Work Session
May 14, 2007
Council members present were: Councilors Grenier, Lafleur, Poulin, Cusson, Donovan, Nelson and Roy; absent were Mayor Danderson, and Councilor Danderson. Staff members present were: John Moulis, Laura Viger, Marion Huntley, Pat MacQueen, Blandine Shallow; guests were: Eileen Rooney, Cathy McKenna, and Patty Piper
Councilor Donovan moved to have Councilor Grenier sit in as Mayor; Councilor Lafleur seconded and the motion carried.
Request to Change the Name of Fields at Community Field
Eileen Rooney explained that years ago a stone was installed between the two fields at Community Field. The stone is dedicated to Gus Rooney and Roland Nicoletti and naming the individual fields after them would complete a process. Council members commented that the contribution of the two individuals was instrumental to youth ball in Berlin. Councilor Roy moved to change the names to the Gus Rooney National League Field and the Roland Nicoletti American League Field and to give the recreation department and the volunteers involved the leeway to place the signs at the field where they see fit; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Veterans' Council Letter
Mr. MacQueen reported that the Veteran's Council has now sent a letter requesting funding for the 2008 budget. He went on to say that there was some confusion in the past, where we would ask outside agencies to write a letter requesting funding and once funding was approved, we would wait for another request to pay out the funds. We will now send the approved funds without a second request; however outside agencies will have to submit a request as usual during budget time. Councilor Cusson noted that it would be good to know what the money is used for. Councilor Grenier asked that the check for this year's funding be sent to the VFW Post.
Brick Pointing Project
Mr. MacQueen established that there are several city buildings that are badly in need of brick pointing. He suggested hiring a temporary employee to do the work. The City would be responsible for providing a lift
Councilor Poulin moved to authorize hiring a temporary employee and to negotiate a contract for this employee as well as buying or leasing a lift, whichever is most economical; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Wireless Service
Mr. MacQueen explained that the Police Department is still working on the logistics for a wireless mesh network for which they have a grant. There are a number of antennas that were intended for PSNH and Verizon poles. Verizon does not want wireless going onto their poles. There is no money in the grant for antennas or poles.
There is currently about $30,000 of in in-kind services from PSNH to the City that could be used to add the poles for the project. Councilor Cusson moved to use as much of the PSNH grant as necessary for the wireless project; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Actuarial Work
Bob Vachon is certain that we need an actuarial of Post-employment Benefits which is funded in the upcoming budget. Ms. Shallow confirmed that the service would have to be done every third year. Councilor Donovan moved to accept the $8,500 quote from Charles Cahill to provide an actuarial of post employment benefits; Councilor Cusson seconded the motion it carried unanimously. Ms. Shallow indicated that the actuary will present the Council with a report.
Recommendation for Budget Publication
Councilor Grenier reported that the Budget Committee put together a budget for the Councils review. The Committee felt that until there is a final figure from the adequacy grant, it is only fair to work with the existing proposed revenue and school budget.
Councilor Grenier went on to say that the BHS Girls Hockey and athletic equipment were put into the recreation department budget temporarily so that they can be accounted for in the tax rate.
The cut of Route 110 Phase II funds in the amount of $30,000 is not a reflection of the Council's commitment to the project. There has been a delay in the project, and it was felt that Phase I funds may be carried over
The schools could not keep the School Resource Officer and both the expense and the revenue have to be eliminated in the budget.
Revenues
01-364-602-0013 School Resource Officer. Councilor Donovan moved to remove $51,400 of revenue from the line item; Councilor Lafleur seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Expenses
401-Mayor and Council. Councilor Nelson moved to fund at $36,798; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
402 Administration. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $1,001,145.; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
403 Elections. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $14,266; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
404 City Hall and Other Buildings. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $52,720; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
406 Property/Liability Insurance. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $202,641.; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
407 County Tax. Councilor Lafleur moved to fund at $1,465,745; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
410 Personnel Benefits. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $165,567.; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
411 Contingency. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $10,000; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
412 Outside Agencies. Councilor Roy stated that it is not government's role to sponsor any outside agencies. With the exception of NHMA, he supported not funding any outside agency.
NHMA. Councilor Roy moved to approve funding at $5,413 for NHMA; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried.
Chamber of Commerce. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate funding to the Chamber of Commerce; Councilor Donovan seconded. Discussion centered on the merits of funding the Chamber. In the vote, Councilor Nelson abstained; Councilor Roy voted affirmatively and the remaining councilors voted against. $1,000 remains in the budget.
Northern Human Services. Councilor Roy moved to fund at zero; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried.
