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podow aomunuop REGULAR CALENDAR April 17, 2018 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT OF COMMITTEE The Majority of the Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development to which was referred SB 445, AN ACT designating the Warner River as a protected river. Having considered the same, report the same with the recommendation that the bill OUGHT TO PASS. p. John Mullen FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File MAJORITY COMMITTEE REPORT Committee: Resources, Recreation and Development Bill Nuilabe SB 445 Title: designating the Warner River as a protected river. Date: April 17~ 2018 Consent Calendar: REGULAR Recommendation: OUGHT TO PASS STATEMENT OF INTENT The bill designates the Warner River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management Protection Program. The river is a 20 mile shared resource for the Towns of Warner, Sutton, Bradford, Webster, and Hopkinton. It is one of the state's highest ranked wildlife habitats. It also provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, and fishing. It was felt by many in the region that it was necessary to protect this river to maintain its natural resources as well as protecting the rights of those living along side its waters. Thus, a local committee was formed to begin the process of applying for protected status. The local committee's cooperation with the Department of Environmental Services, the Department of Fish and Game, accompanying towns, local conservation commissions, Trout Unlimited, NH Rivers Management Advisory Committee, and many local volunteers enabled the nomination process to move forward. This committee heard numerous testimonies of strong evidence of support for the bill, with only one recorded in opposition. Based on this overwhelming support of the local towns, state agencies, and others, the committee felt the bill was worthy of support. Vote 14-4. Rep. John Mullen FOR THE MAJORITY Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File REGULAR CALENDAR Resources, Recreation and Development SB 445, designating the Warner River as a protected river. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. John Mullen for the Majority of Resources, Recreation and Development. The bill designates the Warner River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management Protection Program. The river is a 20 mile shared resource for the Towns of Warner, Sutton, Bradford, Webster, and Hopkinton. It is one of the state's highest ranked wildlife habitats. It also provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, and fishing. It was felt by many in the region that it was necessary to protect this river to maintain its natural resources as well as protecting the rights of those living along side its waters. Thus, a local committee was formed to begin the process of applying for protected status. The local committee's cooperation with the Department of Environmental Services, the Department of Fish and Game, accompanying towns, local conservation commissions, Trout Unlimited, NH Rivers Management Advisory Committee, and many local volunteers enabled the nomination process to move forward. This committee heard numerous testimonies of strong evidence of support for the bill, with only one recorded in opposition. Based on this overwhelming support of the local towns, state agencies, and others, the committee felt the bill was worthy of support. Vote 14-4. Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File REGULAR CALENDAR April 17, 2018 The Minority of the Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development to which was referred SB 445, AN ACT designating the Warner River as a protected river. Having considered the same, and being unable to agree with the Majority, report with the following resolution: RESOLVED, that it is INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. FOR THE MINORITY OF THE COMMITTEE Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File MINORITY COMMITTEE REPORT Committee: Resources, Recreation and Development Bill Number: Title: designating the Warner River as a protected river. Date. 1:1AtithiFi17A,2018I, Consent Calendar: REGULAR Recommendation: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE STATEMENT OF INTENT The minority of the committee opposes the bill, an act designating the Warner River as a protected stream, because we believe the procedure to get the river so designated is fundamentally flawed and runs contrary to the democratic process. The process requires public hearings, local board comments, a nomination by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services, and approval by the legislature. The flaw in the process is that nowhere is it required that there be a vote of the citizens of the towns through which the designated portions of the river flows. Designating a river as "protected" is akin to a zoning process. It affects land use. It creates a Local River Management Advisory Committee, another layer of bureaucracy. We all know that in meetings and hearings it is the activist that speaks the loudest and usually wins. Only in the privacy of the voting booth will the true will of the people reveal itself. Rep. Andrew Renzullo FOR THE MINORITY Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File REGULAR CALENDAR Resources, Recreation and Development SB 445, designating the Warner River as a protected river. