Work Session
May 18, 2009
Present were: Mayor Bertrand, Councilors Remillard, Evans, Lafleur, Goudreau, McCue, Cayer and Poulin. Others present included Max Makaitis, Pam Laflamme, Marion Huntley, Jonathan Edwards, John Moulis, Russell Otis, David Gamache, Ryan Landry, Nancy Malone, Richard King, Sr, Patrick MacQueen, media and public.
Mayor Bertrand opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Executive Chambers.
Meeting with Max Makaitis.
Max briefed the Mayor and Council about his various undertakings during the three months he has been on the job. He works for NCIC under a grant and reports to AVER monthly. Although he is the business development director for the valley, he has no conflicts of interest. There are five key areas he is focusing upon.
1) Bureau of Prisons. Considered a major player in the development of business due to their needs for food, produce funeral, wood, etc. just to name a few services they will require. Max will be working with Mark Belanger of NH Job Works and others for a general business seminar that will give current local businesses the advantage of receiving HUB Zone Certification to apply to become vendors to the BOP.
Details for the seminar will be available on line.
2) Tourism. A natural resource that is underutilized in this area and must be developed. Although the ATV trails are a good attraction, the fact that they are not yet completely connected is a disadvantage.
3) Main Street. The most important area to address. Buildings like 52 Main Street are proof that we can rebuild our Main Street. Max would encourage the empty building owners to place displays in their windows showcasing Berlin’s wares.
4) Recruit New Businesses. A basic premise to get money into our area. The Federal Prison payroll checks will stay here and be spent here. Job focus is important since that gives people the opportunity to buy property and that gives the area more tax dollars.
5) Retention of Business. Important to find money to keep businesses in this area.
Councilor Cayer asked Max if he worked with either BIDPA or Norm Charest.
Max replied that he has worked with Dick Huot, BIDPA Chair and they concur that they need both land and facilities to attract businesses. He also met with Norm Charest and discussed the idea of a business development group including realtors since no one can do anything alone.
Mayor Bertrand asked Max what his long term goal was.
Max replied he is working on a long term strategy for both tourism and wood products. His long term objective would be to create an industrial/manufacturing base to create a tax base. Biomass jobs are good paying jobs that China can’t take away.
Mayor Bertrand cautioned that long range goals like wood, tourism and biomass are hard to push without affecting others. There needs to be a balance for mixed use and you can’t lose sight of the objective.
Max agrees biomass should not strip the forests. Alternative energy is the way to go in order to retain the youth here. It is an attractive industry and will not push out the tourists. There is a lack of jobs now.
Councilor Cayer added there is a lack of markets for wood products. We need to find the right business to determine if a product is good with biomass and there needs to be a balance. The housing market is down and building is also down.
Max determined that biomass is a bi-product of the wood industry. We need to look to convert wood to other uses. He suggested that Council go to Milan Lumber to check out the process.
Councilor McCue asked Max what specific jobs he was talking about when he mentioned the lack of jobs.
Max explained he means higher paying light industry jobs and not the seasonal minimum wage jobs. We need jobs with benefits so someone can support their families.
Councilor Goudreau stated he is not in favor of a regional economic development director who supports the valley as opposed to just Berlin. He is also not in favor of bringing jobs here just for the sake of bringing jobs. We need viable jobs and less false hopes. He asked Max to be selective about jobs and to make sure they are viable jobs. Councilor Goudreau suggests that Max be invited to a future meeting for further discussions.
Councilor Lafleur asked what is the best asset of the work force?
Max replied it is the people who all want to make the City of Berlin great. His fear is that the work force will lose talent if they remain idle too long.
Ward One Council Vacancy Interviews.
Mayor Bertrand spoke to Joseph Arsenault the previous night and said that he was unable to attend tonight’s interview process which eliminates him. The approach tonight will be to randomly ask each candidate a series of five questions pertinent to the community. The Mayor asked each candidate to introduce themselves and give a brief statement.
1) Russell Otis: resident of Berlin, owns home on 18 Cascade Street, born here and graduated from BHS, employed 10 years locally and is concerned about Berlin and plans to live here forever.
2) David Gamache: born and raised in Berlin, he would like to help Berlin to push forward and not fall by the wayside.
3) Nancy Malone: born in Berlin and is a lifer, loves it here and is passionate about what is best for Berlin. Would like to work together and look for options.
4) Ryan Landry: thirty-six years old, graduated BHS and moved to Keene in 1993, returned to Berlin in 2003. Is a nurse employed at the prison, owns three properties in Ward One, former ZBA member and would like the opportunity to work with the Mayor and Council.
5) Richard King: went south for a while but came back and started a small business, has business experience and is a team player who would like to work with Council.
The work session was paused to go into the public hearing at 7:30 pm. The work session resumed at approximately 7:35 p.m.
First Question: What are your qualifications and level of education?
