2009 Annual Report - Belknap County

where we reviewed the information gathered and discussed approaches for continued
brain storming. We considered this project a great success and truly valued
the opportunity for direct, open interaction as well as the feedback received.
A direct result of the concluding forum was the creation of an Administrative
Group headed by our County Administrator, Debra Shackett. This group of professionals
is made up of the Administrators and Managers from each of the municipalities.
They meet monthly to discuss opportunities to improve efficiency
and share information. They have had ongoing discussions that revolve around
combining services, bidding together to save on bulk costs, budgeting issues and
needs at every level. This is an ongoing process and also part of our strategic
planning goals.
The Commissioners are looking long and hard into our personnel policies and
procedures. The need for a Human Resources Director had been at the fore front
of our agenda and we are happy to announce that in September of 2009, Mr. Norman
O’Neil was hired to fill this vital and much needed role. Mr. O’Neil brings
years of experience, not only in the human resources profession, but specifically
in the public sector. Mr. O’Neil has jumped right into a number of projects and
has already made contributions to the County.
We saw the retirement of one of our longest standing Belknap County employees,
Superintendent of the Department of Corrections, Richard Grenier. Mr. Grenier
started working for Belknap County in 1977. In his tenure, he worked his way
through the ranks starting as a Correctional Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and ultimately,
Superintendent. He can certainly say he worked his way to the top in the
past 32 plus years! Superintendent Grenier started a number of new and existing
programs at the jail. One was the farm program, which was not only a huge success
among the inmates providing them with physical labor, etc., but it also provided
food to many of the local pantries and to our own County Nursing Home.
Superintendent Grenier also saw through the implementation of the Electronic
Monitoring Program. This program has been a huge success and ultimately saved
the tax payers thousands of dollars while offering the opportunity for inmates that
have earned the chance to transition into civilian life in a proactive way. We wish
Mr. Grenier well and thank him for his years of loyal and dedicated service to the
citizen’s of Belknap County.
With the intention of limiting the services paid for by County taxes to those required
by New Hampshire State Statue, the Commissioners reevaluated the budgetary
funding requests. As all departments were asked to review their procedures
for gained efficiencies, the Commission began to review very closely our role
10 2009 Annual Report