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Strafford County Current Bids

The Official website of Strafford County New Hampshire

 FrontPage003

Please join the Strafford County Commissioners in thanking Joseph McGivern for his many years of dedication and service to the people of Strafford County. Through the years 2001 to 2024, Joe served in the following positions:
Strafford County Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Sergeant, and Deputy

 

WELCOME TO STRAFFORD COUNTY, NH!


Welcome to the Strafford County website. Whether you are a current, past, or prospective resident, we hope you enjoy your visit to our virtual home.

County Functions and Responsibilities

The County is currently responsible for: Caring for the elderly in need of nursing home care at Riverside Rest Home; operating a regional jail/house of correction, together with a jail industries program, community corrections program, drug and mental health courts, and a transitional housing program; the County Attorney oversees and provides for the prosecution of criminals; operates a domestic violence unit, child advocacy center, and family justice center; the Sheriff oversee and handles the transportation of criminals, delivery of writs and other Court-related paperwork, operates a Communications and Dispatch Center, and oversees Courthouse security; the Register of Deeds is responsible for the recording of official land transfer documents at the Registry; the Treasurer, together with the Commissioners, oversee the payment of all County financial obligations; as well as a variety of other community-related programs to assist the citizens of the County.

County Government’s Structure

The structure of County government today is modeled after a basic three-branch system of government. The three County Commissioners make up the Executive branch, with responsibility for the day‑to‑day operations of County government, in both fiscal and policy matters. In Strafford County, the Commissioners are elected for two-year terms, at large, meaning from anywhere in Strafford County.

By virtue of election to the State House, a Representative also becomes a member of the County Delegation, which in many counties meets several times a year. The Delegation works primarily on matters of budgeting, exercising its responsibility for appropriating money for County use, which makes up the Legislative branch of County government. It is likely that relatively few New Hampshire voters realize that when they elect their Representatives to the State House of Representatives they are also making them the legislative authority of their County.

Current County Events

Strafford County is made up of three cities: Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth; and ten towns: Barrington, Durham, Farmington, Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Rollinsford, and Strafford, and is home to approximately 125,000 citizens. There are ten (10) counties in New Hampshire, of which Strafford County is the fourth largest in population. According to the 2010 Census the County's population was estimated at 123,143, with 80% of the population over the age of 18 and a median age of approximately 34. Strafford County's estimated racial/ethnic composition in 2010 was 94% White, 1% Black or African American, 3% Asian, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaskan Native, with the remainder of the population being made up of small percentages of other races. Individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin comprised almost 2% of the County’s population. There were 46,576 households reported in 2006-2010. The Census also found that the median household income in the County was $57,809.

A Brief History of Strafford County Government

County Government in New Hampshire began in 1771 with five (5) counties: Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire, and Grafton. Strafford County was organized at Dover in 1771 and was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford. Today, the County borders on Belknap, Carroll, Merrimack, and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The Court system was once a part of County Government, but is now operated by the State of New Hampshire. Roads, which were also previously the responsibility of the County, are now cared for by the State of New Hampshire or the city or town in which they are located. The State Department of Health and Human Services provides services to assist families and juveniles with behavior problems. These services were also provided by the County at one time.

We hope this little synopsis of County government has enlightened you as to the workings at this level of government in New Hampshire. For further information on individual offices and departments within the County, please go to their web page.

 

Very truly yours,

Strafford County Commissioners

George Maglaras

George Maglaras, Chairman

 Robert J. Watson

Robert J. Watson, Vice Chairman

 Deanna Rollo

 Deanna Rollo, Clerk

BUILDING COVID-19 PROTOCOL

The Strafford County Courthouse building will be open to the public.

For the purposes of preventing the spread of COVID-19, all persons entering the building should:

Self-screen for COVID-19 signs and symptoms. If anyone reports symptoms they should not enter the building.

Business should be conducted in a remote manner, if/when possible.

Anyone reporting household contact to someone with COVID-19 (in the past 14 days) should not enter the building.

Business should be conducted in a remote manner, if/when possible.

In accordance with the New Hampshire Judicial Branch (NHJB), unvaccinated people should continue to wear a face covering although they are not required to. Applicable to all areas of the Strafford County Courthouse.

Face coverings should be encouraged, NOT enforced.

Vaccination status is an honor system.

DO NOT ask others about vaccination status;

Face coverings offered to everyone;

It is the choice of the individual to wear a face covering.

Operations such as Probation/Parole, Community Corrections, etc. will operate under their own authority regarding inquiry of vaccination status.

Electronic/Remote means to conduct business are still encouraged; however, business may be conducted in person.

Social Distancing and Hand Hygiene are encouraged but not enforced.

For specific information related to Court Operations such as: media coverage, jury trial protocols, electronic services, etc.

