NECCOG accepts several towns and waives assessment fees as region grows

NECCOG expanded membership in 2013, approving resolutions to accept towns and, in several cases, waive the annual assessment fee for 2013‑14. The council voted to accept Scotland as a member and waived the 2013‑14 assessment fee (motion by Mr. Fletcher, second by Ms. Nicholson). In October the council passed resolutions accepting Hampton and Chaplin as members and similarly waived fees for the 2013‑14 year.

On Dec. 20 the council endorsed Voluntown’s membership (Resolution 21‑1‑13) and authorized the chair to notify the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). Throughout the year the council also agreed to outreach to neighboring towns and to invite surrounding municipalities to a special June meeting to discuss potential expansion.

Council members framed expansions as a way to strengthen regional coordination on economic development, transit and hazard mitigation while emphasizing that new members should be able to choose their preferred regional affiliation under state reorganization discussions.