PUBLIC HEARING - March 3, 2008
RESOLUTION: Airport Authority $80,000 grant application for a snow removal equipment building
Mayor Bertrand opened the duly scheduled and advertised public hearing for public comment at approximately 8:14 p.m. There being no one wishing to speak for or against the subject matter, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 8:14 p.m.
Ward IV Council Vacancy. Timothy Cayer was sworn in by City Clerk Debra Patrick as the Ward IV Councilor selected to replace Councilor Boucher until the 2009 municipal election.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008
Mayor Bertrand called the regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 8:15 p.m. The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present: Councilors Remillard, Donovan, McCue, Lafleur, Evans, Goudreau, Cayer and Poulin. Also present: City Manager MacQueen, Pam Laflamme and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor Goudreau to accept the minutes of the 02/18/08 WS; 02/18/08 Regular Mtg; 02/25/08 WS. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements:
Councilor Poulin inquired about a voucher submitted by the Library regarding magazines and how often they are purchased and also a voucher submitted by the Finance Office regarding computer services rendered. The Ward IV Councilor asked if those services were put out to bid or just randomly selected. City Manager MacQueen will get those answers for Councilor Poulin.
Councilor Remillard added that there is not sufficient time before the release of payments for the committee on Accounts and Claims to review the vouchers. They do not have time to call the departments to inquire about the vouchers. She feels the committee is just "rubber stamping" the disbursements. It isn’t practical that vouchers are not available for review before Friday and that the committee is expected to approve them Monday night.
Councilor Donovan suggested that the vouchers can be left in the Mayor’s Office since it is a secure location.
Councilor McCue agreed that the current method is a problem. As an alternative, change the cycle so that the vouchers viewed last week could be paid two weeks from now.
City Manager MacQueen agreed that there should be further discussion about finding a comparable solution. He will speak to the Finance Director about the matter.
It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims that all bills start date 2/19/08; end date 03/03/2008 for a total cash disbursement of $1,516,752.00 Draft #1561. Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor Remillard 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.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Council Committee Reports. No reports.
2. Resolution acknowledging the Berlin Airport Authority’s intent to apply for and accept an airport grant in the amount of Eighty Thousand, Eighteen Dollars ($80,018.00) for engineering services for the design of a Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) building at the Berlin Municipal Airport, and to appropriate such funds to the Airport Grant Fund 30 (tabled 2/18/08)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
Whereas, in line with the Berlin Airport Authority’s capital improvement plan, there is funding available for a snow removal equipment (SRE) building and it is the intent of the Berlin Airport Authority to apply for and accept this funding; and
Whereas, funding is available, 95% through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and 2.5% from the NH Department of Transportation; and
Whereas, the Berlin Airport Authority will be responsible for 2.5% ($2,000.45) of the project cost. Now therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows: That in recognition of the intent of the Berlin Airport Authority to apply for and accept an AIP grant from the FAA and DOT of the State of NH for $80,018.00 for engineering services for the design of a snow removal equipment building, the amount of the grant of $80,018.00 is hereby appropriated to Airport Grant Fund 30 for use by the Berlin Airport Authority for the purpose of the grant. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to pass the resolution. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes of Council including Mayor Bertrand who declared the resolution now passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
3. Resolution authorizing the raising, appropriation and expenditure of an estimated Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) in new funding from the State of New Hampshire Revolving Loan Fund for Waste Water Treatment Facility Phase II improvements, infiltration and inflow removal and collection pump station and interceptor improvements necessary to connect the new federal prison. (1st read)
Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor Goudreau to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing on March 17. So moved, the motion carried.
4. Resolution appropriating Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000) from UFB to the Fy’08 budget line 01-480-905-0002 and authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with George E. Sansoucy who will provide updates of assessed values for the former mill property, hydros and electric utility property in Berlin. (1st read)
Councilor Goudreau moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing on March 17. So moved, the motion carried.
5. Sewer Rate.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Evans to accept the FY’08 sewer rate at $7.01 per 100/cu ft. Roll call resulted in affirmative votes by Councilors Donovan, Lafleur, Evans, Goudreau, Cayer, Poulin and Mayor Bertrand. Voting in the negative were Councilors Remillard and McCue. The motion passed and the sewer rate is set at $7.01 per 100/cu ft.
6.North Country Transit Bus Stop Sign Request
Beverly Raymond, North Country Transit Director, requests permission to replace the current Main Street bus stop sign with a new sign that includes no parking at the bus stop on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to remand the letter to the Safety Committee for further review. So moved, the motion carried.
