Work Session
November 26, 2007
Present were: Mayor Danderson, Councilors Lafleur, Bigelow, Cusson, Boucher, Poulin, and Grenier; Councilors Nelson and Donovan were absent. Incumbent Mayor David Bertrand and Councilors Ronald Goudreau, Tom McCue, Lucie Remillard, Mark Evans; staff members Mickey Therriault, Ernie Allain, Angela Martin Giroux, Patrick MacQueen; Margo Sullivan, Fran Cusson, Charlie Cotton, , media and public were also present
AV Home Care Update
Margo Sullivan reported that November is Home Care Month and she thanked the Council for their support and budget allocation. AV Home Care has been providing services for over forty years. They started as a homemaker agency and the need encouraged them to take on home health services as well. Under Title 20 they help the elderly and disabled to stay in their homes, avoiding nursing home care for as long as possible. The agency is a small business that employs 80 people. They have provided 11,000 hours of service with an equal number of miles driven in Berlin and 70,000 hours in service throughout the North Country.
Mayor Danderson stated that, through the United Way, there is the option to designate one’s donation to AV Home Care. Councilor Lafleur asked what area is covered and Ms. Sullivan indicated that they go as far as Pittsburg; however Title 20 is specific to Berlin. The majority of clients are elderly.
Councilor Cusson asked if growth of the agency is flat because funding is limited. If there were more funding, would there be a need that is not being addressed? Ms. Sullivan agreed that there are people falling through the cracks because there is not enough money.
Councilor Lafleur asked if there has been an increase in services and Ms. Sullivan responded that in terms of acuity, clients have greater needs. The work done by the aides is demanding and the agency considers investment in their staff necessary to maintain professionalism. Fran Cusson added that the number of clients has been steady at 85-95.
Ms. Sullivan extended an invitation to tour the agency. The city has been stoic in its support of the program and she thanked the Council for the opportunity to present the update. Ms. Sullivan and Ms. Cusson left the meeting at this time.
Northern Human Services
Charlie Cotton reported that Northern Human Services is part of a larger agency that serves a little over 40% of the State. They employ 120 staff and have increased their staff in response to the closure of Riverside II.
When AVH closed Riverside II in July of 2007 no one had any idea what would happen with the admissions that were normally handled by AVH. The State came forward and allowed for the agency to bill for more services. They have come forward with assertive community treatment to focus on the needs of those with mental illness. With the additional funding, the agency created positions and purchased a building on Emery Street. Four of the six apartments were designated for long term stays and two are urgent care units. When the urgent care unit is in use, the building would be fully staffed 24 hours per day. There are currently three residents who live there full time and all have lived in the City at least 30 years. A facility like this has opened in Littleton and is set to open in Conway.
Councilor Cusson asked about the frequency of police visits to the Emery Street location as well as the reaction of the neighbors. Mr. Cotton stated that the police have not been there and the neighbors have had no problems. They have been supportive. He added that if there is a concern, he wants to hear it so that it can be dealt with. Mr. Cotton felt that there have been fewer demands on the Police Department since the opening of the facility. Councilor Bigelow confirmed that the agency makes a payment in lieu of taxes. There being no further questions, Mr. Cotton left the meeting at this time.
Welfare Update
In response to questions the Council had about assistance for a mortgage given to a client, Angela Martin Giroux was present to explain and respond to questions. She reported that she has been Welfare Administrator for eight years. Most clients come in when they have trouble meeting their basic needs and the law says that the City has to make that provision. Some people come in because they have had a change in income status.
In this case paying a past due mortgage helped these people stay in their home. This is a one time situation. With the high interest rates and adjustable rate mortgages, payments are doubling or tripling. Over the last eight years, Ms. Giroux indicated that the Welfare Department has paid mortgages about a dozen times.
Ms. Giroux stated that the first time a client comes in she works out a budget with them and makes keeping to the budget a part of their commitment for receiving aid. In this case, the clients had been living in the house for fifteen years and the Welfare Department is able to put a lien on the property for the amount of aid given plus interest.
Councilor Bigelow relayed his concern that we could see more people struggling and this could be just the beginning. He asked if it is within the city’s discretion to limit the number of times a person can come to the city for assistance. Ms. Giroux reported that such a limit is not within the realm of the law.
Mayor Danderson stated that it should not be the city’s responsibility to bail out someone who has overextended themselves. Mr. MacQueen reasoned that by State law, the City is responsible for supporting indigent people. Ms. Giroux does a very good job by requiring Welfare clients to live by a budget. If keeping them in their home limits the city’s cost it may, in some cases, mean coming up with the mortgage payment. The safety net is the lien that the Welfare Department is allowed to place on the property.
Councilor Boucher questioned whether these people are indigent or overextended. Ms Giroux pointed out that indigent is not defined in the law. Mr. MacQueen added that the law has been in existence for a very long time and it states that if a person is indigent, a municipality has to provide them with food, clothing and shelter. If the Council is completely unwilling to pay on mortgages, the welfare guidelines could be changed to say that we are not going to pay any mortgages. Councilor Grenier reminded everyone that the Welfare budget for the entire year is $137,968. It is not worth getting into a legal battle over a few thousand dollars and we don’t need to micromanage the Welfare Department when they are operating within the guidelines of the State and the City.
