BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING - May 30, 2007
Mayor Danderson opened the Budget Public Hearing at 6:36 p.m. as advertised, in the City Hall Auditorium. Present were Councilors Grenier, Lafleur, Cusson, Danderson and Nelson. Councilors Donovan, Roy and Poulin were absent. Also present were City Manager McQueen, several Department Heads, citizens and the press. Mayor Danderson read the budget items and then allowed the public to come forward with their comments as follows:
- Robert Goddard, High Street, told the Mayor and Council that Berlin is embarking on a point of history as one of its darkest hours. The main point of Mr. Goddard's discussion is the word cut. He was disappointed that very few departments cut their budgets. The Mayor and Council were elected to represent the citizens who look to them for guidance. The hard work to cut begins now since the citizens cannot afford any more tax burdens. "We need change or the City of Berlin is going down", he concluded.
- Mayor Danderson replied that the City of Berlin's largest problem is dilapidated and low cost housing which burdens our services such as Police, Fire and even our schools. The State of NH is also a big problem since they cut back on such things as school funding. The Mayor and Council's goal is to stabilize the tax rate through stabilized housing. They have made difficult budget decisions and will continue to do so to keep taxes down.
- John Moulis, 23 Presidential Avenue, School Superintendent recalled after the mill closed in 2001, the schools received 37% in funding. Currently, they receive only about 25% local/grant funds but continue to provide quality education through the working efforts of parents, teacher and staff. They have been looking to the outside to make up the difference. It is a constant balancing act which is not typical of other NH cities.
- Aron Hamlin, Denmark Street, a Berlin native who just moved back was disappointed with the poor turnout for tonight's public hearing. He questioned a few budget items about Welfare and said that Welfare reform is needed.
- Mayor Danderson replied that our hands are tied since we must follow state law. Although the Welfare Director does a great job to make sure no one receives Welfare unless they qualify, it is still mandated that we provide basic human services. The Mayor and Council have tried to get legislation passed to give cities more leverage. The City also hired a Housing Coordinator to help weed out undesirable properties in town.
- Charles Cotton, Director of Northern Human Services, applauded the Mayor and Council for their hard work and thanked them for their financial support in the past. He emphasized that all those funds were used for outpatient services which depend on the cities continued support. They share a commitment to the City of Berlin. His agency sometimes partners with the City Welfare Director when dealing with clients in need and no fees are exchanged.
- Bob Bellavance, 413 Alpine Street, inquired about the increase in the central services account. The City Manager explained that this item was for diesel fuel which was not listed here previously. Mr. Bellavance then asked about the increase in Personnel Insurance. It was explained that the Auditor now wants any vacation accruals/retirees to be listed but it now looks like a $25,000 budget increase. Next, he asked if the PD $175,000 increase was due to new personnel being hired?
- Police Chief Morency clarified the increase is due to contract 3% salary increases, retirements and insurance rate increases.
- Mr. Bellavance then about the school $1,000,000 increase. He told the Mayor he would speak to him after the public hearing to get more answers to questions he still had.
- Rod Bengston, Hillside Avenue, works every day, seven days per week delivering newspapers. He briefly spoke to Councilor Cusson about services times the amount of funds available. Mr. Bengston then addressed the Police Chief about the drug problem Berlin has. He would like the PD to draw the line to clean things up. If taxes go up, he must take away from his family to make ends meet.
- Chief Morency commented that the Police Department needs the public to come forward with information. His department puts in many man hours to try to get drugs off the streets but they also are driven by state laws and such things take time.
- Mike Rozek, Howard Street, thanked the Mayor and Council for putting in the many hours it takes for the budget process. We have to look at the positive.
- Ted McCormick, 119 Prospect Street, has been teaching 25 years and said he respects the Mayor and Council for the tough job before them. He feels the new Federal Prison will pay nothing to help our tax base. Regarding a cooperative school district, Mr. McCormick would like to see more real dialogue between the communities. We have to find a way to keep our young people here. He conducted a survey of how many teachers live here in town and the percentage went from 98% previously to currently 42%. He challenged the Mayor and Council to look at Berlin 5-10 years from now to envision what Berlin will be like and he would be happy to help
with that long-term goal.
- Mayor Danderson agreed that no one wants a pulp mill here anymore. Any industry we seek needs to be green friendly to build a strong recreation industry and high end second homes There are wood chip plants in Whitefield, Bethlehem and Ossipee and they are not an eyesore. The Mayor praised the efforts of our Housing Coordinator, Norm Charest, Jim Wagner and City Planner.
- Ron Mulaire, 115 Sweden Street, told Council they have a daunting task ahead of them. The City is at a critical point financially and are at a stone wall. They can't keep increasing taxes. Maybe we offer too many services for our decreased population, so should we cut services? Should we become a town instead of a city and would that help us? People can't afford to live here anymore. Is Council looking at items critically enough?
- Mayor Danderson assured Mr. Mulaire that the city hired Mr. Sansoucy to review the mill/utilities valuation to make sure they pay the right amount of taxes. On the other hand, we must preserve capital improvements and keep updated equipment. The Mayor and Council do not want to increase taxes either. It is a fact that Berlin's tax rate is lower than Gorham's.
- Laura Viger, 554 Second Avenue, in her job capacity visits many homes usually because people have made poor choices. She works with the individuals professionally and working partnerships with other agencies is primary to assisting people. She asked Council to consider how the speak about these individuals that have problems and not to let money make them hard. The Mayor and Council empower the Department Heads and services to work together. The recent Franconia crisis is an example of how mental health affects a community as a whole.
- Stacia Roberge, Main Street Program Director, thanked the Mayor and Council for their continued support over the past 10 years. The Main Street Program has succeeded to bring back community pride and has helped to recruit new businesses. At this time, we need to feel good about Berlin in order to recruit investors here and push roadblocks to get them here. She has been getting call and people want to come here. She is working as an advocate to accomplish that goal.
- Rod Bengston asked if health care is shared or funded?
- Mayor Danderson said it is a shared cost and the goal is to have everyone pay a 20% share.
There being no one else wishing to speak at this time, Mayor Danderson closed the budget public hearing at approximately 8:09 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD, ATTEST:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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