June 9, 2008
Work Session
Present were Mayor Bertrand, Councilors Goudreau, Remillard, McCue, Cayer, Evans, Lafleur, Donovan and Poulin
Others present included: Steve Michaud, John Moulis, Marion Huntley, Nathan Morin, Melissa Wedge, Paul Grenier, Harold Bigelow, Cindy Morin, Jon Edwards, Blandine Shallow, Patrick MacQueen, Maurice Pelchat, Martha Laflamme, Nicole Plourde, Mark Vaillancourt and others. Mitch Couture entered the meeting at approximately 7:10 p.m. There were approximately 100 people in the audience.
School Regionalization
Mayor Bertrand indicated that he put the school regionalization issue on the agenda because he’s heard from several people that it needs to be looked into. Though there would be no impact on this budget, it may be prudent to do a study and analyze the results to see if regionalization is a possibility. The first step is to bring the subject up with Councilors to see what they are hearing from their constituents.
Councilor Remillard questioned whether the Town of Gorham had been approached and Mayor Bertrand noted that he had made inquiries; however no formal communication has been sent.
Councilor Evans expressed concern that the City would lose its ability to control school expenses. In a regionalized school system, there is a Regional School Board that prepares a budget and the individual communities are billed accordingly. He added that the fiscal conservatives of the community need to be represented.
Councilor McCue stated that he theoretically likes the idea; however the city may be buying the other communities’ problems. Mayor Bertrand reasoned that such information would come out in a study, if one were commissioned.
Councilor Goudreau established that in his research on the subject, he found that the district has already been formed and Berlin would have to petition to join the existing district. Agreeing with Councilor Evans’ point, he added that the constituency is looking to the Council to control the school budget.
Mayor Bertrand acknowledged that part of the ground work would be to review the mechanics. Questions would include: if Berlin were to join the communities that exist, do we join that district or would a new district be formed? How is the governing body of the district chosen? The Council would have to get to a point where someone can go before the public and put forth the results and a conclusion of whether it makes economic sense and whether it makes educational sense to regionalize Berlin’s school system.
Councilor Poulin commented that studies are expensive and we should approach Gorham and see if there is mutual interest in doing this. It would likely solve some of their problems and some of ours. More education, services, activities, and sports could be offered.
Councilor Lafleur recounted that the School Board and members of SAU in Gorham have met recently. Councilor Donovan stated that first step should be to put a public referendum on the ballot asking the citizens if that is what they want. The move would require a Charter change.
Councilor Cayer agreed that there is a need to talk to other communities and then to the constituents. Councilor Poulin asked that the City Manager do some research and preliminary work so that it would be ready when the Council is prepared to bring it up. Mr. MacQueen referred to a study that was done in 2003 by MRI for AVER.
Mitch Couture entered the meeting at this time. Mr. Couture commented on the regionalization issue by saying that sharing of school services has been going on for several years. In recent discussions the School Board has had with the Gorham School Board, members from Gorham said they didn’t want to go any further. Berlin is a dependent school board and unless that would change, Gorham does not want the City Council to control the finances of the school. It was February of this year that the committee studying regionalization dismantled.
FY 2009 Budget
Mayor Bertrand established that the Council has gotten people’s attention since the last meeting. Both pros and cons on each side of the issue have been heard with people saying to cut taxes and others saying not to cut the budget on the backs of the school children. He read a letter from Debra Beaudoin advocating for the schools and urging the Council to reconsider its budget cut from the schools.
Mayor Bertrand asked what Council members have been hearing from their constituents. Councilor Goudreau felt a clear message that people don’t want the Council to vote more than what is now in place. He said that he supports education and recognizes the need; however he also sees foreclosures, delinquencies and people that are struggling.
Mr. Couture commented that a deep cut was made in the School budget with the first $613,000 that was removed. He proposed that the Schools return a surplus of about $150,000 and that the Council restores the $800,000. He felt this was a good compromise.
Councilor McCue established that the comments he heard from people were not mixed; they were in favor of the actions the Council took Monday night. He added that he and Councilor Lafleur attended the school board meeting and he was hoping for more concessions than what he was hearing from the School Board. He commented that he still gets the sense that the administration is driving the bus, not the school board.
School Board Member Nathan Morin asked why the School Board was not invited to the table when the cut to the budget was made. He feared that the cut may affect the school’s ability to maintain the second longest period of accreditation in the State.
Councilor Goudreau estimated that the Board’s proposal would bring a tax increase of .90. He reported that there is a perception that administration at the schools could be cut without affecting education. Chair Couture indicated that the Board has been downsizing and he said that administration is looked at every year. He asked for this budget to maintain existing services and stated that the Board will look to be more creative next year.
Councilor Goudreau asked if Berlin can afford two qualified superintendents. As an elected official, he has been led to believe that there is surplus and that is brought up as an example and as a way to cut back without affecting education. In defense, Mr. Couture stated that the School Board is careful and frugal.
Mayor Bertrand proposed that, in the spirit of compromise, the Council could restore $500,000 to the School budget and have the surplus remain with school system. That would equate to approximately .53 of tax increase.
Mr. Couture presented the Council with a petition of 142 signatures of people who wanted the Council to restore the $800,000 to the school budget.
Councilor McCue indicated that before the vote was taken to cut the $800,000 it was made clear that it would take a 2/3 vote to make the increase.
Councilor Donovan moved to restore the $800,000 to the school budget; Councilor McCue seconded.
Councilor Poulin acknowledged that he knew when he voted full well what it meant. His position was that he could not vote to reinstate the $800,000 without knowing for sure what effect it will have on the tax rate.
With the motion having been made and seconded, Mayor Bertrand did a roll call vote. Councilors Cayer, Lafleur, Remillard and Donovan voted for and Councilors Evans, Poulin, Goudreau, McCue, and Mayor Bertrand voted against. The motion failed.
Other
Councilor McCue mentioned that there is a new business on Main Street called Rumorz and there will be a grand opening Friday and Saturday of this week.
Non-Public Session
Councilor Lafleur moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3(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; Councilor McCue seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Lafleur moved to come out of non-public session; Councilor Remillard seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor McCue moved to seal the minutes; Councilor Cayer seconded and the motion carried.
Councilor McCue moved to adjourn; Councilor Cayer seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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