Annual Conference Highlights

Annual Conference Highlights Annual Conference Highlights

Town of Northfield Town Administrator, Ken Robichaud, Receives NHMA’s Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year Award

Each year, the Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year award is given by NHMA staff to a municipal member based on their interactions with officials during the legislative session. NHMA established this award in 2011 to recognize an elected or appointed local official for his or her non-partisan contributions toward the advancement of NHMA’s legislative policy goals and for the advocacy of municipal interests generally.

In 2011, NHMA staff selected Russ Marcoux, Town Manager in Bedford, as the first-ever recipient of the Municipal Advocate of the Year award because Russ did all the things NHMA wants members to do in support of its legislative policy and to enhance the success of its legislative agenda. Russ passed away just days before the 2011 Annual Conference and he never knew NHMA had created such an award or that he had been selected the first recipient. In his honor, the award was renamed the Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year award.

At its annual conference last week in Manchester, NHMA recognized Ken Robichaud, Town Administrator in the Town of Northfield, with its 2022 Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year award.

In his presentation remarks, NHMA Government Affairs Counsel Natch Greyes recognized Robichaud for always being there for NHMA. Greyes noted that NHMA “is very fortunate to have a great network of members who work closely with our Government Affairs team which brought us legislative success last session.” But there is usually one or two members who go “above and beyond” this call of service to help out the team in many different ways. Whenever Greyes would call Robichaud to help, Ken would always go “above and beyond” in his efforts. “Of course I’ll help, said Robichaud, “Let me call the committee chair now and count me in to testify on the bill. And I know of someone else who should also testify on this bill and I will make sure he is there to testify with me.” Whether testimony at a legislative hearing, a phone call to his legislator(s), or help during the committee of conference process, Ken was always there for NHMA,” said Greyes.

Congratulations, Ken, for your well-deserved recognition and for all your hard work during the most recent legislative session.

(Northfield’s Town Administrator, Ken Robichaud, accepts the 2022 Russ Marcoux award from NHMA’s Executive Director, Margaret Byrnes (right) and Government Affairs Counsel, Natch Greyes (left).

Past recipients of this recognition are:

2011 Russell R. Marcoux, Town Manager, Town of Bedford 2012 James Michaud, Assessor, Town of Hudson 2013 Don MacIsaac, Selectman, Town of Jaffrey 2014 Julia N. Griffin, Town Manager, Town of Hanover 2015 Shaun Mulholland, Town Administrator, Town of Allenstown 2016 Portsmouth City Council, City of Portsmouth 2017 Bill Herman, Town Administrator, Town of Auburn 2018 Mark A. Bender, Town Administrator, Town of Milford 2019 Christopher Boldt, Selectman, Town of Sandwich 2020 No award given 2021 Mayors of New Hampshire’s 13 Cities

“All Work” Maury Collins Recognized for his Volunteer Service to the Town of Nelson

By Gary Robinson

Should you be traveling along the backroads in Nelson, Hancock or Peterborough where pastures and hayfields abound and see an august gentleman astride a bizarre looking tractor, stop to say hello.

Maury Collins, inventor and owner of his “WORKALL TRACTOR” always welcomes inquiries, be it about his unique multi-purpose invention, the ups and downs of the weather, directions to local events or just to talk.

Maurice Collins, better known as Maury, raised on a farm in rural New Jersey by Quaker parents is one of those individuals that contribute, by their purity of character, to that enduring culture called “Yankee.” He dresses the part in thrice mended overalls, boots heavily grimed with soil and a crumbled hat of the season. He mows meadows and pasture, cuts, splits and burns ash, oak and maple and raises blueberries on his farm in Nelson, offers help to neighbors and asks little in return.

The “rustic” Maury has also other qualities that magnify his character and mark his value to the town of Nelson and the region.

