To the Editor
First and foremost, I would like to thank the citizens of Grafton County for clearing the choking smoke from both parties from this past election and once again entrusting me with the oversight and management of the Grafton County Registry of Deeds. I am honored.
I write today in an effort to clear the new clouds of smoke. Nick De Mayo is well known as a frequent writer to the local newspapers in his eternal effort to reduce his tax burden.
I find it unfortunate that instead of attending Grafton County Commissioner meetings in person, he attends via Microsoft Teams and openly admits that he doesn’t hear well and cannot follow the conversations. His last letter prompted me to write. He is acting much like a simple parrot, selecting words and snippets of conversation, and broadcasting them lacking context or comprehension.
I have served as the Grafton County Register of Deeds for 14 years, winning three ugly primaries and eight general elections. I have spent many years serving on the Joint Loss Committee and Joint Loss Inspection Committees which is a fantastic opportunity to observe the entire complex via the backdoor. I have taken eight oaths of office to perform my duties to the best of my abilities and under laws of New Hampshire and the United States of America and in doing so, have been an advocate for the protection of the historic documents housed in our very simple vault.
I have always been an advocate for the taxpayer as I pay my property taxes in Orford where I own my home, and my entire staff of three are also property taxpayers in Grafton County and we are very frugal with our spending. Last year, I was the only department to reduce our budget from the previous year.
We have invested over two years on vault redesign and renovation in order to avoid a costly move to the proposed new courthouse. Department heads spent over a year in security committee meetings which at my insistence included the Department of Homeland Security to address the overlooked security issues here.
I have been clear with the new Board of Commissioners, the previous Board of Commissioners and the entrenched Administration that moving the Registry to a proposed new courthouse is not in the best interest of the office, the professionals who record documents in person or the citizen who is seeking answers to their concerns not to mention the unnecessary burden to the taxpayer on building a new vault which would most certainly impact the projected square footage and cost. I have advocated for a County Complex Master Plan process for well over 10 years.
During the Commissioner Meeting on January 8th and 14th, I offered an orientation and overview of my current concerns. NH RSA 478; 17g speaks of the Register of Deeds Surcharge Equipment Fund, a dedicated fund that is reserved for necessary equipment to support the operation. I have asked the Commissioners to contact our legal support to seek clarity in defining the meaning of equipment as I have saved a substantial sum in that fund and I am projecting potential needs and uses. The environmental control unit in our vault is over twenty years old and has been failing in recent years. I prefer a proactive approach in investigating possible funding solutions which will not affect the taxpayer and resolve the issue avoiding construction of an entire new vault.
I see that virtual attendance is finally increasing after years of seeking a standing and posted virtual link which is available under Information under the Meetings heading on the Grafton County website. https://grafton-county.com/meetings-information-handouts/. It would be helpful if concerned citizens listened with intent to understand before spewing hearsay.
I am interested in proposed HB 643 which seeks to divide Grafton County into five separate Commissioner Districts versus the existing three. Grafton County is the second largest county geographically with very different demographics and distinct needs. In my opinion this bill is worthy of support and passage. The General Court website is now very user friendly and YouTube live streams the committee hearings https://www.youtube.com/@NHHouseofRepresentatives. Voicing support or opposition to legislation is now very fast and efficient under Standing Committee at https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/standingcommittee .
Transparent, accessible and accountable government should be the standard.
In service to the people of Grafton County,
Kelley Jean Monahan Grafton County Register of Deeds
First and foremost, I would like to thank the citizens of Grafton County for clearing the choking smoke from both parties from this past election and once again entrusting me with the oversight and management of the Grafton County Registry of Deeds. I am honored.
I write today in an effort to clear the new clouds of smoke. Nick De Mayo is well known as a frequent writer to the local newspapers in his eternal effort to reduce his tax burden.
I find it unfortunate that instead of attending Grafton County Commissioner meetings in person, he attends via Microsoft Teams and openly admits that he doesn’t hear well and cannot follow the conversations. His last letter prompted me to write. He is acting much like a simple parrot, selecting words and snippets of conversation, and broadcasting them lacking context or comprehension.
I have served as the Grafton County Register of Deeds for 14 years, winning three ugly primaries and eight general elections. I have spent many years serving on the Joint Loss Committee and Joint Loss Inspection Committees which is a fantastic opportunity to observe the entire complex via the backdoor. I have taken eight oaths of office to perform my duties to the best of my abilities and under laws of New Hampshire and the United States of America and in doing so, have been an advocate for the protection of the historic documents housed in our very simple vault.
I have always been an advocate for the taxpayer as I pay my property taxes in Orford where I own my home, and my entire staff of three are also property taxpayers in Grafton County and we are very frugal with our spending. Last year, I was the only department to reduce our budget from the previous year.
We have invested over two years on vault redesign and renovation in order to avoid a costly move to the proposed new courthouse. Department heads spent over a year in security committee meetings which at my insistence included the Department of Homeland Security to address the overlooked security issues here.
I have been clear with the new Board of Commissioners, the previous Board of Commissioners and the entrenched Administration that moving the Registry to a proposed new courthouse is not in the best interest of the office, the professionals who record documents in person or the citizen who is seeking answers to their concerns not to mention the unnecessary burden to the taxpayer on building a new vault which would most certainly impact the projected square footage and cost. I have advocated for a County Complex Master Plan process for well over 10 years.
During the Commissioner Meeting on January 8th and 14th, I offered an orientation and overview of my current concerns. NH RSA 478; 17g speaks of the Register of Deeds Surcharge Equipment Fund, a dedicated fund that is reserved for necessary equipment to support the operation. I have asked the Commissioners to contact our legal support to seek clarity in defining the meaning of equipment as I have saved a substantial sum in that fund and I am projecting potential needs and uses. The environmental control unit in our vault is over twenty years old and has been failing in recent years. I prefer a proactive approach in investigating possible funding solutions which will not affect the taxpayer and resolve the issue avoiding construction of an entire new vault.
I see that virtual attendance is finally increasing after years of seeking a standing and posted virtual link which is available under Information under the Meetings heading on the Grafton County website. https://grafton-county.com/meetings-information-handouts/. It would be helpful if concerned citizens listened with intent to understand before spewing hearsay.
I am interested in proposed HB 643 which seeks to divide Grafton County into five separate Commissioner Districts versus the existing three. Grafton County is the second largest county geographically with very different demographics and distinct needs. In my opinion this bill is worthy of support and passage. The General Court website is now very user friendly and YouTube live streams the committee hearings https://www.youtube.com/@NHHouseofRepresentatives. Voicing support or opposition to legislation is now very fast and efficient under Standing Committee at https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/standingcommittee .
Transparent, accessible and accountable government should be the standard.
In service to the people of Grafton County,
Kelley Jean Monahan Grafton County Register of Deeds