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NH COG executive director reports GIS vendor progress, $210,000 EDD award and upcoming regional events; administrative motions noted
Summary
Rob (executive director) updated members on GIS grant vendor status, a $210,000 federal EDD award for CEDS implementation and staff changes; he also covered events and administrative items including minutes and financials.
Rob (executive director) opened his report by highlighting the creative economy summit video now posted on the council website and by summarizing his executive activity log. He updated members on the COG's GRAMA/GIS grant work: four vendors are engaged in the region—QDS (master agreement and task orders executed and active), New England Geo (task order phase), Timmins (master agreement phase, Winchester task order), and Flow Analytics (task order execution phase in Harlington).
Rob also announced federal funding for economic development: "we... have been awarded $210,000 in federal funding to continue our 5 year SEDS implementation," he said, noting that this contributes to a $350,000 commitment to the region for economic-development activity and credited staff for the quick turnaround.
Staffing and program updates: Sarah Better will take on expanded responsibilities in a planner/entry-level planner capacity to support regional planning, emergency management and the CEDS. Rob also announced a household hazardous waste event scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Torrington Transfer Facility (Boat Road) with on-site and Eventbrite registration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and he noted Bantam is being designated a state cultural district with a site visit scheduled.
Administrative items and votes at a glance: Rob reviewed the July meeting minutes and an AI-assisted draft of minutes. Anne Marie (finance) was not present; Rob reported July/June financials are in year-end close and under audit review. The meeting included several procedural motions recorded in the minutes:
Votes at a glance
- Motion: Move acceptance of Attachment C to July financials. Mover: member present (mover recorded in meeting). Second: Matt. Outcome: not specified in the transcript (no roll-call recorded).
- Motion: Authorize the chair to solicit requests for information for road management planning software. Mover: Town of Burlington representative. Second: Town of Washington representative. Outcome: approved by unanimous voice vote.
- Motion: Adjourn. Mover: Doug (motion to adjourn recorded). Second: Greg Warren. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
Rob also reported that Torrington requested and received a letter of support for a Trees for Communities application and that the COG will act as fiscal and administrative agent for a Harrington recreation trails grant; staff plan to issue an RFP and oversee consultant selection for a Naugatuck River Greenway segment final routing and design.
What members asked: Doug requested banks and interest-rate information for the COG's cash balances and CDs; Rob said staff are reviewing those accounts and potential reallocation. Several members expressed appreciation for the creative economy summit materials and for staff work on the SEDS award.
Next steps: Rob will circulate the executive director activity log, the COGs' housing proposal presentation (per earlier agenda item), the GRAMA/GIS task-order status for individual towns on request, and follow up on finance questions about account yields.
