New Hampshire § 227-M-5 - Section 227-M:5 Powers and Duties of the Authority.

§ 227-M-5. Section 227-M:5 Powers and Duties of the Authority.

The authority shall have all the powers necessary and convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter and shall: I. Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business. II. Adopt criteria and guidelines for: (a) The acquisition of resource assets; (b) The restoration or rehabilitation of cultural and historical buildings or structures; and (c) The stewardship and monitoring of resource assets on which program funds are expended. III. Adopt definitions deemed important or necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. IV. Oversee and direct the expenditure of funds deposited in the trust fund of the New Hampshire land and community heritage investment program in accordance with the purposes of this chapter. This includes, but is not limited to, the authority to draw upon funds for program purposes, and for the administrative costs of the program. V. Make and execute contracts for services necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter or necessary and convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions. V-a. Enforce grant obligations through contract, acceptance of rights to enforcement, or other legal actions as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. VI. Temporarily acquire real property or interests in real property, only when such acquisition is necessary or appropriate to protect or secure any investment in which the authority has an interest. VII. Prepare an annual report to be presented no later than December 1 of each year to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, and the governor and council, and filed with the state library. The report shall detail the activities of the program during the past year including a listing of all resource assets acquired and restoration and rehabilitation projects undertaken, along with the associated expenditures. All administrative costs shall be provided, as well as a complete financial accounting of the trust fund established under RSA 227-M:7. The report shall also include a historical summary of the program's activities to date. A copy of the report shall be made available to any interested person. The authority shall cause an audit by an independent certified public accountant of its books and accounts to be made each fiscal year. VIII. In addition, the authority may: (a) Adopt an official seal. (b) Maintain an office and hire staff. (c) Apply for and accept from any source gifts and donations of: money, including money from appropriate fundraising activities; labor, equipment, and supplies; land and other real property; interests in land and other real property; federal, local, private, and other matching funds and incentives; and other assets to be deposited in the fund for the purposes of this chapter and to aid the authority in the conduct of its affairs. (d) Employ or retain as independent contractors architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, and other advisors and employees, consultants, and agents as may be necessary in its judgment without regard to any personnel or civil service law of the state to prescribe their duties and qualifications and to fix and pay their compensation if any. (e) Appoint qualified individuals to serve as unpaid volunteers under such terms and conditions as it deems necessary. Said volunteers or advisors may be paid a stipend and/or reimbursed for any incidental expenses determined by the authority to be necessary and incurred while performing the business of the authority.