7. City Manager’s Report.
- Annual operating budget submitted.
- Tax Abatement Requests. NADC and Brookfield Hydros submitted requests for tax year 2007/08 and these requests were forwarded to George Sansoucy.
- Green Street Bridge. Opened February 21 and will close in the spring to complete work.
- Paving Credit. BWW received paving credit from a Rural Development funded project. The BWW is offering to let the City complete final paving on Western Avenue with the funds.
- Cole Street Bridge Inspection. This bridge listed as a "Red List Bridge."
- HHS Meeting. March 14 in Concord, Mayor Bertrand, City Manager and Planner attending.
- LGC Legislative Dinner on Retirement Issue. On Feb. 27, several Councilors attended.
- BHS Civics Class. Attended 2/18 Council meeting and 2/19 City Staff Meeting.
- Concord DES Meeting. Ernie Allain, Chris Dwinal and City Manager met to discuss refinancing the sewer improvement projects through the State Revolving Loan Fund to prepare for the federal prison which will house 1250 prisoners.
- Regional Broadband Forums. DRED organized forums to develop a state-wide action plan. Next meeting at White Mtn. Tech College, March 10 @1:00 pm. RSVP by March 7.
- Verizon Notice. Verizon transferred to Fairpoint Communications on February 29, 2008.
- Portland Natural Gas Transmission System. Round the clock systems check until March 7.
- Sewer Pump Station Water Meters & Back Flow Devices. Now required at the Devens Street and Napert Village pump stations.
- Manager’s time keeping attached.
Councilor Donovan asked when the Green Street Bridge work will be completed, will there be any sidewalks and is there a plan to fix the Rotary Park?
The City Manager estimates that it will take most of the summer before the Green Street Bridge is completed. The Rotary Park is scheduled to be taken care of in the spring.
Councilor Goudreau would like to know what is the basis and purpose of the City Manager’s time keeping report. He asked the City Manager to explain what the excess 146 hours constitutes and does he get more money for those extra hours?
The City Manager explained he keeps track of his hours and all hours worked over 40 are recorded. He does not get paid extra for those hours but they are used for the Manager’s time off.
Councilor Poulin asked if it was possible for the City Manager to give more details of what work is done during the week. He would like to have a greater breakdown of what the City Manager does during the week.
City Manager MacQueen agreed to comply with the request and will provide a more detailed report. He does not have a problem being more specific.
Councilor Goudreau clarified that he is not challenging what the City Manager does but wants a better understanding of the Manager’s time report. Although he us not a big advocate of having the City Manager mark every minute down, he would like to shadow the City Manager at some point to get a better understanding of his job.
Councilor Lafleur disagrees with having the City Manager itemize his day. He does not feel it is up to the Council to ask what the City Manager does. "We are getting a reasonable price for a reasonable product" he said.
Mayor Bertrand would also like to shadow the City Manager and Department Heads. He asked the City Manager to list standard items such as staff meetings and other routine items in his time sheet report.
Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor McCue to accept and file the City Manager’s Report. So moved, the motion carried.
8. Public Comments: No comments
9. Council Comments:
Councilor McCue appreciated the State Representatives coming to the Work Session but was disappointed they did not discuss the three pieces of legislation regarding collective bargaining. The Ward II Councilor is concerned that none of our representatives have followed these bills which affect municipalities. He asked to have that legislation placed on the next work session agenda so Council can send the representatives a letter before the March 12 legislative vote.
Councilor Cayer thanked the Mayor and Council for their vote of confidence in selecting him as the new Ward IV Councilor. He looks forward to working with the group.
10. Mayor’s Report
Mayor Bertrand was honored to speak at the NH Legends of Hockey Meeting in Bedford. Berlin plays an amazing part of that group’s history since we can boast of having several inductees in the program and several area citizens serve on that board. Berlin was proudly put up on a pedestal.
APPOINTMENT: Planning Board.
Mayor Bertrand nominated Ernie Allain to serve as an alternate member for a term to expire April 2009. Councilor Donovan moved with a second by Councilor McCue to accept the Mayor’s nomination of Ernie Allain. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor McCue moved with a second by Councilor Donovan to accept tonight’s Mayor’s Report and the February 18 Mayor’s Report as well. So moved, the motion carried.
11. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Councilor McCue moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to adjourn the Regular City Council Meeting. So moved, the regular meeting adjourned at approximately 9:21 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD, ATTEST:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
Berlin City Clerk
| 
