Bow Select Board adopts updated Human Services guidelines; town to keep paperwork in-office

The Bow Select Board on Sept. 9 adopted updated Human Services guidelines for the town after a presentation by the town’s human services director and the outgoing director.

Melissa Valance identified herself as the town of Bow human services director and said the updated document was a rewrite based in part on the City of Concord’s 2015 policy. Deb Borbeau, the town’s previous human services director, said she helped prepare the revision. Valance told the board the two towns' policies still mirror one another and that Concord had agreed to notify Bow if it updates its policy in the future.

Board members asked whether any state statutes had changed and whether the document should be posted on the town website. Valance said no major RSA changes were pending and recommended keeping the lengthy application packet at town offices rather than publishing the full packet online so residents who lack printing access can complete materials in person. When asked whether human services could assist with household water or sewer repairs in cases such as arsenic contamination of private wells, Valance said such a request would be unusual and would likely require discussion with the town manager because most human-services cases the department handles are basic needs (housing, food, prescription assistance).

After discussion the board moved to adopt the guidelines.

Votes and next steps: the board voted to adopt the Human Services guidelines and indicated the document will be available at town offices. Concord’s human-services director agreed to notify Bow of future updates so Bow can update its version when needed.