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. Andrew Renzullo for the Minority of Resources, Recreation and Development. The minority of the Resources, Recreation and Development committee opposes SB445, the act designating the Warner River as a protected stream, because we believe the procedure to get the river so designated is fundamentally flawed and runs contrary to the democratic process. The process requires public hearings, local board comments, nomination by the commissioner of DES and approval by the legislature. The flaw in the process is that nowhere is it required that there be a vote of the citizens of the towns thru which the designated portions of the river flows! Designating a river as "protected" is akin to a zoning process. It affects land use. It creates a local river management advisory committee, another layer of bureaucracy. We all know that in meetings and hearings it is the activist that speaks the loudest and usually wins. Only in the privacy of the voting booth will the true will of the people reveal itself. Original: House Clerk Cc: Committee Bill File Voting Sheets HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE SESSION on SB 445 BILL TITLE: designating the Warner River as a protected river. DATE: April 17, 2018 LOB ROOM: 305 MOTIONS: OUGHT TO PASS Moved by Rep. Mullen Seconded by Rep. Suzanne Smith Vote: 14-4 CONSENT CALENDAR: NO Statement of Intent: Refer to Committee Report Respectfully submitted, 2 Rep Linda Gould, Clerk HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE SESSION on SB 445 BILL TITLE: designating the Warner River as a protected river. DATE: y/ 1?-190/s/ LOB ROOM: 305 MOTION: (Please check one box) kOTP CI ITL CI Retain (let year) CI Adoption of Amendment # El Interim Study (2nd year) (if offered) Moved by Rep. rY'rwAiL Seconded by Rep. ,clnit.,a Vote: MOTION: (Please check one box) 111 OTP ❑ OTP/A ❑ ITL ❑ Retain (let year) D Adoption of Amendment # ❑ Interim Study (2nd year) (if offered) Moved by Rep. Seconded by Rep. Vote: MOTION: (Please check one box) 111 OTP ❑ OTP/A El ITL 111 Retain (let year) ❑ Adoption of Amendment # El Interim Study (2nd year) (if offered) Moved by Rep. Seconded by Rep. Vote: MOTION: (Please check one box) ❑ OTP ❑ OTP/A ❑ ITL El Retain (let year) ID Adoption of Amendment # El Interim Study (2nd year) (if offered) Moved by Rep. Seconded by Rep. Vote: CONSENT CALENDAR: YES X NO Minority Report? Yes No If yes, author, Rep: Rein7 o Motion Respectfully submitted: Rep Linda Gould, Clerk STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 1/5/2018 10:31:42 AM OFFICE OF THE HOUSE CLERK Roll Call Committee Registers Report 2018 SESSION RR&D ,------ Bill #: 1 _5 Title: d-e-42-erwle-n, 11c4"44-4- Lug, '44- c--- ra---1 /e we( Date: ti / 3 / c904/ Exec Session Date: / /7 / 62 Motion: 0 1--- e Amendment #: MEMBER YEAS NAYS Christensen, Chris Chariman --- Mullen, John A. Vice Chairman 1.--- Renzullo, Andrew .1.— Gould, Linda Clerk t.-- McConnell, James W. Christie, RickRick l--- L---- Schkitit, Eric I. nert 4 49.4.z,o Ze I4, Al Z i 4,..47-2-1 1--- Horgan, James F /) , Johnson, Tiffany L--- itri i L---- Smith, Suzanne J. L:--- apenerludt-19-T. i/re ;(,..e...32 L.- Parkhurst, Henry A. L. A Thomas, Yvonne D. i;.---_ Gottling, Suzanne H. c---- Maes, Kevin G. L------ 1.-:---- Grassie, Chuck ice_ Farnham, Betsey M. Lisle, David 1.------ /--/ TOTAL VOTE: ) 11 Page: 1 of 1 Hearing Minutes HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HEARING ON SB 445 BILL TITLE: designating the Warner River as a protected river. DATE: April 3, 2018 LOB ROOM: 305 Time Public Hearing Called to Order: 1:00 Time Adjourned: 2:30 Committee Members: Reps. Christensen, Mullen, Gould, Renzullo, McConnell, Christie, Vose, Suzanne Smith, Parkhurst, Y. Thomas, Gottling, Farnham and Lisle Bill Sponsors: Sen. Feltes Sen. Ward Sen. Bradley Sen. Fuller Clark Rep. Carson Rep. Mullen Rep. Suzanne Smith Rep. Myler Rep. Luneau TESTIMONY 1)Sen Feltes, Sponsor, All towns were involved with nominating, local stake holders have input with the program. 2) Rep Carson, Merrimack #7, Supports, Longest river stretch in Warner. Regional approach makes sense. Selectmen support. All abutters have been heard and received notification concern about damns and sites for them were incorporated in plan. Impact not greater than DES already can do. 3)Rep Wells, Merrimack 25, Opposes, Some people not satisfied from Warner. *4) Jim O'Brien, Nature Conservancy/Town of Hopkington, Supports, Important to maintain water quality. 5) Ray Martin, Warner Village Water District, Supports, 180 + 30 people get their water from the aquifer, not river, which is under river so concerns about its quality.