BERLIN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
Monday, July 9, 2007 – 6:30pm
Executive Council Chambers of City Hall
Mayor & Council Present |
Staff Present |
Others |
Mayor Danderson |
Richard Poulin |
Pat MacQueen |
Chris Gamache, |
Paul Grenier |
Rick Roy |
Denise Jensen |
DRED Trail Bureau Chief |
Dick Lafleur |
Diana Nelson |
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Paul Cusson |
Tim Donovon |
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Minutes
Mayor Danderson brought the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
1. Hiring Freeze Committee - Library
On motion by Councilor Lafleur, seconded by Councilor Nelson, the Council voted 7-1 (Councilor Donovon against) to go into Hiring Freeze Committee.
Library Director Denise Jensen reviewed her memo outlining the need to replace the position left vacant by the position by the retirement of Sylvia Nadeau who served as desk clerk for fifteen years in the adult department as well as any vacancies caused by the replacing of her position. Specifically, she asked for approval to fill the full-time Library Desk Clerk position. She pointed out that the position is budget neutral. She also requested replacement of the part-time position which is also budget neutral. She also requested permission to fill another per diem on-call person due to the loss of per-diem people which is also budget neutral.
On motion by Councilor Grenier and seconded by Councilor Nelson with Councilor Lafleur abstaining, the Council voted unanimously to move forward with the filling of the requested positions.
On motion, the Council voted 7-1 (Councilor Donovon against) to come out of Hiring Freeze Committee..
2. Discussion Ward II Council Seat
Pat MacQueen said that the City Clerk has been regularly advertising that candidates are needed. So far there have been no interested parties. In all likelihood there is not much choice it would seem but to just keep advertising until a party or parties express interest.
Said that city clerk has been advertising and bob said he would ask mr. Thompson who expressed interest last time to see if he had interest. Dick l said he would encourage people to put their names in the hat and the term will be only until November which gives you a good opportunity to see how the city is run.
Paul Cusson said there are probably not enough people expressing interest and maybe it would be possible to have Diana serve in either ward. Diana said she didn't know but would be willing to switch. Left as is for now. Ask the public to step forward and get involved.
3. Update on Donation of Jericho Lake
Pat MacQueen distributed and reviewed the proposed Quit Claim Deed by which the City would donate Jericho Lake Park to the State of NH. This was reviewed item by item. Trails Bureau Chief Chris said Legislature has been working on fine filter requirements and has provided a system within the last week which should be workable. He updated the Council on the fact that currently they don't have the authority to do further trail clearing which is why they asked the volunteers to refrain from further clearing until they catch up with themselves. He said they are doing an RFP to see if some private concern will build and run the campground. Hopefully that RFP will be issued within the next two to three weeks. He said they have had an excavator out clearing up existing roads. Next week there should be trail clearing
again, and hopefully by September there will be another 25-30 miles of trail added to the Park.
He said they did ask the club to slow down a little bit because they were getting so far ahead of them on trail clearing. The fault was not Fish and Games's or its biologists. Chris said that they do have some alternative projects for the volunteers such as the dam maintenance if the volunteers are inclined to do that. He will be talking to the clubs shortly to be sure there is no misunderstanding. He said he felt his agency is about a month behind because of the legislative process and the weather. Said he doesn't believe that the legislative output is going to be a major problem. F&G and DES have been good to work with so far; however, the project was on hold most of the winter and spring just with the fine-filter legislation.
Mayor Danderson said he felt that it is important to make the goal to get at least 40 miles of trail to keep up people's interest. He said he liked the idea of an RFP for a private contractor. He doesn't want to lose the momentum of the clubs which was going for 2-3 miles per day.
Councilor Donovon and Councilor Grenier brought up the right of reverter and how that would work and their concern that the right of reverter doesn't give protection to ATV's. Mayor Danderson pointed out that it was ATV money that bought the park. He said it is ATV's that will be the draw which is why he isn't to worried about the reverter. There was discussion about putting "multi-use trail OHRV State Park" language into the agreement.
Councilor Lafleur raised the issue on the dam and whether that could delay the process. Chris said not to his knowledge.
Paul Cusson said there are 3 areas: the Trails, the Campground and the 4-wheel drive trails. Chris said the 4-wheel drive trails will need further legislation in the future. These will probably go to legislature in a year or so. Have had one meeting with the 4-wheel drive people and it will be up to them and organize to make the first move. The bill allows vehicles up to 60" in the Park even though an ATV is only 50".
Chris said they have requested to have DOT to put up some signs on Rt 16. He said the state web site will be updated if they are able to start working on the trails again it next week.
Chris said the pieces are all in place. He said there are definitely groups who are looking and are interested in running the campground. The rest would be run by State Parks. $2million would probably be needed to create the campground. August 10th is the date that they can legally accept the road. He said they won't want to improve Jericho Lake road too much for another year or so until they are done hauling timber out. They have asked Congressman Hodes for a $1.9 million request for the park.
The Manager indicated that he would bring this item back for final approval at the next Council Meeting or the work session following that.
4. Other – Impressions of Care
Pat MacQueen passed out an invitation to all the Council to the Impressions of Care Ceremony at the foot of Page Hill Road this Thursday at 3pm.
There being no other business, on unanimous vote, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick MacQueen
City Manager
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