Dear Chamber Member:

You and your fellow Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC) members charged the HACC Board of Directors to represent you in matters that will positively affect your business.  Consequently, the HACC Board actively participated in informing members and the community on the recent zoning and permitting amendments proposed by the Hanover Planning Board.

We are pleased to report that the vote on the amendments proposed by the Hanover Planning Board and supported by HACC Board were either passed or defeated as recommended.
    
We hope you will join us in congratulating the Hanover Planning Board on reaching the desired outcome of the amendments. 
    
For your clarification, we have attached a brief summary of the articles in which your Board was involved and the results of the voting.
    
We will continue to represent you in critical matters that affect your business.  Please contact the HACC office when such matters should be considered.

Janet Rebman, Executive Director

 

On May 9, Hanover residents voted to support 17 of 19 zoning amendments placed on the Town Meeting warrant.  The Hanover Planning Board recommended approval of sixteen of these amendments, five of which were included on the warrant with the support of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Board and its members.  The amendments supported by the Chamber of Commerce included:

 

Article 11 (passed 1,380 to 397)

Allows more than one driveway on a lot where there is more than one dwelling in a PRD, allowing more flexible planning for multi-family uses.

 

Article 12 (passed 1531 to 239)

Formally recognizes the existing and historical practice of allowing both on-site and off-site users to share accessory parking in the Downtown and Institutional Districts, allowing, for example, the Town’s use of spaces in the College parking lot next to Thompson arena. 

 

Article 13 (passed 1,545 to 216)

Removes the requirement to follow a separate application process for temporary construction permits, helping to streamline the process for the benefit of both the Town and the applicant.

 

Article 14 (passed 1,588 to 162)

Expands the definition of “accessory buildings and uses,” so to include not only buildings and uses which are “subordinate and customarily” incidental, but also those which are “subordinate and reasonably” incidental.

 

Article 15 (passed 1,526 to 208)

Deletes the word “literally” from the description of how zoning regulations are to be interpreted, to make clear that the Ordinance is to be interpreted and applied reasonably and in a straightforward manner, in light of its wording, context, purpose, spirit, and intent.

 

Two additional amendments which had been placed on the warrant were defeated, including an amendment opposed by both the Planning Board and the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce.  This latter article (Article 5: “Protect Steep Slopes from Development”), though well intentioned, contained a number of significant flaws and would have unreasonably restricted the use of land throughout the developed portions of town.  Article 5 was defeated by a vote of 1023 to 734.

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Did you know that you have choices when it comes to purchasing energy?


Thank you to National Grid for putting together these Frequently Asked Questions: Energy Choice


How do I find a supplier?

Lists of suppliers that are eligible to provide energy to customers in our service area are available by visiting the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission* website. You are free to contact the suppliers to compare offers and make a choice.


Is it mandatory that I choose a different supplier?

No. If you do nothing, National Grid will continue to supply your energy and associated delivery services until you choose a competitive supplier.


If I do purchase my energy from another supplier, will I have to worry about the reliability of my energy service?

No. Service quality and reliability should stay the same. You will continue to have access to National Grid’s customer service representatives during business hours and our crews will still respond to emergencies and power outages.


Who do I call if there is an emergency?

You will continue to call National Grid in case of an emergency such as a power outage.


How will I be billed?

It depends on the supplier you choose. You may receive two bills: one from National Grid for the delivery of your energy, and another from your supplier for the energy itself. You may also have the choice of a single bill from National Grid which will contain a separate line for supply charges.


Will I save money if I purchase my energy from a competitive supplier?

Your savings will depend on several things:

• How much you pay now for the energy you purchase.

• How much energy you use.

• Your agreement with the supplier.


Can a supplier turn off my service?

No. Only National Grid is authorized to connect or disconnect your service.


Once I choose another supplier, may I change back to you?

Check the terms and conditions of the contract with your supplier. A customer who chooses to discontinue service with a supplier and wants to resume receiving energy from National Grid can have the supplier return the account to us.


How do I enroll in the program?

You must contact a competitive energy supplier. If you and the supplier agree that you will buy your energy from them, they will then contact National Grid to enroll your account.


If I have questions about my bill, whom do I call?

If your questions relate to the delivery portion of the bill, please contact National Grid. For questions about the supply portion of the bill, call the supplier at the number provided on your bill.


Important Considerations Should You Choose to Switch

National Grid cannot endorse suppliers or advise you to choose one over the other. However, if you are considering buying energy from someone other than National Grid, make sure to get the following information from the supplier:

• What is the term of the contract?

• Are there minimum bill amounts?

• Are the energy prices fixed, or will they change throughout the term?

• Are there penalties for early termination of the contract?

• Will the supplier bill you directly, or will charges be included in our bill?

• What is included in the price per kWh?

Go to http://www.nationalgridus.com/granitestate/business/energychoice/choice.asp for even more information

Health Care for Small Business


The Current Situation in New Hampshire

Are you wondering what the state of New Hampshire is doing regarding health care coverage for small businesses and organi­zations? Did you know that Vermont has passed laws allowing health care to be offered by Chambers and others for Vermont based businesses? Can we do anything to let NH legislators know how the Hanover Area would like this issue to proceed? Let me know if you are interested in joining a focus group to discuss health care for small businesses.

