PUBLIC HEARING – FEBRUARY 19, 2007
Resolutions: 1) George Sansoucy agreement to provide assessed values for the former mill property, hydros and utilities in Berlin;
2) School Department Grant of $313,363 updating Federal Project funding.
Mayor Danderson opened the floor to public comments regarding the above noted subject matters at 7:35 p.m. City Manager MacQueen clarified that the Sansoucy contract is not a "fixed cost" as stated on the agenda under the Public Hearing portion. There being no one else wishing to speak for or against the subjects, Mayor Danderson closed the public hearing at approximately 7:36 p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING _ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2007
Mayor Danderson opened the regular City Council Meeting at 7:36 pm. The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present at roll call: Councilors Nelson, Danderson, Lafleur, Cusson, and Grenier. Councilors Donovan, Roy and Poulin were absent. Also present: City Manager MacQueen, Blandine Shallow, John Moulis and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings - Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Danderson to accept the minutes of the 2/05/07 WS; 2/05/07 Regular Meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements: It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims that all bills start date 2/06/2007; end date 2/19/2007 be paid for a total cash disbursement of: $765,317.40 Draft #1535. Councilor Nelson moved with a second by Councilor Danderson accept the disbursement summary and pay all bills as recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims. So moved, the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments
1. Council Committee Reports. No reports.
2. Resolution appropriating One Hundred Nine Thousand Dollars ($109,000) from UFB to the Fy’07 budget line 01-480-905-0002 and authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with George E. Sansoucy who will provide up to date assessed values for the former mill property hydros and utilities in Berlin. (tabled 2/05/07)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
- Whereas, the firm of George E. Sansoucy has provided a scope of work for appraising the City's former mill property including the hydros and other utilities in Berlin; and
- Whereas, with the sale of the pulp mill it is appropriate at this time to obtain up to date values for the former mill property, the hydros and other utility properties in Berlin. Now therefore be it resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Berlin that they hereby appropriate the amount of One Hundred Nine Thousand Dollars $109,000) from UFB to the Fy'07 budget line 01-480-905-0002 and be it further resolved that any bidding requirements are hereby waived and the City Manager and Board of Assessors are authorized to enter into an agreement with George E. Sansoucy who will provide the up to date values for assessing purposes for the properties as outlined in the agreement. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to have the resolution read a third time by tile only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to pass the resolution. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes including Mayor Danderson who declared the ordinance now passed.
3. Resolution appropriating Three Hundred Eighteen Thousand, Nine Hundred Seventy Dollars ($318,970) to the School Department, updating the following Federal Project funding: (tabled 2/05/07)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows:
~ |
~ |
Revised |
Change from |
Project |
Budget |
Amount |
Original |
Peer Tutoring |
682 |
682 |
- |
Reading First |
326,614 |
244,721 |
(81,893) |
Walker Grant |
- |
27,000 |
27,000 |
HS Reduce Risk - TANF |
8,300 |
- |
(8,300) |
Cider Sped Preschool Supplies |
- |
1,468 |
1,468 |
Competency Grant |
- |
4,989 |
4,989 |
RLIS |
55,772 |
46,625 |
(9,147) |
NCES Health |
12,960 |
- |
(12,960) |
TQ Professional Development |
180,000 |
137,359 |
(42,641) |
FI NCES Professional Development |
- |
20,000 |
20,000 |
Roy Grant |
52,876 |
15,876 |
(37,000) |
NCES Science Grant |
- |
87,920 |
87,920 |
21st Century After School Programs |
353,982 |
375,685 |
21,703 |
Title I |
415,128 |
580,924 |
165,796 |
Perkins Career & Tech Programs |
79,781 |
74,360 |
(5,421) |
Title V Innovative Programs |
10,441 |
3,093 |
(7,348) |
NAT for Teach Math |
34,225 |
22,054 |
(12,171) |
IDEA Grant |
323,772 |
404,483 |
80,711 |
Preschool |
11,969 |
20,948 |
8,979 |
Drug Free Schools |
26,802 |
17,393 |
(9,409) |
Title IID E2T2 |
200,000 |
338,478 |
138,478 |
Title IID Technical Education |
21,436 |
17,473 |
(3,963) |
Title II Class Size |
248,325 |
168,811 |
(79,514) |
NCES Science NCI Grant |
- |
71,693 |
71,693 |
~ |
2,363,065 |
2,682,035 |
318,970 |
This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to amend the resolution by adding $5,607 of revenue from the National Forest Service. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to have the resolution, as amended, read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to have the resolution, as amended, read a third time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to pass the resolution, as amended. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes of Council including Mayor Danderson who declared the resolution, as amended, now passed.
4. Mayor=s Report:
- The Mayor, City Manager and Councilor Lafleur testified on SB 143, which would reduce current criteria required for siting ATV trails to criteria required for other state activities. The bill was not passed as read but will be amended to assist Berlin.