Russell Otis. Ten years management experience with Rite-aid and Ten years with White Mountain Distributors. Graduated BHS 1990, Lyndonville College 1993 Associate Degree in Management. No civic except for Eagle Club and Boy Scouts. First time dabbling in politics.
David Gamache. Graduated BHS 2003 and NH Technical College 2005 Assoc. Degree Science. Eagles Club, Boy Scouts adult leader.
Nancy Malone. 75 Corbin Street, works nine years for Tri County Community Action RSVP manages and maintains 375-400 volunteers. 1985 BHS graduate, attended White Mountain Community College. Has three children, 17, 14 and 1. Volunteers for Scouts, co-chair Red Cross, Daffodil Days, Relay for Life, Clerk for Milan School Board, registered voter, dedicated and loves Berlin.
Ryan Landry. BHS graduate 1991, sold Keene business to move back to Berlin, 2003 got Nursing Degree, 2005 began work at the prison, vice president of the union there. Civic: was on ZBA, works evenings, has two children and volunteers to coach.
Richard King. 1979 BHS graduate. 1981 NH Tech College graduate, first responder, Hazmat team, mill shop steward, call firefighter, boy scouts, assistant marshal arts instructor, runs own business, deals with budgets. Loves Berlin, owns home on Jericho Road and brings experience to the community and would like to serve with the Mayor and Council.
Second Question: What is your Vision for Berlin?
David Gamache. Would like to see business come in town to attract tourists and to have the businesses stay here.
Nancy Malone. First vision is to have our kids come back with jobs. She knows there is no golden answer but is open to options. We need to increase the tax base.
Ryan Landry. Berlin is a great place to live. It was a hardworking community and a safe place to live. It is not the same place he remembered. There is more crime, less jobs and more to fear due to economics. His key focus is good quality jobs and a safe place to live.
Richard King. Wants to expand something for kids. Start off with education bring in and retain more people here. Capitalize on renewable energy. Get grants to get jobs here long term vs. short term. Our resources far surpass any in the state with the forests and river. We should build hotels, ATV trails, campgrounds, focus on the river, power wind and use water as an asset to low cost energy.
Russell Otis. Promote freedom of people living in his ward to live freely. He had the opportunity to go through the school system in Berlin and would like to grow old here. He likes the path the current Council is on and would like to be part a that.
Third Question: What role do you see alternative energy play in Berlin, specifically biomass?
Nancy Malone. Has no concrete opinion. It would be awesome to get a taxpayer but we have a dinosaur in the middle of town. She is on the fence about Laidlaw and is not comfortable making decisions with facts.
Ryan Landry. Strong opinion and thinks Council is on the right path. Laidlaw would be great on Jericho Road but that view does not belong in the middle of Main Street. Short term is we need jobs. One concern is the past administration is at fault for failure of not buying the mill property when they had the opportunity. His caution to Council is, if they do stop Laidlaw, what will they put there instead? When the stacks were being torn down, he was excited because he could see a college, park or something else for the community going there. It is a double edged sword but he applauds Council for their efforts.
Richard King. Doesn’t see biomass as the total answer to clean energy since he is concerned about the burning of the fuel. He is more of a fan of solar or wind power. He also feels the land belongs to these people and they should have the opportunity to do what they want on their own land and they will be providing good paying jobs. He is concerned whether or not they will be an asset or hindrance to the community. He thinks the vision should be more along the lines of tourism. Wood pellets would be a way to get away from foreign oil demand. Wind power is also a clean way to produce electricity.
Russell Otis. He is for biomass and the President of the US is also for biomass to get away from foreign oil dependency. The best alternative is nuclear energy. We need to expand our wind and biomass generated electricity. He and Scott Coulombe initiated the petition for Laidlaw. He talks to many people a day and they are all for it. He feels that a person did invest in the community and should be allowed to operate but within guidelines to protect our community. The other biomass plant is also a good opportunity to provide good paying jobs.
David Gamache. Supports biomass and alternative energy such as windmills. Biomass would create jobs for loggers, truck drivers to haul wood. If trucks break down, they could go to Sanel Auto Parts or Napa Auto Parts and various other business in the area. It would grow to help Berlin get back on track.
Fourth Question. What do you see as Berlin’s biggest challenge?
Ryan Landry. Laidlaw, the economic tax base, jobs and the Welfare situation in town. Most Welfare recipients are imported from Massachusetts and drag the community down. They are not bad people but do not give back to the community. We cannot handle the influx. The low income housing and empty buildings are bringing problems that are spreading like a cancer in Berlin.
Richard King. Same problem like the rest of the USA is lack of jobs and a slow economy. No roads and travel problems are also a problem to get in and out of this valley. Road conditions add to the economic lows. Property values are low since people are losing their jobs.
Russell Otis. Economy is in decline like the rest of the Country. We have the opportunity to turn things around. We do have the influx of good paying jobs soon. The Master Plan will help and he wants to be part of it.