Below is a FAQ sheet put together by our new member Harvard Pilgrim Health regarding current laws and bills in the New Hampshire Legislature.

Note: SB stands for Senate Bill, HB stands for House Bill.

What are the key differences between SB110 and SB125?

Key differences are that SB125 does not permit carriers to use health status or geography (location of the group) to develop rates, com­presses the differences in small group premiums between a carrier’s highest-rated small groups and the lowest-rated small groups to 3.5:1, restricts how much a carrier can increase renewal premiums in 2006 to a greater extent than SB110 did in 2005, and creates a high risk reinsurance pool that is expected to stabilize premiums over time.

The chart below outlines these key differences between the two bills:

 

SB 110

(2005)

SB125

(2006)

Premium adjustments permitted using following factors:

• Health status

• Geography

• Industry

• Age

• Group size

• Premium cap of 25% on 2005 renewals only

Premium adjustments now permitted using only the following factors:

• Industry

• Age

• Group Size

• Premium cap of 20% on 2006 renewals only

Maximum difference between the highest and lowest premiums for small groups was 12.5:1

Maximum difference between the highest and lowest premiums for small groups is now 3.5:1

25% premium cap did not apply to age or trend (medical care pro­jected to be used by all small groups over a period of time such as 1 yr.). Therefore, the maximum premium increase for renewals from 2004 to 2005 was the 25% cap plus changes in age plus trend.

20% premium cap does not apply to trend (medical care projected to be used by all small groups over a period of time such as 1 yr.). Therefore, the maximum premium increase for renewals from 2005 to 2006 can be the 20% cap plus trend.

Creates a reinsurance pool to stabilize premiums over time; health plans can cede new insureds who are likely to incur large claims to the reinsurance pool to offset the risk. The pool is invisible to the employer and the insured.

What can a small business do to obtain health insurance today at a reasonable cost?


A small business should carefully review the different health plan products that are available and evaluate which ones best meet the health coverage needs of its employees and the financial constraints it faces. Probably the best way to do this is to seek the help of an independent insurance producer (broker) who is familiar with different insurers and their range of products and can help the small group employer to identify what features, in addition to the premium rate, are important in a quality plan. These features may include the insurer’s record on member satisfaction and customer service, the extent and location of the provider network, inclusion of health promotion, disease management or prevention programs, information tools to help employees use their health care plan effectively, and accreditation from national bodies for meeting quality standards.

How can employers assist with consumer engagement in health care/health plan decisions?


1) Create a new environment and attitude: Involve and support the employee.

Health plans and employers have shifted costs onto employees without giving them a role in health care decisions. Employers often fear upsetting employees and negatively impacting their recruitment and retention programs by instituting any change in their health plan. But in actuality, this can be a positive experience - for both the company and the employee - if employees are supported with good informa­tion, especially by instituting an active open enrollment period, and the right tools to help them select the plan that fits their lifestyle and to understand the implications of those choices.


2) Set fixed dollar contribution policies that make the consequences of employees’ choices apparent to them. Rather than paying a per­centage of whatever option the employee chooses, employers can use a fixed dollar contribution to make more expensive options exactly that -- more expensive, and less expensive options, less expensive. Furthermore, share with the employee the total premium cost, not just the portion of the premium that the employee is responsible for paying. It is possible to treat employees fairly without unduly insulating them from the reality of rising health care costs. Arm consumers with information about medical costs and performance and ask them to start making comparisons and choices based on cost and quality.

 

What bills are presently before the Leg­islature that would allow some form of group purchasing?


Currently, HB515 (“Purchasing Alliances”) is winding its way through the Legislature. It was approved by the House and is now before the Senate Banks and Insurance Committee. This bill would permit either established associations or chambers of commerce to form purchasing groups, known as purchasing alliances, to obtain coverage solely for their members, or it would permit purchasing alliances to form that accepted all small groups without excluding any groups. These purchasing alliances would be required to follow the same rating requirements that apply to small groups that are not a part of the purchasing alliance.


At a hearing before the Senate Banks and Insurance Committee on February 14, 2006, both supporters and opponents of the bill testified. While supporters believe that banding together small groups in purchas­ing alliances will give them greater “buying power”, opponents pointed out that this would result in greater segmentation of the existing small group risk pool and could result in higher rates. Concerns were also voiced that SB125 had just been enacted in 2005 and, for the sake of market stability, legislators should first see if it is working before enacting another set of changes in the small group market.


What bills are presently before the Leg­islature that would allow some form of group purchasing?


Currently, HB515 (“Purchasing Alliances”) is winding its way through the Legislature. It was approved by the House and is now before the Senate Banks and Insurance Committee. This bill would permit either established associations or chambers of commerce to form purchasing groups, known as purchasing alliances, to obtain coverage solely for their members, or it would permit purchasing alliances to form that accepted all small groups without excluding any groups. These purchasing alliances would be required to follow the same rating requirements that apply to small groups that are not a part of the purchasing alliance.

At a hearing before the Senate Banks and Insurance Committee on February 14, 2006, both supporters and opponents of the bill testified. While supporters believe that banding together small groups in purchas­ing alliances will give them greater “buying power”, opponents pointed out that this would result in greater segmentation of the existing small group risk pool and could result in higher rates. Concerns were also voiced that SB125 had just been enacted in 2005 and, for the sake of market stability, legislators should first see if it is working before enacting another set of changes in the small group market.