Who We Are

The Commission has provided professional planning assistance to municipal boards since 1963, when it was the Upper Valley Development Council. Our current staff’s areas of expertise include comprehensive planning, land use regulations, transportation planning, natural resource inventories, community/economic development, public participation, affordable housing, and hazard mitigation planning.

The Commission is one of nine Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) in New Hampshire, established by state legislation (RSA 36:45). RPCs were created to coordinate all aspects of planning, act as a liaison between local and state/federal governments, and provide advisory and technical assistance. Regional Planning Commissions seek to promote intergovernmental collaboration and coordination throughout the regions they serve.

The Commission serves 27 municipalities, local groups such as river advisory committees, economic development councils, housing organizations, and others who affect the future land use of the region.

The Commission is governed by Commissioners appointed by member communities and counties, as well as a small number of at-large members. It is the Commissioners’ role to serve as regional collaborators, bringing local issues to the Commission’s attention and, conversely, articulating regional strategies that can benefit local efforts.

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Our Mission

The purpose of the Commission shall be to guide, coordinate, and promote sound economic growth and development and to prepare, maintain, and implement a comprehensive regional plan for the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region; to serve as a research agency and information clearinghouse for the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region; to assist local units of government with their plans and programs; and to establish a public information program to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region.

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Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs or activities.

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Our Region

The Upper Valley Lake Sunapee region includes 27 municipalities in Grafton, Sullivan, and Merrimack Counties.

The 27 municipalities within the region established by the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ Office of Planning and Development (BEA OPD) voluntarily choose to be members of the Commission. A regional planning commission’s powers shall be advisory and shall generally pertain to the development of the region within its jurisdiction as a whole. Regional planning commissions are political subdivisions of the state. However, regional planning commissions have only that power and authority expressly provided for in NH RSA 36.

Each municipality that is a member of the Regional Planning Commission shall be entitled to 2 representatives to the Commission. Municipalities with a population of over 10,000 but less than 25,000 shall be entitled to three representatives on the Commission (currently Claremont, Lebanon, and Hanover). Population as set forth in this section shall be deemed to be determined by the last federal decennial census. Representatives to a regional planning commission shall be nominated by the planning board of each municipality from among its residents and shall be appointed by the municipal officers of that municipality. Representatives may be elected or appointed officials of the municipality or county. Any county may also, by resolution of its County Commissioners, become a member of the Commission and shall be entitled to appoint two representatives to the Commission.

The terms of office for Commissioners of a regional planning commission shall be 4 years, but initial appointments shall be 2 or 4 years. In municipalities entitled to 3 or more representatives, initial appointment shall be for 2, 3, and 4 years.

In addition, Regional Planning Commissions are encouraged, at their discretion, to consult with agencies and institutions operating within the region whose activities influence planning and development. The Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission currently has 2 at-large Commissioners representing economic and land use planning interests.

The Commission adopted a set of revised Bylaws on February 11, 2026, to guide its work. 

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Core UVLSRPC Plans

Regional Comprehensive Plan

Regional Housing Needs Assessment

Regional Corridor Transportation Plan

Long-Range Transportation Plan

Public Involvement Plan

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Commissioner Info

The Regional Planning Commission is guided by Commissioners appointed by either the Selectboard of Towns or the City Council of Cities within the region. The Commission provides a regional framework that can assist municipalities in charting the best course forward with policies that guide their communities toward the goals that are important and unique to each community. The Commissioners meet throughout the year and act as the “Board” of the organization, conduct business such as approving contracts that fund the organization, and are responsible for the fiscal soundness of the organization. Each year, the Commission adopts a Budget and Work Plan at its Annual Meeting in June, outlining the organization’s efforts to meet the communities’ needs best.

What is the Role of a Commissioner?

The Commissioners have overall fiduciary responsibility for the Commission. The Commissioners are responsible for setting the policies of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission to enble it to best serve the needs of the region. The Commission’s job is to both represent the general public’s interest in assuring that the agency serves the region effectively, and through ongoing communication, to represent the municipal body that appointed the Commissioner.

As a representative of a local government, a Commissioner may assist with regional policy decisions and inform their commmunity about regional issues and how their community plays a part in larger regional issues. A Commissioner’s role is to balance the needs of municipalities with the needs of the region. Commissioners work to reach consensus when regional solutions can provide greater benefit.

It is a Commissioner’s role to bring concerns, issues and information to the Commission so that UVLSRPC staff may find the best resources to help communities. It is important to express the needs of communities and be engaged in the business of the Commission.

Commissioners are often asked to:

• Attend six bi-monthly meetings a year
• Review agenda materials sent prior to meetings
• Serve on subcommittees who meet more often than bi-monthly
• Advise the Commission on issues within the community
• Introduce staff to key leaders in the community
• Keep community officials and citizens informed on regional issues and the activities of the Commission
• Keep the Executive Director informed of any special concerns that local leaders have
• Approve a yearly budget and work plan for the organization

An effective Commissioner is an engaged liaison between the Commission and the member community. 

Standing Committees for Fiscal Year 2026

Executive Committee 

• Bill Malcolm, Chair
• Josh Trow, Vice Chair
• Jeff Kessler, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
• Peter Guillette, Treasurer
• John Yacavone

Finance Committee (minimum of five members) 

• Peter Guillette
• Jeff Kessler
• Bill Malcolm
• Josh Trow

Non-Profit Foundation

• Josh Trow, President 
• Bill Malcolm, Vice President
• Jeff Kessler, Secretary
• Peter Guillette, Treasurer
• Steve Ensign 

Personnel/Joint Loss Management Committee 

• Peter Gregory
• Peter Guillette
• John Yacavone

Regional Planning Committee (maximum of seven members) 

• Nancy Merrill
• Read Gildner-Blinn
• Bill Chaisson
• Ted Cooley
• Chris Kennedy
• Bill Malcolm  

Commission Making Appointments to Outside Organizations /Committees

Connecticut River Joint Commissions
Lionel Chute 
Ted Cooley

NH Regional Planning Commissions
Chris Kennedy

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Bylaws and Policies

Bylaws

Handbook

Meeting Etiquette

Funding 

The Commission is funded through a variety of state, federal, local and private sources.

Municipal Dues

Each member municipalities provides funding to the regional planning commission consistent with RSA 36:49.

Municipal dues are essential to the Commission not only to demonstrate support of the services that the Commission can provide but to allow the Commission to draw other sources to the region. Generally, approximately 50% of municipal dues are used in this manner. Additional resources to provide free assistance to our region’s communities are very limited. The Commission receives very little funding from the state. It is anticipated that 1% of the Commission’s budget will be from state sources in 2020, and those resources additionally require specified work products.

Federal Programs

The majority of funding comes from federal programs that are contracted through NH state agencies (federal pass-through) such as the NH Department of Transportation. The Commission continuously looks for new resources that best serve the needs of the municipalities within the region. Private and non-profit foundation funding has been successfully attained from partners such as the NH Endowment of Health and from organizations that are finding the expertise of the Commission beneficial to the efficiency of their own organization such as the Eastman Community Association.

Other Sources

The Commission works to find funds through many other sources that are often project specific based on the skillset of the staff and community needs. 

The Commission continues to increase its contracts with municipalities around the region demonstrating both a need for these services and confidence in the professional work that the Commission provides.

Financial Statements

Click here to view the 2025 Audited Financial Statement.

Click here to view the FY 2026 Workplan.

Member Benefits

Click here to view the Planning Resource flyer.

Click here to view the Service and Member Benefits.