Maury leads a generous life of service; service as a selectman for nine years and Welfare Officer in Nelson, current service as a volunteer for Cheshire Village at Home Program in Keene and earlier with Genesis Health Care as a Certified Nurses Assistant also in Keene.

Maury taught high school Special Ed. students for 15 years in Keene and coached the varsity track and cross-country team there at the departure of longtime coach Clarence DeMar. At Crotched Mountain Healthcare he generously assisted in the delivery of goods and services to patients there.

In Nelson, Maury was the Old Home Day Chairperson in the 70s and ran and won the Nelson Marathon five times. He coordinates special events in Nelson, including the annual Coffeehouse Sing and other musical presentations.

Maury makes it a point to attend every Nelson Town event including Old Home Day, the Old Library functions, the Nelson Congregational Church Ice Cream socials and the Library Lecture series. As a member of the Nelson Trails Group, he puts his woodsman’s knowledge to work helping to build and maintain trails.

As a selectman, Maury drew upon his Quaker upbringing to make decisions based upon thoughtful and quiet consideration to the benefit of the town. He advocated for the purchase and development of a sand and gravel pit to supply the road department with materials for generations to come. He assisted in promoting and overseeing the installation of two solar arrays to serve the town. Maury also reached out to the Keene High School woodworking department to design, construct and deliver a much-needed sexton’s work and storage shed.

The multipurpose “WORKALL” tractor that Maury designed and puts to good work reflects his role in life: restoring ragged pastures as well as tending to folks in need. He doesn’t stop. Thank you, Maury.

Maury Collins of Nelson

Gary Robinson is the Deputy Health Officer in Nelson and a strong admirer of Maury Collins.

Roadsweep America “Cleaning America’s Highways, Cities and Towns.”

My name is Jerry Bowman, founder of Roadsweep America, a NH based litter cleanup company based out of Rochester, NH. My goal is to help make New Hampshire a cleaner and safer state in which to live, work and visit. For many years now, I have personally devoted my time in cleaning up litter on a sponsored section of Rte. 125 in Rochester, NH. In many commutes across NH, I often see litter lining far too many roadways, city streets, parks, and trails. Our current methods of litter cleanup could use some help, which is why I started Roadsweep America. Like many businesses in today’s economy, both state and city/town municipal departments are facing labor shortages, which often leads to prioritizing how manpower is deployed. In some cases, litter cleanup has taken a back seat to other more important projects. Roadsweep America was founded to help with cleaning our states’ highways, and municipal property, which includes city/town streets, parks, trails, playgrounds, cemeteries, and other city/town property.

The State of NH currently has a program, whereby businesses can sponsor a section of highway for litter cleanup.

On the state’s limited access highways, businesses must use the services of an approved maintenance provider for the actual cleanup. I’m pleased to announce that Roadsweep America has been approved by the State of NH, to perform litter cleanup on its limited access highways and secondary highways. Businesses who wish to sponsor a section of highway can now select Roadsweep America. Once the sponsor’s application has been approved by the state, Roadsweep America will then install a sign, along the approved section of highway, displaying the business sponsor’s name and logo. By sponsoring a section of our state’s highways, your company can make a difference in helping to keep our highways litter free and looking beautiful. In addition, your sponsorship may very well boost your company’s image with your employees, shareholders, and customers. There are currently many sections of highway available for sponsorship throughout the state.

In addition to helping clean the state’s highways, our goal is to work with New Hampshire’s cities and towns. We are available to assist with litter cleanup on a one-time basis, or on a recurring basis as needed. We provide all the labor, materials, and safety equipment, and when finished, we discard all collected litter at a designated site chosen by the city/town. By contracting with our company, cities and towns can focus their efforts on other important projects, with the knowledge that we will help keep their cities and towns looking beautiful. For more information, or to request a FREE QUOTE, please contact: Ron Bowman at 833-762-3797 www.roadsweepamerica.com contact@roadsweepamerica.com

20 Spaulding Ave., Suite C Rochester, NH 03868