Certified Local Government Code of Conduct
CODE OF CONDUCT PROVISIONS FOR CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT HISTORIC DISTRICT PROCEDURES OR
REGULATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
These provisions have been reviewed and approved by the NH Office of Attorney General and the
New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources / State Historic Preservation Office.
They are consistent with the requirements of RSA 673:14.
Complete by inserting the community’s name in the blanks below.
1. Mont Vernon Historic District Commission members (and staff, if any) shall not use their
position for a purpose that is, or gives the appearance of being, motivated by a desire for
personal benefit or private gain for themselves or others, particularly those with whom they have
family, business, organizational, or other ties.
2. Mont Vernon Historic District Commission members (and staff, if any) who have a financial
interest in a property, shall not participate in any discussion, hearing, or other commission
consideration of that property, whether as part of local review procedures pursuant to New
Hampshire RSA 674 and RSA 676, or as part of actions (such as National Register nomination review
procedures) pursuant to the responsibilities of a “Certified Local Government” under the National
Historic Preservation Act, or under the associated requirements established by the National Park
Service and the State of New Hampshire for participation in the Certified Local Government program.
3. Mont Vernon Historic District Commission members (and staff, if any) shall not participate in
the preparation of administration, monitoring, approval, or payment of any grants or contracts made
to, or by, the commission, if a real or apparent conflict of interest would be involved.
4. In conformance with New Hampshire RSA 673:14, no member of the Mont Vernon Historic
District Commission shall sit upon the hearing of any question which the commission is to
decide, if that member has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the outcome which differs
form the interest of other citizens, or would be disqualified for any cause to act as a juror upon
the trial of the same matter in any action at law.
5. When uncertainty arises as to the application of these provisions to a commission member in
particular circumstances, the commission shall, upon the request of that member or another member
of the board, vote on the question of whether that member should be disqualified. Any such request
and vote shall be made prior to or at the commencement of any required public hearing. Such a vote
shall be advisory and non-binding, and may not be requested by persons other than board members,
except as provided by local ordinance or by procedure rule adopted under RSA 676:1.
6. If a member of the Mont Vernon Historic District Commission is disqualified or unable to act,
in any particular case before the commission, the chairperson shall designate an alternate to act
in place of the disqualified member, as specified in New Hampshire RSA 673:11.
7. Any member of the Mont Vernon Historic District Commission who may have an apparent,
potential, or actual conflict of interest with respect to any deliberations or matters before the
commission, shall absent himself or herself from the commission’s meeting while such matters are
being considered or acted upon.
8. Mont Vernon Historic District Commission members (and staff, if any) who are in office (or
employed) at the time these code of conduct provisions are adopted shall be exempted for a period
not to exceed one year from the date of adoption, pursuant to RSA 31:39-a.