REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2007
Mayor Danderson opened the regular City Council Meeting at 7:51 pm. The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present at roll call: Councilors Donovan, Lafleur, Cusson, Roy and Grenier. Councilors Nelson, Danderson and Poulin were absent. Also present: City Manager MacQueen, Andre Caron and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings - Councilor Roy moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept the minutes of the 4/02/07 WS; 4/02/07 Regular Meeting; 4/09/07 WS. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements: It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims that all bills start date 4/03/07; end date 4/16/2007 be paid for a total cash disbursement of: $1,298,807.51 Draft #1539. Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to 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. Mayor=s Report. Appointments:
- Water Works Commission, Lucien Langlois term to expire 5/2011. Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept the Mayor's nomination of Mr. Langlois. Roll call resulted in Councilors Lafleur, Cusson, Grenier and Mayor Danderson voting in the affirmative. Voting in the negative were Councilors Donovan and Roy. So moved, the motion carried.
- Recreation Commission, Paul Arguin, term to expire 4/2010. Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept the Mayor's nomination of Mr. Arguin. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes. So moved, the motion carried.
- Zoning Board, Carl Gagnon, term to expire 4/2010. Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept the Mayor's nomination of Mr. Gagnon. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes. So moved, the motion carried.
PROCLAMATION: National Drinking Water Week May 7-11, 2007
Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept the Mayor's oral report and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried.
3. Resolution authorizing an application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) of Rural Housing and Economic Development funds for either the renovation or acquisition and demolition of blighted property in Berlin and committing Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) of CDBG matching funds to the project. (1st read)
Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to table resolution and schedule a public hearing on May 7, 2007. So moved, the motion carried.
4. Vote to Authorize Tax Deeding (vote was recorded in 4/16/2007 Work Session minutes)
5. Other Nothing in other
6. City Manager's Report
- BOP News. A Wetlands permit has been issued to the BOP by the DES. The only holdup now is the negotiations regarding the sale of the land.
- Pandemic Drill. April 14 at BHS requested by the State who hired contractors from Tennessee and Arizona to assist/evaluate. Laura Viger was instrumental getting volunteers (approximately 80) and emergency personnel to prepare the community if an emergency situation should occur.
- Infiltration/Inflow Kick-off meeting. Wright Pierce staff checked the flow in various manholes.
- Airport wind damage. Storm damaged some roofs and hangars.
- Legislation. SB88: lowers from 10 to 3 the number of positions needed to petition the Labor Board for a bargaining unit and makes safety/staffing mandatory bargaining items. City sent letter of opposition. HB107: gives municipalities authority to charge commercial properties a fee for solid waste pickups which is a significant implication for Berlin. The House voted unanimously "ought to pass". HB 588 is the exchange of Cates Hill and Jericho Road with the state. Due to the storm, the state would have to repair Cates Hill Road before exchange is made. SB1434 waives the"fine filter" requirements for Jericho Mountain State Park trail
development. It has been referred to RR&D and is being closely watched by Chris Gamache of the Trails Bureau.
- Governor Letter. Thanking Berlin for keeping him informed about legislative concerns.
- Councilor Roy moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept/file the City Manager's Report as read by the City Manager. So moved, the motion carried.
7. Public Comments - No public comments.
8. Council Comments Councilor Grenier said the Welfare Director's report included reconnect charges paid to the Water Works for $350.00. He asked the Mayor as ex-officio Water Commissioner to check into that matter since those fees should be waived and not charged to the City Welfare Department.
9. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before Council, Councilor Roy moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to adjourn the meeting. So moved, the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD, ATTEST:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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