A pending state law would allow towns to approve federal stimulus dollars on short notice.
Senate Bill 39, brought forward by state Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, passed the Senate last week and now heads to the House.
Hassan expects swift action, based on her conversations with House leadership. The bill could be law as soon as March 11.
The bill is important, supporters say, because a stipulation tied to federal stimulus dollars requires that they be used within a specific time period. The dollars target so-called "shovel-ready" projects.
While many towns in the state have compiled wish lists of projects they would like to see funded if federal stimulus dollars became available, the typical town meeting schedule does not accommodate voting to accept and spend these dollars.
"The timing of the federal stimulus is out of sync with the timing of annual town meetings at which town budgets and spending authority are set," Hassan said. "This bill makes a temporary change to the rules for calling and holding special town meetings so that they can be held during the critical window of time for receipt and expenditure of stimulus money."
Hassan's bill includes two provisions for accepting stimulus money. One is to schedule a special town meeting on seven days notice to consider any issues relating to federal dollars for economic stimulus. The other is an expedited Senate Bill 2 process, cutting the normal posting, deliberative and voting session time frame to a total of 22 days.
Town officials say the bill could help them if their projects are awarded money and they need voter approval to accept and spend it.
Pelham Director of Planning Jeff Gowan said a new town fire station comes immediately to mind.
"It clearly would be the project we'd like to bring in under the program," he said.
While a citizens petition will ask voters to approve construction of the fire station, it will be a tough sell given the sagging economy and previous station proposals' failure to pass in the past.
Hassan's bill would give voters another attempt to approve the project.
That's not to say the Pelham project or those of other towns would necessarily be selected for stimulus funding.
Hassan said eligibility and the selection process remain unclear.
"We don't know how that 165 million is going to be used," Hassan said.
New Hampshire has several pools of federal stimulus dollars, including a $165 million fiscal stabilization fund. There are also education, special education, weatherization, water, and worker retraining program funds available.
Nonetheless, it is good to be prepared to receive funding, just in case, said Rep. Norman Major, R-Plaistow, who supports the legislation.
"I agree it should be fast-tracked so that towns can take advantage of these of these opportunities," he said.
Even Windham Selectman Roger Hohenberger, who is typically critical of federal earmarks and pork spending, said he thinks Hassan's bill is a good idea because it expedites the process.
Windham has a lengthy list of projects it would like considered for funding, including the London Bridge Road construction and salt shed construction.
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