Discussion of a Request for Water Line Easement
Mr. MacQueen explained that the City took a property at 738 Second Avenue by tax deed and demolished the house. It was found that there was a water line under the house for which there was no easement. Councilor Cusson moved to authorize the City Manager to sign the easement; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried.
Request to Waive Bid Requirement for Purchase of Used Carpenter Truck
Ernie Allain explained that the City’s carpenter now uses a 1973 ambulance purchased from the Town of Milan as a carpenter truck. It will not pass inspection and another truck is needed. There is a surplus ambulance available from Dessert Storm; it is a 1989 with 6,000 miles, four wheel drive, and an automatic. They want $15,000. Councilor Grenier moved to waive the bidding process to acquire the truck; Councilor Lafleur seconded and the motion carried.
Review of I & I Study.
Mr. Allain reported that the City hired Wright Pierce to do a study of the Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) in the City. There was not enough money to study the entire city so areas with potential problems were mapped out. Area 1 is relatively clear of I & I. Area 2 which is from the Dairy Bar pump station to Cates Hill had a few problems such as cracked pipes, leaking joints and sump pumps. The recommendation is to tv to see what can be found. Smoke testing found that it is likely that the line that comes from McGee Street to the river has every joint that is leaking. Water gets in through the manholes when they are even or below ground and that is a problem with that area
In Areas 2, 3 and 4 monitoring devices were put into manholes and it was found that water was coming in where it was not supposed to. Lines were intercepted; there were open joints, and catch basins. The pipe going under Bean Brook is likely cracked.
On the East Side there were problems at Trudel, and Howland which were found to be in the catch basins. Hopefully those will be point repairs. Area 5 has a problem with sump pumps and knocking on doors asking people to remove them may be the only way to get them out.
At a cost of $375,500 we could begin to do some of this work. Councilor Grenier suggested that funds formerly set aside for the Retirement bond payment be used to begin this work.
Councilor Cusson asked what happens when people’s cellars that have sump pumps start to flood. Mr. Allain indicated it would be the city’s responsibility to bring the drain line to the homeowner’s property line and the homeowner would bring it to their home. The pump would then go into the drain line. Mr. MacQueen noted that eliminating all the I & I in this study could simply allow the water to rise and find more problems with the pipes and other leaks that were not there before. Mr. Therriault stated that we are hoping to meet the demands of the prison by eliminating some of the I & I.
Mr. Therriault also mentioned that the city has a license for Collection System Overflow (CSO) and it has recently been the focus of the EPA. The EPA will likely be approaching the City to eliminate the CSO and if we take care of I & I we may have the capacity to handle the overflow. Treating the water that does not need to be treated is also very expensive in terms of electricity.
Recycling Containers
Mr. Allain reported that there is a huge range of prices for recycle bins. He has found some for $7.62. Keep NH Beautiful is also going to submit a price and once they do the Council can decide if they want to give them away or charge a fee.
Councilor Lafleur commented that the public should be aware of what it costs to not recycle. We pay for the weight of the recyclable in the landfill and do not get the benefit of a credit from the recyclable that is put into the trash.
PILT Payments
Mr. MacQueen indicated that the handout was of all the exempt properties in the city including government, churches and non-profits. Councilor Bigelow asked why government agencies can’t make a PILT adding that there is no harm in asking them. He went on to say that those properties that have an unknown owner should be taken care of as well.
Mr. MacQueen stated that we can raise the questions and ask the Board of Assessors to explain. Councilor Bigelow indicated that he checked with the Secretary of State on the legitimacy of the non-profits and found that there may be some that are granted tax exempt status and they should not be. Councilor Grenier noted that the Notre Dame Arena had to confirm its tax exempt status by proving it with legal documents. If the same information is required from every non-profit, then we likely have a good handle on the situation.
Councilor Bigelow suggested the following: sending a letter to State agencies asking for PILT; having the assessors review the financial statements of non-profits to determine eligibility for tax exempt status; communicating with the Bishop to sell empty buildings or go back to taxable status; and that the Council consider an ordinance to require PILT for any government agency that acquires property in the city. Mr. MacQueen stated that the City can pass an ordinance; however without the blessing of the Legislature, there is no enforceability.
BOP Waste Water Treatment Plant Discussion & Update
Mr. MacQueen reported that negotiations are ongoing with the Bureau of Prisons regarding their impact over connecting our sewer system to their prison. We are suggesting a phased approach and they are looking at this as a contract. We continue to present ourselves as a municipal utility not a contractor. We want them to pay the same as everyone else.
The City has now asked Wright Pierce to come up with a phased approach which they will do for $158,601 for design and $128,000 for engineering. The design will be preliminary but based on that design, we would be able to better estimate the cost of the entire project. We’ve taken the position that the BOP have to pay for it.
Other
Water Works is trying to get the line to the prison done this winter. Mr. Viens called and asked for the permitting for water and sewer to be done together. Though the sewer line has to be put in, our work will not be as rapid as that of the Water Works. We will ask Wright Pierce to look at crossing the stream and at this point, we do not know what it will cost. Mr. MacQueen noted that unless there is objection, that is where the project is headed. Councilor Cusson moved to go forward; Councilor Grenier seconded and the motion carried.
There will be a meeting of the Coos County Commissioners, December 8 at the Coos County Nursing Home regarding the County Budget.
Councilor Poulin moved to adjourn; Councilor Cusson seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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