For more information regarding COVID-19:

Riverside Rest Home specific updates: please see Covid-19 Information and Updates – Riverside Rest Home

NH DHHS COVID-19 information: Welcome | NH COVID-19 Response
CDC COVID-19 information: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC
NHJB COVID-19 information: New Hampshire Judicial Branch - COVID-19 Update and Resources page (state.nh.us)

                         Raymond F. Bower

Raymond F. Bower
County Administrator

Events Calendar

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NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING OF THE STRAFFORD COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, Same building, but the meeting room has been changed
Wednesday, September 04, 2024, 07:00pm
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by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please note: the meeting is still located in the same building, but the meeting room has been changed.

FROM: Peter B. Schmidt, Chairman

DATE: August 29, 2024

SUBJECT: Delegation Meeting Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING
OF THE STRAFFORD COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024, 7:00 PM

Public access via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84577040995?pwd=M2L31FxIwJSZXaeC9OpMB3daWv6D3s.1
Meeting ID: 845 7704 0995 Passcode: 425341
One tap mobile: +16469313860,,84577040995#,,,,*425341# US
Dial by your location: +1 646 931 3860 US

NOTICE is hereby given that a Public Hearing and Meeting of the Strafford County Legislative Delegation is scheduled to be held Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. The hearing and meeting will be held in the Jury Assembly Room, Second Floor of the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, 259 County Farm Road, Dover, New Hampshire, to conduct the following business:

 

Open Public Hearing for Comments and Questions on:

a. Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
b. Supplemental Appropriation of $16,421,951 for Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
c. Issuance of $16,421,951 in Bonds to Fund Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan

• Questions and Comments from the Public
• Close Public Hearing
• Open Delegation Meeting
• Approve Minutes of March 20, 2024 Public Hearing and Meeting
• Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNH Cooperative Extension and Authorize Chairman to Sign
• Hear Recommendation of Executive Committee for Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
• Hear Recommendation of Executive Committee for Supplemental Appropriation of $16,421,951 for Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
• Hear Recommendation of Executive Committee for Issuance of $16,421,951 in Bonds to Fund Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
• Motion to Approve Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
• Motion to Approve Supplemental Appropriation of $16,421,951 for Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (majority vote)
• Motion to Approve Issuance of $16,421,951 in Bonds to Fund Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (2/3 vote)
• Any Other Business Which May Legally Come Before the Delegation

The 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan is enclosed for your review prior to the hearing and meeting and is available on our website at: https://co.strafford.nh.us/county-information/strafford-county-capital-improvement-plans

Information and directions may be obtained in advance of the meeting by contacting the
Strafford County Commissioners’ Office at 603-742-1458.

Proposed Motion for Supplemental Appropriation

Motion to Approve Supplemental Appropriation of $16,421,951 for Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (majority vote): Representative _______________ motioned to approve a supplemental appropriation of $16,421,951 for the Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan, as approved under agenda item No. ___ above. The motion was seconded by Representative _______________. There was some discussion on the motion; the motion was called and was accepted on a roll call vote ____ to ____, as follows (majority vote):

YEAS:

NAYS:

 

Proposed Motion for Bond Authorization

Motion to Approve the Issuance of $16,421,951 in Bonds to Fund the Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvements Plan (2/3 Vote): Representative _________________ made the following motion regarding the issuance of a $16,421,951 bond to fund the Proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan:

WHEREAS, Strafford County, New Hampshire (the “County”) has a proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvements Plan (the “project”), attached hereto as Exhibit A and seeks to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $16,421,951 (the “Bonds”) to finance the Project; and

WHEREAS, the County Convention (the “Convention”) has approved a supplemental appropriation for the Project in the amount of $16,421,951; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of RSA 28:24, after Convention has authorized the issuance of the Bonds, the interest rate, maturity and other terms and conditions of the Bonds will be approved by the County’s Board of Commissioners (the “Commissioners”) at a publicly noticed meeting after (i) hearing the results of a bidding process for the purchase of the Bonds that will be managed for the County by its independent financial advisor, PFM Financial Advisors LLC or (ii) hearing the results of a public sale of the Bonds.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby:

RESOLVED: that the Convention hereby authorized the issuance of the Bonds in the amount of Sixteen Million, Four Hundred Twenty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred Fifty-One Dollars ($16,421,951) for the purpose of financing the Project with such interest rates, maturities and other terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commissioners at a duly noticed public meeting; authorizes the Commissioners to apply for, obtain and accept federal, state or other aid, if any, which may be available for the Project and to comply with all laws applicable to the Project; authorizes the Commissioners to issue, negotiate, sell and deliver the Bonds; and authorizes the Commissioners to take any other action or to pass any other vote relative thereto.

RESOLVED: that the County is hereby authorized to execute and deliver such documents and other materials and to take such other actions as may be required for the closing and delivery of the Bonds.

RESOLVED: that all actions heretofore taken in a manner consistent with the forgoing are hereby ratified and confirmed.

Exhibit A is attached: 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan

The motion was seconded by Representative _______________. There was some discussion on the motion; the motion was called and was accepted [unanimously] on a roll call vote ____ to ____, as follows (2/3 vote):

YEAS:

NAYS:

Cc: Strafford County Commissioners
Delegation Members
Elected Officials/Department Heads

 

 

Location Jury Assembly Room, Second Floor of the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building