David Gamache. Jobs and to keep college graduates in town. We need to attract businesses to provide jobs to keep more people here to help Berlin grow.
Nancy Malone. Economics, Laidlaw and marketing ourselves as a small community with nice people. If we go in that direction and don’t focus on the big but strive for smaller it will attract people. As far as people moving in to Berlin, she says bring them on as long as they contribute to society. Times are tough and maybe have a six month waiting period before they can get money. People coming in from away and siphoning from the community makes things worse.
Last Question. If appointed tonight, would you consider running for election in the fall and what is your commitment level?
Richard King. Yes, if he were lucky enough to be chosen tonight, he would definitely run for Council. He would hope the public would let him know if he was doing a good job by voting for him and assured the Council he would give it 100%.
Russell Otis. He would be honored if appointed and plans to run for Council this fall. He is committed for the long term and interested in the City of Berlin.
David Gamache. If chosen, he would run for Council and would like to pursue and go farther and possibly one day take the Mayor’s seat.
Nancy Malone. If chosen, she would run in the fall unless it would be absolutely horrid. She enjoys people and is dedicated and would follow it through.
Ryan Landry. He definitely would run and would like to be more involved. He loves the City and would like to be more active.
Mayor Bertrand concluded the question and answer period by asking Council of they had any questions for the candidates.
Councilor Evans asked Mr. Landry how he would address the issue of Berlin’s Welfare problems?
Mr. Landry replied that he knows it is not easy to solve because you cannot tell people not to come. He thinks that it might help to increase the property values to the point where they are discouraged from coming here. Make it less attractive to the landlords who rent out to these people.
Councilor Evans then asked Mr. Otis what he meant when he said he wants freedom for the people of ward one?
Mr. Otis explained he thinks people should be allowed to live freely in their community within their own property. He is not a big fan of making rules. He feels there are a lot of unnecessary rules on the books that we don’t need.
Mayor Bertrand thanked all the candidates for coming forward tonight. He then asked Council to publicly name their choice and to have the City Clerk poll the results. The results are as follows:
Councilor Remillard: Russell Otis
Councilor McCue: Ryan Landry
Councilor Lafleur: Richard King
Councilor Evans: Ryan Landry
Councilor Goudreau: Ryan Landry
Councilor Cayer: Ryan Landry
Councilor Poulin: Ryan Landry
Mayor Bertrand: Ryan Landry
Six votes for Ryan Landry, one vote for Russell Otis, one vote for Richard King.
City Clerk Debra Patrick then swore in Ryan Landry to the Ward One Council seat for a term to expire January 2010.
Laidlaw to file as Interveners
Mayor Bertrand explained that in order to take an active role in the Laidlaw process, the first step is to file as intervenors representing the City of Berlin.
Motion by Councilor Poulin with a second by Councilor Cayer to file as intervenors for Laidlaw. So moved, the motion carried.
The Mayor reported that he spoke to the City Attorney and in order to properly participate in the process, they might want to begin to prepare by retaining the services of an attorney. two firms were interviewed by the Mayor and Council.
Councilor McCue moved with a second by Councilor to retain the services of Attorney N. Jonathan Peress, of the Law Firm of Downs, Rackland and Martin, PLLC to be hired to represent the City for the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee process.
Councilor Evans asked if we received prices from either of the attorneys.
The Mayor verified that prices were discussed and given to Council.
Councilor McCue wanted it said that the choice was no reflection on the City of Berlin’s current legal attorney. The firm chosen specifically has expertise in environmental law.
Councilor Evans will support staying with the current city attorney and will vote no as it stands.
Councilor Goudreau added that although there is a cost difference, any stipend to be paid at the end with the level of success narrows the gap. We need someone who understands environmental law.
The motion was voted upon. All votes in the affirmative with the exception of Councilor Evans who voted NO. So moved, the motion carried.
Other:
Norm Small Concert Request.
Mr. Small explained that the concerts will be held in the Bowling Alley parking lot from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The funds raised go to the charity like Special Olympics, the Holiday Center, etc. An issue came up when a group that rents the Big Scoop had a concert at that location and there were neighbor complaints. He recently met with the City Manager, Pam Laflamme and Joe Martin to try to resolve this issue. He want to show that he is working with the city.
City Manager MacQueen added that there is no requirement for a concert to get a permit per the ordinance but the ordinance does cover levels of noise and what the person must submit to the PD.
Mr. Small added that the Police Department feels they are caught in the middle and are looking to the Mayor and Council for directives.
Mayor Bertrand understands there is not a lot on the ordinances that govern this issue. He appreciates the approach Mr. Small is taking and encourages everyone to get along. The matter will be referred to a future work session for further discussion.
There being no further business in the Work Session, Mayor Bertrand declared the Work Session adjourned at approximately 8:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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