might be considered in 2014. As I campaigned on improving services to our most needy children, I am pleased that the Legislature – in a bipartisan effort, fully supported by Governor Hassan, re-funded the CHINS program with $8 million, and created this Study Committee to see how the program can be improved.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 01:19:04 +0000
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