September 17, 2007
Work Session
Present were Mayor Danderson, Councilors Lafleur, Bigelow, Cusson, Boucher, Poulin, Nelson, Grenier and Donovan. Jim Wagner, Mary Jo Landry, Andre Caron, Pete Morency, Pamela Laflamme, media and public
The Council conceded to add the following items to the work session agenda: JAG Grant, Civics Class Discussion, and Umbagog Refuge Plan and how it could affect the flow of the river.
AVER Economic Development Task Force
Jim Wagner, representing the AVER Economic Development Committee, stated that this visit is a follow up from 2006 to ask how AVER can help as an organization? They are looking to see if there are intervening skills that could be used in support of the land use at the mill site. Mayor Danderson indicated that it is important to work with the owners of the mill and not to interfere with their property rights.
Councilor Grenier made the point that he has a hard time having AVER represent the needs of the community when there is a Council of elected officials who answer to the voters. AVER does not answer to anyone. Mary Jo Landry clarified that the offer is being made and the answer could be that AVER's help is not needed at this time. Councilor Cusson noted that, as a businessman, he would regard contact like this from AVER as interfering. It is important that the company be the one's to ask. Councilor Bigelow added that this is a private deal and sticking an extra oar in the water would only make things murkier.
Mayor Danderson stated that he wants the public to know that the mill property is zoned industrial/business and there are existing private property rights. If the City takes action to change the zoning or to acquire the property, there would be costs that the City is not prepared to pay.
Councilor Grenier suggested that AVER inventory what we have as a community so that anyone who needs the information, including NADC's developers, could have it readily available. He added that it would be beneficial to know the age groups by population and the housing stock and its condition. This way we could engage the community with hard facts. There is also the question of a bio-mass plant and how much noise and pollution would it create?
Pamela Laflamme indicated that much of the demographic information is in the planning office and just needs to be compiled. Council members agreed that educating the public is key.
Ordinance to Repurchase of Tax Deeded Property
Mr. MacQueen stated that the existing ordinance to waive the 15% penalty on tax deeded properties was meant to assist single family home owners who lost their house to tax deeding for the first time; however language needs to be added to tighten its use so that is reflects the intent. Andre Caron reported that deeds are floating among family members. The clarification to the ordinance states that the exclusion is not transferable. The intent is that the owner would be living in the property prior to tax deeding.
Council Committees
Mayor Danderson made the following appointments to Council Committees: Councilor Boucher, representing Ward 4, to the Berlin Airport Authority; Councilor Bigelow, representing Ward 1 and Councilor Nelson representing Ward 2 to the Committee on Accounts and Claims; Councilor Lafleur representing Ward 2 and Councilor Boucher representing Ward 4 to the Committee on Transportation and Safety; Councilor Grenier representing Ward 4 to the Committee on Elections and finally Councilor Bigelow representing Ward 1 to the Emergency Action Committee.
Legislative Bills
Mayor Danderson announced that bills for the next Legislative session have to be submitted in the next two weeks. Suggestions for bills included bringing back the insurance bill whereby insurance proceeds would first have to be used to clean and remove debris from a fire property.
Councilor Grenier suggested that the city should have a right to bill clean up costs on a property management company on the collective value of their properties. They are operating as a broad corporation and we should be able to encumber the corporation.
Having a 90 day residency requirement prior to receiving welfare was also discussed as well as a bill to assess blighted property because of blight.
Mr. Caron reported that staff has been working on a vacancy ordinance that would require a plan for a vacant building with time limits. If the plan is not carried out, the City would lien the property under abandonment. The property could be sold to recoup costs.
Chief Morency noted that there may be a way to go after someone who has a disorderly house. He added that officers have responded to the properties of Berlin Real Estate and Development Corporation 790 times in the last two years. Legislation would have to allow the police to respond to a residence a certain number of times and then the landlord would be charged. Chief Morency will work with the Chief's Association to see if there is support.
Councilor Bigelow commented that he would like to see the City require sprinkler systems for multi-family dwellings. Mr. MacQueen noted that both requiring sprinklers and two means of egress have been discussed. The States interpretation of the code is complicated; there are four or five ways to attack the problem. Councilor Bigelow indicated that a second means of egress is not as likely to save lives as sprinklers would. Mayor Danderson suggested drawing up an ordinance to make the requirement; however it is important to note that our good landlords will be caught up in the law as well.
JAG Grant
Chief Morency explained that the Berlin PD teamed with the Coos County Sheriff's Department for this grant. Funding is for equipment that is not usually funded through the budget and the grant is zero match to the community.
Civics Class
Councilor Lafleur informed Council members that he's been working with the high school civics class. Teachers have come to the conclusion that students have to learn to be good citizens before taking over government for a day. To that end, students will formulate questions and hear the answers from Council members and the school board. Questionnaires will be forthcoming.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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