April 14, 2008
Work Session
Present were Mayor Bertrand, Councilors Remillard, Cayer, Goudreau, Lafleur, McCue, Evans, and Donovan; Councilor Poulin was absent. Staff present included: Pamela Laflamme, Andre Caron, Ernie Allain, Mike Perreault, Ernie Allain, Patrick MacQueen, and Blandine Shallow. Guests included: Mike King, Chris Gamache; media and public were also present.
North Country Council - Mike King
Mayor Bertrand introduced Mr. King and noted that the City opted not to renew its membership to the North Country Council in the last budget. He added that a lot of issues are regional in nature and he felt city membership would be a good thing.
Mr. King reported that North Country Council has been around since 1973 per RSA 36:45. They are an advisory agency to the North Country on land use planning and regional planning as well as the economic development district for 51 communities. The regional planning commission has the benefit of being eligible for EDA funds from the Federal government.
Mr. King went over the services that NCC provides. He added that there is a Regional Transportation Committee, Economic Development Committee, and Planning Commission that the City Council could appoint representation to. The Legislature recently created a NH Rail Transit Authority for the North Country and at this time the only appointee is the Mayor of Berlin or his designee. Mayor Bertrand thanked Mr. King for his presentation.
Signage Request - Chris Gamache
The Council received a communication from the Trails Bureau to put up signage to the Jericho Mountain State Park. The signs would be located on State highway property within the urban compact and it is the City’s decision whether to approve the signs. Councilor McCue confirmed that cost and maintenance of the signs will be the responsibility of the State.
These will be brown signs with white lettering. Councilor Donovan moved that the signs be erected as planned without input from the Traffic Safety Committee; Councilor Remillard seconded and the motion carried.
Mayor Bertrand asked what work is planned for the park this year. Mr. Gamache reported that the gates were closed today and will remain closed until May 23. Construction projects for this year will start in May with multiple trails on the Jericho Lake and Head Pond side. The Trails Bureau is looking at two possible routes to link ATV trails at Jericho and Success. A bathhouse and welcome center with restrooms that would be open year round, a store and offices for the Trails Bureau are planned as well.
The State is looking at using land and water conservation funds for improvements in the beach area to include playgrounds etc. Mr. MacQueen asked what the projection is for miles of trails at the end of the summer and Mr. Gamache stated that he would like to see a minimum of 20 additional miles, maybe higher.
Councilor Donovan asked if there are any immediate plans for the road and Mr. Gamache indicated that there will still be trucking for at least two years, so no major improvements are scheduled. There is an RFP going out for the campground and the hope is to have a private developer lease and operate the campground on a long term basis. .
Councilor McCue asked if legalizing traveling through the city streets on an ATV is a consideration. Mr. Gamache established that the potential is there for using a limited number of city streets to get to facilities that should be accessed.
Audit Cost Proposal
Mayor Bertrand reported that a proposal increasing the price by 15% has been received from our current auditor for next year’s city audit. The additional 15% is not budgeted. Mr. MacQueen confirmed that the Council can approve this request or accept proposals.
It was determined that there is one more year on the contract the City has with Vachon, Clukay and proposals will be sought after this year, which is the usual procedure. The current contract allows Mr. Vachon to increase his price because there has been an increase of work in the standardized audit procedure that his firm will have to complete. Councilor Donovan recommended that the new proposal be added to the discussion in the budget process. The increase would be for $3,685 more.
Public Works Budget Update
Mayor Bertrand stated that the update from the Public Works Director proposes to transfer funds from the capital improvements to make up what was overspent in the budget. The PWD Garage upgrade line items will absorb the overages in the operating budget. Councilor Donovan confirmed that this cut will not interfere with the paving of Western Avenue. He asked if the State would be receiving emergency funds from FEMA and Mr. Allain indicated that he is not aware of grant funds.
Councilor McCue asked if this would affect the budget request for next year. Mr. MacQueen noted that it will not affect the request; however it puts the project that much further out.
Request from Society for the Protection of NH Forests to Contribute to Filing an Amicus Brief
Mr. MacQueen explained that the White Mountain National Forest has a plan that includes a limited amount of harvesting in the forest. The environmental groups took a position on the forest plan. Now that the bid is ready to go out for harvesting, the Sierra Club is suing for environmental reasons for something they all participated in. Mayor Bertrand reiterated that a lot of work was put into coming up with the plan and as it is ready to implement, they are faced with law suits.
Councilor McCue noted that this is a friend of the court brief and there is a motion for re-judgment; if successful the case will continue on. Councilor Donovan moved to appropriate $300 from contingency for support of the amicus brief; Councilor Lafleur seconded and the motion carried.
Proclamation
A proclamation honoring Peter Bornstein was read. It was noted that there will be a function for Mr. Bornstein tomorrow and it is the intent of the organizers to have the proclamation read at the event. Councilor McCue expressed that he would do that.
Budget Schedule
Mr. MacQueen stated that briefings from the various departments are finished and typically the council committee would meet and develop recommendations for the council. Since the Council wants to develop the budget as a committee of the whole, there may be a need for additional meetings to come up with a budget to publish on May 12.
Mayor Bertrand asked to keep non-essential items off the agenda for the next few weeks; however economic development needs to be addressed promptly. An additional meeting was set for Sunday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall to work on the budget. Time will be set aside at the April 21 and 28th meetings. If additional days are needed, there is time in May.
Other
Councilor Remillard asked about the communication to the Housing Authority regarding holding a conservation easement for Small Pond. Ms. Laflamme stated that the issue would have to go through HUD Boston and it was found that the quickest way to obtain the easement may be for the Patch’s to retain ownership.
Councilor Donovan asked that after budget, the Council should have a plan for any easements that come up in the future.
Non-Public Session
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second from Councilor Donovan to go into non public session per RSA 91-A:3 Nonpublic Sessions ~(d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community. The motion was approved by roll call vote.
Councilor Donovan moved with a second from Councilor McCue to come out of non-public session and the motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.
Councilor Donovan moved to seal the minutes as releasing them would make the action ineffective; Councilor Cayer seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Donovan moved to adjourn; Councilor Goudreau seconded and the motion carried.
The meeting ended at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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