BERLIN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
Monday, March 19, 2007 – 6:30pm
Executive Council Chambers of City Hall
Present were: Mayor Danderson, Councilors Danderson, Lafleur, Donovan, Grenier, Roy and Cusson; Staff present were: Andre Caron, Randall Trull, Mickey Therriault, Angela Martin Giroux, Blandine Shallow, Patrick MacQueen. Dave Bishop of Fraser Papers was also present, as were media and public.
Absent were Councilors Poulin and Nelson
Minutes
Mayor Danderson brought the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
1. Budget – Fire; Ambulance
Council reviewed staffing and issue with the two firefighters. Councilor Grenier wants to see projected salary and benefit package for every employee in the Department. Worker's Comp. has gone up. Firefighters don't pay into Social Security. He wants to decipher labor costs from other costs in the Department including the secretary, and on-call and assistant chief. Chief Trull indicated that there is a firefighter retiring from Lt. in 07 and a Captain in 08. The staff agreed that a detail spreadsheet on salaries and benefits would be provided.
The City Manager pointed out that we budgeted $250K for ambulance service. Mayor Danderson noted that our ambulance cost is the same as Gorham's.
2. Dummer Yard Leachate Agreement
There was discussion about odors which may be coming from the Carberry landfill which may be coming from the Carberry Landfill leachate. Mickey Therriault said he thought it was Dummer Yard leachate. There has been no response from the State on the cost of dealing with the odor. Angela Martin Giroux voiced that it is not a sulphur smell but it smells like trash.
Councilor Grenier said there may be odor from Dummer Yard itself. We should not hold the bag for the odor. He suggested putting a clause in the agreement indicating that odor issues from Dummer Yard will be dealt with.
Mickey talked about the fact that there are only about three data points and he wondered why there is not more data supplied. Dave Bishop acknowledged that there is no old data; however he is comfortable accepting landfill leachate if it always stays like that. Annual information will need to be supplied, which is in the agreement. Mickey is concerned about the volume of the material and Mr. Bishop noted that they will start monitoring the flow in about two weeks.
What if we set a parameter that of what we will accept at no cost? It was determined that you would need a flow meter and a mag meter at the pump station. Cost on this alternative would be about $25,000.
Mayor Danderson stated that he would like to vote on the agreement with the changes, to which Councilman Grenier stated that he needed to see it before he voted on it. City Manager stated he would draft something for the next meeting.
Mickey and Dave discussed the lechate and the need for the flow meter. Mayor Danderson suggested that the only way to have the State respond to any need at Dummer Yard would be to have a way to track the flow and the agreement behind it. Dave stated that the State has monies set aside for the closing. Mickey stated that we are not asking the State to do anything that we would not ask any industrial user.
City Manager read his drafted copy of the letter to the State change " In the event the average flow is to exceed 8 gallons per minute on average for six months a fee will be paid. The State will install a flow meter and maintain it at their expense, to verify this". Then #7 "the state agrees that odor control at Dummer Yard is the State's responsibility"
There was discussion around the facilities at Dummer Yard and whether the two yards could
be worked together for order issues. Dave Bishop suggested charcoal vent pipes. Councilman Donavan stated he would like to see the word remediate. City Manager noted that the State would have a hard time agreeing to the word remediate as they would have to react to anyone who were to complain even if the odor would not necessarily be from Dummer Yard.
It was agreed to go with Responsibility. Councilman Grenier stated he would like to see a finalized typed version before voting. Councilman Grenier made a motion to add to #5; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried.
SB88
Mayor Danderson discussed SB 88 and that the legislation would establish that staffing can be a negotiable thing in municipalities and he is against it because it would take away the rights of the municipalities. He states he believes it will pass the house. This would affect any public entity. Councilman Grenier stated that if that was the case you would hire by appropriation
3. Hiring Freeze Committee – Finance Office
Councilman Roy moved and Councilman Grenier seconded a motion to open the Hiring Freeze committee. City Comptroller asked that they open the position being left by a retiring member of her staff. Councilman Grenier stated that when it is put out it should be based on skills not just seniority. This would also allow the City Comptroller to fill any other positions that would open due to potential in house hiring. It must be posted in house first then outside. City Manager pointed out that it should be someone with an accounting background. Councilor Grenier moved that this position be filled and any subsequent positions filled; Councilor Lafluer seconded and the motion carried. Councilman Roy motioned to close the Hiring Freeze Committee; Councilor Grenier
seconded and the motion carried.
4. Discussion Re: Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive
Andre Caron addressed the adoption of RSA 79-E by the City by ordinance. A covenant would state the terms under which the City would grant tax relief and the covenant goes against the property. Councilman Grenier asked if they would need a 2/3 majority vote to change the covenant should the Owner want to makes changes. Mayor pointed out it discusses the termination of the covenant. Andre Caron indicated the tax relief would not start until the conditions in the covenant are met. The covenant would be a contract with the City and if there are changes, they could be worked out. Andre stated that without Council agreement the City Manager cannot change the amount of the relief.
The City Manager stated that the covenant would solidify the agreement between the owner/developer and the Council. Mr. Caron stated that the City has to give an answer within 60 days and respond with a covenant. Councilman Roy stated that the incentive would bring in revenue and as long as owners are building, we benefit.
The City Manager stated that it will be up to the council to set the covenant what the minimums and maximum are so the developer understands that they are committed to the covenants and they have advance notice in the covenant. Councilman Donovan stated that he believes council should scrutinize developers before granting them covenants. Mayor stated the first reading on the ordinance is tonight. Councilman Cusson stated he would back off from voting with this issue as he may want to try to use it.
5. Other
Other: PSNH wood burning plant committee will hear a letter from City Manager in the Senate tomorrow. City Manager stated that PSNH wants to build a wood burning plant and it was not able to have legislation passed last year to permit such a project. PSNH is trying to get it changed again and the city has drafted a letter in favor of adding regenerating energies in the State. Paul Grenier made a motion that the letter be sent and that the Mayor be allowed to testify on behalf of the City and Councilman Donovan seconded. All voted to pass.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned on unanimous vote at 7:45pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Patrick MacQueen
City Manager
| 
