PUBLIC HEARING - August 20, 2007
Resolution - Discontinuing a portion of Rheims Street between Pershing Avenue and Bridge Street.
Mayor Danderson opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. to hear the following public comments:
Ken Cloutier, 106 Pershing Avenue, asked Council about comments that were made regarding there being no utilities on the part of Rheims Street that they want to discontinue. He wants to make sure that Council is aware that there is a water main there and phone lines for half of Pershing Avenue.
Mayor Danderson replied that the resolution is being amended tonight and they will address the water issue and they will also address the utility easement for communication lines.
Tracy Rexford, 224 Bridge Street, wants to rebuild his garage since it is small and the only spot to park is on the opposite side of the street. It feels like people are driving in their yard. He concluded it's a safety issue and also. He asked the Mayor and Council to consider passing the resolution.
There being no one else wishing to speak for or against the subject matter, Mayor Danderson closed the public hearing at 7:54 p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MONDAY, August 20, 2007
Mayor Danderson called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:54 p.m. The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present at roll call: Councilors Bigelow, Donovan, Nelson, Lafleur, Poulin, and Grenier. Councilor Cusson was absent. Also present: City Manager MacQueen, Pam Laflamme, citizens & the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to accept the minutes of the 8/06/07 WS; 8/06/07 Regular Meeting; 8/13/07 WS. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements: It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims that all bills start date 8/07/07; end date 8/20/2007 for a total cash disbursement of $1,477,781.09 Draft #1548. Councilor Nelson 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. Resolution to hereby discontinue completely a portion of Rheims Street between Pershing Avenue and Bridge Street and to release all interest in this portion of Rheims Street from all public servitude. (tabled 7/16/07) Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
- Whereas, the City has been contacted by an abutter to request discontinuance of a City street;
- Whereas, the portion of Rheims Street is approximately 200 feet in length with cross roads being Bridge Street and Pershing Avenue; and
- Whereas, there is a Berlin Water Works water line in this portion of Rheims Street; and
- Whereas, the Public Works Director sees no benefit in retaining this section of Rheims Street as a public way; and
- Whereas, NH RSA 231:43 allows a municipality to discontinue a street by vote. Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Berlin hereby discontinues the section of Rheims Street between Pershing Avenue and Bridge Street from all public servitude, except that the City will retain a water utility easement, 10 feet permanent and 20 feet temporary, for the existing water line. The City hereby acknowledges that it has no other rights or interests in said street, and that ownership of the land contained therein remains fully with the landowners abutting such land as their title may decree.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to amend the resolution with the following changes: Third Whereas paragraph delete the portion that says "there are no utilities" and add the following statement "there is a Berlin Water Works water line in this portion of Rheims Street." In the ending paragraph that begins with "That the City Council..add the following sentence: "except that the City will retain a water utility easement, 10 feet permanent and 20 feet temporary, for the existing water line."
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to have the resolution, as amended, read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to have the resolution, as amended, read a third time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to pass the resolution, as amended. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes of Council including Mayor Danderson who declared the resolution, as amended, now passed.
3. Mayor's Report.
- The Mayor would like Council to consider drafting an ordinance to allow ATVs to travel through the downtown as a way of promoting the Jericho Lake Park. The ATV riders would eat in local restaurants, shop and buy gas, which might create Berlin as a one-of-a-kind ATV area. Mayor Danderson has spoken to many people from different parts of the Country who come here just to rent ATVs. He envisions Berlin as a new tourism spot with potential to grow in the tourism industry.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to accept the Mayor's Report and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried.
4. Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 1506, Signs in the Downtown Zone. (1st read)
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to table the ordinance and schedule a public hearing for the Tuesday, September 4, 2007 meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
5. Resolution carrying over Capital Appropriations for the year ended June 30, 2007, which are not yet expended. (1st read)
- Councilor Grenier point of order: the City Clerk read the first ten line items in error since they were requested and not recommended. To avoid confusion, those numbers should be struck from the record. Councilor Grenier then moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to strike those first ten line items as incorrectly read by the city clerk from the record. So moved, the motion carried.
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for the Tuesday, September 4, 2007 meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
6. Resolution appropriating a total of $210,759.30 of grants from Fiscal Year 2007 to the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget. (1st read)
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for the Tuesday, September 4, 2007 meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
7. Resolution carrying over School Excess Revenues and Expenditures remaining for the year ended June 30, 2007. (1st read)
- Councilor Grenier moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for the Tuesday, September 4, 2007 meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
8. Other: Nothing in other.
9. City Manager's Report.
- Smoke Testing Underway. Residents were informed testing begins this week to determine where infiltration/inflow may get into City sanitary sewers. It should be completed the end of Tuesday
- WWTF Rural Development Bond Closing. For the $5 million Rural Development loan tentatively scheduled September 5, at City Hall 1:00 pm.
- Sansoucy Meeting with BOA. Mr. Sansoucy presented his work on the mill and the hydros.
- NADC Stack Demolition. Scheduled Saturday, 9/15/07 @9:00 am. Details are forthcoming.
- Staff Meeting with City Attorney. Fire, Health, Housing, Planning and Inspection Departments reviewed enforcement procedures/laws with Attorney Chris Boldt to understand how to proceed.
- Hillside Avenue Sidewalk Project. Complete once paving is done by the PWD.
- Glen Avenue Project. To begin the second week of September.
- Police Mesh Network. The deed to the City for the weather tower at Dummer Yard was received. Once antennas are in place, the system should be ready to go.
- NH DOT 2009-2018 Ten Year Plan. Councilor Burton to be in Berlin 9/13/07 @ 7:00 pm at City Hall.
- Upcoming Chamber Events. Senator Sununu will be in Berlin 8/23/07. RSVPs are being taken. The first Androscoggin Valley Pig Roast to benefit the Chamber and Rotary Club 9/29/07 at the Park.
- BOP Construction Fairs. At the Junior High 8/25/07 9-noon Business Supplier Fair; 1-4 Job Fair.
- Vital Record Assessment. City Clerk secured a grant to improve record storage.
- Airport PR. Avfuel's Summer 2007 Newsletter featured Berlin's Airport.
- Androscoggin River Source to Sea Canoe Trek. Government Officials Paddle Day 9/28/07 10:00 a.m.
- Mayor Danderson asked about the progress of the Green Street Phase 2 bridge repairs. City Manager MacQueen said they were on schedule and would open by the end of summer.
- Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Grenier to accept/file the City Manager's Report as read by the City Manager. So moved, the motion carried.
10. Public Comments: No public comments
11. Council Comments :
- Councilor Lafleur reminded everyone school will begin soon and we should be careful with our youth.
- Councilor Grenier asked the City Manager if there is a process to contract electricians to work for the city. He feels there should be a contract process in place for a yearly bid on any required work to be fair. City Manager MacQueen replied the work seems to be fairly evenly spread out. Mr. Vaillancourt is experienced with the traffic lights and has been making necessary repairs. Councilor Grenier asked the City Manager to provide each Councilor with a report about who did the electrical work over the last two years.
Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Nelson to adjourn the meeting. So moved, the regular meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD, ATTEST:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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