- On Friday, the Mayor met with Governor Lynch to tour several of Berlin's dilapidated properties and the Governor saw first-hand what the city is facing. He suggests we contact our Congressional Delegation to help us obtain funds to take care of our dilapidated housing problem. Governor Lynch would support such a letter and will follow-up on the situation.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Danderson to accept the Mayor’s oral report and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried.
RESIGNATION - Planning Board: Robert Brown.
Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to accept Mr. Brown's resignation and to send him a letter of appreciation for his service to the City. So moved, the motion carried.
APPOINTMENTS - Planning Board:
- Richard Merrill, regular member, term to expire 4/2009
- Nicole Decosta, alternate member, term to expire 4/2010
- Laura Jamison, alternate member, term to expire 4/2009
- Françoise Cusson, regular member, term to expire 4/2010
- Ralph Collins, regular member, term to expire 4/2010
Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to accept the Mayor's nomination of the above name individuals as listed. So moved, the motion carried.
5. Resolution increasing the Berlin Police Department's OHRV Grant budget appropriation for fiscal year 2006-2007 by Four Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500) to be offset by additional grant revenues from the NH Fish & Game Department Law Enforcement Division. (1st read)
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing on March 5, 2007. So moved, the motion carried.
6. Resolution accepting a donation in the amount of One Thousand, Three Hundred Sixty-Four Dollars and Seventeen Cents($1,364.17) in memory of Jonathin Ellis and depositing such funds in the Berlin Public Library Trust Fund account for the purchase of children's books.(1st read)
- Councilor Nelson moved with a second by Councilor Danderson to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing on March 5, 2007. So moved, the motion carried.
7. Resolution appropriating One Hundred Three Thousand, Three Hundred Sixty-Two Dollars ($103,362) from UFB to the Fy'07 budget line 01-462-995-0302 for the Career and Technical Education Renovation Project and further appropriating One Million, Four Hundred Twelve Thousand, Seventy-Seven Dollars ($1,412,077) of State grant funds. (1st read)
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing on March 5, 2007. So moved, the motion carried.
8. Other Sewer Rate Decision.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to set the sewer rate at $6.63 per 100 cubic square feet. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes. The motion passed.
9. City Manager's Report
- Governor's Visit. Governor Lynch visited the Rockingham Street residence that burned a few hours later that evening. The Governor is directly aware of the housing issues Berlin is faced with. The Fire Department did an outstanding job putting that fire out.
- ATV Legislative Hearing. The Mayor, City Manager and Councilor Lafleur attended the SB143 hearing which will reduce to current criteria required for siting ATV trails to criteria more in line with those required of other state activities.
- Veteran's Center. New office to be located in Berlin to provide mental health counseling.
- Dead River Channel Project. US Natural Resources & Conservation Service representatives Leon Wendte and Jerry Lang met with City Officials to discuss why the City should sign off on the closing of the project that built the Jericho Lake Dam in the 60's and they also discussed the possibility of channeling the Dead River where it runs behind the Main Street buildings.
- President's Budget. A copy of the President's Federal Budget relating to municipalities was provided by the LGC. The summary was prepared by the National League of Cities.
- Day in Government. Met with BHS Sociology Department teachers Dave Morrissette and Tammy Watson to discuss how to integrate City Government into their program and to make this a yearly event.
- DES Public Education Meeting. At City Hall February 27 from 4:00-6:00 to discuss clean up of the former Chlor-Alkali Facility and the fish advisory that was issued.
- Primex Training. March 1 at City Hall regarding Risk Management.
- Councilor Grenier inquired how much space the Veteran Center needs. He suggests that since HHS is looking for new space they might be able to work something out with the Veterans. This would be an opportunity to help local landlords.
- Councilor Nelson moved with a second by Councilor Danderson to accept/file the City Manager's Report as read by the City Manager. So moved, the motion carried.
10. Public Comments - No public comments.
11. Council Comments
- Councilor Grenier regarding the Library donation in memory of fire victim Jonathin Ellis suggests a small plaque to hang in the Library with Jonathin's name and how he died in addition to the donation. On another matter, Councilor Grenier complimented the Fire Department for doing a great job on the fire this past Friday night in spite of the miserable conditions they had to deal with. Unfortunately, the water from the fire poured down the hill into homes and flooded cellars. Homeowners called the City for help and were told it was an Act of God and there was nothing the City could do about it. These are taxpayers and it would have been a good
way to shine as community leaders if help would have been extended to them. Councilor Grenier realizes the city employees were doing their job by following policy set by Council. He would like to revisit those policies to be more flexible in certain situations. We concluded that we should be more pro-active with our citizens.
- Mayor Danderson agrees it might be time for a change.
- City Manager MacQueen will bring PWD Director Ernie Allain in to review the policy.
12. Adjournment
- There being no further business to come before Council, Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Cusson to adjourn the meeting. So moved, the meeting ended at 8:17 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD, ATTEST:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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