AV Home Care. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate funding; Councilor Donovan seconded. In discussion that followed, councilors stressed the importance of keeping people in their homes and out of nursing home care. In the vote, Councilor Roy voted yes and the remaining councilors voted against the motion; Councilor Cusson abstained. $10,000 remains in the budget.
CAP. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate City funding for CAP; Councilor Donovan seconded and the vote resulted in one affirmative vote from Councilor Roy and the remainder of the Council voting against. CAP's funding from the City remains at $12,500.
Holiday Center. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate funding; Councilor Donovan seconded. Councilor Roy voted affirmatively; all other Council members voted against. Funding remains at $2,000
Veterans Council. Councilor Roy moved to fund at zero; Councilor Donovan seconded. Councilors Nelson, Grenier, Lafleur, Roy and Cusson voted affirmatively; Councilors Donovan and Poulin voted against.
Heritage Park. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate funding; Councilor Donovan seconded and all voted in favor. Councilor Grenier acknowledged that the funding request had been withdrawn.
Main Street Program. Councilor Roy moved to eliminate funding; Councilor Donovan seconded. Discussion regarding the Main Street Program's activities ensued. In the vote, Councilor Roy voted affirmatively and the remaining councilors voted against. Funding remains at $20,000
Councilor Donovan moved to fund outside agencies at $50,913.00; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried with Councilor Roy opposed.
413 Cemeteries. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $17,314.; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
414 Airport Subsidy. Councilor Donovan moved to fund a subsidy of $8,154. to the airport; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
420 Police Department. Councilor Donovan moved to fund the Police Department at $2,560,050.; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting in opposition. Councilor Cusson commented that, even with the cut, the Police budget is increased by 9%.
421 Fire Department Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $1,682,470; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
422 Street Lighting Councilor Nelson moved to fund at $138,050; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
423 Ambulance Service. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $250,000; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
424 Special Public Safety. Items are in the Police budget.
425 Housing Coordinator. Councilor Lafleur moved to fund at $38,266; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried. Councilor Nelson left the meeting at this time.
430 Public Works. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $1,755,994; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
431 Engineering. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $100,379.; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
436 Solid Waste. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at the Committees level of $934,128; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
440 Health Department. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $555,484; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
441 Welfare Department. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $137,968; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
450 Recreation Department. Councilor Grenier noted that this account is increasing due to the girl's hockey and athletic equipment being added. Increasing will require a 2/3 vote.
Councilor Roy moved to fund line item 01-450-913-7700 at $25,750; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Councilor Roy moved to fund line item 01-450-999-9999 BHS Athletic Equipment at $7,700; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Councilor Lafluer moved to fund the Recreation Budget at $421,137., noting that the increases for hockey and athletic equipment will be transferred to the schools upon final passage of the budget; Councilor Roy offered a second and the motion carried unanimously.
451 Library. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $195,450; Councilor Cusson seconded and all voted in favor. Councilor Lafleur abstained.
460 School. Councilor Roy moved to fund the schools at $15,601,992.00 until there is a number from the Department of Education; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried. Councilor Cusson abstained.
470 Debt Service. Councilor Lafleur moved to fund at $2,287,584; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
480 Capital Improvements. Councilor Donovan moved to fund $1,288,011 for school and city per the budget committees recommendation, thus eliminating 01-480-916-0005 Route 110 Phase II, $30,000; 01-480-932-0006 PD In-Cruiser Cameras, $5,000; 01-480-932-0009 Police Cruisers, $26,000; and 01-480-963-0025 Unity Street Walking Route, $30,000; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
10 School Grants. Councilor Lafleur moved to fund $2,683,320 for school education grants; Councilor Donovan seconded and the motion carried.
11-464 School Food Services. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $600,000; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
19-438 Recreation Activity. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $50,000; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
21-402 BIDPA. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $218,699.; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
30 Grants. Councilor Roy moved to fund at $122,000; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
59 CDBG. Councilor Cusson moved to fund at $350,000; Councilor Lafleur seconded and the motion carried.
60 Sewer Fund. Councilor Donovan moved to fund at $1,484,733; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
65 Airport. Councilor Donovan moved to fund the airport at $209,134; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried.
66 Courthouse. Councilor Cusson moved to fund at $40,112.; Councilor Roy seconded and the motion carried.
Councilor Grenier noted that the items will be presented to the public at a public hearing May 30 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. If everything remains the same, the tax rate would go up by $1.55. School funding is still not decided and the City's net value is still being determined.
After the public hearing, it is important to meet with the school board regarding funding operations and the intent of the Council on the $36,000.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilor Roy moved to adjourn; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 9:05 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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